AP World History Syllabus
2014-2015
Mr. Scott Bodnar
Dr. Chris Edwards
Mrs. Jenna Bergren Pritchard
College Board Site: http://apcentral.collegeboard.com
Important Dates:
Review Sessions
will be scheduled in April/May
College Board Exam*:
Thursday, May 14, 2015
*Students may earn college credit by scoring sufficiently high
on the AP examination administered through the College Board.
Course Description
In this college level course students will study the development and interaction of world
cultures throughout history by applying a wide range of factual knowledge as they analyze
themes. This course emphasizes happenings from 600 CE to the present day. Students may
earn college credit by scoring sufficiently high on the AP examination administered through the
College Board in the spring. On the average, students could expect to spend seven hours
during a calendar week studying outside of class.
Course Focus
Our main focus is on world history but include many other forms of learning with a
strong focus on reading strategies. These reading strategies include how to read a complex
text including annotation, think alouds, word walls (lots of tough vocabulary), golden sentences
and visual literacy for art. We also work on making connections from history to our world today
as well as between different areas of the world, plus becoming strong analysts of primary
sources. “Curriculum” also includes organization skills, time management, writing skills and
being able to ask and answer higher level questions.
Course Materials
Text
Sterns, Peter N. et al. World Civilizations: The Global Experience (5th ed., 2007)
Supplemental Resources
Kishlansky, Mark. Sources of World History: Readings for World Civilization, volumes
1&2 (3rd ed., 2003)
Course Outline
August – September
“Foundations”
This unit of covers the longest time span, 8000 b.c.e. to
approximately 600 c.e. Topics include pre-history societies, ancient
civilizations including China, Mesopotamia, Egypt, India and the
Mediterranean.
September – October
“The Post Classical World”
In this unit, we will cover the rise and spread of Islam, the
Byzantine world, the growth of Western Europe including the
Middle Ages as well as the Middle Ages of Asia. The Unit covers a
time period from approximately 600 c.e to 1450 c.e.
October – December
“The World Shrinks”
The main focus of this unit is on the Age of Exploration and its
economic, political and social impact on a global scale. The unit
covers a time period from approximately 1450 c.e. to 1750 c.e.
January
“The AP Exam”
We will spend the first 2 weeks of the new semester delving into the
AP exam; looking at past example, writing requirements and
general expectation for the test. We will conclude this week with
the writing of a DBQ, a document-based question.
January – March
“Industrialization and Western Hegemony”
This unit challenges us to consider the rapidly changing modern
world in light of the industrial period. Additionally, we continue to
explore the impact of western-dominance on the world. This unit
covers from 1750 c.e. to 1914 c.e.
March – May
“The 20th Century”
Internationalism, globalization and interdependence are the themes
of this unit. We also will study the independence movements of
former western colonies and territories. This unit covers post World
War I to the present.
Early May
Review activities and assessments in preparation for the exam.
The grade for this class is determined as follows:
1st semester
10% summer work
10% participation
15% reading quizzes
15% précis
10% notebook check and flashcards
40% tests
2nd semester
10% final project/review
10% participation
15% reading quizzes
15% précis
10% notebook check and flashcards
40% tests