APSyllabus

Course Objectives:

	To gain knowledge of basic chronology and of major events and trends from approximately 1450 to the present.
	To develop an understanding of some of the principal themes in modern European history.
	To develop an ability to analyze historical evidence.
	To develop an ability to analyze and express historical understanding in writing.

During both semesters of the course, significant emphasis will be placed on preparing for the AP European History Exam.

Themes in Modern European History

The themes outlined below indicate some of the important areas that will be addressed in the course. Questions on the AP exam will often call for students to compare and contrast different eras or to trace developments in a particular category through several chronological periods.

1. Intellectual and Cultural History

	Changes in religious thought and institutions
	Secularization of learning and culture
	Scientific and technological developments and their consequences
	Major trends in literature and the arts
	Intellectual and cultural developments and their relationship to social values and political events
	Developments in social, economic, and political thought, including ideologies characterized as isms such as socialism, liberalism, nationalism
	Developments in literacy, education, and communication
	The diffusion of new intellectual concepts among different social groups
	Changes in elite and popular culture, such as the development of new attitudes toward religion, the family, work, and ritual
	Impact of global expansion on European culture

2. Political and Diplomatic History

	The rise and functioning of the modern state in its various forms
	Relations between Europe and other parts of the world: colonialism, imperialism, decolonization, and global interdependence
	The evolution of political elites and the development of political parties and ideologies and other forms of mass politics.
	The extension and limitation of rights and liberties (personal, civic, economic, and political); majority and minority political persecutions
	The growth and changing forms of nationalism
	Forms of political protest, reform, and revolution
	Relationship between domestic and foreign policies
	Efforts to restrain conflict: treaties, balance-of-power diplomacy, and international organizations
	War and civil conflict: origins, developments, technology, and their consequences

3. Social and Economic History

	The role of urbanization in transforming cultural values and social relationships
	The shift in social structures from hierarchical orders to modern social classes: the changing distribution of wealth and poverty
	The influence of sanitation and health care practices on society; food supply, diet, famine, disease, and their impact
	The development of commercial practices and their economic and social impact
	Changing definitions and attitudes toward social groups, classes, races and ethnicities within and outside Europe .
	Changes in the demographic structure and reproductive patterns of Europeans: their causes and consequences
	Changing definitions of and attitudes toward social groups, classes, races and ethnicities within and outside Europe .
	Gender roles and their influence on work, social structure, family structure, and interest group formation
	The growth of competition and interdependence in national and world markets
	Private and state roles in economic activity
	The character of and changes in agricultural production and organization

Course Expectations and Grading Standards

AP European History follows the pattern of a typical college-level Western Civilization course as closely as possible. To achieve success in the course, one must demonstrate mastery of the content and the ability to analyze a variety of historical evidence.

Most of a student's time in AP European History is spent reading and discussing primary and secondary sources, demonstrating mastery of factual content and chronology by taking cumulative multiple choice tests, and demonstrating analytical ability by preparing responses to essay questions and document-based questions.

Grading Policy: Grades are weighted according to the following table:

Tests	20%
Quizzes	20%
Essays	20%
Homework	20%
Final Exam*	20%

*Taking the AP exam exempts one from the second semester final.

Grade Scale: In order to ease students into college level work, the grade scale will be more lenient the first semester. Tests and quizzes will be graded on a curve first semester, but not second semester.

Second Semester

A 100%-90%

B 89%-69%

C 68%-65%

D 64%- 59%

Note- Late work is automatically given only ½ credit unless accompanied with a legitimate excuse.

Extra Credit

Extra credit is only allowed to supplement grade after all assignments have been completed! No extra credit is allowed to substitute for any missing assignments!

	Extra credit may be earned by two ways: Either by viewing a film from the recommended class list, or reading a book from the recommended book list, and completing a review/analysis essay paper.
	Only 40 points of extra credit may be earned per semester (approximately 1 test grade)

Required Materials:

1. Textbooks- History of the Modern World by R.R. Palmer & Joel Colton and Lloyd Kramer 10^th edition

2. Western Civilization: Sources, Images and Interpretations Volume I & II by Dennis Sherman

3. Notebook and binder

Suggested Materials

Any of a number of AP European History study guides to assist in AP exam preparation (See Ms. Wilford for a list.)

Class Rules

	All school rules apply within the classroom (consult school planner).
	After any absence, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed. All assignments or tests must be completed or it will result in a failure grade for the grading period.
	You are required to take notes each time a lecture is given. Attention and courteous manners are expected during lectures and assignment periods.
	You are expected to mentally participate in all classroom activities. There will be no sleeping or resting in class.

