Syllabus

COLLEGE PREP UNITED STATES HISTORY AND THE CONSTITUTION

Course Syllabus

Course Description: An intensive course of study that surveys U.S. History from the Age of Exploration to modern day America. Major topics include the social, political, economic, and geographic development of the United States and their impact on the foreign and domestic policies of the nation. Emphasis includes development of citizenship and social studies skills including a rigorous program of reading, research and writing. The course is strongly recommended for 11th grade students. The length of the course is one term.

Instructional Philosophy:

The course will extend the eleventh grade student’s understanding of their nation, political and economic system, and the world around them through an exploration of events, places, and people throughout time. They will become informed citizens of the world, able to critically judge the past, present and future of our country. They will demonstrate an understanding of the major developments in the United States from the earliest human settlements through the modern era. Students will be introduced to the art of note taking, writing, research, oral presentation, and interpretation of original documents as well as improving their test taking skills. Student assessment will be based on a variety of assessments including group work, oral and written research projects, completion of individual homework and daily class work, and formal assessment of student’s knowledge of important historical concepts.

High school standards for United States History and Constitution are organized under eight thematic strands. The objectives and suggested classroom activities will be followed. We will stress literacy, mathematics, and technology. For further information on the South Carolina/ National Social studies Standards, please refer to web page:

http://ed.sc.gov/agency/se/Teacher-Effectiveness/Standards-and-Curriculum/documents

Course Goals:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the settlement of North America, growth and expansion of the United Sates as a new nation and of its founding documents. (USHC-1)
  2. Demonstrate an understanding of the growth and expansion of the United States, and the attending regional conflicts in the first half of the nineteenth century. (USHC-2)
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of the causes and course of the Civil War and the Reconstruction Era in America. (USHC-3)
  4. Demonstrate an understanding of major social, political, and economic developments that took place in the United States during the second half of the nineteenth century. (USHC-4)
  5. Demonstrate an understanding of the foreign developments that contributed to the United States emergence as a world power in the early twentieth century. (USHC-5)
  6. Demonstrate an understanding of the post World War I economic expansion and the subsequent collapse in America during the 1920’s and 1930’s, its resultant political instability, and the subsequent worldwide response. (USHC-6)
  7. Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of World War II on the United States’ foreign and domestic policies. (USHC-7)
  8. Demonstrate an understanding of social, economic, and political events as well as the developments in foreign policy that have taken place in the United States from the Cold War era through the collapse of the Soviet Union and its satellite states in 1992 until present day. (USHC-8)
  9. Use mathematical skills and tools to analyze, make generalizations, analyze theories, interpret data and present historical or geographic information.
  10. Use reading skills to cite specific textual evidence, determine the central idea, and provide an accurate summary of primary and secondary sources; as well as evaluate authors differing points of view.
  11. Write informative or explanatory texts including narratives of historical events, argumentative persuasive essays, and comparative essays.
  12. Use a variety of sources to research and communicate about historical events, their impact, and their relevancy for historical perspective of current world events.

Major Course Assignments and Projects:

  1. Document/Map analysis and comparative essay– The 3 colonial sections more similar or different? (USHC-1)
  2. Evaluation of sources and persuasive essay – Polk and Manifest Destiny: Was it in the best interest of the United States? (USHC-2)
  3. Analyzing charts and graphs: New Perspectives on Slavery. (USHC-3)
  4. Document analysis – The Problems of the Farmer (USHC-4)
  5. Cartoon and document analysis – Causes of the Spanish American War (USHC-5)
  6. Document analysis – The Farmer Fights Back (USHC-6)
  7. Analyzing propaganda and political cartoons - The War on the Homefront (USHC-7)
  8. Document analysis and comparative essay - Loyalty and Liberty: The McCarthy Era (USHC-8)

Quarter Assessments:

40% Homework/Classwork/ quizzes

60% Test/Projects

Final Grade:

40% First 9 weeks

40% Second 9 Weeks

20% End of Course Exam

Grading Scale

A 90-100

B 80-89

C 70-79

D 60-69

F 59-0

Recommended/Required Reading

Students must read the required U.S. History textbook:

College Prep – Prentice Hall United States History

Students will also be expected to read newspaper and magazine articles, and any additional selected supplemental readings required by the teacher.

Disclaimer: The weekly lesson plans on the website are subject to change based on student acquisition of material. Students in U.S History are not allowed to use Renaissance cards for test retakes. The homework pass on the Renaissance cards can be used to turn in a homework assignment one day late with no penalty.