International Baccalaureate History of the Americas
COURSE SYLLABUS
Ms. Wickware
Website: wickware.weebly.com
Room: MC 11
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 980-343-6007
Office Hours: Monday/Thursday 2:30-3:30
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Program at Harding University High School offers challenging academic courses that promote cultural awareness and incorporate real-world experience. Harding’s IB program provides a rigorous learning environment that nurtures the development of students as active citizens and world leaders.
History of the Americas course covers the United States, Latin America, including the Caribbean, and Canada. Within this course, students will develop an understanding of the key political, social, economic and cultural events and themes that have had an impact on the Americas. We will explore characteristics of colonial rule; achievement of independence; slavery and its effects; evolution and changes in governments; causes and effects of the Great Depression; and foreign policies of the region. Students will be prepared to take Paper 3 of the IB History exam [to be taken as a senior].
Students will leave this class with the ability to analyze historical material, synthesize their own ideas and critically evaluate the works of historians and primary sources. Students will demonstrate their own understanding of history by crafting arguments using relevant facts and sources. Students will be expected to participate at a college level in this class. Students MUST use effective time management and study skills. We have a great deal to cover, and we must move a rapid pace.
UNITS: Conflict and Crisis in the Americas
Unit 1: The Civil War
Unit 2: The Great Depression and the Americas (United States, Canada, Brazil)
Unit 3: Civil Rights and Social Movements in the Americas post 1945
Regular attendance and participation is critical to your understanding of the material and ultimately the successful completion of this course. Group work and class discussions will be an integral part of your learning. When you are not in class you miss valuable information. Every effort should be made to attend class.
Should you have an excused absence, you will be given five school days to turn in assignments without penalty. If you miss a test—with an excused absence—you will be given five school days to make up the test after school without penalty. For work missed on a day you have an unexcused absence, work must be turned in 1 day after you return or it is considered late. For tests missed with an UNEXCUSED absence, the student can expect a “0.”
Makeup work is YOUR responsibility. When a student returns after a day of absence they should immediately visit the designated folder for the day they missed and pick up one of each paper that is inside. Students should copy the missed notes from a classmate during the DO NOW or after school. NOTHING ELSE SHOULD BE COPIED FROM A CLASSMATE BESIDES NOTES. Students should utilize their classmates or ask me if they are unsure about what they are missing. There may be other assignments, not placed in the folders, for students to complete.
Grading Scale
90-100 = A
89-80 = B
79-70 = C
69-60 =D
59 or below = F
Formal assignments (assessments, papers, projects) will be worth 70% of your grade
Informal assignments (homework, quizzes, class work) will be worth 30%
Quizzes
Quizzes will be both announced and unannounced. They will cover class material and/or homework readings. Quizzes will be comprised of short answer questions and/or a few multiple choice questions. Quizzes will be given at the beginning of class. It is important that you come into class everyday fully prepared for class so that you can do well on the quizzes.
Tests
Tests will be given at the end of every unit. These will cover all of the material covered in the unit. Tests will include short answer and essay questions. You will be given at least one week’s notice for a test day.
Projects/Papers
Projects and Papers include assignments done in and outside of class. These can range from group projects in class to presentations. Projects and papers will be large assignments with many parts. In order to do well, it is important that you be sure to follow directions and ensure that you are doing everything asked of you.
Homework
Homework is to be completed at home! These assignments will often be assignments out of your textbook. These assignments will never serve as “busy” work. All assignments that you will be given designed to help you develop your skills as a historian and to ensure that you are prepared to get the content. All homework will be due at the beginning of class!
Participation
In this class, “good” participation means consistent attendance, preparation for class, active listening, generating pertinent questions and analysis, proper behavior during group work, and an overall enthusiasm for learning. To be graded on this, I will periodically check notes and grade discussions (giving grades based on relevant contribution to the discussion).
Academic Integrity Policy
Students are expected to follow a high standard of integrity in the classroom and in all work completed while at Harding. For all assignments completed in this course it is expected that the student turn in ORIGINAL work. Work that has been copied or plagiarized--including homework—will receive a permanent zero “0”.
Cheating includes, but is not limited to, the following behaviors:
§ Giving or receiving unauthorized verbal or written help during a testing period.
§ Removing test items from the classroom.
§ Using unauthorized materials during a test.
§ Copying another student’s work on an open-ended assignment, unless instructed by the teacher to work as a group.
§ Plagiarism, as defined below.
Plagiarism is a particular type of cheating that has no place in the academic community. Plagiarism is defined as the copying of the language, structure, ideas, and/or thoughts of another author or individual and representing it as one’s own work. Plagiarism is most easily avoided by learning proper documentation techniques.
Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the following behaviors:
§ Copy information word for word from a source and not containing it in quotation marks or block quotation form and citing the source properly.
