Christ the King Cathedral School
Course Syllabus 2007-2008

World History (9th-10th Grade)

Instructor:  Dr. David Gossman
         dgossman@ctkcathedral.org or dmgossman@earthlink.net
         795-8283 x 257
 
Textbook:  World History:  The Human Journey (2003)
                    www.go.hrw.com

Class Meetings:  M, T, W, TH, F from 8:59-9:49 am

Course Requirements:
Each student is required to complete all assigned readings, homework, writing assignments, quizzes, and exams of the course, as well as make every possible effort to attend each class session.  Class attendance is crucial toward attaining a full understanding of the course material, participating in classroom discussion and maintaining an acceptable grade.  Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class session and if you are late, it is your responsibility to inform the instructor.  Absences, including absences from quizzes and exams, are excused only prior to class and only for school purposes, medical reasons, or absolutely unavoidable personal emergencies, as verified by the school office. 

You will be given an exam approximately every four or five weeks in this course.  Each exam will consist of two parts:  sixty percent objective (true/false, multiple choice, map questions and definitions) and forty percent essay and short answer.  On both portions of each exam, you will be responsible for material covered in lecture and in your textbook.  Each of the exams will be weighed equally, and the final exam at the end of each grading period will be comprehensive.  In addition to the major exams, I will give homework assignments, quizzes, PowerPoint assignments and writing assignments over the course of each nine-week grading period.  Improvement over the course of the semester will weigh in your favor.  Good grades at the end of the semester will generally obliterate poor grades at the start. 

It is each student’s responsibility to meet the course requirements.  Do not hesitate to ask questions in class if you are having difficulty comprehending the material.  Students are strongly encouraged to meet with the instructor to discuss any aspects of the course. 

Grade Determination:
Tests and Quizzes                                                                                 40%
Homework (vocabulary, maps and worksheets)                                    20%
Essays, PowerPoint Assignments and Written Reports               25%
Notebook                                                                                            15%
Notebooks:  Each student is expected to keep all notes, homework, quizzes, in-class assignments, and tests in an organized notebook.  Each student is expected to maintain a two-inch three-ring binder for this class, with a set of labeled dividers to organize their work.  Your notebooks need to be labeled and organized in the following order:

Section 1:  Syllabus with classroom expectations, academic integrity form, note taking
      guidelines, writing assignment guidelines and PowerPoint guidelines and
      grading criteria.
Section 2:  In-class notes, in chronological order, with blank notebook paper or a
      composition book.
Section 3:  Homework assignments (including test review materials), in the order
      assigned.
Section 4:  Written Reports and Essays, in the order assigned.
Section 5:  Quizzes and Tests, in the order given.

I expect that all students will have the necessary binder, labeled dividers, and signed syllabus to show the instructor no later than Monday, August 27.

Behavioral Expectations:  Unacceptable behavior in the classroom may be classified as anything that disturbs the instructor or other students during the class period.  Listed below are several (but not all) examples of such behavior.  A comprehensive list is contained in your student handbook.
 
Arriving late to class or leaving class early (except for doctor’s appointments or other reasons arranged in advance with the school office).
Gum chewing, eating or drinking in class.
Repeatedly asking to leave the class to use the bathroom or get a drink of water.
Throwing objects in class.
Talking out of turn.
Teasing or taunting other students.
Failure to be prepared for class or to bring expected materials (textbook, pens or pencils, colored pencils, assignment notebook and notebook with loose leaf paper).
Sleeping, reading a newspaper or unassigned book, or other overt inattentiveness in class.
Refusing to participate in classroom activities or follow directions from the instructor.

Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated in this class.  The guidelines for academic honesty are given in your student handbook (under Level III violations and Electronic Information Policies).  The attempt by students to present as their own any work that they have not honestly performed is regarded by the teacher and administration as an offense liable to serious consequences, including suspension.

Late Work:  All assignments are expected to be completed and turned in on time.  Since the concepts and skills taught in this class are progressive and build upon each other, late work is highly discouraged.  If an assignment is not turned in at the beginning of the class period, it will only be worth partial credit (maximum possible grade equivalent to a “D”) and a missing assignment notice will be sent home with the student.  If the assignment is not turned in by the beginning of the class period immediately following the due date, the grade for the assignment will be a zero.  The only exceptions to these rules will be in the case of excused absences. 

Outline of topics covered in this class:

First Nine-Week Period:                       Study of History
                                                            The Emergence of Civilization
                                                            The First Civilizations (the Near and Middle East)
                                                            Ancient Egypt
                                                            Ancient India and China
                                                            Ancient Greece and Rome
                                                            Africa and the Americas
                                                           
Second Nine-Week Period:                  The Byzantine Empire and Russia
                                                            The Rise of Islam
                                                            The Civilizations of Asia
                                                            The Middle Ages
                                                            The Renaissance and Reformation
                                                            The Scientific Revolution
                                                            European Exploration and Expansion   
 
Third Nine-Week Period:                     Absolutist Monarchs of Europe
                                                            The Enlightenment
Revolution in England and America
The French Revolution and Napoleon
The Industrial Revolution
Democratic Reform in Europe
The Age of Imperialism
                                                                                   
Fourth Nine-Week Period:                   World War I and the Russian Revolution
                                                            The Great Depression and Totalitarianism
                                                            World War II
                                                            The Superpowers and the Cold War
                                                            Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin American
since 1945