World History 2 Syllabus

Spearfish High School

Mr. Howard, Instructor

showard@spearfish.k12.sd.us

(605) 717-1212

OVERVIEW

This course is a study of world history from the Renaissance to the present. The theme for the course is “revolutions,” and we will examine how the major revolutions in world history have shaped the course of human affairs. A high level of critical thinking, personal responsibility, and academic focus are expected. A mastery of basic concepts is also expected. This is necessary in order to think critically about the periods and ideas we will study. Areas of study include the Renaissance; European Exploration,; Lakota/Dakota history and culture; the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment; the Industrial Revolution, Population Growth, Globalization and Information Revolution;  World War II, the Holocaust, and the Rwanda Genocide. 

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Requirements/Goals/Objectives:  World History State Content Standards and the OSEU standards

ASSESSMENT:

2025-2026 grading scale. Grades are not rounded up.

A  95-100 

A-  90-94 

B+  85-89 

B  80-84 

C+  75-79

C   70-74

D+  65-69 

D  60-64 

F  59 and below

Note: Grades are carried over to the following quarter. I.e., running total.

ASSESSMENT CATEGORIES

Grades are kept as a running total from one quarter to the next under "Semester Grade."

65%-Evaluation. Projects and presentations, multiple choice tests, essay tests, etc.

20%-Daily. Notes, reading, freewrites, assignments, homework, etc.

15%-Semester Test, multiple choice, matching, TF only, no essay

PROCEDURES

• Procedures and rules in the  SHS Handbook will be followed.

• No late work is accepted, except for excused absences. If you are gone for an activity, you must be prepared for the next class with your work completed and/or ready to take any tests or do any presentation assigned. 

• Any missing daily work, test, or project must be completed prior to the end of the four week term in which it was assigned/given, unless an assignment, test, or project due date falls right at the end of a 4 week term and the student was absent, in which case the student must complete the assignment/test/project/essay by the end of the following week. 

• Late projects that are a test grade will be be reduced by 10% per day (not class period). 

• Cell phones must be put on "night mode," placed in the phone holder prior to the bell ringing, and left there until students are excused by me at the end of class.  Laptops are to remain closed during class unless we are using them for a specific activity. , Apple watches, and/or other internet/phone/texting devices (besides school laptops), must be in your backpack.

• Students must place their cell phone on the checkout sheet on my desk before leaving the room to use the bathroom or for any other reason.

• Student have 3 bathroom passes per quarter. If additional passes are needed, they will count as tardies.

• Students must be in their assigned seat when the bell rings.

• All assignments are to be handwritten on paper unless otherwise assigned.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

Cheating will result in a zero for that assignment or test and a discipline referral to the administration. Consequences for cheating will follow those outlined in the student handbook.

Cheating will be recorded as such on Campus. 

Laptop and Internet Procedures

 -Computers will be closed and turned off unless students are directly instructed to have them open for academic purposes, such as research or project work.