Academy of Scientific Exploration
World History
Mrs. Mascolo
Fall 2014 Course Syllabus
EMAIL: rachel.acosta@lausd.net
Office Hours: M-T 3:00-4:15 pm or by appointment
Course Description:
This is a general education full term course designed to meet the needs of a diverse student body.
This class will examine world history through many lenses: political, economic, social, cultural, personal. The textbook will provide the basic survey of the history as well as other sources that will give greater depth and texture to subjects we will be discussing. There will be additional readings of primary sources, the original documents used by historians. Students will trace the developments of human civilizations and cultures; examine the ideas and institutions that form the foundation of today’s globally interdependent world.
Major Themes of the Course:
· Legacy of the Ancient World
· Revolution and Enlightenment
· The French Revolution
· Industrialization and Nationalism
· Mass Society and Democracy
· The Height of Imperialism
· East Asia Under Challenge
· World War I
· Nationalism Around the World
· World War II
· Cold War
· Contemporary Western World
· Latin America
· Africa and Middle East
· Asia and the Pacific
Rules and Expectations:
1. Be in the classroom prior to the tardy bell and working on your warm-up.
2. Come to class prepared and ready to learn.
3. Do not talk while the teacher or another student is speaking.
4. No food or drinks are permitted in class, with the exception of water.
5. Anything on my desk or the table directly behind my desk is OFF LIMITS!
6. Do not pack up your things before the bell rings, unless advised to do so.
7. I expect you to act appropriately and maturely. If I give you a direction, I expect you to follow it without argument. Any questions or problems can be discussed privately before or after class.
8. If any student chooses to interfere with my teaching or another student’s learning, I reserve the right to ask that student to leave my classroom (followed by an appropriate consequence).
Course Textbook:
This textbook will serve as a pacing guide and initial interpretation of historical events throughout the course.
Cunha, Stephen F., Doughlas Fisher, Nancy Frey, Emily M. Schell, Robin C. Scarcella, David Vigilante, and Ruben Zepeda, II. Glencoe World History: Modern times. New York: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 2006. Print.
Required Materials:
Students are expected to bring an interactive notebook to class every day to be used exclusively for this course. These notebooks will be composed of student warm-up responses, lecture notes, and writing assignments. These will be collected throughout the semester for grading. Students are also required to bring colored pencils, a miniature stapler, a glue stick, and a writing instrument to class daily.
Grading Policy:
Grades are on a point system and will be based on quizzes, tests, homework, research papers, projects, and presentations. The student’s grade will be calculated at the end of each reporting period using the following grading scale:
A 90-100% Classwork/Homework 30%
B 80-89.99% Projects/Research Papers 30%
C 70-79.99% Tests/Quizzes 30%
F 69.99% or below Participation 10%
Participation Points:
Each student is required to participate in class on a regular basis. Each student will start the semester with a total of 100 participation points. Students can lose points based on their lack of participation during class discussions or failure to follow class rules.
Homework:
Students will be assigned homework throughout the week based on in class discussions and readings. This course moves fast, so it is pivotal that students keep up with reading assignments. Late work will be accepted for ½ credit no later than fourteen days after it was initially due, no exceptions. Any student with a legally excused absence will be required to turn in their work on the day of their return. It is the student’s responsibility to ask a classmate if they missed an assignment due to an absence.
Exam Makeup:
Students will have up to one week to make up a missed exam if their absence is excused. The student must set up a date with the instructor in advance. If the exam in not made up within a week of the students return, the student will receive a zero.
Academic Honesty:
Cheating or any form of plagiarism will not be tolerated. Being nice and allowing another student to copy your work will result in a zero for both students. Do not insult my intelligence by attempting to cheat, because it will result in strict disciplinary action following Los Angeles Unified School District guidelines.
Movies: Below are films that are shown in order to deepen students understanding of World History.
· Das Boot: WWII – Submarine Warfare
· Gallipoli: Trench Warfare
· Stalin: Totalitarianism
· Hitler: Rise of Evil
· Schindlers List: Holocaust
· K-19: Cold War
· Enemy at the Gates: WWII - Battle of Stalingrad
· Band of Brothers (Parts): WWI
· Gandhi: Indian Independence (Passive Resistance)
· Somalia: Current Amer. Problem
· Blackhawk Down: Modern Warfare
· Saving Private Ryan: (1st 30 minute) Warfare
· Animal Farm: Russian Revolution
· 13 Days: Cuban Missile Crisis
· U571: WWII
· Amistad: Slavery
· The Beast: Afghanistan
· We Were Soldiers: Vietnam
· Alexander: Early World History