U.S. History 3 Syllabus

Course Title: U.S. History 3 (1890-1945)

Course Number: 0205

Length of Course: one semester

(graduation requirement)

Location: Room 231 M-F

Teacher: Mrs. Snavely

Contact:

Course Description: This course will focus on the development of the United States as an industrial and world power in the first half of the 20th century. The course will help students gain a greater understanding of the United States and its role in the world today. Students will learn how historical decisions and events continue to profoundly affect the world today and how knowledge of the causes behind past events can shape future events and decisions in the United States.

Course Objectives & Standards: Course objectives are based on Pennsylvania’s Academic Standards for History. A complete list of course objectives and the specific standards they meet will be provided upon request.

Introduction Letter:

Welcome to U.S. History 3. Think of this course as an opportunity to travel back through time to learn about and experience our nation’s past. Our journey will begin in the 1890s as America follows a policy of imperialism and begins to acquire an empire that goes beyond “manifest destiny.” We will then travel to Europe to explore the causes and beginning of World War I. We will learn about America’s involvement in the Great War, abroad and at home, and the impact this war had on our country. Our adventure will then take us through the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression of the thirties, and end with the conclusion of World War II in 1945.

For my part, I will provide you with a calendar for each chapter so that you will know the specific topic for each day and approximately what day chapter tests will be. Calendars, power points, checklists, and study guides will be on the school website for you. In class I will incorporate some readings, activities, and projects into the course to get you involved in “experiencing” history and make it relevant to today. I am also available during my planning period (period ______), activity period, and after school if you should ever need additional help or have questions regarding your grade.

For your part, in order to make this class exciting, you must PARTICIPATE! If you read or have something that pertains to this class, bring it in. If you watch something on television or other device that relates to a topic in this class, share that information. Your comments, opinions, and questions on the information we are learning in class are welcomed and encouraged. Ask your parents, other relatives, and neighbors about what you are learning in class and share with us their responses. Talk to your friends about what you are learning. Make this YOUR class.

The second thing you need to do is to study and do your work. Everything that we do in class or that is assigned as homework is designed to help you better understand the material or enrich your knowledge of American history. If you expect to learn and be successful in this course, YOU must study, YOU must do your work, and YOU must put forth your best effort. You can sign up for Remind as a way of remembering when tests and checklists are due.

The third thing is to be here for class every day. Students usually don’t do as well in a course that they consistently miss. If you are absent from class it is your responsibility to find out what work you missed. In accordance with school policy your make-up work must be turned in within the number days equal to the number of days that you were absent in order to receive full credit.

Please share this letter with your parent(s) and/or guardian(s). Have them read it and the rest of this syllabus. If you and a parent/guardian sign on the last page and return it by _____ you will earn 3 bonus points! Let’s have a great semester!

- Mrs. Snavely

Class Policies:

Notebook: it is strongly recommended that you keep a notebook or download the notes from my webpage and add to them in class; test questions will be based on class notes & class handouts; also have some kind of folder organization system for class handouts, checklist material, & returned graded assignments

Grades: tests are weighted 50% of your grade & assignments are also weighted 50% of your grade; there is no curve; please see me if you have any questions regarding your grade before the end of the 9 weeks

Late Policy for Work: most class work & homework will be turned in as part of your checklist that is due on the day that you take the chapter test; the list of assignments & approximate due date for the next checklist will be on the front whiteboard; your checklist is due by the end of the class period that you take the test otherwise it is considered late; you may turn in all or part of a checklist up to 2 days late for ½ credit; if an assignment is not part of the checklist it is due at the beginning of class when it is collected or it is considered late; you may also turn in these assignments up t0 2 days late for ½ credit; there is no credit earned if an assignment is more than 2 days late unless there are extenuating circumstances

Make-up Tests: if you were legally absent during a test you need to make-up the test within the same number of days that you were absent; it is your responsibility to let me know that you need to make-up a test; the make-up test may or may not be the same as the original test

Make-up Work: if you were legally absent it is your responsibility to find out what work you missed; your work for the checklist is always due on the day you take the chapter test; all other assignments must be turned in within the same number of days that you were absent to receive full credit

Cheating: 0 points for the test or homework assignment for all involved;“shared” assignments will receive no credit for the borrower or the lender . . . if you work on assignments together during study hall, etc., your work should still not be 100%, or even close to 100%,identical; copying homework answers from a website is also cheating

Extra Credit: extra credit points are offered during each 9 week grading periodadded to your assignments category; no extra credit will be offered at the end of a 9 week grading period unless you miss a letter grade by up to 2 points; if 2 points raise your letter grade you may turn in a 2 point extra credit assignment; it is your responsibility to come to me if you think 2 extra credit points will raise your grade & the extra credit assignment must be turned in by the last day of the 9 weeks

Returned Assignments: please keep all graded assignments that are returned to you until at least the end of the 9 week grading period; the score for any assignment entered on Seneca Valley's computer grade book will not be changed unless you have evidence that you already turned it in & it was graded

Other Policies: please treat everyone in the classroom with respect;this includes being on time & in your seat when the bell rings (4th late without a pass = detention), not closing your eyes / sleeping during class, not doing work for another class during this class, not using cell phones, etc. unless being used specifically for class (any technology not being used appropriately will be taken by the teacher for the remainder of class),and having basic manners (not talking when someone else is, no offensive language, no rude gestures, no insults, etc.); also please limit your hall pass use & make sure you sign outreturn the hall pass

By remaining in this course you are agreeing to abide by these class policies and all other Seneca Valley Senior High School policies. 

Please sign below & turn in this syllabus by due date to earn bonus points.

------

Signatures for 3 bonus points:

Name/period:

Student’s signature:

Parent’s/Guardian’s signature:

Parent(s)/Guardian(s): Please email me at with any questions or concerns. Check out my website the Senior High School website for calendars, power points, study guides, and signing up for Remind if interested.