Course Syllabus

AP World History Syllabus

Ms. Speck

Room: E5

Teacher Contact Information

EMAIL: tiphany.speck@ucps.k12.nc.us

PHONE: 704-753-2810

School Supplied textbook:

Stearns, Peter. World Civilizations: The Global Experience, AP Edition. 5th ed. New York: Prentice Hall College Division, 2007. 

Student Purchased textbook:

AMSCO. World History: Preparing for the Advanced Placement Examination, 2018 Edition 

Course Description:

History is a sophisticated quest for meaning about the past, beyond the effort to collect and memorize information. This course will to deal with the facts—names, chronology, and events—but it will also emphasize historical analysis. This will be accomplished by focusing on four historical thinking skills: Chronological Reasoning, Comparison and Contextualization, Crafting Historical Arguments from Historical Evidence, and Historical Interpretation and Synthesis. The course highlights the nature of changes in the international frameworks and their causes and consequences, as well as comparisons among major societies.

Advanced Placement World History (APWH) is designed to prepare students for intermediate and advanced college courses by making demands similar to those of full year college courses. The course imposes a heavy reading and writing load throughout the semester. Critical writing and thinking skills are developed through the evaluation of primary and secondary sources, oral presentations, short essays, and research assignments.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES:

Students will be required to keep a binder notebook, which will be checked randomly throughout the semester. All work completed and notes taken in class should be included in the binder notebook. Organization and neatness are necessary to be successful in this assignment.

Students will be required to come to class prepared every day. Being prepared for APWH class includes having their Chromebook, notebook, textbook, a pen/pencil, paper and homework, as well as any other materials we will be using that day.

Students will be required to read and/or write almost every night. This is a reading intensive course and it is imperative that students keep current with all of the required readings. Students will also be required to answer free response questions (FRQ) throughout the semester. A FRQ in APWH is in one of three formats: document-based question (DBQ), continuity and change over time (CCOT) and comparative (COMP).

AP EXAM:  

The AP exam is required and can be registered for on the College Board website.  The guidance department will assist the students with this process.  

ESSAYS/PROJECTS:  

Essays are a major component of the student’s grade and of the AP test.  The students will be expected to complete more writing in AP World History than most of your English classes.  Projects will be few and far between, but in class discussions will be a weekly occurrence and will be factored into this grade.

HOMEWORK INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Place your name, date and assignment in the upper right hand corner of the first page.
  2. Make-up work will be accepted according to PDHS policy.
  3. Late work will be accepted (DURING THAT UNIT ONLY) for half credit.

TEST AND QUIZZES:

  1. Students can expect both announced and unannounced quizzes. Quizzes will generally cover information read or explained the day before or from the previous night’s homework.
  2. Students can expect that all tests will be announced prior to the test date.
  3. If a student is absent on the day of an announced test/quiz, he/she will take it the next class.
  4. If a student is absent for an extended period, test/quiz will be made up according to PDHS guidelines. REMEMBER IT IS THE STUDENT’S RESPONSBILITY to make arrangements.

GRADING POLICY:

The grading system for this course will be averaged based on total pints possible. Every home-work, class work, quiz, test, notebook, project, etc. will be assigned a point value. Remember that a C is the average expected grade. To earn an A or a B you must consistently do work that exceeds the average.

 A: 100 - 90          B: 89-80                C: 79-70                D: 69-60                F: 59-0

Class Rules and Guidelines:

  1. All students are to be in their assigned seats and ready to begin work when the bell rings.
  2. Eating, drinking, and personal grooming are not permitted in class. Chewing gum is allowed as long as the gum stays in your mouth.
  3. Cell phones, personal technology or electronic devices are not allowed in class and will be confiscated if necessary.
  4. Please help keep the room clean and orderly. No writing on the desk, walls or displays. Straighten the desks and pick up your trash before leaving class.
  5. Students will be allowed six passes out of class per grading period. Passes will not be given out during the first ten or last ten minutes of class or during tests. (Emergencies are an exception.)
  6. Cheating/coping in this class will NOT be tolerated and will result in a zero on the grade for all parties involved. This includes class assignments, homework, and test/quizzes.
  7. Please respect yourself, your classmates, your teacher and any visitors in class. Listen without interrupting, raise your hand before calling out and wait to be called on. Refrain from profanity of any kind. Remember that the teacher’s desk, chair, computer and other things are off limits without permission.
  8. Class participation is crucial and includes asking relevant questions, actively sharing and listening during class discussions, completing assignments, and preparing for tests. Attendance, punctuality, behavior and responsibility all count toward this goal.
  9. Please follow the UCPS and Piedmont High School dress code at all times.
  10. Students should not leave their seats without permission. I will dismiss the class when the bell rings. Do not stand up or line up at the door before dismissal.

Course Summary:

Date Details Due