World History AP Prep

Dear Students, Parents and Guardians,

             Welcome to World History Advanced Placement Prep! 

            Advanced Placement courses are rigorous, college-level courses taken in high school.  Students have the opportunity to challenge themselves academically and broaden their intellectual horizons, while possibly earning college credit.  AP World History is considered to be the equivalent of a two-semester survey college history course. The content is determined by a committee of historians, college professors and secondary teachers working in collaboration. The exam, given in May of the student’s sophomore year, is a measurement of skills and knowledge gained through completion of the course.  At William Floyd, the course is spread over two years to align with the New York State Social Studies curriculum, and to allow time for ninth graders to develop the skills necessary to succeed. 

             According to the College Board’s course description for AP World History, the purpose of the course is to “develop greater understanding of the evolution of global processes and contacts in different types of human societies. This understanding is advanced through a combination of selective factual knowledge and appropriate analytical skills. The course highlights the nature of changes in global frameworks and their causes and consequences, as well as comparisons among major societies. It emphasizes relevant factual knowledge, leading interpretive issues, and skills in analyzing types of historical evidence.”   The course allows students to act as historians by guiding them through the steps a historian would take in analyzing events and evidence. It also helps develop “habits of mind” such as constructing and evaluating arguments, analyzing point of view, assessing issues of change over time, understanding diverse ideas and values in historical context. At the conclusion of the course, students will have vast historical knowledge as well as critical thinking and analytical skills. 

                World History AP Prep 9 at WFHS is developed and enhance students’ skills and knowledge to perform to the best of their ability on the AP exam. A variety of instructional methods, evaluative tools, and student work is used to achieve that goal. Due to the large amount of content to be covered and limited class time, it is necessary, as in college, for students to complete work and content reading outside the classroom. The amount of work given is in line with other AP World History teachers nationwide.  

              Time management is a key AP skill.  Through the use of appropriate planning, there should be no need for students to pull “all-nighters” when assignments are due. Every assignment is given with enough advance notice to prevent this.  It is important that students read textbook sections as assigned to prevent rushed work when the chapter is due and to ensure that students are prepared for class discussion and activities.

             I look forward to meeting and working with you this year. If you have questions or would like to introduce yourself, send an email to: ehansen@wfsd.k12.ny.us