Christ the King Cathedral School
Course Syllabus 2007-2008

7th Grade Texas History

Instructor:  Dr. David Gossman
         dgossman@ctkcathedral.org or dmgossman@earthlink.net
         795-8283 x 257
 
Textbook:  Texas and Texans (2003)
                    www.texans.glencoe.com

Class Meetings:  M, T, W, TH, F from 9:53-10:43 am

Course Requirements:
Each student is required to complete all assigned readings, homework, writing assignments, quizzes, and exams of the course, as well as make every possible effort to attend each class session.  Class attendance is crucial toward attaining a full understanding of the course material, participating in classroom discussion and maintaining an acceptable grade.  Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class session and if you are late, it is your responsibility to inform the instructor.  Absences, including absences from quizzes and exams, are excused only prior to class and only for school purposes, medical reasons, or absolutely unavoidable personal emergencies, as verified by the school office. 

You will be given an exam approximately every four or five weeks in this course.  Each exam will consist of two parts:  seventy percent objective (true/false, multiple choice, map or graph) and thirty percent short answer or essay.  On both portions of each exam, you will be responsible for material covered in lecture and in your textbook.  Each of the exams will be weighed equally, and the final exam at the end of each grading period will be comprehensive.  In addition to the major exams, I will give homework assignments, quizzes, PowerPoint assignments and writing assignments over the course of each nine-week grading period.  Improvement over the course of the semester will weigh in your favor.  Good grades at the end of the semester will generally obliterate poor grades at the start. 

It is each student’s responsibility to meet the course requirements.  Do not hesitate to ask questions in class if you are having difficulty comprehending the material.  Students are strongly encouraged to meet with the instructor to discuss any aspects of the course. 

Grade Determination:
Tests and Quizzes                                                                           40%
Homework (vocabulary, maps and worksheets)                                   20%
Essays, PowerPoint Assignments and Written Reports                           25%
Notebook                                                                                        15%
Notebooks:  Each student is expected to keep all notes, homework, quizzes, in-class assignments, and tests in an organized notebook.  Each student is expected to maintain a two-inch three-ring binder for this class, with a set of labeled dividers to organize their work.  Your notebooks need to be labeled and organized in the following order:

Section 1:  Syllabus with classroom expectations, academic integrity form, note taking
      guidelines, writing assignment guidelines and PowerPoint guidelines and
      grading criteria.
Section 2:  In-class notes, in chronological order, with blank notebook paper or a
      composition book.
Section 3:  Homework assignments (including test review materials), in the order
      assigned.
Section 4:  Written Reports and Essays, in the order assigned.
Section 5:  Quizzes and Tests, in the order given.

I expect that all students will have the necessary binder, labeled dividers, and signed syllabus to show the instructor no later than Monday, August 27.

Behavioral Expectations:  Unacceptable behavior in the classroom may be classified as anything that disturbs the instructor or other students during the class period.  Listed below are several (but not all) examples of such behavior.  A comprehensive list is contained in your student handbook.
 
Arriving late to class or leaving class early (except for doctor’s appointments or other reasons arranged in advance with the school office).
Gum chewing, eating or drinking in class.
Repeatedly asking to leave the class to use the bathroom or get a drink of water.
Throwing objects in class.
Talking out of turn.
Teasing or taunting other students.
Failure to be prepared for class or to bring expected materials (textbook, pens or pencils, colored pencils, assignment notebook and notebook with loose leaf paper).
Sleeping, reading a newspaper or unassigned book, or other overt inattentiveness in class.
Refusing to participate in classroom activities or follow directions from the instructor.

Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated in this class.  The guidelines for academic honesty are given in your student handbook (under Level III violations and Electronic Information Policies).  The attempt by students to present as their own any work that they have not honestly performed is regarded by the teacher and administration as an offense liable to serious consequences, including suspension.

Late Work:  All assignments are expected to be completed and turned in on time.  Since the concepts and skills taught in this class are progressive and build upon each other, late work is highly discouraged.  If an assignment is not turned in at the beginning of the class period, it will only be worth partial credit (maximum possible grade equivalent to a “D”) and a missing assignment note will be sent home with the student.  If the assignment is not turned in by the beginning of the class period immediately following the due date, the grade for the assignment will be a zero.  The only exceptions to these rules will be in the case of excused absences. 

Outline of topics covered in this class:

First Nine-Week Period:                       Geography of Texas
                                                            Native Americans in Texas
                                                            Spanish Settlements
                                                            Mexican Texas

Second Nine-Week Period:                  The Convention of 1836
                                                            The Alamo to the Victory at San Jacinto
                                                            Republic of Texas
                                                            Texas Statehood to the Civil War
 
Third Nine-Week Period:                     Reconstruction
                                                            Ranching and Agriculture
                                                            Populism and Progressivism
                                                            World War I and the 1920s
                                                            The Great Depression to World War II

Fourth Nine-Week Period:                   Civil Rights Movement
                                                            1960s Protests to Conservative Resurgence
                                                            Texas Politics and Culture
                                                            Texas State Government
                                                            Core Knowledge Units