Download Summer Reading Advanced Placement World History Welcome to

Summer Reading
Advanced Placement World History
Welcome to Advanced Placement World History. This course will introduce you to new
ideas, people, religions, theories, and events. AP World History will definitely challenge your
thinking and preconceived ideas about peoples and events. You will be asked to seek out the broad
patterns that make up history, and to think globally. Throughout the upcoming school year you
will learn a lot, but there will be a significant amount of work that you must complete. To help
ease you into this new way of thinking, you will be completing a summer assignment.
Step 1: Complete the following survey questions using proper sentence structure. You do not
need to include a vast amount of information, but feel free to include as much information as you
see fit.
1.
What is your definition of world history?
2.
What interests you about studying world history? What does not?
3.
For EACH time period listed below, list big events or developments (5 per time period)
that occurred within that time period. You may use any resources at your disposal to do this (i.e.
internet, public library). Please note BCE stands for Before Common Era (a.k.a. BC – Before
Christ) and CE stands for Common Era (a.k.a. AD – Anno Domini – In the Year of our Lord):
8000BCE to 600CE
600CE to 1450CE
1450 to 1750
1750 to 1914
1914 to the Present
Step 2: Choose ONE book from the list below to read over the summer. You must complete the
reading and the assignment that follows
Books:
“The Middle East” by Bernard Lewis
A sweeping summary of the region throughout all of world history by the most respected Middle
Eastern scholar in America. The discussion of change over time in a single region is a key
component of the AP curriculum.
“Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World” by Jack Weatherford
A re-evaluation of Genghis Khan's rise to power examines the reforms the conqueror instituted
throughout his empire and his uniting of East and West, which set the foundation for the nationstates and economic systems of the modern era.
“Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies” by Jared Diamond
Dismantles racially based theories of human history by revealing the environmental factors he
feels are responsible for history's broadest patterns.
“Gunpowder: Alchemy, Bombards, and Pyrotechnics: the History of the Explosive that
Changed the World” by Jack Kelly
Traces the history of the explosive mixture created by Chinese alchemists in the tenth century, a
critical invention that has fueled innovations and shaped the technology of warfare and the
evolution of modern history.
“This Fleeting World: A Short History of Humanity” by David Christian
A brief overview of the entire history of the world making connections along the way.
Step 3: In addition to reading your assigned book, you will need to choose ONE assignment to
complete. You will need to turn in the summer assignment on the first week of school. The
purpose of the summer assignment is to indulge your senses in World History and allow you to
think critically.
•
Book Review: Your objective is to critically analyze and evaluate the author’s work.
You will need to examine the author’s main idea or thesis, questions the authors ask
and their answers to those questions. Use the following questions as a guideline to
writing your review. Your review must be at least 11/2 to 2 pages. You must also
include a citation.
•
Create TEN Critical thinking questions about your reading and provide answers to
your questions. In addition to answering your questions you need to also provide
examples from the reading to support your answer. Be sure to include page numbers
to where the reader can use to explore.
•
Creative assignment: Create One pager on your assigned reading. For the one pager
you will need to use the following: 1 Sheet of plain white paper, glue, colored pens,
pencils, markers, and your reading notes. Your one paper should include
o The author’s main thesis or points in the reading.
o 2-3 words that describe the authors point of view/ Be sure to point out if the
author is biased.
o 2-4 words that describe your view of history
o Questions the authors ask/answers to those questions
o Quote from the reading that you feel is significant
o Brief paragraph of your evaluation of the reading: Ex. Would you recommend
your assigned reading for students in AP World History?
See Back
Questions to use as a guideline for the Book Review
1. What is the main thesis of the book?
2. How does the book change your view of history?
3. What questions do the authors ask and to what extent do the authors answer these questions?
4. What were you most surprised to learn about?
5. What were you most disappointed to learn about?
6. Did you enjoy the book? Was it worthwhile?
7. If you were to have a discussion about this book with a friend, what would you tell them and
would you recommend this book to them?
8. Did the authors show any preconceived bias or biases? If so, what were these biases, how did
the authors support their viewpoint?
Have a great summer I look forward to meeting you next school year – Mr. Powers
(contact me with questions at [email protected])