Mr. Sedgwick

United States History and Government

 Syllabus for Academic Year 2020-2021

Teacher: Mr. Sedgwick

E-mail: [email protected]

Introduction: Welcome to United States History & Government class! I’m excited about working with all of you throughout the school year. In this course, we will be exploring the main events and people associated with United States history from multiple perspectives. There will be a strong focus on the historical thinking skills of sourcing, contextualization, and corroboration. There will also be a strong emphasis on group work and learning from each other. The ultimate goal of this course is to determine how and why we got to where we are in the United States today. Through this process, I hope that we all gain some perspective on how we can improve our community and society as a whole. I look forward to having a fun, interesting, and rewarding year!

Course Schedule

Unit of Study                                                                                Approximate Timeframe

Unit 1: Colonies to Independence                                                      September

Unit 2: Constitutional Foundations                                         September-October

Unit 3: Expanding America (1790-1850)                            October-November

Unit 4: Slavery, Sectionalism, & Civil War (1820-1865)             November-December

Unit 5: Reconstruction & Redemption (1863-1877)              December

Unit 6: Gilded Age, Pt. 1: The Rise of Industry, Business,          January

             & Labor         

Unit 7: Gilded Age Pt. 2: The American People in a                       February

             Changing Society

Unit 8: The Progressive Era (1900-1917)                           February

Unit 9: Imperialism & American Global Power                                       March

             (1890-1915)

Unit 10: War & Prosperity (1914-1929)                                         March-April

Unit 11: The Great Depression (1929-1941)                           April

Unit 12: WWII & Cold War (1941-1960)                                         April

Unit 13: Postwar American Society (1945-1960)                        April-May

Unit 14: A Decade of Change (1960-1972)                           May

Unit 15: The Late 20^th Century & A New Century              June

Online Classroom Expectations

1. Be respectful to EVERYONE!
2. Listen when others are talking
3. Arrive to class ON TIME
4. Complete classwork/homework when it is assigned
5. Have fun while learning!

Ladder of Consequences

The following are consequences for not living up to the classroom expectations. They go from least severe to most severe.

1. Non-verbal warning

1. Verbal warning

1. One-on-one conversation

1. Removal from class/detention

1. Parent phone call

***A note about the bathroom- Bathroom use is up to the discretion of the teacher.  Abusing  bathroom privileges includes wandering the hallways or wasting time.

Policies and Procedures

1. Community- Our classroom will work best if we all try and work well together are respectful of each other.  Treating others the way we would like to be treated is the easiest way to ensure success on creating an inviting classroom community.  Disrespectful attitudes will not be tolerated and will lead to consequences.

1. Attendance: It is important that you come to class everyday on time. Excused absences (a note from a parent or guardian) will grant you a one-day extension on homework. All work must be made up. You are responsible for getting the work you missed and make it up.

1. Notes: Every day you will be expected to write down notes. It is expected that you take notes in class no matter what.  That means, you’ll need something to take notes with! (Be Prepared!)

1. Lateness: I keep records of lateness and repeated lateness will not be accepted and will be treated as a breach of rule #1.  If you don’t have a pass, you will not be excused, and you will not be permitted to leave to go get a pass.

1. Bathrooms:  Bathroom use is not permitted during the first and last 10 minutes of class. Do not ask me to go to the bathroom while I am speaking to the entire class. If you need to go to the bathroom you will give me a visual cue (holding up just your index finger) so you don’t even have to ask. You will be given a certain number of times during the marking period to go, so use them wisely!

1. Homework: You will have homework most every day. It is due the following class day. Late homework will not receive full credit.  With an excused absence, you may turn in homework one class day later. If you don’t do any homework, you will get behind and there will be consequences of detention or missing lunch out if you repeatedly do not bring in homework.  

1. Cheating: Cheating will not be tolerated. Cheating will result in a zero for that assignment. If cheating on a test or quiz further disciplinary action will be taken based on the Conduct Code of New York City Public Schools.

1. Seating: Seating will be assigned. You must sit in your assigned seat. (trust me, I want you to sit where you will learn best) (Not applicable for remote classes.)

1. Extra Help: I will make myself available for extra help after school, or by appointment during the day.  Also, of course, you can get help during class. It is important you use your voice and ask me if you need help. The most successful students are the ones not afraid to help themselves!  Speak up!

Grading

80% Scholarship

• Online classwork/homework
• Exams
• Quizzes
• Projects

20% Effort and Participation

• Online attendance for synchronous instruction (on Tuesdays and Thursdays)
• Participation and effort during live instruction

***Warning against Plagiarism/copying: If you plagiarize or copy anything from the Internet without citing the source properly, you will receive a zero for the assignment. You will also receive a zero if you copy anything from a classmate or other student in the school. Please make sure that all of your work is original and produced by you.

Global History 1

Course Syllabus

Teacher: Mr. Sedgwick

[email protected]

Course Description: Welcome to Global History 1! This course will be the first half of a 2- year course during which you will learn about the history of the world from its beginnings up to the modern era (1750 AD). This year, we will learn about early civilizations and how they have influenced the world that we live in today.

Course Objectives: In addition to learning about the history of the world up to 1750 AD, students will develop their reading, writing, and critical analysis skills. By the conclusion of the course, students will be able to both read, write and think critically in an historical context.

