Advanced Placement European History – Course Syllabus
Robert Kuenzi, Room 224
Prep: 4th- Room 242
Phone: 604-3200, x5524
E-mail: kuenzir@wawm.k12.wi.us
Course Objectives:
AP European is a challenging course designed to be the equivalent of a freshmen university course in a high school setting. It
is a year-long survey of European history from the High Middle Ages to the modern era. Solid reading and writing skills,
along with a willingness to devote considerable time to homework and study, are necessary to succeed. Emphasis is placed on
critical thinking skills, essay writing, interpretation of original documents, and historiography.
AP European History is challenging and stimulating, and compared with other high school courses, takes more time and
requires more self-directed effort (but you already knew that). As a result, there will be a focus on strengthening skills in
taking objective exams, in addition to writing clear and compelling essays and doing research and analysis of historical data.
Therefore, regular study, frequent practice in writing, historical analysis, and constant review are major elements of the course.
Required Materials:
Course textbook: A History of Western Society, McKay, Hill, Buckler
Supplemental Readings: The text will be supplemented with primary and secondary source documents, time lines, maps, and
other class materials.
Recommended Student Materials:
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One binder or multiple-pocket folder that will be brought to school each day materials/homework/notes needed for the
current unit being studied.
Wide loose-leaf binder [at least 2” or larger to be kept at home]. This will not only be your primary notebook but you
will be creating your own “review book” in preparation for the Advanced Placement exam in May.
3-holed lined notebook paper
notebook
Yellow highlighter and at least two other colors
Individual loose-leaf tabs/dividers for the various units of study
Pen and pencils
The AP European History Exam:
The examination is three hours and five minutes in length. It consists of a 55 minute multiple choice section and a 130-minute
free response section. The multiple-choice section accounts for 50% of the total exam score. The free response section
accounts for the other 50% of the exam; document based essay questions (DBQ’s) account for 45% and two free response
essays (FRQ’s) 55%.
The multiple-choice section consists of 80 questions designed to measure the student’s knowledge of European history from
the High Renaissance to the present. Section two, the free response section, begins with a mandatory 15 minute reading period
followed by Part A, in which students are required to answer a DBQ essay in 45 minutes. In part B, students are asked to
answer two thematic questions in 70 minutes. Students choose one essay from two groups of three essays; they will be advised
to spend five minutes planning and 30 minutes writing each of their thematic essays.
AP EUROPEAN HISTORY EXAM – FRIDAY, 11 MAY 2012 (afternoon)
How to be Successful in AP European History:
1. READ EVERY NIGHT! The reading homework can quickly become unmanageable if you don't keep up with the schedule.
The best strategy is to block time to read every night so that you are always prepared for class and the material is understood
and learned. You should expect to do something for this class every day. Rome wasn't built in a day and the same applies to
your knowledge of European history.
2. As you read LOOK UP WORDS YOU ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH. Write these words down in your study guide and/or
notebook. The writers of the AP European History Exam expect you to have a college-level vocabulary. It's your job to
develop your vocabulary.
3. ASK QUESTIONS in class when you are confused or struggling to understand - chances are others would like clarification
as well.
4. TAKE NOTES as you read and during the lectures in class. Be an active reader and note-taker, ask questions and
summarize as you go AND review when you are finished. Palmer cannot be read as a novel – you MUST be engaged in the
reading.
5. STAY ORGANIZED - purchase four 3-ring binders (one for each term) and dividers to organize your study guides, notes,
essays, articles, and other materials by chapter as we advance throughout the year. When it comes time to review in the spring
you'll have everything at the ready and your review time will be more purposeful.
6. BE IN CLASS - everything we do every day has purpose. When you are not in class you are indeed missing something
important - a step along the journey.
7. PREPARE for tests appropriately - if you are in the habit of "cramming" the night before the test, you will be disappointed
with your results in this class - you must read each night. There is just far too much to "cram." Be persistent; read and prepare
each night - it's a college-level class.
8. ASK FOR HELP if you need it - perhaps with your writing or in preparing for exams; it's important that you talk with your
teacher.
9. EFFORT/PARTICIPATION – cooperative sharing is encouraged in order to process the information. Participation is critical
for your success in this class and will make discussions and projects even more beneficial to you.
Academic Grades
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Your grade is determined through weighted percentage scores (10% participation, 15% daily work/assignments, 25%
quizzes/projects/essays, 50% tests)
Failing to hand in assigned work will result in a zero for that assignment
Late assignments will only be accepted within 7 school days of its original due date and a maximum value of 75% will
be applied.
