Honors World Studies Syllabus
Mr. Gonzalez – Room 238
[email protected]
COURSE DESCRIPTION This course examines the development of world civilizations, by region, from approximately 1500 to the present. Major Western and Non-Western cultures will be studied within interdisciplinary contexts which emphasize the humanities and the inhumanities found throughout the history of the world. Students will develop their historical subject matter knowledge and critical thinking skills through the use of a variety of primary and secondary sources. Analytical reading and evaluative writing will be imperative toward your success in this course.
COURSE OUTCOMES and LEARNING GOALS Students will be able to:
· Think critically and formulate their positions on various topics that will be covered throughout the year.
· Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of how key events or ideas develop over the course of the text.
· Analyze and report historical events to determine cause-and-effect relationships.
· Listen and speak effectively and appropriately in formal and informal situations.
· Locate, organize, analyze and apply information from various sources to answer questions, solve problems and communicate ideas.
· Communicate ideas in writing to accomplish a variety of purposes and compare competing historical interpretations of an event.
· Identify political ideas from the Renaissance and Enlightenment eras that persist today as well as political ideas from the early modern historical era to the present which have had worldwide impact.
· Explain how trade patterns developed between the Americas and the rest of the global economy.
· Describe the growing dominance of American and European capitalism and their institutions.
· Describe the impact of key individuals/ideas from 1500 – present.
· Identify significant events and developments since 1500 that altered world social history in ways that persist today including colonization, Protestant Reformation, industrialization, the rise of technology and human rights movements.
· Describe how cultural encounters among peoples of the world affected the environment.
· Analyze worldwide consequences of isolated political events, including World Wars I and II.
· Describe how tensions in the modern world are affected by different political ideologies including democracy and totalitarianism.
· Analyze the relationship of an issue in world political history to the related aspects of world economic, social and environmental history.
· Explain how industrial capitalism became the dominant economic model in the world.
· Describe how historical trends in population, urbanization, economic development and technological advancements have caused change in world economic systems.
· Analyze the relationship between an issue in world social history and the related aspects of political, economic and environmental history.
· Analyze how technological and scientific developments have affected human productivity, human comfort and the environment.
TEACHING/LEARNING STRATEGIES Students will find a learner-centered classroom in World History. This means that they will conduct discussions, work in cooperative groups, participate in reflective writing, learn through their multiple intelligences, and research different topics. The teacher will use lecture to deliver content. The teacher will conduct question and answer sessions with an emphsis on critical thinking. The teacher will guide students though all course material and will take the time to cover any material where the students need extra focus.
ASSESSMENT/EVIDENCE Students are required to keep a record of their grades. The teacher will post grades on a regular basis on Gradebook. It is the responsibility of the student to monitor these postings and report discrepancies to the teacher immediately. Grades will include the following types of assignments:
Alternative Assessments - 20% of grade: Includes essays, projects, group work, integrated unit work, and presentations. Will apply to sections or units as appropriate and will reflect course content and skills.
Class work and homework - 20% of grade: Will be given on a regular basis and will include reading, writing, and research. Will apply to sections or units as appropriate and will reflect course content and skills. Completion of homework is vital to your success in this course.
Tests/Formal Assessments- 25% of grade: Includes skills and/or content exams, quarterly exams and the final exams (cumulative semester exam).
Quizzes - 15% of grade: Will be given on a semi-regular basis and may be announced or unannounced. They will reflect course content and skills. If you miss the quiz it is your responsibility to make arrangements with me for a make up date.
Participation - 10% of grade: Your participation portion of your grade will be based on your overall attitude that you bring to class everyday. You must come prepared to learn everyday. You will be required to abide by all of Lane Tech's rules and regulations. This includes coming to class on time every day, having your cell phone off, and wearing your ID on a lanyard before coming to class. Your grade will be affected if I have to repeatedly tell you to follow these rules.
Final Exam- 10%: There will be an exam testing the knowledge and skills covered throughout each semester. There will be more information toward the end of each semester.
Honors Grade Scale: A 90 - 100
B 80 - 89
C 70 - 79
D 60 - 69
F 0 - 59
HOMEWORK POLICIES AND LATE WORK · An assignment is on time if it is turned in at the beginning of class when the teacher collects it.
· An assignment can only receive full credit if it is neat, legible, utilizes proper writing mechanics, and has the proper heading of name, course, class, period, and date in the upper right hand corner.
· All assignments that are assigned must be COMPLETE in order to be accepted. Work that is not complete will be returned to the student and will need to be completed in order to receive credit for the assignment
· It is your responsibility to see the teacher regarding missed work.
· Late work will receive half credit at most for up to four days. After four days, the assignment will receive a grade of zero.
· In the event of an absence on the day of a test or quiz, the student must make arrangements the day he or she returns to school with the teacher to take a make-up quiz or test (make-up tests are essay tests). These assessments must be completed within three days of return to school or the grade will become a zero.
· Working with others is an important part of learning. Therefore, group work will be assigned on a regular basis. If you are absent the day a group project or presentation is due, you may risk losing all credit for the work; the teacher will, however, evaluate this on an individual basis.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY Academic honesty is an expectation of all students. Personally cheating on tests and examinations, allowing others to copy or look at, or copy work, or engaging in other activities that are dishonest (including plagiarism) in earning academic grades, is a serious offense requiring strict sanctions, including but not limited to receiving a zero (F) grade on the academic work involved. All cases of academic dishonesty are reported to parents/guardians. See page 46 of the student handbook for more information.
CLASS WEBSITE (MRGONZALEZHISTORY.WEEBLY.COM) All powerpoints and most class actvitities will be posted on the website. I will try my best to do so in a timely manner but these resources should only be meant to supplement classroom instruction. Homework updates and reminders will also be posted on the website. In the event that you are absent from school, check the website for any work that was posted while you were away from class.
NEED HELP? I am readily available to assist all of my students. If you feel you have a problem or would just like additional assistance, please feel free to come see me before or after school. You can also send me an email at [email protected].
COURSE SPECIFIC INFORMATION
TEXTBOOK World History: Connectios to Today. Glenview, Illinois: Prentice Hall, 2003.
MATERIALS In class daily, students need to have the covered text, supplementary materials, school agenda, three ring binder (it can be shared with another course), syllabus, loose-leaf paper, pens (blue, black, red) and pencils.
EMAIL/WEBSITE (MrGonzalezHistory.weebly.com)
All students are encouraged to have an appropriate email address that is easily recognized by the teacher. You will need to have access to a computer regularlly as many of our assignments will be posted on our classroom website. If you do not have access to a computer with internet access at home, there are a number of computer labs that are avaiable for you to use around the building.