World History I Syllabus

Name: _____________________________ Date: _________________Team:_____________________ Week 1
[Tuesday]
Education is Freedom
World History I Syllabus (T)

Have our interactions led to more progress or to more destruction?
[Course Description]
World History I is designed to prepare students for success in World History II, for success on the AP World History
exam, and for success in college. This year we will study the first half of world history, starting with humans expansion
out of Africa around 10,000 B.C.E. and will end in the mid-1400s C.E. We will be comparing historical developments
all over the world, detecting patterns of continuity and change over time, and investigating the causes and effects of
these changes. With every era and group we study, we will be constantly evaluating whether human interactions with
the environment, with other humans, and with ideas, have led to more progress or more destruction.
[Contact Information]
Ms Goldner
World History I Teacher
Email: cgoldner@northstaracademy
(570) 855-5967 -This is my personal cell phone. *preferred method of contact is text or call*
Note: Please feel free to text, call, or email me with any questions, concerns, or to check in on your progress any time
before 9pm. Please leave a voicemail if I do not answer. No voicemail = no return call Ensure you pace yourself
accordingly to leave time for questions in the event you have any.
Texts:
1. Ancient World History by Roger B. Beck, et al. (McDougal Littell)
2. Traditions and Encounters by Jerry H. Bentley, et al. (McGraw-Hill)

[Tuesday]
EXTRA HELP/PROGRESS
Please see me, or email me if you are having any questions about what we are doing in class, or if you are struggling to
complete an assignment. I am available for help if you need it. After the first grading period, history tutorials will be
held on one afternoon a week for group tutoring sessions, the date will be determined and announced later.
Curriculum
Period 1 - Human Beginnings and the Development
Development of FirstFirst-Wave Civilizations (c. 10,000 B.C.E. to c. 600
B.C.E)
-
Causes and effects of the Neolithic Revolution; the development of the first complex societies and
states (Mesopotamia and Egypt)
Additional first-wave civilizations (China, the Americas, India)
Intro to paragraph and FRQ essay writing
Q1 Interim Assessments
Period 2 - SecondSecond-Wave Civilizations / Classical Era (c. 600 B.C.E. to c. 600 C.E.)
-
Classical Persia
Classical China
Classical India
Classical Greece
Classical Rome
Continuation of FRQ essay writing practice
Period 3 ThirdThird-Wave Civilizations / PostPost-Classical Era (c. 600 C.E. to c. 1450 C.E.)
-
Increasing trans-regional trade, communication, and exchange in the Post-Classical Era

The rise and influence of Islam
Post-Classical Europe and the Christian World
Intro to DBQ Essay writing
Quarter 3 Research Project
-
Post-Classical East Asia

Mongols and Turks
Classical and Post-Classical Sub-Saharan Africa and the Americas
- Final (placement) exam
Note: Our Pre-AP World History class will follow the High School Interim Assessment schedule, NOT the VMS interim
assessment schedule. Assessment dates will be communicated at the start of each quarter.

[Tuesday]
Research Projects
As part of our study of the units listed above, students will complete up to two extended research papers.
Although much of the initial work and organization for this project will take place in class, the majority of work will be
done independently at home. These papers will count for up to 25% of the quarterly grade and will reflect students
college-readiness in terms of their reading skills, writing skills, organizational skills, motivation, maturity, and
responsibility.
The Importance
Importance of Homework Completion
Quite simply, one of the biggest determinants of your success in 8th grade AND high school history will be your
decision to do your homework to the best of your ability every night. A primary focus of 8th grade history is to teach you
the skills and habits that will allow you to self-teach and to independently learn history throughout high school, as
you will be expected to do in college.
Just as you will be expected to attend lectures in college having done the pre-reading well, you will be expected
to come to 8th grade history class having read a section from a textbook, having taken detailed and well-thought-out
notes on the text, and having prepared to engage with the history at a higher level with your peers.
In order to teach you the reading, note-taking, and study skills that will be essential for your success, we will
spend a lot of time practicing these skills. You will begin most classes with an openopen-note homework quiz that will help
you and Ms. Goldner assess
assess the quality of your notes.
notes You will be asked to use these notes in class discussions, in class
activities, and on frequent open-note quizzes.
You will be given a full 3030-minutes of homework a night, as per school policy. If you fall behind on your
reading, you will find it extremely difficult to catch up. On the other hand, those of you who put great effort into your
homework will find the class to be engaging and challenging, and you will set yourself up for success on the climb to
college.
History is the house in which all other subjects live. It
contains the very foundation stones of all human
accomplishment, as well as the darker, more desperate
and more degrading periods of our existence. It
cannot, therefore, be treated flippantly; and it must not
be attempted without serious consideration. Doing
history right, therefore, is fundamental and essential to
human progress. If we do it right, perhaps we will all
be permitted to advance.

