World History II Syllabus

Fall 2014

Hopewell High School

Mr. Johnson

Dear Students, Parent(s) and/or Guardian(s),

I would like to welcome you back to school. My name is Mr. Johnson, and I will be teaching the World History IIcourse this year.

World History II is an S.O.L. course which will culminate in astandardized state-wide exam. As defined by the Virginia’s History and Social Science Standards of Learning, World History II will “enable students to cover history and geography from 1500 A.D. to the present, with emphasis on Western Europe.”

This course will be a challenging one, with weight placed onreading, writing, document analysis, and the creation ofstudent-made products. Each unit will carry with it two types of assessment:

  • A multiple choice exam (usually 50-80 questions)
  • A unit project of varying formats (speech, class presentation, newsletter, web activity, etc.)

Course Website

I have created a classroom website ( with a vast array of materials to support students enrolled in WHII. Please use this resource on a weekly, if not daily, basis. On my website, you will find:

  • Course calendar – daily classroom agenda detailing activities, assignments and due dates
  • Units – Virtually every PowerPoint, handout, primary source, vocabulary list, and any other material used in class, sorted by unit and by daily lesson
  • SOL Test Prep – Games and other materials to help you review for the final exam.
  • Check Your Grade – Link to Parent Connection where you can view your grades for all assignments
  • Extra Credit – opportunities to earn additional points through analysis of news articles, test corrections and reviews of history-related movies
  • Contact Form – Type-able form that sends a message to my email address

Curriculum & Materials

I will issue one copy of the textbook each student which they may keep at home. A classroom set of textbooks will also be available so that students don’t have to lug around a heavy bookbag. However, students will need to bring several other materials to class:

  • Notebook paper
  • Pen (blue or black)
  • Pencil
  • Three ring binder (at least 2 inches)
  • Flash drive (optional)

Grading System

Nine Weeks GradesSemester Average

Classwork, Homework, Projects40%First Nine Weeks30%

Tests30%Second Nine Weeks30%

Quizzes30%Midterm Exam20%

Final Exam20%

Unit Projects

In addition to a multiple choice test, I will be assessing student’s knowledge of each unit based on their performance on a variety of projects, listed below (grading criteria for each of these assignments can be found on my website).

Unit # / Topic / Project
1 / Major Religions & World Empires / Museum Display
2 / Renaissance & Reformation / Religious Tract
3 / Exploration & Global Trade / Newscast Presentation
4 / From Absolutism to Enlightened Revolutions / Roundtable Discussion & “Sackboy”
5 / Legacy of the Enlightenment & Napoleon / “Rally the Troops” Speech
6 / Industrialization & Imperialism / Invention Triptych
7 / World War I & the Interwar Period / Propaganda Poster
8 / World War II & 20th Century Genocide / “Total War” Roundtable Discussion
9 / Cold War & Decolonization / Great Leaders Project
10 / Contemporary Challenges / Roundtable Discussion: Globalization & Terrorism

Honor Code

Cheating and plagiarism will result in a grade of zero for the given assignment.

Discipline & Dress Code

Students are expected to follow all school rules and the dress code outlined in their student handbooks. Additionally, students should adhere to the school-wide “R4” policy:

  • Respect for yourself
  • Respect for others
  • Respect for property
  • Respect for learning

If any infractions of school or classroom rules occur, the following consequences will result:

  • 1st Offense – Student-teacher conference in hallway
  • 2nd Offense – Parent-teacher-student conference via telephone
  • 3rd Offense – Referral to administrator
  • Severe Offense – Referral to administrator

How to Contact Me

In addition to sending home progress reports, I plan to call parents a few times a semester to talk on a one-on-one basis. In the meantime, if you would like to contact me, I can be reached by phone at H.H.S. (804.541.6402) or by email (). I am located in Room 205 and invite parents and/or guardians to stop by anytime to introduce themselves, discuss a child's academic progress, and volunteer for in-school activities.

I look forward to an exciting and productive semester!

Sincerely,

John Johnson

Hopewell High School

Please sign and date to acknowledge that you have read and agree with the information provided above.

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