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COURSE SYLLABUS
HISTORY IS THE MOST FUN YOU CAN HAVE IN HIGH SCHOOL!
Ms. Jennifer LaFemina
jlafemina@cbsd.org #2678932300 ex. 2435
The World History course at CBHSE is designed to help students:
Think critically
Write persuasively
Discuss articulately
Overview: World History is about people and their problems. Their struggles, solutions, failures and
successes are the story of history. I hope to persuade you that it is a fascinating story. Many think
the subject is very broad, with huge amount of available information, and from one perspective, that
view is correct. However, it is also true that world history is in some ways a specialized topic: it
studies those topics and issues that are global or hemispheric in nature. It is not the study of the
multitude of details that is available for the study of any given locality or society.
Our question for the semester:
"What is the world historical significance of the experience which we are discussing?
Goals: We will use seven Habits of Mind and a series of six overarching themes to develop a greater
understanding of the evolution of global processes and contacts.
Habit of Mind and Skills: (This course is about ‘doing’ history…)
How do historians…
Use evidence to construct and evaluate arguments?
Use point of view, context, and bias to analyze diverse interpretations?
Understand and interpret information?
Assess change and continuity over time?
Understand the relationship between local and global developments?
Make comparisons within and among societies?
Understand diverse ideas and values in their historical context?
World History Themes:
Why do societies interact? What happens when they interact?
What is change? What is continuity? How are change & continuity related?
How do people interact (technology) with and change the environment?
How has the function of state changed?
Why do societies develop different social structures?
What cultural and intellectual developments have shaped world history?
Course Units of Study (Chronological boundaries of the course)
1. Introduction
2. Enlightenment, French Revolution, and Napoleon
3. Restoration, Romanticism, Industrial Revolution, and Nationalism
4. Imperialism and the NonWestern World
5. World War I
6. Revolution and Nationalism
7. Years of Crisis and World War II
8. Post WorldWar
Course Requirements & Policies
1. Be prompt, prepared, productive
Prompt = in your seat when the bell rings, notebook and homework ready to go
Prepared = all assignments and readings are completed on time, an open mind, ready for discussions
Productive= use time wisely, try not to procrastinate, take active part in each & every class period
2. Participation
Our course will depend on your lively participation. I feel that knowledge is created – we create it
together by discussing and debating!!!! There are participation points per quarter. Participation will
be based on your preparation for class, content of contributions, leadership, respecting the ideas of
others, and your use of language. I need one promise from you to make our class amazing – READ.
Class is so much more interesting and fun when you do.
Please Note If a student has not completed a class reading assignment the student must
see me BEFORE class. Each student is given ONE “free day” per quarter without penalty.
If there was something that you did not understand on an assignment or reading, please see
me in homeroom or before school. (This does not excuse you from a quiz or homework).
3. Absences
A. If you are absent, see me before or after school (send me an email in the evening)
B. Get the notes from a friend
C. If you are in school, but not in class, on a due date – assignments must still be submitted or
It is counted as late
D. Field trips Work must be submitted that morning or work will be counted as late
If we are having a test, you should take it before school prior to leaving on the field trip
*See me for special arrangements PRIOR to a field trip or other planned absences
E. Unexcused Tardy According to school policy, coming late to school (without a valid
excuse) results in an unexcused tardy therefore assignments, class work, and quizzes
will result in no credit
F. Unexcused Absence – According to school policy, unexcused absences will result in
NO opportunity to make up activities, assignments or tests
Unexcused absences will result in the loss of participation points for that day.
G. Cutting class – Results in a zero for the day’s activities and a loss of participation points
H. Make up time due to an EXCUSED absence –
According to school policy (pg.13)…
*You have the same number of days absent including tests
*If absent on the day of a long term assignment, students must submit it the first day
back to class
* If you are absent on the day of a test make ups are done outside of class time and
will be a different version from the rest of the class
4. ALL Assignments (not all daily assignments will be checked)
The expectation is that assignments are complete and ready on day due.
*Late work One day late = no more than 75% of the total value
Two – five days late = no more than 50% total value
More than five days late = 0%
* Please, do not finish homework in the minutes before class begins, I will not accept it
5. Evaluations
There are a variety of evaluations including journals, homework, simulations, fishbowls, miniprojects, quizzes, unit exams
and essays. If your written work is ‘not yet’ up to a “C” you will not get a grade and will rewrite your essay, with my help.
Your essay will be rescored and worth the average of the two scores.
6. Final Grades
Quarter and final grades are calculated using percentage points. There is rounding up on marking period and final grades.
Each quarter is worth 40% of your overall grade. The final exam is worth 20% of your final grade and consists of a
multiplechoice exam and an essay.
Grading Scale A = 100 – 93% A= 9290%
B+= 8987 B=8683% B=8280%
C+=7977% C=7673% C=72=70%
D+=6967% D=6663% D=6260%
F= 590%
7. Academic Integrity VERSUS copying, cheating & plagiarism (pgs. 22 and 24 in handbook)
I look forward to creating a challenging and supportive room based on honesty, trust and risk taking. I want to learn about
you and your ideas. I take this issue very seriously.
Plagiarism = copying someone's ideas from any source classmate, Internet, book, etc.
Any time you use ideas from another source, it must be cited (MLA style)
Cheating – copying someone’s work and representing it as your own OR allowing someone to copy work. It
includes copying work for an assignment, such as homework, term papers, etc, as well as using cell
phones,
graphing calculators, and other “cheat sheets.”
