Honors Syllabus

Honors World History
Course Information

Course Dates: August 11, 2026 - May 20, 2027 

Teacher: Mrs. Morgan Moody

Email: Morgan.Moody@argyleisd.com

ParentSquared 

Dear parents and students,

We look forward with great anticipation to our continued success in the AHS- Honors Program this year!  Honors  World History is a high school program equivalent to a pre-advanced course in World History.  The primary intent of the Honors World History course is to teach the history of the world from a truly global stance rather than from the dominant perspective of Western civilization. This approach therefore places emphasis on worldwide historical processes and connections among the whole gamut of human societies. Successful completion of the course’s classroom and research activities and tests is designed to prepare the student for advanced courses, APUS or college-level. This letter is to act as a general understanding between the student, parent, and campus staff regarding the policies of the class.  Students, keep this course description in your Honors binder.  Parents, please feel free to call if you have any questions about our class or the Honors World History program. 

Outline of Course:

Units of Study: Each unit will end with a cumulative exam based on class activities and notes.  We will supplement our notes with primary sources, historical readers, and research data. Each unit will have a study guide that the students will be required to complete and all answers are expected to be at an honor’s level                                                        
Unit 1- Ancient Civilizations

Unit 2- Classical Civilizations

Unit 3- Post-Classical Civilizations

Unit 4- Building of Empires

Unit 5- Age of Exploration

Unit 6- Revolutions

Unit 7- World in Conflict 

Unit 8- Cold War/Decolonization

Unit 9- Modern World

5 THEMES of Honors World History 

Honors World History highlights five overarching themes that receive approximately equal attention throughout the course. These themes are to help the students analyze and categorize historical information. 

• THEME 1: HUMANS AND THE ENVIRONMENT (ENV): The environment shapes human societies, and as populations grow and change, these populations in turn shape their environments.

• THEME 2: CULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS AND INTERACTIONS (CDI): The development of ideas, beliefs, and religions illustrates how groups in society view themselves, and the interactions of societies and their beliefs often have political, social, and cultural implications.

• THEME 3: GOVERNANCE (GOV): A variety of internal and external factors contribute to state formation, expansion, and decline. Governments maintain order through a variety of administrative institutions, policies, and procedures, and governments obtain, retain, and exercise power in different ways and for different purposes.

• THEME 4: ECONOMIC SYSTEMS (ECN): As societies develop, they affect and are affected by the ways that they produce, exchange, and consume goods and services.

• THEME 5: SOCIAL INTERACTIONS AND ORGANIZATION (SIO): The process by which societies group their members and the norms that govern the interactions between these groups and between individuals influence political, economic, and cultural institutions and organization.

• THEME 6: TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION (TEC): Human adaptation and innovation have resulted in increased efficiency, comfort, and security, and technological advances have shaped human development and interactions with both intended and unintended consequences.

In addition, the Honors World History course addresses four Historical Thinking Skills:

Crafting Historical Arguments from Historical Evidence

-Historical Argumentation

-Appropriate Use of Historical Evidence

Chronological Reasoning

-Historical Causation

-Patterns of Continuity and Change Over Time

-Periodization

Comparison & Contextualization

-Comparison

-Contextualization

Historical Interpretation & Synthesis

-Interpretation

-Synthesis

You will need to possess BOTH substantial factual knowledge AND a nuanced awareness of subtle trends spanning multiple historical eras. Students CANNOT 'memorize' the answer to most Honor-style questions because the answer is often a complex set of facts and trends scattered over your notes/activities, not just a simple, single fact or date. 'The answer' to a multiple choice question will be more about application, causes/effects, etc. not memorization of just the event,person,etc. . Memorizing will not help you much, if at all. Learning in Honors World History will require you to think critically and make connections across different societies and time so reading and participating fully in class discussions are required. 

The Honors World History course will be taught on a more advanced level than an on-level course. Honors demands extra work and additional time outside of the usual high school demands. You will be expected to do independent reading, research and completion of assignments. You, as the learner, make yourself ready and dedicated to do the learning.  You will confront the questions of history in each unit through a combination of activities:  lectures, large and small group discussions, supplementary readings, use of historical databases, electronic media, etc.  After you have analyzed the data presented, you will be asked to make inferences about World History both orally and in writing. The course tests will include multiple choice and/or short answer questions and/or essays.

AISD Policies and Procedures

Refer to the AISD Student Handbook for guidance. One quick note; Academic Dishonesty will not be tolerated. 

Academic Dishonesty: Cheating, collusion, and plagiarism (the act of using material of other persons, without following the accepted techniques of crediting, or the submission for credit of work not the individuals to whom credit is given). Some examples of academic dishonesty include:

• Copying another student’s work

• Googling the answer to quiz/test questions

• Inserting a quote without citing the source

 I define cheating as:

• Cutting and pasting information from the internet and claiming the work as your own. 

• Plagiarism – copying directly from books, periodicals, friends, the internet, etc.

• Copying assignments or allowing people to copy assignments. EVEN homework.

• Using “helpful” notes on closed note assignments or bringing in pre-written answers.

• Looking at a classmate’s paper during a quiz or test.

• AI (Artificial Intelligence) is not your own words, thinking, etc. 

• Basically, if you have a question about whether it’s cheating or not – it probably is. -- DO YOUR OWN WORK! 

First Offense:

● Minor Grade: Student will receive a 0 with no chance of improving the grade.

