7 AAP Course Description

Major revisions to this page will be up by late August, 2020, describing the class as it will be conducted during Distance Learning 3.0. The general purposes of the class, content, and expectations, however, are consistent with the pre-COVID version below.

ABOUT MR. PETERSEN'S 7th GRADE AAP WASHINGTON STATE HISTORY, 2019-2020:

The course:

The Advanced Academic Placement Washington State History course fulfills the legal graduation requirement for Washington State History, and is also designed to provide foundational work in geographic, economic, social, and political studies that prepares all students for 8th grade US History and 10th grade World History.

This vigorous course is designed to appeal to, and challenge students who read above grade level and may have skills, experiences, or particular passions that would not be addressed in the regular classroom. Outside readings, supplementary materials, and chances to pursue individual interests are woven through the standard, district-proscribed curriculum.

A calendar is issued at the beginning of the year detailing the assignments, pages to be read, material to be covered on quizzes and tests, and suggestions for study. Watch the calendar closely and use it. It is OK to work ahead. The calendar is issued in hard copy and posted on Mr. Petersen's webpage on the KJH website. Work missed due to absence must be made up immediately. There is NO EXTRA CREDIT.

Materials:

Every student must have a notebook, or three-ring binder, for writing, note-taking, and small in-class assignments. Students must come to class with an adequate supply of reliable blue or black ink pens (erasable recommended) and paper (8 1/2 X 11, please).

Textbooks: The Washington Journey is the main text. There is only one class set, for in-class use only. However, as of October, every student has the older version (titled Washington in the Pacific Northwest) checked out for home use. When there is homework, all necessary materials will be provided. Neither book is available online.

Rules:

School rules and policies are in effect. In class, all people are to be treated with respect and courtesy. There are to be no put-downs, nor is there to be behavior that disrupts the learning process. Students are to be seated and quiet when the bell rings to start class, and they are to be seated and quiet in a clean, orderly room when the bell rings to dismiss them.

Food, gum, and toys, being distractions from learning, are not allowed. Dress code strictly enforced.

Grading:

In this class, performance is what counts. There is no generating-of-paper to pile up "points". There is no academic credit for non-academic actions and activities. There is no "extra credit."

Standards for performance in all areas and aspects of the subject are posted. Students are expected to strive to meet the highest standard. Work should be done on time; do not fall behind! Papers, projects and presentations not meeting minimum standards must be redone; work that is passing may be redone for a better grade. (Second tries must be done promptly, within a day or two, while the subject matter is still valid, before the current unit of study ends -- there will be no frantic assignment rewrites on the last day of the term! There are no third attempts.) There is no grading penalty for redone work.

Performance is graded in the categories comprising the Social Sciences according to the WA State Essential Academic Learning Requirements. See rubrics for definitions and expectations. The course assumes a solid academic foundation -- reading and writing at or above a 9th grade level upon entry.

Grades are converted to grade points (A = 4, B = 3, C = 2, D = 1, F = 0) and weighted (a small, in-class written exercise is worth a fraction of the mark earned for a major test or essay). Thus the student builds a GPA throughout the trimester. Different categories within subject areas carry different weights based on importance and frequency of use. Many activities are graded in more than one category.

Small quizzes or portions of tests that only assess recall of rote items are graded 93% = A, 85% = B, 77% = C, 70% = D, below 70% = F, in the applicable category.

HISTORY GRADING RUBRICS

Historical Accuracy (ACC) (Heavily weighted, applies to most assignments)

A = Impressive command of names, dates, places, events, with links to other times and events. All accurate, showing extra research and thoughtful recall.

B = Complete command of the necessary facts drawn from the required, available sources. Reads, writes and discusses with few stops to look things up.

C = Basic but incomplete grasp of historical events; bereft of detail and having slightly hazy notions about the context of events being studied. (Minimum standard)

D = Only a glancing familiarity with the facts. Huge gaps, misses the point, confuses eras, people, events.

F = Plainly wrong, unfamiliar. Facts confused with opinions or myths.

Analysis & Interpretation (AN) (Most heavily weighted; frequently applied)

A = Keen, unfailing perception of bias, points of view, and different interpretations, with the ability to explain. Gathers and makes excellent use of facts; weeds out distractions, tangents, illogic, myth.

B = Gets the point of historical exercises. Recognizes obvious bias or myth. Gathers evidence and ensures the inclusion of relevant fact. Sorts information well.

C = Can understand interpretations and bias with explicit instruction. May occasionally clutter facts with distractions.

D = Uncritical acceptance of bias, illogic, myth. Has great difficulty recognizing cause and effect and other relationships; easily distracted by irrelevancies; work infected by own or others' prejudices.

F = Closed-mindedness and / or gullibility; a defender of ignorance, illogic, pseudoscience and myth.

Basic Economics (ECON) (Moderately weighted; sporadic application)

A = Understands the forces that shape economies: supply and demand, government intervention, market fluctuations, effects of nature and calamities. Employs and applies this knowledge.

B = Solid grasp of theories behind economics and; employs knowledge at a fundamental level in working situations.

C = Can explain basic economics but does not always recognize the interplay between various market forces. Makes poor use of information.

D = Struggles with the basic concepts, or behaves irrationally by failing to properly use facts.

F = Demonstrates ignorance of the basic concepts.

American Democratic Principles (CIV) (Moderately weighted; sporadic application)

A = Demonstrates in word and deed the soundness of the rule of Constitutional law. Has a thorough understanding of the nation's principles, in letter and spirit.

B = Understands democratic principles and can identify situations that test constitutionality; participation shows a care for the rights of the individual and social responsibility.

C = Can identify most basic principles (Constitutional, federalist form of government; the Bill of Rights) but struggles to apply them.

D = Does not grasp the source of the rule of law or the protection of individual rights; may recall important rights but cannot demonstrate them or place in context; fails to acknowledge the responsibilities of citizens.

F = Does not understand or demonstrate our democratic principles.

Geography (GEOG) (Frequent use, lightly weighted)

A = Knows where (politically & historically) and what (physically) things are, and makes use of the complex relationship between geography and business, social, political, and military concerns.

B = Knows where most things are; makes sound decisions in a variety of situations in which geography plays a role; makes skillful use of a variety of maps.

C = Can find things on a map and make some use of different types of geographic information.

D = Struggles to locate things on a map; misses connections between geography and other issues.

F = Can't or won't use maps; ignores or misses geographical information entirely.

Communication (COM): Writing, Speaking, Listening, Reading, & Group work (Very lightly weighted)

A = Consistently clear, articulate, thoughtful, helpful, courteous; quality communication of any type.

B = Successful written, spoken, and interpersonal communication; evidence of care and effort.

C = Generally successful, but basic, communication; with progress toward improving skills as necessary.

D = Struggles to adequately convey or gather and use information; Careless or uncaring about interactions.

F = Fails to communicate in the applicable medium; abhorrent social interactions.