10th Grade U.S. History Teacher: Derrick Sewell

COURSE TITLE: United States History to 1877

COURSE DESCRIPTION: United States History to 1877 covers the historic development of American ideas and institutions from the Age of Exploration to the end of Reconstruction. While focusing on political and economic history, the standards provide students with a basic knowledge of American culture through a chronological survey of major issues, movements, people, and events in the United States.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Emphasis will be placed on building skills necessary to conduct library research, write clear analyses and evaluations, analyze material through written and verbal reflections, write papers in an organized and proper manner, work independently and with peers, improve reading comprehension, andimplementing technology in the history classroom. Additionally, writing skills will be reinforced through journal entries, rewriting activities, letter writing, and descriptive, expository, persuasive, and narrative essays. The history classroom is ideal for stressing character and values, and how every student is part of a global society.

TEXT: Glencoe: The American Vision (Volume I)

MATERIALS:

  • 3-ring binder (required)
  • 3-brad folder or a 2-pocket folder (required)
  • Pencil or pen (blue or black ink only)

ATTENDANCE: Students are expected to attend all classes and to be on time for each class meeting. All tardies and absences must be excused (as stated in the student handbook) for any assignment to be made up. You will have three days to make up any excused work.

**IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT TO ASK THE TEACHER FOR ALL WORK MISSED FOLLOWING AN EXCUSED ABSENCE**

**Any student with an “A” average for the semester will be exempt from finals. Any student with a “B” average and NO absences will also be exempt from the final.**

POLICY ON AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT: "It is the policy of theEtowah County Board of Education that no student will be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination in any program or activity on the basis of sex, race, religion,national origin, ethnic group, or disability."(Etowah County Schools Code of Conduct)

EVALUATIONS:

  1. Chapter tests will be multiple choice, matching, and fill in the blank.
  2. Quizzes will be given! Quizzes may be announced or random and the purpose of the quizzes will be to ensure students are keeping up with the reading and their notes.
  3. Current events will be assigned (these will not be done weekly; will be assigned at teacher’s discretion):
  4. Choose 2 articles either from the newspaper or a news internet source. The articles are to be local, national, or international news. The students may not use sports, classified ads, the weather, or obituaries. Cut out the articles or print them off and attach them to notebook paper. Read the article and write a paragraph summary of the article. Please give the source of the article (The Gadsden Times, CNN.com, etc.). Place the articles in your folder and then hand it in. Each article is worth 25 points for a total of 50 points. Points will be lost by not following directions.
  5. In class and out of class assignments will be required throughout the semester.
  6. Notebook Grades: Student’s notebooks will be checked periodically to ensure they are keeping up with their notes, handouts, etc.
  7. Projects:
  8. Projects will be assigned as the teacher sees fit depending on the topic being studied. Point totals for projects will vary and will be determined based off the complexity of the project.Late projects will receive a letter graded deduction for each day they are late. Each project will have its own scoring rubric.

**Any student and/or parent may meet with the instructor to discuss the student’s progress. Parentsshould make appointment through the main office.**

GRADING:

Grades will be determined from a “total points” style. For example:

  • Student X:
  • 20/20 Daily Grade; 30/40 Homework Grade; 85/100 Exam; 30/50 Current Event
  • Total Points Possible: 210
  • Student X Points: 165
  • Average: 165/210 = 0.785 (79)

***THE FINAL EXAM WILL BE WORTH 20%***

SCALE: A – 90-100; B – 80-89; C – 70-79; D – 60-69; F – 0-59

Students will be expected to come to class everyday with an exceptional work ethic and prepared to work. Classroom rules will be posted and WILL BE FOLLOWED! In an attempt to be fair and up front, I feel obligated to inform both the student and his/her parent that I do not tolerate a lot of nonsense; thus immediate disciplinary action will be taken when necessary adhering to the Etowah County Board of Education Student Code of Conduct.