AP WORLD HISTORY A
WALTON HIGH SCHOOL
FALL SEMESTER, 2015
Mr. Matthew J. Edelstein, Instructor
I. Course Materials:
A. Issued Textbooks:
· Stearns, Peter N., et al., World Civilizations: The Global Experience. Fifth Edition. New York: Pearson Longman. 2007.
B. Outside Reading:
· McNeill, J.R and William H. McNeill. The Human Web, A Bird’s-Eye View of World History. New York: W.W. Norton and Company. 2003.
II. General Information about AP World History
AP World History…
o is a course that covers the basic developments and interactions within and between the different major cultural regions of the world from 8000 BCE – through the present. It is not a typical “Western Civilization” taught under the name “World History”
o is a course that requires the student to be able to critically analyze major historical trends and documents within and between time periods and cultures. These major trends, which will be focused upon within the basic topics of each unit, are attached to this syllabus.
o requires mature study and work habits of nightly study and reading to insure full understanding of the materials; it is the equivalent of a two-semester college-level introductory survey in world history taught in a college environment.
o involves the learning of critical thinking skills – especially those of Crafting Historical Arguments from Historical Evidence, Chronological Reasoning (e.g. cause and effect; change and continuity over time; periodization), Comparison and Contextualization, and Historical interpretation and synthesis
o is a writing-intensive course that requires mastery of three different types of essays: The Comparative, Change-and Continuity-over-Time, and Document Based Question Essays. Each has a particular set of scoring rubrics
III. Rules and Expectations:
A. Classroom Rules: There are only five simple rules for this class.
· Students must be in the classroom when the late bell finishes ringing. The school-sanctioned tardy policy will be enforced (see student handbook).
· Do not talk when others are talking.
· Food and sodas are not allowed. Only water in a container with a lid is acceptable per department policy. Candy and gum is okay as long as it and any wrappers are disposed of properly.
· Electronic devices, such as, but not limited to, smartphones, calculators (with games on it), cameras, etc. are not allowed unless directed by the teacher.
· Please do not touch the teacher’s computers, books, whiteboard, etc. without permission!
B. Expectations:
1. Student Expectations: All students will be expected to perform at the very highest level of their ability. If absent, the student will ask the teacher or a classmate for missing assignments (and have the same number of days absent to make-up the work only if their absence is excused). Also, students returning from being absent will present notes/excuses to the teacher upon returning (I will not ask you for them!). The students will respect everyone in the classroom at all times. The students are expected to know and respect the fact that that the teacher has the right to teach. Make-ups for exams, essays, and quizzes will be given on WEB or by appointment. LATE WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED UNLESS THERE IS AN EXCUSED ABSENCE OR OTHER SERIOUS/EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCE AT THE TEACHER’S DISCRESSION! All assignments are due on the given due date. There is NO PARTIAL CREDIT FOR LATE WORK. Missing assignments and/or tests due to non-completion of make-up work resulting from absences will result in a grade of zero (0). All in-class essays will be written in blue or black ink (NOT IN PENCIL). Students may study together inside or outside of class; however, students are expected to turn in work that is their own (see the Academic Dishonesty section of your student handbook for more information).
2. Teacher Expectations: The teacher will teach at the very best of his ability. The teacher will grade all student work based on accuracy and performance.
3. The Blog: http://waltonhigh.typepad.com/edelstein/ap-world-history/
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CHECKING THIS SITE WEEKLY FOR ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DOWNLOADING AND PRINTING THE WEEKLY CALENDAR (WHICH WILL BE POSTED WEEKLY).
IV. Grading Policy:
A. The course grade is based on the following percentages:
· Essays = 35%
· Multiple Choice Quizzes and Reading Quizzes = 35%
· Daily and Homework Grades = 15%
· Final Exam (first semester only) = 15%
B. Three in-class quizzes on assignments from The Human Web will be given first semester. See below under each unit for further details.
C. The first semester final exam is MANDATORY for all students in the course and cannot be exempted per school policy.
D. Per administration and school policy, there will be no extra credit assignments or opportunities!
V. Other Information:
A. Contacting the Teacher
· The WHS Voice Mail System: (770) 578-3225 x538
· e-mail:
· blog: http://waltonhigh.typepad.com/edelstein/ap-world-history/
· Extra Help: Monday 3:45- 4:30 PM, Thursday 7:45 – 8:15 AM and during WEBs
B. Bathroom Privileges:
Passes to the restroom or clinic will be issued for emergencies only. Students should have their own school issued agenda to be issued a pass.
C. Course Differentiation:
AP World History is a year-long advanced academic course designed to meet the
needs and challenges of gifted and high achieving students in Cobb County Schools.
Students who qualify for gifted services are taught by a gifted-certified teacher during
this course every day. Learning is differentiated through in-depth analysis of events
and sources, and formal essay assignments. All students will be required to take
the fall semester final exam, per the school's AP program specifications
regardless of the incentive policy. During the spring semester students are
expected to complete the course by taking the nationally-normed and scored AP
Test. On the other hand, students who do not take the AP test at the end of the
year will take a final exam of equal rigor as the national AP test and will receive
credit for Honors World History, not AP World History. This will also be
reflected on their official transcript from the school. Furthermore, as a full-year
AP course, students may not "drop" this course or change course level without
teacher recommendation (or at all, if a waiver was signed)
D. PLEASE NOTE: The teacher reserves the right to change the policies, procedures,
rules, and grading system of this course at any time to better address the physical and
learning needs of the students.
