AP World History Syllabus



AP WORLD HISTORY

COURSE SYLLABUS 209-2010

LaTonya Amboree – Room W102

Thurgood Marshall High School

School Phone #: (281) 634-8614

Conference Period: 1st & 3rd – 5th

E-Mail (school): latonya.amboree@fortbend.k12.tx.us

Tutorials: by appointment only

Personal Philosophy

As a student, I never really enjoyed most of the history classes that I took throughout high school. I found them boring and irrelevant, and I did not like the idea of always being lectured to. As an AP World History teacher, I believe that this course should not all about lecturing, but building skills that produce life long independent learners. I believe that students should be able to explore topics in depth, in order to gain a greater appreciation of the events that have shaped our past, and continue to shape our future. I am excited about the opportunity to teach this course. AP World History affords me the opportunity to help students identify their place in this world, make sense of current world events, make connections over time, and prepare for other AP courses and college.

Course Overview

AP World History covers global history from about 8000 BCE to the present. Using the themes outlined in the AP Course description, the students, students learn to analyze the history of the world as a historian does. This course is approximate to college level course work, and because it is offered in the tenth grade, it will be one of the most challenging course students will have taken to date. Students must engage in rigorous reading from college-level text and outside supplemental readings, and understand their historical and geographical context. Additionally, students are expected to analyze primary and secondary sources, identify and discuss points of view and historical frameworks, and make comparisons across cultures. Moreover, all students will participate in class discussions, seminars and debates based on the aforementioned. AP World History students will also be introduced to historical writing. They are expected to engage in this type of writing through essays, DBQs and various research assignments.

Because we have 5 progressive unit exams throughout the course of the year, students do not have a mid-term or semester exam. However, students will complete two major projects. In the first semester, students will create a Do-it-yourself DBQ based on primary historical research. Students are required to create their own DBQ, and then write a response to that DBQ. The second project is based on the National History Day Theme for 2009.

Textbook

Throughout the course of the year, students are expected to read their textbook from cover to cover. Critical analysis of the text is a necessity to survive in WHAP. To help introduce new material, students will preview the chapter through analysis of visual images and reading the titles and subtitles. The purpose of this activity is to help students formulate some preliminary context prior to reading. Study Guides can be downloaded from my website, but are not for a grade. Additionally, students will be required to use a host of graphic organizer that corresponds to the topic being studied.

Stearns, Peter N., et al. World Civilizations: The Global Experience. AP Ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2003

Notebooks

All WHAP students will be required to keep an interactive notebook. The organization of this notebook will be one of the biggest keys to success in WHAP. Periodic notebook quizzes will be conducted throughout the course of the year. Notebooks should:

o be 1 to 11/2 inch hard cover three ring binder with pockets exclusively for WHAP

o be divided by periodization

o contain everything for the course

o be brought to class daily

Course Outline

Unit 1. Foundations (8000 B.C.E. to 600 C.E.)

Course Introduction

o Historiography

o AP Themes

o AP Habits of Mind

• Stearns, Chapters 1-5

o Prehistory

o Ancient Civilizations Comparison

o Development of Classical Civilizations

o Emergence of Major Belief Systems – Analyzing Primary and Secondary Sources

Unit 2. Post-Classical Civilizations (600-1450)

• The Rise and Spread of Islam

• Interregional Trade Networks

• African Civilizations

• Byzantine Empire and Russia

• Western Europe and the Middle Ages

• The Crusades

• Pre-Columbian Americas

• China: Sui, Tang and Song

• Japan, Korea and Vietnam

• The Mongols

Unit 3. Early Modern Period (1450-1750)

• Artistic and Intellectual Movements

• Major Empires

• Age of Exploration

• Age of Absolutism

• Labor Systems and Slave Trade

Unit 4. Revolutionary Era (1750-1914)

• Political Revolutions and Independence Movements

o American Revolution

o French Revolution

o Latin American Revolutions

o Russian Revolution

o Chinese Revolutions

• The Industrial Revolutions around the World

• Imperialism

• Societies at Crossroads

Unit 5. The Modern World (1914-Present)

• Colonization and Decolonization

• Nationalism

• Global Conflicts

o WWI

o WWII

o Cold War

o Civil Wars and Genocide

• Globalization

Post AP-Test Classes

• EOY Project: The Most Influential Person in World History

• UN Conference Simulation

• Influential Individuals in World History Tournament of Champions (performance-)

• Survival Pamphlet for WHAP for next year’s students

Student Evaluation

This is a college prep class, thus grades initially be lower than those to which students have been accustomed. It is important to remember that AP and honors classes are weighted and that only the semester average is reported on a student’s transcript. I DO NOT round up grades. Extra credit will only be offered one time during a 9 week period. There can be no zeros in the grade book if you wish to do extra credit.

I grade well over 1000 essays each year. Because of this volume written commentary will be restricted to a rubric, but each essay will be discussed/debriefed in class orally. Students are encouraged to seek individual help with their writing before or after school.

Not every assignment is graded. It is to the student’s benefit, however, to do each and every assignment. Keeping up with assignments will help improve understanding and test scores. Thus, it is expected that students will complete and realize the importance of doing all their homework to encourage independent study, discipline, and academic rigor.

*You will have a minimum of 6 daily grades and 3 major grades each grading period.

*Daily grades count for 50% of your nine weeks grade and may include

vocabulary, map activities, quizzes, independent exercises, participation, etc.

*Major grades will count for 50% of your nine weeks grade and will consist of

tests, oral and written reports, individual projects, group projects, etc.

