Mr. Cass
Florida SouthWestern Collegiate
High School
***
Syllabus Highlights
“Perfection is not attainable, but if we
chase perfection we can catch excellence.”
Vince Lombardi
This is NOT Middle School!!
• You are not in middle school anymore. You are attending a
COLLEGIATE high school on a COLLEGE campus.
• This is an honors course and you are expected to behave in a
mature manner.
• Please be on time and prepared.
Ron Clark’s Essentials
• Civility (School, Classroom, and LIFE
Etiquette)
– Presentation Techniques
– Note taking and Study Habits
– Proper socialization throughout the
school
• Belief in “potential” and “pride” leads to
success
– Not just in one’s self
– Potential in one’s school and
community
• Creating an atmosphere of scholarship and
hard work
– With this atmosphere academics come
naturally
Ron Clark Continued
The “Woosification” of America must end!
“Not Thinking is annoying.” Ron Clark
• Continually points out for errors
– Asks why the student made the error and expects a response –
not “I don’t know.”
• Focus is not just horseplay
– Not THINKING and merely responding shows lack of focus
– Pressure is OK. Pressure makes kids think
• Essentials are demanded
– All students are focused on Clark
– All students are focused on classmates responses – especially for
errors
• You MUST focus on your classmates responses
• You may be called on to correct a response
RC’s Class Continued
“It’s easier to teach a child than to repair
an adult.” Frederick Douglas
• Students teaching
students: For ex.
Your Do Now’s will be
student run
– Kids didn’t mind
being corrected by
other students or
admitting WHY they
made a mistake
– Help out for each
other
Focus, Learn, and BE a Teacher
RC Teaches how to Teach
• Why do this?
–To become stewards of
your own learning – a
metacognition
– Teaching and
presenting requires
confidence
– Articulation and
speaking correctly – A
Must!
“Life is NOT fair!” Ken Townsel - Science
Teacher at RCA and former teacher of the year
• Life lessons taught in every
class
• Working hard to improve
can get you far
– Not working hard keeps you
in the back of the room
where you can’t see what’s
happening
– Ex. V.I.P. section awarded to
those who work hard and
have highest GPA
• Comfy chairs with a great view
Class Philosophy
• “History is now one of the very few GCSE (General
Certificate of Secondary Education) exams where pupils are
faced with a blank sheet of paper and asked to write down
their interpretation of the events that they have studied. In
other words, pupils who study history learn to think for
themselves.” – Paul Lay, Editor, History Today
• Your ability to critically think and connect the events
of the past with the events, people/nations, cultural
landscapes, and global structures of today IN
WRITING is the essence of this class.
NOTEBOOK/BINDER
• The notebook/binder is your
life raft.
– Provides a study resource of
reading and class/lecture
notes
– Provides an organizational
strategy
– This “binder” is your class
notebook.
• NOTE: Quizzes and tests may
AT ANY TIME be open notes
Homework
• Homework: Traditional
homework is rarely given,
although you should have
homework every night
– Guided reading packets for
every chapter will be handed
out and checked for a grade.
• In short, your homework is
to read and annotate your
chapters and supplemental
readings, prepare
presentations, research, and
complete projects.
Course Outline
• Chapters may be added or subtracted depending on time and pace
of the class and year.
• Unit I: Chapters 17, 19, 20 (8 weeks)
• Unit II: Chapters 21, 22, 23 (8 weeks)
• Midterm Review: (1 week)
• Midterm Exam: Chapters 17 and 19-23
• ***************************
• Unit III: Chapters 25, 27, 29 (8 weeks)
• Unit IV: Chapters 32 and 36 (8 weeks)
• Final Review: (1 week)
• Final Exam: Your final exam will consist of one, five-part question
that involves various time periods of study that have affected our
world – even today.
Assignment Policy
• I do not give full credit for late work.
– All work is due on the assigned date. A letter grade - per day
will be deducted until assignment is completed.
– If an assignment is not turned in, a score of 0 will be logged and
a referral written. The grade will be changed accordingly, when
and if the assignment is completed.
• NOTE: If you are present when work is assigned, the work is
due ON THE DAY you return.
– I will allow two days after an excused absence to make up
missed work.
• If you are absent, it is your responsibility to obtain missed
assignments and information from either me or a trusted
classmate. To get missed work, you may reach me at the
email address.
Tests and Quizzes
• You are expected to read and annotate all chapters
listed above in course outline.
• Your chapter test’s multiple choice questions come
DIRECTLY from the information found within the text.
• Test FRQs (Free Response Questions) will also be
derived from the information and vocabulary within
the chapters you read plus documentaries/video
lectures, and PowerPoint presentations (lectures).
Class Procedures
• Enter the room quietly, professionally, and respectfully.
• Do not come behind my desk unless asked – thank you.
• I do not tolerate cell phone usage, electronic device usage (unless
instructed to do so), or dress code violations.
– Cell phones must be turned off and placed in the crate by the front
door at the start of class. You may take your phone at the end of class.
– If you are out of dress code, I will simply ask that you put something
else on or go see Mrs. Juneau.
• “Do Now” activities will occur daily throughout the year.
– This means you should be answering the question on the screen – not
talking – upon arrival.
• Bathroom breaks are allowed after the first 10 minutes of class and
NOT allowed 10 minutes before the end of class.
– One person may leave at a time.
• Bottled water ONLY. Candy, food, soft drinks, and gum are not allowed in
class.
• Remain seated until the dismissal bell. Please refrain from “packing” up
and huddling at the door.
• The bell does not release you; I release you.
Websites to Favorite and Email
• bmcass@fsw.edu
• Mr. Cass’s class site:
– www.saintcass.weebly.com
• MLA writing format site
– http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/
01/
Finally!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH2SOGaqqF8
• Success is addictive – like your cell phone.
• “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” Ben Franklin
• The more you succeed, the more your brain retains
information to help you succeed over and over again.