United States HistoryUnited States History& Government& Government

ORANGE (SOC300-4)ORANGE (SOC300-4) Mr. Spencer & Mrs. McJuryMr. Spencer & Mrs. McJury

PINK (SOC300-5)PINK (SOC300-5) Mr. SpencerMr. Spencer

Mr. SpencerMr. SpencerClassroom: 100EClassroom: 100Ee-mail: james.spencer@greececsd.orge-mail: james.spencer@greececsd.orgClassroom Phone: 966-5017Classroom Phone: 966-5017Twitter: mrspencer_olyTwitter: mrspencer_olyFaceBook: facebook.com/mrspencer.infoFaceBook: facebook.com/mrspencer.infoWebsite: http://mrspencer.info Website: http://mrspencer.info

For ORANGE (SOC300-4) only:For ORANGE (SOC300-4) only:

Mrs. McJuryMrs. McJuryClassroom: 135Classroom: 135e-mail: jodie.mcjury@greececsd.orge-mail: jodie.mcjury@greececsd.orgClassroom Phone: 966-5083Classroom Phone: 966-5083

““What is the class What is the class all about?”all about?”

Good news… this Good news… this isn’t Global isn’t Global History! History!

• Historical Foundations: Colonies, Principles of the American Historical Foundations: Colonies, Principles of the American Revolution and the ConstitutionRevolution and the Constitution

• The New Nation: The Constitutional Convention, The Constitution The New Nation: The Constitutional Convention, The Constitution and impact of early presidents and political leaders in the forming and impact of early presidents and political leaders in the forming and development of the United Statesand development of the United States

• The Constitution Tested: Western Expansion, Sectionalism vs. The Constitution Tested: Western Expansion, Sectionalism vs. Nationalism, the Civil WarNationalism, the Civil War

• Industrialization & Immigration: Industrial Growth in the north Industrialization & Immigration: Industrial Growth in the north while the south is rebuilding after the warwhile the south is rebuilding after the war

• The Progressive Era: Industrialization led to a series of reform The Progressive Era: Industrialization led to a series of reform movements in the United Statesmovements in the United States

• US Domestic Policy: The impact of foreign policy on domestic US Domestic Policy: The impact of foreign policy on domestic issues, civil liberties in times of warissues, civil liberties in times of war

• US Foreign Policy: Neutrality, Imperialism, Containment and US Foreign Policy: Neutrality, Imperialism, Containment and InterventionIntervention

• Current Events: Examining historical events and issues from 1990’s Current Events: Examining historical events and issues from 1990’s through the present daythrough the present day

We will go through these units, using the We will go through these units, using the Presidents as guideposts. In addition to Presidents as guideposts. In addition to learning about the events that created and learning about the events that created and shaped our nation, we will also look at the shaped our nation, we will also look at the American system of government (sounds American system of government (sounds exciting, doesn’t it?). But don’t worry… it will exciting, doesn’t it?). But don’t worry… it will be easier than Global.be easier than Global.

““How will I How will I be graded?”be graded?”

To receive graduation credit you must To receive graduation credit you must pass both the course and the Regents pass both the course and the Regents

exam at the end of the year. exam at the end of the year.

Notes Summaries: 25% Notes Summaries: 25%

Quizzes: 25%Quizzes: 25%

Writing Assignments: 25%Writing Assignments: 25%

Multiple Choice Exams: 25%Multiple Choice Exams: 25%

All assignments can be retaken to All assignments can be retaken to improve the grade.improve the grade.

I want you to learn the material. If I want you to learn the material. If you want an “A” in this course, you you want an “A” in this course, you can get it if you’re willing to put the can get it if you’re willing to put the time and effort. time and effort.

Like retakes, late work will be Like retakes, late work will be accepted only up until the information accepted only up until the information it covers is tested on. it covers is tested on.

My website (at the top of the first My website (at the top of the first page) will have our work posted on it page) will have our work posted on it daily. If you’re absent, you can get it daily. If you’re absent, you can get it there and not fall behind. there and not fall behind.

