Western Civilization – Syllabus & Rules 2014
$ Western Civilization #
Mr. Schwenk – Room 255 – PeriodS 4, 7
Welcome to the new school year! I hope that you all had an enjoyable
summer vacation.
This syllabus provides most of the information you will need to know about
this Western Civilization class. It includes the layout of the course,
classroom rules and the grading policy. Please be sure to read it over and
keep it where you can access it later if you have any questions about the
class.
I know that some of you aren’t exactly thrilled to be returning from summer
vacation, but it is my hope that you will enjoy this class, develop and grow
academically and have some fun along the way. If there is anything that I
can do to help you, please don’t hesitate to ask.
I am looking forward to a great year. I hope you are too.
Mr. Schwenk
Contact Information:
(610) 469 - 5515
dschwenk@ojrsd.com
Western Civilization – Syllabus & Rules 2014
The Rules of schwenk
In order to avoid the wrath of Schwenk, please learn and follow the rules
set forth below. If we all can do this, the year will be fun and productive.
RULE #1: RESPECT EACH OTHER! Respect the thoughts and ideas of
others. Do not make fun of others and NO PUT DOWNS! Do not talk over
others. You can’t expect respect unless you give it first.
RULE #2: BE PREPARED EACH DAY WITH THE PROPER
MATERIALS AND BE READY TO LEARN! I think that one explains itself.
RULE #3: GET TO CLASS ON TIME! If you’re late, you better have a pass.
Everyone has 4 minutes to get from class to class. No more, no less. This
includes getting back from lunch for period 4. Your excuse that you needed to eat
that last bite of pizza is invalid.
RULE #4: EXPRESS YOURSELF AND YOUR IDEAS! Class will be very
boring if people don’t speak, argue and question the things we talk about. Share
your thoughts and you’ll find you know more than you thought!
RULE #5: THERE IS NO EXTRA CREDIT! Extra credit is all too often
abused and used as an excuse not to complete required work. Do the work I
assign you to the best of your ability and all will be well.
RULE #6: IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, ASK IT! There are no dumb
questions. I can’t answer the questions you don’t ask and I can’t help you with
the problems you don’t tell me about.
RULE #7: READ! WRITE! History is about reading and writing. The more
you do of both, the better you will be at both. Read the assigned materials, read
for pleasure, read the news, read the back of the cereal box – JUST READ!
RULE #8: ABSENT? CHECK WITH ME. You are responsible to check in
about missed work, rescheduled tests and projects. When you get back to class,
see me right away. Email me at dschwenk@ojrsd.com any time and I will
respond in a quick fashion.
Western Civilization – Syllabus & Rules 2014
Schwenk’s
Schedule
Period 1
AP Comparative Government (255)
Period 2
Department Chair Planning/Meeting
Period 3
AP Comparative Government (255)
Period 4
Western Civilization (255)
A/C
Period 4
B
Period 5
Planning (in 255 for the most part)
Period 6
Study Hall (255)
Period 7
Western Civilization (255)

LUNCH
My door is always open. Please feel free to stop by at anytime if you need help or
have a question.
Western Civilization – Syllabus & Rules 2014
Grading Policy



1 DAY LATE: 10% off the assignment
2 DAYS LATE: 30% off the assignment
Over 2 DAYS LATE: A ZERO!!!
*If you are absent the day something is due, that item becomes due the day you get back!
*Marking period grades are determined based on a point value basis. Some of the types of assignments you
can expect are as follows:
 Tests & Quizzes – all announced, no surprises or pop quizzes.
 Projects
o Individual & Group
 Writing Assignments
o E ssa y s
o Research Papers
o DBQ’s
o Summaries/Paraphrasing of articles
 Quizzes (Always announced)
 Homework
A few helpful tips:
*WRITE DOWN ALL OF YOUR ASSIGNMENTS
*READ ALL ASSIGNED MATERIALS
*DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO START PROJECTS
*IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR CONCERN, ASK ME RIGHT AWAY
*KEEP AND REFER TO THE WEEKLY SCHEDULES I GIVE YOU
*CHECK SKYWARD AND D2L OFTEN
MID-TERM & FINAL EXAM: The class does not have one all inclusive final exam at the end of the year.
Rather than that, the classes will take a series of 3 assessments spaced throughout the year as follows:
1.
Mid-Term – Most likely sometime in January/February. Multiple choice. 100 points. Will cover
Middle Ages to the French Revolution (roughly)
2.
Final Exam Essay – May. Question of my choosing, but a topic of your choosing. 100 points. (Any
topic from the ENITRE YEAR – your choice)
3.
Final Exam – June. Starts where the mid-term left off. Multiple choice. 100 points. ( Will cover the
French Revolution through World War II)
All three assessments will be added together to get your final exam grade for the report card in June. That
grade will be 20% of your final average for the course. The assessments will not be averaged into your
marking period grades. They only apply to the final exam grade.
Example: Freshman Don Lebowski received a 75/100 on the Mid-Term, 88/100 on the final exam essay and
82/100 on the Final Exam. Therefore, his overall final exam grade was a 245/300 = 82%.
Western Civilization – Syllabus & Rules 2014
COURSE OUTLINE
The following outline lays out some of the big topics we will study this year. As we tackle each
unit of study we will make note of key questions, events, topics, personalities and terms.
W e will start in the 14th century and conclude our studies around the mid-twentieth century. This
will trace the development of the modern W estern world from it origins in the Renaissance to the
cataclysm of the Second W orld W ar. The course will dovetail precisely with the sophomore
course in American history which focuses upon the 20th and 21st centuries.
 The Late Middle Ages – 14th Century
 The Renaissance – 15th & 16th Centuries
 The Reformation – 16th Century
 The Age of Exploration – 15th to 17th Centuries
 The Rise of Absolutism – 16th to 18th Centuries
 The Scientific Revolution – 17th & 18th Centuries
 Age of Enlightenment – 17th & 18th Centuries
 The Age of Revolution & Napoleon – 18th & 19th Centuries
 Industrial Revolution & Society – 18th & 19th Centuries
 Reaction, Revolution & Romanticism – 19th Century
 The Age of Progress – 19th Century
 Imperialism & The Modern Age – 19th & 20th Centuries
 World War I & Revolution – 20th Century