Class Information

The course I will be teaching is World History.

World History is a course designed to give students a broad understanding of major global events, movements, and transformations from the 15th century to the present day. The course covers over five hundred years of political, social, economic, and cultural developments that shaped the modern world, beginning with the Age of Exploration and extending into the complexities of today’s global society.

Students will begin by learning to think like historians, developing skills in analysis, interpretation, and the use of primary and secondary sources. From there, the course explores the Age of Exploration and the Columbian Exchange, examining how European expansion reshaped trade networks, ecosystems, and societies across the globe. Students will study the rise of colonization and global empires, alongside the contrasting ideas of absolutism and the Enlightenment, which challenged traditional authority and inspired new systems of thought and governance.

The course then transitions into the era of revolutions, including the American, French, Latin American, and Industrial revolutions, emphasizing their causes, effects, and the spread of revolutionary ideas worldwide. Students will examine how industrialism fueled innovation, urbanization, and inequality, while also setting the stage for the rise of world powers through imperialism and nationalism in the 19th century.

Moving into the 20th century, the course addresses the interwar period, including the economic challenges of the Great Depression and the fragile peace after World War I. Students will analyze the causes and outcomes of World War II, followed by the sweeping political, cultural, and economic shifts of the postwar global society from 1940 to 1980. The course concludes with an exploration of the contemporary world (1980–present), highlighting globalization, technological change, and ongoing struggles for equity and stability in a rapidly changing world.

By the end of World History, students will have developed a thorough understanding of the forces, events, and individuals that shaped the interconnected world we live in today. They will gain not only knowledge of global history but also critical thinking skills that allow them to better interpret current issues through a historical lens.

Grading 

60% Major Assignments

Includes: Papers, Reports, Projects, Presentations.

Larger tasks or tests that show what a student has learned and how well they can apply it. These show the final levels of understanding of the Standard Course of Study.

40% Minor Assignments

Includes: Quiz, Mini Project, Classwork, Warm-ups, Exit Tickets

Smaller tasks or quizzes that help students build skills and check their progress towards mastery of the Standard Course of Study. Tasks that encourage students to think about how and why they are learning, making connections between content and real-life or personal growth. These foster ownership of the learning process.