CP WORLD HISTORY

 

WORLD HISTORY SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: CAROL M. MURPHY   (ROOM 3)

BACKGROUND:   Master of Arts in History with 28 years teaching experience, 20 of which were in the Bremen City Schools    

 COURSES TAUGHT : US History, World History, AP World History, Comparative Religion, Honors Southern History, Current Affairs, History and Literature Through Film

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION: World History is a required course for all students who are seeking to complete a college prep diploma.  The course will cover the following main topics:

 

 

                Ancient civilizations (Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and China, Africa, and Meso-America)

                Classical civilizations of Greece and Rome

                 Trade Routes in Asia and the Middle East ( Silk Road, etc.)

                 World Religions – Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam

·         The Renaissance , Reformation and The Age of Reason

·         The Rise of Nations

·         The Industrial Revolution

·         The Age of Imperialism ( Europe, Asia, Africa, etc)

·          World War I and its effects on the US. India, Africa, and Europe

·          World War II

·          Cold War

·          Recent history ( with a study of Global Terrorism)

·         Emphasis will be placed on the cultural, social, political, geographical, and economic aspects of each society studied with the goal being to compare and contrast.  The purpose of this course is to give the student a foundation in World History which will prepare them for college and an understanding of the past which will enable them to see connections between the past and present.  Much emphasis will be placed on the “whys” of history (cause and effect).  Students will be taught how the historian works to gather, organize, analyze and draw conclusions in order to make sense of the past.  The class will be taught on a college prep level so that you will be prepared for freshman college classes.  This means lots of note taking and reading, in addition to the “fun” stuff.

 

TEXTBOOK:   World History: The Human Experience  will be the main text for this course, although many outside materials will be used.   The text introduces 9 key historical themes. These themes demonstrate the interconnectedness of ideas and events and will be used throughout the course.

The themes are:

 (1) Cooperation/Conflict  - how humans have worked together in some cases and have been at cross purposes in others

 (2) Revolution/Reaction -  great changes in thinking, etc and how humans responded to those changes

 (3) Change Over Time

(4) Diversity/Uniformity – 

(5) Regionalism/Nationalism

 (6) Innovation - Technology

(7) Cultural Diffusion  - how the culture spread

(8) Movement of people, ideas, trade routes

 (9) Relation to Environment – the extent to which man was able to control it

These themes will be repeated again and again, providing meaning for events in the past and showing how they affect contemporary life.

 

TIME PERIODS:

3500 B.C.E. - 476 C.E.

500 – 1000 C.E.

1000 – 1500 C.E.

1500- 1800 C.E.

1800- 1914 C.E.

1914-PRESENT

 

MATERIALS NEEDED FOR THIS CLASS:

 

1.  LOOSELEAF NOTEBOOK WITH DIVIDERS AND POCKETS with separate sections for Notes, Handouts, Old Tests, and Maps

2.  COLORED PENCILS

3.  BLACK SHARPIE FINE POINT MARKER

4.  CD - This will be turned in to Mrs. Murphy to be used for  certain class assignments

 

CLASS EXPECTATIONS:

1.      Excellent attendance.  Remember, when you miss a 90 minute class, it is almost twice as much work to make up.  Missing class will cause you to fall behind. THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR BEING IN CLASS EVERYDAY!

2.       Bring your materials and textbook to class everyday. These are the tools for your job--- school.  MY JOB IS TO HELP YOU ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN LEARNING AND APPRECIATING HISTORY. YOUR TASK IS TO TAKE RESPONSIBIITY FOR YOUR LEARNING. WE WILL WORK TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS.

3.      When the bell rings, the door will be closed. If late, you will be expected to get a note from the teacher who detained you. If you know you will be late, bring a note with you. If you are late due to poor planning on your part (ie., having to go to your locker on another hall or just hanging out), prepare to stay after school for me every time you have a third tardy. Non-compliance with this rule will get you other punishment.   TIME IS VALUABLE – DON’T SQUANDER IT!

4.      ATTITUDE DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE!  (yours and mine)    Let’s have a positive attitude.  It will make our time together much more pleasant!

5.      You are expected to be courteous and respectful to your classmates and to your teacher at ALL times.  Your teacher will make every effort to respect you and treat you with dignity as an individual.  THE GOLDEN RULE IS IN EFFECT IN ROOM 3.    I  TRULY WANT YOU TO SUCCEED IN THIS CLASS AND IN LIFE!!!!!!

6.      Come to class ready to work everyday.  My job is to help you discover the joys of learning, to help you graduate, to teach you the life skills you will need to become a more productive citizen, and to help prepare you for your future – whether it is college, technical college, or the world of work.

7.    THERE WILL BE A REQUIRED SEMESTER EXAM WHICH MEASURES YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE WHOLE COURSE.  The semester exam will count as 15% of your final grade

 

WHAT YOU WILL BE GRADED ON:

Maps

Internet site summaries (5x8 cards)

Journal abstracts

Chapter tests

Pop quizzes on reading assignments

Oral/written reports/presentations

Homework

Position papers

Class participation/ discussion

Research paper (5-7) pages

Project

Required cumulative semester exam

 

HOW YOU WILL BE GRADED: 

Grades will be calculated on a cumulative point system and each grade will be weighted according to the assignment in the following manner:  Chapter tests (100 points) , Position papers/essays (50 points), Homework and other in- class assignments (10-50 points),  Research paper (100 Points),  Projects (100-200 points), Semester exam (200 points). THESE ARE EXAMPLES.

 

Special Projects – THERE WILL BE AT LEAST ONE SPECIAL PROJECT EACH NINE WEEKS (DATES AND TOPICS TO BE ANNOUNCED)

 

 

REMEMBER :    

 

1.        KNOWLEDGE IS POWER AND ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

2.        MAKE EVERY ACTION COUNT AND CHOOSE RIGHT!