Course Syllabus

School:                 Lynn Classical

Teacher:                David W. Poland

Day back:               Thursday or by appointment

Course:                  United States History I

Credits:                   Five

Prerequisite:         Successful completion of World History II

Text:                   America: Pathways to the Present

Required Materials: Pens, notebook, colored pencils

Course Outline

First Quarter The French & Indian War

The American Revolution and its causes

The Declaration of Independence

The Role of Massachusetts in the Revolution

The Articles of Confederation

Second Quarter The Constitution and the Great Compromise

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

Democracy: American Style

The Roles of Federal, State and Local

Governments

Massachusetts State Government

The Rise of the Political Parties

Third Quarter Marbury v. Madison and the Supreme Court

Jacksonian Democracy

The Transportation Revolution

The Industrial Revolution

The Textile Industry in Massachusetts

The Growth and Economics of Slavery

Fourth Quarter The American Educational System

The Abolitionist Movement

Religious Trends that Shaped America

The Women’s Suffrage Movement

The Economies and Culture of the North & South

The Civil War

Reconstruction and its Consequences

Aim at perfection in everything, though in most things it is unattainable. However, they who aim at it, and persevere, will come much nearer to it than those whose laziness and despondency make them give it up as unattainable.

– Lord Chesterfield

Student Expectations

• Students must be in class on time.
• Students must bring textbook, notebook and pens to class every day.
• Eating, drinking and chewing gum are not permitted.
• Students are expected to be on task and participate actively every class.
• Students are expected to compile a notebook according to my instructions.
• It is the students responsibility to get any work missed through absence
• Homework is due when requested, late work will be accepted at my discretion.
• Students are expected to do History homework every night, if there is no written work due, read and review.
• Students are expected to study for presentations, tests and exams.
• Students must write detailed, coherent responses on papers and essay type tests,
• Students must complete maps both historical as well as modern day and be able to locate countries and bodies of water.
• If a student is present the day of the test the student must take the test. Retakes are only granted under extreme circumstances.
• All tests and other work missed through legitimate absence must be made up on my night back within two weeks of the absence
• Makeup tests are often essay tests.
• Students who miss class because of field trips are responsible for any work due the next class day.
• If I am absent, students are expected to do their assigned work and be in class.
• Immature behavior will not be tolerated
• Electronic devices are not allowed! I do not want to see or hear them!
• Students must comply with all school rules and regulations including the discipline and dress codes.
• Excessive absences could lead to failure for the quarter and year.
• Respect your fellow students, teachers and other school personnel.

I’ve got a theory that if you give 100 percent all of the time, somehow things will work out in the end.

-Larry Bird (Go Celtics!)

Description of Course Assessments

Tests – Most tests include a variety of objective questions as well as terms to identify and open response questions.

Writing – All writing assignments, including open response questions on tests, must contain an introduction, body and conclusion. Examples and specific details must be included as well as adherence to the standard rules of grammar, punctuation and spelling.

Notebooks – Notebooks are graded on neatness, completeness and adherence to the rules for the notebook.

Maps – Maps are graded on accuracy, completeness, neatness and spelling.

Presentations and Group work – Special assignments will be graded according to the rubric received for the assignment. Group work will be graded individually and as a group with the grades averaged.

Grading – Grading will vary quarter-to-quarter depending on the number of presentations and group work assigned that given quarter. In general however the breakdown is as follows:

Tests and Quizzes        30% – 50%

Homework                  10%

Maps                        10%

Collins/Writing            10%

Notebook                  10%

Projects                     10%

Exam                      20%

Industry need not wish.

- Benjamin Franklin

People may not get all they work for in this world,

but they must certainly work for all they get.

-Frederick Douglas

Grading Policy

IN general students are evaluated in the following manner:

1)     Each test is counted as one grade.

2)    Two or three quizzes are averaged together and count as one grade.

3)    Exams usually count as two grades.

4)    Notebooks (when graded) count as one grade.

5)    Projects count as one or two test grades depending on the complexity of the

assignment.

6)   Maps are averaged together and count as a test. (Two maps equal one test)

7)    Homework is a test grade.

8)    Each Collins or other ordinary writing assignment counts as one test grade.

9)    Term papers usually count as two tests.

10) Class participation and citizenship, while not graded specifically, are taken into consideration when a students average is borderline. For example if a student has a 79 average with great participation, the student’s grade may be raised to a B-.

This policy tries to offer students a variety of ways to achieve success. If a student does poorly on tests and exams, he can compensate for low test marks by doing a neat complete notebook, doing all the projects, completing his homework, writing great papers, doing great maps, participating in class and attending school regularly. Every effort is made to allow every student to excel in something.

I’m a great believer in luck and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.

- Thomas Jefferson