US History Regents
Course Information
Mrs. Jeanne Young CA Bouton High School Room 121 jyoung@voorheesville.org
OVERVIEW
A full year course, US History will help to prepare you for the New York State US History Regents Exam. Areas of study
from this point forward will include, but are not limited to:
Geography
The New World
The Struggle for
Independence
A New Nation
Civil War
Industrial Revolution
World War I
The Depression
World War II
Vietnam
Present Day
By focusing on these areas of study, the students will be able to demonstrate a knowledge of:
1. The major historical, geographical, societal, political, and economic focuses and events that have shaped our
nation.
2. The development of American culture.
3. The important roles and contributions of individuals and groups.
4. The influence of decisions and conditions in the past upon present issues and problems.
COURSE MATERIALS REQUIRED IN CLASS EVERY DAY
Textbook: The American Vision, Glencoe/McGraw‐Hill 2003 *COVERED* YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO GO TO YOUR
LOCKER… come to class prepared! No book could mean a zero for that day’s assignment.
Notebook: It is recommended that you have a 3‐ring binder for this class so you can include notes, handouts,
quizzes/exams, and miscellaneous items to be used for future reference.
Writing Utensil: This means bring a pen or pencil to class. All work should be done in pen. All tests and quizzes will
require a number 2 pencil for the scantron. Please have your writing utensil ready BEFORE class begins as you will not
be able to interrupt class to get one… you will simply have to stay after school THAT DAY to complete your test or quiz.
Failure to stay after equals a ZERO!
Review Book: The Prentice Hall Regents Review book is recommended as a study guide for both the midterm exam and
the Regents Exam. Keep your review book handy as assignments will also come from the review book.
GRADING POLICY
Grades will be determined by points accumulated out of points available for all learning activities. Learning activities
include, but are not limited to:
Class Participation/Class Assignments
This includes attendance, promptness, class preparation (pen/pencil, notebook, textbook), general participation, and
successful completion of all classwork.
Homework
Homework sheets will be given out in advance for each chapter. Homework sheets are always available for download on
Blackboard and extra copies can be found in the homework folder.
ALL homework is due on its assigned date and will be collected IN CLASS. THERE IS ABSOLUTLY NO LATE WORK
In the case of a lesson, you are still present in school and therefore you are still expected to turn in your
homework.
If you are absent on the day homework was collected, it is your responsibility to turn your work in upon
returning to school. I WILL NOT hunt you down for your homework assignments. Failure to turn homework into
me after returning from an absence is a ZERO.
ABSOLUTELY NO HOMEWORK GRADES CAN BE MADE UP… ONCE A ZERO, ALWAYS A ZERO!
Extenuating circumstances will be taken into account on a case‐by‐case basis.
And above all REMEMBER ‐ ‐ Homework does not harm you, it helps you! If you have any problems, please come
see me!
Oh, and another note... homework is to be done by YOU and you alone! If I find work that has been worked on
together or that has been shared (copied), it is a ZERO!
If ALL of your homework assignments are completed and turned in on‐time, I will drop your lowest quiz grade!
If EVERYONE in the class has their homework done for class, the entire class will earn 5 points on their next test or quiz!
Quizzes
1. Chapter Quizzes: Quizzes will be on assigned readings and class discussion. Quizzes will be announced a couple
of days prior to the testing date and a review guide will be posted on Blackboard. Usually you can expect a quiz
a week.
2. Vocab Quizzes: Vocab quizzes will test your knowledge of the current chapter’s vocabulary. Quizzes will be
announced a couple of days prior to the testing date. A vocab list will be available for students to study. Usually
you can expect a quiz a week.
If you are absent from class on the day of a quiz, it is YOUR responsibility to set up a time to make‐up the quiz within
three (3) days. I will not hunt you down, I will simply record the missed quiz as a ZERO.
Exams
Exams will be announced ahead of time with study guides available on Blackboard. Exams will consist of multiple choice,
identifications, short answers, and essays. Usually you can expect an exam after every three chapters.
