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COURSE SYLLABUS

University City High School


Mr. Irwin - School Year 2009 – 2010
858-457-3040 Ext 102 - www.mirwin.weebly.com
HONORS U.S. HISTORY 1 – 2

PREREQUISITE: Above average academic achievement as indicated by a grade of “A” or “B” in both 10 th
grade World History and 10th grade English; recommendation for student enrollment in Honors U.S. History
by the student’s 10th grade World History teacher, the 10th grade English teacher, or both. Students/parents
who wish to challenge this policy must attend a student-parent conference with the teacher & counselor and
sign a commitment agreement.

TEXT: A People & A Nation – Eighth Edition (Houghton Mifflin, 2008).

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Designed for the college bound, the GATE qualified, or for the student who
seeks a challenging academic curriculum in U.S. History. In this course, students will acquire knowledge of
American history from the colonial period to present day, with major emphasis on the development of
American ideals and institutions. Students will use original source documents and other resources to
supplement the text as they study the social, cultural, intellectual, economic, political, and diplomatic history
of our country. This will require all students who take this course to possess good reading, essay writing and
critical thinking skills, and to continually improve theses skills as the school year progresses.

SAN DIEGO CITY SCHOOLS SEMESTER EXAMINATIONS:


All students enrolled in this course will be required to take the SDCS semester examinations for Honors U.S.
History, which will be given near the completion of each semester. Student scores on these exams will be
used in the computation of the student’s grade in Honors U.S. History.

COURSE METHODS:
Reading from textbook, literature and other material ~ Lectures and note taking ~
Class discussions relating to assigned readings ~ Films, slide shows & PowerPoint presentations ~
Homework including both assigned readings and written responses ~ Term projects ~ Current events
assignments ~ Small group activities ~ Independent research ~ Written essays.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Throughout the school year, students will:
Master a broad body of historical knowledge ~ Demonstrate knowledge of historical chronology ~ Use
historical data to support an argument or position ~ Differentiate between historiographical schools of
thought ~ Interpret and apply data from original documents ~ Effectively use analytical skills of evaluation,
cause and effect, compare and contrast ~ Work effectively with others to produce products and solve
problems ~ Prepare for and attempt to successfully pass the SDCS semester examinations.

GRADING POLICY AND SCHOLARSHIP:


A weighted points system will be used to determine student grades as detailed below:
• Tests will comprise 50% of a student’s overall grade.
• Written homework and notes in student’s notebook - 15% of the overall grade.
• Weekly quizzes - 10% of a student’s overall grade.
• Term projects - 15% of the overall grade.
• Class work, participation, including current events - 10% of the grade.

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CLASSROOM RULES AND POLICIES:
1. The student is to be on time, in assigned seat and beginning work by the time the bell rings.
2. The student will come to class prepared to work by bringing all needed materials such as notebook,
paper, pencil, pen, textbook and any other material that may be required.
3. Respect the authority of the teacher and the rights of all students to learn.
4. Obtain teacher recognition before speaking; do not talk when the teacher or an acknowledged student is
speaking.
5. Electronic devices such as cell phones, pagers, iPods, other MP3 players, CD players, accessories to
these devices, or similar items are to be kept turned off and stored out of sight, in purse or backpack.
6. Obey and follow all school rules, respect others and their material and property.

TARDIES AND TRUANCIES:


1. ONE (1) tardy results in a student/teacher talk and loss of citizenship points.
2. TWO (2) tardies will result in a call to parent or guardian and loss of citizenship points.
3. THREE (3) tardies will result in detention and loss of citizenship points.
4. FOUR (4) tardies will result in a referral and citizenship grade of “U”.
5. TRUANCY – truancy policy SB813 will be enforced. Truants will be assigned Saturday School, and
citizenship points will be deducted. Repeat truants will receive a referral, parent will be notified and
student will receive a citizenship grade of “U”.

