International Baccalaureate: History of the Americas (HOTA)
Mrs. Canada Snyder
Email:
Class Website: www.historylearner.com
“Office Hours”: 7:30-9:15 & 2:15-3:10, M-F
In this course the US history competencies will be covered for US history credit recognized by the State of Iowa.
IB Mission Statement: “The IB Organization aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To this end IBO works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment. These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.” November 2002
IB History of the Americas Course Description: “History is more than the study of the past. It is the process of recording, reconstructing and interpreting the past through the investigation of a variety of sources. It is a discipline that gives people an understanding of themselves and others in relation to the world, both past and present. History of the Americas covers major developments in the region from around 1760-2000: independence movements; the challenges of nation-building; the emergence of the Americas in global affairs; the Great Depression; the Second World War and the Cold War; and their impact on the region, as well as transition into the 21st century. Within each section political, economic, and social issues are considered and, when relevant, cultural aspects are included. The countries of the Americas form a region of great diversity but close historical links.”
IB HL & SL Information: All 10th graders in the course are deemed “SL (standard level)” for this year, as they are not diploma programme candidates until 11th grade. All 11th graders in this course are deemed “HL (higher level)” as they are diploma programme candidates. All students will complete the same requirements; however, HL students (11th grade) will be tested over the material in 12th grade. If 10th grade students become diploma programme candidates, they will be tested their 12th grade year as well, but will have nearly 3 years of “prep.” The areas of study for IB History as selected by Central Academy teachers include:
Route 2: 20th Century World History
-Prescribed Topics (also known as Paper 1): Communism and Crisis 1976-1989
-Topics (also known as Paper 2): Topic 3: Origins and development of authoritarian and single-party states
Topic 5: The Cold War
*Topic 4: Nationalist and independence movements in Africa and Asia and post 1945 Central and Eastern European states (this one will be covered in 12th grade)
-HL Topic: History of the Americas (also known as Paper 3): Topic3: US Civil War Causes, Course and Effects 1840-1877
Topic 9: Political Developments in the Americas after WWII 1945-1979
Topic 10: Cold War and the Americas 1945-1981
*see class website for a description on the papers.
Resources:
· History of the Americas: Course Companion by Berliner, Leppard, Mamaux, Rogers & Smith. Published by Oxford University Press, 2011.
· Born in Blood and Fire: A Concise History of Latin America by John Charles Chasteen. Published by WW Norton & Company, 2011.
· Consider the Source: Documents in Latin American History by Julie Charlip
· Latin America’s Cold War by Hal Brands
· US Presidents and Latin American Interventions: Pursuing Regime Change in the Cold War by Michael Grow
· A Brief History of Canada by Roger Riendeau. Published by Fitzhenry and Whiteside, 2000.
· A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn.
· Looking for History: Dispatches from Latin America by Alma Guillermoprieto
· My Name is Victoria by Victoria Donda
· Great Issues in American History Volumes 1-3by Richard Hofstadter
· Additional documents, texts and sources as selected by teacher.
Topics/Course of Study:
There are 12 topics for study in this course. The 3 topics in bold will be covered in-depth to help you complete Paper 3.
1. Independence Movements
2. Nation-building and challenges
3. US Civil War: Causes, course and effects 1840-1877
4. Development of modern nations 1865-1929
5. Emergence of the Americas in global affairs 1880-1929
6. Mexican Revolution 1910-1940
7. Great Depression and the Americas 1929-1939
8. The Second World War and the Americas 1933-1945
9. Political developments in the Americas after the second World War 1945-1979
10. Cold War and the Americas 1945-1981
11. Civil Rights and social movements in the Americas
12. Into the 21st century-from the 1980s to 2000
Grading:
Grades are updated often in Infinite Campus. Please check your grade often.
87.5-100% A Homework, Classwork, Projects, Reading Journals: 35%
79.5-87.4% B Tests, Quizzes, Essays and Papers: 40%
69.5-79.4% C Participation: 8%
59.5-69.4% D Internal Assessment: 10%
59.4% and below F Semester Finals: 7%
Coursework:
Reading. Each student is responsible for reading the assigned material. This includes selections from the textbooks, printed readings, and online readings. All students will keep reading notes in their 3 ring binder. The notes must include unit #/title and a title of the reading/notes.
