United States History:
Fall 2006/Spring 2007
D. Pergande, Room 214, 389-7390 (Ext. 516)
dpergande@sayreschool.org
Teaching Periods: C, D, E, G
Study Hall:B Free Periods: A, F, H
Welcome juniors! This history course covers the major themes in American history,
from the “discovery” of the New World to the challenges of the 21st century. The
historical narrative will be complex and multi-dimensional as we explore private and
public lives, ordinary and celebrated people, dividing and unifying trends, as well as
national and international phenomena. Examining America’s history through a variety of
lenses - political, social, economic, and cultural - we will continuously address these
essential questions…






Why does what happen in the past matter?
What counts as an historical event? Does anything not count?
Who and what determines whether something in the past is significant?
What is unique about the American experience?
How has diversity shaped American society?
What forces have drawn the nation together and enabled it to survive and flourish,
despite division?
Required Books and Materials: Since this is a college-preparatory class you will be
assigned readings from a college level text and a variety of supplemental resources,
including the following required texts:


Alan Brinkley, The Unfinished Nation: A Concise History of the American
People. Fourth Edition.
American Studies: A Nextext Anthology.
You will generally need to bring both texts to class (depending on the reading assignment
the night before). In addition to these books and your laptop, you are also required to
keep track of notes and papers. Therefore, you will need to have a large loose-leaf binder
(1 ½” at least) devoted to this history class. You should have plenty of loose-leaf paper
and dividers for reading notes, class notes, homework assignments, handouts, and all
returned quizzes, writing assignments and tests. Each student is responsible for keeping
track of these materials (you will need them for the final exam). These
notebooks/binders will be checked periodically (and graded) for their organization and
content. These checks will be announced in advance.
1
Expectations for History 11:
Seek wisdom, choose integrity, show respect, and demonstrate compassion
(Uh…what does that mean?)
Classroom Rules and Etiquette:
 Be on time.
 Be prepared.
 Be engaged and alert; participate to the fullest extent possible.
 Be courteous, considerate, and respectful – of each other and your instructor.
 Be positive – if you choose to do well, you will.
Participation: Preparing for and participating in class discussions stimulates your mind,
reinforces core content, and strengthens analytical thinking. We’ll all have a lot more fun
if we’re exchanging and debating ideas together. Think of your classmates as colleagues
who will make you smarter, not as rivals with whom you need to compete. Your effort in
class (speaking aloud, asking and answering questions) will not only clarify information
and boost your self-confidence, it will help your grade.
Laptop Guidelines: See attached sheet.
Attendance and Note-taking: Obviously, you can’t participate if you’re not in class.
Prompt attendance is required and will affect your grade as well. Note-taking is also
essential (on paper or on your laptop) for learning the material in this class. How you do
it is up to you, but hard copies of your notes should be organized in your notebook for
occasional checks and preparing for exams.
Homework: Out of class assignments usually consists of readings with a related written
or interactive component. Other assignments might include research exercises, webbased activities, preparation for oral presentations, creative writings or essays. Larger
assignments may overlap with nightly reading and note-taking, but will be assigned in
advance. Students are expected to balance these short-term and long-term assignments
and complete both punctually. Unit syllabi with nightly assignments will be handed out
at the beginning of each new unit. I will also post nightly assignments on my white board
daily. Write it down. Ask questions if you don’t understand. If you are not in class, you
can check the PCR calendar system or e-mail/call a classmate for the nightly assignment.
You are responsible for knowing the homework assignments and changes. “I didn’t know
what the homework was” is not a valid excuse – even if you’re computer is not working.
Homework will be graded often, but not invariably. NOTE: Assignments announced as
“turn ins” in advance must be printed, not e-mailed on your computer, in order to count.
Grading: Participation, attendance, note-taking, homework assignments, and classroom
evaluations are all included in the computation of your grade. Final cumulative exams
are given in December and May on the entire semester’s material and make up 20% of
your semester’s grade (see below). All graded work should be pledged with Sayre’s
honor code: “I hereby pledge my honor that I have neither given nor received any
unauthorized aid on this work.”
2

Term Grades are computed as follows:
o Participation, attendance, effort and note-taking
20%
o Homework, class work, quizzes, tests, essays and projects 80%

Semester grades are computed as follows:
o Term 1 grade
o Term 2 grade
o Final cumulative exam

40%
40%
20%
Terms 3 and 4 are calculated the same as 1 and 2.
Course Topics and Unit Chronology: Our goal is to cover U.S. History to the present.
Below is an approximate outline of how the units will be broken down and the time frame
during the school year when we will try to cover them. This schedule is subject to
change and will be supplemented with individual unit syllabi and assignment calendars.
Unit 1 (August 22-September 14) The Beginning: Pre-Columbus through 1763
Meeting of Cultures, Exploration and Settlements, Arrival of English,
Colonial America – Transplantations and Borderlands, Society and Culture in
Provincial America
Unit 2 (September 15-29) Breaking Free from England (1763-1789)
The Empire in Transition, the American Revolution, the Articles of
Confederation, the Search for National Government
Unit 3 (October 2-October 20) A New Nation (1789-1828)
The Constitution and New Republic, the Jeffersonian Era, Varieties of American
Nationalism
Unit 4 (October 23-November 17) Antebellum America: Economics, Politics and
Reform (1815-1860)
Jacksonian America, Market Revolution, King Cotton and Slavery, Culture and
Reform Movements
Unit 5 (November 20-December 8) Expansion and War (1840-1865)
Manifest Destiny, the Impending Crisis, the Civil War
(December 11-12) Review for Final Exams
(December 13-19) Final Exams
A breakdown of units for the second semester will come after the holiday break.
GOOD LUCK!
3