Advanced Placement European History
2012-13
North High School
Ms. Stanley
Email: jennifer_stanley@khsd.k12.ca.us (school)
historystanley@gmail.com (personal)
Phone: (661) 399-3351 ext __________
Web Site: http://north.kernhigh.org
“Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of
preceding times. –Machiavelli
Course Description:
This is a college-level survey course in European history. It will provide a basic narrative of the
intellectual, cultural, political, diplomatic, social, religious, and economic developments in European
history from 1450 to the present.
Students are strongly encouraged to prepare for, and take, the Advanced Placement European
History Exam, for which they may earn significant college credit. Students taking this class are not
obligated to take the national exam offered each year in May, but a large part of the assessment of
your performance parallels what you will encounter on the exam. In other words, everything we do
is this class is to prepare you for the AP Test. If you do your work in the class all year, why not at
least try the national exam?
Student Learning Goals:
 Students will acquire fundamental and advanced knowledge of European history.
 Students will identify and compare the major themes/trends (intellectual, cultural/artistic,
political, diplomatic, social, economic) in each period of European history.
 Students will develop skills of critical reading, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation necessary for
mastery of the content of European history.
 Students will analyze and interpret a variety of sources relevant to European history, including
primary and secondary documents, charts, graphs, data tables, political cartoons, art, and
pictorial/graphic material.
 Students will develop the ability to think and reason analytically as demonstrated through essay
and expository writing.
 Students will analyze multiple viewpoints in the interpretation of events in European history.
How to Survive:
1. Consistent effort. Think of this course like training for a marathon. If you try to race without
preparing, you pass out after a few miles and embarrass yourself. Start training now. Our race
is May 11. Let’s win it together.
2. Prepare for class. Read the book…slowly. Do a chapter outline. Read it again. Draw little pictures,
symbols, or emoticons on your outlines. Write down little comments, questions, or connections.
Look up things online. Have something to say each day.
3. Be active in class. Smile, joke, make me laugh, take notes. Answer questions. Help someone else.
Bring your textbook to class every day. Come talk to me outside of class. Come keep me company in
after-school tutoring.
4. Study. Save everything we do. Organize your notes. There is no magic button for studying. Figure
out what works and do it. If a particular method does not work, don’t use it again. Suggestions:
flash cards, study groups, internet tools, review something old each night.
Primary Textbook:
Western Civilization, 6th Edition, by Jackson J. Spielvogel
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Textbook Web Site: (This is linked from my web site)
http://www.wadsworth.com/cgiwadsworth/course_products_wp.pl?fid=M20b&product_isbn_issn=9780534646028&token
***Great resource: contains practice tests, flashcards, etc.***
Course Policies (A.K.A. the 10 Commandments of Stanley)
1. Have a scholarly attitude. I want you to enjoy this class and get a lot out of it. Be prepared to
work hard at it. Have your notebook out and ready to go when the bell rings. Really.
2. Attendance/tardies. Come to class and on time. By definition, “on time” means in your seat and
ready to begin when the bell rings. Habitual tardies are not acceptable and will invoke the
wrath of your instructor and ultimately the dean of students, Mr. Green. He has a black belt.
‘Nuff said.
3. Leaving class. Do not come to class and immediately ask to use the bathroom, thereby missing
critical information at the beginning of class. Use your passing periods for this – I do. During
class, you may leave without asking/disrupting the class in order to use the bathroom only. Be
fast. However, do not EVER leave this building D-Annex without asking first.
4. Behavior. Conduct your behavior and speech with integrity and respect for others. Don’t say
things that you would not say in front of my 90-yr old grandmother.
5. Technology. Airplane rules apply! Disable and stow all portable electronic devices off before
you enter the classroom. They interfere with the navigational progress of our journey. I do not
want to see or hear them during instructional time, including the vibrate setting. If there is an
emergency during class that requires use of technology, please inform me and I will allow you to
step into the hallway.
6. Food and drink. It is acceptable in the classroom under the following guidelines. All food that
you bring into my realm is subject to a 10% confiscation tax at the instructor’s discretion and
subject to her appetite. Snacks only – no entrées (i.e. items requiring a fork and knife), no
slushes!!! Do not spill anything. What you spill, you will clean. Food & drink privileges can be
revoked at any time if it becomes a distraction.
7. Other homework. Do not work on homework for another class (especially Math!) during my
class unless I specifically tell you that you can. This is just rude and extremely irritating and I
am likely to rage on it.
8. Packing up early. Do not pack up early if we are still working on something. This drives me
absolutely nuts. Plus, we usually finish with a few minutes left to go. If we do not, it must be
important, so don’t pack up.
9. Follow the school policies outlined in your student planner, including the dress code. This isn’t
the beach or a night club – don’t dress like it.
10. This is YOUR education and YOUR life. Take responsibility for it. Remember, you wanted to take
this class to challenge yourself. No whining!
Materials:
 3-ring binder: Keep all chapter outlines, handouts, readings, etc. in this notebook. Do not lose
contents of your binder. Use dividers to organize your binder.
Grades
Grades are calculated using a standard point system. Note that there are fewer assessments/tests in
this course than a standard course. Grade scale may be modified by the instructor as needed.
Tests: Are to be taken when scheduled. Tests are to be made-up as soon as possible after any
absences. This is for your benefit. We move fast in this class. Don’t get behind. Being absent on the
day before the test does not excuse you from taking the test when scheduled in advanced.
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Absences/Make-up work/Late work: It is expected that you will email the instructor as a
courtesy each time you miss class. This is widely practiced in college courses, so we will do the
same. After an absence, it is the student's responsibility to find out what has been missed. ALWAYS
CHECK WITH OTHER STUDENTS FIRST! Depending on the assignment, late work will be accepted
at the discretion of the instructor for reduced credit.
Extra Credit Opportunities: I realize that this class is difficult & want to reward extra work.
Please see the list of extra credit books & movies available for this class. In addition I will periodically
offer “After School Theater” with a showing of a historical movie of my choosing. It is completely
optional & a short report will have to be written in regards to the movie to obtain the extra credit. I may
occasionally allow other extra credit opportunities at my discretion.
Best wishes for a great year!
Ms. Stanley
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