• American Culture        Mr. Gordon        Room #305       Email: hgordon@sidneyps.com

                                                                                                  Phone: (406) 433-5343

     

    Course Description: The overall goal of this course will be to analyze the development of American culture throughout the 20th and 21st centuries and to learn about the aspects of American society that we were unable to cover in 11th grade U.S. History. Some of the main topics we will focus on include music, film, sports, fashion, language, etc. and also how major events throughout American history have impacted each topic. Subject matter for the first semester will include the 1920s and the birth of jazz and blues, the rise of the film industry and sports culture, and popular culture during the 1930s/Great Depression, the 1940s and WWII, the 1950s and the emergence of rock and roll and greasy hair, and will finish with the 1960s hippie movement. Second semester will cover the 1970s and disco, 1980s hair bands, sweatpants, and one-hit-wonders, 1990s grunge, boy-bands, and hip-hop, the 2000s and the world of technology and social media, and will finish with the 2010s.

     

    Text:

    • Who uses a textbook? Not this class.

     

    Materials Needed for Class:

    • Something to write with
    • Three-ring binder

     

    Grading:

    A         100-90%                                 60%    Weekly Responses

    B         89-80%                                   40%    Quizzes          

    C         79-70%                                  

    D         69-60%                                  

    F          59 and below                           

     

    • Semester Grade: The semester grades will be figured with each quarter grade counting towards 40% of the final grade. The semester project will then make up the remaining 20% of the overall semester grade. In the event that I do not give a semester project, each quarter will count evenly at 50%.

     

    • Assignments: On a weekly basis, we will be watching various films, documentaries, television shows, etc. that will help us to better understand what American culture was like in any of the given time periods we will learn about. For each film we watch, you will be required to turn in a written response (typed, double-spaced, 12 pt. font) that answers some provided questions about the film and how it represents American culture. These will be submitted via Google Classroom prior to midnight on the day that they are due. The basic grading breakdown for these responses will be as follows:

     

    A         Minimum 300 words

    B         250 words

    C         200 words      

    D         150 words

    F          Less than 100 words

     

      • Grades will vary depending on the overall content of the response, and how well each question was addressed in your response as well.
      • At the end of each quarter, I will drop one of your lowest scores on your responses. That means you will get a total of two for the semester. USE THEM WISELY!!!

     

    • Quizzes: Quizzes will occur after we complete our study of each individual decade. Quiz days are intended to be a decade themed party. I’ll provide a beverage from the time period and expect everyone to dress up in fashion from decade. Dressing up will earn you 20% extra credit on your quiz grade!!!

    Guidelines and Procedures:

     

    • Absences/Makeup Work: Attendance is extremely important! With the amount of films that we will be watching in class, it will be crucial for you to keep your absences to a minimum. If you do miss for any reason, whether it is school related or not, you will need to meet with me to figure out what you have missed. Yes, you are seniors, and yes, senioritis will kick in eventually, but please stay on top of things.
    1. You will get one day for each absence plus an additional day to make up missed work.
    2. If you happen to miss a quiz, come see me to schedule a day and time in which it can be made up. Please schedule within a timely manner!

     

    • Late Work: Out of fairness to those that do get their work in on time, points will be deducted for any late work I receive. For every day the assignment is late, there will be a letter-grade deduction from the assignment’s initial grade. After three days, the maximum amount of credit that will be given for any late assignment is 50% of the grade had it been turned in on time. You also may not work on late assignments during instruction/class time.

     

    • Cheating: Any form of cheating or plagiarism in this class will not be tolerated. Cheating or plagiarism on any assignment, whether it is a quiz, project, or weekly response, will result in a zero. These are points that cannot be made up. Cheating will also result in further disciplinary action determined by me and/or the school administration.

     

    • Cell Phones: Refer to student handbook policy.

     

    • Food/Beverages: I have no issue with food or beverages being consumed in my room; however, it is a privilege that can just as easily be taken away as it can be given. These items will no longer be allowed in the classroom if:
    1. They become a distraction during class time.
    2. There are continuous issues with spills or messes.
    3. If you cannot clean up after yourself and I am left to do so.

     

    • Communication: If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about anything throughout the course of the school year please do not hesitate to come and discuss them with me. I can quickly answer any questions you might have before and after class/school. You can also schedule to meet with me during lunch or before or after school if you would like help with something or would like to meet for longer than just a few minutes. I cannot help you if you choose not to make the effort to visit with me!