2015-2016

Required books

The text we will use is Traditions and Encounters 4th edition by Jerry Bentley et al, published by McGraw-Hill (©2003), ISBN number 978-0-07-333067-9 (sometimes listed as 9780073406930). Do not get just half of the book; the first chapter should be entitled “Before History” and the last “A World Without Borders.”   It is okay to get a 2nd or 3rd Edition.  These books, because of being older, will be less expensive.  The content is changes very little but page #’s of assignments will be off a bit.

I strongly recommend you purchase the book if at all possible:  writing margin notes, underlining, and/or highlighting are important reading tools for comprehension in a college-level text. Students who do not purchase the book this summer may check out a book the first week of school.   A limited number will be available. 

Description:

The AP World History course offers motivated students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the processes that, over time, have resulted in increasing interactions. AP World History offers an approach that lets students “do history” by guiding them through the steps a historian would take in analyzing historical events and evidence worldwide. The course offers balanced global coverage, with Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania all represented. European history will not exceed 30% of the total materials covered.

The AP World History course requires students to engage with the dynamics of continuity and change across the historical periods that are included in the course.  Students should be taught to analyze the processes and causes involved in thesecontinuities and changes.

The course incorporates 6 historical periods: 

I.             Technological and Environmental Transformations                   c. 8000 B.C.E.–600 B.C.E.               1.5 Weeks (5%)  

II.            Organization and Reorganization of Human Societies               c. 600 B.C.E. to c. 600                       4.5 Weeks (15%)

III.          Regional and Transregional Interactions                                        c. 600 C.E.–1450                                6 Weeks (20%)   

IV.          Global Interactions                                                                             c. 1450–1750                                       6 Weeks (20%)

V.             Industrialization and Global Integration                                       c. 1750–1900                                       6 Weeks (20%)   

VI.          Accelerating Global Change and Realignments                            c. 1900–the present                            6 Weeks (20%)

It may seem overwhelming at first to think of trying to learn 10,000 years in one class.  However, the majority of the class time is spent not on memorizing details, but on understanding patterns within regions and/or across time periods.

In order to learn these patterns, the class will focus on FIVE overarching themes which serve throughout the course as unifying threads, helping students to put what is particular about each period or society into a larger framework. The themes also provide ways to make comparisons over time and facilitate cross-period questions.

The course will look at 5 major themes of study:

Theme 1: Interaction Between Humans and the Environment

Theme 2: Development and Interaction of Cultures

Theme 3: State-Building, Expansion, and Conflict

Theme 4: Creation, Expansion, and Interaction of Economic Systems

Theme 5: Development and Transformation of Social Structures

Class work:

Class activities will include homework, quizzes, tests, projects, essays, and discussion. Some work will be individual assignments and some will be in groups. Readings will be assigned and you will be expected to complete the reading and homework so that class discussion and essays can be accomplished. If you don’t read, you won’t learn.  Your job is to do your assigned reading & homework before each class day.  I will be pointing out some highlights, but will not have time in class to go over all that you need to read/learn.  I will work very hard to help you draw connections in your mind so that the material makes more sense. This makes class much more interesting and beneficial to you.  Tests can and will include information from chapter reading, lectures, and assignments.

For each of the major time periods in history, you will be given a colored folder that will be used for the work of that unit.  You should use these folders to organize your notes, handouts, returned assignments, etc.  Since each unit will have a Final and the exam at the end of the year is cumulative, these folders will be critical for success.

Grading:

Tests will be worth 40% of the grade; essays 35%; homework 25%. Other than the summer movie option, I rarely give extra credit work. Students will be given plenty of assignments throughout the quarter to work on improving a grade.  On each chapter/topic test that students take, the student scoring the highest will receive (at least) 95% and the lowest test score given for students who clearly make an effort on a test will be 55%.  Please note—if a student receives the minimum score on exams but does not make up those exams, the min. score may not exist for future tests.

The grading scale is

100-93                   A                                             76-73                     C

92-90                     A-                                            72-70                     C-

                                89-87                     B+                                           69-67                     D+

                                86-83                     B                                             66-63                     D

                                82-80                     B-                                            62-60                     D-           

                                79-77                     C+                                           59-0                        F

End of the Year Exam—students will be expected to take the AP Exam in May 2015.  For all students who take this exam, it will count as the Final—scored at 100%.  If students don’t take the AP Exam, they will take a cumulative Final in class that will be scored based on percentage correct (not automatically granted 100% as above).  Students who score a 3 on the AP exam will be guaranteed at least a C for both semesters.  Students who earn a 4 or 5 will be guaranteed anA for both semesters.

Late Assignments:

Late assignments will NOT be accepted.  AP World, by its very title, is identified as a college level class.  Working at that level, you must turn all work in on-time. 

Attendance and Makeup Work/Tests:

Attendance is closely related to student success in this class. Therefore, being in class every day is important. When you miss class, you often miss discussion that cannot be “made up.” Only work missed due to an excused absence can be made up. Work missed because of an unexcused absence may not be made up. If you miss a test because of an excused absence, you will need to take the test on your time (before/after school, Academy or lunch). You may not make up the test if you have an unexcused absence on test day. All missed tests, quizzes, and essays must be made up within one week of the original date. 

Retakes of tests/Essay rewrites:

You may retake tests and rewrite essays within the following guidelines.  1) must be done within  1 week of having the test/paper returned  2) average of the two scores will be recorded.

Classroom Expectations:

           Be Responsible by:

*   being in your seat, prepared for class and quiet before the bell rings.

*   adhering to KSS rules regarding pop and food in the classroom.

*   taking care of all materials used in class.

           Be Respectful by:

*   being courteous to all people.

*   waiting for the teacher to dismiss the class.

*   this is basically an introductory college course & you are expected to behave at that level.

Academic Integrity:

All work produced in this class must be your own.  If you violate this policy, you will receive a 0 on the assignment in question.  Additionally, allowing anyone else to copy your work will result in a 0 on your test, project or assignment.  If you wish to receive credit for the assignment in question, you will need to complete an alternative assignment to be determined by the teacher.  In addition to the consequences discussed above, any instances of cheating may also result in parental notification and a referral to the office.

If you have any concerns or questions please call or email.

Jeff Kreifels

KLAHOWYA SECONDARY SCHOOL     

EMAIL—[email protected]

WEBPAGE--http://klss.cksd.wednet.edu/teachers/jeffk/jeffk.html

PHON    Phone  # 662-4055

AP World 2015-2016

Dear Parents/Guardians,

My hope is that we will all be working together so that your son/daughter has the greatest opportunities for success. 

Please sign and return this portion of the class syllabus as an indication that you have seen these expectations and have had a chance to talk about them with your son/daughter.  This syllabus and much of the work that students do for AP World will be on my webpage at http://klss.cksd.wednet.edu/teachers/jeffk/jeffk.html

Thank you.

Date                                        ______________________________________

Student Name (print)            ______________________________________

Signature                                ______________________________________

Parent/Guardian Name (print)______________________________________

Signature                                ______________________________________

Phone Number                      ______________________________________

Parent email                           ______________________________________

 (Note:  if you email me at [email protected], I will respond quickly.  Please put your son/daughter’s name in the subject line.  Thank you)