MANHATTAN HUNTER SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL

Kevin Froner, Principal

History Department

GLOBAL HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY 9 SYLLABUS

Mr. Ost
Global History & Geography
Grade 9

historiadeost@gmail.com
212-501-1235
Room 550
Class Website
www.ostglobal.weebly.com

Course Overview:
This year in 9th grade you will be studying world history beginning with the Paleolithic Age through the
Europeans arrival in the Americas and the English adoption of Democracy in 1688. We will be
exploring world geography, religions, ideas and inventions, politics, and the economics of the world in
these early periods of human civilization.
Global History and Geography is a two-year course in the history of the world. The first half occurs in
the 9th grade where we focus on the first half of world history, as determined by the NYS Board of
Education. In 10th grade you will study world history beginning with the Scientific Revolution through
today. At the end of 10th grade you will take a Regents exam that tests the skills and knowledge you
learned in both 9th and 10th grade.
This course is taught in conjunction with World Literature, where you will read literature from the
regions and time periods we study. Both courses will focus on raising your reading and writing skills to
a college-ready level and enhance your understanding of historical events.
A college-ready student is on or above grade-level, and has mastered a set of skills that will help he/she
to be successful in a college setting.
Course Goals:
In addition to exposing students to historical and literary content, the course aims to prepare students
for college-level history work, particularly focusing on reading and writing skills.
Students will work towards the ability to complete historical research.
Students will be able to identify and evaluate different approaches to and interpretations of historical
events and topics, and explain the causes and effects of historical change.
Skills You Can Expect to Work on:
o Understand and use historical documents in writing and debates
o Compose historical essays with accurate information and control of the English language
o Analyze and Interpret Primary Sources, Historical Literature, Documentary Materials, Maps,
Charts, Graphs, and Political Cartoons
o Research and evaluate sources for a given topic
o Understand and utilize debate format to make a historical argument
o Raise organization and note-taking skills to the college-ready level
o Raise reading comprehension skills to the college-ready level
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Content Taught in this Course:

Students interested in the most effective organization of their Global History 9 Portfolio, might consider using these topics as
dividers for their portfolio.
UNIT I: Ancient World- Civilizations and Religions (4000BC-500AD)
A. What is History/Intro with Early People
B. Neolithic Revolution and River Valley's
C. World Belief Systems
D. Golden Ages: Maya, Gupta, Tang, and Song Dynasties
E. Classical Civilizations (Greece and Rome)
F. Comparing the Roman Republic and the Han Dynasty
UNIT II: Expanding Zones of Exchange and Encounter (500-1200)
A. Byzantine Empire and Early Russia
B. The Spread of Islam and the Golden Age of Islam
C. Medieval Europe
D. The Crusades
Semester 1 Exam (Late January)
Research Paper Assigned
UNIT III: Global Interactions (1200-1650)
A. Early Japanese History & Feudalism
B. The Rise and Fall of the Mongols
C. Global Trade and Interactions
D. Rise and Fall of African Civilizations
E. The Renaissance
F. The Reformation
G. The Rise of European Nation-States
UNIT IV: The First Global Age (1450-1770)
A. The Ming Dynasty
B. The Ottoman Empire
C. Spain and Portugal on the Eve of the Encounter
D. Rise of Mesoamerican Empires
E. The Encounter between Europeans and Peoples of Africa, Asia, and Americas (early imperialism)
F. Absolutism
G. Rise of Parliamentary Democracy
Semester 2 Exam
Evaluate Portfolios

Required Materials:
Blue or black pens- no pencil, all assignments are to be written in black or blue pen or typed.
Highlighter
3-holed College Ruled loose-leaf papersee directions for Working Binder below
Access to the Internet and a printer. Please make arrangements for this within the first week of school if you
do not have home access. See Mr. Ost if you need suggestions.

Global History 9 Portfolio: 1 Three-Ring Hard Binder at least 2 wide

o Must have dividers; will be kept at home until the end of the school year; will be used, in part, to
determine eligibility for 11th grade

Working Binder: 1 Three-Ring Hard Binder, 1 is fine.

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o
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This is the binder that you will bring to class everyday and keep current work in.
Students must set-up the working binder as follows:
! Students take notes each day. Handouts of the day are hole-punched and placed in the binder
next to the notes for the day
! Homework is also to be completed in the working binder. Mr. Ost will check OR collect
homework at random; be prepared to take it out of your notebook and put it back in.
! Working binder quizzes will be given throughout the semester. Mr. Ost may periodically
collect and check working binders throughout the term.
After completion of each unit, you will put all materials from the unit into your Portfolio (at home) so
that your working binder reflects the current unit only.

Texts & Resources:

Textbook: Ways of the World: A Global History with Sources (Bedford/St. Martins; provided)
A variety of primary and secondary sources, which will be provided
Class website (address listed on first page) and other electronic sources available via the internet
o All of your homework assignments & announcements will be posted on the class website
Assessment:
MHSHS works on a semester based grading model. You will receive two final grades at the end of each semester
(January/June). Each final grade will be based on the average of two quarters. Progress reports are distributed in the
middle of every quarter.
Your work is graded on a points system. The more points an assignment is worth, the more it will impact your grade.
Projects, tests, quizzes and written assignments will be worth the most points. You can expect to be graded in the
following ways:
Exams
Quizzes
Essays & Written Work
Homework

Class Participation, Preparation, and Uniform

Projects & Presentations
Research Paper
Semester 1 and 2 Exams

Grading Policy, as per the MHSHS grading scale:

A:
B:
C:

90-100
80-89
70-79

D:
F:

65-69
64 and below

Mastery: 85% or higher on any

assignment

Mr. Ost uses Jupiter Grades, available at www.jupitergrades.com. You will be given access to this account once
all class rosters have been finalized (approximately end of September). All your assignments and grades will be
posted here in a timely fashion so that you may keep track of your progress as the year goes on. It is advisable
that you check your grades regularly so that you are aware of any missing work or low grades that might be
amended.
Extra credit means extra work. If you are missing many assignments, therefore not keeping up with the baseline
work, then you will not be given additional work to compensate for your grade. Any considerations for extra
credit will be given on a case-by-case basis.

