COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In 8th grade social studies students develop an understanding and appreciation of the political, economic, and social development of the United States. The scope of the course includes European discovery, settlement, colonization, revolution, and the quest for self-government, as well as the progress of the new nation through the test of the Civil War and subsequent Reconstruction.
TEXTBOOK
American Journey: The Quest for Liberty to 1877.
Replacement Price: $33.79
REQUIRED MATERIALS
Students must bring the following items to class every day. Each time you forget to bring these to class, you will receive a conduct mark.
·
Textbook (COVERED)
·History section in your 3 ring binder
·Pen (blue or black ink) or
·Pencil
·Notebook Paper
·Map Pencils (only on specified days)
GRADING PROCEDURES
Test Grades and Chapter Assignments: 50%
Quizzes and Daily Work: 40%
Homework Completion Average: 10% (-3 points for each incomplete assignment)
Homework will consist of readings from the textbook, completing study guides, chapter projects, make-up work from absences, and studying for tests.
Daily assignments are not accepted late.
Major projects have 10 points taken off for each day they are delayed.
In the event of absences, YOU are responsible for checking your calendar to see what you have missed and for making it up. Absences do not excuse you from having the assigned section of the study guide finished or from handing in assignments on time since all assignments are listed with due dates on the calendar. One day's absence does not excuse you from taking a previously assigned test or quiz.
QUARTER CALENDARS
A calendar will be distributed at the beginning of each new quarter. Every calendar lists the assignments and homework for each day in addition to due dates for major projects and chapter test dates.
STUDY GUIDES
You will receive a study guide at the beginning of each chapter to help guide your reading of the chapter. While many test questions are taken from the study guide, some test questions will come from other written work and class discussion. You are expected to have each section of the study guide finished before we discuss that section in class (even if you are absent the day before). Completion of an assigned section of the study guide involves defining vocabulary terms, identifying the people, and answering the questions listed in that section. During class discussion of each section, it is expected that you will check the answers to your study guide and add or correct anything that you do not already have in your answers.
BINDER
All students will keep a a section of their binder with all completed assignments in order for the entire quarter. A table of contents (that can be copied from the list posted in class) will always be the kept in front of your notebook, followed by this class syllabus.
