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WORLD HISTORY 9, 2013-14
Course Description
Welcome to World History 9! This class is designed to be a survey of World History between the years of 1450 and 1750, with a focus on the events that shaped the modern world. There will be an emphasis on cultural encounters, technological advancements, growth of new social and political ideas, as well as the role of economics in shaping the world’s events. This course is a semester long, and is a graduation requirement in the Edmonds School District. There will be a stress placed on reading strategies, document analysis, and historical thinking skills throughout the semester.
Course Units
Our class will study six specific places and eras. Within each unit there will be an emphasis on analyzing the SPICE (Social, Political, Interactions, Cultural, Economic) components of each in order to more easily compare them across space and time. Most units will include a mixture of lecture, simulations, primary source work, projects, and an end of unit, AP-Style writing assignment.
The units are as follows:
- Introduction: How to be a historian, Middle Ages and Islam Review
- The Renaissance Era
- The Protestant Reformation and Scientific Revolution
- Early Encounters in Asia and Africa
- The Americas, Columbian Exchange, and Triangle Trade
Class Texts
The backbone of the course will be the text World History (Prentice Hall). Selected literature, primary sources, and maps will also be provided throughout the course. Mr. Steen will not check textbooks out to each student, but students will have online access to the textbook for their convenience (Access online textbook by visiting: www.pearsonsuccessnet.com. User name: Meadowdale; Password: Mavericks2013). If this poses any problem or inconvenience, please see me and I will make every attempt to create a solution for you.
This class will also utilize a number of online readings, handouts, and primary sources. These should all be kept in a notebook or folder until the end of the semester. THERE WILL BE A COMPREHENSIVE FINAL.
Materials Needed
You should have a spiral notebook to use as a journal for this class. All assignments, activities, and notes should be completed and kept in this journal.
Freshman Pyramid of Success:
One of the major indicators for student success in high school is a feeling of belonging and connection to their school, peers, and staff. With this in mind, each student will be required to complete a “Pyramid of Success” assignment before November 1st. The assignment will ask your student to do a number of things based around Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, ranging from meeting the principal, to attending a club meeting or participating in a sport, to sitting down with their counselor or the career counselor. Parent support for this assignment is much appreciated.
Grade Allocation
A
4.0
93 to 100%
C+
2.3
77 to 79.99%
A-
3.7
90 to 92.99%
C
2.0
73% to 76.99%
B+
3.3
87 to 90%
C-
1.7
70 to 72.99%
B
3.0
83 to 86.99%
D+
1.3
67 to 69.99%
B-
2.7
80 to 82.99%
D
1.0
65-66%
F
0.0
Below 65%*
Grade Allocation:
The overall grade for this class will be comprised of the following components:
1. Tests and Quizzes: 30%
2. Writing Assignments and Projects 30%
3. Homework and In-Class Assignments 25%
4. Login/Logouts 10%
5. Class Participation 5%
Login/Logout
Each block period day (Tuesday and Thursday) will have a question for the day written on the board. Students should “login” to class by writing this down on the provided log sheet. They should then “logout” of class by answering this question on my website by 11:59 on Saturday of that week. It is, however, much simpler to answer this question at the end of class or during A.T. These cannot be made up during the semester. Directions on how to complete these will be given during the first weeks of class.
If you are absent, it is your responsibility to get the login question from myself or another student on the next school day and complete the Logout by Saturday evening. If you have an extended absence, you should get the question(s) in the same manner and email me a written response. These can easily be completed on a smart phone – bookmark my website for easy access to the links!
Friday Quizzes
At the completion of every week we will have an online quiz to complete. Quizzes will be available at http://quizstar4teachers.org/. Students will create a free account and enroll in the appropriate class period. Each quiz then will be available from Friday until Tuesday and must be completed in that time frame. Quizzes are timed (you will have more than enough time) and cannot be retaken. These quizzes can be easily completed on smart phones – bookmark the page!
Unit Tests
Each unit will conclude with a multiple choice test and some form of writing assessment. Tests can be retaken within one week of being handed back to the class, with half credit possible on corrected answers.
