EIGHTH GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES

Blue Team

2009 – 2010

http://www.mccsc.edu/~rcourtne/index.htm

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Unlike math, which builds yearly on skills necessary to function at the higher levels, social studies tends to focus on different areas, regions, or topics each year. Most, if not all of you, have studied family, community, state, and nation. In 8th grade, the primary focus of social studies is American History To 1877. This is, in effect, the first of a two year course in American History. In high school, you are required to take the second year, which focuses on our nation from 1877 to the present. I know, it sounds like high school gets the interesting stuff, right? Yet, in order to understand our nation, we must go back to the beginning. We are who we are because of ALL that has come before.

English, math, communication skills, practical arts... these classes help you hone skills necessary in today’s world. Science studies the physical aspects of the world, the geological, biological, and astronomical. Social studies focuses on the human aspect. Who we are, where we came from, where we are going, and how we use the earth and others to get there. To not understand social studies aspects of the world is to overlook its most important component -

its people.

This year we shall cover numerous topics which will be explained in detail as we begin each “mini-course”. Each topic will cover approximately six weeks, and each will have as its focus an aspect of American History prior to the 20^th century. Of course, in order to provide relevance, connections will repeatedly be made with more recent events in our history.

Possible topics to be covered this year :

1. EXPLORATION, COLONIZATION, AND REVOLUTION

2. BIRTH AND GROWTH OF AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

3. GROWTH AND EXPANSION OF BOUNDARIES AND PEOPLES

4. THE CIVIL WAR ERA

5. MOVING TO THE MODERN AGE

CLASS OPERATIONS

ASSIGNMENTS

There are various types of assignments in this class. Homework will be assigned on the average of three times a week. There may be some units during which you will have an assignment almost every night while during other units you may go a week or more without a homework assignment. In addition, there will be in-class assignments, some of which may be completed at home, others will be due before the end of class.

Group work is a component of this class and often you will be working on assignments with others in your group. Some of these assignments will be for the entire group and receive a group grade while other assignments will be for each individual but will require group cooperation to complete effectively. Group assignments will usually be due by the end of class, but in some cases, such as projects, several days of class time may be required.

There will normally be a test each unit. Most social studies tests are open note, so it behooves you to take good notes in class. We shall spend time discussing this skill. The tests usually include several essay questions which ask you to use information, not simply repeat it. Without accurate notes, the tests are quite difficult. Be sure to have a spiral bound notebook in which you take your social studies notes.

Finally, each unit will include a project of some sort. This project itself and the general topic are assigned, but the student is allowed to pick a specific area of interest as the topic and, at times, the actual product of the project.

LATE ASSIGNMENTS AND MAKE-UP WORK

All assignments are due at the time they are collected in class. Any assignment turned in after that point is late and will have a letter grade deducted. If assignments are not handed in by the time the assignment is returned to others in the class, no credit will be given for the late assignment. However, it will be noted that the assignment was handed in. This is important, as any student who is missing three or more assignments during a grading period may incur penalties such as parent notification, lunch detention, Saturday school, or the withholding of rewards such as participation in field trips.

Obviously, if you are absent the day an assignment is collected, you may hand it in upon your return to class with no penalty. Further, if you are absent when the assignment is given, you will have the same number of days to complete the assignment that others had. Many students have assignments sent home when they are ill, or call homework hotline to find what the assignment is. This is an excellent idea as it keeps you from falling behind the rest of the class or being burdened with a mountain of make-up work when you return to school. However, when a student is very ill, they do not feel up to doing school work. Even assignments sent home during an illness are not due the day of your return. If you are absent for several days, talk with your teachers about receiving an extension for make-up work. Most teachers will be more than willing to work out a schedule with you, but it is up to you to ask them.

MATERIALS

Each student will need the following supplies for this class:

Three ring binder – You will be asked to keep all notes, worksheets, and assignments in this. A three hole punch machine is available in the classroom.

pencils or pen - you will write every day; always bring something to write with as I may not have extras to loan.

GRADING

In this class you are graded on a twelve point scale as follows:

A+ 12 pts. C+ 6 pts.

A 11 pts. C 5 pts.

A- 10 pts. C- 4 pts.

B+ 9 pts. D+ 3 pts. F 0 pts.

B 8 pts. D 2 pts.

B- 7 pts. D- 1 pt.

Grades are weighted as follows:

TYPE WEIGHT

group work 1

in-class assignment or homework 2

test grade 6

project 12

As you can see, individual assignments are worth twice as much as group assignments. Some students worry that poor performance by their group may result in the lowering of an individual’s grade. This should not be the case using this weighting system. Be sure to check webgrades weekly.