§ Paraphrasing information from a source without proper citation.
Consequences for cheating include, but are not limited to:
First Offense: Permanent zero on the assignment or assessment; student/teacher conference, documented by student signature on a copy of this policy; phone call to parent; referral to guidance.
Second and Subsequent Offenses: Permanent zero on assignment or assessment; parental contact by administrator; referral to administration, at which point the cheating offenses become cumulative by documentation on the student’s disciplinary referral card.
“Permanent Zero” does not allow the student to re-do the assignment or assessment for a grade.
Other inappropriate behaviors, which are unethical and constitute cheating include:
§ Informing students in another class period of the same class test items.
§ Having unauthorized materials out, but not using them, during a test period.
§ Talking and/or communicating during testing or examination periods.
Social Studies Department "Failure is not an Option" Policy
The Social Studies Department believes that student mastery is an essential component in creating and maintaining high academic expectations. As such, any student who scores below a 77% (C) on a test has the option to retake the test with a "qualifier." In all Social Studies classes, a student meets the qualifier requirement when he/she has spent a total of one (1) hour in a remediation / re-teaching session conducted by the teacher (or his/her team designee). While in this remediation / re-teaching session students will adhere to established classroom rules and will be held accountable for the work that is undertaken in the session. Additionally, the student should complete this one (1) hour within five (5) school days following the return of the test.
Students will abide by all Harding University High School rules. In addition, students should abide by my classroom rules:
1) Technology may only be used with my permission.
2) You may only leave the class with a pass from me.
3) Any type of aggressive behavior is strictly prohibited. Verbal abuse, kicking, pushing, or fighting is not permitted.
Failure to abide by my classroom rules and Harding’s rules will result in disciplinary action. Disciplinary actions include, but are not limited to: warning, loss of participation points, one on one conference, parent contact, and referral to administration.
*************************************************************************************
DUE DATE: August______, 2015
*Please visit my Weebly page at Wickware.weebly.com
I have read, understand, and agree to abide by the policies and procedures outlined in my IB History of the Americas Course Outline.
Student Name PRINTED: ________________________________________
Student Name SIGNED: _________________________________________
Parent Name PRINTED: _________________________________________
Parent Name SIGNED: __________________________________________
Parent email: _________________________________________________
Parent phone #:______________________________________________
COURSE SYLLABUS
Ms. Wickware
Website: wickware.weebly.com
Room: MC 11
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 980-343-6007
Office Hours: Monday/Thursday 2:30-3:30
- College ruled loose-leaf or notebook
- 3 ring binder
- Blue or black pen
- Pencil
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Program at Harding University High School offers challenging academic courses that promote cultural awareness and incorporate real-world experience. Harding’s IB program provides a rigorous learning environment that nurtures the development of students as active citizens and world leaders.
History of the Americas course covers the United States, Latin America, including the Caribbean, and Canada. Within this course, students will develop an understanding of the key political, social, economic and cultural events and themes that have had an impact on the Americas. We will explore characteristics of colonial rule; achievement of independence; slavery and its effects; evolution and changes in governments; causes and effects of the Great Depression; and foreign policies of the region. Students will be prepared to take Paper 3 of the IB History exam [to be taken as a senior].
Students will leave this class with the ability to analyze historical material, synthesize their own ideas and critically evaluate the works of historians and primary sources. Students will demonstrate their own understanding of history by crafting arguments using relevant facts and sources. Students will be expected to participate at a college level in this class. Students MUST use effective time management and study skills. We have a great deal to cover, and we must move a rapid pace.
UNITS: Conflict and Crisis in the Americas
Unit 1: The Civil War
Unit 2: The Great Depression and the Americas (United States, Canada, Brazil)
Unit 3: Civil Rights and Social Movements in the Americas post 1945
Regular attendance and participation is critical to your understanding of the material and ultimately the successful completion of this course. Group work and class discussions will be an integral part of your learning. When you are not in class you miss valuable information. Every effort should be made to attend class.
Should you have an excused absence, you will be given five school days to turn in assignments without penalty. If you miss a test—with an excused absence—you will be given five school days to make up the test after school without penalty. For work missed on a day you have an unexcused absence, work must be turned in 1 day after you return or it is considered late. For tests missed with an UNEXCUSED absence, the student can expect a “0.”
Makeup work is YOUR responsibility. When a student returns after a day of absence they should immediately visit the designated folder for the day they missed and pick up one of each paper that is inside. Students should copy the missed notes from a classmate during the DO NOW or after school. NOTHING ELSE SHOULD BE COPIED FROM A CLASSMATE BESIDES NOTES. Students should utilize their classmates or ask me if they are unsure about what they are missing. There may be other assignments, not placed in the folders, for students to complete.
