American History
B U N C O M B E C O U N T Y
Early College
---------------------------------------------------
340 Victoria Road, Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 232-4123 / Fax (828) 232-4165
Honors American History
Instructor: Mr. Callaway
Email: todd.callaway@bcsemail.org
Course Overview:
This course begins with the French and Indian War (1753) and will end through the latest Presidential Election. We will examine through various means the historical and intellectual origins of the United States from colonial exploration and settlement to the Revolutionary and Constitutional eras, including the important political, economic, and social factors contributing to our nation’s founding. As a new nation is conceived and established, it is not without growing pains. A recurring theme throughout the course is the Founding Ideals (democracy, equality, liberty, opportunity, and rights) We will learn and analyze how these themes have defined our nation’s development and evolution. We will also examine the growth of our nation in varying contexts: the formation/impact of political parties, the age of reform, westward expansion, sectional disagreements, Civil War, World Wars, and modern events.
Text:
History Alive Pursuing American Ideals (TCI website)
Newsela
Primary source materials
Materials:
Computer
Paper
Pen/Pencil
Student Learning Targets:
· Students can create an understanding of the forces that have shaped the United States.
· Students can examine how Americans from different backgrounds have experienced our history.
· Students understand how history continues to influence our current understanding of the nation.
· Students can analyze and interpret primary and secondary sources.
· Students can evaluate credibility and bias of historical sources.
· Students can cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources.
· Students can write arguments that introduce precise, knowledgeable claims supported by textual evidence.
· Students can produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to the task, purpose, and audience.
· Students can use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products.
Grading Policy:
In this course, you will complete formative and summative assessments to monitor and evaluate your progress. Formative assessments provide information to students and teachers about progress and learning targets and do not receive a grade.
Summative assignments and assessments are evaluations of learning. Summative assessments provide a measurement of student mastery and learning of course content and are graded. All assignments are expected to be turned in on time. In this class, you will receive a College Readiness grade. This grade is earned by completing assignments completely and on time.
Assessments:
Quizzes (100x2 pts.)
Projects (100x2 pts.)
Classwork/Homework (100 pts.)
College readiness (10, 5, 0 pts.)
Final exam (25%)
Grading scale:
90 – 100: A
80 – 89: B
70 – 79: C
60 – 69: D
0 – 59: F
Attendance Policy:
Students are expected to attend class daily unless absence for an illness, appointment, etc. Students are only allowed seven (6) absences per semester. To be counted present in a class, the student must be in class for 2/3 of the class period. Students are responsible for making up any days past the allotted 6 absences per semester. For information about excused and unexcused absences, refer to the student handbook.
Make-up Policy:
· After any absence, students are responsible to check with the teacher to schedule a time to make up all work including tests.
· Students are expected to monitor the Canvas course for assignments and assessments missed due to an absence.
· Projects and work assigned before absences should be turned in as soon as students returns to school.
· If a student is absent, he/she will have five days to make up homework, missed assignments, and tests assigned during his/her absence.
· For more information on attendance make-up if absent for more than six (6) days, refer to the student handbook.
Mr. Callaway’s Expectations:
When it comes to how class will be run, my expectations are based on the ancient Greek idea of “arête”, which was made famous by such great Greek philosophers as Plato and Aristotle. This idea stresses that each person performs a task to the best of their ability not only to better their own lives, but the lives of others in their society. The idea behind this is that if you give this course your best effort, your labors will not only be helpful to you but also to your classmates.
Students are expected to:
Be Respectful to the teacher and each other.
Be Responsible for yourself.
Be Ready to read, write, think, talk, and move every day in class.
Signatures
By signing below, I agree that I have read the course syllabus and classroom policies as outlined above:
_________________________________________________________
Print Student Name
Student Signature/Date _____________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Print Parent/Guardian Name
Parent Signature/Date ______________________________________
Parent/Guardian email and cell phone number
_________________________________
____________________________________