United States History and Constitution
Teacher: Ben Sinclair
Contact Information: besinclair@greenville.k12.sc.us
(864) 452-2142
GCS Virtual Program Course Syllabus
US History & Constitution - Credit: One Unit
Teacher: Mr. Ben Sinclair
Contact Info:
Phone: 864-452-2142
Email: besinclair@greenville.k12.sc.us
Course Description:
In this course, students will learn about the foundation of the American Republic and the expansion and disunion of the United States. Students will investigate the impact of American industrialism and capitalism, including being drawn into world wars, on American politics and geopolitics. Through the lens of the Cold War, students will study the contemporary era including the age of technological development, increased civic participation, and political party realignment. Students will employ the skills of a historian to think critically as they use inquiry to explore the past and formulate their own interpretation of events. U.S. History is required for graduation. Students must take the state-required end-of-course U.S. History test as the final exam. It will count for 20 percent of the final grade.
Honors Students:
Honors students will be held to higher expectations in this course. You will have additional enrichment opportunities, readings, extended response questions, and differentiated tests than the CP students.
Course Standards:
The course standards for US History & Constitution are based on the standards found in the South Carolina Social Studies College-and Career-Ready Standards document. Students who successfully complete US History & Constitution with a passing 60% or higher will have demonstrated the ability, concepts, knowledge, and skills required to meet those course objectives. These course standards will be provided within the syllabus.
Course Outline:
1st Quarter/3rd Quarter
Unit 1 - Colonial America
Unit 2 - Westward Expansion
Unit 3 - Civil War & Reconstruction
Unit 4 - The Gilded Age
2nd Quarter/4th Quarter
Unit 5 - American Imperialism
Unit 6 - Prosperity & Depression
Unit 7 - WWII & Cold War
Unit 8 - Contemporary America
Unit 9 - EOC Exam Review
Grades: Student progress is cumulatively assessed each nine weeks in the following way:
60 Percent: Major Grades - Major Tests, Projects, and Major Writing Assignments
40 Percent: Minor Grades - Formative Assessments, Quizzes
Grading Scale: A = 90-100
B = 80-89
C = 70-79
D = 60-69
F = 50-59
Students will be required to complete a South Carolina End of Course (EOC) test in lieu of their final exam. This test will count as 20% of the student’s final grade. In the rare event that no EOC is required, a final exam will be given weighing 10% of the final grade for the course.
Class Procedures and Class Rules: Each student is provided a digital copy of the GCS High School Virtual Program Student Handbook which outlines student expectations for behavior in the classroom. If you have not already done so, please refer to your student handbook to familiarize yourself with behavioral and academic expectations in the virtual classroom environment.
Late Work Policy/Makeup Policy:
Work assigned is expected to be completed by the assigned due date.
It remains the responsibility of the student to turn in work even if it is late.
A 10 point deduction per day will be applied for late work up to five days resulting in a maximum penalty of 50 points.
Students will have 5 days to make up all missing assignments, including projects, quizzes, tests, and any other assignment deemed a major assignment by the teacher.
Teachers will handle unique situations on a case-by-case basis, and have the autonomy to determine whether they will accept work beyond the 5 days for credit.
Retake/Redo Policy
Students will be able to Retake/Redo 1 MAJOR assignment and 3 minor assignments for each quarter, in each subject, within 5 days of the due date, if absent, or when they receive their grade, if they are wanting to do a redo/retake.
Recommended/Required Reading:
Students must read the required U.S. History textbook: Prentice Hall United States History
To access your textbook for this course, go to BACKPACK -> EDUCATION APPS -> PEARSON
Students will also be expected to read newspaper and magazine articles, and any additional selected supplemental readings required by the teacher.
Plagiarism/Cheating:
Students are expected to complete work with honesty and integrity. Representing someone else’s work as a student’s own diminishes what we stand for as a school community. Student success is dependent on each learner’s own efforts.
If a teacher determines a student has plagiarized/cheated, the teacher will contact the parent, and the student will then be given an alternative assessment/assignment or asked to redo the work to demonstrate mastery of the content.
Until the alternative assessment/assignment is turned in the grade will remain an NHI (not handed in) in the grade book. Alternative and redo assignments will follow the late work procedures.
A referral may be written at teacher discretion.