Social Studies Department
Global History I Honors Packet
2018-2019
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CONTENT
I.
Honors Program
A. Eligibility
B. Description of Honors Project
C. Task
D. Book List
II.
Parent Letter
III.
Student Letter
IV.
Suggested Calendar
V.
Teacher-Student Contract
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HONORS PROGRAM
A.
Eligibility
1. Any student enrolled in a 9th grade Global Studies class who earns a “B+”
average or higher in the 1st quarter may participate in the Honors Project. The
student MUST maintain at least a “B+” average throughout the rest of the
course.
B.
Description of Honors Projects
1. During the 1st quarter you will be expected to read and answer questions from
historical readings in a 2-3 page essay. This must be submitted with your
“Teacher-Student Contract Form” when you express interest in the program.
2. During the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quarter of the school year students who are eligible
to, and wish to, complete the Honors Projects may attempt to do so. The project
will consist of a student reading a non-fiction historiography book (from our
attached selected list) and writing a 4-6 page book critique (task attached) for
each of the three quarters (2-4).
3. Each quarter’s book selection will cover a specific region of the world.
Quarter 2: Asian & Pacific Trading Networks
Quarter 3: Africa & The Islamic World
Quarter 4: The Americas
4. In order to receive Honors Credit for the year a student must complete ALL
FOUR quarterly assignments to the standard of your teacher and the department
chair.
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C. Global I Honors Project: Book Critique
Task:
This should be written in a formal manner with a thesis, introduction, and a conclusion.
This paper should answer (with explanations as appropriate) the following questions.
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What question is the author(s) trying to answer? (Why are they writing this
book?)
Why do they think this question is important? (Why is it worth researching and
writing a book about?)
What is the author’s thesis? (What is the answer to their question?)
What kind of evidence do they provide in trying to answer the question?
Summarize as much as possible, but do not omit important evidence.
How convincing do you think they are in defending their thesis? Why do you
think so?
Did the author have a specific audience in mind when writing? If so, did this
affect their presentation?
What opinion(s) does the author hold towards this subject? Is it helpful or harmful
to his or her purpose?
Are there other questions that you wish the author had answered? If so, what are
they? If no questions were raised for you, say so.
Are there questions that were raised by this reading that you would like answered
in the course? If so, what are they? What in the book inspired these questions?
You need to come up with at least two questions.
How did you like the book overall? Would you recommend it for next year’s
students? Why or why not? Be specific.
This essay should be typed and approximately 4-6 pages in length, with a 12 point font,
double spaced with one inch margins. It is important that you use examples from the
book to support your points. Cite quotes using parenthetical references (Author’s Name,
Page #). Any additional outside sources (optional) must also be cited. All anti-plagiarism
rules apply. The essay will only be accepted through www.turnitin.com
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D. Quarter 2: Asian & Pacific Trading Networks
Books for Quarter 2:
1)
Chaudhuri, K. N. Asia Before Europe: Economy and Civilisation of the Indian Ocean
from theRise of Islam to 1750. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990.
Print.
This book explores the dynamic interaction between economic life, society and
civilisation in the regions around and beyond the Indian Ocean during the period from the
rise of Islam to 1750. Within a distinctive theory of comparative history, Professor
Chaudhuri analyses how the identity of different Asian civilisations was established. He
examines the structural features of food habits, clothing, architectural styles and housing;
the different modes of economic production; and the role of crop raising, pastoral
nomadism, and industrial activities for the main regions of the Indian Ocean.
OR
2)
Gordon, Stewart. When Asia Was the World. Philadelphia: Da Capo Press, 2008. Print.
While European civilization stagnated in the “Dark Ages,” Asia flourished as the
wellspring of science, philosophy, and religion. Linked together by a web of spiritual,
commercial, and intellectual connections, the distant regions of Asia's vast civilization,
from Arabia to China, hummed with trade, international diplomacy, and the exchange of
ideas. Stewart Gordon has fashioned a compelling and unique look at Asia from AD 700
to 1500—a time when Asia was the world—by relating the personal journeys of Asia's
many travelers.
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Quarter 3: Africa and the Islamic World
Books for Quarter 3:
1)
Bovil, Edward, William. The Golden Trade of the Moors. Princeton: Markus Wiener
Publishers, 2009. Print.
This book is an account of the golden trade of the Moors, and a source book on
Saharan trade routes, caravan organization and Sudanese history. The author covers
anthropology and economic geography as well as history, as he examines and explores
the hot little towns, sharp traders and the brutal rulers. He seeks to encourage and inspire
a generation of scholars to discover more about parts of Africa still surprisingly little
known to the outside world.
OR
2)
Northrup, David. Africa’s Discovery of Europe: 1450-1850. Oxford: Oxford University
Press, 2014. Print.
