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Contact Information:
Susan Bonner
Social Studies Teacher:  Room 707
Phone:  361-4372 ext. 6834
Email:     susan.bonner@shorelineschools.org

Introduction                  
Welcome to my Homepage. This site is designed to give you some background information about myself as well as to help students and parents in my Social Studies classes. I have a B.A. in political science as well as a law degree  from the University of Washington and a Masters in Education degree from Western Washington University. I practiced law for seven years before getting my teaching certificate. This is my fourth year of teaching Social Studies at Shorewood High School. I am currently teaching A.P. Psychology and Honors World Studies. 


Schedule: 
I am a part-time teacher and am here on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. My schedule on those days is as follows:

                    Mondays:                                  7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
                    Wednesdays and Fridays:     6:45 a.m.-2:45 p.m. (available until 3:30 by                                                                                            appointment)

I am also available during STAR or during my lunch hour. Please feel free to contact me to schedule an appointment and other times. Email is the quickest way to reach me to talk about any concerns or questions you have.


Homework and Grades
This site also allows you to  view daily homework assignments (under the "Events" tab), test dates, and to check  grades. The password to access grades is 000 and a student's five digit student identification number (or 0000 + student's four digit student identification number).  Please feel free to  contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Syllabus: This is the course syllabus for the semester:
Honors World Studies:   

10th Grade Honors World Studies Syllabus
Shorewood High School 2008-2009
Ms. Susan Bonner (susan.bonner@shorelineschools.org)

WELCOME to a brand new year!  In this class we will be covering a broad spectrum of content.  In order to make this a fantastic learning experience for you and your classmates, here are some of the expectations and things you will need to know for the school year.

Course Description
This course surveys world history with an emphasis on Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.  It is a rigorous academic course, which emphasizes high-level reading, writing and research. You should expect between 6 to 8 hours of homework a week. We will begin with a look at early humans and civilizations in the Fertile Crescent and Africa. We will then examine ancient Greece and Rome, exploring their role in laying the foundations for Western Civilization.  We will continue to explore the events and people that shaped Western thought and society focusing on the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and some key revolutions in Europe.  Next, we will move on to an in-depth look at African history, culture, and art.  Finally, we will come full circle back to the Cradle of Civilization for a look at the history of and current issues facing the Middle East and the rest of the world.
    
Course Objectives
    Students will:
•    Examine the complex relationship between social, political, cultural and religious forces that shaped the development of societies and how these influences play a role in modern times
•    Increase awareness of and appreciation of cultural differences
•    Understand the relationship between cause and effect in history
•    Develop strong reading, writing, analytical and research skills

History Day
As you know, you will be the only sophomores competing in National History Day! On top of having 5,000 years of history to cover first semester, you will also be responsible for submitting a History Day project that demonstrates your mastery of particular subject.  You will get all the details about National History Day when I pass out the NHD information packets, but for now you can take a look at this very informative web-site: http://www.nationalhistoryday.org/.     

Communication:  I teach three days each week: Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The best way to reach me is by email:  susan.bonner@shorelineschools.org. On the days I teach, I am also almost always in my room long before school starts and during lunch. If you need extra help or have questions, these are good times to reach me. A course website for Honors World Studies is linked to my homepage, which is linked to the Shorewood High School homepage.  Information on the class, including daily assignments (under the “Events” tab) and grades, can be found here. Grades are updated approximately once a week.

Classroom Expectations:
•    Be prepared. You are expected to arrive to class on time and be ready with materials and completed homework in hand. Each day you should also bring your binder, pens, pencils, paper and your current reading packet with you. You need only bring your textbook to class when I have asked you to do so. Otherwise, you can leave it at home for reference.
•    If you would like to divide your binder into sections, here is what I would suggest: Current Assignments, Journals, Notes and handouts, Returned Work and History Day.

Returned Work: You are required to keep all returned work, including homework assignments, class activities and tests, until the end of the semester. If there is a grading discrepancy, you must be able to show me the returned piece to receive proper credit.

