WORLD HISTORY
Mr. Lane Woodside
636-789-0010 xt. 1121
woodside lane@mail.hillsboro.k12.mo.us
Course Description: This course is designed to enlighten students on the history of the world. The students will engage in a journey over 3000 years in the making. Students will study pre-historic times, Ancient Greece and Rome, the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Exploration. Second semester will have us covering the French Revolution and the Enlightenment, Industrialization, Imperialism, World War I and II, the Cold War, and the contemporary western world. This is a two semester class with a semester exam and a final exam. All students are sophomores or above and should have completed a year of American Studies.
Instructional Philosophy: Throughout the school year, students will engage in many different learning experiences. Students will work independently, in large groups and in small groups. We will utilize the text book, but it will not be our only resource. Articles, web pages, short stories, maps, graphs, pictures, videos and other internet resources will be utilized throughout the school year. Students will actively engage in note taking, writing activities, projects, presentations, performance tasks and cooperative learning activities.
Major Course Goals:
o Knowledge of contributions and interactions of major world civilizations
o Influence of the Renaissance and Reformation
o Causes and effects of European overseas expansion
o Impact of Scientific Revolution
o Effect of the Enlightenment on major revolutions
o Causes and Consequences of economic theories and practices
o Causes, comparisons and results of major twentieth-century wars
o Causes, reactions and consequences of European and Japanese imperialism
o Causes and consequences of major demographic changes
Major Course Objectives:
o 1st Qtr. Differentiate between the values represented by Sparta and Athens
o 2nd Qtr. Demonstrate understanding of how the Catholic Church shaped the development of Medieval Europe
o 3rd Qtr. Differentiate between life before the Industrial Revolution and live after the Industrial Revolution
o 4th Qtr. Apply the skills and tools of historical analysis with concepts incorporated from other social sciences
Required/Recommended Readings:
o Textbook
o Articles pertaining to subject matter
Major Course Projects and Instructional Activities:
o World History Profile
o Greek/Roman gods Project
o World War I Project
o Semester and Final Exams
o Gandhi Project
o Industrial Revolution Project
o Chapter and Unit Tests
o Chapter Quizzes
o Weekly Homework Packets
Classroom Expectations: Students should arrive to class on time and prepared for class. Being prepared means having their text book with them and either a notebook, or three-ring binder and a utensil to write with. Attending class and being on time is pertinent to the success of the student in this class. Hillsboro School District attendance policy will be strictly enforced, especially tardies. If a student is absent from class it is the STUDENT’S responsibility to get the work she/he missed. Homework policy is stated in the students handbook.
Academic Dishonesty:
Plagiarism: The unauthorized use of material not written or created by the person claiming authorship.
Plagiarism includes but is not limited to the following:
- Turning in a written essay produced by someone else.
- Collaborating on a written assignment without the specific approval of the teacher.
- Borrowing materials from any source—professional or amateur—and turning them in as original.
- Failure to acknowledge through appropriate citations any words, ideas, research, graphics, etc. produced by someone other than the person claiming authorship.
Cheating: Dishonest acts committed while being tested or evaluated.
Cheating includes but is not limited to the following:
- Copying from another person’s tests or assignments.
- Using unauthorized test aids such as notes, drawings, books, etc. during an examination.
- Submitting a paper which was turned in to another teacher in another class to fulfill part of that course’s required work—unless agreed upon ahead of time by the teacher of the second course.
- Aiding another student in dishonesty such as producing written work or sharing information during a test period.
- Fabricating research or source materials.
- Stealing, buying, or somehow obtaining a test from a teacher’s work area or computer files.
Despite our commitment to the “Failure Is Not an Option,” we cannot tolerate academic dishonesty. Any assignment that exhibits academic dishonesty in whole or in part will be assigned a grade of “0.”
Supplies and Materials Needed:
o Three Ring Binder or a Notebook/Folder
o Writing Utensils
o Book Cover (a $1.50 investment can go a long way, books are valued at $75)
Grading Practices:
Homework and Assignment Policy
The assignment policy we are adopting school wide is “Failure is not an option.”
Grades should be based on mastery (70% or higher) of the course’s Essential Learning Goals, Grade-Level Expectations, and Missouri Show-Me Standards, instead of effort.
Extra credit should not be given for anything other than mastery of a concept.
