American History II

Harding University High School

Instructor: Ms. Colleen Thomas

Class location: MC14
Email: colleen1.thomas@cms.k12.nc.us
Website: msthomashuhs.weebly.com
Phone: 980-343-6007 ext. 1171
Twitter: @colleenthomas_
Office Hours: Tuesday/Thursday from 2:30-3:30, or by appointment

Course Description
American History II is a CMS graduation requirement. The course will pick up after the Civil War, beginning
with westward expansion in the late 19th century through current events. Students will examine the
change of ethnic composition of American society, the movement for equal rights for racial minorities and
women, and the role of the United States as a world power. An emphasis is placed on the expanding role of
the federal government and federal courts as well as the continuing tension between the individual and the
state. By the end of American History II, students will understand the cause-and-effect relationship
between past and present events, recognize patterns of interaction, and understand the impact of events in
the United States in an interconnected world.

Units
1. The Great American West
2. The Gilded Age and Progressivism
3. Growing Global Interaction
4. Boom and Bust
5. A World in Conflict
6. The Cold War
7. Social Change
8. Modern Global America

Required Materials
Spiral-bound notebook
Folder/three-ring binder
Pencils
Blue/black pens
Highlighter

Attendance
CMS has a 10-day attendance policy. Because there is a direct correlation between attendance and
academic achievement, students who miss more than 10 days of a class will not receive credit for the
course. Students may take part in Student Attendance Recovery -- speak to me, your counselor or the go to
the attendance recovery room in B145 for more information. Attendance recovery with another teacher
MUST be approved by me beforehand, and make-up work MUST be turned in to receive recovery time.
Time spent recovering attendance should be used for make-up work for my class; it is not simply idle time
to ensure you do not have more than 10 days of absences in my class.

Students are considered tardy if they arrive after the bell in the first 15 minutes of class, and will be
required to go to the media center for a tardy pass. Students will be marked as skipping if they arrive
between 15-45 minutes of class without a CMS-approved note. Anything past 45 minutes is considered
absent.

Classroom Expectations
1. At all times, treat others, the teacher, and property with courtesy and respect.
2. Inappropriate/offensive language will not be tolerated.
3. Come to class with all materials and be ready to learn.
4. Cell phones/electronic devices will not be allowed in class.
5. No food or drink (water only).

Consequences for failing to abide by classroom expectations

1st offense: Verbal warning
2nd offense: Student-teacher conference, technology taken away for class period
3rd offense: Phone call to parent
4th offense: Referral to administration
*Severe violations will result in immediate referral to administration

Procedures
1. Entering class: Students should enter the class quietly, pick up/turn in any materials on the front
table in the appropriate labelled bin, be in your seat when the bell rings to begin work on the warm-
up.
2. Staying seated: Students will remain seated at all times unless instructed. Students will not be
allowed to leave class during the first and last 15 minutes of class or during instruction, so be sure
to grab all materials, sharpen pencils, and go to the bathroom before class begins.
3. Bathroom: Students are encouraged to use the restroom during passing periods and during lunch.
Students will only be allowed to leave class to go to the restroom during individual work time.
There will be a bathroom pass by the door that students must take with them (one person at a
time), and students must initial and time stamp their departure on the board. Students are allowed
10 minutes to use the bathroom -- if they do not return within 10 minutes, they will be marked as
skipping, written up, and assigned to ISS.
4. Technology: Cell phones are not allowed in class, per Harding rules. If I see you with them without
my permission after a verbal warning, I will take your phone and put it in phone jail for the rest of
the class period. If cell phones continue to be an issue, I will contact your parent. Cell phones and all
electronic devices will be turned off and turned into a bin during all testing days -- this is a state
mandate and if phones are seen during testing, your test will be confiscated and you will receive a
zero (0). I do allow headphones/music during individual work time.
5. Organization: To keep up with notes and activities, we will keep a notebook and folder or a 3-ring
binder to keep organized. The notebook will be home to all notes and warm-ups we will complete
during the semester, and the folder should hold all handouts/worksheets.
6. Paper heading: All assignments for a grade will have the following header, written in the upper
right hand corner of the paper:
 Name
Date
Block
7. Leaving class: Students will not begin to pack up until the teacher dismisses the class. Before
leaving, make sure there is no trash around your desk area, all your belongings are in your bag, the
Chromebooks are all plugged in and in the cart, and the textbook is returned to under your seat.
8. Plagiarism: Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Any student who attempts to pass off another person’s
work as their will receive a zero (0) for the assignment.

Grading Policy
Final grades will be calculated based on a mix of tests, quizzes, writing assignments, projects, homework,
participation, and classwork. Students will take the NC Final Exam for American History II that will count
for 20% of their final grade.

First quarter grade breakdown:

Formal assessments (unit tests, projects, comprehensive writing assignments) = 60%
Informal assessments (classwork, quizzes, participation, current events, homework) = 20%
Midterm = 20%

You will have 7-8 formal assessments in first quarter.

Second quarter grade breakdown:

Formal assessments (unit tests, projects, comprehensive writing assignments) = 70%
Informal assessments (classwork, quizzes, participation, current events, homework) = 30%

You will have 7-8 formal assessments in second quarter.

School-wide grading system:

A: 90-100
B: 80-89
C: 70-79
D: 60-69
F: 59 and below

Extra Credit
There will be two opportunities for extra credit, one in each quarter (due at the end of the quarter).
Students will select a movie to watch that is historically relevant to the unit(s) we are studying in class and
write a 200-400 word essay that answers several questions about the movie. Two percentage points will be
added to your quarter grade if it is completed to my satisfaction.

Late work policy

Late work will be accepted up until the day of the unit assessment. For example, all Unit 1 work will be
accepted until the day of the Unit 1 assessment. After one day, the highest grade you can earn is an 80; after
two days, the highest grade you can earn is a 60. LATE WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED after the day of the
unit test . Students who skip class or walk out will receive an automatic zero (0) for any assignment.
If you are absent...
If you are absent at all, it is your responsibility to make up the work missed. You can find the absent work
in the crate by the door and all other instructions/materials will be on Canvas. If you have any questions,
please ask -- I would rather you come to me or ask a friend than sit there and be unsure of what to do. You
will have three days to turn in make-up work and five days upon return to make up tests/quizzes -- let’s try
to avoid a mad rush at the end of the grading period to make up a test or quiz! Any assignment not made up
will receive a zero (0).

Parent/Guardian Information:

Parents/guardians, I ask that you provide contact information so I can keep you up to date on your child’s
progress in American History II.
Parent/guardian name:
________________________________________________________________________________________________

Phone: _________________________________________________ Email:

_________________________________________________________

Student/Parent Signature:

STUDENT: I, ___________________________________________________, have read and will abide by the policies and
procedures listed above. If I have any questions or concerns relating to the information in the syllabus, I
understand it is my responsibility to ask the teacher.

STUDENT SIGNATURE: ___________________________________________________________________ DATE: ____________________

PARENT/GUARDIAN: My child has discussed the classroom expectations and discipline policy outlined in
the syllabus with me. I understand it and will support it.

PARENT/GUARDIAN SIGNATURE: ________________________________________________________ DATE:

___________________

Remind App

In order to keep up with all assignments and upcoming due dates, I have created a Remind App for your
class. Type the below website in on your cell phone to join the class:

www.remind.com/join/ah2spring2

I encourage parents to join the Remind as well to keep up with our goings-on in the classroom!