AP WORLD HISTORY
Study for the AP World History Exam
Assignments:
HELPFUL WEBSITES: Historyteacher.net
ACE
Practice Tests for The Earth and its Peoples, Brief
Edition
http://historymatters.gmu.edu/syllabi/Reeves-Ellington/Hist264thirdpaper.htm
Medieval
Sourcebook: Introduction
COURSE DESCRIPTION
AP World History is a two semester college
level course designed to prepare students for the Advanced Placement exam
administered by the College Board in May of each year. The class will meet every other day all year
long. Final test scores are
reported on a 5 point basis; students who score a 3 or better may earn college
credit, advanced placement, or both, depending on their college. The 2007 AP Test will be in May, 2007.
REQUIREMENTS
This is a college level course and will be
treated as such in every respect. Students should be aware that college level
courses require inordinately more reading and writing than their regular high
school classes. It is impossible to cover all the material for the AP test in
regular class time. Consequently, it is
imperative that you read all the assigned material. Please understand that you
will be tested on reading material not covered in class. The outside readings are primarily intended
to facilitate class inquiries into the material at hand. Hence, class discussions will not be adequate
substitutes for not having read the assignments. Discussions are meant to analyze and connect
the readings with class themes, not repeat the material. To get the most out of this class, you must
be prepared. The class will be devoted
to an environment of intellectual freedom and analyzing the material. If you come to class unprepared, it will
become obvious to all, especially the teacher.
It will not be unusual to turn in a typed
written assignment at least once every week. This is the way you can demonstrate that you
are thinking
critically about the historical evidence and
become prepared for the essays on the AP exam. LATE PAPERS WILL BE PENALIZED 10 POINTS PER
DAY.
These papers will constitute the largest part
of your total grade. Since most
assignments must be typed, access to a computer is strongly recommended. In addition to writing assignments, there
will be unit tests covering each of the five time periods listed below.
Tentative schedule:
Foundations exam - 8000. B.C. E. – 600 B.C.E. September
600 – 1450
October
1450-1750 November
1750-1914
February
1914-present
April
Several weeks before the AP exam in May, we
will review key concepts, cover test taking strategies, and take at least one
complete practice AP World History Exam.
TEXTBOOKS AND RESOURCES
The primary text for this class: Bulliett, Crossley, Headrick, et al. The Earth and Its Peoples: A Global
History. Second Edition. Houghton
Mifflin Company, 2001.
Other required reading: Adam Hochschild, King Leopold’s Ghost.
In addition to the required books, students
will be required to read at least one of the following books and design
a power point presentation for the class.
All of these books deal with relevant themes for this class.
Alegria, Ciro.
Broad and Alien is the World
Dunn, Ross E.; The Adventures of Ibn Battuta : A Muslim Traveller of the 14th Century
Lavathes, Louise, When
James McCelellan
and Harold Dorn Science and Technology in World History
McNeill, William. Plagues and Peoples (Highly recommended)
Domeranz and Topik,
The World that Trade Created (Highly
recommended)
Alfred Crosby, The Columbian Exchange
Diamond, Jared, Guns, Germs and Steel
Lewis, Bernard, What Went Wrong? The
Clash Between Islam and Modernity in the
Sobel, Dava Longitude:
The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of
His Time
Kurlansky, Mark Salt: A World History
Spence, Jonathan To Change
Kelly, Jack Gunpowder: Alchemy, Bombards, and
Pyrotechnics
McFarlane, Alice and Iris The Empire of Tea: The Remarkable History
of the Plant that Took Over the World
Cowley, Robert What If? The World’s Foremost Military
Historians Imagine What Might Have Been
Courtenay, Bryce The Power of One
Paton, Alan Cry, the Beloved Country
Ellis, Joseph J. Founding Brothers
Cahill, Thomas How the Irish Saved Civilization
Markandaya,
Kamala Nectar in a Sieve
Achebe, Chinua Things Fall Apart
Other required reading:
Textbook
Documents and
primary sources available in class or found online
Niccolo
Machiavelli, The Prince
GRADING
Grading will be calculated, using the point system. Different kinds of assignments will be
weighted differently. TBA
EXAMS
The chapter exams in this class will follow a
format of multiple choice questions on the AP exam you will take in May. The AP exam frequently expects students to
process information on many different topics and synthesize it into a critical
essay. The same will be done in this class. Some tests will be cumulative.
NOTEBOOK
Every student is required to keep a notebook.
In fact, you may end up with several notebooks, due to the amount of material
you will amass. The notebook will contain class notes, papers and handouts, and
all documents used in class.
Documents should be organized in standard
categories. More detailed information
will be given in class.
CLASS PARTICIPATION
This grade will be determined by your part in class
discussions, your awareness of the topics through outside readings, and your
preparation for the class. Since this will be a small class, you will
always be expected to be prepared.
HONOR CODE
It should be understood that all
academic work is to be completed by students without collusion with
others. Cheating will be dealt with
immediately and without equivocation.
This includes plagiarism, copying another student's work, and the giving and receiving of information on
the content of class examinations.
All students will sign an Honor Code and any student cheating will
receive a failing grade in addition to any disciplinary action stipulated by
school policy. If you are caught cheating there is nothing to discuss. You will
receive a zero for that assignment.
SIX THEMES OF AP WORLD
HISTORY
HABITS OF MIND FOR SUCCEEDING IN AP WORLD HISTORY