Course Description:

This two-semester course provides a chronological survey of the significant conditions, challenges, and accomplishments that have influenced the progress of our world.  Students will examine many topics beginning with the early civilizations and ending with the Renaissance and Explorers.

Course Objectives:

See the attached AKS

Materials:

Textbook—World History:  Perspectives on the Past

Writing utensil

Notebook—Each student will need to bring his/her notebook to class everyday.  The student will put all assignments in the notebook, in the order that we complete the work.

Attendance and Make-Up Work:

Students should attend each class unless illness or other extenuating circumstances occur.  Class discussions can never be made up, making it essential that students regularly attend class.  All missed work must be made up within one week of the excused absence.  You may not make up work missed on unexcused absences.  If you are absent for a legitimate reason on a day an assignment was due, you must submit the assignment on the day you return to school.  If you are absent on test day, you will be given an alternate test before or after school.

Tardiness:

See the KnOT policy in your student handbook.  I will be locking my doors, so you need to get here on time.  

Assignments/Homework:

All assignments should be completed thoroughly.  I expect you to come to class and get your work done.  Most assignments are taken up at the end of the period.  If you don’t finish, I’ll count off.  I will not ask you to do more work than you are capable of.  I will give you plenty of time to complete your assignments.  Your chances of doing well in my class increase significantly if you turn in all of your work.  If for some reason you do not turn an assignment in on time, I will give you two days to turn it in for half credit.  I will not accept it after two days, and there will be a zero put into the gradebook.

Historical Novel:

All students will be required to read a historical novel this semester.  You will be given more information about this later on.  There will be a test on this novel.

Projects:

There will be at least one major project required of each student that will include either a research paper or an oral presentation.  Details about this and other projects will be given later in the semester.

Gateway:

All sophomores are required to take Gateway in the spring.  Gateway is an essay-formatted test designed to show students’ ability to write an essay and display their acquisition of the AKS.  All students planning to graduate with a Technical or College Prep diploma are required to pass this test to graduate.  We will be taking practice Gateways throughout the semester.

Hall Passes:

You only get 6 passes the entire semester.  Use them wisely.  After 6 you may go, but you will serve detention.  You must have your Agenda Book in order to leave this trailer.

Substitutes:

If I’m ever absent, please be courteous to the substitute and comply with all requests made by the substitute.  If the substitute decides on quiet, give the substitute quiet.  I will act on any recommendations that a substitute makes regarding discipline, so don’t get out of hand thinking you’d get away with something.  Just casually enjoy a day without me in your face and do the work that is left for you.

Rules:

·        Students are expected to abide by all the policies of Central Gwinnett High School and the Gwinnett County Public School System.

·        All work is due on the due date for full credit.

·        There will be no food or drinks in class.

·        There will be no cd players or cell phones in class.  If I see them, I’ll take them up.

·        No headgear of any kind.

·        No sleeping in class.

·        No cheating.  If you are caught cheating, you will receive a zero and so will the person you cheated from.  I will also call home.

·        We will stay in our seats until the bell rings.  There will be no waiting for the bell at the door.

·        Follow directions the first time they are given.

·        Raise your hand and wait to be acknowledged.

·        Be respectful of others.

·        There will be no talking while I’m talking.  I’ll politely ask you to be quiet the first time.  After that, the detentions will start flying.

Evaluation:

Daily/Classwork               30%

Unit/Chapter Tests          40%

Projects                           10%

Final Exam                       20%

If you have any questions, you may reach me at Central Gwinnett at 770-963-8041.

It would be quicker to email me at Chris_Hays@gwinnett.k12.ga.us

ST 251

·                      Identify issues and problems

·                      Compare similarities and differences

·                      Analyze charts and graphs

·                      Interpret timelines

·                      Distinguish between fact and opinion

·                      Determine the relevancy and validity of information

·                      Draw conclusions and make generalizations

·                      Translate dates into centuries

·                      Identify ways in which prehistoric people organized themselves into social units, developed technology and sought food, shelter and clothing

·                      Explain the characteristics of a civilization as exhibited in the river valley communities and describe the manner in which modern countries located on those same sites manifest similar characteristics.

·                      Explain the role geography played in the development of the early River Valley Civilizations

·                      Analyze the role geography played in the development of early Greek and Roman Civilizations

·                      Describe the role Judaism and Christianity played in the history of the Roman Empire

·                      Identify the problems which led to the decline and fall of the Roman Empire

·                      Describe the contributions of the Romans to the Western World

·                      Examine the contributions of the Byzantine Empire

·                      Describe the role the Islamic religion played in the history of Asia, Africa and Middle East

·                      Describe the contributions made by the Islamic Empire

·                      Explain how geography, the indigenous peoples and outside forces shaped the cultural, political and economic development of early African cultures

·                      Explain the characteristics of thought and behavior in Europe during the Middle Ages

·                      Explain how the Crusades were an example of religious, economic, and political conflicts

·                      Describe the political, economic, and religious changes that occurred at the end of the Middle Ages which led to the demise of feudalism and the development of nation states

·                      Describe the geographical, social, political, and economic forces that motivated the Renaissance.