Welcome to …..

1. Merion Mercy AcademyBack to School NightTuesday, 9/18/1220th Century US History Mr. Paul ClementiCode 4 Welcome to …..

2. 5 Questions in 7 Minutes • Who is this guy? • What’s the content? • How does he grade? • Does he see my child?

3. My Background • Personal • Married, 3 children • Parishioner, St. Thomas of Villanova • Education • B.S. Economics, Villanova University • J.D., Seton Hall Law School • PA Teacher Cert., Eastern Univ. • Previous Career with ExxonMobil

4. Teaching Assignments • Merion Mercy (2008 to present) • Other Courses: World Cultures, Introduction to Law, US Government and Psychology • Mock Trial Program Coordinator • 3rd Place: Univ. of Penn Ben Franklin Invitational • Top 16: Princeton Moot Court Competition • Adjunct Professor (2005 to present) • Villanova, Eastern, Immaculata and West Chester Universities

5. Course Content • Themes at the Turn of the 20th Century • World War I • The Culture, Politics, and Economics of the 1920’s • The Great Depression and the New Deal • World War II • The Cold War • Economic Prosperity and Social Strife of the 1950’s and 1960’s • The Civil Rights Movement • The Great Society • The Vietnam War • Watergate and its aftermath • New Conservatism • The Clinton Presidency • America after 9/11 and the War on Terrorism

6. Course Goals Every student will… • understand the essential themes that have shaped contemporary US history. • understand, evaluate and synthesize the legacies these eras have on the United States and the contemporary world. • critique, evaluate and synthesize the lessons which contemporary America can learned from these eras in addressing contemporary issues.

7. Assessments • Formal Assessments 80% of (Quizzes, test, papers) semester work grade • Daily Assessments 20% of (Class participation, semester work grade class work and homework) • Final Exam 20% of semester grade

8. Quizzes, Tests and Projects • Key Points …. • “Nothing should be a surprise.” • Quizzes may be given on any day and may be announced or unannounced. However, unannounced quizzes if homework / class work is collectively unsatisfactory. • Test and projects will be announced ahead of schedule and given/due only on the assigned testing dates (day 2 and 5). • On particularly longer units, a comprehensive test may be given that draws on information prior to the previous test.

9. Class Participation From the syllabus “…. [T]o achieve our academic goals active participation of the students in class is vital. The development of interpersonal and communication skills is an important part of any social studies class. This grade is a good faith effort grade; students will not be scored on the correctness of your answers, but the on the quality of your commitment to the learning process…”

10. Homework and In Class Assignments • Key Points on Homework…. • On average 30 minutes every night; purposeful in either reinforcing the day’s learning or preparing for tomorrow. • Periodically checked and graded for accuracy and/or good faith. • Student binders are subject to review at any point during the semester for grading purposes. • Any student carrying below an 80% cumulative grade may be asked to submit homework on a daily basis for review. • Key Points on Class Work…. • These assignments may be individually, pair or team based. • Periodically checked and graded for accuracy and/or good faith effort.

11. Mid Term and Final Exam • Key Points on Mid Term • Counts as 20% of 1st semester grade. • “Nothing should be a surprise.” • Will have study guide and at least 2 days of review. • Mid January 2011. • Key Points on Final Exam…. • Counts as 20% of 2nd semester grade • Only on 2nd semester material. • “Nothing should be a surprise.” • Will have study guide and at least 2 days of review. • May 2012.

12. But the big question… Does he see my child?