Download Martin`s 7th Grade Syllabus

Mr. Martin’s 7th Grade World History Syllabus
Introduction
In 7th grade History, students will study the history and cultures of the world from 1st century Rome up
through the exploration of the Americas by Europeans in the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries.
We’ll learn about the history and lasting contributions of Roman, Islamic, African, Asian, European, and MesoAmerican civilizations over much of the last 2000 years.
Course Requirements
Class-work: Class-work will include class and small group discussions, lectures, document-based questions,
debates, essays, projects, skits, Google Presentations, research projects, videos, etc.
Current Events: Each week, students are required to complete a current events report describing the week’s
national or international news. Students may watch the news, read the newspaper, or read about the news
online, either at home or in class. Students will be required to cite the news sources they’ve used each week.
Quizzes/Essays: Approximately every other week, students will take a quiz or write a brief essay about what
we are studying. Students may use historical documents, texts, class notes, web-sites and homework
assignments to help them take their quizzes and write their essays. Students will learn how to use appropriate
MLA citations for their essays.
History Journal: Students are required to keep a History Journal to help them keep their History class
assignments, notes, and homework organized. Students are expected to regularly reflect on their own learning
with illustrations, questions, charts, or diagrams and to write a brief analysis of most of their assignments.
History Journals will be collected and graded at the end of each week.
Benchmark Exams: Periodically (every 6-10 weeks), students will take a Benchmark Exam as one measure of
their learning. Students are expected to use quizzes, class notes, DBQs, essays, projects, study guides, and flash
cards to help them study and prepare for their benchmark exams.
World History Book Report: Each semester, students are required to choose 1 book from the Wilson Middle
School Library, read it, and write a US History Book Report.
-See History Book Report Instructions for details.
Research Paper: Once per semester, all students will be required to carefully research information about a
historical topic of their own choosing and write a Research Paper (with citations). Instructions, requirements,
and a list of topics will be provided for students to choose from. Class-time will be provided for research and
preparation.
Positive Participation: Every week, students will receive a grade for participation. Each week’s participation
points are based upon classroom involvement, attendance, attitude, and effort. Students are expected to be on
time with their required materials, to complete all assigned work to the best of their ability, to actively
participate in all small group-work, and to contribute to all class discussions and activities.
Late Work/Absences:
a. Assignments must be turned in on or before the date due in order to qualify for full credit. Late
work will only be accepted up to 1 week late and will only be worth up to half credit, except in
the case of a verified absence or with special permission from the instructor.
b. Students who are absent need to request make-up work when they return to class and they will
have 1 extra day to complete make-up work for each day they were absent.
Mr. Martin’s Contact Info.:
 School: 559-665-8070
 E-mail: [email protected].
 Cell-phone: 559-273-0495
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Grade Scale
A+
= 98% and Above
A
= 93%--97%
A=90%—92.99%
B+
= 88%--89%
B
=83%--87%
B= 80%—82%
C+
= 78%--79%
C
= 73%—77%
C= 70%--72%
D+
= 68%—69%
D
= 63%—67%
D= 60%--62%
F
= Anything Below 60%
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Assignment Weighting
Class-work: Approximately 25% of overall grade.
Current Events: Approximately 10% of overall grade.
Quizzes/Essays: Approximately 10% of overall grade.
History Journal: Approximately 15% of overall grade.
Benchmark Exams: Approximately 10% of overall grade.
World History Book Report: Approximately 10% of overall grade.
Research Paper: Approximately 10% of overall grade.
Positive Participation: Approximately 10% of overall grade.
Classroom Expectations/Incentives/Consequences
Expectations:
 Treat Other People the Way You Want to Be Treated.
 Respect Yourself and Others By Allowing the Teacher to Teach and Other Students to Learn.
 Be in Your Seat When the Bell Rings. Tardiness takes time away from your opportunity to learn.
 Bring Your Materials (pencils, pens, paper, and binder/folder).
 Turn Your Work in ON TIME……… Late work loses points.
 Use Appropriate School Language and Volume.
 If you Don’t Understand……… ASK FOR HELP!
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Incentives
 Self-Respect!
Consequences
 Family Pride!
 Popularity!

Seating Chart Change.

Timeout.

Detention (payback).
 Martin Doubloons$$$!

Behavior Contracts.
 Good Grades!

Written Apologies.
 Positive Phone Calls!

Parent Contacts.
 Good Notes Home!

Homework Hall.
 Certificates/Awards/Prizes!!!

Referrals.
 Class Privileges/Games/Parties!

Saturday School.
 Promotion Activities/Fun!!!

Suspension.
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Mr. Martin’s World History Book Report Guidelines
Each semester, students are required to read 1 book from the Wilson Middle School library and complete a World History
Book Report. Students may choose historical fiction, non-fiction, or biography but either the setting or the main character
must be closely related to something we’re studying in World History.
History Book Reports Must Include the Following:

An Informational Cover. Covers may include illustrations, maps, charts, graphs, diagrams, timelines, etc. to
highlight the main theme of the book. The cover must include the student’s name, the title of the book, and the
author’s name, as well as the instructor’s name and the student’s class period #.

A 1-2 paragraph Introduction. The introduction to your History Book Report should describe why you chose this
particular book, what you hoped to learn from it, and should provide a brief description of your opinions about
the book.

