Thomas Jefferson High School
Federal Way Public Schools
Class:
Course Syllabus 2016-2017
IB History of the Americas
Teacher Name/Room Number: Ms Gretchen Mahon, P-7
Communication:
Phone- 253-945-5754
Email- [email protected]
Overview and objectives:
This is a survey course of both United States and Latin American History. The International Baccalaureate Organization recommends
that schools select three units for in depth study. We will focus on the period from the 1880 to 1945, covering the Mexican Revolution,
the World War II and the Americas, political developments in Latin America (1945–1980) and the move to global war (1931-1941).
The course is academically rigorous focusing on the region’s historical experience as well as political, cultural, economic, and social
events and themes that have had an impact on the Americas. Students will continue to develop and apply the historical skills of
interpretation and analysis. A course of study that develops an understanding of the discipline of history, its rules and values, as well
as passing on historical knowledge, allows students to understand how and why there are different accounts of the past and the criteria
upon which they may be judged. Thus students may learn different accounts of history but still be able to understand and assess each
other’s account though they live and study in different countries.
Textbooks:
A History of Latin America by Benjamin Keen
Course Content: First Semester
Unit 1: The Mexican Revolution (1884-1940)
• Rule of Porfirio Diaz from 1884; political control; contribution to discontent
• Causes of the Mexican Revolution: social, economic and political
• The revolution and its leaders (1910–1917): ideologies, aims and methods of Madero, Villa, Zapata, Carranza; achievements
and failures; the 1917 Constitution—nature and application
• Construction of the post-revolutionary state (1920–1940): Obregón, Calles and the Maximato; challenges; assessment of their
impact in the post-revolutionary state
• Lázaro Cárdenas and the renewal of the revolution (1934–1940): aims, methods and achievements
• The role of foreign powers (especially the United States) in the outbreak and development of the Mexican Revolution;
motivations, methods of intervention and contributions
• Impact of the revolution on women, the arts, education and music
Unit 2: The Second World War and the Americas (1933–1945)
• Hemispheric reactions to the events in Europe and Asia: inter-American diplomacy; cooperation and neutrality; Franklin D
Roosevelt’s Good Neighbor policy—its application and effects
• Involvement and participation of any two countries of the Americas in the Second World War
• Social impact of the Second World War; impact on women and minorities; conscription
• Treatment of Japanese Americans, Japanese Latin Americans and Japanese Canadians
• Reasons for, and significance of, US use of atomic weapons against Japan
• Economic and diplomatic effects of the Second World War in any two countries of the Americas
Materials:
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Your student needs pens, binder paper, and either a binder or folders to organize their work.
IB Binder: 2.5-3 inch binder with 12 Tabs to start (will add tabs as we go through the year)
Colored pencils and Kleenex for the classroom would be helpful but not required.
Your student will be checked out copies of the textbooks to keep at home; they do not need to bring it to school, as we have class
copies.
They have been issued a school planner. Please remind them to write their assignments in it and check it often. This book also has
their bathroom passes and a copy of the student handbook for your reference.
Students must carry their ID card on campus at all time.
Students are suggested to carry a small amount of change as printing at school costs five cents.
Computers are available for student use. They must have their parent or guardian sign a technology permission form. Please do
this as soon as possible. All student use on computers is monitored.
Assessment and Late Work Policy:
The Federal Way Grading System
• Each course has a set of learning standards (priority standards). These can be accessed on the FWPS website.
• Individual assignments are linked to one or more priority standards, and the score for that assignment will be averaged with all
other assignment scores in that priority standard, resulting in an overall score for that standard.
• The class grade is the result of the average of all priority standard scores.
• Class grade barriers are as follows: A = 4.0-3.5 B = 3.5-3.0 C= 3.0-2.3 F= below 2.3
• Students are guaranteed at least two attempts for each priority standard.
• Please check your child’s grade frequently using the district grades online program. Parents should have received a letter
from the district IT department with their password. (253) 945-2111
• Students may contact the counseling office, (253) 945-5604, or Ms Dickson, (253) 945-5609 for their password.
