Mr. Vigna's US History Syllabus

US HISTORY- Syllabus
Instructor Dennis Vigna E-mail dvigna@usd343.org
Contact Hours
Monday 1:46 – 2:31
Wednesday/Friday 12:56 – 2:28
Course Description:
Students will apply knowledge of events and ideas from the 20th century to evaluate their effects on the present.  Specific attention will be placed on the development of the political process, the diverse origins of American culture, the U.S. as a world leader, and the development of globalized society in the world.  
Text(s):
America:  Pathways to the Present

Grading Scale:
USD 343 Grading Scale
A+ (100% & above) B- (80%-82%)
A    (93%-99%) C+ (77%-79%)
A-   (90%-92%) C (73%-76%)
B+ (87%-89%) C- (70%-72%)
B (83%-86%) D+ (67%-69%)
D (63%-66%) F (59% & below)
D- (60%-62%)

INC:  Student has not completed all the given requirements at this time.
Assignments missed while absent will be recorded with the symbol “Ab” and not count toward their grade.  
Students have a minimum of 2 days for each day absent to submit missed work for credit.  
Should a student become ineligible they are guaranteed the opportunity in each class to raise their grade to become eligible in the following week.
Student Evaluation:
Assessments will be completed for each unit during the year.  Assessments will be in the form of written, essay, papers, and projects.

Projects:
Book Reviews – Over the course of the semester, you will need to choose one book to review.  You are free to choose any book you wish as long as it pertains to the United States.  Books can be fiction or non-fiction, but must be cleared through me before you begin to read.  The deadline to turn in your Book Review is December 6th for 1st Semester.  You will need to complete a 2-3 page review of the book on criteria that is listed below.  You will need to bring your book to class on every Tuesday/Wednesday to read.  You will be allowed to read for a brief period of time on these days to assist you in completing your book. To receive credit, you must have your book that has been approved to read as well as read during the time.  You will not be allowed to work on other assignments during this time until your completed paper is turned in. (10% of final grade.)
When writing a book review, you not only report on the content of the book, but also assess its strengths and weaknesses.  In writing a review you do not just relate whether or not you liked the book; you also tell why you liked or disliked it.  It is not enough to say, “this book is interesting”; you need to explain why it is interesting.  Similarly, it is not enough to report that you disliked a book; you must explain your reaction to it.  Did you find the book unconvincing because the author did not supply enough evidence to support his or her assertions?  Or did you disagree with the book’s underlying assumptions?  To understand your own reaction to the book, you need to read it carefully and critically.  As a critical reader, you are not passive; you should ask questions of the book and note reactions as you read.  Your book review then discusses those questions and reactions.  The following is a list of information to include in your review:
• Provide a brief summary of the book illustrating the author’s main point or thesis of the book. (20 pts)
• Describe the most important evidence the author presents in the book to support the main idea or thesis.  (20 pts)
• What evidence have you gained to describe what purpose the author had for writing the book? (20 pts)
• Is the book’s argument convincing?  (In other words, did they author accomplish the purpose in which they wrote the book for?) If so why, if not, why not?  Cite examples from the text. (20 pts)
• How has reading this book impacted your personal view on the topic covered by the author? (20 pts)

Current Events –Each student will need to complete one current event (not more than 2 weeks old) per unit (4 per semester.)  Each current event will consist of an event that can be directly tied into the content of the unit of study we presently are in.  You will need to consult the Semester Curriculum sheet to determine which current events will be accepted and which will not.  Your current event will need to be one page in length and include the following three criteria:
1) A summary of the article you have chosen.
2) How the current event impacts the development of the United States.
3) How does the current event relate to the unit topic(s) we are discussing in class.
Each current event will be due the day of the assessment for each unit, however, students choosing to present their current event in class prior to the due date will be eligible for extra credit on the assignment.  Students turning in the assignment on the due date will not be eligible for extra credit on the assignment.   (10% of final grade)  

Notes – You will need to keep a notebook of notes that are given in class.  Simply copying the outline that is presented will earn 50% credit.  DO NOT write everything down that I say, you will need to distinguish what is important and what is not important.  Notebooks will be turning in at my request, be sure to bring them everyday.  If you are absent on a day notes are taken, it is your responsibility to “borrow” them from a classmate. (20% of final grade)

Stock Market Simulation – Beginning in November you will be competing in our Virtual Stock Market Simulation.  The competition will enable you to compete against all students enrolled in US History both 1st and 2nd Semester.  The simulation will last for a 3 month period which will enable you to develop an understanding of how the stock market operates.  During the simulation you will complete a portfolio project over a stock you have invested in to demonstrate your understanding of the objectives of the simulation.  The guidelines for the project will be distributed in November.  

Debate on Contemporary Topics and Issues in American Society
Towards the end of the semester each student will participate in a debate over topics relevant in our society today.  Topics and issues will be generated and voted on by the class.  You may select your team members (each team will have a maximum of three members).  Once topics are selected, a random drawing will be taken to determine the topics, the position, and the date each team will present.  Teams will not be able to select their topics or position.

