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Social
Studies
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The Social Studies Program in our high school is
designed to provide students with:
- an awareness of our nation's political,
economic and cultural heritage,
- an appreciation of the cultural diversity
of our nation,
- the historical evolution of the major
cultural regions of the world,
- an understanding of economic trends in
history and their relationship to global
interdependence.
- an opportunity to explore basic core
values in the area of respect and concern for
the individual, others, and the environment,
and
- guidance to help students become
informed, active, and concerned
citizens;
In an effort to build life-long skills, the
Social Studies program fosters:
- extensive research opportunities with
emphasis on the analysis of ideas,
- development of good written and oral
communication,
- numerous supplemental literary and
primary source readings,
- the participatory nature of our system
through active involvement in our political
process and with community concerns.
Three years of history are
required for
graduation:
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TWO years of United States
History
ONE year of Global
Perspectives
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The program also
includes a range of electives and Advanced
Placement courses that can be elected
beginning in Grade 10.
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United States
History I
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Grade:
9
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Year:
5X
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Credits:
5
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#491
- Accelerated
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#492
- Academic
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#493 -
Standard
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United States History is ninth graders',
introduction to the Scotch Plains-Fanwood
High School Social Studies program. It
explores the cultural, economic,
geographic, historical, political, and
social systems, ideas, and leaders from
the period of the American Civil War
through the Great Depression. One goal is
for students to learn and apply concepts
in civics, economics, and geography to
historical events and phenomena. While our
nation's history is the core focus,
parallel units in New Jersey history and
world history provide local and global
connections for students. Students refine
verbal and written skills in this course
to express their ideas and interpretations
of primary and secondary source
documents.
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United States
History II
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Grade:
10
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Year:
5X
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Credits:
5
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#481
- Accelerated
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#482
- Academic
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#483 -
Standard
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United
States History II is the second year of
the survey course sequence. It explores
the cultural, economic, geographic,
historical, political, and social systems,
ideas, and leaders from the period of
World War II through the present. One goal
is for students to learn and apply
concepts in civics, economics, and
geography to historical events and
phenomena. While our nation's history is
the core focus, parallel units in New
Jersey and world history provide local and
global connections for students. Students
refine verbal and written skills in this
course to express their ideas and
interpretations of primary and secondary
source options.
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Global
Perspectives
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Grade:
11
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Year:
5X
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Credits:
5
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#471
- Accelerated
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#472
- Academic
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#473 -
Standard
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Viewed
from a contemporary lens, students explore
their own identity as local, national, and
global citizens and they develop
globally-oriented perspectives to
understand the various systems, processes,
and forces that challenge the world today.
This course investigates and compares
political, economic, and cultural
frameworks to better understand why and
how people of the world live differently.
Recognizing the various challenges
existing in the world, students explore
the causes, responses, and contexts of
threats to global security, human rights,
health, education, and the physical
environment, while also appreciating the
aesthetic value and natural beauty of our
world. Electronic communication and
performance-based assessment are primary
vehicles for student expression of ideas
and evaluation of their performance in
this course.
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#430 -
African/American Experiences
in Literature and History
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Grades: 11-12
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Level: 0
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Year: 5X
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Credits: 5
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This course will focus on the unique
contributions of African-Americans to
American culture and history in society.
It will trace these contributions from
both a historical and literary
perspective. This experience will be
viewed from historical Africa to the
present. Special emphasis will be placed
on the musical, artistic, and literary
achievements of African-Americans. The
students will be expected to analyze
contemporary social, economic, and
political issues of African-Americans in
the United States and the world.
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#446 - Modern,
Early Modern,
and Classical Philosophy
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Grades:
11-12
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Level: 0
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Year: 5X
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Credits:
5
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This course exposes students to some of
the great thinkers of the world. Students
explore the ideas of philosophers and
thinkers, such as Plato, Aristotle,
Descartes, Hume, Kant, Marx, Freund, and
Sarte, all of which have had a profound
influence on the cultural, economic,
intellectual, political, and social
history of Western Civilization. Through
in-depth analysis and discussion of a
selection of their writings, students will
gain an understanding of the nature of
philosophical questions and ideas, and -
in the process - learn to develop,
organize and articulate their own ideas.
20th century philosophers and
contributions of Eastern philosophies are
introduced as a comparative and relevant
experience for students to critically
examine.
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#448 - You and
the Law
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Grades:
10-12
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Level:
0
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Year:
5X
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Credits:
5
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This course involves study of federal,
state, and local law. An introduction to
both criminal and civil law will be
included. Specific cases are studied to
help understand the criminal justice
process, torts, consumer law, family law
and individual rights. Special emphasis is
placed on understanding trials and cases
through the re-enactments, role plays, and
simulations.
