The Last Best Hope, By William J. Bennett
One-Year U.S. History Course Using Volume II Enhanced and Covering 1877 to the
Present I choose this text as the focal point of our American Studies II
History Course for the following reasons. In this sweeping tale of human
initiative, struggle and victory, Dr. Bennett captures what is unique about
America. With riveting stories about presidents, senators, first ladies, and
inventors, this is no ordinary textbook. Dr Bennett doesn’t just report history;
he puts readers right in the middle of the action.
Dr. Bennett’s aim in
writing America: The Last Best Hope, is to examine our history rightly, to
present the entirety of our firmament in order to see what our Founders saw we
could be, what foreigners who came here saw, and what we ourselves can—even
today—see once again. Take the time to get acquainted with
www.roadmaptothelastbesthope.com a supplement for the text.
Shortly after
he issued a preliminary draft of the Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln wrote to
Congress saying, “We shall nobly save or meanly lose this last best hope of
earth.” Bennett’s book reminds us, despite obstacles, setbacks, stupidities, and
atrocities that America was, is, and we pray, will continue to be the last best
hope of earth.Semester One:Week 1: Intro/Meaning
of History
Weeks 2 and 3: Volume IIE, Chapter 1, “An Age More Golden than
Gilded?” (1877-1897)
Weeks 4 and 5: Volume IIE, Chapter 2, “The American
Dynamo – Shadowed By War” (1897-1914)
Weeks 6 and 7: Volume IIE, Chapter 3,
“America and the Great War” (1914-1921)
Weeks 8 and 9: Volume IIE, Chapter 4,
“The Boom and the Bust” (1921-1933)
Weeks 10 and 11: Volume IIE, Chapter 5,
“FDR and the New Deal” (1933-1939)
Weeks 12 and 13: Volume IIE, Chapter 6,
“America’s Rendezvous With Destiny” (1939-1941)
Weeks 14 and 15: Volume IIE,
Chapter 7, “Leading the Grand Alliance” (1941-1943)
Weeks 16 and 18: Volume
IIE, Chapter 8, “America Victorious” (1943-1945)
Semester Two:
Weeks 1 through 3: Volume IIE, Chapter 9,
“Truman Defends the Free World” (1945-1953)
Weeks 4 through 7: Volume IIE,
Chapter 10, “Eisenhower and Happy Days” (1953-1961)
Weeks 8 through 10:
Volume IIE, Chapter 11, “Passing the Torch” (1961-1969)
Weeks 11 through 13:
Volume IIE, Chapter 12, “Nixon’s the One” (1969-1974)
Weeks 14 and 15 :
Volume IIE, Chapter 13, “The Years the Locusts Ate” (1974-1981)
Weeks 16 and
17: Volume IIE, Chapter 14, “Reagan and Revival” (1981-1989)
Week 18: Review
and Final Examination
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
American Studies II
MR. Demchak's Class Information
9th – 10th Grade 2012-2013
Things to bring everyday:
1. Notebook - 3 ring binder
2. Homework
3. Outline
4. Textbook: Bill Bennett’s America: The Last Best HopeIn this sweeping tale of human initiative, struggle and victory, Dr. Bennett captures what is unique about America. With riveting stories about presidents, senators, first ladies, and inventors, this is no ordinary textbook. Dr Bennett doesn’t just report history; he puts readers right in the middle of the action.
Dr. Bennett’s aim in writing America: The Last Best Hope, is to examine our history rightly, to present the entirety of our firmament in order to see what our Founders saw we could be, what foreigners who came here saw, and what we ourselves can—even today—see once again. Take the time to get acquainted with www.roadmaptothelastbesthope.com a supplement for the text. It offers many resources that enhance the textbook and test preparation.
“America: The Last Best Hope is unlike any history textbook because it reads like a novel. Bennett ingeniously blends historical accounts with anecdotes that capture the fascination and interest of even students who were previously unconcerned with history.”
Sam Kramer Freshman Truman State University
5. Paper, Pencil, and Pen
• Failure to bring school supplies to class could result in disciplinary action as
described in the CCS Disciplinary Policy.
• Grading
A= 100-93 B= 92-85 C= 84-73 D= 72-65 F= 64 and below
• Quarter Grades• 25% Homework assignments
• 70% Tests and quizzes
• 5% class participation including chapter plays
• Final GradeEach quarter represents 2/9 % of the final grade, the exam 1/9 (refer to handbook)
• General Rules for the Classroom1. Follow directions the first time they are given.
2. Be in your seat when the bell rings.
3. Come to class with all materials mandated by the teacher.
4. Do not talk while the teacher or someone else is speaking.
5. Stay in your seats unless given permission to get up.
6. Keep hands, feet, and all objects to yourself.
Specific GuidelinesJournal Entries- From time to time either to reflect on the homework assignment or following a class discussion I will ask you to write a few sentences starting with some phrases like these. I learned.. .Or I was surprised... Or I'm beginning to wonder... Or I'm gaining a better understanding of... Or I cannot agree with... Or I would like to find out more about...
I'm here to help- If you have problems or questions I am here to help. See me before school (I get here by 7:30), before class, 3rd period, at lunch, during break or after school. I stay for at least a half-hour and will stay longer. I will make study sessions available when needed.
