IB HL 1 HISTORY: 20th
Century World History
3 Credit Hours
Room 204
IB HL 1 HISTORY: 20th Century World History
Nonie Kouneski
Nonie.kouneski@mpls.k12.mn.us
Course Description/Purpose
Course Goals/Learning Objectives
This rigorous World History college level course challenges IB
students to develop reading comprehension, analytical writing
and analytical discussion skills. This college level course requires
IB candidates to study a selection of 20th century world history
topics.
“The aim of all IB programs is to develop internationally minded
people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared
guardianship of the planet; help to create a better and more
peaceful world.”
History Aims to:
 promote an understanding of history as a discipline,
including the nature and diversity of its sources,
methods and interpretations
 encourage an understanding of the present through critical
reflection upon the past
 encourage an understanding of the impact of historical
developments at national, regional and international
levels
 develop an awareness of one’s own historical identity
through the study of the historical experiences of
different cultures.
The 20th IB World History course encourages students to develop
their understanding of the methodology and practice of the
discipline of history. Teaching essential historical skills enrich
the student’s understanding of the 20th C World and enables
them to apply these skills to the future study of history or related
areas. Important historical skills covered and strengthened
throughout this course include:
 the gathering and sorting of historical evidence
 the evaluation of historical evidence
 recognizing and understanding historical
processes and their relationships to human
experience, activity and motivation
 organizing and expressing historical ideas and
information
IB Topics covered:
 Causes, practices and effects of wars.
 Origins and development of authoritarian and single party
states.
 The Cold War.
 Independence Movements
 Democratic States
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IB Prescribed Subject covered:
 Conflict and Intervention (Rwanda and Kosovo)
Students will receive detailed information on themes, and
material for study in class.
Periods of study:
Quarter 1 – French Revolution through World War I
Quarter 2 – Russian Revolution through Spanish Civil War
Quarter 3- World War II through Cold War
Quarter 4- Cold War continued.
Also, Quarter 2 and 3 students will write a research paper, the
Historical Investigation.
Prerequisites/Technology Use
Students should have taken US History or AP US History. It is
assumed students can handle high level work in this class. We are
preparing student for writing historical essays and conducting
historical research. Prior humanities classes and English classes
have prepared student to write in essay form.
Students need to be able to access the internet and reliable data
basis for research, utilize word processing skills and develop
power points. Students will be involved in collaborative
technology projects and will enhance their Internet Research
skills. At school students will adhere to all of the Internet
Guidelines that are in keeping with district expectations. Students
who violate district internet regulations will be subject to
consequences according to the citywide disciplinary policy and
school rules.
Responsible Use Policy - Electronic items, including headphones,
radio/CD players, cell phones, handheld systems etc... are only
allowed to be used in the classroom with the explicit permission
and under the guidance of the teacher.
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Required
Textbooks/Equipment
Classroom
Procedures/Policies
 Mastering Modern World History Norman Lowe (in class
reading)
 Assorted Readings Provided by teacher. Variety of excerpts from
other texts, articles, etc.
 Students also need a folder and notebook for this course, to
store handouts and notes.
Expectations/Discipline Policy: To be a part of this class students
must adhere to the principals of RESPECT, as stated below. Failure
to do so will result in consequences to the student, including being
asked to leave the classroom until they are able to follow these
guidelines:

Risk, Try new things, Work with new people, Try new
activities, Try assignments IB Learner Profile: Risktaker

Enthusiasm, Have passion to discover and share the
unknown, enjoy reading, writing, discussing, and
THINKING! IB Learner Profile: Inquirers &Thinkers

Salience, Look for meaning in the lesson. Find something
you can connect with or relate to, you are responsible to
find meaning in the class. IB Learner Profile:
Knowledgeable and Balanced

Participation, Share what you know, engage in the lesson,
pay attention, be present! IB Learner Profile:
Communicators

Expectations, Have High Expectations for yourself and your
classmates. Expect to learn, expect your friends to be
present, expect yourself to work hard and do well. IB
Learner Profile: Principled &Balanced

Collegiality, Be supportive of your colleagues in learning.
This class is a safe place to express ourselves, and receive
support from each other. Support each other by creating an
environment of learning, leave sarcasm and put downs out
of the classroom. IB Learner Profile: Reflective & Openminded

Trust, Trust the learning process, trust the lesson, trust your
instincts, creative and intellectual capabilities, trust you can
learn from others, even those people you might think of as
too different from your-self. IB Learner Profile: Caring
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Assignments
And
Assessments
All students are required to use the Student Portal to keep track
of grades. Parents are also strongly encouraged to register their
emails in the Parent Portal. Student emails (one that the school
district provides), and the ones parents register with are
automatically linked to the teacher’s grade book and are used to
communicate with students and parents beyond classroom time.
Grades are based on a percentage of total points earned. The
Minneapolis Grade scale is used as follows:
93% and up A
90% A87% B+
83% B
80% B-
77% C+
73% C (70% C-)
67% D+
60% D
Below 60% in a Fail
Due Dates

Get work in on time! Each assignment has a due date. You
get one grace day, in which work is marked down 10%,
after which it must be in by last Friday of the quarter for
passing credit only (60%).

Work turned in on time, that is done incorrectly will be
given one redo opportunity for a maximum grade of B-.

If a student has an excused absence on a due date, the
assignment is due for that student the day they return to
class.

If a student is absent from class on a due date for a school
activity, they are still responsible to get the work in during
that day.

Students with an unexcused absence will not have the
opportunity to get work turned in. Guidelines for how to
excuse absences and time frame allowed is in the student
handbook.
Student Code of Conduct
All students are expected to adhere to the Southwest High School
and Minneapolis District Citywide Discipline Policy, designed to
promote a safe and respectful learning environment. For more
information about your rights and responsibilities consult your
Southwest Student/Parent Handbook
Academic Integrity:
Plagiarism/Consequences
It is expected that members of this class will observe strict policies of
academic honesty and will be respectful of each other. Any instances
in which cheating, including plagiarism and unauthorized use of
copyrighted materials, computer accounts, or someone else’s work is
determined, will be investigated to its full extent.
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Plagiarism, according to the Merriam-Webster On line Dictionary,
means: “. . .to steal or pass off (the ideas, words or production of
another) as one’s own, to present as new and original an idea or
product derived from an existing source.”
Students are expected to do their own work and cite other’s work
when used, whether quoted, or paraphrased, or images, charts. Etc.
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Individual work with an individual product must be the
students own work and sources cited.
Group work with one group product requires equal input
from all group members for students to claim the work as
their own, and sources cited.
Group or partner work with an individual product requires
students give their own answers and do not copy each other,
only use each other to process ideas and ask questions about
content.
Consequences for plagiarism will be the school policy, first offense
the work receives a zero, second offense earns a fail grade for that
quarter, refer to the Southwest Handbook.
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