· If you are absent for a test or quiz, it must be made up within 5 school days, or it will count as a zero.
Attendance
Unexcused Absences
Students with unexcused absences do not have to be given the opportunities to make up work, nor be given extensions on assignment due dates. Teachers may make accommodations, as they believe best for a student in a particular case, based on the learning goals for that course and student.
Excused Absences
Teacher will offer the student additional time (one day for each day a student is absent) to complete the work and or/alternative work to meet the learning goals. This does not excuse students from doing the work. Ultimately it is the student’s responsibility to follow up with the teacher after an excused absence. Absences must be excused within 48 hours.
Achievement Time Expectations
Achievement Time gives students an opportunity to complete in-class work from the day, or missing work. Students will be released for Achievement Time (AT) if they are receiving a grade of C or higher, and have completed the activity for the day’s class period.
Homework Policies:
All journal assignments will be worth 10 points, and will be checked off periodically in class. If you miss a journal check, you have one week to make it up. An up to date list of journal assignments will be available on my website.
1) If you are absent, it is your responsibility to get the homework or daily assignment.
2) Late essays and projects will be accepted with a 10% penalty, per day. If you are sick/absent on the day that an assignment is due it is your responsibility to find a way to get it to me (email, friend, parent, etc…). Be responsible.
Plagiarism and Academic Honesty
Plagiarism will NOT be tolerated. This is a serious offense. Students can expect to receive a zero for the assignment, parent contact, and a disciplinary referral (or any combination of these items). Plagiarism is defined as: “the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work.”
Expectations and Responsibilities
It is important to have a safe, focused learning environment and in order to reach this goal my classroom expectations can be boiled down to three things:
1) Be Respectful 2) Be Responsible 3) Be Prepared
Extra information:
Food/Drink: The school rules for the consumption of food in the classroom will be enforced. Water will be allowed.
Cell Phones/IPods: Will NOT be allowed in the classroom during class unless teacher specifies. Please keep them turned off and in backpack or at home. Also, no recording devices (audio, video, or otherwise) will be allowed without prior written permission.
Student and Parent Acknowledgement and Signature Page
------PLEASE DETATCH FROM SYLLABUS AND TURN IN BY 9/9------
Dear: Parent(s)/Guardian(s),
I am very honored to have your student in my class this semester. As your student begins their trip through high school, I am hopeful I will be able to assist your student in acquiring the needed skills to be successful here at Meadowdale. I firmly believe each and every student can achieve their highest success if they are exposed to the tools as it relates to them as individuals. I believe it is important, they can do it, and I will help! You can help as well by getting involved in what your student is doing in class on a regular basis. I will do my best to give you and your student prompt feedback on Skyward throughout the semester. This will help you and your student track their progress. I will also be providing information, such as documents, journal entries, and assignments throughout the semester on my website: https://sites.google.com/site/mrsteensworldhistory/
I have read the above classroom expectation and grading information and Mr. Steen verbally explained the information in class. I am aware that the MDHS standards will be applied to this class. I have read the information and accept the expectations of this class. Also, as part of our class there is a chance that we may watch parts, or the full version, of a Hollywood film with a rating higher than ‘G’ (Example: Luther). The purpose of this is to enliven and richen the curriculum and provide students an additional means to accessing the information covered in class. In order for your student to potentially view films such as these, your signature is required directory below. If you’d prefer your student to have an alternate assignment, please sign on the bottom of this page.
Thank you, please feel free to contact me as you have needs or concerns,
Matthew Steen
[email protected]
Student signature ___________________________________________ Date __________
Parent/Guardian signature ____________________________________ Date __________
Parent/Guardian Email (Optional): ______________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Phone Number (Optional): ______________________________________________________
I would prefer an alternate assignment for my student if/when films or film scenes are shown from movies with a rating other than ‘G’.
ONLY SIGN HERE IF YOU WOULD LIKE AN ALTERNATE ASSIGNMENT FOR YOUR STUDENT.
Parent Signature: ______________________________________________________________
*********DUE BY TUESDAY 9/10*********