*Weighted Courses
The following charts show the transitions necessary for the
implementation of the changes in the Social Science curriculum.
With the exception of American Government, all required course
selections are included. America Government is required but
does not have a designated year of enrollment.
SOCIAL SCIENCE 2005
- 2006 |
| 12 |
11 |
10 |
9 |
| |
|
*AP Prep World Studies |
|
| |
*American Studies |
College Prep
World Studies |
|
| |
American Studies |
World Studies |
|
| |
|
World Studies For Life & ALS II |
|
SOCIAL SCIENCE 2006
- 2007 |
| 12 |
11 |
10 |
9 |
| |
*AP Prep American Studies |
*AP Prep World Studies |
|
| |
College Prep
American Studies |
College Prep
World Studies |
|
| |
American Studies |
World Studies |
|
| |
|
World Studies for Life & ALS II |
|
Course Descriptions
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT
One semester, one credit
Recommended Prerequisite: Reading on or above grade level.
This course will cover how the U.S. Federal System operates.
This will include national, state (Illinois especially) and
local forms of government. Other topics will be law and justice,
civil liberties, elections and voting, public opinion and
propaganda, U.S. foreign policy, and contemporary issues in
American politics. Examinations will be given on U.S. and
Illinois Constitutions.
WORLD STUDIES FOR LIFE
One year, two Social Science credits and two English credits
This course is recommended for 10th grade students who are
required to take Academic Learning Skills II. It is designed
for sophomores reading significantly below grade level with
deficits in composition skills as well. The social science
portion of the course is identical to World Studies in that
the course will examine major regions of the world through
the lens of human geography. However, the English component
of the class will be designed to specifically meet these students’
literacy needs. The focus of instruction will be reading comprehension,
and writing at the sentence, paragraph, and basic composition
level. The primary literature text is Literature for Life
and Work, Book 1 by the National Textbook Company. The writing
text for this is Elements of Writing: Fourth course.
WORLD STUDIES
One year, two Social Science credits and two English credits
This course is designed for sophomores reading at or slightly
below grade level. The course integrates the social sciences
and the language arts. The social science portion of the course
will examine major regions of the world through the lens of
human geography. The language arts component will focus on
major literary works from these regions as both products and
shapers of their local cultures. The course provides instruction
in writing at the sentence, paragraph, and basic composition
level. The primary literature text is Elements of Literature:
Fourth Course with Readings in World Literature by Holt, Reinhart
& Winston. The writing text is Elements of Writing: Fourth
Course.
COLLEGE PREP WORLD STUDIES
One year, two Social Science credits and two English credits
This course is designed for sophomores reading at or above
grade level and provides an approach to world studies that
integrates the social sciences and the language arts. The
social science portion of the course will examine major regions
of the world through the lens of human geography. The language
arts component of this course will focus on major literary
works from these regions as both products and shapers of their
local cultures. The primary literature text is World Literature
by Holt, Rinehart, and Winston. Also included are supplemental
works such as Things Fall Apart, Almost a Woman, Angela’s
Ashes, and One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. The writing
component of this course includes introduction to research
and expository, persuasive, and literary analysis papers in
addition to research projects. The writing text for this class
is Elements of Writing: Fourth Course by Kinneavy and Warriner.
*AP PREP WORLD STUDIES
One year, two Social Science credits and two English credits
The Advanced Placement Preparation classes are to help prepare
students for the demands and rigor of Advanced Placement courses.
This course is designed for more mature, independent, and
advanced sophomores who read and write significantly above
grade level. *AP Prep World Studies combines the social sciences
and the language arts and provides a more rigorous approach
and pace to its subject. Students are expected to devote significant
time outside of class to meet course requirements and expectations.
Students recommended for this class should have experienced
high levels of success in challenging and rigorous English
classes have very strong and effective reading and writing
skills, and the maturity to sufficiently handle the rigorous
work. The social science portion will analyze regions by way
of human geography. The language arts portion will further
explore major works from these regions in their social, historical,
and cultural contexts while analyzing these works as literature
in their own right. The primary text is World Literature by
Holt, Rinehart, and Winston. Supplemental works include, Things
Fall Apart, Almost a Woman, Angela’s Ashes, and One
Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. The writing component
of this course includes expository, persuasive, and literary
analysis papers in addition to research projects. The writing
text for this class is Elements of Writing: Fourth Course
by Kinneavy and Warriner.