[Tuesday]
Grading Requirements and Course Expectations

A. Class Expectations:
Expectations:
1. Be ready to work. Be on time. Have your homework binder, agenda your notebook, a pen and other necessary
supplies! Be ready to share your ideas and think critically!
2. Be respectful. Respect yourself and others. This goes for space, property and opinions.
3. Tone, time and place! Be mindful of what you say and how (and when) you say it.
4. Push yourself. Your grade will reflect not just what you know, but how hard you are willing to work and how
much you have grown throughout the year. Take academic risks and challenge yourself.
5. Follow all school rules. This goes without saying. I expect you to know these and follow them. If you have
questions or are confused, please ask. You have a lot of preparation to do to get ready for college- you need to
be in every class ready to learn and grow as a student!
B. Grade Breakdown:
Breakdown:
Component
Percentage of Grade
Class Participation and Classwork/Exit Tickets
25%
Homework/CN Checks/CN Checks during the DN
25%
Research Projects / Essays
15%
Tests/Quizzes*
30%
Interim Assessments
5%
*Please Note*:
Note*: Only missing assignments that are completed before the makeup deadline will be acceptedaccepted- I do not allow rere-takes
for any assignments unless there are extenuating circumstances.
C. Expectations for Assignments:

Assignments: The assignment requirements for history class are the same as those for classes in the
rest of the school. Written assignments need to be neat and in complete sentences with proper grammar, capitalization,
and punctuation. Each assignment completed in this class must be done in blue or black pen. It must have your first and
last name written at the top, as well as your team and the date. Each assignment must also be stapled as necessary, and
include quality marginal notes as you actively read. Any assignment turned in without these elements completed will be
marked as poor. As school rules dictate, poor-quality, incomplete, or missing assignments receive same-day
detention and cant be redone.
D. More on Participation:
Participation: Class Participation will be assessed in five ways:
1. Preparation Grade
Grade: Each week, you will receive 5 points for being prepared for class- this includecoming to
class each day on time, and having a pen, your Cornell Notebook, and your agenda. If any of these items are
forgotten, you will lose one point per day from your weekly preparation grade.

