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Meredosia-Chambersburg High School
U.S. History
Course Syllabus
Course Information/Teacher Information:
Teacher: Mr. Sievers E-Mail: tsievers@mcsd11.net Phone: 217-584-1291 ext. 1027
Marking Period: First Semester
Class Location: Room 137
Prep Period: 9:43-10:23 a.m. on Full Days of School
Prep Period: For 2:15 p.m. dismissal: 9:29-10:03 a.m.
Course Description:
U.S. History—Comprehensive courses provide students with an overview of the history of the United States, examining time periods from discovery or colonialism through World War II or after. These courses typically include a historical overview of political, military, scientific, and social developments. Course content may include a history of the North American peoples before European settlement.
Course Competencies/ Learning Objectives:
Students who successfully complete U.S. History will be competent in the following areas:
- Reading and Comprehension
- Cause and Effect
- Using a timeline
- Using Critical Thinking Skills to solve problems
- Be able to articulate the importance of people, topics & events verbally and through written skills
- Understanding historical information in the time it happened, as well as the general public’s mindset/modus operandi of that specific period
Student Evaluation:
The grading system for U.S. History:
In this class your work is graded by total points.
- Tests are usually worth 80-100 points
- The History Fair Projects are to be picked by Midterm of the 1st Quarter and is worth 100 points. They are to be halfway done by the week before the end of the 2nd Quarter. The History Fair Projects are due the week before the end of the Third Quarter and worth 400 points.
- The History Fair will be held in the 4th Quarter. Students will present their projects to be judged for a total of 500 points. The student must have completed a Tri-Fold (Large Size).
In this Tri-fold they must have:
- Title in the center of the Tri-fold either at the top or middle of the panel
- Biography on the left side of the Tri-fold
- Timeline in the bottom center of the Tri-fold
- Pictures of the students making the project and a picture of the real person, item, or map on the right panel.
- The student must attend, dress nicely, and give a presentation
- Papers are worth 50-100 points
- Quizzes are worth 5-10 points
- Reflection paragraphs are worth 10 points
- Class participation and Class Work/Homework Points are TBA
Classroom Expectations:
1. Arrive to class on time
2. Be prepared
3. Respect your classmates and teacher
4. Give your all, all the time
5. Be responsible for your actions
6. No eating, drinking, cell phones, or iPods (This includes smart watches or ear buds) permitted in the classroom
Classroom Level Consequences-
Students not following classroom/district rules may receive the following consequences from:
- Verbal Warning
- Change of seat assignment
- Loss of participation Points for the Day
- Lunch Detention
- Before or After School Detention
- Possible Suspension per School Handbook Rules
Class Requirements:
-Homework/Quizzes will be given approximately three-four days a week. It will be collected in the beginning of class the day it is due. It is YOUR responsibility to complete homework assignments and quizzes.
-Assignments will be posted on Mr. Sievers Webpage.
- You will be given the opportunity to make up homework assignments and get full points for the First Week it is late.
- After the First Week the total points you can accumulate will drop to 75%.
- The Second Week the total points you can accumulate will drop to 50%.
- The Third Week it is late the total points you can accumulate will drop to 25%
- If you are absent, it is YOUR responsibility to make up the assignments and/or tests when you return.
- All Assignments are posted on Mr. Sievers Teacher Page on the MCSD Website by the Monday of the new week of class. (Sometimes these are changed throughout the week because of changes)
- Plagiarism, Cheating, and Academic Integrity -----Plagiarism is the practice of copying words, sentences, images, or ideas for use in written or oral assessments without giving proper credit to the source. Cheating is defined as the giving or receiving of illegal help on anything that has been determined by the teacher to be an individual effort. Both are considered serious offenses and will significantly affect your course grade.
- Please refer to the Student Code of Conduct booklet for additional information.
Methodology:
A combination of lecture, class discussion, presentations, videos, cooperative learning, and problem-based learning will be used in this course.
Grades will be determined by the satisfactory and timely completion of assignments. The grade of each assignment is based on the prerequisite given for each assignment.
Below is an overview of topic/units to be covered by the 1st Semester:
(These may be subject to change due to the addition of materials, such as articles, primary and secondary documents, or videos/documentaries)
Chapter 1: Colonizing America, Prehistory to 1754
Student Short Oral Presentation over a Native American Tribe
Test over Chapter 1
Chapter 2: The American Revolution, 1754-1783
Test over Chapter 2
Chapter 3: Creating a Constitution, 1781-1789
Chapter 4: Federalists and Republicans, 1789-1816
Test over Chapter 3-4
Chapter 5: Growth and Division, 1816-1832
Chapter 6: The Spirit of Reform, 1828-1845
Test over Chapter 5-6
Chapter 7: Manifest Destiny, 1820-1848
Chapter 8: Sectional Conflict Intensifies, 1848-1861
Test over Chapter 7-8
Watch and Discuss the Film: "12 Years a Slave"
Chapter 9: The Civil War, 1861-1865
Watch and Discuss parts of the film: "Gods and Generals"
Test over Chapter 9
Chapter 10 Reconstruction, 1865-1877
Test over Chapter 10
Chapter 11 Settling the West 1865-1890
Test over Chapter 11
Review for Semester Exams