Mid-Term & Final
An optional mid-term final will be available for students interested in taking the exam on October 20th at 7:30am for 1st semester and March 9th at 7:30 am for 2nd semester.  This is the only time the mid-term will be available for students to take advantage of.  It is your responsibility to arrive on time and finish the exam by 8:15am.  Please inform me if you are planning on taking advantage of this opportunity prior to the date of the test.  If you are unable to attend due to a previous scheduled conflict, you will need to arrange a time with me prior to the mid-term.

A comprehensive final examination (this is not optional) for the 1st part of the course will be distributed on the day of finals prior to the end of the semester.  The final will result in 10% of your final semester grade for the class.

Behavior Plan:
One expectation I have for each and every student in my classes is to behave like an adult in ALL situations.  At your age, you should have gained a sense of which behaviors are appropriate, and which are not.  The following three general items are the most important behaviors I hold each student accountable for.

1. Do not participate or engage in any activity that will be disruptive to anyone in the classroom.  Any behavior that interferes with the ability of another person in the class to learn is deemed disruptive.
2. Respect each and every person present in the class at ALL times.  You may find differences with others in the class about their opinions, or actions, but as an adult, show respect by letting each express their own ideas.  
3. Be responsible.  Bring all materials to class each and everyday.  Individuals will not be issued a pass to return to their locker to bring materials to class.  

By each and every student in the class observing these three general guidelines will ensure each student the ability to receive the best education possible at PLHS.  Basically, the three rules can be summed up by the way in which America is intended to operate.  TREAT OTHERS, AS YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED.

Any difficulty in following the rules of the classroom will result in the following actions:
1. A Reminder of the rule being broken
2. A verbal warning of the action that is inappropriate
3. A conference with me (before or after class/school) to develop a verbal plan for improvement
4. Removal from the class, development of a written behavioral contract, parents will be contacted
5. Referral to office

YOU and only YOU make the choices that govern your behavior and take advantage of your opportunities.  Please make choices that present you well as an adult.  Remember, IF YOU DO THE CRIME, BE PREPARED TO SERVE THE TIME.
Course Outline:
Fall Semester
Unit I – “Developing a Nation”
• Explain the role diversity has played on the creation of America
• Analyze the development of American Ideology
• Understand the core civic values inherent in the founding documents of America
• Examine issues challenging interpretations to the founding documents

Unit II – “Life at the Turn of the Century”
• Examine topics in the transformation of American society
• Explain the rise of the American labor movement
• Illustrate how the demand for labor is influenced by productivity of labor and explains the factors that influence labor productivity

Unit III – “Becoming a World Power”
• Explain the spread of Progressive ideas
• Examines the emergence of the US in international affairs
• Analyzes the reasons for and impact of the US’s entrance into WWI
• Analyze how the home front was influenced by the US involvement in WWI
• Examine the cause and consequences of WWI

Unit IV – “Good Times and Bad”
• Analyze factors that contributed to changes in US society during the 1920s
• Evaluates social conflicts in the 1920s
• Analyzes the cost and benefits of investment alternatives
• Analyze significant developments in race relations during the 1920s
• Analyze the causes and impact of the Great Depression
• Analyze the costs and benefits of New Deal programs
• Evaluate the costs and benefits of governmental economic and social policies on society
• Analyze the debate over expansion of federal government programs during the Depression

Spring Semester
Unit I – “WWII”
• Analyze the causes and immediate consequences of WWII
• Examine the reasons for why each country was involved in WWII
• Examine the nature of totalitarianism in fascist Germany and communist USSR
• Examine the reasoning and impact the Holocaust had on world society
• Analyze the debate over and reasons for US entry into WWII
• Discuss how WWII influenced the home front
• Examine the complexity of race and ethnic relations
• Examines the entry of the US into the nuclear age

Unit II – “The Cold War”
• Explains why the US emerged as superpower as a result of WWII
• Analyze the Cold War as the competition between two competing ideologies
• Explain the origins of the Cold War
• Evaluate the foreign policies of Truman and Eisenhower during the Cold War
• Examines the purpose and functions of multi-national organizations
• Examines issues of social justice and human rights as expressed in the UN declaration of Human Rights
• Describes the emergence of the Middle East
• Evaluates the foreign policies of JFK and LBJ during the Cold War
• Discuss events that contributed to the end of the Cold War

Unit III – “Living in Great Turmoil”
• Examine the struggle for racial and gender equality in the US
• Analyze domestic life in the US during the Cold War
• Analyzes the cause and effect of the counterculture in the US

Unit IV – “A Passage to a New Century”
• Examine the relationship of the US to the rest of the world in the post Cold War era
• Describes the impact of developments in technology, global communication, and transportation
• Research major contemporary social issues
• Describes how changes in the national and global economy have influence work