If you are absent from class on the day of an exam, it is YOUR responsibility to set up a time to make‐up the test within
three (3) days. I will not hunt you down, I will simply record the missed exam as a ZERO.
Please note: Beginning with the second marking period, you will be assigned Weekly Online Quizzes on Blackboard for a
total of 10 online quizzes that will review past material and help prepare you for the Regents. Quizzes will open for one
week at a time. Once a quiz closes, it will not reopen… THERE IS NO GRACE PERIOD TO MAKE UP MISSED QUIZZES! No
Computer = No excuse: use the library or the computer labs at school during your study hall or after school. Online
quizzes will be averaged for an exam grade. WARNING: failure to complete online quizzes can result in failure for the
marking period and potentially failure for the course.
Special Projects/Essays
Both individual and group projects will be assigned throughout the course of the year. Although some class time may be
devoted to working on special projects, a bulk of the work will be required to be completed at home. Each special
Generally, however, all projects are required to:
Be on time
Satisfy all requirements as outlined on the projects procedures page
Be neat, well thought out, and organized
Show creativity and time devotion
Have a professional presentation where you are an expert on the topic and are teaching the class everything you
know... this means you ARE NOT reading off of slides, posters, or note cards!
Essays, both Thematic Essays and DBQs, will be assigned based on the current unit of study. Some essays will be written
in class where others may be required to be written/typed at home.
All typed work is to meet the following criteria:
Name and period TYPED in upper left hand corner
Double spaced
12 point font, Times New Roman
1‐inch margins
STAPLED prior to turning in
Typed work that does not meet the above criteria will be returned to be redone.
GRADING POLICY: GRADING CRITERIA
Neatness, legibility, and level of completion. This includes:
If I cannot read it, I cannot grade it. Type your work if necessary.
Use blue or black ink only
No frayed edges
If you spilled something on it, get a clean copy. I don’t want/need to know what you had for dinner last night.
Deadlines MUST be met ‐ ‐ late work is NOT accepted!
As a general rule, I do not assign Extra Credit to individuals so do not ask.
GRADING POLICY: PARENT PORTAL
Grades are available for review on eSchool Parent Portal. Grades will be updated on a bi‐weekly basis. Please note the
following codes when reviewing grades:
(inc) an assignment is incomplete and can be completed for credit; inc assignments are factored into the marking
period average as a zero until made up
(0) an assignment was either not turned in or zero credit was earned (as in the case of copying)
(ex) an assignment has been excused for the student (as in the case of not being in class for a class activity); excused
assignments do not count against the student
IMPORTANT:
(**) an assignment is identified as “missing” PLEASE NOTE: I code all assignments with one of the above three codes
or the grade earned for the assignment. An assignment automatically defaults to “missing” if no grade is
entered as of the assignment due date. In most cases, I have not entered the grade/code for the assignment,
which would explain the default of “missing.”
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Successful completion of the US History course requires a 65 or above final average. All USH students are required to
BLACKBOARD
Everyone has a blackboard account for this class. It is required that you log on DAILY! Important information and class
assignments with due dates will be posted there. You will also find your weekly online quizzes there. You will have your
own log on name and password. See me if you have problems logging on or lose your password. For your
parents/guardians, they may use the guest log in: rm121, password: waters.
BONUS QUESTIONS
At the start of class a regent’s review question will be posted on the overhead. You are given the opportunity to answer
the question at your desk and turn it in when answer are asked to be passed forward. Late answers WILL NOT be
accepted… get to class on‐time to answer the question. Correct answers will earn a bonus point which will then be
averaged into your final grade for the marking period. Incorrect answers will not penalize you. If I hear the answer out‐
loud prior to review in class, the question will not count. As Bonus Questions are a treat for you, they can easily be
taken away should your class be disrespectful.
PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism is (any and all of the following academic indiscretions):
1. Copying without quotation marks or paraphrasing without acknowledgment from another person’s writing. This
includes phrases of more than THREE words.