[Tuesday]
2. Engagement: Your participation grade is based upon the quantity and quality of your input during discussions,
turn-and-talks, group-work, independent work, whole-group review and during oral drill.
3. Classwork Assignments: Weekly, and at random, your classwork assignments will be graded.
4. Exit Tickets: Occasionally, and at random your Exit Ticket will be graded for accuracy and will be recorded as
its own classwork grade.
5. DoNowss: These assignments will be graded very frequently and for accuracy.
Do-Now
E. Tests and Quizzes:
- Test will be given at the end of every unit, as listed on the first page of the syllabus. Students need to be
prepared for pop quizzes on any day. Expect frequent quizzes on geography, vocabulary, and key
takeaways from the week.
- If you are absent on a test day, tests can be made up after school on the day of the students arrival back to
school. You will not be allowed to make up missed tests in class, they must be completed on your time,
whether during lunch or after school (by appointment). It is YOUR responsibility to make an appointment
with Ms. Goldner to make up the quiz or test. If you dont make up the test/quiz by the makemake-up deadline,
you will receive a zero on the assessment.
F. Midterms and Finals Exams:
Exams Will be given according to the high school schedule, NOT the VMS schedule and will be
cumulative.
cumulative These tests are modeled after the AP World History Examination and will include additional geography
assessments.
G. Notebooks:
Notebooks: Each student will be given a notebook at the beginning of the school year. Students are expected to bring
the notebook each class. Failure to bring your notebook will result in loss of preparation points. Notebooks may be
checked and graded periodically.
H. Key Terms: Each week (unless otherwise stated) students will have Key Terms Lists to be completed. These lists will
be given out each Monday, the following Monday, students will turn in their completed Key Terms Lists and take a Key
Terms Quiz. Students can use their textbook, classwork, homework to complete their Key Terms Lists each week.
H. Absent Work:
-
You are responsible for getting and completing any work you miss while absent from class, and getting any
assistance you need from a peer to complete the work successfully. There will be a designated Extras/Absence
folder in the classroom in which your missed assignments and extra copies of class handouts will be stored.
All missing work can be found on our class website: vmsworldhistory.weebly.com. Each assignment will have
the website listed on the bottom of the page, as well as a Makeup Deadline. I will not accept work turned in
past the Makeup Deadline.

[Tuesday]
Classroom Procedures and Expectations
1. Entry into class:

class:
Have a blue or black pen, your binder, Cornell Notes notebook, and an independent reading book in your hand
and wait silently in a straight line in the hallway. Read you independent reading book until Ms. Goldner gives
you instructions for entering the class.
Silently wait in line to greet Ms. Goldner, and then walk silently and urgently to your assigned seat, place your
belongings on the back of your chair and out of the aisles. Check the front board for any special
announcements or instructions.
Begin your Do-Now immediately, silently, and independently.
Work on your Do-Now until the timer goes off. If you finish before the timer goes off, take out history work or
your Cornell Notes to reviewmake sure you are working and learning every second!
When the timer goes off immediately put your pen down and track Ms. Goldner.
If you have any questions or concerns, Ms. Goldner cannot address them during the Do Now. Write them in the
Questions/Concerns box at the top of every Do-Now and ask them at the designated time after the Do Now if
they pertain to the whole class.
2. Oral Drill:
Drill:
When Ms. Goldner says please stand you need to do the following:
o
Silently stand straight behind your chair, with your hands by your side, in front of you, or behind you.
Check your uniform and your posture.
Dont raise your hand during oral drill.
Speak using strong voice.
The oral drill will normally be assessing the homework you did last night, as well as the homework
from the past week, and cumulative review over the entire year. Therefore, you should be prepared to
answer any question during the Oral Drill.
3. Turn and Talks:
The expectation is that you and your partner are talking on-task for the entire amount of time given. If you
finish before I bring the class back together, dig deeper, expand upon your thoughts, ask each other questions,
or share more information.
You should talk only to your partner for the entire time given.
When you hear Ms. Goldners voice track silently and immediately.

[Tuesday]
4. PairedPaired-Reading:
Reading:
During pair reading, one student reads at a time out loud, in a voice that your partner can hear but that other
groups cant. Ms. Goldner should not hear you if shes several desks away.
The person who is not reading out loud is following along carefully, actively reading along while their partner
reads aloud.
All great historians actively read each time they encounter a text. In this class, actively reading includes
underlining and circling key phrases, while also taking quality marginal notes
notes-- including writing down
summaries or key questions while reading.
At the end of each section, the note-taker should share his or her annotations and key ideas from the reading.
Partners should discuss to come to an agreement about the key idea. Then, continue reading the next section.
All talking to should be on task. If you finish early push the answers/conversation deeper, ask each other
clarifying questions, take more notes in the margin about key ideas, etc.
5. Bathroom/Water Trips:
Trips:
You can only use the restroom or get a drink of water after you have completed your independent practicecross your fingers and raise your hand to signal that you need to use the restroom.
Bathroom trips are privilege, I reserve the right to accept or deny your request. If you have a habit of going to
the bathroom in my class excessively, the privilege will be revoked.
If your class takes place either directly after homeroom or after lunch, bathroom trips will not be allowed
during class. It is your responsibility to use the free time you have in the mornings or at lunch to use the
restroom.
**NOTE** If a student has a documented medical condition which requires him/her to use the bathroom more
frequently, please inform
inform Ms. Goldner and the student will be exempted from this system, of course!
6. Tissues:
Tissues:
Raise a fist in the air and continue to work until given permission to get out of your seat.
Walk to the nearest tissue station and use the tissues as quietly as possible- Do not disturb your classmates
while walking or while using the tissues.
7. Pen runs out of ink:

