Course Expectations

Course:  United States History                                                                    Teacher:  Mr. Healy

Texts and materials required: 

              Davidson, Gienapp, Heyrman, Lytle and Stoff: Nation of Nations: A Concise Narrative of the American Republic.  New York: McGraw Hill. 2002.  (3rd Edition)

We will use this text in a variety of ways: as the specific topic of conversation, as background reading to inform our thinking on other texts and occasionally to examine how history is written.  You are responsible for the reading assigned whether we discuss it directly or not!  I expect that you will bring these readings to bear on conversations in class, outside of class, in your papers and on your tests.  I strongly urge that you keep up with readings as the pace at which we will move makes “catching up” very difficult to do well.  Other readings will be reproduced and handed out in class. 

Evaluation and Grading:

Exams, Tests and Quizzes.  At regular intervals you will be assessed on your mastery of the information we have covered either in class or in the readings.  Mastery is defined as your ability to retain information and interpret it thoughtfully.  You may expect larger summary exercises at the end of the semester that tests your ability to draw together facts, thoughts and interpretations from a longer time-span.  Fact sheet quizzes will test your knowledge of certain central facts, figures, general dates and historical phrases.

Papers.  Your written thinking, in the form of both long and short papers, is a concrete way for me to assess both your knowledge of the material we are working with and the level of thinking that you are applying.  You will be expected to write at least one longer research paper that asks you to study one area of United States History in depth, apply your ability to think as well as the skill of writing a research paper.  Papers will be given ample notice, and as such, I do not tolerate late work except in extreme emergencies.  Late papers will be drop one third of a grade for each day they are late (Friday to Monday counts as one “day”): for example, an “A” to an “A-“.  Your presentation is a reflection of your thinking, as such, all papers are expected to be word-processed, spell-checked, proof-read and generally polished.  What you will hand me is your best work and consequently, I almost never allow re-writes. If, however, you have a new idea for an assignment and wish to explore it further, please see me and we can discuss a replacement grade.  If, however, your work is unacceptable, I may decide to give “no credit” which requires you to re-write the assignment for simple credit.  Finally, you ought to know that I view those plastic paper covers as the work of the Devil.  A staple will do just fine and electronic work is ALWAYS accepted. 

Class Participation.  You can expect to be evaluated on the contribution that you make to the scholarship of this class.  This does not mean that you are being evaluated on the frequency, volume, or enthusiasm of your speaking.  Rather, it refers to your ability to further a conversation, to develop an idea, to contribute in a way that improves the thinking of the overall group. 

Absences:

Unavoidable Excused Absences.  For those times when you cannot help but miss class, you should approach me, tears in your eyes, far enough ahead of time so that you can make up the work you will miss before you leave.  If the absence is an excused emergency, we will work together to make-up any work missed.

Avoidable Excused Absences.  If you or your family choose for you to miss school (for example, for a vacation to the beautiful island of Kaho’olawe) I cannot penalize your absence, but I make no promises of extra effort on my part to help you catch-up on what you missed.  In short, if you choose to miss my class for an avoidable reason, you are on your own.  More than just being a mean person, I believe that my efforts should be put towards those who choose to meet when the class meets. 

Unexcused Absences.  Cuts are unacceptable.  You cannot learn if you are not present and as such, each cut will lower your semester grade by 1/3 (ie. From an “A” to an “A-“).   Three cuts in a semester will lead to an automatic failure for that semester.  Do not cut this class. 

Plagiarism:

Please refer to the longer Statement of Plagiarism used by the English and History Departments (found on my webpage).