HWHII SyllabusMrs. Rieffel

Period 2Sept. 20011-June 2012

Text:  Prentice Hall World History:  The Modern Era.  Ellis, Elisabeth Gaynor, and Anthony Esler. Prentice Hall World History: The Modern Era . Boston, MA: Pearson / Prentice Hall, 2007. Print and online e-text. 

ALL TEXTBOOKS MUST BE COVERED AT ALL TIMES!  

Supplemental Texts: Online Interactive textsModern World History: Patterns of Interaction, McDougall Littell, 2005.Various Outside readings and novels appropriate to the eras.

• Content:   This is a survey course that covers world history from The Age of Exploration to modern times, from roughly 1492 to 2012.

• To teach and encourage the proper use of technology within an academic class, in line with the Archdiocesan AUP.

• To teach an appreciation of our multi-cultural past.

• To foster a lifelong interest in history.• To improve vocabulary through reading

applications.• To encourage independent research and

analysis.• To further develop and improve writing skills.• To strengthen the student’s study skills.• To encourage critical and independent thinking.

Goals:

Skills

• Students are expected to take notes, to be complete in both reading and written assignments, to be attentive in class to both lecture and discussion, to study diligently, and to be enthusiastic about sharing newly acquired knowledge. Memory, comprehension, tech, and composition skills are needed and shall be improved throughout the year.

Homework• Homework is assigned every single night and • should take a minimum of 30 minutes, but often • more time is needed for reading. • Reading assignments are just as important as written work.

Notes should be taken from the reading. • Each section of each chapter must be outlined in copybook.

Outside reports, special projects, People Papers, and chapter reviews also constitute homework.

• Each assignment/test/quiz is announced along with the due date. Assignments are expected to be complete, correctly done, and handed in on time in order to get full credit and best possible mark.

• Late assignments suffer drastic point loss and must be in by the next day. Once an assignment has been graded and handed back to the class, any late paper loses most, if not all, value. Zeros kill an average. Poor work merits poor marks.

Homework

• Assignments are to be typed or printed from a computer. Posted on the Ning!

• Homework should look as if time, effort and thought went into its creation, not just something dashed off during lunch.

• Homework must be distinct and individual. • Plagiarism and/or collaboration are considered

breaches of honesty and are never acceptable. • Cheating is not tolerated.

Notebook

• A single, large notebook is necessary for the course. No other class’ notes should be in your history notebook. It can be online.

• We take a lot of notes. The 3 in 1 size should last through first semester.

• Periodically, it shall be evaluated. • The notebook should reflect information taught in

class, outlines of the chapters, and should be used at a resource for study prior to testing.

• Artwork should have no place in it, unless for pertinent graphic detail.

Folder

• Each student is required to have a folder that will contain all returned and graded work.

• Each mark must be signed by a parent/guardian within a week of return of paper.

• A table of contents should be made of the marks as they are returned/dated.

Portfolio Projects• Family History project, • a period newspaper, • Short Reports, • Historical Interviews, • Personal People Papers, • Various Portfolios Reading Reviews• and a few other “big” projects.

Methods of Evaluation

Homework: both written and readingTests and Quizzes: both subjective and objective questioningCompositions: a variety of assignments on related topicsProjects/Reports: a variety of assignments on related topicsResearch paper: on an approved topic in MLA form.Preparation and Participation

Grading

• Major tests 50% • (Outside reading is one test grade)• Homework/Composition/Essay 20%• Vocabulary/Content Quizzes 20%• Preparedness and Participation 10%

Final Exams Only This Year!!!!

An exam, which covers the entire course contents, is given at the end of the year. It covers work from both semesters and is approximately 10% of the mark.

40%S1 + 40%S2 + 10%Exam = Year markWe shall have Quarterly projects and testing.

Family History Project

• Due in January for 1st semester. • Worth two major test marks.• Will include signature sheet, family tree, • and Name thing. • Interviews will also be

used during this semester. • More information will follow.

Research Paper

• Each student is required to complete a typed research paper that conforms to all of the criteria of parenthetical documentation. More than likely, this paper will be due in the third quarter and hopefully will be a learning experience. This research paper has many marks tied up in it and the percentages of grading will differ. The instructor must confirm topics and will show the secrets of the Library databases.

