SYLLABUS

Mr. Dan McDowell
danmcdowell@cox.net
SS10

Ms. Karly Johnstone
kjohnstone@guhsd.net
SS11

Phone: 596-3600 x309

Humanities Web Page: http://www.guhsd.net/mcdowell/hum


“Each age tries to form its own conception of the past. Each age writes the history of the past anew with reference to the conditions uppermost in its own time.”
-Frederick Jackson Turner

“Reading maketh a full man, conference a ready man, and writing an exact man.”
-Francis Bacon

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Welcome back to West Hills! You are beginning a year in an exciting, college preparatory course that combines Social Science and English, blending the best of World Literature, World History, Art, Philosophy and Music. Humanities uses a thematic approach bringing related historical and literary events together that will utilize your critical thinking skills, creativity and ability to work with others.


GRADING
By taking Humanities, you will receive credit for both college preparatory World History and Sophomore English. However, unlike history and English, Humanities is one class, therefore, you will receive one grade (which will appear twice on your report card). Following is how you will be graded:

  1. Essays, Exams (50%) – Includes all essays and unit exams. Occasionally a project will take the place of a unit exam. Also, some quizzes will be included in this category.


  2. Classwork, Assignment Logs, Projects (25%) – Includes classwork, journals, projects, some quizzes and any homework assigned. Assignment logs containing all course work (notes, etc.) will be turned in at the end of each unit. It is the student’s responsibility to keep your papers for each unit.


  3. Outside Reading (20%) – You are responsible for reading and conferencing 600 outside reading pages each six weeks. See Outside Reading Requirement for further information regarding this very important part of your grade.D. Silent Reading (5%) – The easiest 5% you will ever earn! Each Tuesday during homeroom is Silent Reading day. The whole period will be given to you to get ahead on your outside reading. You must have your book and be reading to get credit. No book, no reading = no credit.


Grading Scale: 90% = A, 80% = B, 70% = C, 60% = D


ABSENCES

  • Many assignments are completed in class only and cannot be made up if you are absent. BE IN CLASS! Excessive absences will affect your grade.
  • If absent, you are responsible for finding out what you missed. Ask another student, the teacher, or check the web page to find out what you missed!


MAKE UP/LATE WORK

  • Make up work is for excused absences only! It is your responsibility to find out what you missed and to make it up on your time.
  • You are responsible for any large projects/assignments or tests/quizzes that you knew about before you were absent. If you are absent the day a project or essay is due, you must have it ready on the day of your return or you will receive 50% (F) of the grade you would have received by turning it in on time. For example, if you would have received 80 points out of 100 on an essay, you would receive 40 points if it is turned in late.
  • If you are absent on the day of a group presentation, you will receive 50% of the group’s project grade.


OTHER STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
(a.k.a. Some important info to know in order to make me happyJ)

  1. DO NOT talk while the teacher or another student is speaking.
  2. No food, drinks, or GUM permitted in class.
  3. DO NOT pack up your things before the bell rings.
  4. I expect you to act appropriately and maturely. Know that I am not here to pick on you nor do I have time to nag you unnecessarily. If I give you a direction, I expect you to follow it without argument. Any questions or problems can be discussed privately before or after class.
  5. The 3 R’s:

    R esponsibility – Each student has the ability to succeed in this class as well as life. I will teach you the skills you need to succeed at West Hills and in college, but it is YOUR responsibility to put this information to good use (be present, attentive, and prepared.)


    R espect – all students will show respect towards other’s person, opinion, and property. This means LISTENING to ideas and opinions that are different from your own and accepting the right of others to voice that idea or opinion. Remember, just because something is different does not mean it is wrong.


    R ights – each student that enters my classroom has the right to expect my full attention to the lesson at hand in addition to working in a safe classroom atmosphere that encourages learning. If any student chooses to interfere with my teaching or another student’s learning, I reserve the right to ask that student to leave my classroom (followed by an appropriate consequence).