Text: First Semester: Exploring America v.1: History, Literature, and Faith - Columbus through Reconstruction textbook.
Second Semester: Exploring America v.2: History, Literature, and Faith - Late 1800s Through the Present
American Voices: A Collection of Documents, Speeches, Essays, Hymns, Poems, and Short Stories from American History. ISBN-10: 1933410612 (Students will need this textbook for class) You can find it at Mardels, Amazon and the Notgrass website.
We will be reading a few historical novels throughout the school year. I will send a letter home with the student and an email and let you know what book to purchase when it comes up.
Description: American History. The student will survey American history from the time Of the Native Americans and first European explorers to the 21st Century, Including the George W. Bush Administration. The course discusses actions And developments on the national level, especially involving the Federal Government, as well as issues and events in American culture. A special emphasis is placed on the role of slavery and subsequent racial issues in American history. The student will read a significant number of original documents and speeches while studying the narrative of lessons. English (American Literature and Composition). The student will read classic works of American literature, from The Scarlet Letter to The Giver. The literature will include novels, short stories, essays, autobiographies, memoirs, poetry, and hymns. Emphasis is placed on how the literature reflects the historical settings in which the works are set. Bible: Issues in American Christianity. The student will examine developments in American religious history, from the role of religion in the founding of the colonies to contemporary moral and spiritual issues such as abortion and evolution. The student will study American religious movements such as the First and Second Great Awakenings, Fundamentalism, and groups founded in America. The student will also study how religion and spirituality have played a role in the unfolding of American history. Bible studies bring Biblical teachings to bear on the historical issues discussed.
Goals:
1. Develop an appreciation for the study of U.S. history.
2. Master a broad body of historical knowledge.
3. Gain an understanding of the significant people, issues, ideas, and events of U.S. history.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of historical chronology.
5. Improve reading, writing, and research skills.
6. Improve critical thinking skills.
7. Analyze, interpret, evaluate and apply data from original documents, including cartoons, graphs, letters, and pictures.
8. HAVE FUN!!!
Class Expectations: Students are expected to: 1. Respect the opinions and feelings of fellow classmates. 2. Take an active role in class discussion. 3. Maintain a positive attitude. 4. Be prepared for class. (Pen, paper, folder, books, and assignment completed) 5. Hand in assignments on time. 6. Use appropriate language. 7. be responsible for their actions. 8. HAVE FUN!!!
Requirements: American Voices: A Collection of Documents, Speeches, Essays, Hymns, Poems, and Short Stories from American History. ISBN-10: 1933410612 3 inch Binder 4-5 dividers Loose Leaf College lined paper 12- No. 2 lead pencils Black Expo Dry Erase Marker
Resources: www.amazon.com www.notgrass.com
Evaluation: Students will be graded according to class discussion, worksheets, essays, journal entries, current event presentations, research papers, projects and participation.
American History Course Schedule: The Topic will be the Unit we will be covering that week in class. Therefore, I have listed the required reading/Homework that will need to be done the week before for that Unit. I.E. Unit: Why Study History is covered over chapters 1-5.
Week Topic: Unit we will be covering that current week Required Reading: (Homework for following week) 1 Student Introduction, Class Rules, Review Syllabus. Syllabus 2 Could you pass a Citizenship Test? Chapters 1-5 3 Why Study History? Chapters 6-10 4 Exploration and Settlement Chapters 11-15 5 English Settlement of America Chapters 16-20 6 English Colonies in the 1700s Chapters 21-25 7 Revolution Chapters 26-30 8 The Constitution and the New Nation Chapters 31-35 9 The Era of Thomas Jefferson Chapters 36-40 10 The Era of Good Feelings Chapters 41-45 11 The Era of Andrew Jackson Chapters 46-50 12 America Expands Chapters 51-55 13 The Approaching Conflict Chapter 56-60 14 The Nation Divides Chapters 61-65 15 The Terrible Conflict Chapters 66-70 16 The Nation Rebuilds Chapters 71-75 17 Moving Forward Chapters 76-80 18 Politics in the Gilded Age Chapters 81-85 19 Changing America Chapters 86-90 20 The Turn of the Century Chapters 91-95 21 The Triumph of Progressivism Chapters 96-100 22 America and the Great War Chapters 101-105 23 America in the Twenties Chapters 106-110 24 The New Deal Chapters 111-115 25 World War II Chapters 116-120 26 Postwar America Chapters 121-125 27 The 1950s Chapters 126-130 28 The Turbulent Sixties Chapters 131-135 29 The 1970s Chapters 136-140 30 The Reagan-Bush Era Chapters 141-145 31 The 1990s Chapters 146-150 32 The New Millennium
Examinations: I will not have exams in my class. I feel that exams only make history unenjoyable. This is not my wish for my students. I want them to enjoy learning about history not dread it. I will however have pop quizzes on occasion, this will not be graded. It will only be for my assurance that the students are retaining what I am teaching them. Disclaimer: If I feel that students are not doing their part in class I will give them exams.