2018-2019 United States History II Syllabus Mrs.

Bowles
Email: powens@bostonpublicschools.org Room 204
Class Website: mrsbowlesclasses.weebly.com

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:

United States History II covers the events, issues and ideas from the 1870s to the present. The course and units are
based on the Boston Public Schools History Standards. This year’s units are as follows:
Unit I: The Economic, Political and Social impact of the Industrial Revolution (1870-1920)
Unit II: The Cause and Impact of Immigration (1850-1920)
Unit III: The Age of Reform and Progressivism (1900-1940)
Unit IV: US Expansion and Emergence as a World Power (1870-1920)
Unit V: Return to Normalcy and the Roaring Twenties (1910-1930)
Unit VI: The Great Depression and the New Deal (1930-1940)
Unit VII: World War II at Home and Abroad (1940-1945)
Unit VIII: Post War Issues and the Cold War Home and Abroad (1945-1960)
Unit XI: The Turmoil of the Sixties and Seventies (1960-1980)
Unit X: The End of the Cold War and Modern Day Issues (1980-present)

HOW YOU WILL BE GRADED:

Each term, your grade will be determined by:

 Performance Assessments (i.e. Debates, Socratic Seminars, Projects or Presentations) 25%
 Mini Document Based Questions or IB Style Assessments 25%
 Classwork and Class Decorum 20%
 Homework 20%
 Binder Organization and Completeness 10%

--Performance Assessments are a way of assessing what you have learned. These assignments unique to and are
based on what you have learned throughout the unit. You might participate in a Socratic seminar or debate or
create an online presentation about the topic we have studied. You could be asked to connect what you have
learned to modern day issues while writing a letter to the editor of a newspaper or lobbying elected officials.
There are usually two or three performance assessments in each term.
--Mini-Document Based Questions are generally assigned once within a unit. They are essentially short in-class
essays where you refer to historical documents in your answer. You will be able to use all of your notes,
homework and classwork to complete a DBQ planning sheet that you can use when writing.

--IB-Style Assessments are also generally given at least once a unit. These are based on the IB-Paper 1 and are
intended to help you get ready for the challenge of IB History next year! You will be asked to use primary
sources to answer questions with clearly written

--Homework will always be reading and answering questions from an assigned chapter of The Americans. You
will find all of the chapters on the class website. There are usually 2-3 sections of homework assigned per
week. All homework should be completed by due date given, but late homework turned in within the same unit
will be accepted. It will be collected and assigned a grade based on completeness, accuracy and effort (on a
scale of 0 to 10) and then returned to you. If you let someone copy your homework or copy someone else’s you
will receive a zero. No exceptions.

-- Classwork can be many different things and you will have classwork every day. You may be asked to read
and annotate an article, analyze historical documents or quotes, or discuss ideas. You might work in groups,
pairs or individually. Generally, classwork is due at the end of each class and will be graded based on
completeness, accuracy and effort (on a scale of 0 to 10). Part of your grade for classwork is based on your class
decorum, which simply means how you act in class. Examples of proper class decorum include:
 Coming to class regularly and arriving on time
 Staying awake, alert and on task during class
 Paying attention to the discussion and taking notes
 Contributing to class discussions without dominating them
 Keeping side conversations to a minimum and not distracting peers
 Being aware of your language and attitude toward your peers and teacher
 Be reasonable and respectful with cell phone use. Keep them on silent. Keep them off to the side. No social
media or constant texting. If you are using your cellphone for notes or for a class assignment, please make sure
you are focusing on your work. Just act grown and polite and there will be no problem. If your phone is a
distraction to you or to others, I will hold it for you for the class period.
 We will periodically use a circle format to discuss in-class, school-wide, local, or even national and
international issues that have an impact your learning and your life. While you will not be graded on
participation in these circle discussions, it is important that you are engaged and respectful during these
discussions.

--Binders are required and must be brought to class everyday. You should have a between a 1 ½ and 2 inch
binder and a pack of filler paper to start. All notes, handouts and returned work should be stored in your binder
in an organized way by unit. You should have a helpful tools section, a notes section and a returned work
section and each should be organized by date.
 Please tear this off and return with both pages completed for your first classwork grade!

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THIS SIDE IS FOR YOU TO COMPLETE:
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I have read and understood the requirements and expectations for United States History II.

Your name:_______________________________________ Signature: _________________________________________

What should I know about you to help you do well in this class? What did you like most about History classes you have
taken before? What did you like least? What do you think that your biggest strengths are as a student? What are your
biggest weaknesses?
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THIS SIDE IS FOR YOUR PARENT OR GUARDIAN TO COMPLETE:
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I am excited to be your child’s 10th grade US History II teachers and to partner with you to help your child grow and succeed as
a learner. As a busy parent myself, I know it can be a challenge to stay engaged with your child’s education—especially as they
become older and more independent. I would like to help connect you to what your child is learning as much a possible though
and plan to provide brief, periodic updates throughout the school year using the Remind App. We can also message each other
through this app if there are any questions or concerns. Below is some information about the Remind App (you can also learn
more at remind.com):

Remind helps you stay connected

You are your child’s first teacher. Student success depends on the support of networks that include parents, teachers,
and other key stakeholders in their school communities. To strengthen these partnerships, teachers are using Remind to
bring learning home. Remind is a free, safe messaging app that keeps families up to date with what’s happening in the
classroom. Teachers can send messages to an entire class, smaller groups, or individuals. These quick, simple messages
can help you and your student stay informed about:
• Homework assignments
• Field trip updates
• Personalized support or feedback
• And more!

Remind is safe

Personal contact information stays private. Phone numbers aren’t exchanged between teachers, students, and parents.

Remind is accessible

Teachers can use Remind to reach students and parents on any device, including texting-only phones—no smartphones
necessary. • Students and parents can receive Remind messages by text (in the United States and Canada), email, and
push notifications on the app.

If you are interested in using the Remind App, please check the box below and provide your cell phone number. I will
add you to my class list! You can also follow the directions on the back of this page to sign up yourself if you prefer.
If you have any questions, please reach out to me at powens@bostonpublicschools.orgor at 617-635-9989.

_______ YES. I would like to connect through the Remind App.

_______ NO. I prefer not to connect through the Remind App.

Parent or Guardian name: _______________________________________________________________________________

Your cell phone number: _______________________________________________________________________________

Your email: __________________________________________________________________________________________