Syllabus

10th Grade Honors History of Western Civilization

Policies and Syllabus

Stacey McSkimin

Phone: 303.982.8179

Office Hours: Before and after school by virtual appointment; 7th hour.

Course Description

Tenth Grade Western Civilization is a survey class focusing on the origins and development of what we today call “Western Civilization”. Western Civilization is a loaded and a political term, but essentially it looks at the events and societies that produced modern Western Europe (England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain) and their colonial settlements (United States, Canada, Latin America, British Dominions). In so doing, Western Civilization chooses its origins, even from societies that are not obviously Western or would not be considered “Western” today, such as Egypt or Mesopotamia. First Semester will begin with Paleolithic humans (~300,000 B.C.) and extend through the Late Middle Ages (1300s). Second Semester will begin with the Renaissance (1300s) and conclude with World War I (1918). The course will emphasize close textual readings, discussions, and numerous writing assignments. The course also includes one research paper written over the course of the year with specific deadlines each semester on a student-chosen topic within the umbrella of Western Civilization.

Required Textbook:

Title: A History of Western Society. 11th Edition Publisher/Copyright: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2014

Authors: John McKay, Bennett D. Hill, John Buckler, Clare Haru Crowston, Merry E. Wiesner-Hanks, Joe Perry

Course Goals/Objectives

Western Civilization aims to:

1) Arm students with an understanding of the origins and development of Western societies.

2) Develop reading skills (both close-reading and quick reading for argument), discussion skills, analytical thinking, and analytical writing.

3) Produce students who consider the past and its applications to the present

4) Build thoughtful, well-rounded, and informed citizens.

Course Requirements and Grade Breakdown:

Your grade for this class will be computed by total number of points accumulated in the following weighted categories. The Term Paper Category will be added to second semester, please note the adjusted weights per semester.

Semester 1:

1. Homework Assignments /Independent Practice (~20% of Grade) – Previews material to be discussed in class, expands learning, demonstrates understanding. This is to be done independently and will be assessed on a completion basis.

- All assignments must be in pen, pencil, or typed on a FULL sheet of paper using complete sentences.
- A student’s grade will be lowered by 10% if work is turned in LATE ON THE DAY IT IS DUE, and then by 50%. It is always better to turn in a completed late paper for partial credit than not to turn it in at all. For a paper we discuss in class, a maximum of 50% credit is possible.
- Assignments will be posted in the classroom. It is the students’ responsibility to write down assignments in their planners.
- It is the responsibility of the student to obtain assignments when absent by checking with the teacher.

2. Quizzes, Written Pieces, and Graded Assignments/Formative Assessments (25% of Grade)

· Quizzes, writing assignments and other various formative assessments will be given periodically in class (and may be completed during 7th hour or at home) in order to evaluate where the students are in their learning. These will be assessed in various ways depending on the type of assignment but they will be evaluated for learning by the instructor.

3. Essays/Tests /Summative Assessments(~35% of Grade) – Assessments that demonstrate mastery of essential learnings as expected by D’Evelyn’s Curriculum Directives.

· Tests will be given at the end of every major unit and will be worth approximately 100 points. I will announce in advance when to expect tests so that you can plan accordingly.

· If a student has an excused absence the day of a test, it is the responsibility of the student to make up the quiz or test within two days (use 7th Hour to make-up missed tests). If the absence is unexcused, the quiz or test must be made up by the following class period for reduced credit.

4. Final Exam (20% of Final Grade):

A comprehensive final exam will occur at the semester’s end. We’ll have a study guide and review time.

Semester 2:

1. Homework Assignments /Independent Practice (~15% of Grade) – Previews material to be discussed in class, expands learning, demonstrates understanding. This is to be done independently and will be assessed on a completion basis.

