Mrs. Nora Browne 
Social Studies
Gunn High School
Background:
Palo
Alto is my hometown. After
graduating from PALY, I was off to UC Santa Cruz to earn my B.A. in Politics
with an emphasis in Political Theory, World History, and American Studies. In
addition to studying, I spent four years exploring the hiking trails of this
beautiful region. I enjoyed my time in Santa Cruz, surrounded by the ocean and
forest.
Next,
I attended Harvard Graduate School of Education, where I earned a Masters in
Education and my teaching credential in Social Studies. My first two years as a teacher were
spent in Cambridge, Massachusetts at a Quaker school famous for its anti-racism
institute. This was an enriching experience, but I missed California and the
yearlong good weather. After three years living on the East Coast, I headed
back to Palo Alto and began teaching at Gunn.
In
my years at Gunn, I have taught World History, Contemporary World History, US
Government, US History, and Economics.
This is my 10th year in teaching and my 8th year
at Gunn.
Interests:
In addition to
my love for teaching, I enjoy traveling, reading, writing, running, playing
soccer, hiking (especially in Lake Tahoe) and spending time with family and
friends.
Here
are a few highlights from my travels: reaching Machu Picchu after 5 days of
trekking and camping on the Inca trail (see photo above); exploring the
differences between a cloud forest and a rain forest in Costa Rica with Gunn
students; hiking through the rainforest of Cape Tribulation in Australia on my
honeymoon; visiting the Alhambra in Grenada, Spain; and driving across America
with my mom and dad, stopping at the National Parks along the way. My most recent adventure was this summer
when I spent 2 weeks in India. It
was amazing to stand and gaze at the majestic Taj Mahal.
With
my husband Rich at the Taj Mahal
Objectives: This course completes the United States
history strand begun in elementary and middle school social studies. We will begin by reviewing the important
periods and events prior to the twentieth century, but will spend a larger
portion of our time focusing on the history of the United States during the
twentieth century. We will examine
how different groups of people and institutions have helped to establish and
shape the political, economic, and social dynamics within the United States as
well as the United StatesÕ impact on the entire world. Students are expected to
increase their general knowledge of important issues, events, people, and ideas
that have shaped our collective history. With an ever-changing world the more
we know about our own history, the better decisions we will make for ourselves
now and in the future.
Expectations: 1) Every student must always show respect
for themselves and all others, including the teacher, and class materials;
put-downs, hurtful comments, or actions as well as the disruption of the
learning of others will not be tolerated; 2) Attendance is essential as well as
coming to class on time with all materials needed for this course: You must
maintain a notebook comprised of handouts, homework, lecture notes, film notes,
and course-related information; 3) Oral and written reports will be required
Grading
Policy: Grades are
based on a point system and weighted according to the following criteria:
1) Class participation in discussions and
during in class activities
2) The neatness, and overall organization
and completeness of your notebook
3) Homework, tests, quizzes, and reports.
School
district policies on tardies, cuts, and other absences will be followed and
factored in. The instructor reserves the right to lower semester grades because
of cheating, poor citizenship, inappropriate talking, chewing gum, eating,
sleeping, and/or any other disruptive behavior regardless of work quality.
¤ Grade Percentage Breakdown
Class Participation |
20% |
|
Homework |
20% |
|
Notebook/Quizzes |
20% |
|
Unit
Tests, written and oral reports |
40% |
¤ Grading Scale
|
100% - 90%
= A |
|
89.9% - 80% =
B |
|
79.9% - 70% =
C |
|
69.9% - 60% =
D |
|
59.9% and below = F |
Homework:
Homework is written on the whiteboard in the classroom every day.
If you are absent the day an assignment is due I expect you to turn it
in the first day that you return. You
have 24 hours to complete the makeup assignment for missing homework. Makeup work is the studentÕs
responsibility.
Chapter
Quizzes: are all
open-note and generally occur at the end of a chapter
Unit
Tests: Each unit
test will be worth 100 points. The
format for the tests are fairly consistent; generally objective multiple
choice/matching and essay questions
Reports: There will be two major required
reports: An oral report on an individual who made a significant contribution to
American history will be required during the first semester. A written report
on a subject of your own choice will be required during the 2nd
semester.
Current
Events: Current
Events are an important part of this course. Every Friday we begin the class
with the most important news headlines of that week. Three students are assigned each week that are responsible
for presenting a 5-10 minute current events oral report covering the most
important international, national, and state/local news stories. Each student is required to present one
current event oral report per quarter which counts as a double quiz grade.
Textbook:
King,
David, Norman McRae and Jaye Zola The United States and Its People: Addison-Wesley
Publishing Co Inc., Menlo Park, California 1993
Sequence of units we will cover in US History this year:
Semester 1:
Unit
1 pp. 1 - 81
The Land , The People
Unit
2 pp. 82 -183
Origins of American Government
Unit 3 pp.
184 - 271 Expansion of AmericaÕs Borders
Unit
4 pp. 272 -351 A
Nation Divided: The
Civil War
&
Reconstruction of the
South
Unit
5 pp. 352 Ð 435 The
Gilded Age
Unit. 6 pp. 436 Ð521
Questions of Power / World War I
Unit 7 pp.522 - 603 Boom
and Bust
(The
Twenties / The Crash / The New Deal)
*****
FINAL EXAM for SEMESTER ONE *****
Semester 2:
Unit 8 pp. 608- 665 WWII
Unit 9 pp. 668 Ð749 Post WWII Ð Birth of the Cold War
Unit 10 pp.
