Course Information:
This course is designed to provide you with the analytic skills and factual
knowledge necessary to deal critically with the problems and significant
issues in world history. The class also prepares you for college level
work, by making demands on you equivalent to those of most introductory,
seminar style college courses. The historic period studied in this class
will span the entire recorded history of the world from the Neolithic
Revolution up to the present day.
Goals of this program
- To acquire knowledge and understanding of the major political, social,
economic, and cultural developments in World history, from prehistory
to the present.
- To develop the discussion, writing, and research skills necessary
for college-level study.
- To train students to effectively discuss a point of view, in oral
or written form, and to
evaluate others' points of view.
- To prepare students for the national A. P. Examination in World History.
It will also be necessary to take the New York State Regents Exam in
Global Studies.
The Advanced Placement Exam is a national, standardized exam given each
May by the College Board. You will take the exam in May of 2007. The
test is three hours long and consists of 70 multiple choice questions
and three essays. You will receive your exam grades the summer after
you take the exam. Your exam grade can be submitted to participating
colleges for college credit and/or advanced placement. The exam is graded
on a scale of 1-5.
| 5- extremely well qualified |
2- possibly qualified |
| 4- well qualified |
1- no recommendation |
| 3- qualified |
|
The exam will cover ALL of world history (~8000 BCE to
the present). We will begin this year with the Scientific Revolution and
the Age of Absolutism. While the material covered before this in the ninth
grade did not follow the AP curriculum, we will review the ninth grade
material in April, and will try to cover missed topics at that time.
It also is advised that you purchase a review book as soon as possible.
The book that is most preferred by the students is the one put out by
Princeton Review. You can also download a pdf guide to the AP exam by
going on to the College Board web site. In this guide, there are sample
test questions, and a course outline.
Text to be used in this class:
Bentley &
Ziegler, Traditions and Encounters: A Global Perspective on the Past,
Second Edition,
2003
How is the class grade determined?
Exams 40% : In the course of a marking
period, there will be on average two multiple choice and one essay exam
Quizzes 20%: Quizzes, which are
given on a regular basis, are almost always based on reading assignments
from the text. You can take notes on all reading assignments, and use
those notes during the quiz. Each quiz will be a test of your comprehension
of the previous night's reading assignment. You can make use of your notes
when taking the quiz. You will be excused if you miss a reading quiz due
to an excused absence (as long as the number of absences is minimal).
You will still be expected to know the material, and should always make
a point to get the notes from a classmate.
Projects 20%: On
average, there will be one major project for each marking period. Projects
anticipated for the fall of 2006 will include the book report, an evaluation
/ debate of absolute rulers, and a symposium on the Industrial Revolution.
The class research paper will be assigned in the spring.
Participation 20%: Discussion and engagement
in class activities will be an important part of most classes. Simply
being a big talker won't necessarily garner high marks. Most important
is the content and quality of what is said!
Note taking:
While notes will be taken during class, the bulk of your notes will come
from reading assignments. You will be expected to take notes on all reading
assignments in this class.
You will be allowed to use notes from the reading for most quizzes given
at the start of the period. Every once in a while, you will not be able
to have access to your notes, but the nature of the questions will not
be specific, and will test you on your general understanding of the reading.
You can not use your text for quizzes. It is best to leave the book at
home!! Please do not highlight or write anywhere in the book.
Periodically, you can expect your notes will be checked. All notes should
be dated with headings, and organized by date. All the notes for the semester
should be accessible for all classes. It is recommended that you keep
your notes organized in a loose-leaf notebook, but as long as you keep
your notes organized, you can keep your notes as you see fit.
You will only be able to use your own handwritten notes, not a Xerox copy
of the text chapter, or a Xerox copy of someone else's notes. Should I
see a student use any kind of photocopied material during a quiz, the
grade will be recorded as a "0" (zero).
Key Topics:
Fall ‘08 : Absolute Rule in Europe, early colonization of the Americas
and Africa, Revolutions in Americas and France, the Industrial Revolution,
World War I
Spring ’09: World War II, the Cold War, globalization, review
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Class Assignments
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