Note taking. The class is taught in discussion and lesson format, with plenty of opportunities for asking questions and/or expressing viewpoints. Students are expected to take notes. Writing what you hear requires paying attention and processing the material. These activities improve your comprehension and retention of information. If you are absent, please copy someone else’s notes. View the note-taking guide on our class website to learn Cornell note-taking. It works well for lectures and text reading. Again, title class notes with unit #/name and topic title.
Homework. Many of your assignments will include reading, but you will have written assignments, i.e., ID’s, completion sheets, and reaction papers. Some assignments may be overnight; others may be over several days. Copying homework is cheating. This will result in complete loss of points for both parties. Copying from Wikipedia is shortsighted and often results in misinformation and misunderstanding. Homework must be completed on time; late work is not accepted.
Participation. Much learning takes place from the exchanging of ideas. Class discussions are an excellent place for this to happen. Remember, history is analyzing and interpreting the past. Your participation is REQUIRED. Please be prepared to share your thoughts and ideas. Good class participation could boost that B++ up to an A-.
Projects. By definition, projects are greater (worth more points and requiring more effort) than homework assignments. These could be oral histories, group presentations, or papers. All projects are due on the day assigned whether you are present or not.
Testing. Tests will be in essay format in accordance with IB papers. Taking tests late is not a good idea, and will be seriously frowned upon. Make-up tests, by nature, tend to be harder. In order to do well on the IB exams, students need to be at least at the C level. If a student is operating at less than a C, relearning and retesting may be necessary.
Internal Assessment (IA): Students must conduct a “historical investigation” as prescribed by IB. It will consist of 20% of the students’ IB grade in the Diploma Programme. We will spend much time, both in and outside of class, working on this project. Please note this is an absolute requirement for this class. If it is not finished on time, or if it does not fulfill the expectations as outlined by IB, the student’s grade will be severely impacted. Information concerning the IA can be found on our class website.
OPVL: Origin, Purpose, Value and Limitations. OPVL is part of your IA (see above), but we will complete several “mini” assignments using OPVL-including in your summer assignment.
Required Materials:
· 3-ring binder (min. 1 inch) with min. 12 dividers-one divider for each unit!!!
· Loose leaf paper
· Blue and black pens, pencils
· Access to internet and printer
Absences:
Because we move quickly through course material, it is important for students to attend every class; but we all get sick and have important commitments to meet outside of class. Therefore, it is YOUR responsibility to get your make-up work as soon as possible after you are absent. DO NOT ask what you missed at the beginning or end of class! I am busy wrapping up 1 class and prepping for another. I am available from 7:30-9:15 & 2:15-3:10 (often later) each day. EMAIL is a great option to ask what you missed (). I can easily reply, it creates a hard copy for you, and I can attach most assignments electronically. If you missed notes during the class, see a classmate that is trustworthy. I do not have notes for you to copy. Any work missed is due 1 week (this includes test and quizzes) after you are absent unless it is a long-term project or assignment due ahead of time-then it is due when previously assigned, even if you are absent! Example: You are absent March 2, all absent work is due by March 9, regardless if you have class that day. You are REQUIRED to write the date you were absent on the absent work or it will NOT count for credit! Sign up to make up quizzes and tests on the clipboard at the back of the room with date and time of make-up. Make sure it is within the week!
Class Expectations:
1. Be responsible-your grade is entirely up to you!
2. Be respectful of others and belongings. In other words, bring your own material and be nice!
3. Turn in all assignments on time.
4. Be on time.
5. No audio devices/cell phones in use—not even lying out on your desk…or in your lap…or in your purse…or in your ear…Get it? J
Class Website: Bookmark www.historylearner.com. Most assignments, readings, texts and information are placed here every day. If you do not have internet access at home, speak with me privately ASAP!