One of the biggest changes that may affect students is that Hillsboro High School will no longer accept work that is below a minimum level. Students will have to redo work that does not meet these requirements, and zeros will not be allowed. We know that in the past many students have not had work done on time or not completed work at all, and they have received zeros.
This practice was used in hopes of helping students understand the consequences of not doing acceptable work. This practice has not been successful in getting all students to complete acceptable work, and many students leave a course having completed few if any challenging assignments and are completely unprepared for the new level. We want all of our students to be successful.
It is important for everyone to understand that the bar has been raised here at HHS, but that we are going to assist students in reaching those high expectations. We look forward to working closely with you to help you achieve success.
Assignments
ALL assignments should be completed by all students.
If student work is not completed at the BASIC achievement level, students will be required to revise work.
Revision of all BELOW BASIC work will have a new due date as agreed upon by the student and the teacher. The result must be above the BASIC level.
Consequences for BASIC level assignments or incomplete assignments
Level One: Teacher/Student Conversation
Using additional block time during class for reteaching, a new due date is established for BASIC/BELOW BASIC level or incomplete assignments
Level Two: Teacher/Parent Conversation IF student doesn’t comply with new due date. Work is assigned to be completed during WEEKLY HAWK TIME.
Level Three: Student Assigned Academic Lab/SOAR or Resource. Lunch detention or mandatory tutoring may also be used.
Level Four: Administrative/Teacher/Student/Parent Conference
Level Five: Crisis Intervention Meeting with all involved
Level Six: Crisis Intervention Meeting will all involved is conducted.
Students will be given homework assignments to practice their skills individually on a regular basis. These assignments are crucial for students to expand their understanding, and they will give both the students and me an opportunity to check their comprehension of small chunks of material before moving on. It is very important that the students attempt and give serious thought to all problems, as our difficult content is best learned through this individual practice and sometimes struggle. Homework assignments will be discussed and checked the next day in class, giving students the opportunity to ask questions of each other and me to further increase their understanding.
Projects
There may be a few projects or other classroom assignments where students will be asked to apply previous knowledge to real-life tasks or in-depth problems. These assignments may be graded and count toward students’ quarter or semester grades.
Quizzes
We will have short quizzes about once a week throughout the year. The sole purpose of these quizzes is for students to gauge their current understanding and correct misconceptions. These quizzes will not count as part of a student’s grade, but they will be recorded to determine which concepts each student needs to work on more to master. I will record scores to keep track of students’ progress with the material as we move through a unit, and we may use quiz scores to determine homework or to group students for appropriate class work to help each student improve understanding.
Summative Tests
At the end of each unit of material, we will have a test where students will be asked to show that they have learned the material, can perform the necessary skills, and can apply concepts to solve problems. These tests will be the great majority of students’ grades each quarter. Students can expect about three summative tests each quarter, and they will be able to retake any test to show later mastery.
Test Retake Policy
Each student has the option to retake each unit test once and receive the higher score. If you want to retake a unit test, you must meet these conditions:
- Have all assignments and activities from the unit complete.
- Complete test corrections from the original test.
- Turn in these corrections and your original test to me.
- Schedule a time to retake the test.
Homework Policy and Grading Scale: The homework policy and grading scale will follow what is listed in the student handbook. Please refer to the handbook for more information.
Grading Scale
A…………...100-90
B……………89-80
The above levels are considered “PROFICIENT”
C……………79-70
The above level is considered “PROGRESSING”
D……………69-60
F…………….59-0
The above levels are considered “DEFICIENT”
Assessments should comprise the majority of the grade with the “Failure Is Not an Option” program.
World History Grade Weighting
Summative Assessments………………………………...…….…60%
Formative Assessments (or Workplace Readiness)…….……..20%
Practice………………………………………………………………10%
Mid-Term/Final Exam……………………………………………...10%
Classroom Computers:
The computers in the classroom are for student use. You must ask permission from the teacher before you log in. The computers are only used for educational purposes. No e-mail or playing of games will be allowed. If students are caught, they will lose the privilege to us the computers.
Extra Help: The Social Studies Department will have after school tutoring on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There is academic tutoring available every day at the High School. If the student will need to ride the second bus home, they must have a written note from their parents. I will be in my room before school for help as well, I am usually here by 7:00.
Time and Place to be Reached by Parent: At the top of the syllabus is my school e-mail and phone number along with my extension. My prep period is 5th hour. Feel free to get in touch with any questions.
