McCoy
World History
Syllabus & Requirements
Course Overview: This course surveys world history from the development of the ancient
civilizations to the events of the present day. The important individuals, civilizations, eras,
events, movements, discoveries, and ideas that have shaped the development of our world
will form the core of our studies. Students will also master important geographical &
historical knowledge, but also to effectively engage in critical thinking about both past &
present situations. Research and writing skills will be sharpened through various assignments,
and special projects may be assigned to foster creativity.
World History Syllabus:
Unit 1 Geography, Prehistory, & Asia to 1900
Unit 2 Egypt & Mesopotamia
Unit 3 Ancient Greece
Unit 4 Rome
Unit 5 Byzantine & Islamic Empires
Unit 6 The Middle Ages
Unit 7 African & American Developments
Unit 8 Renaissance & Reformation
Unit 9 Exploration & Growth
Unit 10 The Age of Reason
Unit 11 The Age of Revolutions
Unit 12 Europe 1815-1914 & World Reaction
Unit 13 World War I, Nationalism, & the Russian Revolution
Unit 14 World War II & the Cold War
Unit 15 Present Developments & Challenges
Rules for Success:
1) Be on time & bring ALL needed materials to class. You are tardy if you are not in
your seat when the tardy bell rings!
2) Be alert & attentive to your task AT ALL TIMES! This means from first bell to last!!
3) NO excess talking without the teacher’s permission. Talking during a quiz or test will
result in a ZERO on that assignment.
4) There will be NO EATING, NO DRINKING, in class. All food & drinks must be OUT
OF SIGHT!!! (Unopened and inside your backpack.)
5) Show respect for others at all times.
6) Throw away all trash & put away all classroom resources properly before leaving.
7) Listen carefully & follow instructions THE FIRST TIME!
8) You will be allowed a MAXIMUM of 2 bathroom/hall passes per nine weeks. (1 for
1st period.) You must SIGN OUT ANYTIME you leave class!
9) You are never allowed to copy another student's work, unless permission has been
given to form groups. Zeros will be given to all students involved in copying.
Discipline Policy: The discipline policy of SIHS will be followed. In addition, the
following system of discipline will be used for those who break class rules or fail to obey
reasonable requests:
1) WARNING ( may be individual or group)
2) 30 minutes of After School Detention on the next school day.
3) 1 hour of After School Detention, phone call to parents.
Course Requirements:
A. Homework: This course will require outside study & work, and I expect it to be done
ON TIME, and BY YOU!! COPYING AN ASSIGNMENT WILL RESULT IN A
ZERO!! I check assignments randomly, and if an assignment is not completed and turned in
by the assigned deadline it will receive a ZERO. All work is to be completed by the next day
unless I specifically say otherwise. If you are absent, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to get the
makeup work when you return.
B. Major Tests: There will be a major test after each unit of study. THE TWO KEYS
TO SUCCESS ON THESE TESTS ARE: 1) DOING THE WORK WHEN IT IS
ASSIGNED, AND 2) STUDYING THE UNIT TEST REVIEWS. In order to be eligible
for RETESTING (for scores less than 80), you must attend a PRETEST session at 8:00
a.m. the day before the test. ANY TEST MISSED MUST BE MADE UP WITHIN 5
SCHOOL DAYS! It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to schedule a makeup.
C. EXAMS: ALL students take the mid-term exam, which counts for 25% of your
grade. Each student (except exempt seniors) must take the final exam, which covers the
entire course.
D. NOTEBOOK: All students are expected to maintain a completed notebook of notes,
worksheets, maps, etc., which are organized by unit. If you turn in your entire completed
notebook at the end of the course, it will be worth 3 points on your course grade! ( I will
do this by adding 6 points to your second semester grade. )
E. ADDITIONAL: I reserve the right to assign additional projects & papers allowing at
least 4 weeks for completion of major assignments.
F. INTERNET: We will be using the Internet for research on specific web sites. This
research will be done primarily in the school computer lab under close supervision.
G. BEHAVIOR: All students will be expected to obey all class and school rules.
Grading Policy:
Grade Calculations:
37.5% Unit Tests & CFAs
37.5% Daily Grades
25% Exam
Grade Scale:
100-93 A 84-77 C
92-85 B 76-70 D
below 70 E