How World History and World Literature are integrated in the 10th grade year.
World History and World Literature is an interdisciplinary, team taught course that aims to combine literature and historical ideas. One of the team’s main objectives is to get you to question why individuals and nations made certain decisions throughout history. You will explore who you are and where you fit in the world through asking yourself important questions about why people (fiction or nonfiction) and nations make certain decisions.
We try to use a variety of assignments, projects, and activities to make the class interesting. Having a lot of assignments means having the opportunity to demonstrate your intellectual capabilities in a variety of ways. However, having a variety of activities means that you will be expected to work diligently especially with activities that do not come easily for you. You will be successful if you complete assignments, essays and projects, are prepared for tests and participate in class discussions and Socratic seminars.
II. Course Information
Throughout the year, we will cover seven units. Here is the list of topics, important questions, and literature we will encounter this year. Questions in bold are the official unit questions.
Unit 1- The Quest for Democracy (Semester 1)
Unit Question(s) / Content / Corresponding Literature (English)* Why is democracy so difficult?
*What is the duty of the state to the individual and what is the duty of the individual to the state?
*What is the role of the middle class in a society?
*What is the relationship between humanity and religion?
*What are human rights?
* Can violence ever be justified? / * Origins and history of Democracy
* Classical Civilization to Enlightenment
* Glorious Revolution
* American Revolution
* French Revolution
* Rise of Napoleon / * Robert Frost’s Mending Walls
* Plato’s Allegory of the Cave
* Charles Dickens’ Tale of Two Cities
Unit 2- Century of Change (Semester 1)
Unit Question(s) / Content / Corresponding Literature (English)*What is the cost of progress?
*What is progress?
*What is civilization?
*What motivates colonial expansion?
*What is the impact of colonialism on indigenous people? / * Napoleon
* Revolutions of 1830 and 1848
* Industrial Age
* Imperialism
* Capitalism v. Socialism
*Industrial Revolution on trial / *Things Fall Apart- Chinua Achebe
* “The Second Coming” by W.B. Yeats
Unit 3- Searching for Truth in the 20th Century (Semester 1)
Unit Question / Content / Corresponding Literature (English)*Is war really a choice?
*Is it human nature to be violent?
*When and why does propaganda have a strong influence over individuals?
*What creates enmity between people? / *WWI
*Human Behavior: conformity/altruism
*Influence of propaganda and dehumanizing images
*Expressionism in Art
*Rhetoric Project as semester final / *All Quiet on the Western Front- Erich Remarque
* "In Flander's Fields"- John McCrae
* "Dulce et Decorum Est"- Wilfred Owen
Unit- 4 Russian and Chinese Revolutions (Semester 2)
Unit Question / Content / Corresponding Literature*Why do so many revolutions fail? / * Russian Revolution
* Rise of Stalin
* Chinese Revolution
* Revolutionary Cycle / * Animal Farm- Orwell
* “I Have a Dream” – MLK
* Harrison Bergeron- Kurt Vonnegut
Unit 5- WWII and Holocaust (Semester 2)
Unit Question / Content / Corresponding Literature/Films*Who is responsible for the war and the Holocaust?
*Why do individuals seek power?
*Why are charismatic leaders so appealing?
*Does “total power” lead to good or corruption? / * Rise of fascism/Hitler
* Holocaust
* WWII / * Night- Wiesel
* Schindler’s List
* Enemy at the Gates
* Life is Beautiful
* Saving Private Ryan
* Band of Brothers
Unit 6- Cold War (Semester 2)
Unit Question / Content / Corresponding Literature*What is the price of becoming a world power?
* What happens to society with the introduction of technology?
* What is mutually assured destruction (MAD)? How does this change warfare?
* Why are “communist” countries oppressive dictatorships? Why must they control information?
* Why did the US use propaganda during the Cold War? Were our motivations different from the Soviet Union’s? / *Cold War
* Nuclear Weapons
* Korea and Vietnam Wars / * “Burning Bright” William Blake
* George Marshall’s speech
Unit 7- The Current State of the World and a reflection of the year(Semester 2)
Unit Question / Content / Corresponding Literature/Films* What is the state of the world? Is it getting better, worse, or has it remained the same?
* Are all humans born with a capacity for great evil?
* Would it be possible for you and your friends to commit such horrific acts in the name of revenge? Why or why not? / * The Better Story Project / * Martel’s Life of Pi