Grading Scale

A = 90-100

B = 89-80

C = 79-75

D = 74-70

F = 60-0

Essays and Tests

Various assessments are used throughout the course of the year. Students will complete a variety of exams, quizzes, writing assignments and projects. Students will take a total of 5 Unit Exams. These exams are cumulative and consist of both objective multiple choice questions and essays. The exams will enable students to synthesize a wide variety of information rather than enforce rote memorization of isolated pieces of information. Because we have 45 minute classes, the unit exams will take two class days. On the first day, the students will take the 45 question multiple choice portion. On the second day, the student will write a timed in-class essay. This format enables to students to prepare for the rigor of the AP exam throughout the course of the year. The objective multiple choice portion is scored based on the percentage correct, and the essays are scored using the core scoring guide adapted from the AP Exam and is converted to a numerical grade. Essays will be taken from past released AP examinations. Students can take online practice tests and/or complete the chapter quizzes in their AP Test study guide book in preparation for the objective multiple choice portion.

AP Exam

All students enrolled in a WHAP course are expected to take the AP exam. AP Exam preparation begins on the first day of class and continues throughout the duration of the school year. Activities such as Multiple Choice Question Dissect, content reading quizzes, and DBQ categorizations are used as warm-ups. Additionally, AP themes and habits of mind are posted in the room and are referred to frequently. A “WHAP Exam Blitz” occurs over a three week period, and includes 9 after school sessions, and 2 Saturday practice tests. Formal WHAP tutorials are organized by periodization. Moreover, students are encouraged to purchase a WHAP Study Guide for use at home.

Reading Quizzes

Random reading and vocabulary quizzes will periodically be given to ensure that students are reading and understanding the terms and concepts from the prescribed readings from the text. These quizzes include AP-style multiple choice questions, fill-in-he blank vocabulary, and short answer responses. Quizzes are predetermined and the dates are on the nine week calendar.

Writing Assignments

Students will also be required to complete several writing assignments including timed in-class Exam essays, editorials, and an end of the year research paper. Additionally, students will also complete a variety of skill work to help them with their writing including but not limited to DBQ categorization activities, partner thesis writing, blog questions, and TWEDYAODWTS (to what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement).

Projects

Students will complete several projects throughout the course of the school year. Some of the projects include History Fair, Do-It-Yourself DBQ, Renaissance Era Magazine and a Chronicled Scrapbook of your journey through history. Other minor in-class projects will also be completed.

All projects will be based on teacher-created rubrics, which will be given to them at the beginning of the project.

Absences and Late Work

What if I’m absent?

• It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to pick up and complete make-up work if you

are absent! There is an absence station located near the door of my classroom. Your assignments will be located at that station with your name on it.

What about late work?

• This is a college prep class. No daily grade late work will be accepted. If your printer dies, you run out of ink, or you don’t have access to a printer at home, you need to email me your work. No major grade projects will be accepted after 1 week.

Enrichment

I am not a believer of extra credit. However, I do allow students to complete enrichment assignments. Enrichment motivates students to go beyond the required material and take advantage of the history that surrounds them by reading an extra book, watch a relevant program on television, or going to a museum or gallery, while allowing students to raise a grade so that the rigorous AP standards do not destroy their GPA. Enrichment points can be added to test grades only. Enrichment points are issued in the form of Buffalo bucks. The enrichment assignment must run concurrent with the unit being studied. Only one enrichment assignment is allowed per unit. Students who are missing any major grade assignments are not allowed to complete enrichment activities.

Internet Access

There are 4 student computers in my classroom. Computers are use for groups to do research, while the rest of the class works on writing, organizing or reading print materials. Students must always validate Internet sources. Students who discover new excellent web sources can be awarded enrichment points.

Student-Teacher-Parent Communication

Being that this is a college prep class you must be responsible, disciplined, and independent. It is YOUR responsibility to track your own progress and communicate this with your parents. If you are not yet able to do this you are not ready for this level of work. I will NOT give weekly grade reports for unofficial reasons.

If any issues regarding grades, help on an assignment, or the need for clarification, please feel free to email me at any time. I generally check my email up until 10:00pm each night.

I prefer to handle issues of a serious, personal, or confidential nature, in person. I feel very strongly that e-mail should NOT be used for this purpose.  It is nearly impossible to convey tone and intent, and is not secure and thus cannot ensure confidentiality.

Supplies

What do I need to bring EVERY DAY to be prepared and successful?

1. Writing Utensil

2. Binder

3. Relevant text

4. Blue or black ink pens

5. Planner

10 Things You Need to Know About AP World History:

1. There are NO behavior problems in my class.

2. Respect the free flow of ideas and opinions of your classmates at all times. Personal attacks will not be tolerated. I will not tolerate off color, lewd, or intolerant remarks – orally or in writing. Be critical of ideas, NOT people.

3. Class starts when the bell rings. Have paper, black pen, and notes out and ready EVERY day. I will not tolerate stragglers. Class ENDS when I say it does. DO NOT pack up early or leave your seat until you are excused by the person in charge.

4.  It is your responsibility to check the board for each day’s activities, test dates, etc.

5. All written work needs to be in black or blue pen, properly formatted, each page clearly labeled in the upper right-hand corner, organized, and stapled BEFORE coming to class.

6. Attend to restroom, locker, and water issues BEFORE coming to class.

7. No food or drink allowed, unless directly related to the lesson.

8.  No electronic devices, of any kind, will be tolerated. If I see it or hear it I will take it. No exceptions. Welcome to World History Unplugged.

9.  Refrain from extraneous noise during silent reading and testing (pen tapping/clicking, binder clicking, bag zipping, wrapper crinkling, gum smacking, sniveling, etc)

10.Cheating will not be tolerated in any form (this includes copying homework, talking to other classes about tests, and plagiarism) and will result in both academic and disciplinary consequences.

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