Title: Mr
Author: Harry D. Jacobs
Last saved by: CUSD300
Company: H. D. Jacobs High School

Mr. Thorsen’s
Awesome, Stupendous,
United States History Course
Conduct
	1.  All behavior rules listed in the Jacobs High School Handbook apply.
	2.  Remember that there is to be no talking while the teacher or fellow student is speaking.
	3.  Personal notes WILL be CONFISCATED and possibly READ or POSTED to the entire class.
	4.  Please, no writing on the furniture and keep garbage off of the floor.
	5.  Respect the views and rights of everyone in the class.
	6.  Use common sense with one’s conduct.
	7.  Cheating, including plagiarism, will result with an automatic “0” for the assignment or examination.  An 
     additional case of cheating may result in loss of credit for all previous commentaries and or loss of extra
     credit privileges. 
8.  Late homework will only be accepted within one week of its due date and at a maximum of half credit.
	9.  Sleeping during class time will result with a deduction of points to one’s score.  I also reserve the right to
     play practical jokes on those who sleep.

Attendance
	10.  You must be in the class, and seated in your chair before the bell sounds.
	11.  The student and not the teacher is responsible for any material missed due to absences.

Grading Policy
	12.  Your semester grade will be determined as follows:
		100-90% of the total points = A
		 89-80% of the total points = B
		 79-70% of the total points = C
		 69-60% of the total points = D
		 59-0%   of the total points = F
	13.  Classwork 30%, Assessments 50%, Final 20%
	14.  I reserve the right to initiate the use of “Pop” quizzes if the assigned readings are not fulfilled.
	15.  Journal 25pts/entry
		-minimum of 1/2 a page of one’s thoughts on the lesson, and/or the material covered.
		  DO NOT WRITE WHAT WE COVERED NOR WHAT WE DID IN CLASS.
		-each entry should be typed, double-spaced, size 12 font, 1” margins and dated
	16.  Commentaries 50pts each
		-1/3 page summary of any source of history (newspaper/magazine article, internet, encyclopedia etc.)
		-minimum of 1/2 page of one’s thoughts on the information contained in the source and NOT on the 
 source itself.  For instance, do not tell me what you thought of the source or the author’s writing 
 ability, rather analyze the information provided.
		-each entry should be typed, double-spaced, size 12 font, 1” margins and dated
		-you must provide a copy of the source with the commentary
		-the topic should be something that occurred at least five years ago
	Here are possible questions to ask yourself while analyzing history for either the commentary or journals:
		1.  Why did the people do the things they did in the story?
		2.  What are the good or bad results of the participants’ actions?
		3.  How have the participants’ actions affected the people around them?
		4.  How have their actions affected history or the future?
		5.  What lessons can be learned from the story?
		6.  Are there any unusual observations noted in the account?
		     	-If so, why are they included?  What can be drawn from these observations?
		7.  Are there any other events in history that are identical or very similar to the one you read?
			-If so, how are they similar?
		8.  If you were one of the people in the story, how would you feel, react?  What would you have done
     differently?
		9.  Try some “what if” scenarios.  (If this would have occurred then this would have happened.)
		
10.  What do you think was the thought process behind the decisions made by people in the story?
		11.  If you could change one thing in the story, what would it be and why?
12.	Do you agree or disagree with the actions / decisions made by people in the account and why?
17.  Class Project(s) 50-1000pts
	18.  Examinations 100-1000pts
	19.  Homework (including in-class homework) varies in value
	20.  Extra-Credit
		-This is what I am offering to you.  I will allow a student to raise their grade, through 
		extra-credit, up to a C.  If a student earns a straight, borderline (within 2%) C/B or B/A 
		and earned 100 pts. of extra-credit, I may give them the higher grade.  However, if a student 
		violates this contract, I reserve the right to remove the usage of extra-credit in the 
		tabulation of the student’s grade.  It is my discretion as to what type of violation 
		warrants the removal of extra credit.
21.  At the beginning of each week I will provide a list of the homework expected for the entire 
       	       week.  This should enable both student and parent to know what is expected for the week.
22.  Apart from some extenuating circumstances, on Wednesdays I will provide students without access 
       to infinite campus a printed grade update that shows both turned in and missing assignments.
23.  I am normally available in room 222 and after school until around 3:15.
24.  I am planning on showing scenes from movies and actual footage that contains some swearing and                   
       violence such as “We Were Soldiers,” an edited version of “Saving Private Ryan” and footage from the 
       German and Japanese perpetrated holocausts in WWII.  

      If I DO have your permission sign your name:__________________________________________________
    
      If I DO NOT have your permission sign your name:_____________________________________________

25.  Please feel free to call or email me with any questions or concerns at pierre.thorsen@d300.org or 847-532-6264
26.  My website which has resources and announcements is www.thorhistory.weebly.com

The Topics Covered in the Class 

Term One
1.     Colonial America to War of 1812
2.     Early America to Jacksonian Era
3.     Moving West to Mexican War
4.    1848 to Civil War
5.    Reconstruction & the West
6.    Industrialization & Immigration
7.    Progressive Era & Women Suffrage

Term Two
8.  Imperialism
9.  World Gone Mad
10.  Roaring 20’s & FDR
11.  World Gone Mad Again	
12.  Cold War & Vietnam
13.  Civil Rights & Social Upheaval

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