American Studies - American Literature & American History

Instructor: Rebecca Pollack, Stephen Federico
Length of Course: 1 Year

Curricular Map (PDF FILE)

Course Description:
The American Studies program is an integrated course taught by both a Social Studies teacher and a Language Arts teacher. The class meets each day in a two hour block with approximately 50 students. Students are usually working on a single project-based unit that incorporates American History and American Literature subjects and themes. Projects contain a mixture of thematic and chronological elements, but the curriculum for each project is always tied to California ’ s content standards for Grade Eleven Language Arts and Grade Eleven Social Studies.

Course Expectations:
Each student is expected to arrive on time & prepared for class. We will begin each day with fifteen minutes of silent reading. You may bring your own reading material, but you must be in your seat reading silently at the beginning of class or you will be marked tardy. It is important to not e that tardies and unexcused absences will bring down your Work Ethic grade in this class. Each unexcused absence lowers your Work Ethic grade by 3%, and two tardies equal an absence. All excused absences must be cleared with Ms. Cherrington in the front office within one week of the absence, or they will turn into unexcused absences.

A writing instrument, a notebook (or loose binder paper), and the required text (s) will be necessary for class each day, in addition to any work that is due. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to look at the course calendar & to make up any missed assignments. It is also important to contact your group members if you are absent.

It is an expectation that we will treat one another with respect & foster a positive learning environment in which every student feels comfortable sharing his or her ideas with the class. “ Trust, Respect & Responsibility ” are at the heart of our learning environment in this classroom, and we expect every individual to foster these cultural norms.

Late Work Policy:
As a rule, you should try to speak with us in advance if you are not going to be able to meet a deadline. However, if you do not have an assignment completed on time, you will lose your work ethic points for the assignment. If there are no designated work ethic points, then you will be marked down by one grade. After two days on which the class has met, late assignments will no longer be accepted. Of course, exceptions will sometimes be made for extenuating circumstances.

If you have an excused absence, you will not receive a penalty for work that is turned in late. However, if work was due on the date of your absence, it is expected that the work will be turned in on the day you return to class. If you know you will be absent, you must fill out a planned absence form in advance (these are available in the office). You are also expected to give your group members plenty of notice before planned absences, and to complete any part of the project that will be due during your absence.

Grading:
Students will be assessed based on daily assignments, activities, quizzes, tests, essays, and the final projects. The American Studies grade is assessed on the school ’ s learning outcomes, and the two subject areas are combined into the same course grade. Even though students receive a separate grade on their report card, it is actually the same grade for both subjects.

A final letter grade will be given at the end of each semester, which will be based on the percentages below:

• Work Ethic: 20%
• U.S. Literature Content: 20%
• U.S. History Content: 20%
• Written Communication: 19%
• Oral Communication: 8%
• Critical Thinking: 8%
• Collaboration: 5%

Course Calendar:
The American Studies Course Calendar can be accessed by both students and parents from home. The calendar contains the daily agenda for the course, daily tasks and assignments, as well as links to the current project database and the course journal. You may access the calendar through the school website through the following path from the homepage: Course Curriculum/American Studies/Course Calendar.

Contact Information
Students are always encouraged to come in for additional help or to ask questions before school, after school, or during lunch. Students and parents may also contact us by email (preferred) or phone with any questions or concerns.