750- 773 The Civil Rights Movement
Unit 11 pp. 774
- 799 The Vietnam War
Unit 12 pp. 806 -
865 Social Movements of the 1970s /
Watergate
Unit
13 pp. 834 - 881
The 1980s, 1990s - present
***** FINAL EXAM For SEMESTER TWO *****
Objectives: This course is intended to enhance studentsÕ understanding
of the world as it is now and how it has been changing since the end of World
War II. We will study world geography and culture within the historical setting
of the last half of the 20th Century (and the beginning of the 21st
Century). By examining conditions and situations in key parts of the world, as
well as persistent modern challenges facing the entire human community,
students are expected to expand their awareness of the opportunities,
responsibilities, and dangers facing human beings today. Our studies will begin
with the Cold War. We will focus on important geographical areas such as; the
Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Latin America, in addition to other specific
national and regional issues, population growth, and concerns about the
environment, and natural resources.
Expectations: 1) Every student must always show respect for themselves and
all others, including the teacher, and class materials; put-downs, hurtful
comments, or actions as well as the disruption of the learning of others will
not be tolerated; 2) Attendance is essential as well as coming to class on time
with all materials needed for this course: You must maintain a notebook
comprised of handouts, homework, lecture notes, film notes, and course-related
information; 3) Oral and written reports and projects will be required.
Grading
Policy: Grades are based on a point system and
weighted according to the following criteria:
1) Class participation in discussions and during
in class activities
2) The neatness, and overall organization
and completeness of your notebook
3) Homework, tests, quizzes, and reports.
School district
policies on tardies, cuts, and other absences will be followed and factored in.
The instructor reserves the right to lower semester grades because of cheating,
poor citizenship, inappropriate talking, chewing gum, eating, sleeping, and/or
any other disruptive behavior regardless of work quality.
¤ Grade Percentage Breakdown
Class Participation |
20% |
|
Homework |
20% |
|
Notebook/Quizzes |
20% |
|
Unit
Tests, written and oral reports |
40% |
¤ Grading Scale
|
100% - 90%
= A |
|
89.9% - 80% =
B |
|
79.9% - 70% =
C |
|
69.9% - 60% =
D |
|
59.9% and below = F |
Chapter
Quizzes: are all open-note
and generally occur during and at the end of a chapter.
Unit Tests
Projects/ Reports:
will all be required for this course. Most tests, projects, reports will be
worth100 points. The format for
the tests is fairly consistent; generally objective multiple choice/matching
and essay questions.
Current
Events: Current
Events are an important part of this course. Every Friday we begin the class
with the most important news headlines of that week. Three students are assigned each week that are responsible
for presenting a 5-10 minute current events oral report covering the most
important international, national, and state/local news stories. Each student is required to present one
current event oral report per quarter which counts as a double quiz grade.
Objectives: This introductory semester survey course is required for
high school graduation. It presents an overview of the structures and functions
of United States government. It is a general course, in order to accommodate
students who have not yet taken United States history, and concentrates on how
government operates in all its complexity in the United States. While noting
the historical context and significant developments, such as the growth of
federal power, the primary purpose of the course is to give students an
understanding of what government Òof the people, by the people, and for the
peopleÓ really means, and what their privileges and responsibilities in such a
system of government might be.
Expectations: 1) Every student must always show respect for themselves and
all others, including the teacher, and class materials; put-downs, hurtful
comments, or actions as well as the disruption of the learning of others will
not be tolerated; 2) Attendance is essential as well as coming to class on time
with all materials needed for this course: You must maintain a notebook
comprised of handouts, homework, lecture notes, film notes, and course-related
information; 3) Oral and written reports and projects will be required. In
addition there is a service-learning component required as part of your final
semester grade.
Grading
Policy: Grades are based on a point system and
weighted according to the following criteria:
1) Class participation in discussions and
during in class activities
2) The neatness, and overall organization
and completeness of your notebook
3) Homework, tests, quizzes, and reports.
School district
policies on tardies, cuts, and other absences will be followed and factored in.
The instructor reserves the right to lower semester grades because of cheating,
poor citizenship, inappropriate talking, chewing gum, eating, sleeping, and/or
any other disruptive behavior regardless of work quality.
¤ Grade Percentage Breakdown
Class Participation |
20% |
|
Homework |
20% |
|
Notebook/Quizzes |
20% |
|
Unit
Tests, written and oral reports |
40% |
¤ Grading Scale
|
100% - 90%
= A |
|
89.9% - 80% =
B |
|
79.9% - 70% =
C |
|
69.9% - 60% =
D |
|
59.9% and below = F |
Chapter
Quizzes: are all open-note
and generally occur during and at the end of a chapter.
Unit Tests
Projects/ Reports:
will all be required for this course. Most tests, projects, reports will be
worth100 points. The format for
the tests is fairly consistent; generally objective multiple choice/matching
and essay questions.
Current
Events: Current
Events are an important part of this course. Every Friday we begin the class
with the most important news headlines of that week. Three students are assigned each week that are responsible
for presenting a 5-10 minute current events oral report covering the most
important international, national, and state/local news stories. Each student is required to present one
current event oral report per quarter which counts as a double quiz grade.
It
is best to contact me via email at nbrowne@pausd.org. For students, I am available for help
during Tuesday school-wide tutorials, or during lunch on Wednesdays. During
both of these hours I can be found in my classroom (Room L8). Please make arrangements in advance if
a longer conference is needed.