AP European History Course Schedule (tentative)

First Semester: August 22- January 9 2008

Unit I: Summer Assignment August 22-24	The Rise of Europe : Ancient Times to High Middle Ages	3 days
Unit II: August 27-Sept 5	The Upheaval in Western Christendom 1300-1560	7days
Unit III: Sept 6-Sept 17	Economic Renewal and Wars of Religion 1560-1648	7 days
Unit IV: Sept. 18- Sept. 26	The Growing Power of Western Europe 1640-1715	7 days
Unit V: Sept 27- Oct. 4: end of 1^st trimester	The Transformation of Eastern Europe , 1648-1740	5 days
Unit VI: Oct. 5- Oct 12	The Scientific View of the World	6 days
Unit VII: Oct. 13 –Oct 19	The Struggle for Wealth and Empire	6 days
Unit VIII: Oct 20-Oct 31	The Age of Enlightenment	7 days
Unit IX: Nov. 1- Nov 13 End of 2^nd trimester 11/ 16.	The French Revolution	9 days
Unit X: Nov. 14- Nov 30	Napoleonic Europe	10 days
Unit XI: Dec 1- Dec 9	Industries, Ideas and the Struggle for Reform 1815-1848	7 days
Unit XII: Dec 10- Dec. 18 : Take-home open-book semester exam worth 50% of semester final grade	Revolution and the Imposition of Order, 1848-1870	7days
Unit XIII: Dec 19-21, - Jan 3- 9 end of 3^rd trimester	The Global Consolidation of Large Nation-States, 1859-1871	8 days

Second Semester: January 11- May 8 2008

Unit XIV Jan. 14- Jan. 18	European Civilization, Economy and Politics 1871-1914	5 days
Unit XV: Jan. 21- Jan. 28	European Civilization, Society and Culture 1871-1914	5 days
Unit XVI: Jan. 29- Feb 6	Europe ’s World Supremacy (imperialism)	7 days
Unit XVII: Feb 7-Feb 15	The First World War	9 days
Unit XVIII: Feb. 15- Feb. 25 end of 4^th trimester	The Russian Revolution and Rise of The Soviet Union	10 days
Unit XIX: Feb 26- March 3	Democracy, Anti-Imperialism and the economic crisis After the First World War	8 days
Unit XX: March 4- March 13	Democracy and Dictatorship in the 1930’s	8 days
Unit XXI: March 14-28 (spring break)	The Second World War	6 days
Unit XXII: March 29-April 11 end of 5^th trimester	The Cold War and Reconstruction After the Second World War	10 days
Unit XXIII & XXIV: April 12- April 18	Empires into Nations: Asia, Africa and the Middle East	7 days
Unit XXV & XXVI: April 19- April 30	Coexistence, Confrontation, and the New Global Economy	9 days
Unit XXIV May 1-8 end of 6^th trimester for AP	Test preparation/Review	8 days

AP European History Exam: May 9, 2008

Course Assignments/ Activities

The course begins with the summer assignment which is handed out the previous spring. Completion of the assignment is mandatory for acceptance into the class. This course is set up to complete 12 units each semester, as well as a brief introductory unit to start and a review unit to conclude. Each semester is divided into three, six-week grading periods and approximately 4 units are covered each trimester.

Each unit requires the student to complete a journal assignment in which requires them to take notes over each chapter read and to write a short analysis concerning one chapter topic which will then be used for class discussion over the units. Journal topics are included in this syllabus, but only the questions for the second journal’s Key Points and Vital Concepts questions are included as an example of the types of questions students are expected to write about concerning their topic choice. Students sign up before each unit due date to be responsible for presenting their analysis paper to the class when their topic is up for class discussion.

Assigned readings over primary and secondary documents from the Sherman texts also accompany each unit and are used in class discussion. During the first two trimesters, the readings are used in group exercises that instruct the students on various techniques used in reading and interpreting historical documents and learning to interpret maps, charts, graphs, and visual images. Emphasize is placed on evaluating author source, tone, and meaning and context.

Every unit begins with a power point presentation over the main people, places, events and ideas of the unit. Each unit is also accompanied with the showing of film clips and or short documentaries which cover some aspect of the unit. Students are given a 30 to 40 multiple choice test over each unit, and complete an FRQ type essay question over each unit or a DBQ.

Assigned activities vary within units. Teaching students how to compose a proper thesis statement and how to write a document based essay and are worked on each week, within each unit.

Resources used in essay composition:

Ø The APCD Essay Tutorials (used in the computer labs)

Ø Longman’s Guide to the Advanced Placement Examination in European History by Mildred Alpern

Ø Released DBQ and FRQ Essay questions from 1987 to 2005

Ø Various lessons from Advanced Placement European History I from A Center for Learning Publications

Ø Handouts in essay composition from the English department

Methods used in teaching essay composition:

Ø Peer review exercises (students work in groups to write and critique each others work)

Ø In-class Ten Minute Writes (students get ten minutes, ten points for composing a response to a question over the assigned reading which must include a thesis and well constructed response making at least three points in response to the question asked.

Ø Take-home and in-class essay writing assignments

Ø PowerPoint’s and handouts on essay and DBQ construction.

Ø Journal Part II writing assignments

Methods used to teach course content:

Ø Lectures which incorporate the use of visuals via PowerPoint or overhead transparencies (weekly)

Ø Student presentations of journal topics/writings (weekly)

Ø Simulations which call for student presentations and research of various topics or persons. (2-3 times a semester)

Ø Film clips and documentaries (once each unit)

Ø Student led seminars and debates (2-3 times a semester)

Ø Mapping activities from World History Map Activities (Marvin Scott) J. Weston Walch Publisher

Note: This is not a comprehensive list of methods or materials used throughout the course, as activities and readings may vary depending on class size or academic level.