HOMEWORK:
Daily/Weekly homework assignments, which will include reading and written work, will be given. Students
are expected to complete all homework, and to manage their time in such a way as to meet all homework due
dates. No Late Work Will Be Accepted!!!

IRWIN WEBSITE & CLASS ASSIGNMENTS:


I maintain a website for my Honors U.S. History students and their parents. The website can be accessed
from either of two web addresses. They are:
www.mirwin.weebly.com or www.universitycityhigh.org
Posted on my website on a weekly basis are all class assignments, objectives and due dates. Students will
visit this site regularly. Parents are encouraged to visit the class website at any time, in order to stay
informed about tests, quizzes, homework assignments, projects and their respective due dates. This class
website will be used as a portal to online quizzes that will comprise 10% of the student’s grade. Also,
through either method of accessing my website, students and parents can email me, simply by clicking on the
icon that says “Send Email to Mr. Irwin.”

VIEWING STUDENT GRADES:


Student grades, by assignment, are posted regularly on the San Diego School District’s Internet based Zangle
gradebook. Parents are encouraged to register for Parent Connect, by contacting UCHS to obtain a PIN so
that they and their student can view grades at anytime. Zangle gives parents and students to ability to check
academic performance, without having to wait for a six-week progress report.

MAKE-UP WORK:
Since the student will be in class every day, except for legitimate reasons such as a serious illness, there
should be very few instances in which a student needs to make up work. All assignments will be posted on
the class website so that students remain informed about their assignments and due dates. As the result,
students will be expected to turn in legitimately missed work on the day of their return or at the latest, within
24 hours of their return. Legitimately missed tests must be made up by appointment after school, within the
next five class days. The teacher reserves the right to use alternative tests for make-up purposes. Failure to
make up missed assignments, including tests, in the manner described, will result in a grade of “zero” for the
missed assignment or test.

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LEARNING EXPECTATION:
The state of California has adopted educational standards that describe the knowledge and skill sets that the
student is expected to acquire as the result of this course of study. I will plan lessons that address these
standards and will deliver a curriculum that meets the California Standards. In order to acquire the proper
knowledge and skill sets mentioned, the student must make the effort to learn, by accepting
responsibility for all work assigned and by self-managing the reading/homework load each week.
Properly executed, each student will exit this course with solid knowledge of all aspects of U.S. History.

CHEATING:
UCHS has an academic honesty policy that will be adhered to. Student behavior involving any form of
cheating and/or plagiarism will not be tolerated. This includes cheating on tests or quizzes, using “canned”
essays, copying another student’s homework, and/or any other form of dishonesty. Evidence of violation of
the UCHS honesty policy will result in a grade of zero for the assignment, no make up opportunity, a referral,
a call home to parents and the lowering of the student’s citizenship grade to “U”. Repeat offenders will be
subject to more severe consequences that can include reporting the offense on the student’s high school
transcript, receiving an “F” for the semester, and being dropped from Honors U.S. History.

PARENT COOPERATION & INVOLVEMENT:


In order to maximize the learning process, I encourage parents to talk to their children regularly about
school, homework, tests and projects, and to provide a home environment that supports learning. I plan to
call and email parents from time to time, to let them know how their child is doing in class. Parents should
feel free to contact me by email or by phone, with any question about how their student is doing. I welcome
the student and his/her parent supporters to Honors U.S. History!

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PLEASE RETURN THIS COMPLETED & SIGNED PAGE TO MR. IRWIN:

I have read the course syllabus, and I understand the course description, the teaching methods that will be
employed and how the grades will be calculated. I understand that the student is responsible for all class
work and homework, and that the student is expected to follow all school and class rules. I understand the
consequences for violating school or class rules, including honesty, tardiness, truancy, as well as poor
citizenship in class.

________________________________ ___________________________________
Student Printed Name Student Signature Date:

________________________________ ___________________________________
Parent Printed Name (Required) Parent Signature (Required) Date:

________________________________ ___________________________________
Parent Daytime Telephone Number Parent Evening Telephone Number

__________________________________________
Parent Email Address

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