2. Using someone else’s facts or ideas without acknowledgment
3. Handing in another person’s work
4. Handing in work for one course that you handed in for credit in another course without permission of both
instructors
5. Taking work off the Internet and submitting it as your own
If a student commits plagiarism in any form, the student will fail the assignment and appropriate individuals will be
notified. Plagiarism is a serious academic offense!
CHEATING
Cheating is not acceptable. If you are caught cheating, you will receive an automatic zero (0), which cannot be made up.
A letter will then be drafted and sent to both your parent/guardian and to administration.
ATTENDANCE AND TARDIES
Absences: Absences must be documented and valid. A student who misses work due to absence must make up the
work within three (3) days of returning to school. Students will schedule and take make‐up exams on their own time.
Failure to complete a make‐up exam within three (3) days of returning to school will result in a zero.
Tardies: Students are required to be in class ON TIME! Tardies are not acceptable. If by chance, you are going to be
delayed due to a previous class or guidance appointment, please be sure to have a pass. Three (3) unacceptable tardies
will result in a school detention.
FIRE DRILLS
In the event of a fire drill please calmly and quietly exit the building and look for me at the edge of the tennis courts… it
is a lot easier for 25 of you to find one of me versus me looking for everyone… check in first, socialize second!
SUBSTITUTES
In the event I am not in class a substitute is expected to receive the same respect you would the classroom teacher. The
classroom rules HAVE NOT changed. Substitutes will be left with a classroom evaluation to evaluate the behavior of
each class on a scale of 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent). Any class receiving a 5 will earn 5 points on their next test or quiz. Any
student mentioned as being exceptional in class will earn an additional 5 points, any student mentioned as being a
problem will earn 2 days detention, no questions asked. Evaluations are at the discretion of the substitute.
CLASSROOM RULES AND ETIQUETTE... A.K.A. HOW TO SURVIVE WITH MRS. YOUNG
1. RESPECT! Respect yourself, each other, and myself. Inappropriate behavior WILL NOT be tolerated and
disciplinary action WILL be taken.
2. Abide by the student guidelines and maintain appropriate dress.
3. Be on time… this means you are in your seat by the time the bell rings.
4. Turn assignments into the “IN BOX” ‐ ‐ never put anything on my desk or slide under my door.
5. Use the bathroom BEFORE or AFTER my class ‐ ‐ you WILL NOT be able to use it during class so do not ask…
medical conditions and emergencies will be dealt with on a case‐by‐case basis.
6. Ask permission to leave the classroom.
7. Wait until I dismiss you before leaving... this means remain seated until you are dismissed... NO lining up by the
door.
8. Raise your hand before speaking... which also means do not hold side conversations.
9. Turn in all assignments on time
10. DO NOT throw anything in the classroom.
11. DO NOT write on the desks.
12. Clean up after yourself! I am not your maid! Throw out unwanted papers, garbage, and water/juice/soda
bottles. Should a problem occur, all food and drink will be BANNED!
13. Take your classroom materials with you when you leave… I am not a babysitter and will not keep your book for
you.
14. Keep your hands and feet to yourself.
15. Come to class prepared... this means bring your book, pen/pencil, and you are seated and ready to begin when
the bell rings. You WILL NOT be allowed to go to your locker. If you are unprepared it will reflect in your class
participation grade and you could receive a zero for that days assignment.
16. Prepare yourself. We are all here to learn and to do this you must focus on the class... this means what happens
in the hallways stays in the hallways.
17. TRY!! If you do not try, you can not succeed.
18. Laugh... you need to have a sense of humor and enjoy yourself… if we ALL work together we can make it to June
without any problems.
OPEN DOOR POLICY
My door is always open if you have any questions, comments, concerns or suggestions about the class. In addition, I am
always available for extra help. Please make arrangement to see me during a free period or after school. This is for your
benefit so I can give you the attention and help you deserve… stopping me in‐between classes or in the halls will not give
me the time or the opportunity to fully address your needs. I do not bite… I promise!
Cut here and return by WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12th for a 100 as a quiz grade! USH * J. Young * 2012‐2013
Please sign below attesting to having read and understood the above course information and agreeing to abide by the
classroom rules at all times.
Student Signature Parent/Guardian Signature
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