Outside Reading

•    One major test grade per quarter consists of points gained through written reports on various items about current world topics. Quality and analysis of information are stressed. Topics may be taken from newspaper articles, magazine articles, reports on global news from various media, on-line information relating to world issues, as well as any personal information from various parts of the globe.

• Each item submitted is read and evaluated on a point basis by the instructor. 100 points is needed per quarter. OR will be due on Mondays.

• The Library has links to the best, most informative sources:• Fox News, CNN, Council of Foreign Relations, CIA Factbook, etc.

Handarounds

• These articles, books, pictures, and/or artifacts should move from person to person and table to table after each person has read, examined, and/or appreciated them in an unobtrusive, careful manner. Some of the items may be fragile or irreplaceable—never should anything but reverence for someone else’s possessions be foremost in your minds.

• No more than one item should ever be in someone’s possession at a time and they should be duly noted in your copybook—as in **an article on de las Casas or article about the invention of the guillotine with a few pertinent facts attached.

• They should move through the class smoothly. Some are odd, some are interesting, some will be funny, but all are fair game and can appear on a quiz or test as questions.

Videos

• Any video shown in class should merit complete and total attention. Interest and silence are demanded. Notes on the “movie” should be taken in addition to recording the title and date in your copybook. Example: Discovery Education’s film on the Events of 9/11.

• Oftentimes, a certain number of Fast Facts will be handed in as classwork or perhaps a quiz on the selection will occur, or both.

• Anyone not paying attention and/or taking notes will be removed and suffer dire consequences as well as my undying loathing.

Late Work

• Late work is unacceptable in the real world and severely discounted in class. 10% off each day late.

• Projects are due only on the due date.• Late is defined as handed in at any other time

than when collected from the class as per assigned due date.

• Productivity, efficiency and a good work ethic are highly valued commodities.

Absence

• Absence does not excuse work. • Assignments and tests are to be made up

immediately upon return to class. • Makeup tests are to be taken during the student’s

study/lunch/free period at my convenience—not during my class time.

• If a student knows of an absence prior tothe date, (s)he is expected to inform me ahead of time, since that is the responsible and courteous thing to do.

Additional Information• Social Studies Test days are 3 and 6.• Students should always be prepared to write in class and be possessed of

the appropriate pen and paper. Both in class and out of class compositions are required. Compositions/homework assigned for out of class should be typed.

• Absence does not excuse work. Assignments and tests are announced and scheduled with advance warning. Papers should be handed in on the day of return. Missed tests should be made up the day of the return to class—during study or after school, at my convenience. It is not an option to make up an assignment or a test whenever. The grade will be forfeit. It is the student’s responsibility to find out what (s)he has missed. It is the student’s responsibility to inform me prior to an absence if (s)he is aware that (s)he will not be in my class in advance. It is the responsible and courteous thing to do.

• Preparedness and participation are expected for each class. Correct books and materiel are expected to be in class.

• Proper School Uniform is expected every day. • Lateness is not excused.

Additional Info• Social Studies test days are 3 and 6.• Students should always be prepared to write in class and be

possessed of the appropriate materiel. • Preparedness and participation are expected for each class. • Correct books and materiel should be brought daily. • Both in class and out of class compositions are required. • Work should appear businesslike and professional. • Whenever the computer can be made use of as a homework or

business tool, it is preferred. • Homework and assignments should be the student’s original

work. • Plagiarism, copying, and/or cheating are not tolerated and will be

rewarded with zeros and appropriate disciplinary measures. • Proper credit must always be given to the information’s source.

• E-mail: My e-mail address is grieffel@mcdevitths.org

• In case of information relating to schoolwork, unusual circumstance, or for an occasional assignment, the student may need to e-mail me.

• Confidentiality, respect, and responsibility are expected. My Voice Mail is # 241.

Our class Ning is:http://honorsworldhistoryii.ning.com/

• There is no excuse for improper and/or unseemly behavior or language in my class. Misbehavior, failure to follow policy, lack of cooperation, ill preparedness, lack of participation, or inattention will not be tolerated. Each student is expected to know how to behave in class and work towards the best possible marks.

• Toleration of one another and the respect for diversity is very important, not only in the workplace, but especially within a caring, Catholic community.