This syllabus outlines the course details for a 10th grade U.S. History class taught by Mr. Terron Brooks. The course will provide a chronological study of major events and developments in U.S. history from early European exploration through Reconstruction. Teaching methods will include hands-on activities, group work, projects and lectures. Students will use The American Vision textbook and be expected to take notes, complete homework and projects, and will be evaluated based on tests, quizzes, notebooks and classwork. The syllabus provides objectives, procedures, requirements and policies around attendance, grading, and conferences.

1. Course Syllabus
Mr.Terron Brooks
U.S. History
Tenth Grade
Course Description – This course emphasizes five centuries of social, economic,
geographic, and political developments in the United States. It identifies and describes
the earliest discoveries on the North American continent and explains in a chronological
study the major events, issues, movements, leaders, and groups of people within the
United States through the Reconstruction period.
Methods of Teaching – Motivational hands-on activities, group activities, research
projects, lecture, student debate, technology integration, role playing, real life
experiences, and current events will be utilized to enhance the comprehension of essential
concepts and objectives.
Required Text – The American Vision, Volume One (Glencoe, 2005)
Course Objectives – The students will be able to:
1. Contrast effects of economic, geographic, social, and political conditions before
and after European explorations of the fifteenth through the seventeenth centuries
on Europeans, American colonists, and indigenous Americans.
2. Compare various early English settlements and colonies on the basis of
economics, geography, culture, government, and Native American relations.
3. Trace the chronology of events leading to the American Revolution, including the
French and Indian War, the Stamp Act, the Boston Tea Party, the Intolerable
Acts, the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the publication of Common Sense,
and the Declaration of Independence.
4. Describe the political system of the United States based on the Constitution and
the Bill of Rights.
5. Identify key cases that helped shape the United States Supreme Court.
6. Describe relations of the United States with Britain and France from 1781 to
1823.
7. Describe the development of a distinct culture within the United States between
the American Revolution and the Civil War.
8. Trace the development of efforts to abolish slavery prior to the Civil War.
9. Summarize major legislation and court decisions from 1880 to 1861 that led to
increasing sectionalism.
10. Describe how the course, character, and effects of the Civil War influenced the
United States.
11. Contrast congressional and presidential reconstruction plans, including African-
American political participation.
Typical Daily Class Procedure – (1) Collect assigned work, letters, notes, etc., (2)
SPRITE Chart/Current Events, (3) Discuss word of the day, (4) Warm up exercise, (5)
Review and Connect from previous lesson, (6) lecture notes/class discussion, (7)

2. Activity/Role play (varies), (8) question and answer session, (9) wrap-up lesson, (10)
homework, (11) clean-up/organization, (12) dismiss.
Course Materials/Requirements –
1. Required materials include: assigned textbook, 2 inch 3 ring binder with pockets,
dividers, paper, blue/black ink pens with eraser, pocket dictionary, highlighters,
pencils, and pencil sharpener with catcher.
2. Daily attendance is important. You must be in your seat and prepared for class
each day before the tardy bell rings. Be sure you know and follow the school
attendance policy.
3. Instructions will be given on how your notebook is to be organized. All
assignments should be dated and titled with the appropriate heading. Notebooks
will be checked at the end of each chapter.
4. Homework will be assigned for each lesson or section covered in the textbook.
During each semester, selected homework assignments will be collected, checked
and graded. Homework is given on a daily basis.
5. A minimum of one project will be given each nine weeks. Projects will require
some outside research and computer usage. Guidelines will be provided.
6. All required materials, including book and homework, should be brought to class
each day. You will not be allowed to leave the classroom to retrieve your book or
homework once you enter.
7. See the class rules, consequences, newsletters and grading guideline handouts for
additional information on class procedures, rules, and requirements.
Make-up Work – You are solely responsible for making up missed work after an
excused absence. You are responsible for securing assignments and making up tests and
quizzes. Students have 3 days from the initial return to school to make appropriate
arrangements to make up work. Any and all work must be returned to the teacher within
3 days or the total number of days the student was absent (which ever is greater) upon the
student’s return to school. Make-up work not completed within this timeframe will
receive a grade of 0/F. No work missed due to an unexcused absence and/or skipping
class will be made up. Tests and quizzes will normally be made up after school on
Tuesdays unless other appropriate arrangements have been made.
Note: All chapter assignments will be posted online for students and parents.
Evaluation – Tests, projects, and notebooks will be 65%, quizzes and reports 25%, class
work and homework will be 10% of your grade.
Grading Scale: A=100-90, B=89-80, C=79-70, D=69-60, F=59-Below
Note: Points will be deducted from any and all assignments for the following reasons:
improper heading, not using blue/black ink, poor/unreadable handwriting, doodling on
assignments, etc.
Parent/Teacher Conferences – Conferences will be scheduled after school on
Thursdays at 3:45 pm. sharp or during my planning period as requested by the teacher. If
a student is not performing or is disruptive in class, a telephone conference may be
scheduled by the teacher at anytime throughout the day as time permits.