AP World History Melanie Jackson e-mail: [email protected] website: msjacksonapworld.wikispaces.com
Course Overview
The AP World History course seeks to develop true scholars of history through the use of in-depth textual sources, primary sources, historical investigation, and authentic evaluative questions. Activities and assessments mirror and reflect the themes, historical skills, and habits of mind required for success on the AP examination. In AP World History, students will draw comparisons and make connections among societies across time and space.
The AP World History course will often review and supplement content from the 9th grade World Cultures course, which focuses on the geography, belief systems, social structures, history, and contemporary issues of Russia, China, the Middle East, sub- Saharan Africa, and South Asia. AP World History course content will, at times, focus additional attention to European content considering many of the non-Western subjects are covered extensively in the 9th grade World Cultures course.
AP World History is a survey course that emphasizes critical thinking in the social sciences. Although the course may seem intimidating because of the breadth of content, I feel very confident in the ability of our students to excel in the AP World History course AND the AP World History examination administered by the College Board.
Textbook Duiker, William and Jackson Spielvogel. World History. 5th ed. Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth, 2007.
Additional Text Resources Summer Reading: Diamond, Jared. Guns, Germs, and Steel.
Reilly, Kevin. Worlds of History: A Comparative Reader. 3rd ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2009.
1 Materials You will need the following materials for class: . Loose leaf paper with a 2” binder for notes and handouts . Pencil and pen . flashdrive
Units of Study Semester 1 Unit 1: Foundations, 8000 B.C.E. – 600 C.E. (6 weeks) Unit 2: 600 C.E. – 1450 C.E.: Cultural Flowering, Diffusion, & the Expansion of Trade (6 weeks) Unit 3: 1450 – 1750: New World Patterns (6 weeks)
Semester 2 Unit 4: 1750 – 1919: Industry, Technology, & Competition: Modern Struggles (6 weeks) Unit 5: 1919 – present: Global Interactions (6 weeks) AP World History Exam: Thursday, May13, 2010
The Five Themes of AP World History
1. Interaction between humans and the environment 2. Development and interaction of cultures 3. State building, expansion, and conflict 4. Creation, expansion, and interaction of economic systems 5. Development and transformation of social structures
AP World History Habits of Mind
Constructing and evaluating arguments Using documents to analyze point of view and understand and interpret information Assessing continuity and change Understanding diversity of interpretations Seeing global patterns and processes over time and space Comparing within and among societies Considering human commonalities and differences Exploring claims of universal standards in relations to culturally diverse ideas Exploring the persistent relevance of world history to contemporary developments
2 Assessments & Grading
I will employ numerous strategies to assess progress in AP World History. Assessments will be based on the content, themes, and the habits of mind established by the College Board. These assessments are designed to reflect the content knowledge and academic skills necessary to excel on the AP World History Exam.
Assessment Grade Percentage Projects, Formal Writing Assignments, & 25% Other Graded Assignments Classwork (includes individual work, group 25% work and graded class discussions) Quizzes 15% Tests (includes multiple choice & in-class 35% essays) *Refer to the student handbook/planner for the grade scale.
Policies on Homework, Essays, Projects, and Tests
. Academic integrity and honesty are of utmost importance. Plagiarism, cheating and dishonesty of any kind will be addressed and penalized. Plagiarism includes copying others’ homework and classwork, as well as failure to paraphrase and cite sources properly when writing research papers. Unless assignments are specifically designated as a group effort, all assignments should be completed independently. Any incidence of cheating results in a zero for the assignment.
. It is important that assignments be submitted on time. For each day an assignment is late, the grade will drop 10%. For instance, if you submit a paper one day late and the paper earns an 85%, the grade will drop to 75% because of lateness. It is not acceptable to turn assignments in via e-mail! All assignments must be turned in to me directly and on paper.
. If a test is missed because of illness, you must make every opportunity to make it up as soon as possible. Acceptable makeup times are during study hall, lunch, or after school. See me to plan an agreeable time for both of us to meet. Typically, you will have the number of days missed to make up the test. For instance, if you miss 2 days, you will have 2 days to make up the test.
3 . If a graded discussion is missed because of illness, you will need to complete an alternative assignment, typically in writing.
. Of course, a grade of zero will be issued for any assignments or tests missed due to class cutting.
Classroom Rules
1. Refrain from insulting and putting down other people. It’s okay to challenge ideas, but it’s not okay to hurt others’ feelings. 2. Be on time, in your seat, and have materials ready when the bell rings. 3. Respect the people and equipment in your classroom. 4. Please speak only at appropriate times. 5. Follow directions the first time they are given.
If you break a rule, the following will happen: 1st Offense: Verbal or Written Warning 2nd Offense: I will conference with you after class, and contact your parents. 3rd Offense: Your parents will be contacted, and an after school detention will be issued. 4th Offense (severe clause): You will report immediate to the office for serious infractions or continuous disrespect and disruption.
Teacher Office Hours If you are having difficulty in World History, please do not hesitate to make an appointment to meet with me during these available times: Mondays-Fridays: 3rd, 5th, and 8th periods. I am also available after school on most days.
Thank you for reading the basic overview of class expectations, rules, and procedures. I am looking forward to this first year of AP World History!
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