Modern World History

Welcome to Modern World History

Course Syllabus - click here

Welcome to Modern World History.  The general focus of the course will be based around developing an answer for the essential question: “What does the term ‘modern’ mean in the phrase ‘modern world’?”

Important Test Information - 

The test will have two section and be worth 40 points (point of reference - quizzes and home works are usually 10 points each)  This is a link to the review sheet for the unit.

Section # 1 - Connecting unit terms to larger ideas of the unit - you will be given five key terms from the unit and you will have to write a paragraph that uses all the terms correctly and in a way that connects them to a larger idea in the unit - this idea will be stated in the question with the list of terms.  The unit terms are on the first page for each unit and listed below.   There will be two lists of five terms and you will have to write an answer for one of the lists (your choice). 

This is an example of a quesiton and anwer - click here

Key Terms for Unit 

Section # 2 - Essay - You will have to answer this essay question: The French Revolution was a conflict between the absolute monarchy of France and the ideas of the Enlightenment.  What was the reason for this conflict and what sources of powers* did the absolute monarchy have in this conflict and what sources of power did the Enlightenment supporters develop to challenge the absolute monarchs? 

Your answer will need the following:

• Start with a thesis that answers the prompt by stating the idea that explains the answer.  

• Body paragraphs inwhich each paragraph is based around an main idea in the answer.

• Presents factual evidence and reasoning that explains how the evidence supports the idea in the topic sentence (thesis).    

* The six sources of power are: physical force, wealth, state action, social norms, ideas and numbers. 

Course Calendar

Section 1 - DE Block

9/18 - Test

9/22 - Answer Questions to Homework # 1 Overview - Revolutionary France

9/23 - Quiz on Reading Start of French Revolution and Answer Homework # 2 Questions

9/25 - Quiz on Reading Battle for Direction and Answer Homework # 3 Questions

9/28 - Quiz on Reading Building the Republic

9/29 - Review for Test

10/1 - Test

Section 2 - A Block

9/21 - Test

9/22- Answer Questions to Homework # 1 Overview - Revolutionary France

9/24 - Quiz on Reading Start of French Revolution and Answer Homework # 2 Questions

9/25 - Quiz on Reading Battle for Direction and Answer Homework # 3 Questions

9/29 - Quiz on Reading Building the Republic

9/30 - Review for Test

10/2 - Test

Section 3 - D Block

9/21 - Test

9/23 - Answer Questions to Homework # 1 Overview - Revolutionary France

9/24 - Quiz on Reading Start of French Revolution and Answer Homework # 2 Questions

9/28 - Quiz on Reading Battle for Direction and Answer Homework # 3 Questions

9/29 - Quiz on Reading Building the Republic

10/1 - Review for Test

10/2 - Test

The class will be approaching the answer to this question over the course of the world through two additional questions:

• First Semester – How did the world become “modern”?

• Second Semester – Is the whole world currently “modern”?

The course will study history through the lens of four major questions:

• Should society be governed from the top-down or from the bottom-up?

• Why is it so hard to form a stable democracy?

• How much power should the government have in the economy?

• Should countries be based on a national identity?

Specifically, the course will focus on the periods of history organized into the following units:

Course Description - This is the link for the course syllabus - click here

Welcome to Modern World History.  The general focus of the course will be based around developing an answer for the essential question: “What does the term ‘modern’ mean in the phrase ‘modern world’?”

 The class will be approaching the answer to this question over the course of the world through two additional questions:

• First Semester – How did the world become “modern”?

• Second Semester – Is the whole world currently “modern”?

 The course will study history through the lens of four major questions:

• Should society be governed from the top-down or from the bottom-up?

• Why is it so hard to form a stable democracy?

• How much power should the government have in the economy?

• Should countries be based on a national identity?

In addition to studying history, this course will also be focused on developing skills for organizing and communicating complex ideas and concepts.  The ability to organize materials and communicate ideas in a clear and effective manner is a crucial skill in today’s world.  At their roots, organizing and communicating are thinking skills.  The class will be doing the following types of projects to develop organization and communication skills:

• Writing essays on the topics of the major questions addressed by the course

• Creating visuals to show data, historical events and causal relationships

• Building a web page to show research on a topic in the current world

• Making a documentary video about a topic on the current world

12/12 - In-class work on answering the prompt How much credit should the British get for the establishment of democracy in India, the world’s most populous democracy? 

Point & Counter Point Reading on the Topic - click here

Form for Submitting Answer - click here