- All assignments must be in pen, pencil, or typed on a FULL sheet of paper using complete sentences.
- A student’s grade will be lowered by 10% if work is turned in LATE ON THE DAY IT IS DUE, and then by 50%. It is always better to turn in a completed late paper for partial credit than not to turn it in at all. For a paper we discuss in class, a maximum of 50% credit is possible.
- Assignments will be posted in the classroom. It is the students’ responsibility to write down assignments in their planners.
- It is the responsibility of the student to obtain assignments when absent by checking with the teacher.

2. Quizzes and Assignments/Formative Assessments (20% of Grade)

3. Essays/Tests /Summative Assessments(~25% of Grade) – Assessments that demonstrate mastery of essential learnings as expected by D’Evelyn’s Curriculum Directives.

· Tests will be given at the end of every major unit and will be worth approximately 100 points. I will announce in advance when to expect tests so that you can plan accordingly.

4. Final Exam (20% of Final Grade):

A comprehensive final exam will occur at the semester’s end. We’ll have a study guide and review time.

5. Second Semester ONLY: Term Paper Assignments (20% of Final Grade):

The term paper and all the associated steps per semester will make up this portion of the grade. Each will be accessed on the common research writing rubrics developed by the Social Studies Department and/or classroom based rubrics, depending on the step being assessed.
All term paper assignments are assigned on a long term basis and are due on their due date even if a student is absent, to avoid a late penalty.

Grading Scale, Extra Credit, and Accessing Parent Portal:

Grades are earned, not given. Points are earned as outlined above and I do not give individual extra credit. If an opportunity for extra credit is given it will be to the entire class. Grades are cumulative on a semester basis. Letter grades are given according to the following grading scale:

Grades can be viewed via the Parent Portal. Instructions for accessing my grade book via Parent Portal can be found on the D’Evelyn web page. Please note that it is the responsibility of the student to obtain assignments when absent by checking with the teacher and submitting them within the district policy regarding absentee work, for more details see below.

Make-up Work:

Excused Absences:

Absent students have two class days for every day absent to make up all work missed for full credit. Please be sure to label the work as late for excused absence when submitting the makeup assignment. An excused absence (such as an illness) only covers material missed while out. Work assigned when the student returns is due the same day as it is due for the other students. Students are encouraged to use a pre-arranged absence form whenever possible, AND DO the work while absent. A student must be ready to take a test upon return unless s/he has missed material for it. The teacher reserves the right to give an absent student a different test than the one their classmates took. It is up to students to find out what they have missed: this is NOT the teacher’s responsibility. I encourage students (if they are able of course) to email me the day of an unexpected absence to stay current on our classroom work. All term paper assignments are considered long term assignments; therefore, they must be submitted the day they are due regardless of absence. Digital submission is acceptable in the event of an unforeseen absence. Failure to submit a term paper rough draft or final draft on the assigned date will result in late credit.

Unexcused Absences:

No more than half credit will be granted on all completed work that is submitted within 24 hours upon return. Additionally, no more than half credit will be given for any assessments missed during the unexcused absence. (E.g. an assignment which normally would receive a score of 80% would have its score cut in half to 40%).

Suspensions (out-of-school and in-house):

Students with their first suspension are limited to 24 hours to turn in their make-up work from the time that they return to receive full credit. Students with their second and subsequent suspension(s) follow the unexcused absence policy above.

Late Work Policy is described above in the grading policy. Late work is given a 10% reduction for same day submission and a 50% reduction thereafter. All term paper assignments are due on the assigned due date with no exception for illness or absence.

Class Expectations: You are expected to follow the D'Evelyn behavioral and academic codes at all times.

1. Be Punctual. Arrive to class on time, both online and in person. Be in your seat (or at your computer) and ready to learn! There will usually be a warm up exercise to do at the beginning of class. Remember, the teacher NOT THE BELL will dismiss class.

2. Be Prepared. Come to class with the required materials and homework/notes from the previous class. Be sure to have your planner with you for both an assignment organizer and your hall pass.

