John Gruver

Notebook Guidelines

U.S. History 1607-1790/Civics

Each student will be responsible for maintaining a notebook in a three ring binder for the entire school year. The required format for maintaining this notebook is listed below.

Notebook:

  1. The purpose of the notebook is to help you keep organized, detailed documentation of the material covered in class and to help you review that information on a daily basis. Your notebook must be divided into the following four sections: (1) bell ringer questions, (2) outlines, vocabulary terms, notes, (3) reading log, and (4)notebook assignments.
  1. Throughout each marking period you will be required to complete assignments that are to be placed directly in your notebook. These assignments will be discussed/reviewed in class but will not be counted as part of your homework grade. Rather, they will be counted as part of your notebook grade and your class participation grade.
  1. Each week during the school year you will be assigned a series of bell ringer questions designed to review information from material covered during the year. You are required to keep an inventory of these questions that includes the date on which the question was assigned, a copy of the question, and the correct answer to the question. This inventory will count as part of your notebook grade. Note: bell ringer quizzes will be given each marking period so be prepared to keep an accurate inventory. If you are absent be sure to get a copy of the question from one of your classmates.

4. Outlines:An outline will be given to you for topics to be discussed in class. This outline is to be copied on a single side of one sheet of paper in your notebook.

5. Vocabulary:Vocabulary terms will accompany topic outlines on a regular basis. These terms must also be placed on a separate page in your notebook; no other information should be written on pages that contain vocabulary terms. Each term is to be printed and underlined while the definition of the term may be written out. Also, be sure to skip one line between each definition and number your definitions consecutively for the entire marking period.

Example: 1. Unicameral- a one house congress

2. Bicameral- a two house congress

6. Reading Log: Very often in class we will read passages of text from the book, handouts, or

primary sources. The reading log will document your thoughts, ideas, and analysis of these

readings.