AP European History Course Syllabus 2011-12 - Mr. Metcalf

General Course Description

The Advanced Placement European History course teaches students a knowledge of the basic events and movements that occurred in Europe from approximately 1450 to the Present. As is suggested by the College Board’s Course Description pamphlet (a.k.a. the “Acorn Book”), these events and movements are grouped into three academic themes: political/diplomatic history, intellectual/cultural history, and socio-economic history. In addition to providing a basic narrative of European History and understanding the aforementioned interrelated themes, the focused objectives in our class are twofold: (1) students are to develop an ability to analyze historical evidence and historical interpretation, as well as (2) develop an ability to express their own historical understanding in writing.

Just as the College Board chronologically separates its multiple choice test questions into two halves (pre- and post 1815), the first semester of our class is dedicated to the major events that occur between the Renaissance and the rise of Metternich’s Congress System (1450-1814), while the second semester begins with the Industrial Revolution and proceeds into the 19th and 20th centuries (1815-Present). Please see the online course outline for details.

SUPPLIES for the course include a pen, pencil, three-ring binder, and loose-leaf notebook paper (no fringes are allowed). Also, you will need a notecard box and a slew of 4x6 notecards; we will be taking many notes on these cards. These items will be needed on a daily basis; other materials for special projects (colored pencils, glue, posterboard, etc.) will be announced in advance.

The required TEXTBOOK for the class will be Chamber’s The Western Experience (7th Edition). This is a weighty tome and is written at a college reading level. I strongly recommend that students find and purchase a second copy of our textbook so that they can read, highlight, and take copious notes in them. There will also be numerous handouts, maps, primary source documents, and other valuable pieces of information to pick up along the way. Students will also be reading supplementary paperbacks (Voltaire’s Candide and Orwell’s Animal Farm), which are available at Barnes and Noble or the local library.

The STUDENT CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINE plans are online at the CHHS website (www.gcisd-chhs.org) and are outlined in the student handbook. Consequences for rule violations will be handled as stated in the handbook. Make smart decisions.

Daily GRADES and quizzes account for 30% of the total grades each six weeks, and major tests count for almost half (40%). Special assignments, homework, and projects make up the final 30%. We will be using a number of different assessment methods, such as oral presentations, primary source research, written exams, classroom simulations and role-playing, video/film analysis and production, vocabulary tests, artistic creations, and many other new and innovative ways to monitor student progress. Always remember that you are not in competition with your fellow colleagues for grades – you are all in this together. STUDENTS IN AP EUROPEAN HISTORY ARE A COHESIVE UNIT WORKING TOWARD A COMMON GOAL – SUCCESS ON THE AP TEST!

CLASS EXPECTATIONS are simple, but very important in contributing to a positive classroom climate: Be positive, have a sense of humor. Be punctual and have your necessary supplies with you. Respect and support the opinions and work of your classmates as well as your own. Take care of restroom needs before the bell (in-class bathroom trips are marked as a “tardy”). Listen, follow directions, and ask questions. Most importantly, be ACTIVE in the learning process, be creative, and use ALL of your potential.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT FOR HOMEWORK?

AP European History is a college prep course equivalent to the Western Civilizations course at most universities. Therefore, it will be taught at the level of a college course. Reading assignments will be 15-20 pages in length and will come often… the complete history of Modern Europe is a large body of information! In class, students can expect a DAILY QUIZ over the assigned readings and/or notes. It is imperative that you read, study, listen, discuss, and take thorough notes independently from the class lectures. Written work will be graded on content, legibility, spelling, and correct sentence structure (AP graders are admittedly influenced by this when grading DBQ’s and essays. Homework is typically collected on Mondays, although it is advisable to keep up with it throughout the week. Late work is only accepted for reduced credit. It is up to the student to keep track of the homework assignments posted on the class website.

WHAT EXACTLY IS THE AP TEST?

The National AP European History Exam is scheduled for the afternoon of FRIDAY, MAY 11. 2012. All students are expected to take the AP Exam. The test is 3 hours and 55 minutes long and consists of 80 multiple-choice questions, two free-response essays (FRQ’s) and a document-based essay (DBQ). Grades of 1-5 are earned; five is the superior score. Many universities award up to six hours of History credit if a score of 3 or higher is attained, while others require a 4 or 5. Some colleges do not grant AP credit for AP courses, so check with your specific university to determine its requirements. If college credit is not earned, you will still benefit from an intense and advanced course, which gives you a taste of what college-level work involves.

HAVE STUDENTS IN THE PAST BEEN SUCCESSFUL ON THE TEST?

According to The College Board, AP European History is statistically more difficult than most other AP courses. However, over the past 15 years, 97% of my students received a passing score of 3 or better on the AP Euro exam, which is an amazing 26 percentage points higher than the National Average (71%) and ranks my students’ AP scores in the top 1% in Texas, top 2% in the nation. I am also a grader for the AP Euro Exam, which gives my students a decided edge in their DBQ and FRQ preparation. In short, the answer to the above question is thankfully a resounding YES!

I would sincerely appreciate any student or parent input regarding lessons, content, and resources used during our studies together. If you have any questions, comments, or ideas, please feel free to call, write, or visit; I have a designated 8th period conference.

I look forward to working with you!

Ben Metcalf, M.Ed.

AP European History

817-305-4700 x2034