Honors United States History Syllabus 2020-21               


Welcome to Honors United States History.  I am pleased that you have chosen to accept the challenge of this course. One of its greatest demands will be on your time. Success depends largely on self-discipline and your commitment. Students who are enrolled in this course should possess good reading, essay writing, and critical thinking skills, and work to continually improve theses skills as the school year progresses. What makes this course different? What can I expect? This course was designed to challenge you we know that you can succeed!  Essentially, you will be expected to step it up and own it, UC U Know!. Once again, let me welcome you to Honors United States History.  If you have any questions or want to discuss your participation in the course please do not hesitate to contact me. I am looking forward to a great year and am proud you have taken on this challenge. 

                                           Character counts. The few, the proud,-Honors- Uhh...  Remember John Brown..John Brown!       

                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Textbooks

American Yawp Online 

Norton (2008). A People and a Nation: A History of the United States, 8th Edition.


Bell Schedule

Period 1 8:45-9:42       AP

Period 2 9:48-10:45     PREP

Period 3 10:51-11:48   HR

Period 4 11:54-12:54   HR

Lunch    1:00-1:30       OFFICE HOURS

Period 5 1:36-2:33       AP

Period 6 2:39-3:36       AP


Late Start Wednesday Schedule

Period 1 9:54-10:40     AP

Period 2 10:46-11:32   PREP

Period 3 11:38-12:24   HR

Period 4 12:30-1:16     HR

Lunch    1:22-1:52       OFFICE HOURS

Period 5 1:58-2:44       AP

Period 6 2:50-3:36       AP

Grading Periods

Sem1 Q1        10/8

Sem1 Q2        11/19

Sem1 Finals   1/19-21

Sem2 Q1         3/4

Sem2 Q2         4/22

Sem2 Finals    6/10-6/14


Google Classroom Codes

Period 3 APUSH     

Period 4 APUSH   


Remind App Code


Turnitin

Enrollment Key      Class ID

HRUSH3                  31278048

HRUSH4                  31278118     

         

Course Content 

Honors United States History surveys the history of the United States beginning with the colonial period and ending with the international affairs and domestic changes in the post-1945 period to the present. Topics will be designed thematically around the following periods; pre-Columbian societies, discovery and settlement, colonial America and revolutionary ideology, constitutional theory and development, Jeffersonian through Jacksonian democracy, nineteenth-century reform movements, and Manifest Destiny and the American West. Other areas of focus will include the Civil War and Reconstruction, late 19th century immigration and industrialism, Populism and Progressivism, World War I and the Jazz Age, the Great Depression and the New Deal, 20th century diplomacy, the Cold War, and the post-Cold War era through the late 20th century. Themes will include discussions of American diversity, the development of a unique American identity, the evolution of American culture, demographic changes over the course of America's history, economic trends and transformations, environmental issues, the development of political institutions and the components of citizenship, social reform movements, the role of religion in the making of the United States and its impact in a multicultural society, the history of slavery and its legacies in this hemisphere, and war and diplomacy in the 20th century. One of my major goals is to guide students through rich, balanced and thought provoking exploration of America's past. 


Homework

Honors U.S. History requires a significant amount of reading and note taking. Assignments include evening readings from your textbook, note taking, supplementary readings, SAQ's, and Long Essays. Long Essays assignments will be evaluated based on the college board APUSH rubric. SAQ's will be evaluated based on  clarity, strength of analysis, historical contextualization, presentation of argument, outside evidence and validity. All homework is posted on this website and pushed out through Google classroom. The Honors U.S. History webpage and schedule is updated every week. It is the student's responsibility to know what is expected and what has been covered everyday. Assignments will be submitted through google classroom or turnitin.com. Extra Credit assignments are not offered. 


Grades

Work in Honors United States History is graded on a point basis. Points are totaled to determine the grade earned for each grading period. There are four weighted categories; Assessments 50% (multiple choice questions), Homework 25% (Historical Thinking Skills and Short Answer Questions), Historical Essays 15% (LEQs), and Projects 10%. Of the total weighted averages, 90%=A, 80%=B, 70%=C, 60%=D. Parents and students may access grades online through PowerSchool. The key to success in this class is your ability to be strategic learners, take good notes from lectures and reading assignments, and do your best to stay engaged.


Class Participation Requirement 

Student participation is strongly encouraged. Each student is expected to ask questions, comment and share insights, or respond to a question either from myself or another student. Consistent attendance is essential. Student study groups crated outside of class during the year are for your benefit and are highly recommended. In these groups you should analyze and discuss the course content and not simply summarize the readings and information. You should also go through essential questions and key terms as well as review your notes from lecture and the textbook.


Late Work, Revision, and Reassessment Policy

Assignments are due Sunday evening. There is a 5 day grace period for assignments, however the expectation is that this policy is not to be abused and only needed in extenuating circumstances. The drop dead date for assignments is the following Friday and any assignments turned in after this will be penalized 50%. All assignments need to be submitted the week prior to the end of each grading period to receive partial credit. LEQ revisions will be allowed within one week of a scored and returned essay and can only improve a grade to an 85%. Reassessments on midterm exams will be allowed within one week of a returned exam and can only improve a grade to a 75%.


Student Materials

Students are to be prepared daily for class with a notebook, study guides, and or outlines we will be working through during the week. Students are expected to maintain and effectively organize a resource book incorporating class and textbook notes, study guides, key terms and review material covered in this course for end of the year review. A spiral plastic covered multi sectioned notebook is required for class lectures and textbook reading and note taking assignments. 


Academic Honesty 

There is an academic honesty policy at UCHS. Cheating and plagiarism will result in a zero for the assignment with no opportunity to make it up; an automatic lowering of the citizenship grade to a "U" for the grading period, a referral to your counselor and a call home. Papers will be submitted to Turnitin.com for reference. 


Fall and Spring Term

All of the readings should be completed by the end of each week during which they will be discussed. Each unit also utilizes essential questions and writing about related historiography: how interpretations of events have changed over time, how the issues of one time period have had an impact on the experiences and decisions of subsequent generations, and how such revelations of the past and continue to shape the way historians see the world today. These discussions are woven throughout the course.  Assessments are to be taken when scheduled. 


Office Hours

Office hours by appointment M-F. Independent consultation, small group discussions, guidance and directions on assignments, I am available during my prep period and at lunch.


Mr. B