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Advanced Placement World History: Summer Reading Assignment Welcome to WHAP 2007-2008. You will be members of Zachary High School’s third group of “WHAPers”. This is a challenging and enriching course that should help you understand the world you live in a little better. You will have the chance to explore the last 10,000 years of world history and to discover many interesting stories, ideas, and people. You will also continue to advance your analytical and writing skills as part of the course. Like all AP courses, World History will require dedication and concentration from each of you on a consistent basis. We will discuss specific course requirements and other items when school begins in August as well as talk about the AP exam which is offered in May. Your first task as a new WHAPer is to spend a little time this summer getting your brain in world history mode by completing a summer reading assignment. The selections for the summer reading are designed to get you thinking about the themes and topics addressed in world history and to give you an overview of the world’s early development. Your summer assignment asks you to completely read Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World and to respond to a few essay questions based on the book. Also, you will be asked to read a portion of The Human Story as an introduction to the period of history to be discussed during the first couple of weeks of school; this book will continue to serve as a reference throughout the school year. Specific instructions for each book along with due dates, etc. are included in the pages attached to this letter. If you have any questions about anything, don’t hesitate to contact me at: [email protected]. I hope you have a great summer and I look forward to seeing you in the fall. Chris Staggs World History AP World History-Advanced Placement (WHAP) 2007/2008 Summer Reading Assignment Book: Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World Author: Jack Weatherford Publisher: Crown Publishers, New York, 2004 (available in paperback and hardback) Availability: may be purchased at Books-a-Million or Barnes and Noble stores in Baton Rouge (they may have to order it for you); available via the internet from both of the previous sources or from Amazon.com as well as other sites; Books Plus in Zachary has been notified of the assignment along with the Zachary branch of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library. Assignment: Read the book and complete the essay questions. All answers must be in complete sentences and should be arranged in proper essay form. Correct spelling and grammar are required as part of this assignment—you must be able to communicate effectively in written form in order to be successful in this course. Assignment must be typed—use Times New Roman style; font size must be no smaller than 12 nor larger than 14. This assignment is worth 100 points. Also, an objective quiz will be given on the reading during the first week of school in addition to a scored class discussion. Due Date: Due on the first day of the 2007/2008 school year. Late assignments will be accepted on the second day of school but will be penalized 2 letter grades; NO assignments will be accepted after the second day of school—NO EXCUSES! If you choose, you may email me the assignment at any point during the summer. Use the following address: [email protected] . Be certain that you keep a HARD COPY on hand. If for some reason I do not receive or can not access the assignment via your email, I will not accept cyberspace problems as an excuse—you will be required to submit a hard copy on the first day of school like everyone else. Note: I encourage you to discuss the book and your thoughts with other members of the class; however, make certain that your answers are your own! Assignments that appear to be plagiarized will receive a “0” out of 100 points. Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World—WHAP-Summer 2007 Note: As much as possible, illustrate your responses with quotes from the book. 1. Why has it been difficult to get information about Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire until recently? Why has new information now become available? (introduction of book) 2. Describe Genghis Khan’s early life. What do you believe motivated him to become a leader, first of the Mongol people, and later of his huge empire? 3. What was unique about the Mongol military? How did this give them a significant advantage over their enemies? 4. How did Mongol rule compare with that of other kingdoms and empires of the day in terms of: a)trade; b)religious freedom; c)the treatment of criminals and prisoners of war; d)the treatment of aristocrats and the rule of law. 5. How did the “Pax Mongolica” (Mongol Peace) contribute to the development of a new, global culture? 6. How did the bubonic plague epidemic of the 1300s lead to the destruction of the Mongol Empire? 7. In the author’s view, what part of the world benefited the most from the Mongols? Why? 8. How did the image of Genghis Khan and the Mongols change into one of subhuman barbarians for modern Europeans? Why were modern Asians interested in restoring a more positive image of Genghis Khan and the Mongols? 9. After reading the book, what are your general feelings about Genghis Khan and the Mongols? How do you feel about the importance of understanding history? World History—Advanced Placement (WHAP) 2007/2008 Summer Reading Assignment Book: The Human Story (Our History from the Stone Age to Today) Author: James C. Davis Publisher: HarperCollins, 2004 (available in paperback and hardback) Availability: may be purchased at Barnes and Noble or Books-a-Million stores in Baton Rouge (they may have to order it); available via the internet from both of the previous sources or from Amazon.com, half.com, and other sites. Books Plus will likely also have some copies. Assignment: Completely read the first three chapters of the book (less than 50 pages). You may want to take a few notes as you go for reference sake. We will discuss the various parts of the first three chapters as we address the related topics and time periods in class. Note: this book will be used as a source reader throughout the year so hang on to it!