LOA

Honors United States History

2007-08

This year we are embarking on a grand adventure together--the study of American history and government from the age of exploration and discovery through the modern age.  We will be reading extensively in both primary and secondary documents and commentaries, writing regularly, and thinking continually.  Those of you who are enrolled in all three of the American studies classes--history, government, and literature—will find yourselves constantly making connections between what Americans have thought, written, created, taught, and done over time.  You will see that there are recurring themes and attitudes that link the movements and events of the various eras.

I am convinced that nothing is as intriguing, challenging, and exciting as this foray into the history of people and ideas—nothing!  I invite you to join me in this challenge.

Texts:

Mark C. Carnes and John A. Garraty. The American Nation, 12th Edition  ( New York: Pearson/Longman, 2006).

Organization:

Our course of study will divided into nine units of three weeks apiece.  At the end of each unit, you can expect a unit test that will incorporate both multiple choice and essay questions. 

Our class sessions will comprise regular quizzes, lectures, discussion, and periodic student presentations of researched and creative responses to our studies.

In addition to classroom based study, you will construct a portfolio of independent work on a theme or themes of your choosing.  One piece of work will be added for each quarter of the year.

Grading:

Your grades will reflect the following:

·        Homework & Quizzes                                      20%

·        Unit Tests                                                         45%

·        Portfolio                                                           20%

·        Comprehensive Semester Exam                        15%

Themes:

During the year, we will trace themes as they develop chronologically.  You will choose ones that particularly interest you to develop into a synthesis project to be presented at the end of each semester.  Those of you who are debating this year will probably choose immigration as your primary topic of focus.

·        What is an American?

·        Geography: Regional Issues

·        Economics: Defined, Adapted, and Redefined

·        Democracy and Federalism

·        The Uses and Conduct of War

·        Making Things Better: Social Reform, Religion, and Politics

·        International Relationships

·        Immigration

·        Courts and Civil Rights

·        Cultural Expressions of American Identity: Music, Art, Literature, and Film

·        American Frontiers

 

Schedule of Readings:

Date

Topic

Assignment

Week One (9/3)

Unit One: Colonial America

Carnes, Prologue

Week Two (9/10)

 

Carnes, chapters 1 & 2

Week Three (9/17)

 

Carnes, chapter 3

Unit One test

Week Four  (9/24)

Unit Two: Revolutionary America

Carnes, chapter 4

Week Five  (10/ 1)

 

Carnes, chapter 5

Holiday (10/8)

 

 

Week Six (10/15)

 

Carnes, chapters 6&7

Unit Two test

Week Seven  (10/22)

Unit Three: Democratic America

Carnes, chapters 8&9

Week Eight  (10/29)

 

Carnes, chapters 10 & 11

Week Nine  (11/5)

 

Carnes, chapter 12

Unit Three test

Week Ten  (11/12

Unit Four: Civil War

Carnes, chapters 13 & 14

Thanksgiving (11/19)

 

 

Week Eleven (11/26)

 

Carnes, chapter 15

Week Twelve  (12/3)

 

Carnes, chapter 16

Unit Four test

Week Thirteen  (12/10)

 

Semester Exam

Christmas Break  (12/17-1/5)

 

 

Week Fourteen  (1/7)

Unit Five: Industrial America

Carnes, chapter 17

Week Sixteen  (1/14)

 

Carnes, chapter 18-19

Week Seventeen  (1/21)

 

Carnes, chapter 20

Unit Five test

Week Eighteen  (1/28)

Unit Six: Melting Pot America

Carnes, chapters 21-22

Week Nineteen  (2/4)

 

Carnes, chapter 23

Week Twenty  (2/11)

 

Carnes, chapter 24

Unit Six test

Week Twenty-one  (2/18)

 

Review

Week Twenty-two  (2.25)

Unit Seven: Modern America

Carnes, chapter 25

Week Twenty-three  (3/3)

 

Carnes, chapter 26

Week Twenty-four  (3/10)

 

Carnes, chapter 27

Unit Seven test

Easter Break  (3/17)

 

 

Week Twenty-five  (3/24)

Unit Eight: Superpower America

Carnes, chapter 28

Week Twenty-six  (3/31)

 

Carnes,  chapter 29

Unit Eight test

Week Twenty-seven  (4/7)

Unit Nine: Contemporary America

Carnes, chapters 30 & 31

Week Twenty-eight  (4/14)

 

Carnes, chapters 32 & 33

Unit Nine test

Week Twenty-nine  (4/21)

Unit ten: Synthesis and Review

 

Week Thirty  (4/28)

 

 

Week Thirty-one  (5/5)

 

 

Week Thirty-two  (5/12)

Presentations

 

Week Thirty-three (5/19)

Semester Final Exam