syllabus20121

							                            HI 80 United States History
                                     Mr. Hincker 2012-13
                                           mhincker@savcds.org
                        School: (912) 961-8688    Cell: (540) 230-9977 before 9 pm

What does it take to be successful in this year’s course?

Course Goals: The 8th grade course is the continuation of the first half of US History from the 7th grade.
Content spans from Reconstruction (1865-1877) through the Civil Rights movement. Students will
develop an understanding of the United States’ past through the examination of experiences along social,
political, and economic lines. Development of analytical skills through perspective exercises will build a
strong foundation for each student’s civic awareness.

In the classroom, students will engage in note taking, pair work, group collaboration, and class
discussions. Expectations are for the students to write essays, complete document-based-questions,
analyze maps and graphs, and participate in class. Presentations in front of the class will be a regular
occurrence to assist in public speaking.

This course is designed to assist students in developing a sense of civic understanding through the
medium of the past.

Blog: http://blogs.savcds.org/hincker

Expectations: -Students are expected to come to class prepared. This includes reading prior to class
and having completed the homework.


-Students are to take on the responsibility for any work that they missed. You can come see me or ask
one of your peers.

-Active participation in class.

Common S.O.U.L. Class Expectations
-Students will write the full honor pledge on tests and major assignments.

-Students will come to class each day with planbook, writing utensils, and appropriate texts/assignments for the day.
Students who are unprepared will be penalized.

-Students must keep their lockers locked at all times. .

-All items other than your coats/umbrellas should be placed in your lockers.

-Lunches and personal items (Ipods and cellphones) must be kept in lockers. Classrooms will be locked at 12:10.
Students are not to be in Pape during lunch.

-Be “S.O.U.L.ful”
Supplies:       3 Ring Binder 1 1/2” – 2”
                Loose Leaf notebook paper: College Rule
                Pencils/Pens

Content: Subject to adjustment depending on student feedback
1st Quarter:
        Era of Reconstruction (some topic examples given below)
                -Political schism -Civil Rights legislation        -Reconstruction Resistance
        Movement West
                -New technology to make frontier life possible     -Native American conflicts
                -Manifest Destiny

2nd Quarter: last ½ of the 19th century
        Industrialization and Urbanization
        Immigration
        Rise of American Imperialism
        World War I
        Research paper
3rd Quarter:
        Roaring Twenties
        Stock Market Crash, Great Depression
        Research project
4th Quarter:
        World War II
        Cold War and Proxy Wars
        Civil Rights Movement
        Awareness Project

Grades: Grading will be done on a point scale. Points attributed to certain exercises and project will be
subject to change from quarter to quarter. However, you will be given a new grading rubric for each
assignment. On average one can expect the grading to look similar to this:
         Homework:                       10-20 points
         Class work and note checks:     2-25 points
         Quizzes                         25-50 points
         Tests, projects, papers/DBQs 75-100 points

Assignment Policy Deadlines

Paper and Test deadlines: Are final. There is no wiggle room. Papers must be turned in by 2:15 the day
they are due at the latest. Papers cannot be emailed. If students know they will miss a test they are to
plan to take the test before departure or schedule a time immediately after they return prior to leaving on a
trip.

Homework: Should be turned in the day it is due. You do have 2 days after to turn in with 10% /1 point
deduction per day. After 2 days, the grade will be entered in as a 0. No make-up work thereafter.

If a student needs extra help or is merely “hazy” on a topic they can schedule time to see me during
tutorials, study halls, or after school. More and more responsibility will be placed on the student in terms
of organization, note taking, and scheduling as the school year progresses. This is to prepare for more
autonomy and responsibility at the upper school level. However, if a student is struggling and has come
to see me, I will take steps to arrange help or will contact parents.