Honors Modern World History

 

 

 

Mr. Eugene A Stanton                           E-Mail: Eugene_A_Stanton@mcpsmd.org or

Room: 24                                                    mr.s@worldjourney.net

Office Phone: 301-972-7923                 Website: http://www.worldjourney.net/phs/

 

Course Description

Honors Modern World History is a yearlong course designed to help you understand your strong connection with all of humanity. This course will examine the human past from the 15th Century to the present in different locations around the world. You will use your existing knowledge in, and expand your knowledge of, history, geography, economics, government, political processes, religion, ethics, diversity, culture, and the humanities.

 

Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.

                                      George Orwell (1903–50), British author.

“Man lives consciously for himself, but is an unconscious instrument in the attainment of the historic, universal, aims of humanity.”  Leo Tolstoy (1829–1910), Russian novelist, philosopher.

"The past can be a window on the future, reminding us to avoid our mistakes and chart a path to a better tomorrow."  Mr. Stanton 1998

 

Standards and Indicators

People of the Nations and World

·        Evaluate the role of institutions in guiding, transmitting, and changing culture.

·        Analyze the conflicts between cultural traditions and cultural change.

·        Evaluate the manifestations of prejudice and discrimination on individuals and groups.

·        Evaluate conflicts among and within cultures.

·        Analyze situations that illustrate decisions of conscience taking precedence over respect for authority.

Geography

·        Describe major world patterns of economic activity, their interrelationships, and their impact on levels of economic development.

·        Analyze the roles and relationships of regions on the formation and implementation of government policy.

·        Analyze how shifts in regional relationships result from changes in political, economic, cultural, and environmental factors.

·        Analyze case studies of the spread of cultural traits that lead to cultural convergence and divergence such as the spread of democratic ideas.

·        Demonstrate understanding of how economic, political, and cultural processes interact to shape patterns of human population, interdependence, cooperation, and conflict.

Economics

·        Assess how scarcity affects individuals, businesses, governments, and nations and the effectiveness with which people throughout history have utilized specialization and trade to address economic scarcity and unequal resource allocations using case studies.

·        Analyze how economic institutions are interdependent and how their relationship is affected by trade, exchange, money, and banking.

Social Studies Skills

·        Draw conclusions and make generalizations based on the text, multiple texts, and/or prior knowledge.

·        Interpret information in maps, charts, and graphs.

·        Analyze the connections, causal and otherwise, between particular historical events and larger social, economic and political trends and developments.

·        Evaluate issues by stating and summarizing the issue, and drawing conclusions based on conflicting data.

·        Assess the credibility of primary and secondary sources, assessing the accuracy and adequacy of the author’s details to support claims and noting instances of bias, propaganda and stereotyping, and draw sound conclusions.

·        Explain different viewpoints in historical accounts of controversial events and determine the context in which the statements were made, including but not limited to, the questions asked, the sources used and the author’s perspective.

 

Course Objectives

·        Recognize significant cultural and physical characteristics of the Ottoman Empire, Songhai Africa, the Indian Mogul Empire, Ming China, The Aztec Empire, and Western Europe in the 15th Century.

·        Identify the significance of the Renaissance and Reformation on European thought. Relate European global expansion to economic changes in Europe. Compare and contrast both the pattern of European colonization and the effects of colonization on Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

·        Analyze the effects of the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment on the average Europeans view of the world. Evaluate the many political revolutions, the European Industrial Revolution, and world economic patterns from 1600 to 1850.

·        Evaluate the effects of nationalism and differences in political thought on the development of the nation-state and assess the causes and effects of imperialism in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.

·        Examine the causes and consequences of World War I and World War II recognizing the effects these wars and events between these wars would have on the economic, political, and ideological forces that would shape the modern world.

·        Explore economic and political trends and developments in new and existing nations in Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East after World War II.

·        Research post Cold War issues that affect our global community today.

 

Grading Format

Type of Evaluation                                         Percentage % Value

Summative Assessments (This includes mostly Unit Exams,                        40%

but may also include Research Papers and Research Presentations)

 

Formative Assessments (Quizzes, Essays,       Worksheets, Projects,           50%                             

Simulations, Notebooks, Group Projects, and Group Presentations.)         

 

Homework (Graded on accuracy or quality in relation to established                   10%

learning outcomes.)                       

