Syllabus
Advanced Placement World History
Mr. Crosby
Course Overview This course uses the themes outlined in the AP World History Course Description, based on a global perspective and human interactions from 8000 BCE to the present. The students will be learning to think critically and construct arguments using documents and primary sources. The students will compare across cultures and change over time and will be able to discuss differences of points of view. This course entails a large amount of reading and writing, which makes it equivalent to a full-year college course. This course will change the way we study world history by leaving the Eurocentric perspective and adopting a more balanced view of man’s developments and interactions. This class will emphasize relevant factual knowledge used in conjunction with leading interpretive issues, types of historical evidence, and appropriate analytical skills.
AP World History Exam Structure – Test Date: May 14, 2020
Section I ● 55 multiple choice questions (40% of score) – 55 minutes ● 3 short answer questions (20% of score) – 40 minutes
Section 2 ● 1 document based question (DBQ) (25% of score) – 60 minutes, including reading time ● 1 long essay question (15% of score) – 40 minutes
Textbook AP World History:
An Essential Coursebook , 4th Edition by Ethel Wood
Ways of the World, 2nd Edition
2013 by Robert Strayer
We will cover all chapters of the text in order to prepare for the AP World History exam in May.
Grades
Daily Work/Homework/Participation 20%
Reading Quizzes 20%
Unit Exams 20%
Essay/Short Answer Assignments (full, individually written) 20%
Semester Final 20%
Assignments
For each chapter students may be assigned questions, important terms, writing assignments, and other relevant assignments. When we are analyzing documents together, you must mark and make notes on your documents. Class notes and your marking/note taking on the documents may be taken up for a grade.
Reading Quizzes
A quiz will be given on the day a reading assignment is due. Students may outline or take notes over the chapter and use their notes on the quiz. They may turn in their reading notes for one extra credit point on the quiz. The notes must be in their own handwriting. Reading is essential to success in the class as well as on the AP exam. Reading should be done at home. Time in class will generally not be given.
Unit Exams
At the conclusion of each of the Six Time Periods a Unit Test will be given, usually encompassing several chapters. The exams will consist of multiple choice AP-level questions and will be timed.
Essays/Short Answer Questions
We will practice writing components of each essay type in class as part of the daily work assignments. There will be an essay and/or a short answer writing assessment at the end of each unit beginning with Period 2. These will be timed. Writing grades may also be given for essays and short answer questions assigned to be written during and/or outside of class. If any portion of your writing is plagiarized, you will receive a zero.
Homework
Expect 6-8 hours a week of homework for this course. This includes reading for content and studying. Unfortunately, it is a necessity for us to cover the information and learn our skills
Make-up Assignments, Tests, and Quizzes
Make-up work is the student’s responsibility. Any handouts given in class will be found in the bookshelf labeled for AP world history.
You have one day for each day you are absent to turn in your make-up work. If you are absent the day an assignment is due, you must turn in the assignment the day you return to class. Place make-up assignments in the basket on the teacher’s desk.
If you are absent, it is your responsibility to get any notes or information missed before the test over that information. It is part of your make up work.
Make arrangements with the teacher to schedule make-up tests or quizzes.
If prior notification of a test, quiz, or assignment due date was given in class, an absence in the days before a test, quiz, or due date does not excuse you from taking the test/quiz or turning in the assignment as scheduled.
Cell Phone Policy Cell phone use is not permitted during any form of instructional time.
Suggestions to Parents and Students
1. Read!!!! And then revisit the material!!!!
2. Don’t worry about your grade unless you are failing. Colleges know the difference between an on-level and AP Course.
3. Create and join study groups – they are invaluable. They keep you caught up, make you successful, can help you get more out of your readings and notes, and you learn best when teaching others.
4. Be prepared every day - have your book, binder, pen, homework, highlighter, Chromebook, etc.
Supplies
3-ring binder with pockets
Highlighter
Blue or black ink pens
No. 2 pencils
Loose leaf notebook paper