1. Welcome to United States & Virginia History! Mr. Kevin Briscoe Room 208 A2 (team taught with Mr. Null) A3 A4 (team taught with Mr. Null)

2. Contact Information Mr. Briscoe: kevin.briscoe@lcps.orgkevin.briscoe@lcps.org Mr. Null: charles.null@lcps.orgcharles.null@lcps.org Mr. Briscoe is at PFHS on A days only. He will be at the LCPS Administration Building on B days and can follow up on e-mails from there as well. Please check the PFHS web site under Mr. Briscoe’s name in the staff directory for all course materials, including the syllabus, unit guides, focus activities, class notes, Power Point presentations and SOL review materials.

3. Quarter Grading Structure Summative Assessment (90%): -- Unit Tests (40% - 2 total) -- Quizzes (30% - 2 MC quizzes and a Primary Source Investigation) -- Exhibit (20% - 1 per quarter) Formative Assessment (10%): -- Homework and Classwork

4. Retake Policy Students can retake the first unit test and both MC quizzes each quarter. The second unit test allows students to use designated resources during the test. Retakes differ significantly in structure but not in content from the original test/quiz. Retakes are offered only once at a designated time before the end of the quarter. Students must have completed all homework and classwork related to the assessment in order to be eligible for the retake.

5. Focus on Primary Sources & Historical Thinking Skills We will focus a great deal on developing historical thinking skills through investigation of primary sources throughout American history. This approach helps to develop critical thinking skills that will be useful to all students in their academic and professional careers. Quarter exhibits are research- based assessments that focus on primary source analysis, writing, and presentation skills. William Penn signs a treaty with Native Americans

6. Units of Study Colonial America (September) Birth of the Republic (October) The Young Republic (November-December) National Expansion & Civil War (Dec.-Jan.) Industrial America (January-February) Progressivism & Imperialism (Feb.-March) Boom, Bust, & Global War (March-April) Modern America (April-May) SOL Test and Capstone Exhibit (May-June)