United States History Extra Credit

Introduction

Missing assignments? Need to pad the grade book? You can watch this list of films or read one of the books from this list and it could work for one or BOTH classes (dependent upon the assignment).

Books

Directions for BOOKS (worth 50-100 extra credit points — dependent upon length and quality of your written response):

  1. Read one or more of the books listed

  2. Write a 2-3 page response that accomplishes all of the following:

    • Summarizes the books, including a discussion of any important details and plots elements

    • Discusses at least ONE character or historical figure in the book, and describe them and their experiences with detail

    • Describe what you have learned about the time period or the characters because of this book

    • Contains at least THREE quotes (prove you read the whole thing, and use the quotes as evidence to prove your thesis)

  3. When you have typed your response, please submit on Schoology or email it to sfairbanks@billingscatholicschools.org

Fall Semester Book List:

Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

The Good Lord Bird by James McBride

The Heretic’s Daughter by Kathleen Kent

Hamilton (The Musical) by Lin Manuel Miranda

12 Years A Slave by Solomon Northup

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Ann Jacobs

Rise to Rebellion by Jeff Shaara

The Hamilton Affair by Elizabeth Cobbs

Gods and Generals by Michael Shaara

Killing Lincoln by Bill O'Reilly

A Girl Called Samson: A Novel by Amy Harmon

America’s First Daughter by Stephanie Dray

Manifest Destiny Literary Analysis Unit

Films

Directions for FILMS (worth 10-25 extra credit points — dependent upon length and quality of your written response):

  1. Watch one or more of the films listed (you are limited to 4 per semester)

  2. Write ONE paragraph that discusses the historical nature of the film. Discuss what happened, how it accurately (or inaccurately) represented the time period. Then write ONE paragraph that discusses what you learned from the film or how it impacted you.

  3. When you have typed your response, please submit on Schoology or email it to sfairbanks@billingscatholicschools.org

Fall Semester List:

Last of the Mahicans

The New World

John Adams Series (pick one, or you can watch multiple episodes)

Franklin - Apple TV Series (pick one, or you can watch multiple episodes)

The Patriot (if not assigned for homework) — Complete this Worksheet

HAMILTON: An American Musical EXTRA CREDIT

Amistad

Gods & Generals

Gettysburg

Manhunt - Apple TV Series about the Lincoln Assassination and Hunt for John Wilkes Booth (pick one, or you can watch multiple episodes)

Glory

Dances with Wolves

Cold Mountain

Killers of the Flower Moon

Napoleon

12 Years A Slave

The Underground Railroad (Amazon Prime Series, pick one, or you can watch multiple episodes)

The Revenant

Dickinson (Apple TV Series, pick one, or you can watch multiple episodes)

Emancipation on Apple TV (if not assigned in class for homework)

Manhunt - The Hunt for Lincoln’s Assassins (Apple TV Series, pick one, or you can watch multiple episodes)

Spring Semester Book List

Books

Directions for BOOKS (worth 50-100 extra credit points — dependent upon length and quality of your written response)::

  1. Read one or more of the books listed

  2. Write a 2-3 page response that accomplishes all of the following:

    • Summarizes the books, including a discussion of any important details and plots elements

    • Discusses at least ONE character or historical figure in the book, and describe them and their experiences with detail

    • Describe what you have learned about the time period or the characters because of this book

    • Contains at least THREE quotes (prove you read the whole thing, and use the quotes as evidence to prove your thesis)

  3. When you have typed your response, please submit on Schoology or email it to sfairbanks@billingscatholicschools.org

Ridgeline by Michael Punke

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

Night by Ellie Wiesel

Z:  A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler

A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway

Fall of Giants by Ken Follett (this book, due to its length is worth double extra credit. Warning: there are some R-rated scenes in the book.)

The Last Green Valley by Mark Sullivan

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

Spring Semester Movie List

Directions for FILMS (worth 10-25 extra credit points — dependent upon length and quality of your written response):

  1. Watch one or more of the films listed (you are limited to 4 per semester)

  2. Write ONE paragraph that discusses the historical nature of the film. Discuss what happened, how it accurately (or inaccurately) represented the time period. Then write ONE paragraph that discusses what you learned from the film or how it impacted you.

  3. When you have typed your response, please submit on Schoology or email it to sfairbanks@billingscatholicschools.org

These films can only be watched during the topic that we are covering.

Topic 7 Films:

Topic 8 Films:

Topic 9 Films:

  • The Untouchables

  • La La Land

  • Lawless

  • Legends of the Fall

  • Chicago

  • Oh Brother, Where Art Thou

  • Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

  • Boys in the Boat

  • Killers of the Flower Moon

Topic 10 Films:

  • Masters of the Air (Apple TV Series, pick one, or you can watch multiple episodes)

  • Band of Brothers (Pick one or more episode) (2001)

  • The Pacific (Pick one or more episode) (2010)

  • Saving Private Ryan (1999)

  • Fury (2013)

  • Schindler's List (1993)

  • Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

Topic 11 Films:

  • Bridge of Spies (2015)

  • We Were Soldiers (2002)

  • 42

  • Malcolm X (1992)

  • A Time for Justice -- Civil Rights Documentary (YouTube)

  • The Hurt Locker (2008)

  • J. Edgar (2011)

  • Trial of the Chicago Seven (2020)

  • Judas the Black Messiah (2020)

  • BlacKKKlansman (2018)