The BAME scale will be used in this class to show your student’s progress
1-4 BAME scale
In the grade book, students will be graded on a 1-4. 1 = below standard, 2=approaching standard, 3 = meeting standard and 4 =
exceeding standard. As there is no “0” score available, a “1” will also be given to students who do not turn in an assignment. Teachers
will make an effort to note in the grade book if an assignment is missing to help parents and students keep track of what is missing.
Late Work Policy
Due dates and meeting due dates are an important part of student learning. Every teacher provides students with due dates well in
advance of work to be submitted. There are situations beyond a student’s control that prevent them from meeting the deadlines
provided. With this in mind each student will be provided with two late work passes per class each semester. Students will be able
to submit work up to one week after the due date, with that late pass, with no negative impact on the grade earned.
In this course, we have multiple opportunities built in rather than retakes.
School and Classroom Expectations
All students and staff are expected to respect each other, themselves and their environment at all times.
TJHS is a learning environment where all students and staff must be safe. The following rules are from the TJHS student
handbook and their purpose is to ensure the safety of all students and the integrity of learning. This is not an all inclusive list
and students and parents are expected to review the entire student handbook in the planner.
PROFESSIONALISM Students are expected to treat the classroom as a professional environment. Success in high school requires
students to complete all assignments on time and to the best of their ability. They are expected to attend class and arrive on time. Tardies
and unexcused absences will result in detention and progressive discipline.
DISRUPTION OR NONPARTICIPATION Students who are refusing to partake in class activities and students who willfully disrupt
class may be sent to ISS. Being sent to ISS during class may result in administrative detention or other progressive discipline.
ELECTRONICS: Phones, MP3s/Ipods/etc., and headphones are disruptive to the learning environment. BEFORE entering the
classroom, students must have these items stored in their backpacks turned off. They may be used in the classroom ONLY when directly
instructed by the teacher.
CHEATING Students found copying the work of another student or another source without acknowledgment (plagiarism) is a discipline
issue and will be referred to an administrator. Students may be required to come up with another way of proving they can meet the
expectations of the assignment. Cheating includes “working together” unless specifically allowed by the teacher. It might be noted that
most universities, including UW, consider cheating and plagiarism offenses as grounds for suspension for a full year.
DEFIANCE Failure to follow instructions from a teacher is subject to two hour detention on the first offense. Refusal to obey staff or
comply with a reasonable adult in the building can result in suspension and explosion.
LANGUAGE Swearing is not allowed and will result in a two hour detention. Students using language that targets particular racial,
ethnic, sexual or other groups inappropriately are considered to be intimidating to others and will be sent to ISS immediately and subject
to progressive discipline. Implied or direct threats to staff or students result in expulsion.
Late Work Pass
Late Work Pass
For the situation beyond students’ control that
prevent them from meeting a deadline. The
late pass is good for up to one week after the
due date with no negative impact on the grade
earned.
For the situation beyond students’ control that
prevent them from meeting a deadline. The late
pass is good for up to one week after the due
date with no negative impact on the grade
earned.
Name: _____________________________________
Name: _____________________________________
Assignment: ________________________________
Assignment: ________________________________
Original due date: ____________________________
Original due date: ____________________________
Submission date: _____________________________
Submission date: _____________________________
Mahon
Mahon
HOA Semester 1
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HOA Semester 1
Parental and Student Acknowledgement
IB History of the Americas 2015-16
PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN
Student Name: ________________________________________
Class Period: _________
We have read and understand the policies and procedures laid out in the syllabus.
Student Signature: _________________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature: __________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Name: _____________________________________________________________
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Best number and time to contact you: __________________________________________________
Email to contact you at (Please Print): __________________________________________________
Note: By signing I give permission for my child to watch the following:
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The Storm that Swept Mexico. DVD. PBS, 2011.
The Art of Mexico. DVD. Kultur