Academic Support:
Mr. Ost is available to provide support on assignments, work on social studies skills, or to complete assignments
every Tuesday and Thursday during S.O.S. (2:17 3:06). Our class website also has resources for support.
Classroom Expectations:
1. Always give your best effort on all class activities and assignments. That means coming to class prepared with you
working binder, paper, a pen, and ready to participate in class.
2. Academic Freedom: All students have a right to their opinions, however unpopular. How you support your
opinions is a key to doing well in this class. Respect for the opinions of others is a class requirement.
3. Remember that your personal honor and integrity are a very precious and important part of who you are as a
person. Therefore, I expect that you will do all of your OWN work at all times. Violations of the policy on
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plagiarism will result in strict penalties (see the Plagiarism Policy below).
4. Do not be late. Be inside the door when the bell rings, unless you have a legitimate excuse to be tardy.
5. Remember, this is OUR class, yours as well as mine. Your actions have a direct affect on everyone around you,
including me.
6. All rules and expectations are subject to change at Mr. Osts discretion.

Attendance:
Students receive 5 points each day for attending class, being on time, prepared with materials and in uniform, for
a total of 25 points per week.
If you are absent you will receive zero points for the day, unless or until you bring in a note from your parent or
doctor stating that they were aware of your absence.
If you are absent you will be required to make up any missed assignments including tests. One day of absence
affords one day of make-up work opportunity. If you are absent, a note is required to allow late work to receive
full credit.
Late Work Policy:
It is expected that your work will be turned in by the assigned date. Assigned work received after the prescribed
date will not be eligible for full credit. See above for what to do with assignments if you are absent. Late
Assignments will receive a deduction in points as listed below:
o Received at the time due:
Eligible for Full Credit
o Received on due date but after time due (ex: after school):
-10%
o Received 1 day past due date:
-20%
o Received 2 days past due date:
-30%
o 3 or more days past due date:
Not Accepted, 0%
Plagiarism Policy:
All work is to be completed in your own words.
Work that is not your own must be properly cited using MLA, APA, or Chicago format.
Teachers and administration will deal with incidences of plagiarism on a case-by-case basis. Students should be
aware that some plagiarism cases may result in punishment beyond the school level, as there are state and federal
laws protecting copyrighted works.
If a student is unsure of their use of words from a source, it is suggested that the student informs the teacher of their
need for support BEFORE the assignment is due.
Turnitin.com writes that plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:
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o
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"The Ghost Writer" The writer turns in another's work, word-for-word, as his or her own.
"The Photocopy" The writer copies significant portions of text straight from a single source, without alteration.
"The Potluck Paper" The writer tries to disguise plagiarism by copying from several different sources or classmates, tweaking the
sentences to make them fit together while keeping most of the original phrasing.
"The Poor Disguise" Although the writer has kept the essential content of the source, he or she has altered the paper's appearance
slightly by changing key words and phrases.
"The Labor of Laziness" The writer takes the time to paraphrase most of the paper from other sources and make it all fit together,
instead of spending the same effort on original work.
"The Self-Stealer" The writer "borrows" generously from his or her previous work, violating policies concerning the expectation
of originality adopted by most academic institutions.

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Classroom Agreement- Global History & Geography
Student Name: ________________________________

Due: Thursday, September 10, 2015

" I have looked over the entire Global History and Geography course packet and understand the terms and
conditions listed. I will continue to look over this packet throughout the school year for reminders of the
expectations for success in Global History class.
" I understand that it is necessary for me to have regular access to the Internet and a printer for this course.
" I have reviewed and understand the late work policy and the plagiarism policy for this course and agree to
follow them.
___________________________________
Student Signature

Parent/Guardian Contact Name(s) (PRINT First and Last): ___________________________________

____________________________________
Parent/Guardian E-mail: ________________________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Phone Number(s) (required): _________________________________________________
" I have looked over the contents of the Global History and Geography course packet and have an
understanding of what the class will entail.
" I understand that it is necessary for my child to have regular access to the Internet and a printer for this
course. Both my child and I will have access to his/her grades at www.jupitergrades.com.
" I have reviewed and understand the late work policy and the plagiarism policy for this course and agree to
ensure that my child to follows both policies.
" I understand that both Mr. Ost and his co-teacher, Ms. Albert, are available to speak with
parents/guardians on the phone or in person at the school.
A note from Mr. Ost: the best way to get in touch is to send an email first, using the Contact Page on the
Class Website or my direct email (both listed on the first page of the syllabus). Please include your phone
number, your childs first and last name, and if possible, the issue you would like to speak about. You may
also leave a message for me or my co-teacher, Ms. Albert, with the main office staff at 212-501-1235 and we
will return your call when we are done teaching.
______________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature

Ost Syllabus 5