United States History II Honors
Ms. Panayev
[email protected]
Office: Social Studies, 3rd floor
Available: 1,5,6, and after school
Course Description: History is society’s memory of where it has been, what it values, and how decisions of the
past have contributed to contemporary conditions. History deals with chronological sequences, continuity and
change, the multiple causes and effects of historical phenomena, and changing interpretations of the past. This
course is a study of the years 1898 to the present. It explores the American expansion overseas, World War I
and the Versailles Treaty, international leadership vs. isolationism, the Twenties, the Great Depression and the
New Deal. It continues with World War II, and the postwar world and the Cold War, Civil Rights, the counterculture of the 60s, Vietnam, Watergate, Reaganomics, and concludes with the Age of the Internet and
Technology. Appreciation for the pluralistic nature of American society is nurtured. Attention to ethnicity,
class, the roles of women, Native Americans, African Americans, and other minorities will be given.
The student taking this course should be a competent reader who likes to spend time reading historical writings,
newspapers and magazines. The student must be self-motivated and willing to study an average of
approximately three hours a week. The successful student must work to develop skills necessary for college
such as note taking, library research and the preparation of research papers as well as expository essays. Since a
grasp of facts will be assumed, the student must be able to see relationships and evaluate historical sources so as
to render judgments on the facts. This satisfies the second year of the two-year U.S. History requirement
Standards: NJCCCS: 6.1.12.A.5.a – 6.1.12.D.16.c
RH.11-12.1-10; WHST.11-12.1-10
Text Title:
Publisher/Author Year/Edition ISBN
The Americans (H) McDougall-Littel 11th/1998
Text Distribution
0395851823 Hard Copy, PDF Copy, & online
Supplementary Materials: Internet activities, educational videos, articles from journals, magazines, and/or
newspapers.
Units of Study:
I. Intro/Review Material – The Gilded Age and the Triumph of Industrial Capitalism
• immigration, urbanization, industry, life at the turn-of-the-century
II. Imperialism and Interventionism
• American expansion and foreign policy in the early 1900s
III. Progressivism and Its Legacy
• Progressive Era changes and its impact on activism and social change
IV. The WWI Era and Its Aftermath
• U.S. involvement and its impact at home and abroad
V. Boom: The Roaring ’20s and Modern Culture
• economics, politics, and culture wars
VI. Bust: The Great Depression and the New Deal
• the crash, the depression, various groups' experiences, and government intervention
VII. The WWII Era and Its Aftermath
• U.S. involvement and its impact at home and abroad
VIII. Cold War, Warm Hearth: 1950-1963
• Eisenhower presidency, JFK foreign policy, domestic anti-communism
IX. The Modern Civil Rights Movement: ca. 1954 – ca. 1970
• leaders, groups, tactics, impact, controversies
X. Vietnam and the 1960s Explosion
• New Frontier, Great Society; involvement, escalation, home front, withdrawal
XI. The Unfinished Journey: Contemporary America, ca. 1975-present
• Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Clinton, the Bushes, Obama: domestic and foreign policy,
globalization
Proficiencies:
1. Evaluate data from primary and secondary sources and reach justifiable conclusions about historical
events.
2. Apply geographical themes of location, place, movement, human-environmental interaction, and regions
to American history.
3. Compare and contrast the credibility of divergent interpretations of an historical event, such as the
decision to drop the atomic bombs, in terms of available evidence.
4. Analyze the interaction of foreign and domestic policy in a specific time period.
5. Identify specific historical terms in service of analyzing events; for example: domino theory, Gulf of
Tonkin Resolution, undeclared war, and Vietnamization to discuss aspects of America's involvement in
the Vietnam War.
6. Develop study skills and habits including skills in gathering, organizing, and using, information to write
and speak more effectively.
7. Explain the impact of science and technology on the life of Americans in various time periods.
8. Analyze how various historians may weigh causal factors differently and why historical interpretations
may change over time.
9. Recognize examples of the following U.S. policies during different periods in our history: neutrality,
isolation, international conflict and international cooperation.
10. Write essays, prepare multimedia presentations, and engage in project-based learning activities.
11. Explain how the historical development of the United States continues to take place in a global context
through the connection between world events and the role of the United States.
12. Explore current methods of research, using the computer and use a variety of technologies as tools for
learning.
13. Constructively collaborate with peers by sharing ideas, examples, and insights productively and
responsibly in discussions.
14. Constructively collaborate with peers on group work and projects.
Required Materials for Class:
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A 3-ring binder (4-5”) with following dividers:
Highlighters, pens, pencils
Stapler and 3-hole puncher
Notes
Handouts, and homework assignments (loose-leaf paper)
Returned tests/quizzes and other key assignments, and writing assignments
Notebook Paper
Attendance:
Much of this course cannot be duplicated outside of regular class time. Consequently, daily attendance,
promptness, preparedness, and readiness to learn are necessities. Attendance is extremely important. A student
should not be absent from class unless absolutely necessary. Excessive absences are a common cause for
student failure. You cannot succeed at something if you are not there.
Late Arrival:
If you arrive late to class, you must have a pass. According to school policy, if you arrive 1-5 minutes late, you
will receive a 20-minute detention with me (Social Studies Office, 3rd floor, right after school) or in Central
Detention. More than 5 minutes late will be documented, and more than 15 minutes will be regarded as a class
cut.