Under some circumstances extra credit work assigned by the teacher.
Grades will NOT be rounded up.
97 – 100% = A+
93 – 96% = A
90 – 92% = A87 – 89% = B+
83 – 86% = B
80 – 82% = B77 – 79% = C+
73 – 76% = C
70 – 72% = C67 – 69% = D+
63 – 66% = D
60 – 62% = D0 – 59% = F.
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Please keep all of your assignments during the quarter. If I
have made a mistake in recording your scores and you have
the scored work, I will gladly correct my mistake.
I will notify parents if your grades fall below a C-.
I will inform guidance to drop any student who receives
more than two academic referrals for missing assignments.
Grades will be regularly updated and posted
Learning Activities and Assessment
Homework and Quizzes
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Vocabulary terms will be provided at the beginning of each unit.
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An approximately ten-question reading quiz will commonly follow each chapter of text reading. These quizzes may
be unannounced
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You should be prepared to devote some time on weekends and extended school holidays reading and
reviewing the text, reading supplemental material, in preparation for the AP exam and unit tests. Thus, be
prepared to pack your textbook if you are going on a spring break trip or holiday getaway.
Participation Points
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If you choose to not take notes on class lectures, come to class without your class materials, refuse involvement in
discussion, or give less then acceptable effort during in-class exercises/activities, you will lose participation points
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You are expected to take notes on all class lectures. Failure to do this will result in a loss of participation points.
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Lectures and class discussions will support and clarify the text. There will be time before each test to ask
questions of me and your peers and to have material clarified.
Unit Tests
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Unit tests will account for 50% of your total quarter grade. Each test is comprised of multiple choice questions and
either a DBQ or FRQ (based on the design of the AP Exam).
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If you miss a test, you are expected to make up the test the next day you are in school.
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Tests will not be returned until after everyone has taken the test.
Essays
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I will teach you how to write effective AP essays and you will have document-based, in-class assignments that will
build these skills.
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Essays (FRQ or DBQ) will be assessed on a 9-point AP
rubric for the purpose of monitoring individual improvement and competency.
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Like riding a bicycle or throwing a curveball, AP essay writing is an acquired skill. Unless an AP veteran, you
will likely improve greatly throughout the year.
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All out-of-class essays must be typed.
Extra Credit:
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Additional extra credit points may be earned through participation in after-school (or weekend) documentary
discussions and/or book club discussions. Opportunities will be discussed as they approach.
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All work done for extra credit must be in one week prior to the end of the quarter. There will be no exceptions.
Course Outline:
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4
Unit 5
Late Middle Ages/Renaissance
Reformation & Religious Wars
Exploration & Early Modern Society
Scientific Revolution
Growth of the State, the French Revolution & Napoleon
--WINTER BREAK—
Unit 6 Industrial Society & Revolution
Unit 7 Nationalism & Imperialism
Unit 8 Great War & Revolution
Unit 9 Crisis of Democracy & World War II
Unit 10 Europe 1945 – Present
EXAM REVIEW/EXAM
PROJECTS
Class Rules, Behavior, and Participation:
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Give your best effort on all class activities and assignments. They are opportunities to learn, achieve and grow.
Take advantage of them.
Academic freedom: All students have a right to their opinions (however unpopular). How you support your
opinions is the key to success on the AP exam and in this class. Respect for the opinions of others in class is a
class requirement.
Remember that your personal honor and integrity are important elements of who you are as a person. Therefore, I
expect you to do all of your own work at all times. (See the Students Rights and Responsibilities for expectations
regarding plagiarism and cheating.)
Do not be late. Be inside the door when the bell rings, unless you have a valid tardy excuse.
Keep in mind that I want you to do well. I consider myself one of your many academic coaches and I want you to
reach your goals and full potential as a student and a person.
I encourage you to approach me after class so that I can give you my undivided attention [if I am free] or see me in
the halls or e-mail me so that I know we need to talk. Never hesitate to share your respectful thoughts and feelings
with me. Students quickly learn that I will eagerly listen and respond to their concerns when they approach me
courteously.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
When you turn in the signature section to me signed below, I will give you credit and return it to you. Your signature
and the signature of your parents, or guardians constitute your commitment to the course and your preparation for the College
Board’s AP European History Examination. Keep this syllabus available for reference in your notebook or binder.
I have read the course description and I am fully aware of the commitment required for a student to succeed in this
class. I am prepared to make the necessary commitment, understanding all that it entails.
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Student Signature
Date
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Parent/Guardian Signature
Date