This groundbreaking book examines the full range of African-European
encounters from an African perspective rather than from the customary European one. By
featuring vivid life stories of individual Africans and drawing upon their many recorded
sentiments, author David Northrup presents African perspectives that persuasively
challenge stereotypes about African-European relations as they unfolded in Africa,
Europe, and the Atlantic world between 1450 and 1850.
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Quarter 4: The Americas
Books for Quarter 4:
1)
Leon-Portilla, Miguel. The Broken Spears: The Aztec Account of the Conquest of Mexico.
Boston: Beacon Press, 1990. Print.
For hundreds of years, the history of the conquest of Mexico and the defeat of the
Aztecs has been told in the words of the Spanish victors. Miguel León-Portilla has long
been at the forefront of expanding that history to include the voices of indigenous
peoples. In this new and updated edition of his classic The Broken Spears, León-Portilla
has included accounts from native Aztec descendants across the centuries. These texts
bear witness to the extraordinary vitality of an oral tradition that preserves the viewpoints
of the vanquished instead of the victors.
OR
2)
Weatherford, Jack. Indian Givers: How the Indians of the Americas Transformed the
World. New York: Fawcett Books, 1988. Print.
After 500 years, the world's huge debt to the wisdom of the Indians of the
Americas has finally been explored in all its vivid drama by anthropologist Jack
Weatherford. He traces the crucial contributions made by the Indians to our federal
system of government, our democratic institutions, modern medicine, agriculture,
architecture, and ecology, and in this astonishing, ground-breaking book takes a giant
step toward recovering a true American history.
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School Year, 2018-2019
Dear Parent,
The Social Studies Honors Project is an intellectually stimulating and rigorous
program which allows the student to work more closely with the material in a critical
fashion. The program affords the student freedom to explore topics in depth throughout
various world regions of this course (from the birth of Civilization to the Global year
1750). It also provides them the opportunity to synthesize these findings in a critical
review of a scholarly book.
Please note that the completion of the project does not result in an automatic
granting of credit. It must meet the qualities of excellence and be accepted by the
student’s teacher and Social Studies Department Chair. It should be noted that the
Honors Project comprises work above and beyond the course the student is currently
enrolled in. The program is basically an independent study. Successful completion of
the program is recorded in the student’s record as Honors Credit.
The specific demands and procedures of the program are described in the
accompanying packet. You will also note a specific contract your child has signed.
Please examine and return with your signature.
We wish your child success, enjoyment and accomplishment in the venture.
Sincerely,
Lawrence Schultz
Social Studies Department Chair
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School Year, 2018-2019
Dear Candidate,
Before you start your Honors Project, you will be asked to submit a preliminary
two to three page essay dealing with the topic of the Neolithic Revolution. This essay
will be designed to test your ability to read critically, process arguments, formulate your
own argument, and defend it with evidence. All of these skills are integral to the
successful completion of your Honors Project. The essay will be evaluated by your
teacher, and it will be a decisive indicator of your success in completing an acceptable
project. If your essay should fail to meet the standards of your teacher you may attempt
one resubmission. If you are unable to meet your teacher’s standards a second time, you
will be dropped from the Honors Project.
This preliminary essay will be due with the attached “Teacher-Student Contract
Form” by Thursday October 18th.
Sincerely,
Lawrence Schultz
Social Studies Department Chair
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Assignment Schedule
1) Thursday October 18th, 2018
-Submission of preliminary essay and “Teacher-Student Contract Form”
(The acceptance of the contract is contingent upon receiving a grade of “B+” or higher in
the first quarter of Global I.)
Please note: Failure to meet an assignment deadline will result in termination of the
project. Assignments for all 4 quarter must be received in order to receive Honors
credit. If any are missing NO credit will be awarded, there is no partial credit.
2) Quarter 2 assignment due second to last week of quarter
Due Date: ________________
3) Quarter 3 assignment due second to last week of quarter
Due Date: ________________
4) Quarter 4 assignment due second to last week of quarter
Due Date: ________________
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TEACHER-STUDENT CONTRACT FORM
NAME OF STUDENT: ________________________________________
Quarter 2 Book Selection: ______________________________________
Why did you choose this particular book for quarter 2? (Answer below)
I understand the following…
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This project will be done in conjunction with my present course instructor.
A grade of “B+” or higher must be maintained throughout the Global I course.
All assignments (quarters 1-4) must be submitted ON TIME to receive Honors
Credit.
The work must meet the project’s quality expectations to receive credit.
STUDENT SIGNATURE:
__________________________________________
PARENT SIGNATURE:
__________________________________________
CLASSROOM TEACHER:
__________________________________________
DEPARTMENT CHAIR:
__________________________________________
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