AP World History SS500 Mr. Zersen
Syllabus
MLHS 414-461-6000 ext. 266
AP World History is a course used to “develop greater understanding of the evolution of global processes and contacts, in interaction with different types of human societies. This understanding is advanced through a combination of selective factual knowledge and appropriate analytical skills. The course highlights the nature of changes in international frameworks and their causes and consequences, as well as comparisons among major societies. It emphasizes relevant and factual knowledge used in conjunction with leading interpretive issues and types of historical evidence. The course builds on an understanding of cultural, institutional, and technological precedents that, along with geography, set the human stage. Periodization, explicitly discussed, forms an organizing principle for dealing with change and continuity throughout the course. Specific themes provide further organization to the course, along with consistent attention to contacts among societies that form the core of world history as a field of study.” (AP World History Course Description, pg.4)
As previously mentioned above, this course is designed with the intent of challenging the students to understand where our world has come from and how we reached the present day. The class is to be considered college level. This means that you are responsible for all of the work, in and out of class. It is detrimental that you keep up, if not ahead, to be able to consume the material. The ultimate goal is to do well on the exam at the end of the year.
In this course we will analyze history using the following AP World History Themes to identify the broad patterns and processes that explain change and continuity over time.
- The dynamics of change and continuity across the world history of periods covered in this course, and the causes of processes involved in major changes of these dynamics.
- Patterns and effects of interaction among societies and regions: trade, war, diplomacy, and international organizations.
- The effects of technology, economics, and demography on people and the environment (population growth and decline, disease, labor systems, manufacturing, migrations, agriculture, weaponry).
- Systems of social structure and gender structure (comparing major features within and among societies and assessing change and continuity).
- Cultural, intellectual, and religious developments, including interactions among and within societies.
- Changes in functions and structures of states and in attitudes toward states and political identities (political culture), including the emergence of the nation-state (types of political organization).
*These themes serve throughout the course as unifying threads, helping to put what is particular about each period or society into a larger framework.
Chronology of the Course
- Unit 1 - Foundations: circa 8000 B.C.E (B.C.) – 600 C.E. (A.D.)
- Unit 2 - 600 C.E. (A.D.) – 1450 C.E. (A.D.)
- Unit 3 - 1450 C.E. (A.D.) – 1750 C.E. (A.D.)
- Unit 4 - 1750 C.E. (A.D.) – 1914 C.E. (A.D.)
- Unit 5 - 1914 C.E. (A.D.) – the present
Required Materials
· Textbook – The World’s History, Spodek
· Loose leaf paper
· Three ring binder
· Pen or Pencil (no jelly pens, red pens, or other colored pens may be used on any work or notes)
· 3x5 Note cards used for review purposes.
Student Textbook (provided)
Spodek, Howard. The World’s History. 3rd Edition, Combined volume, Laurence King
Publishing, Ltd. Prentice Hall, 2006
Additional Teacher Resources Provided (via photocopies)
Worlds of History: A Comparative Reader, Volume One: To 1550 (Paperback)
Bedford/St. Martin's; 2nd edition (February 23, 2004)
Worlds of History: A Comparative Reader, Volume Two: Since 1400 (Paperback)
Bedford/St. Martin's; 2nd edition (December 24, 2003)
Sources of World Civilization, Vol. 1: A Diversity of Traditions, Third Edition
(Paperback) by Oliver A. Johnson, James Halverson Prentice Hall
Sources of World Civilization, Vol. 2: Connections and Conflict, Third Edition
(Paperback) by Oliver A. Johnson, James Halverson Prentice Hall
Diamond, Jared. Guns, Germs, and Steel: the Fates of Human Societies.
AP World History Study Editions (various years, various publications)
Course Requirements
- Take AP Exam on May 15th
- Come to class prepared and focused
- Respect the teacher and all students in the class by using a Christian Attitude.
- Attend all class sessions.
- If you are struggling, see the teacher for extra help.
- Bring required materials to all class sessions (none will be provided to you other than the copy that you receive at the beginning of the year).
- Treat textbook with care.
- Check AP Website for calendar and assignments if absent or to work ahead.
- Be well organized.
- Have a facilitating attitude. We are all in this together.
- Ask if you need help. I will do anything I can to help you succeed. We must work together to get you ready for the AP Test.
- Challenge yourself by trying to perform at a high level.
Grading
· *Unit Tests/Essays – 40%
o Tests are evaluations of student progress in learning. Tests will be at the end of each unit. Essays are checked in the first semester as Pass/Fail and are usually take home. At first essays will be peer evaluated and later will be graded by the instructor.
· Homework – 30%
o Consists of taking lecture and outline notes of chapters, group study charts, projects, essays and the summer reading assignment. Study cards will be used to continue knowledge throughout the year and will be graded each unit.
· *Quizzes – 20%
o Quiz information will be taken from readings, discussions and book information (e.g. maps, material in the book, lecture information). The format may be multiple choice questions and/or essay questions.
· Class Participation – 10%
o In order to create a good learning environment, participation must be employed. Students are expected to come to class prepared and ready to give responses to increase others vision of history.
*All questions will be taken from either test banks from former AP Exams, book sources or created by the instructor. Almost all questions on tests and quizzes will be given in multiple-choice format with the exception of essays.
Cheating
· If a student is found cheating on any test, quiz, or assignment the result will be a “0” given for the work. The student will then go to the Dean of Students where the Academic Integrity Policy will be enacted.
Late work
· Work is due at the start of the hour. Place materials in the assigned tray unless told differently by the teacher. If late, 50% will be taken off.
· If getting work done becomes a problem the teacher can use the school Academic Action Plan to help the student improve.
· If you missed a test or quiz because you were absent you have until the next student help time/day to make it up. If not a “0” will be given for the missed test/quiz.
· Retakes may be taken on essays only. They will be allowed to rewrite essays after 1 week of receiving them back from the teacher.
· Make up work when absent (2 days per day of absence).
o See Teacher ahead of time for planned absence.
*Due to our school having two semesters, the first semester will incorporate an exam spanning from Foundations to the end of Unit 3 (1450-1750) created from previous AP exams and the instructor. For those that will take the AP Exam, there will be NO final exam. However, for those that choose not to take the AP exam, they will take a cumulative exam at the end of the year, much like the AP exam (Foundations – Present).
Good websites for review and practice in regards to our book:
http://wps.prenhall.com/hss_spodek_worldhist_3 (site is based on our book)
http://cwx.prenhall.com/bookbind/pubbooks/spodek2/ (site is based on 2 separate volumes, not our actual book, but many useful pages)