US Government and History
Matthew Egnew
matthew.egnew@husd.org
8th Grade
Cooley Middle School
Webpage Link: http://www.husd.org/Page/2738
Objectives of this course:
The 8th grade year will be split into 2 important aspects of US History. Students will learn the
most significant aspects of the history of the United States during the last 60-70 Years. Focal
points will be WWII, the Cold War, Civil Rights, and the Modern Events. As a fundamental
background to this, the second piece of this puzzle is US Government. Students will become
experts on the US government, how it was formed, and the principles at its foundation.
Included in this will be the study of the American Revolution and the Constitution. Ultimately
and most important will be, how the US government works as well as how they themselves as
citizens are responsible and capable of running it.
Units of Study this School Year:
First Semester
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American Revolution
US Constitution
US Citizenship
World War II
Second Semester
* Cold War
* Civil Rights Movement
* Modern US History
Communication: I am an email person. My email is listed above but if necessary you can leave
a message on my phone at 480-279-8300 xt8342. My plan for communication between
students, parents, and teacher include the following:
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Weekly updates to my webpage will notify students and parents about assignments,
tests, and upcoming class expectations.
Students will fill out and use agendas to track and record daily activities and
assignments.
Grades will be posted to Synergy weekly. Grades can be checked through link on my
webpage titled “Student Grades”
Make Up/Absences Protocol: Students are expected to make up missed work. Students can
utilize my teacher webpage to access materials missed on the occasion that they are not at
school. This includes all notes, readings, and assignments. Make up tests must be scheduled
before or after school with me ahead of time to make sure that I can be here at that time. No
walk ins please.
Redo/ Retake Guidelines for Assessments/Projects: Before a student is allowed to retake/redo
any unit test, quiz, or project they must fill out a petition form. On this form they will outline
the steps in which they will become better prepared to demonstrate their understanding and
knowledge. Students are allowed to retake/redo any assessment within the 2 weeks of when
the grade was entered.
*
The Student is responsible for making all arrangements with me to determine the date
and time to retake/redo the assessment. Retakes will not be done in class. Either before
or after school.
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The most recent score will be the one in the grade book. For example, if you do worse on
the retake, then the score will be changed in the grade book for the worse score and vice
versa.
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All practice materials for the test, quiz, or project must be completed before
taking the retake.
*
Diagnostic tests and final exams do not have retake opportunities
Midterm and Final Exams: There will be a midterm and final exam for this course. Students
will complete these assessments in December and May. It is very important for students to be
prepared for these tests, as they are used to determine of the student has mastered course
topics.
Semester Grades: Social Studies grades are weighted.
Class Activities & Class Projects: 20%
Quizzes, Tests, & Exams: 80%
Grading Scale:
4=100%= A= Exceeds, 3.75= 95%=A=Exceeds, 3.5= 90%= A= Exceeds
3.25= 85%= B=Meets, 3= 80%=B= Meets, 2.75= 77.5%= C= Approach
2.5= 75%= C= Approach, 2.25= 72.5%= C= Approach, 2= 70%=C= Approach
1.75= 65%=D= Unacceptable, 1.5= 60%=D= Unacceptable, 1= 50%=F= Unacceptable
Required Materials:
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1/2 inch or 1 inch binder
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5 subject dividers for binder
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Pencils (#2)
Donations of any one of these materials is much
appreciated:
Copy Paper, Lined Paper, Kleenex, Hand Sanitizer,
Clorox Wipes, Glue Sticks, Scissors, Colored Pencils,
Sticky Notes, Dry Erase Markers, Construction Paper,
Sharpies, Colored Markers, Scotch Tape Refills, Paper
Clips, Push Pins, White Poster board.
Tutoring and Extra Help: I will be available for extra help before school on most days. Please
make prior arrangements to come in and get help so that I can check to make sure that I do
not have a meeting to attend. Tutoring is a fantastic time to get additional help, and students
should not feel embarrassed or nervous to come in!
Online Textbook: Although we use the textbook rarely, it can also be used at home as a
supplementary tool by the student in addition to class material through my webpage.
Text: US History Holt McDougal
Link: http://my.hrw.com/
(After reaching the login page please use the username: MEGNEW and password: cougars2013)
Parent Contact Form
Matthew Egnew
Cooley Middle School
(Please fill out and detach this form and return to school)
8th Grade Social Studies
Student Name
Parent Name
Parent Email
Parent Phone
Parent Name
Parent Phone
Parent Email
***Please put an “X” next which contact you prefer.***
Video Permission In 8th grade this year we will be watching portions of these in school. Please
read about and find out how to research these movies on the bottom of this page. Thank you. Sign
on line yes or no for each movie.
1776
Yes
No
Separate But Equal Yes
No
102 Minutes
Yes
No
Thirteen Days
Yes
No
1776 The film version of the Broadway musical comedy of the same name. In the days leading up to July 4, 1776, Continental
Congressmen John Adams and Benjamin Franklin coerce Thomas Jefferson into writing the Declaration of Independence as a
delaying tactic as they try to persuade the American colonies to support a resolution on independence. See Website for details.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068156/
Separate But Equal A dramatization of the American court case that destroyed the legal validity of racial segregation. See website
for details. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102879/
102 Minutes A documentary that details the moment by moment events of the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01. See Website for details.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1312203/
Thirteen Days The film is set during the two-week Cuban missile crisis in October of 1962, and it centers on how President John F.
Kennedy, Attorney General Robert Kennedy, and others handled the explosive situation. See Website for details.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0146309/
Please see reverse side for classroom expectations.
Classroom Management: Although a majority of the time student behavior is exceptional,
there are occasions when students can be inappropriate or out of line. In those occasions, here
is my protocol:
1st step: I will have a private conversation with the student about classroom expectations.
2nd step: I will contact the parent and assign the student a lunch detention.
3rd step: I will contact parent and assign the student ASD (After School Detention)
4th step: I will refer student to the administration and they will handle it from there.
Note: Some behavior is minor and will merit multiple step 1s, 2s, or 3s. Also some behavior
would require swifter action and could merit going straight to a step 4.
Ipad/Electronics Expectations:
Students will either be taking a school ipad home with them daily or storing it here at the
school. Either way, students are expected to have their pad every day ready to go and charged
if needed. Tampering with the ipad or using it to view or do inappropriate things will obviously
be cause for them to lose their privilege of having access to an ipad. In that case, they will be
give alternative reading and writing assignments to complete when appropriate.
Student/Parent Signatures
(Please sign and return to school)
By signing this document, I acknowledge that I have read and understand all of
the material within this syllabus and agree to the guidelines of this class.
Student
Date
Parent
Date