Grading Scale
90-100 = A
89-80 = B
79-70 = C
69-60 =D
59 or below = F
Formal assignments (assessments, papers, projects) will be worth 70% of your grade
Informal assignments (homework, quizzes, class work) will be worth 30%
Quizzes
Quizzes will be both announced and unannounced. They will cover class material and/or homework readings. Quizzes will be comprised of short answer questions and/or a few multiple choice questions. Quizzes will be given at the beginning of class. It is important that you come into class everyday fully prepared for class so that you can do well on the quizzes.
Tests
Tests will be given at the end of every unit. These will cover all of the material covered in the unit. Tests will include short answer and essay questions. You will be given at least one week’s notice for a test day.
Projects/Papers
Projects and Papers include assignments done in and outside of class. These can range from group projects in class to presentations. Projects and papers will be large assignments with many parts. In order to do well, it is important that you be sure to follow directions and ensure that you are doing everything asked of you.
Homework
Homework is to be completed at home! These assignments will often be assignments out of your textbook. These assignments will never serve as “busy” work. All assignments that you will be given designed to help you develop your skills as a historian and to ensure that you are prepared to get the content. All homework will be due at the beginning of class!
Participation
In this class, “good” participation means consistent attendance, preparation for class, active listening, generating pertinent questions and analysis, proper behavior during group work, and an overall enthusiasm for learning. To be graded on this, I will periodically check notes and grade discussions (giving grades based on relevant contribution to the discussion).
Academic Integrity Policy
Students are expected to follow a high standard of integrity in the classroom and in all work completed while at Harding. For all assignments completed in this course it is expected that the student turn in ORIGINAL work. Work that has been copied or plagiarized--including homework—will receive a permanent zero “0”.
Cheating includes, but is not limited to, the following behaviors:
§ Giving or receiving unauthorized verbal or written help during a testing period.
§ Removing test items from the classroom.
§ Using unauthorized materials during a test.
§ Copying another student’s work on an open-ended assignment, unless instructed by the teacher to work as a group.
§ Plagiarism, as defined below.
Plagiarism is a particular type of cheating that has no place in the academic community. Plagiarism is defined as the copying of the language, structure, ideas, and/or thoughts of another author or individual and representing it as one’s own work. Plagiarism is most easily avoided by learning proper documentation techniques.
Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the following behaviors:
§ Copy information word for word from a source and not containing it in quotation marks or block quotation form and citing the source properly.
§ Paraphrasing information from a source without proper citation.
Consequences for cheating include, but are not limited to:
First Offense: Permanent zero on the assignment or assessment; student/teacher conference, documented by student signature on a copy of this policy; phone call to parent; referral to guidance.
Second and Subsequent Offenses: Permanent zero on assignment or assessment; parental contact by administrator; referral to administration, at which point the cheating offenses become cumulative by documentation on the student’s disciplinary referral card.
“Permanent Zero” does not allow the student to re-do the assignment or assessment for a grade.
Other inappropriate behaviors, which are unethical and constitute cheating include:
§ Informing students in another class period of the same class test items.
§ Having unauthorized materials out, but not using them, during a test period.
§ Talking and/or communicating during testing or examination periods.
Social Studies Department "Failure is not an Option" Policy
The Social Studies Department believes that student mastery is an essential component in creating and maintaining high academic expectations. As such, any student who scores below a 77% (C) on a test has the option to retake the test with a "qualifier." In all Social Studies classes, a student meets the qualifier requirement when he/she has spent a total of one (1) hour in a remediation / re-teaching session conducted by the teacher (or his/her team designee). While in this remediation / re-teaching session students will adhere to established classroom rules and will be held accountable for the work that is undertaken in the session. Additionally, the student should complete this one (1) hour within five (5) school days following the return of the test.
Students will abide by all Harding University High School rules. In addition, students should abide by my classroom rules:
1) Technology may only be used with my permission.
2) You may only leave the class with a pass from me.
3) Any type of aggressive behavior is strictly prohibited. Verbal abuse, kicking, pushing, or fighting is not permitted.
Failure to abide by my classroom rules and Harding’s rules will result in disciplinary action. Disciplinary actions include, but are not limited to: warning, loss of participation points, one on one conference, parent contact, and referral to administration.
*************************************************************************************
DUE DATE: August______, 2015
*Please visit my Weebly page at Wickware.weebly.com
I have read, understand, and agree to abide by the policies and procedures outlined in my IB History of the Americas Course Outline.
Student Name PRINTED: ________________________________________
Student Name SIGNED: _________________________________________
Parent Name PRINTED: _________________________________________
Parent Name SIGNED: __________________________________________
Parent email: _________________________________________________
Parent phone #:______________________________________________