VI. Overall Units of Study
UNIT 1: Technological and Environmental Transformations to c. 600 BCE: (August 3 – August 18; but the end-of-unit essay will be on August 21)
Major Reading Assignments:
1. World Civilizations: Part 1 (Chapter 1)
2. The Human Web: Chapters 1-3
Basic Topics:
1. Paleolithic Lifeways
2. The Development of Farming and Early Villages vs. continued
pastoralism
3. Early “Core” Civilizations (Early Mesopotamia; Shang
through Zhou China; Indus River Valley; Egypt, Olmecs in
Mesoamerica and Early South America)
4. Development of technology, social complexity, trade and transportation
Other Skills:
1. Historical Dating Systems and Periodization
2. Crafting Historical Arguments
3. The Comparative Essay
4. Document Analysis (POV) skills
Major Assessments
1. Periodic (unannounced) reading quiz(zes) over the textbook assignments
2. Multiple Choice Reading Quiz on The Human Web, Chapters 1-3 (August 14)
3. Comparative Essay (August 18)
UNIT 2: Organization and Reorganization of Human Societies c. 600 BCE – c. 600 CE: (August 19 – September 15)
Major Reading Assignment: World Civilizations: Part 2 (Chapters 2-5)
Basic Topics:
1. Social, cultural, technological, governmental, economic, and
artistic/architectural developments of the major Classical World
Civilizations (Mesopotamian and Persian Empires; Zhou
through Han China; Mauryan and Gupta South Asia; Phoenicia, Greece and Rome; Kush and Axum; Ghana and Mali; Teotihuacan and the Mayan City-states in Mesoamerica; Moche in Andean South America)
2. Development and spread of Major World Religions/Belief Systems
3. Emergence of trans-regional systems of trade and communication
Other Skills:
1. Historical Periodization and interpretation
2. The Comparative Essay
3. Document Analysis (POV) skills
Major Assessments
1. Periodic (unannounced) reading quizzes over the textbook assignments
2. Informational quizzes (dates to be announced)
3. Comparative essay test over the information in the unit (September 20)
UNIT 3: Regional and Transregional Interactions c. 600 – c. 1450 CE: (September 16 – October 30)
Major Reading Assignments:
1. World Civilizations: Part 3 (Chapters 6-15)
2. The Human Web: Chapters 4-5
Basic Topics:
1. Development and continuation/expansion of trade routes and
Commercialization by states
2. Migrations (such as the Bantu and Polynesians)
3. Cross-cultural exchanges (such as Crusades; transfer of technology,
diseases, religion along trade routes)
4. Changes/continuities in socio-economic systems (agriculture, urbanization,
labor systems, gender/family systems)
5. Focus Societies/Topics: Islam and the Muslim empire; Imperial China,
Byzantine/Slavic Eastern Europe; Feudal Western Europe; Mongol
Empire(s); Delhi Sultanate, Imperial/Feudal Japan, Songhai in Africa
Other Skills:
1. Historical Periodization
2. The Continuity-and-Change Over Time (CCOT) Essay
3. Advanced Document Analysis and other DBQ skills
Major Assessments
1. Periodic (unannounced) reading quizzes over the textbook assignments
2. Informational quizzes (dates to be announced)
3. Multiple Choice reading quiz on The Human Web Chapters 4&5 (date to be
announced )
4. Mid-unit CCOT Essay (date to be announced)
5. DBQ – pair outline (date to be announced)
6. CCOT essay test over the information in the unit (November 1)
UNIT 4: Global Interactions c. 1450 – c. 1750 CE: (November 2 – December 18)
Major Reading Assignments:
1. World Civilizations: Part 4 (Chapters 16 – 22)
2. The Human Web: Chapter 6
Basic Topics:
1. Globalization of Communication and Exchange: European and Chinese
exploration; European trade domination/colonization (Colombian
Exchange, Silver Exchange) due to technological developments; continued
spread of religions to new areas (e.g. Christianity to the New World)
2. New forms of social organizations and modes of production: slavery,
encomienda and other forced labor systems; plantation systems; socio-
economic and family system changes and continuities (i.e. based on race,
wealth, gender, place of origin)
3. Empire and Imperial Expansion (due to colonization, new technologies
(especially gunpowder), use of religion and class, imperial competition)
4. Focus Societies/Topics: Renaissance/Reformation and intellectual
expansion of European Maritime Empires (e.g. Spain, Portugal, England,
France); Aztec and Inca Empires; Central Asian “Gunpowder Empires”
(Ottoman, Mugal, Safavid); Ming and Qing China; Japanese Unification
and Tokugawa Period; Russia under Peter the Great; Kongo
Other Skills:
1. Historical Periodization
2. Crafting/Writing the DBQ Essay
Major Assessments:
1. Periodic (unannounced) reading quizzes over the textbook assignments
2. One informational quiz (date to be announced)
3. In-Class DBQ essay (date to be announced)
4. Multiple Choice Reading Quiz over The Human Web Chapter 6 (date to be
announced)
5. Cumulative Final Exam (December 18, 19, 20 depending on your class
period)