US HISTORY
COURSE
DESCRIPTION
Welcome to US HISTORY, a course designed to help students prepare for the future by learning about the past. You will work on developing skills essential to moving successfully into college and/or employment. We will read/write/research/
discuss/role
play/etc. about major events in our history in order to gain a better
understanding of our past and how we have come to this point in time.
This is, however, not a course about memorizing names, dates, and places.
This course could more aptly be described as one in which we ask
questions and solve problems.
Another
aspect of this course will be the building of a sense of community among the
students. This can occur form
numerous opportunities to work together, rather than in competition, to solve
problems and attain goals. Also,
each student will be given the option of substituting a pre-approved form of a
community service project for some assignments.
This should give students a better understanding of the many social
problems that we face on the local level and the interconnectedness that we
share with others around the world. By
the end of the semester I hope that each student will leave this class with both
a strong sense of our history as a people and better understanding of how that
knowledge can help them solve problems in the future.
Each
student will be evaluated by the following methods:
In-Class
Work:
Will consist of any assigned work completed in class (frequently will
involve working in cooperative groups).
Quizzes:
Only as deemed necessary to determine the level of comprehension of
assigned readings.
Class
Participation:
Active and thoughtful participation will be expected in all class
activities and discussions.
Homework:
Usually will consist of a reading assignment but other “practice”
activities may be assigned if deemed necessary to help students having
difficulty with material and concepts being learned.
Notebook
Check:
Each student will keep a daily log of activities as well as any materials
and assignments from the class.
Projects:
Each student will complete four “unit” projects and one
“semester” project.
Portfolio
Writing:
Each student will complete at least one document for use in his or her
writing portfolio.
Assessment
Categories:
Exams/Projects……………………..45%
of grade
Quizzes
& Class/Homework……….27% of grade
Notebook/Portfolio
Items…………..18% of grade
Final
Exam………………………….10% of grade
Supply
List:
1-
3 ring binder (at least 1 ½ inch)
1-
package of loose-leaf paper
1-
pencil (#2 lead)
1-
ink pen (blue or black ink)
Books
Utilized In Class:
Text
(in-class):
Associate
Historian of the United States Historical Office
Publisher:
Glencoe/McGraw-Hill
Reader
(at home):
Professor
Emeritus at Boston University
Publisher:
The New Press
Instructor:
(859)
873-5434 ext. 245
7:30
AM-9:30 A.M. & 3:00 PM-4:30 PM