 

There will be due dates and deadlines for assignments; if you turn in an assignment after the due date but before the deadline, you will be penalized 10%.  Assignments turned in after the deadline will be corrected but will receive no credit.

 

Exams & Major Projects

Evaluation   General Subject(s)                                       Approximate Exam Date

Unit 1A Test       Emergence of the Global Economy                                                          9/18/09

Unit 1B Test       Renaissance, Reformation, and Enlightenment                                     10/13/09

Unit 1 Exam       Covers all 1st Quarter or Unit 1                                                      10/30/09

Unit 2A Test       Industrialization & Imperialism                                                    11/24/09

Unit 2B Test       Imperialism in China, Mexico, & Africa                                                        12/18/09

Unit 2 Exam       Covers all of 2nd Quarter or Unit 2                                                          1/12/10

Exam                   Semester Exams (Units 1 & 2)                                                   1/15/10 thru 1/22/10

Unit 3A Test       World War I                                                                          2/12/10

Unit 3B Test       Between Wars                                                                          3/2/10

Unit 3C Test       World War II                                                                         3/16/10

Unit 3 Exam       Covers all of 3rd Quarter or Unit 3                                                          3/26/10

Unit 4A Project  Globalization Project                                                            4/21/10

Unit 4B Test       Globalization in the Contemporary World                                            5/12/10

Unit 4C Project  Global Issues Project                                                            5/28/10

Unit 4 Exam       Covers all of 4th Quarter or Unit 4                                                               6/4/10

Final Exam         Final Exams (Units 3 & 4)                                                                       6/10/10 thru 6/16/10

                                                                                                         

Note: Dates are approximate and may be changed at the discretion of the Teacher, the Administration, or MCPS for a variety of reasons.

Reassessment

The opportunity for reassessment of quizzes will be offered, provided the student has completed all work associated with the quiz being reassessed. Reassessments must be taken when scheduled by the teacher. Reassessments must be taken within three days of the original quiz and cannot be given for Test, Exams, or Major Projects. The reassessment grade will replace the original grade with no exceptions.    

 

Late Work

Please note that MCPS guidelines state that late work received prior to the deadline will receive a 10% deduction in grade. In accordance to MCPS policy, late work submitted after the deadline will be corrected but will receive a grade of zero. Extenuating circumstances, like a death in the family or a serious illness will be considered on an individual, one-time only basis, if allowed under MCPS policy. This rule will be strictly adhered to, so these circumstances must be exceptional and allowable under the MCPS policy.

 

Extra Credit

Please be aware that MCPS policy does not allow teachers to give extra credit for any reason; therefore, it is important to do your work properly and to turn it in early or on time.

 

Important information if you are Absent

You are responsible for the material discussed in class, this includes days you are absent. Make-up tests are your responsibility. You must see me at lunch, the day you return, to schedule a make-up test or quiz. Make-up tests will be different and have a different format than the original test. They also must be given with-in the MCPS designated allotted days. It is your responsibility to pick up your assignments and turn in your work the day after you return from any excused absence. Being absent from class does not excuse you from doing the assignment.  It is your responsibility to collect and complete missed assignments when you are absent.

 

Extra help and communication

Course Grades & Information will be posted on Edline. A secondary source for course information can always be found at my website: www.worldjourney.net/phs. I am available during lunch daily and periodically before and after school.  

 

 

 

Seven Simple Rules

 

I)       Be on time each day. When the bell rings, you must be in your seat or well on your way. If you are standing around outside talking, you will be marked tardy.

 

II)     You will be assigned a seat and will be expected to sit in that seat each day. If you are sitting in an unassigned seat, you may be marked absent.

 

III)          Be prepared. Bring paper, pen or pencil and your notebook to class each day. You will not be permitted to go to your locker or to another classroom to get your notebook or assignments once class has started.

 

IV)    Do not bring food, drink, or gum into the classroom. Let’s keep our school clean. It’s an issue of pride.

 

V)     It is your responsibility to make sure that your assignments are completed and turned in on time.

 

VI)    No one will be allowed to sleep (or put their head down) in class. If you have a health issue, please let me know. Your privacy will be completely respected.

 

VII)      School rules will be adhered to strictly. You are expected to know them and follow them. Any variation will result in immediate disciplinary action.