● Major Grade: Student will receive a 0; student can redo the grade to earn up to 70%.

● Student will LOSE exam exemption (if offered).

Second Offense:

● Minor Grade: Student will receive a 0 with no chance of improving the grade.

● Major Grade: Student will receive a 0 with no chance of improving the grade.

● School Discipline: Student will receive one day of ISS.

Third Offense:

● Minor Grade: Student will receive a 0 with no chance of improving the grade.

● Major Grade: Student will receive a 0 with no chance of improving the grade.

● School Discipline: Student will receive three days of ISS.

MRS. MOODY’S CLASSROOM:

Materials  (students must have these everyday):

1. Notebook

2. Pen (Blue or Black Ink)

3. Pencil

4. Grading Pen (any color other than Blue or Black)

5. Charged Chromebook  

6. Optional: Tabs for organization 

7. Coloring Supplies (at least map pencils)

8. Box of Tissues, Hand Sanitizer, Lysol Wipes  would be AMAZING but optional 

       
Classroom Rules:
        1.  Show respect for yourself, others, and the learning process.
        2.  Be in your seat before the bell rings. AHS has a no-tolerance policy on tardiness.
        3.  Be prepared everyday with all proper supplies.
        4.  Talk and use electronic devices only when permitted and appropriate. (Chromebooks, all others not allowed)
        5.  Be responsible for your learning and behavior -- bell to bell.
        6.  Follow all AHS rules—academic integrity, dress, gadgets, food, etc.

Grading: Grades will continue to be divided into 2 main categories for each term.

60% - Research projects, tests, and formal writing - at least 3 per 9 weeks 

40%  - Daily activities, class participation, notes, chapter quizzes including vocabulary - at least 10 per 9 weeks 

Missing/ Late work policy:

• It is the responsibility of the student to obtain make-up assignments from your teacher when absent. If you are absent for an assignment, that work must be completed the following school day. Failure to do so will result in a maximum grade of 70 up to 1 day per the Argyle Handbook.

• If you are absent on the day of a test or quiz, you MUST take the test or quiz ON THE DAY YOU RETURN If a student has an unexcused absence on the day of a major grade test or the day a major grade project is due, the assignment will earn a maximum grade of 70.

• Late work/Quizzes can be accepted 1 day late with a maximum grade of 70. Any work submitted more than a day late will be accepted on a case-by-case basis. 

• If you are sick or have an emergency that may cause you to miss a day of school or assigned daily work, it is your responsibility to contact me at Morgan.Moody@argyleisd.com or ParentSquared  and make other arrangements for late work. Communication is KEY for missing/late/absent work, I cannot help what I do not know or what is communicated too late. Help me help you. 

Testing Policy:

• Students will only be allowed to retest or complete corrections on 1 failed, major assessment per 9-week grading cycle. On such a reassessment, students will earn the average of the failed grade and the reassessment - not to exceed a 70.

• The teacher of the course may require students to attend tutorial sessions and/or complete any missing work from the unit of study prior to taking the retest or completing the corrections.

• Once the failed assessment is returned to the student, the student will have up to one week to complete all necessary remediation and complete the retest/test corrections. Again, please communicate. 

Quiz Policy:

• No retakes/corrections allowed 

Tutorials/Review Sessions:

Teachers can stay before school every morning. (For afternoons, Mrs. Moody has a two tiny persons so she will need notice in advance just incase of an emergency) 

Students may also use my room as a quiet study area during those times.  We will also be offering an AP practice test and study sessions starting late April. They are not mandatory, but recommended if you are taking the AP test.

Behavior: Disruptions of the educational process will not be tolerated (this includes your technology distracting you or someone else’s educational process). Severe disruptions will result in an office referral. Discipline issues will be handled fairly, but on an individual basis in the classroom. Consequences may include but are not limited to: loss of classroom privileges (i.e. technology removal, restroom privilege, etc.), change in seating arrangement, letters or phone calls home, detentions, and office referrals. See 

Hall/Restroom Pass: You are expected to use the restroom during the 5 minute passing period.  Students are given one pass a week during class to use the restroom or to take care of school business. The teacher has the right to revoke restroom privileges due to students behavior or lack of class progress. This is subject to change due to the introduction of the digital hall passes

Electronic Devices: 

• Phones should be on silent and in backpack AT ALL TIMES (it’s the law now)

• BYOC (Bring your own charger)

• Charge at your own risk! I am not liable for your technology. 

• Treat others' devices as you would have them treat yours (No touching, unplugging, dropping, etc.)

Expectations for Honors History Class Assignments:

1. Reading is a crucial part of this class.  Keep up with the due dates.

2. All work is to be turned in On Time.  Homework is to be done At Home, not in the classroom before class.  Integrity is everything.  Do your own work. Be responsible for your own learning.

3. You are expected to be in class each day.  There is a close correlation between attendance and success in school.  Students will be personally responsible for getting their make-up work upon their return from an absence.  YOU are responsible for getting all information given in class: lecture notes, exam dates, assignments, hand-outs, special topics, group and individual work, and special announcements.  According to school policy, one day is given for each day absent for make-up work. 

4. Bring all materials needed for class and Chromebook must be charged and ready to go in class every day.

5. History can be fun; class will be enjoyable when students come prepared each day—share and ask questions! You will only get out of the class what you put into it!!!