A 3-5 Paragraph Summary of the book.
In your own words, describe what the book was about. The summary should include a brief description of
the plot, setting, time period, and major characters in the book.

A 2-3 Paragraph Analysis of the book.
The Analysis should include your own opinions about the book’s characters and events. Just describe
your thoughts and feelings about what you’ve read. Describe what you liked, what you didn’t like, and
what you learned about history from reading the book.

A 1-2 Paragraph Conclusion. The Conclusion should briefly re-state what the book was about and what you
liked or disliked about it.
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Mr. Martin’s Research Paper Guidelines
Each semester, students will choose a topic from the list of US History Research Topics, carefully research information
about that particular topic and write a Research Paper. Class-time will be provided for research, preparation, and
presentations.
Research Paper Requirements. Research papers should be 3-5 pages, 1500-2500 words, neatly typed, double-spaced,
size 12 font, and should include a clearly identifiable title page, introduction (with a thesis statement), body, conclusion,
and “works cited” page.
Each Research Paper must include the following:
 Title Page: Should include a title, an illustration, the name of the student, the name of the instructor, and the date
the project was completed.

Introduction: 1-2 paragraphs. The Introduction should clearly state, in the student’s own words, the central
argument or main point of their paper (thesis statement) and should briefly explain 3-5 key arguments which
support their thesis..

Body. 7-10 paragraphs. The primary purpose of the body of the paper is to convincingly present 3-5 supporting
ideas using key pieces of evidence to support the paper’s thesis statement. Each of these 3-5 supporting ideas
should be presented in 1 or 2 well-written paragraphs and should make reference to specific historical evidence
(primary documents, maps, charts, texts, websites, etc.) using specific MLA-style academic citations.

Citations/Quotes: Main ideas should be supported with properly cited evidence and/or quotes. The paper should
include a total of no more than 3 brief quotes.

Conclusion: 1-2 paragraphs. The Conclusion should restate, in the student’s own words, the thesis of the
presentation, and should restate the 3-5 supporting ideas used to support this conclusion.

Works Cited. The “works cited” page should include academic citations of every website, article, text, or primary
source used in helping to create the Research Paper. MLA format required (refer to your Spartan Style Guide for
details);

Scoring. Students’ Research Papers will be graded using a scoring rubric. Copies of the rubric are available in
class. Students are encouraged to carefully examine the rubric and prepare their papers accordingly.
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Spartan Style Guide
Citations are a way to give credit for a content creator’s original research or ideas. Proper citations increase an author’s
credibility and reliability. If an author is using another person’s work in his or her own work and does not give credit
through proper citations, that is called plagiarism. The consequences of plagiarism are severe, and include failing an
assignment and/or a referral.
Wilson Middle School has adopted MLA format as a school-wide style. MLA format includes in-text citations and a
works cited page.
In-text citations come after a direct quote or paraphrase in the text. The author’s last name is used, if there is no author,
use the title of the work. For citations from a book, you must also include the page number. The period comes after the
citation.
Examples of in-text citations:
Article
Quote: “After years of government denials, the CIA is acknowledging in newly declassified documents the
existence of Area 51, the mysterious site in central Nevada that has spawned top-secret tools, weapons and not a
few UFO conspiracies” (Stanglin).
Paraphrase: The government used to deny that Area 51 did in fact exist (Stanglin).
Book
Quote: “I wanted to ask what Mr. Granger had to do with anything, but common sense told me that I would only
earn an eviction by asking” (Taylor 163).
Paraphrase: Mama was worried that if she asked how Mr. Granger was related to the incident, she would be
evicted (Taylor 163).
Works Cited Page is placed on a new page at the end of your document. Begin the page with the words
“Works Cited.” All entries need to be listed in alphabetical order by the first letter of the entry. If there is no
author listed, begin your entry with the title. Works cited use a hanging indent. Indent every line in an entry,
except the first one.
Information included:
Author’s Name: Last, First.
Title: Underlined/italics for long works. Quotation marks for short works.
Place of Publication: Only for books
Publisher or Organization
Date Published: Write ND if there is no date available.
Medium: Print for books. Web for internet sources.
Date Accessed: Day Month Year.
Works Cited Example
Works Cited
Taylor, Mildred. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. New York: Puffin, 1976. Print
Stanglin, Doug. “New Document Shows the US Government is Becoming Less Secretive about Area 51.” USA Today.
16 Aug 2013.
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7th Grade World History Instructional Schedule
o Rise of the Roman Empire- August 18—28.
o Fall of Roman Empire- August 31--September 11.
o The Byzantine Empire- September 14th to October 2nd
o Early Islamic Civilization- October 5th to October 23rd
o China in the Middle Ages- October 26th to November 13th
o Medieval Japan- November 16th to November 20th
o Medieval Africa- November 30th to December 18th
o Medieval Europe- January 4th to January 22nd
o The Renaissance- January 25th to February 11th
o The Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment- Feb. 16—26.
o The Protestant Reformation- February 29th to March 18th
o The Counter Reformation- March 28th to April 8th
o The Mayans- April 11th to April 22nd
o The Aztecs- April 25th to May 6th
o The Age of Exploration and Enlightenment- May 9th to May 27th
o End of the Year Activities- May 31st to June 2nd
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