Regents Exam:Regents Exam:To graduate, you must pass the To graduate, you must pass the New York State Regents Exam in New York State Regents Exam in United States History & United States History & Government exam. It is a three Government exam. It is a three hour exam taken in June. hour exam taken in June.

• The exam has four parts:The exam has four parts:•• Part I: 50 Multiple-Choice Part I: 50 Multiple-Choice QuestionsQuestions•• Part II: Thematic EssayPart II: Thematic Essay•• Part III: Document Based Question Part III: Document Based Question Essay, which has two parts: Essay, which has two parts: III A: DBQ Scaffolding Questions III A: DBQ Scaffolding Questions III B: DBQ Essay III B: DBQ Essay

You will be well-practiced for the exam. You will be well-practiced for the exam. We will spend a significant portion of the We will spend a significant portion of the year preparing for it and the lessons and year preparing for it and the lessons and activities throughout the year are activities throughout the year are designed to develop your skills to make designed to develop your skills to make the test easy. My goal is not for you to the test easy. My goal is not for you to just pass it, but score above 85%. Sound just pass it, but score above 85%. Sound crazy? Each one of you can do it and I’ll crazy? Each one of you can do it and I’ll show you how.show you how.

Frequently asked questions Frequently asked questions about Mr. Spencer: about Mr. Spencer:

““Who is this guy?”Who is this guy?”

““Why is he so mean?”Why is he so mean?”

I believe that I have a responsibility to I believe that I have a responsibility to you to prepare you to have a you to prepare you to have a successful life. My rules, including the successful life. My rules, including the crazy ones, all play some part in crazy ones, all play some part in teaching you how to get where ever it teaching you how to get where ever it is you want to go.is you want to go.

““What are this crazy teacher’s rules?”What are this crazy teacher’s rules?”

I believe very strongly in rules. I will I believe very strongly in rules. I will enforce all District and school rules enforce all District and school rules more than any other teacher you’ve more than any other teacher you’ve ever had. ever had.

This class is a Red Zone unless I This class is a Red Zone unless I specifically say otherwise.specifically say otherwise.

No one is allowed to leave class for the No one is allowed to leave class for the first and last five minutes of class. first and last five minutes of class.

Communication is a skill that we all need Communication is a skill that we all need to develop throughout our lives. to develop throughout our lives.

Despite my reputation, I’m a very Despite my reputation, I’m a very reasonable guy who is here to help reasonable guy who is here to help you. you.

All students can learn and achieve. All students can learn and achieve.

You can do very well in this course. You can do very well in this course.

You can kind of view me as a sort of You can kind of view me as a sort of personal trainer for your brain. personal trainer for your brain.

I have some really crazy I have some really crazy rules and procedures rules and procedures that I’ll list here (each that I’ll list here (each has a purpose):has a purpose):

Your heading must Your heading must be COMPLETELY be COMPLETELY filled out on any filled out on any papers you turn into papers you turn into me to receive creditme to receive credit

Your work must Your work must all be done in all be done in blue or black inkblue or black ink

Capitalization counts Capitalization counts (you will not get (you will not get credit for answers credit for answers not capitalized that not capitalized that need to be)need to be)

Spelling counts (you Spelling counts (you will not get credit for will not get credit for misspelled answers)misspelled answers)

There is no There is no partial credit partial credit in this classin this class

Names of foreign Names of foreign people, places and people, places and events need to be events need to be said out loud to said out loud to remember themremember them

65% is not an 65% is not an acceptable grade… acceptable grade… we need to aim we need to aim higherhigher

If given a choice If given a choice between success and between success and failure, why not failure, why not choose success?choose success?

For ORANGE (SOC300-4) only:For ORANGE (SOC300-4) only:

What is ESOL?What is ESOL?

For ORANGE (SOC300-4) only:For ORANGE (SOC300-4) only:

How will ESOL How will ESOL support help me?support help me?

SOC300-4 will be SOC300-4 will be called “ORANGE.”called “ORANGE.”

SOC300-5 will be SOC300-5 will be called “PINK.”called “PINK.”