Consequences – Plagiarized work and cheating will result in a zero for the activity.
If the plagiarized work was for a major grade student must redo with a maximum grade
potential of 50%
Copying will result in a zero for all parties.
Please review the attached guidelines for more descriptions and take the online tutorial.
Given that you are all advanced students there will be NO second chances in this area.
KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A STUDY GROUP & DOING YOUR OWN WORK!
8. BONUS
There will be several opportunities for bonus in this course. The first main avenue for bonus points is by taking text/reading
notes. See Bonus Notes handout for details and guidelines. You may gain a total of up to 15 bonus points in this fashion
per quarter.
The second way is by enrichment reading. You may choose different novels/books to read for each unit. See Bonus
Reading and Writing handout for details and guidelines. You may gain a total of 10 bonus points per book, with a
maximum of 20 Bonus R &W bonus points per quarter.
Please refer to the Bonus Point sheet for other small events.
9. Stay on top of your reading
The class sessions will be organized on the assumption that students are keeping up with the reading that has been
assigned. This means that there will be times when names and/or events will be referred to in lectures with the
expectation that you are at least familiar with the name, term or concept. Class sessions will often deal with material that
is not covered in your text. My job is to pull things together for you, make connections, show patterns, and provide the
basis for lively class discussion. My job is not to go over the textbook. Be sure to do the outside readings. They will
appear on the quizzes and/or tests.
10. Mind reading As much as I try, I failed the mind reading course SO, please let me know how I can help you. My
goal is for YOU to be successful & to push yourself in some new ways :)
We have to keep the lines of communication open!
SO contact me – jlafemina@cbsd.org
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON THIS EXCITING ADVENTURE!
I LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING MUCH FROM YOU THIS SEMESTER!
MATERIALS & RESOURCES
1. Texts
Primary Text – Modern World History by McDougal Littell
Source materials - provided by Ms. LaFemina
2. Websites
Pennsylvania Academic Standards
The following are the Pennsylvania Academic Standards addressed in this course.
Pennsylvania’s public schools shall teach, challenge and support every student to realize his or her maximum
potential and to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to...
A. Evaluate chronological thinking.
B. Synthesize and evaluate historical comprehension.
C. Evaluate historical interpretation of events.
D. Synthesize historical research.
PA Standards World History
Pennsylvania’s public schools shall teach, challenge and support every student to realize his or her maximum
potential and to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to analyze the interaction of cultural, economic,
geographic, political and social relations to...
A. Evaluate the importance of individuals who have made a difference in the history of the world from 1450 to the
present.
B. Identify and evaluate the importance of historical evidence.
C. Evaluate how continuity and change throughout history has impacted commerce and industry, innovations,
settlement patterns, social organization, transportation and roles of women.
D. Evaluate the impact of religion and philosophical belief systems on cultures from 1450 to the present.
E. Evaluate how conflict and cooperation impacted world history from 1450 to the present.
STANDARDS OF ACADEMIC CONDUCT AND INTEGRITY
Your Keys To Success
Planning & organizing is the key – avoid procrastination
Ask questions
Get help early
Study maps
DON’T CHEAT THE BOOK READ, READ, READ
Your Rights in the Classroom
You have the right to be treated with respect in this classroom
You have the right to be yourself
You have the right to express yourself and be heard
You have the right to learn
Your Responsibilities in the Classroom
You are responsible for your own language and behavior
You are responsible for your attitude
You are responsible for you own work – academic honesty
You are responsible to your group during group activities
You are responsible to get to class on time and to be prepared
You are responsible for asking questions if something is unclear
You are responsible for not discussing information about a class exam or assignment
You are responsible to avoid plagiarism
You are responsible to understand the various forms of plagiarism and cheating
You are responsible to understand the consequences for plagiarism
You are responsible to have reviewed classroom policies and consequences
Integrity, honor, and dignity are integral and vital components of any learning environment. Academic integrity is rooted in
honesty and accountability. In order for the highest level of learning and achievement to take place, students must be
responsible for submitting original work for all assignments. Assignments that require research are allowed to contain
the work of accepted scholarly or appropriate sources, so long as clear and proper attribution is made. Furthermore,
assignments and tests of any type are designed in order to assess a student’s level of achievement, and therefore,
cheating of any type, including unauthorized assistance and collaboration, is not permitted.
Any student work submitted that violates this Statement of Academic Integrity will result in “0” points for that work.
Please note, if the student work in question was valued at 100 points or more - the student will get the opportunity
to redo the work for a maximum value of 50% of total original points.
To better understand plagiarism, please review the attached handout and review the following tutorial before
signing the attached page. http://home.comcast.net/~mruland/Skills/plagiarism/index.htm
The following websites were consulted in creating the Statement of Academic Integrity:
http://www.mccormick.northwestern.edu/undergraduate/academicintegrity.html
http://www.maine.edu/faculty/academic_integrity.html
http://www.the-bac.edu/index.cfm?pageID=393
Please sign the attached form & return by tomorrow
I have read the Course Information sheet, Plagiarism handout and the Standards of Academic Conduct and
Integrity. Plus, I completed the online plagiarism tutorial. I understand my rights, responsibilities and privileges
as they pertain to this class. I know what is expected of me and I agree to follow the rules as outlined and will
accept any consequences for failure to follow the guidelines of the Standards of Academic Integrity.
___________________________________________________________________ __________________
Signature Date
I have read the parent letter and discussed the expectations as outlined in this syllabus with my child. My signature below
signifies that I am aware of the expectations and obligations for the course.