Grading Policies:   I keep a running total of points for the entire semester. I divide points into four general categories. Each category is weighted differently:
•    Homework                        25%
•    Projects (including History Day)                30%
•    Tests/Quizzes                        30%    
•    In-Class Assignments/Participation            15%

Final grades are based on a standard scale:
        B+    87 – 89    C+    77 – 79%    D+    67 - 69
A     93 – 100%    B    83 – 86    C    73 – 76    D    60 – 66
A-    90 – 92     B-    80 – 82    C-    70 - 72    F    59 and below

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Culminating Exhibition Portfolio Submissions: You must submit at least ONE item from this course into your Portfolio each semester. That is a total of 2 for the entire year.   You must provide proof of entry with a signed slip from the Career Center.

Academic Honesty: You are required by the Shoreline School District to abide by its board policies on Ethics and Honesty.  This means doing your own work and appropriately citing sources when you paraphrase or quote someone else’s ideas; overall, be honest and truthful in what you submit in class.  CHEATING AND PLAGIARISM ARE ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE and grounds for disciplinary action.  Any time you copy the writing, words, ideas or concepts of another and pass them off as your own, you are plagiarizing.  If someone else does your work, you are cheating.  If you let someone else copy off of your work, you are cheating as well.  If you work with someone on individual work, copy homework, let someone copy your homework, cheat on a quiz or test or use language or ideas directly from a research source, you will be subject to the Shoreline School District’s uniform policies on Ethics and Honesty.  Please refer to the student handbook for an explanation of these policies.
*Turnitin.com – As a way of further discouraging possible plagiarism, I will be asking you to submit your written work to Turnitin.com, which is a plagiarism detection website.  I will give you more information on this later.

Attendance: Your attendance is your responsibility.  When you are gone for an excused absence, it is your responsibility to check the Daily Class Record book kept in class, which details what was covered in class and what each day’s assignment is.  You can get copies of missed homework in the file folders behind the notebook. You can also check my website to see what the homework is, ask your classmates for information or see me before school or during lunch. It is your responsibility to complete and turn in missed class work and homework.  For each day you have an excused absence you are allowed one class period to turn in homework and class work for normal credit.  Participation points earned during a role-play or presentation cannot normally be made up.  Work missed during unexcused absences (including exams or in-class work) cannot be made up and will receive a zero. Test and quizzes must be made up within one day of your return.

Late Work Policy: .  With few exceptions, late homework is NOT accepted.  Nevertheless, all students are highly encouraged to complete any missed assignments and will receive a √ in lieu of points.  If a student’s grade is on the borderline at a grading period these √’s (completed late assignments) may raise the student’s grade. For projects, your grade will be docked 10% per class period it is late.

Tardies:  I expect that you will be in class on time. If you are late to class, you will need to make up ten minutes after class. If at the end of the semester, you have one tardy or fewer, you will receive ten extra credit points.

Electronics policy: All music equipment, cell phones, pagers must be off and out of sight during class.  I will give you ONE verbal warning and on your next offense, I will “hold” onto it for you for at least 24 hours.  You should only have your laptop out during appropriate times and then only be using it for class work.



