Download File - UHS AP World History Class

University High School - Advanced Placement World History
Teacher: Ms. Whitney Sheets and Ms. Meredith Tully
Email: [email protected]
Room: LL4, Lower Level in the Education Building
Advanced Placement World History will cover history from its beginnings to the present time. The course is
designed to prepare students for the College Board Advanced Placement World History Exam. The AP World
History Exam presumes at least one year of college-level preparation.
Course Description
The purpose of the AP World History course is to develop a greater understanding of the evolution of global
processes and contacts in different types of human societies over time. This course highlights the nature of
changes in global frameworks and their causes and consequences, as well as comparisons among major
societies.
Course Website
www.mssheetsapworldhistory.weebly.com
The course website includes the class schedule, information about homework and tests, lecture PowerPoints,
class documents, and Ms. Sheets’s contact information. It is imperative that students have access to this
website throughout the year.
Textbooks
Students will be expected to read throughout the year in conjunction with class lectures.
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Primary Textbook: Stearns, Peter N., et al. World Civilizations: The Global Experience. 5th edition. AP
Version. New York: Pearson Education, Inc., 2007.
Supplemental Textbook (available for student purchase): Wood, Ethel. AP World History: An Essential
Coursebook, 2nd Edition. WoodYard Publications.
Required Materials
Students are required to take notes. Students may keep a spiral notebook or a folder of printed-out
PowerPoints that they will take notes upon. Students may alternatively take notes on their laptops. Lecture
notes will be periodically collected for credit toward the final grade. Sloppy, incomplete or missing notes will
be given partial credit.
Students must also have a large 3-ring binder (preferably 2” or 3”) and five dividers (labeled Unit 1+2; Unit 3;
Unit 4; Unit 5; Unit 6).
Remind101
This course uses the free Remind101 texting system to communicate announcements from the instructor to the
students. To join, please text @71fca to 81010.
Course Schedule
The AP World History course will be divided into six units. Students will also write multiple AP essays
throughout the year. Each Unit Exam will be 55 questions and students will have 55 minutes to complete the
exam (just as the AP Test will be). Essays will vary in time allotted, though all will be written in class
throughout the year. The tests taken in class and the essays written in class will simulate the actual way the AP
test will be administered. Students are also required to complete primary and secondary source reading
assignments. While there will be readings corresponding to every chapter, students will only have to complete
five of these reading per unit – it is up to the student to choose which of the five readings they complete, and it
is also up to the student to keep track of how many they have completed, etc.
General Course Policies
 Attendance is critical to student success at University High School. Absences can result in missed
information, which can affect the student grades. If you are absent, it is YOUR responsibility to
ascertain what you have missed. There are numerous ways to do this: check the class website; ask a
friend; read the textbook; check the classroom schedule.
 Please be on time. Tardiness interrupts the education process, not only for the student, but for the
teacher and other students as well.
 Electronic devices (including, but not limited to: cell phones, iPods, calculators) are not to be used in
class. In addition, they are not allowed to be out during the duration of an exam, EVEN IF the student
has already turned in their exam.
 Students may not work on other homework during class.
 Reading the textbook is an expectation for this course. It is not feasible to cover all the material in your
textbook during class; it is the student’s responsibility to keep up with the textbook readings or any
other assigned readings.
 Test taking will simulate the actual AP.
 I am available during Conference period and after-school in Room LL4. If you need to meet with me at
another time, ask or email.
 There is extra credit offered for this course. It is only in formats designated by Ms. Sheets and is not
offered to students on a case by case basis. Since this is extra credit, there is no negotiation on this
matter.
o One of the extra credit opportunities is an extra credit final exam given after the final exam. If a
student is absent on this day, for any reason, they will not be allowed to take the extra credit
final exam.
 After all students have taken a particular quiz or test, students are welcome to come either during
Conference period or after school to look at their individual exam. Class time will not be spent on this,
so students must budget their time accordingly.
 This syllabus is subject to change at the instructor’s discretion.
 The instructor’s decision to not enforce a policy listed here does not mean that the instructor may not
do so later on.
Grade Changes for the AP Exam
 This policy is utilized by all AP World and AP European History teachers in the UHS Social Studies
Department.
 If a student scores a 4 on the AP, one semester grade will be raised by one letter grade. If the student
scores a 5 on the AP, both semester grades will be raised one letter grade. This arrangement does not
apply to semester grades that were originally an F.
Late Work and Missed Exams
 Assignments are due at the beginning of class, unless otherwise stated. Students will have until the
Unit Exam for that particular unit to turn in any late work; after the Unit Exam, any homework from
that unit will no longer be accepted. Assignments turned in late will be reduced by 20%.
o Late work is due on the day of the Unit Exam, regardless of whether a student attends school
that day or not. If a student is absent, their late work must be emailed.
 Missed tests, quizzes, and essays must be scheduled to take after-school, during lunch or during
Conference time. Students have one week from the date of the test/quiz/essay to take the
test/quiz/essay or students will forfeit the opportunity to make up the assignment.
 Assignments will not be passed back until all are graded.
Exam Corrections
 Students may make exam corrections for two unit exams or chapter exams a semester. Students may,
on their own time, come to LL4 to correct their exam. Students have two weeks from the date of the
exam to complete test corrections. For every question corrected, students will receive half a point back.
When doing exam corrections, students must hand their cellphone to Ms. Sheets to ensure test security.
Any student who jeopardizes test security by copying exam questions, taking photos of the exam, etc.,
will receive a zero for the exam and be referred to administration.
Grading Scale
A = 100-89.5% B= 89.4-79.5% C= 79.4-69.5% D= 69.4-59.5%
F= 59.4% and below
Because this grading scale has rounding accounted for, there will be no rounding when issuing quarter or
semester grades. There are no exceptions.
UHS Honor Code Policy & Plagiarism
The UHS Honor Code will be implemented at all times in this class. Any instances of cheating or plagiarism
will result in a zero on the assignment, with no opportunity to replace the grade, and will be referred to the
administrators. Plagiarism can range from copying from a peer to an internet/textbook source.
AP World History
Ms. Sheets and Ms. Tully
I have read and understand the course syllabus for AP World History. I understand that my child
will need internet access for this course and will need a 3-ring binder with dividers; I will let Ms.
Sheets or Ms. Tully know if my student does not have internet access to accommodations can be
made. I also understand that the UHS Honors Code will be upheld within this class and UHS
administration will be notified of any infractions.
Student Name (print): ________________________________________________________________
Parent Signature: ______________________________________________________________
Parent Email (please print):
1) (Primary) ______________________________________________________________
2) (Alternate)______________________________________________________________