AMERICAN STUDIES
One year, two Social Science credits and two English credits
This course is designed for juniors and provides an approach
to American Studies that connects the social sciences with
the language arts. The focus is on the study of literature
from Romanticism to the present and the study of history from
Reconstruction to the present. The primary social science
text is The Americans: Reconstruction through the 20th Century
and the primary literature text is Elements of Literature:
Literature of the United States with Literature of the Americas
by Holt Rinehart, and Winston. Supplemental literary works
include Fallen Angels, A Raisin in the Sun, The Crucible,
Catcher in the Rye, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Ellen
Foster and Welcome to the Monkey House. The writing component
of the course includes instruction in writing research papers,
exposition, persuasion, and grammar.
*AMERICAN STUDIES
One year, two Social Science credits and two English credits
This course is designed for the mature, independent junior
who reads and writes significantly above grade level. It provides
an advanced and rigorous approach by combining American Literature
and U.S. History. Some sections may be taught in a two-hour
block. The focus is on the study of literature from Romanticism
to the present and the study of history from Reconstruction
to the present. This course will involve students committing
a significant amount of time outside of class to meet the
expectations and requirements. The primary social science
text is the American Pageant by Houghton Mifflin and Elements
of Literature: Literature of the United States with Literature
of the Americas by Holt, Rinehart, and Winston. Supplemental
works include Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Jungle,
The Great Gatsby, The Grapes of Wrath, The Autobiography of
Malcolm X, and Johnny Got His Gun. The writing component of
this course includes instruction in the writing process with
expository and persuasive essays, research papers, literacy
analysis and practice in impromptu writing.
ANCIENT/MEDIEVAL WORLD HISTORY
One semester, one credit
Recommended for college bound students. Students may take
this course for more than one semester. The course is a study
of mankind from pre-history through 1500 A.D. Either semester
can be taken for one credit. The emphasis is on the development
of our own culture (western civilization), although students
are encouraged to compare this with the concurrent development
of other cultures. Students thus gain a greater appreciation
of their own and other cultures. Ancient/Medieval World History
can be taken as a weighted course. The course content will
include all expectations of the non-weighted course as well
as additional requirements. Students must enroll for the weighted
course within the first two weeks of the course.
MODERN WORLD HISTORY
One semester, one credit
Students may take this course for more than one semester.
This course covers the history of civilization, both Western
and Eastern, from 1500 to the present year. Recommended for
college bound students and SAT candidates. Modern World History
can be taken as a weighted course. The course content will
include all expectations of the non-weighted course as well
as additional requirements. Students must enroll for the weighted
option within the first two weeks of the course.
+ECONOMICS
One semester, one credit
Recommended for juniors and seniors. This course covers basic
micro and macroeconomic concepts. Students who want to understand
the American economy should enroll in this course. Topics
studied include: supply and demand, monetary and fiscal policy,
the stock market, capitalism, money, inflation, unemployment,
installment purchasing, budgeting, comparison shopping, labor
unions and the consumer’s role in the U.S. Economy.
This course will fulfill the state mandated Consumer Education
requirement.
*AP ECONOMICS
One semester, one credit
+Meets the Consumer Education requirement for the class of
2006, but not for the 2007 class and beyond. Recommended for
college bound juniors and seniors. This is a college level
course that will prepare students to take the advanced placement
(AP) exam to pursue college credit. Students will have the
option of taking the exam. This course will concentrate on
Macroeconomics and follow the recommended AP Macroeconomics
curriculum.
SOCIOLOGY
One semester, one credit
This course will involve the study of culture, social structure,
social institutions, and social interaction. Class work and
projects will concentrate on problems in contemporary society
such as: family, crime and delinquency, racial discrimination,
youth and aging, poverty, education, and social change. A
research project is required.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES
One semester, one credit
This course is intended to be an in-depth portrait of African-American
culture. Topics will include culture, family, history, politics,
economics, literature, and music. Several social science disciplines
will be used to examine the African-American experience.
PSYCHOLOGY
One semester, one credit
The course will cover the study of human behavior, mental
health and illness, social psychology, and learning and development.
Within each area students will discuss and explore contemporary
topics such as psychotherapies, crime and prisons, prejudice,
sex roles, child development and learning and conditioning.
A research project is required.
+These courses will fulfill the state mandated Consumer Education
requirement.
*Weighted Courses.
Page Updated 8-23-05
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