U.S. Studies
Syllabus and Course Outline
Julianne Dow
[email protected]
History is the version of past events that people have decided to agree upon.
-Napoleon Bonaparte
What is this class about?
U.S. Studies examines the modern American experience (20th and 21st centuries), with the understanding that the present always has its roots in the past. This will be a student-centered class and together we will question assumptions and consider issues deeply. There are two main elements of the class that may be different from history classes you’ve taken before:
IT IS THEMATIC. This means that the class is organized around themes that have resonated throughout United States history and that still affect people today, rather than around a strict chronological approach. Because the course is thematic, we will:
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Openly critique and question what is happening and what has happened
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Critically examine what freedom, justice, hope, democracy, and liberty mean in the context of the American experience
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Confront issues by becoming aware, critically examining the facts, and thinking about how people shape history
IT IS A COMMUNITY. Everyone is expected to take an active part in class and to respect the class community by always being prepared to participate. This also means that we will do many activities, projects and assignments that require you to work with other people.
What are the class expectations?
HOMEWORK. Homework is crucial for you to participate fully in the class. In addition to making up a percentage of your grade, homework will help you succeed on all major assignments and projects.
CLASS PARTICIPATION. Daily attendance is crucial, and everyone is expected to contribute to each class. Participation means coming to class prepared and with all materials. It also means contributing thoughtful written and oral responses and questions to class discussion and actively contributing to group work.
MAJOR ASSESSMENTS. At the end of many of our large projects, you will exhibit your work. This could be a group presentation, debate, Socratic Seminar, etc. Because these involve the entire classroom community, they cannot be duplicated. Therefore, your attendance is required for all major assessments. Contact me immediately if you have a conflict. Even if you’re sick, send an email or a note with a friend or sibling. No make-ups will be allowed without prior notification except in the case of an emergency.
What is the curriculum?
Over the course of the year, this class will push you to ask essential questions about U.S. history around five themes. Each unit will include historical and current events. We will explore the patterns and connections that exist through fundamental aspects of the American experience. While the course outline is subject to change, the units we explore should look something like this:
IDENTITY & FOUNDATIONS
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Essential Questions
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Focus Areas
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The “founding” of America
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Relations with Native Americans
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Coming to America? – Immigration to the U.S.
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Foundations of U.S. government
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BOUNDARIES
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Essential Questions
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Focus Areas
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DIVISIONS part I
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Essential Questions
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Focus Areas
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CONFLICT
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Essential Questions
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Focus Areas
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World War II
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Cold War
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War on Terror
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RESISTANCE
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Essential Questions
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Focus Areas
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What does resistance look like?
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When is it time to resist and how do you know?
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What is the best way to bring about change?
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Civil Rights Movements – African Americans, Women, Gay Rights Movement
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Other protest movements – environmentalism, current movements
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DIVISIONS part II
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Essential Questions
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Focus Areas
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What Common Core State Standards will U.S. Studies address?
Throughout the year, U.S. Studies students will participate in a variety of activities that will ask them to do the following:
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-Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources, connecting insights gained from specific details to an understanding of the text as a whole. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.11-12.1
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-Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary that makes clear the relationships among the key details and ideas. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.11-12.2
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-Evaluate various explanations for actions or events and determine which explanation best accords with textual evidence, acknowledging where the text leaves matters uncertain. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.11-12.3
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-Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including analyzing how an author uses and refines the meaning of a key term over the course of a text. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.11-12.4
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-Analyze in detail how a complex primary source is structured, including how key sentences, paragraphs, and larger portions of the text contribute to the whole. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.11-12.5
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-Evaluate authors’ differing points of view on the same historical event or issue by assessing the authors’ claims, reasoning, and evidence. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.11-12.6
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-Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., visually, quantitatively, as well as in words) in order to address a question or solve a problem. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.11-12.7
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-Evaluate an author’s premises, claims, and evidence by corroborating or challenging them with other information. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.11-12.8
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-Integrate information from diverse sources, both primary and secondary, into a coherent understanding of an idea or event, noting discrepancies among sources. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.11-12.9
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-Read and comprehend complex history/social studies texts independently and proficiently. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.11-12.10
How will we be evaluated? What about grades?
I’ll give you more detail about this soon, but here are the basics. You will be assessed on three outcomes. This means you will not receive a traditional, overall letter grade on a given project but will usually receive at least one grade in each of these assessment areas for each major assignment:
Critical Thinking (CT): Here you will be assessed on how well you support arguments with evidence, make connections, understand and draw conclusions from new information, and ask and try to answer important questions.
Communication (CM): Here you are assessed on how clearly you express yourself and communicate with others. This means working on grammar and writing skills and making sure that you get your point across, in both your writing and speaking. It also means being a good listener.
Personal Responsibility (PR): This is where attendance, turning things in on time, being prepared, participating in class and working with others count. You will take responsibility for your own learning and for enhancing the overall learning environment in the classroom. A large part of your PR grade will come from arriving on time and prepared to each class.
Final grades will be determined as follows:
Critical Thinking 25%
Communication 25%
Personal Responsibility 25%
Daily Work (Classwork & Homework) 25%
What about late work and make-up work?
LATE WORK: Because this class is made up of a community of learners, your work also affects your team and your classmates. For that reason, I will not accept late homework for credit unless it is the result of an excused absence. Late work means not finished by the due date before the start of class. For major projects, you will receive reduced credit for work turned in late.
MAKE-UP WORK: If you are absent from class or miss a significant portion of class, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed and what handouts you need before you come and talk to me.
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Signatures - I have read the U.S. Studies syllabus and understand it.
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Student’s name (print) Student’s signature
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Parent/Guardian’s name (print) Parent/Guardian signature