             To do this, we will:

• Read, annotate and discuss primary and secondary sources (documents about history)
• Develop/write argumentative essays
• Debate controversial issues

Year Long Plan: Global History 1 will be a fast-paced course, as we try to conquer thousands of years of history in one year!  This year we will be studying:

• Unit 1: Geography – The Basics
• Unit 2: First Civilizations
  • Indus River Valley, Mesopotamia, Yellow River and Egypt
• Unit 3: Ancient Civilizations
  • Greece, Rome, Gupta, Maya, and the Mongols
• Unit 4: Trade
  • Silk Road, Sahara and oceanic trade
• Unit 5: The Rise and Fall of Great Empires
  • Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires
• Unit 6: Religion
  • Monotheistic Religions, Crusades, Middle Ages, Protestant Reformation
• Unit 7: Age of Discovery and Exploration
  • Triangular Trade and the Caribbean
• Unit 8: The Renaissance

Grading Policy: Grades will be updated on pupilpath regularly. You are encouraged to check your grades daily and come speak with me as soon as you have any concerns to figure out the best plan to bring your grades to where you would like them to be. BCA’s grading policy is 80% scholarship and 20% participation/effort, and the breakdown of those grades for this course are:

80% Scholarship (academic work that you produce): Classwork, homework, tests/quizzes, reading/writing assignments, projects

20% Participation and Effort: Online Attendance and Participation (on Tuesdays and Thursdays)

Supplies:  You are required to be prepared for class every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. If you do not attend these required classes and actively participate in learning, then you will lose participation points.  

Homework & Classwork: Your classwork and homework will be assigned and graded on google classroom. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to make up missed work. If you are absent for a long period of time, please email me at [email protected] and I can send you the work you missed. All late homework and classwork will result in 10 points off per day late.

Class Rules: My only rule is RESPECT. During our class you must not only respect me, but respect each other, and the classroom. This is a class where we are able to explore different opinions on controversial issues and I would like to create a safe space in which we are able to do so. With that, every day I ask that you think critically and share with your classmates what you think about a certain topic.

Academic Honesty: Plagiarized work will receive a 0. This includes copying your friends work (or having them copy yours) or copying information from the internet without citing the source. If you are having trouble completing an assignment, please come talk to me- I’d rather it be late and done well than plagiarized.

Welcome to Global History 2

This course is the second half of a 2-year course, during which you will learn about the history of the world from 1750 to the present. In a typical year, you will take the Global History Regents Exam in January and then in June of 2021 (however, it is not certain that you will be required to take this exam this year because of the COVID pandemic). This year, we will be learning about modern world history and how important people and events have shaped the world we live in today.

Course Objectives: In addition to learning content material for global history, students will develop their reading and writing skills. By the conclusion of the course, students will be able to both read and think critically in an historical context.

            To do this, we will:

• Read, annotate and discuss primary and secondary sources (documents)
• Develop argumentative essays
• Learn to thinking critically about and discuss controversial issues

Year Long Plan: Global History 2 will continue where we left off last year.

This year, we will be studying:

• Unit 1: Enlightenment, Revolution & Nationalism
• Enlightenment, Scientific Revolution, French & Latin American Revolutions, Nationalism
• Unit 2: Causes and Effects of the Industrial Revolution
• Agrarian Revolution, Industrial Revolution, Irish Potato Famine, Meiji Restoration
• Unit 3: Imperialism
• Unit 4: Unresolved Global Conflict (1914-1945)
• WW I, Russian Revolution, Totalitarianism, Japanese Imperialism, WWII, Holocaust
• Unit 5: Unresolved Global Conflict (1945-1991)
• Cold War, Collapse of Soviet Union
• Unit 6: Decolonization and Nationalism
• Indian Independence Movement, Apartheid, Chinese Communist Revolution
• Unit 7: Tensions Between Cultural Traditions and Modernization
• Urbanization, Kemal Ataturk, Iranian Revolution
• Unit 8: Globalization and the Changing Environment
• Unit 9: Human Rights Violations

Grading Policy: Grades will be available on Google Classroom . You are encouraged to check your grades daily and come speak to me as soon as you have any concerns to figure out the best plan to bring your grades to where you would like them to be. The breakdown of those grades for this course are:

              30% Unit Assessments: tests, quizzes, unit essays, and projects

50% Classwork and Homework

20% Participation (this is done during our synchronous classes on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons)

Supplies: You will need a computer and access to the Internet for this course. If either of these is a problem for you, please let me know.

Classwork & Homework:  All classwork and homework will be graded. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to make up the missed work. If you are absent from school for an extended period, please email me at [email protected] and I can send you the work you missed. All late classwork and homework will result in 10 points off per day late.

Class Rules: My only rule is RESPECT. During our class you must not only respect me, but respect each other, and the classroom. This is a class where we are able to explore different opinions on controversial issues and I would like to create a safe space in which we are able to do so. Please think critically and speak intelligently every day.

Academic Honesty: Plagiarized work will receive a 0. This includes copying your friends work (or having them copy yours) or copying information from the Internet without citing the source. If you are having trouble completing an assignment, please come talk to me- I’d rather it be late and done well than plagiarized.