A.P. Psychology

Course Description
AP Psychology is a year-long course that follows the guidelines of the College Board.  The course is designed to introduce students to the systematic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals.  Students are exposed to the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with each of the major subfields within psychology.  They also learn about the ethics and methods psychologists use in their science and practice.  The eclectic view of psychology offered in the text is supplemented with lectures, demonstrations and more in-depth analysis of selected topics. Students examine their own thinking and behavior, and participate responsibly in discussions.  Each student has the option of taking the Advanced Placement Examination provided by the College Board to earn advanced college credit.  In addition, students receive preparation for a variety of careers including counseling, child care, psychotherapy, and teaching. 
Course Objectives
Building upon our school’s mission to prepare you to meet the challenges of the future, it is my goal to provide you with a liberal arts education responsible to each of your talents and abilities.  Specifically, our goals are to:
•    Gain knowledge of psychology, its theories, theorists, principles, and methods.
•    Develop scientific values and skills while learning more about yourself, your friends, your family, and your world.  Further your understanding of how your actions affect others, how the actions of others affect you, and how groups and cultures interact.
•    Personal values and interpersonal skills will be developed to aid your understanding and tolerance of deviant or idiosyncratic behavior.  Implications for social relationships and parenting will also be discussed.
•    Developing skills that will provide success in college coursework and in the “real world”, including:
o    research utilizing university content area databases, indexes and journals
o    practice strategies for coping with objective assessments
o    create hypothetical experiments based on a variety of models
o    write short essays with clarity and precision
o    refine note-taking skills
o    demonstrate written, verbal (presentation), and creative communication skills
These course objectives correlate with our state’s learning requirements, including:
•    Think analytically, logically, and creatively, and integrate experience and knowledge to form reasoned judgments and solve problems.
•    Write With Skill - The student writes clearly and effectively; the student writes in a variety of forms for different audiences and purposes; the student understands and uses the steps of the writing process; the student analyzes and evaluates the effectiveness of written work.
•    Communicate Effectively and Responsibly - The student communicates ideas clearly and effectively; the student uses communication strategies and skills to work effectively with others; the student analyzes and evaluates the effectiveness of communication.
Required Student Materials
The materials listed below are necessary for you to participate in class.  You are expected to have these materials in class every day. 
•    Class journal (notebook):  you will turn in your journals each examination day.
•    Index cards:  used to record and review definitions.
You are highly recommended to use an organizer box and/or rings.  Also, you may wish to color-code your cards.
•    Class binder (with dividers):  used to store class handouts and returned work.  Please review your stored materials frequently! You are responsible to keep all returned work until the end of the year. This is for two purposes. First, to study for the A.P. exam. Second, if I have forgotten to record your assignment, you must be able to show it to me to receive credit.
•    Writing utensils
•    Textbook:  Myers, David G. (2004). Psychology, 7th ed. New York: Worth. (includes study guide)



Grading Procedures
The grading system for this class will be based on three general categories: 
1.    Homework including journal entries, notecards, writing assignments, & projects. 
2.    Student comments and participation in class discussions and activities.
3.    Quizzes and tests that concentrate on your knowledge of the text and lectures.  In addition to tests, students will take semester finals.  (2nd semester final is optional if you take the AP exam.)

I keep a running total of points throughout the entire semester. Basically, come to class prepared, with completed, quality assignments, and participate.  Students are expected to hand in all work on time at the beginning of class on the due date.  Assignments turned in at the end of class are considered late.  With few exceptions, late work is NOT accepted.  All students are highly encouraged to complete any missed assignments and will receive a √ in lieu of points.  If a student’s grade is on the borderline at a grading period these √’s (completed late assignments) may raise the student’s grade.  Work may be made up for excused absences (see Attendance below).  Tests can be made up, but subsequent tests may be harder and will be different than the first. This is so that students who are present can get instant feedback on their performance. All re-take tests must be completed within 1 week of the original test date.  Tests will be similar to the format used on the A.P. exam.

Final grades are based on a standard scale:
        B+    87 – 89    C+    77 – 79%    D+    67 - 69
A     93 – 100%    B    83 – 86    C    73 - 76    D    60 – 66
A-    90 – 92     B-    80 – 82    C-    70 - 72    F    59 and below

Attendance: Your attendance is your responsibility.  When you are gone for an excused absence, it is your responsibility to check the Daily Class Record book kept in class, which details what was covered in class and what each day’s assignment is.  You can get copies of missed homework in the file folders behind the notebook. You can also look on my website to find out the homemwork for the day you missed, ask your classmates for information or see me before school or during lunch. It is your responsibility to complete and turn in missed class work and homework.  For each day you have an excused absence you are allowed one class period to turn in homework and class work for normal credit.  Participation points earned during a role-play or presentation cannot normally be made up.  Work missed during unexcused absences (including exams or in-class work) cannot be made up and will receive a zero. Test and quizzes must be made up within one day of your return.

Tardies: I expect that you will be in class on time. If you are late to class, you will need to make up ten minutes after class. If at the end of the semester, you have one tardy or fewer, you will receive ten extra credit points.

Summer Assignment
Prior to the start of the school year (and the AP Psychology course), students must complete an intensive research assignment over the summer.  Students read an article on Psychological Research Methods & Strategies.  They then visit a 4-year college of their choice and read through selected psychology journals.  In the journals they must find a research article (not a review article).  Then, they must write a paper that states the independent and dependent variables, states the findings (was there causation), and write their own conclusion as to how the findings might be applied.   On the first day of class we discuss students’ research findings.  We particularly address the scientific and practical applications of psychology.