Passes during class:
Passes will not be issued during the first 5 minutes and last 5 minutes of class. You are expected to be present
in class everyday for the entire period. If you need to leave the class for an emergency, after the first five
minutes and before the last five minutes, you are welcome to fill out your planner, ask me to sign it, use the
sign-in/out book, and quietly leave the class. This cannot happen on regular basis, or you will risk losing
credit for the time missed.
Technology in the Classroom:
While the presence of cell phones in school (and life) has increased dramatically in recent years, and while it is
a very useful tool, and I will occasionally use your cellphone with you, but unless I permit it, the school rule
very clear. Visible Headphones, MP3 Players, or Cellphones are absolutely not allowed to be turned on.
* Cell phones should be turned off while in class, and should not be on vibrate, as other students can hear that
and its a distraction and disruption.
* Use of a cellphone during testing may be construed as cheating, and will be treated in accordance of school
policy for cheating and plagiarism.
* Unless approved for classroom purposes by the classroom teacher, phones should not be out on your desk or
lap.
Violations of this Policy:
My time with you is extremely valuable and we must respect everyone’s time and desire to learn and grow. Its
disruptive to everyone when I have to reprimand individual students. Anything that is disruptive to your or
others in our classroom will not be tolerated. Any individual violations of this policy will be treated in
accordance with the school policy outlined in your student handbook. Any disciplinary infractions will cause
the class to collectively lose class participation points, meaning, each student will now have points deducted
from their class participation grade for that day. What you do in the classroom, affects others, and we are one
team.
Food and Drinks in the Classroom:
You are welcome to drink or eat in the classroom as long as you are not distracting others. You must pick up
after yourself before you leave the classroom. The first time I see garbage left behind, I will suspend this
privilege for everyone in the class until the following marking period
Grade Breakdown:
• 35% Assessments, Tests and Quizzes
• 35% Writing assignments, projects, and essays: Each marking period will have projects, papers, essays
and other writing assignments. Projects vary from group work, to pairs, to individual assignments. Students
are given ample time, both in class as well as at home on completion of the project. Rubrics vary by project
type.
• 30% Classwork and Other Assignments: (no more than 15% for homework) Involves both long term
and short term assignments, emphasizes reading, writing, questioning and discussion, and both individual
and group activities. These are assessments of daily content and extensions of the lessons learned. Some
will be at home while others are due in class the day they are assigned. Due dates for classwork and
homework are purposeful and you are expected to hand them in on time.
Grading Scale: A: 90-100, B: 80-89, C: 70-79, D: 65-70, F: 65-Below
We will have both a Midterm and Final Exam. The Midterm Exam is 5% of final grade and the
Final Exam is 5% of final grade.
The Final Grade will consist of each marking period (22.5% each), the midterm exam (5%) and the final exam
(5%).
Guidelines for Assignments
• All assignments that are done at home must be typed, or you will automatically lose one letter grade for each
assignment.
• Assignments will be submitted to Turnitin.com AND in hard copy. Just submitting in class or on Turnitin.com
automatically results in a zero. Submit both formats!!
• Use only Times New Roman, 12-point font; with standard margins
• All work must be stapled in the upper left corner or IT WILL NOT BE GRADED and will be returned to
you and you will receive a zero for the assignment
• Classwork may be handwritten, however, paper with frayed or torn edges (i.e. from a spiral notebook) will not
be accepted.
Academic Honesty and Integrity:
Academic integrity is your honesty in sources you used to complete all your work. This is taken very seriously
and will be handled according to the procedures set forth by the student handbook. Academic honesty is
referencing materials used for homework papers and projects properly, using MLA citation. If you consulted
ANY outside sources, you must include an MLA Citation must be entered at the bottom of the assignment. Do
not cite the dictionary or encyclopedias when citing sources. Use Citation Machine or Easy Bib to help.
Failure to cite the work of others will result in a grade of ZERO, a referral to the Assistant Principal, and a
phone call home. Dishonesty in any regard is highly disrespectful to your instructor, your classmates and
yourself. DO NOT TEST THIS POLICY!
Late work:
It is your responsibility to hand in all homework, papers/projects on time. An absence from class or school on a
due date will not buy you time. You may have a friend or family member hand in any assignments for you by
leaving it in my mailbox in the Main Office or bringing it to my office in the Social Studies Department. You
may email me your assignments, but you must submit them in hard copy in order to earn credit. Assignments
may not be left in my mailbox, you must hand them in directly to me, always in hard copy. If you are tardy to
school or have an early dismissal that results in missing this class, you are responsible for finding me to pick up
your work on that day.
Extra Credit:
There will be some extra credit assignments given. When students do the required work on a daily basis there
is no need for any type of extra credit activity. Outside activities (Debate, majors, work, etc.) is not an excuse
for the failure of a student to complete class assignments. If you are having a difficult time completing
assignments please discuss this problem with the me before it adversely affects your grade.
End of Class Dismissal:
Students are not permitted to pack up until I signal that the class is over since it is very disruptive and
disrespectful to the instructor and other students. A bell does not dismiss you. Often the last few sentences of
the day include instructions on homework or important summary class material.
Turnitin.com
Class ID:
Password: history