Course Syllabus

U.S. History I

Welcome to eighth grade history! This course will examine the historical development of the United States through the Nineteenth Century. Primary and secondary sources of information will be interpreted to construct an understanding of important events. Study skills and map skills will also be emphasized. Current events will be bridged to the past, illustrating the value of historical study.

Contact Information

Class will be held in room 209.  I will be available before and after school.  Feel free to drop in or set up an appointment to meet with me.  I can also be reached at my school extension 402-6574.  The best way to get a hold of me is via e-mail at gmudrow@dsdmail.net

The Textbook

We will be using Holt McDougal’s United States History as our text. A classroom set of books will be supplied for assignments and reference. Care should be used with the books as fines will be assessed for damage.  An online version of the text is available to students at my.hrw.com (Links to an external site.). Students will use their student e-mail and PIN to login.  (For some reason, the online textbook works best with the Internet Explorer browser.  If you're having trouble accessing the book, try using Explorer.)

Classroom Policies

• Students are expected to have a pen or pencil, paper, and their laptop/cloudbook each day for class.
• Assignments and homework are to be handed in on time. Late work will be accepted until the end of the term but will receive reduced credit. 
• Plagiarized work will not be accepted. Assignments must be redone for reduced credit and citizenship will be lowered to a U. This includes copying and turning in another student’s work.
• Students who are absent from school will be allowed to make up missed assignments. Due dates will be extended by the number of days absent (1 additional day per 1 day of absence).  Assignments will be available in Canvas for the duration of the term.  It is the student’s responsibility to gather missed assignments upon his or her return to class. If the absence is anticipated, students are welcome to participate in class through the Canvas platform.
• Tests that are missed, due to absence, may be taken upon the student’s return to class. Students can make arrangements to retake any test within a week of the original.
• Extra credit will be offered to the entire class on occasion, it will not be offered on an individual basis.
• Citizenship grades will be determined by preparedness, effort and behavior. The school attendance policy will also be factored into the grade.

Grades

Official grade information can be found in Encore using the myDSD (Links to an external site.) system.  While scores will also be listed in Canvas, students should refer to Encore for the most accurate picture of their grade.

Accommodations

I am here to help each student succeed. If there are concerns about student progress or needs, don’t hesitate to contact me.  IEP and 504 accommodations will, of course, be honored.

Priority Standards

The following priority standards will be used in each module and developed continuously through new content.

• Demonstrate understanding of historical concepts and processes.
• Analyze causes, effects, and periodization in history.
• Analyze the context of historical event, documents, or developments.
• Analyze similarities and differences between time periods, locations, events, etc.
• Interpret and analyze primary and secondary sources.
• Demonstrate effective communication through speaking, writing, and listening.