3. Be a Self-Starter. Be prepared to learn when you come to class. You should have your homework completed and have questions prepared for discussion.

4. Be Respectful. Treat everyone with respect and consideration. Help to create a classroom environment that enables all students to learn. ELECTRONICS MUST BE SWITCHED TO OFF OR SILENT AND STORED AT ALL TIMES IN THE CLASSROOM.

5. Be Involved. Actively participate in class and spend approximately three to five hours each week outside of class doing homework and/or studying.

Required Materials:

1. 3-Ring Binder or folders with tabs for organization.

2. Pens (Blue/Black and Red)

3. Your Assigned Textbook

4. Notebook

Cheating and Plagiarism:

Cheating and plagiarism are very serious violations of the academic program at D’Evelyn Jr./Sr. High School. D’Evelyn holds high academic expectations for all students and academic integrity is an extremely important aspect of those expectations. Any student caught cheating on a quiz, test, homework, or any classroom assignment; or found guilty of plagiarism (to pass off the ideas or works of another as one’s own without crediting the source, this includes the work of artificial intelligence); or caught giving work to others will receive a grade of “zero” on that assignment or paper. The use of AI to generate work as a replacement for work students are supposed to authentically create will be considered plagiarism. Consequences for cheating/plagiarism will range from a detention to suspension in addition to a zero on the assignment.

Extra Help/Tutoring:

In history, the best thing you can do for yourself is to pay attention in class, ask questions then for clarification, do your homework, do the readings, use the topic sheet, look for big-picture concepts and connections, and study REGULARLY, not just the night before a test! However, when you do need additional help, options are available:

1 – Request a tutor. See me or your counselor if you’re interested in this option.

2 – Come see me during Seventh Hour, during virtual office hours, or before/after school.

Schedule of Topics:

This schedule may be adjusted during the semester and will be communicated to students as necessary. Unit reading lists and exam dates will be given at the beginning of each unit.

Semester 1:

Unit 1: Introduction, Ancient Foundations

Unit 2: Classical Legacies

Unit 3: The Early, High, and Late Middle Ages

Unit 4: Renaissance and Reformation

Comprehensive Final

Semester 2:

Unit 5: Absolutism and Constitutionalism

Unit 6: Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment

Unit 7: French and Industrial Revolutions

Unit 8: Nationalism, Imperialism, and WWI

Unit 9: Time Permitting: Overview of The Interwar Period and WWII

Comprehensive Final

Term Paper Tasks

COURSE EXPECTATIONS

Tardies

Students are expected to be in the classroom and ready to learn before the bell rings. Ready to learn looks like picking up their handouts (if needed for the day), being seated, and getting notebooks and homework out and ready to go for the class period. Students will be marked tardy if they are not in the classroom and seated by the time the bell is done ringing.

Unit Plans

At the beginning of each unit, students will download and print the Unit Plan file. The Unit Plan will include unit questions, key learning objectives, key terms, and a calendar of topics, reading, and assignments. Additionally, each unit plan will feature potential free response questions for the unit exam. Students should utilize the Unit Plan throughout the course of the study to support their understanding of essential materials. Further, students should bring their Unit Plan to class in their notebook daily. Students are encouraged to work ahead according to the outline provided by the Unit Plan.

Website/Google Classroom

Students are encouraged to utilize the class website/Google classroom for important course materials and the course calendar.

Reading & Writing

Most independent student work will be assigned as reading and writing. Students are encouraged to review the textbook reading sections aligned with daily lessons. Frequently, class time will be dedicated to reading short sections of the textbook and additional sources to facilitate learning. Students are expected to gather and process information, both factual and analytical, from assigned readings. Reading that is assigned as homework must be completed away from class. Students should plan to have a short open-note, reading quiz with homework reading assignments. Students will also be asked to write frequently, both in paragraph and full essay form. All written work must be typed.

Feel free to contact me with any questions.