Instructor: Nathan Peña

Email: nathan.pena@fwisd.org

Primary Course Textbook: World History: Modern 2020 Edition. AMSCO

Welcome to the history of the world!

What is this course? Simply put, this course is the history of the world. But since it would be impossible to learn everything in human history, the AP World History course makes some important choices about what to cover, and how to cover it. We will split world history up into nine units. We will focus on major events, big trends, and patterns.

World history is tremendously important. As twenty-first century citizens, you will be required to interact with and know things about people from all over the world on a regular basis. Because of cell phones and the Internet, people all around the world are constantly interacting with each other and barriers are disappearing with every passing year. You are going to be responsible for a much more complicated world than your grandparents were, but this world’s future is shaped by its past.

What is Advanced Placement?

Advanced Placement is an opportunity to take college-level courses in high school. As tenth graders, your prior school experience has only somewhat prepared you for the difficulty and fast pace of a college-level course. I am NOT going to “dumb it down” nor will I tolerate people not making their best effort. That said, I understand that you are new to AP courses. This year is your chance to rise to a very high, very exciting bar and we need to start where you are at. By the end of the year many of you will look back and hardly recognize your academic selves, and we are going to make that journey together. The motto of my class is “work smarter and harder,” and believes me when I say we are going to do just that. Be prepared for the first several weeks to feel very painful, as you are pushed to do a great deal of work for a far-off goal. The situation will get better, because you will get better.

The AP Exam

In May, you will take the AP exam for AP World History. You will get back a score from 1 to 5. Score a 3 or higher on the AP exam and you get college credit most places, often worth thousands of dollars. Later this week, we will cover the exam in more detail. My expectations are very high for you; rise to meet the challenge!

I will provide a Princeton Review study guide for you in addition to your textbook. This book highlights the format of the AP Exam, and gives practice multiple choice questions and essays.

What do I need to bring to class?

This question has three answers.

First, all students must DO THE READING. This textbook is meant for college students; it is not like your other textbooks. You will probably say some very unkind things about this textbook at some point during this year. Outside resources and other strategies we will go over in class will help you to get more out of the reading, but the foundation of any AP class is a big book packed with details. We will learn more about what to focus on as we go: the key that we will emphasize is fitting what you read into a structure that you can work with. Sometimes, I will assign other readings and I expect that you treat them with the same respect that you do the textbook chapters. Fortunately, at YWLA we have the luxury of having a class set and a home set of books. This means that you have no excuse for not reading all assigned readings. Reading assignments will also be directly linked to class participation through graded Socratic seminars. This means that you will be held accountable for your readings in front of your peers and instructor.

Second, all students must BRING SUPPLIES TO CLASS. For AP World History this means a three-ring binder just for our class; a pencil; and notebook paper (college ruled).

Third, all students must come with a GREAT ATTITUDE. Successful college students are always thinking about what is going on in class, trying to fit it into what they already understand and explore new questions. Great college students help each other to stay focused, and redirect attention to the topic. I know what this looks like, and very soon I will expect you to show me that you are living these ideals.

Academic Policies

In this section, we will be discussing various policies and how your grade will be calculated.

Grading categories

30% Unit and chapter tests, essays, major projects

30% Worksheets, reviews, and quizzes

30% Participation

10% Homework

Absences

Every day that you are gone because of an excused absence, you will have one extra class day to make up the assignment with no penalty. There are two really important EXCEPTIONS to this rule. First, in almost every case if you are absent the day before a test or quiz and you come back the day of the test, expect to take that test. Second, for most group projects I will not extend the deadline just because a group member is absent for a day; find a way to make the presentation work. Lastly, if you are absent then it is YOUR responsibility to talk to me about what assignments you have missed while you were gone. We are in high school now and you are expected to keep up with missed assignments on your own.

In Person Late Work

Late work is an enemy to us both and should be avoided at all costs, however, I do understand that sometimes events occur that are beyond your control. Students enrolled in all high school courses will receive a demerit for incomplete or lost homework. Assignments submitted one day late will receive a maximum grade of 70%. Assignments submitted two or more class periods late, will be scored a 0%. Please note that an assignment is counted as late directly after it has been asked for. If it is not in the classroom at the moment it is asked for then it is late.

Test Corrections

Multiple-choice quizzes, as well as the multiple-choice portions of tests, are subject to test corrections. The proper format for test corrections is a topic for another document. Test grades are curved to guarantee that every student can pass, if willing to spend time correcting every wrong response. Test corrections are time-consuming and can be challenging. Test corrections are time-consuming and can be challenging. Test corrections are time-consuming and can be challenging. Sometimes, repetition makes a point. The implication should be clear: effective studying BEFORE the test saves you vast amounts of time and heartache afterward. Greater detail on test corrections will be given before our first exam.

Extra Credit

Most of the opportunities for extra credit will come in two forms. One is by going above and beyond on an assignment. This means that you not only did a fantastic job, but you also added an extra unrequired element to an assignment that I find worthy of reward. The second is by completing extra credit opportunities posted on my website. If an extra credit assignment is not currently posted then you are free to approach me with a pitch for a potential extra credit assignment. Keep in mind that that if I currently do not have an extra credit assignment available then my acceptance of your proposal will be based upon your attitude, class participation, and possible extenuating circumstances.

Academic Integrity

Cheating in any manner will not be tolerated and will result in a zero for the assignment, no matter the weight of the grade. YWLA Administration will be notified of all cheating incidents and can impose severe penalties for repeat offenders. Copying others’ reading summaries is considered cheating. Any use of electronic devices during quizzes and tests will be considered cheating. Cutting and pasting someone else’s work from a website is called plagiarism, and is possibly the most serious offence you can commit in my class. We will be discussing this at length later in the class.

Technology in the classroom

One of the ways my class is different is the amount of technology that I use. You are going to find that I want you to use technology, too: but there will be limits on how that works to make sure that we use it for learning. You will see me using my smartphone a lot in class, and there will be times when your own devices will be appropriate to help you learn. Being responsible about how you use your technology will ensure that we can continue to use it in class.

My availability to help you

I am VERY available to help you out, if you are willing to spend the time asking for it. I do tutoring before and after school Tuesday-Thursday by appointment. It is important for you to make sure to be at tutoring when you say that you will be. I can give you advice on reading, summarizing, assignments, projects, and studying habits that I think you will really benefit from.