ink:
Hold your pen up in the air, Ms. Goldner will direct you to the pen station in the back of the room (near the
water fountain) to switch it out and get a new one.

[Tuesday]
8. Submitting assignments:
assignments:
When you are given the instruction, pass the papers as quickly and silently as possible to your peer immediately
on your left (towards the windows). When all assignments reach the window column, starting with the back
row, window column students will silently pass the papers up to the student in the first row (the top, left hand
desk).
9. Exit Procedure:
Procedure:
When the pack up song begins, silently pack away your history materials. Once all history materials are put
away, you will then take out the required materials for your next class, including your independent reading
book. The expectation is that every student is ready to go upon conclusion of the song and sitting silently
(roughly 45 seconds long). Ms. Goldner will instruct the class to silently stand and track the lockers. Students
in the back row will then begin to exit out of the classroom, following Ms. Goldners instructions for where to
stop.
10. Completion of Assignments and Missing Work:

Work:
Each assignment completed in this class must be done in blue or black pen. It must have your first and last
name written at the top, as well as your team and the date. Each assignment must also be stapled as necessary,
and include quality marginal notes as you actively read. Any assignment turned in without these elements
completed will be marked as poor.
All missing work can be found on our class website: vmsworldhistory.weebly.com, and in the absent folder
found in the back left-hand section of the room. Each assignment will have my contact information listed on
the bottom of the page, as well as a Makeup Deadline. All missing work must be completed by the Makeup
Deadline in order to receive full credit!
History is important. If you don't know

history, it is as if you were born
yesterday. And if you were born
yesterday, anybody up there in a position
of power can tell you anything, and you
have no way of checking up on it.

Howard Zinn

[Tuesday]
History Syllabus & Classroom

Classroom Expectations Acknowledgement
Dear Parents/Guardians,
I am so excited to be your students history teacher this year! We will be working hard from day one
preparing for success in college and on the Advanced Placement World History Exam next year. We have a
tremendous opportunity in front of us to forge the path across ALL North Star Middle Schools in terms of
students entering the 9th grade enrolled in an Advanced Placement course!
Students learn best when their families and teachers work together to ensure that students complete their
assignments and come to school ready to learn. Therefore, I want to make sure that lines of communication
are open between us so we can work together to help your student. To maintain strong communication with
you, please record the following information and fill out the following form:
1. Here is my personal cell phone number and email addressI can be reached any time before
9pm on weekdays and will respond generally within 24 hours.
-
cgoldner@northstaracademy.org
(570)855-5967 (easiest way to contact me)
2. Please review the class syllabus and expectations that were distributed in class and sign below:
We, the student and parent or guardian, have read the syllabus and class expectations of the World History I
course.
course. We understand the information and support the expectations for this course. I understand that my
child is responsible for returning their World History text book in the same condition it was received at the
start of the year, or will be assessed for the cost of a new text.
____________________________________________________________
Student Signature
____________________________________________________________
Parent Signature
Date: ___/___/2016
below.
Parent(s)/or Guardian(s), please answer the questions below
What is the best number to reach you at? ______________________________________
What is your email address? ________________________________________________
How would you prefer I communicated with you?
Text
Phone Call
Email

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Name: _____________________________ Date: _________________Team:_____________________ Week 1