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Advanced
Placement Courses
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#450 -
European History AP
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Grades:
11-12
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Level:
Accelerated
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Year:
5X
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Credits:
5
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This course traces the development of
European civilization from the high
Renaissance of the mid-Fifteenth Century
through the present. Political,
diplomatic, social, economic, intellectual
and cultural trends are emphasized, and
the relation of Europe to the wider world
is noted. At the end of the course,
students should have a working knowledge
of the scope of modern European history,
be acquainted with the skills of the
historian's craft and be able to write an
essay that demonstrates interpretive and
analytical ability. Students are
expected to take the Advanced Placement
Exam in May. There is a mandatory
summer reading assignment.
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#455 - United
States History AP
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Grade:
12
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Level:
Accelerated
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Year:
5X
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Credits:
5
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Prerequisite: United States
History I and II
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This course retraces the complex
ideologies, phenomena, conflicts,
relationships, and progress characterizing
the history of the United States. Since
the required United States History course
begins in 1850, this course includes a
comprehensive investigation of the
pre-Civil War eras. The content focus
encapsulates a more sophisticated analysis
of the cultural landscape and social
conditions of each historical era.
Students are expected to take the
Advanced Placement Exam in May.
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#460 - History
of Art AP
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Grades:
11-12
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Level:
Accelerated
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Year:
5X
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Credits:
5
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The Advanced Placement course in
History of Art is designed to provide an
introductory college-level course in art
history: an understanding and enjoyment of
architecture, sculpture, painting, and
other art forms within historical and
cultural contexts. Students will examine
the major forms of artistic expression of
the past as well as those of our time and
of a variety of cultures. They will learn
to look at works of art critically, with
intelligence and sensitivity, and to
articulate what they see or experience.
Students are expected to take the
Advanced Placement Exam in May.
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#470 -
Economics AP
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Grades:
11-12
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Level:
Accelerated
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Year:
5X
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Credits:
5
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This course is a seminar in economics
involving principles of microeconomics and
macroeconomics. Designed as a
college-level course, students examine
economic systems, behavior of firms in
private market operations, comparisons
between market structures, national and
global economic conditions, monetary and
fiscal policy decisions/processes, and
international economics. Students are
expected to take the AP Exam in
May.
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#480 -
Government & Politics:
United States AP
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Grades:
11-12
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Level:
Accelerated
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Year:
5X
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Credits:
5
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This course is designed to challenge
students' thinking and knowledge of the
political processes and government
systems. Students gain a deep
understanding of the historical and
conceptual elements of the United States
Constitution to evaluate issues involving
the role of government. By intensely
investigating the Constitution, students
learn and apply the political philosophies
shaping the government and role of
citizens in a democracy. The origin and
transformation of political parties,
interest groups, and the mass media are
emphasized to understand political culture
and citizens' participation in government.
Extensive research, written, and verbal
contributions are essential to succeed in
this course. Students are expected to
take the Advanced Placement Exam in
May.
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Semester
Courses
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#435 -
Economics
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Grades:
10-12
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Level:
0
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Year:
5X
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Credits:
2.5
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This course combines financial literacy
skills and theoretical economic
principles. Students will be involved in
activities such as the selling of company
stock, electing company leadership,
creating a marketing campaign, buying and
selling products, liquidating of a
company, and distributing of profits to
share holders. Topics such as supply and
demand, inflation, recession, role of
government in an economy, the stock market
are investigated in the context of
simulations, projects, and cooperative
activities.
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#441 -
Sociology:
The American Society
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Grades:
10-12
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Level:
0
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Year:
5X
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Credits:
2.5
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This course is designed to prepare
students entering a college sociology
course or considering a career in related
fields. Students first learn about
sociological perspectives and theorists to
better understand agents of socialization
(peers, media, family, and school), social
group dynamics, social institutions,
racial, gender, and ethnic inequality, and
other social problems. Research methods
are taught and applied to the course's
themes.
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#447 - Racism,
Genocide,
The Holocaust
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Grades:
10-12
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Level:
0
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Year:
5X
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Credits:
2.5
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This course, comprised of a historical
and literal component, investigates the
impact that racism, genocide and the
Holocaust have had and continue to have on
peoples of the world. One of the
objectives of this program is to use its
content - past as well as present examples
- to reduce prejudice by first knowing,
then understanding, how racism and
genocide victimize peoples and nations.
The Holocaust in Nazi Germany is a focus
to build a comprehensive foundation of
knowledge to better understand and compare
historical and modern genocide's in Asia,
Africa, the Americas, and Europe.
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