Syllabus

Economics
Fall, 2011
Mr. James

Overview: 	In this course students will be introduced to concepts and 
vocabulary related to the science of economics.  Theories of supply and 
demand, micro and macro economics, types of economies, as well as the 
interaction between the government, consumer, and the supplier will be 
discussed.
		Students will be able to understand the science of economics 
as it relates to both the individual and governments.  Students will also 
analyze what are the strengths and weaknesses to various economic systems.

Rules:		The following rules are to be adhered to all times:
1.	No candy or pop in class; repeated violations will result in 
detention.
2.	Respect yourself, your peers, and your teacher at all times; time and 
place consideration.
3.	All assignments are due on time, per the assignment board, or will not 
be accepted.
4.	Participation is the key.  Get involved in the discussion. It will 
help your grade.
5.	No passes will be given at any time.  This is not a Mr. James policy 
but rather a school policy. If you leave, get a detention/pass. You will not 
be allowed in class without it.
6.	Cheating is forbidden. If caught you will receive a zero.

Work:		Work will be comprised of the following:
•	Text-related assignments
•	Supplemental work
•	Quizzes (usually on  a chapter and  on Friday)
•	Group work
•	Computer/Internet work (from Discovery Education)
•	Tests (1 or 2 each month on a unit)
•	Final exam (in December/January)

Grade Determination: 
	Your grade will be determined by adding up all of the points possible 
and dividing that into the amount of points earned. Grades are posted at least 
once w eek on Friday.  All students will always know how they are doing in 
class since grades are posted often enough.  Extra credit will be offered and 
students are urged to have excellent attendance to take advantage of it. Since 
grades are not posted online, all parents are encouraged to have their 
children pick up a progress report on Friday. Your grade is just that; your 
grade, not the teacher’s.  Whether an “A” or an “F”, it is your grade.
Grade Scale:
100-90	A
89-80	B
79-70	C
69-60	D
59-0	F

Materials: The text for the class is Economics: Principles and Practices. 
There should be enough to assign each student a text. Per the school policy, 
students are required to bring back the very same text assigned to them in 
January unless they pay the replacement cost of $45.00. Text, a thick 
notebook, writing utensils (pen and pencil), and calculator are needed every 
day.

I understand the rules and expectations for Mr. James’s class

Student Signature: ________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature: _________________________________













U.S. History I and II
Mr. James
Fall, 2011-Spring, 2012

	This is a course in the history of the United States, starting with 
the early Americas and chronologically moving through the 20th century.  You 
will discuss events in history and times relate them to things that are going 
on today.  You will work to your greatest potential and hopefully have a great 
experience in this course.

Overview: 
	In the first semester, we will discuss events, persons, and 
circumstances from the earliest peoples in what is now the United States up 
until the 1930’s.  Among the chief events covered are the native peoples to 
this land, the colonial era, the American Revolution, the Industrial 
Revolution, the events that led to westward expansion, the American Civil War, 
the Wild West, the Progressive era, the emergence of the U.S. as a world 
power, how the First World War occurred and U.S. participation, the Roaring 
Twenties and the crash of the stock market with the subsequent Great 
Depression.
	In the second semester, we will discuss the New Deal programs, the 
Second World War, the Cold War, the 1950’s, Civil Rights movement, the 
counterculture, the Vietnam War, the 1970’s, the Reagan era, the presidencies 
of George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton and wrap things up with the first 
administration of George W. Bush and the events of 9/11/01.

Rules: The rules are simple and fairly reasonable.  It is expected that 
everyone will follow them.
1.	No candy or pop. Repeated violations will result in detention.
2.	Respect yourself, the teacher, and your peers at all times.  Time and 
place consideration. 
3.	All assignments are due on time, per the assignment board, or will not 
be accepted.  Do not leave work in your locker that is due; that is 
irresponsible.
4.	Participation is the key.  Get involved in the discussion. It will 
definitely help your grade.
5.	No passes of any kind will ever be given.  This is not Mr. James 
policy but rather CMA policy.  If you have a problem with this it is your 
problem, not the teacher’s.  If you leave, you must get a detention and a 
signed pass with the word “detention” on it.  You will not be allowed back in 
to class without this.
6.	Cheating of any kind is not allowed.  If you are caught you will 
receive a zero.

Work:
•	Text-related assignments (handouts)
•	Quizzes (one per week reflecting chapter covered and usually on 
Friday)
•	Group work
•	Internet/computer work
•	Tests (1-2 a month covering a unit)
•	Project/paper (due in March)

Grade Determination:
The grade determination for the course is figured by dividing the amount of 
points possible into the amount of points earned.  This will give you a 
percentage.  At least once a week the grades will be posted outside in the 
hall or in class by student number.  In addition, the assignment board in the 
back of the room will be updated by Friday for the following week.  The point 
is is that students will always know what is going on in class and where they 
stand, grade-wise.  Since Mr. James does not post grades online, if you ask 
for a progress report (usually on Friday) a copy of all your grades will be 
printed out.  Extra credit is offered so take advantage of it.  You need to be 
in class to get extra credit so good attendance is very important.  Do not 
wait until late in the semester to get your act together; by then it will 
probably be too late.
Grade Scale: 
100-90	A
89-80	B
79-70	C
69-60	D
59-0	F

Materials: 
The required text for the class is Boyer-Stukey’s The American Nation (2003).  
Each student will be assigned a text and be responsible for it the entire 
semester.  In the event that a student loses the text, a replacement cost of 
$45.00 will be needed.  In addition to the text being brought to class every 
day, a thick notebook, loose leaf, writing utensils (pen and pencil) are 
necessary. 

I understand the rules and expectations of Mr. James U.S. History I and II 
class

Student Signature: __________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature: ___________________________