Global History & Geography 10 Course Syllabus
Ms. Hanemann
hhanemann@gmail.com
Room 564
212.501.1235
Course Overview:
• This year in 10th grade social studies you will be studying European history. We will be exploring the geography, religion, ideas and inventions, politics, and economics of this region and its impact on other regions of the world that you studied during 9th grade. Unlike 9th grade, our study of European history will be chronological, from ancient to modern times.
• Global Studies is a two-year course in the history of the world. The first half occurs in the 9th grade where you focused on non-European countries. Western and European civilizations are studied in the 10th grade. At the end of 10th grade you will take the NYS Regents Global History & Geography 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 region and era being studied. In our classroom we will use textbooks, diaries, maps, charts, graphs, stories that have been handed down from many generations, and electronic sources to try to understand what really happened and why. You will be asked to put yourself in the shoes of the historical figures we learn about and make the decisions they had to make, as well as critique their actions in class discussions and essays.
• All of this is the stuff of history and you will be challenged to understand what it means to you in 2009. How does all of this affect you and your world?
Course Goals:
• In addition to exposing students to historical and literary content, the course will also train students to interpret primary sources, including documentary material, maps, statistical tables, and pictorial and graphic evidence of historical events.
• Studying history means asking questions, answering questions, testing and revising our answers in an attempt to know who we are and to understand how we got here. Students will be asked to take notes from printed and lecture material, write document-based essays, write thematic essays and work towards the ability to complete historical research. They should 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.
• Students are expected to use the work from 9th grade to inform their study of European history. To neglect this expectation is to weaken your understanding of the events of history. Informed criticism is a goal that we work towards in our classroom.
Course Objectives:
o Understand and use historical documents
o Compose historical essays with accurate information and control of the English language
o Interpret 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 Improve organization and note-taking skills
o Improve reading comprehension skills
• I will be here to help you if you have had trouble with any of these skills in the past.
Assessment:
• Tests & Quizzes
• Essays
• Projects & Presentations
• Class Participation—class discussion, group activities, and debates
• Final Project
• NYS Regents Exam in Global History and Geography
Texts & Resources:
• Textbook: World History (McDougall Littlel)
• A variety of primary and secondary sources, which will be provided
• School Island
• Class Blog (address listed on first page) and other electronic sources available via the internet
Grading Policy, as per the MHSHS grading scale:
A: 90-100
B: 80-89
C: 70-79
D: 65-69
F: 64 and below
• At MHSHS we use an online system call My Grade Book, available at www.mygradebook.com. You, your parents, your advisor, and your guidance counselor will be given access to this system at the beginning of the school year. All your assignments and grades will 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 amendable.
• Your grade will be determined by a point system. Grades for each marking period will be based on the points you earn out of the total possible value of the graded assignments. The weight of the assignment is determined by its point value. For example, homework may be worth five points, quizzes worth ten points and tests worth one hundred points.
• Extra credit means extra work. If you are missing many assignments, therefore not keeping up with the work, then you will not be given additional work to compensate for your grade.
Make-Up and 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 receive full credit. If you are absent you will be required to make up any missed assignments including tests, and quizzes. 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. Assignments missed due to class cuts will not afford the opportunity to be made up.
• Homework on any given topic will be accepted up until the beginning of a test on the material. Once a test has been given on the topic, all homeworks leading up to that test which were missing, will become a zero in the grade-book.
Required Materials:
• Packet of 3-holed College Ruled loose-leaf paper.
• 1 Three-Ring Hard Plastic Binder at least 2” wide. This will be you “STUDY” binder.
o Must have 17 plastic dividers labeled as follows: Roman Empire, Exchange and Encounter, Global Trade Interactions, Europe on the Eve of Encounter, Absolutism, Enlightenment and Revolution, Global Nationalism, Industrial Revolution & Imperialism, WWI, Russian Revolution & Interwar Period, WWII, Cold War, Global Interdependence, Tests, Essays, Projects, Review Sheets.
• 1 Three-Ring Hard Plastic Binder, 1” is fine. This will be your “WORKING” binder.
o This is the binder that you will bring to class everyday and keep current work in.
• ALL ASSIGNMENTS ARE TO BE WRITTEN IN BLACK OR BLUE PEN OR TYPED. PENCIL IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
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 writing utensil, 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 (see the MHSHS Student Handbook for further information regarding cheating/plagiarism).
4. Do not be late. Be inside the door when the bell rings, unless you have a legitimate excuse to be tardy.
• Keep in mind that I want all of you to do well. I am one of your many Academic Coaches and I want you to reach your goals and your full potential as a student and as a person.
Academic Support:
• Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday I am available at S.O.S. On these days of the week you can come to my classroom for 45-90 minutes after school to get help for or work on assignments, work on social studies skills, or do your homework.
• Positive, constructive communication is one of my highest priorities. Solving problems is an important aspect of good communication. I am very concerned about questions and confusions that students may be experiencing. I encourage you to approach me after class so that I can give you my undivided attention [if I am free] or see me in the halls, email me, or drop a note in my mailbox, so that I know we need to talk. Never hesitate to share your respectful feelings with me. Students quickly learn that I will eagerly listen and respond to their concerns when they approach me courteously.
• Remember, this is OUR class, yours as well as mine. Your actions have a direct affect on everyone around you, including me.
