American Studies – Course Information
Mr. Voss & Ms. Schmitz
Contact Information:
Mr. Voss: 847-540-5415 (VM)
Ms. Schmitz: 847-540-4703 (VM)
David.Voss@lz95.org (Email)
Office: Room E 209
Jennifer.Schmitz@lz95.org (Email) Office: Room E 209
Course Description: American Studies enables students to appreciate the richness and diversity
of American culture from an interdisciplinary perspective through American history and
American literature. Students will synthesize the elements of the American experience through a
study of American history and literature, as well as through an examination of the nation’s art,
music, architecture, and film.
Student Expectations:
1. Complete all homework, reading assignments, individual and group projects.
2. Participate in classroom activities and discussions.
3. Have a positive attitude and respect everyone in class.
4. Successfully pass quizzes, tests, assignments, and semester exams.
5. Be prepared with your materials. Required daily: textbooks, homework,
folder/binder, notes, pen/pencil.
6. NO ELECTRONIC USAGE IN CLASSROOM WITHOUT PERMISSION FOR
SPECIFIC USE
Overall Objectives: Students will develop proficiency in the following areas:
 Reading and understanding literature
 Writing skills
 Listening and oral communication
 Thinking skills
 Grammar and vocabulary
Evaluation: Students will be evaluated on the basis of unit tests, quizzes, projects, homework,
written assignments, research papers, and/or class participation.
Texts: American Literature, United States History (Benjamin Franklin book), Glencoe
Literature (Blue book to stay in room), supplemental packets, other texts to be distributed
throughout the course of the year.
Grading Scale: Grades will be based on the required high school grading scale which can be
found in your student handbook.
Participation: Positive participation is expected from every student. This includes asking and
answering questions, taking notes, listening attentively to teachers and fellow students. Negative
participation includes interrupting others, inappropriate use of cell phones/iPads during class, etc.
Up to ten percent of your grade will be based on participation.
Notes: You are expected to take notes both in and out of class. It is an important life skill for
you to master. You will take notes from class discussions, readings, student presentations, etc.
The answer to your question, “Should we be writing this down?” is always yes.
Homework: Homework will be due at the beginning of class. No exceptions without prior
arrangement.
Makeup Work: Assignments due on a day you are absent will be due the day you return to
class. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed and to obtain any
homework. For each day you are absent, you have one day plus one extra day to complete
assignments assigned the day(s) you were gone. This includes tests and quizzes.
If you are absent because of a field trip, you are required to make up the test the following day.
Note: Makeup tests may be in a different format than the one given on the original test day. In
many cases, makeup tests will be in an essay format.
Tardies: The tardy and unexcused absence policies will be enforced as stated in the
Parent/Student Handbook.
Miscellaneous: Cheating will not be tolerated. This includes looking at another student’s test,
copying homework assignments, plagiarism, and passing answers to other students. School
policies will be followed in the event of cheating or plagiarism.
If you have any problems or concerns, please talk to either one of us. We are here to help you be
successful.