Back to School Night

General Rules
Rule #1 – Be Respectful of others
Rule #2 – Make the right decisions
Rule #3 – Don’t Lie, Cheat or Steal
Class Rules and Requirements:
You need to get a three ring binder. I don’t care if you use dividers and “share” it with other classes – but you need a binder. Folders don’t work. Binders do.

Bring everything you need with you each and every day.
Bring positive energy into the classroom each day.
Be on time and in Dress Code.

GRADES Breakdown:
These grades are NOT out of “points” like many of your other teachers. Instead they are “weighted” meaning everything is “out of 100” but they get weighted differently to build your average.
Tests – 55%
Self explanatory – they will always be announced well in advance

Quizzes – 25%
- Self explanatory – they will always be announced well in advance
Homework – 10%
Homework is graded in two different ways, 1.) “100 or 0” meaning if you did it you get a 100, if you didn’t …0. There is variance in there though. If you did it just to get it done – you might get a 25, 50 or 75. 2.) Graded homework check – a brief 5 question, mostly open notes, mental exercise that will let me know how much care and attention you showed your homework from the night before.
Character in the Classroom – 10% This applies to your contributions in the classroom; it rewards children who are positive, respectful, active learners, who participate, complete classwork assignments, and engage in class lectures and discussions.
Wiki-page – will count as a quiz grade at the end of each marking period. If you are ever looking for “extra credit” - it technically doesn’t exist. But if you went above and beyond in both content and creativity in constructing the wiki page that would help your grade.



MISC.
Late Work – I don’t accept any late homework or papers.

Email – wgibbs@ea1785.org or wgibbs@episcopalacademy.org you can email me in the evening – I will have my computer up and running most nights. I am happy to help with anything you are working on. That being said, I cannot guarantee that I will always be on email at night.
Phone extension – 1702 (I don’t know why you would ever have to use it…but there it is.)
Homework Calendar and Blackboard Page is always a great place to find missing assignments and activities. If it is not up there…that DOES NOT MEAN you don’t have anything to do. Email me, text a friend, IM with someone, be resourceful and find a way to get that info. I know you can do it. I believe in you.


Developing Nations OVERVIEW:
Fall: The Developing World: What characteristics make a Country “Developing”? (Orange book)

Winter: Middle East - a closer look at developing nations in the Middle East, and an in depth look at the Arab Israeli Dilemma (Middle East and North Africa Book)

Spring: India – British Imperialism, Fight for Indian Independence, India as a Developing Nation (The Subcontinent of India Book)
Course Objectives
At one time great civilizations existed in most of the nations that we refer to as Developing Nations. Today, however, these countries are besieged by wide-ranging and difficult problems.
Geographically: infertile lands situated in inhospitable areas of
The world unable to adequately sustain the
Populations that live there

Economically: a lack of diversification in economies, which are
Frequently based solely on one or more crops
Or natural resources

Politically: governments, which are often authoritarian
and unstable

Socially/Culturally cultures with customs, tradition, and religious
practices which while offering different solutions
that confront humankind may also inhibit much
needed progress in the areas of justice, equality,
and freedom from want

An understanding of these nations and cultures is imperative for today’s student in a world that is ever shrinking. The purpose of the II Form social studies program is two-fold: first, to develop an increasing awareness and knowledge of the Developing World; second to teach those skills necessary to acquire the proper understanding and overview of history and to hone deductive and analytic skills required in the study of any large body of knowledge.

Course Description
I. Materials
A. Texts: The Developing World (World Bank), The Middle East and North Africa (Globe),
The Subcontinent of India (Globe), The Arab-Israeli Conflict (Greenhaven)
B. Supplemental readings from selected periodicals and newspapers
C. Relevant videos

II. Content
A. An understanding of Developing Nations
1. terminology of developing economics
2. geography - map familiarization
3. historical perspective - indigenous cultures
B. Colonization
1. economic
2. societal and cultural organization
3. religious influence
4. politics/governments of Developing Nations
C. Current History - ongoing developments
D. Content Sequence
1. First Trimester - Overview of developing countries
2. Second Trimester - Middle East
3. Third Trimester - India and South Asia
III. Skills
A. Reading Comprehension
1. isolating the main idea
2. pinpointing facts which support key ideas
3. drawing conclusions based on readings
B. Auditory Skills - the classroom
1. formulation of ideas and questions based on aural receptivity
2. development of recall based on classroom discussion
C. Writing Skills
1. taking coherent notes
2. essay writing - preparing the student to demonstrate comprehension
of materials
3. Short papers – “Writing Labs” developing student’s ability to focus on well-defined
parts of a larger topic
IV. Assessments
Homework Checks (unannounced)
Quizzes
Tests
Writing Labs
“Major” Projects
1. Country Paper
2. Arab Israeli Dilemma DBQ
3. Gandhi DBQ

I FORM - CIVICS OVERVIEW
A republican democracy – with its many variables – is one of the most difficult governments for any country to maintain. More than with any other type of government, it can be said of our democracy that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

In an age when the youth of America are increasingly called upon to make judgments concerning the rule of their nation, it is essential that they know the composition of their government and how its various segments function.

The purpose of this course is to bring about this familiarization and to provide the student with the skills necessary to handle the “reading content” courses which are subsequently offered at the Academy.

A. Content
1.) The origins of our government
a.) The Declaration of Independence
b.) The Constitution
c.) The Branches of Government
d.) National vs. State and Local
e.) Political Parties
f.) Role of the Voter
g.) Our Nation’s Economy
f.) Presidential Election (every four years)

B. Skills
1.) Reading Comprehension
a.) Recognition of the Main Idea
b.) Supporting Facts
c.) Drawing Conclusions

2.) Writing
In addition, this course seeks to enlarge upon the writing skills which we began to emphasize in previous years by:
a.) Formulating an Introductory Sentence/Thesis Statement
b.) Supporting your main contention
c.) Stating your conclusion
d.) developing your personal note taking style
e.) taking well organized notes
f.) short research/ position papers

3.) Listening Skills
a.) ability to recognize material emphasized in class
b.) active class participation based on teacher and students’ questions and observations
c) Class debates