Prayer - Please remind me to pray before we start the day's lesson. Students should remind me in an appropriate fashion (raising their hand and waiting to be called upon). The first student to remind me in an appropriate manner to pray will receive extra credit as a way of saying " thank you ".
Absences- Students have the number of days they are absent to make up work. All absent work should be turned in marked " absent" after an absence. If you miss my class but you were at school for any part of the day (sports, drama, sick at the nurse, etc.) you must turn in your assignments that day before the end of school. Long-term projects are due on the assigned date regardless of whether you can come to class that day. If you are not sure what is considered a "long-term project" and what is not it would be in your best interest to turn the assignment in question in on the day it is due.
Late work - Students can turn in any assignment late for half credit. The deadline for homework turned in late is the day of the chapter test that the assignment pertains to. No late work is accepted after the deadline - no exceptions. Please turn it in marked "Late"
Plagiarism - All work turned into me should be the students own work. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to: copying some one's answers on a test, homework, or other assignment; letting someone copy answers on a test, homework, or other assignment; copying information from a book, magazine, encyclopedia, web site, or other source and portraying this information as something you have written. Working with someone else should not produce identical answers to every question. You are not prohibited from working with a friend, but you are expected to form separate responses.
Extra credit- Extra credit assignments will be given from time to time. Extra credit cannot exceed 3% of the student's total points for the quarter. One extra credit assignment that students can take advantage of is as follows:
• Using the pages assigned for homework, create a time line highlighting the events described in the assigned reading.
Extra credit is to be turned in along with the homework assignment.
9th – 10th Grade 2012-2013
Things to bring everyday:
1. Notebook - 3 ring binder
2. Homework
3. Outline
4. Textbook: Bill Bennett’s America: The Last Best HopeIn this sweeping tale of human initiative, struggle and victory, Dr. Bennett captures what is unique about America. With riveting stories about presidents, senators, first ladies, and inventors, this is no ordinary textbook. Dr Bennett doesn’t just report history; he puts readers right in the middle of the action.
Dr. Bennett’s aim in writing America: The Last Best Hope, is to examine our history rightly, to present the entirety of our firmament in order to see what our Founders saw we could be, what foreigners who came here saw, and what we ourselves can—even today—see once again. Take the time to get acquainted with www.roadmaptothelastbesthope.com a supplement for the text. It offers many resources that enhance the textbook and test preparation.
“America: The Last Best Hope is unlike any history textbook because it reads like a novel. Bennett ingeniously blends historical accounts with anecdotes that capture the fascination and interest of even students who were previously unconcerned with history.”
Sam Kramer Freshman Truman State University
5. Paper, Pencil, and Pen
• Failure to bring school supplies to class could result in disciplinary action as
described in the CCS Disciplinary Policy.
• Grading
A= 100-93 B= 92-85 C= 84-73 D= 72-65 F= 64 and below
• Quarter Grades• 25% Homework assignments
• 70% Tests and quizzes
• 5% class participation including chapter plays
• Final GradeEach quarter represents 2/9 % of the final grade, the exam 1/9 (refer to handbook)
• General Rules for the Classroom1. Follow directions the first time they are given.
2. Be in your seat when the bell rings.
3. Come to class with all materials mandated by the teacher.
4. Do not talk while the teacher or someone else is speaking.
5. Stay in your seats unless given permission to get up.
6. Keep hands, feet, and all objects to yourself.
Specific GuidelinesJournal Entries- From time to time either to reflect on the homework assignment or following a class discussion I will ask you to write a few sentences starting with some phrases like these. I learned.. .Or I was surprised... Or I'm beginning to wonder... Or I'm gaining a better understanding of... Or I cannot agree with... Or I would like to find out more about...
I'm here to help- If you have problems or questions I am here to help. See me before school (I get here by 7:30), before class, 3rd period, at lunch, during break or after school. I stay for at least a half-hour and will stay longer. I will make study sessions available when needed.
Prayer - Please remind me to pray before we start the day's lesson. Students should remind me in an appropriate fashion (raising their hand and waiting to be called upon). The first student to remind me in an appropriate manner to pray will receive extra credit as a way of saying " thank you ".
Absences- Students have the number of days they are absent to make up work. All absent work should be turned in marked " absent" after an absence. If you miss my class but you were at school for any part of the day (sports, drama, sick at the nurse, etc.) you must turn in your assignments that day before the end of school. Long-term projects are due on the assigned date regardless of whether you can come to class that day. If you are not sure what is considered a "long-term project" and what is not it would be in your best interest to turn the assignment in question in on the day it is due.
Late work - Students can turn in any assignment late for half credit. The deadline for homework turned in late is the day of the chapter test that the assignment pertains to. No late work is accepted after the deadline - no exceptions. Please turn it in marked "Late"
Plagiarism - All work turned into me should be the students own work. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to: copying some one's answers on a test, homework, or other assignment; letting someone copy answers on a test, homework, or other assignment; copying information from a book, magazine, encyclopedia, web site, or other source and portraying this information as something you have written. Working with someone else should not produce identical answers to every question. You are not prohibited from working with a friend, but you are expected to form separate responses.
Extra credit- Extra credit assignments will be given from time to time. Extra credit cannot exceed 3% of the student's total points for the quarter. One extra credit assignment that students can take advantage of is as follows:
• Using the pages assigned for homework, create a time line highlighting the events described in the assigned reading.
Extra credit is to be turned in along with the homework assignment.
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