AP European History Syllabus
Miss Lyndsay Wildner
2013 – 2014
A.P. European History Syllabus
Miss Lyndsay Wildner
Grace Christian Academy
Merrick, New York
Course Overview
There are two main goals in AP European History: to learn European history from 1450
to the present, and to prepare for the AP exam. The course description may be found online on
the College Board site, and is reprinted here:
The study of European history since 1450 introduces students to cultural,
economic, political, and social developments that played a fundamental role in
shaping the world in which they live. Without this knowledge, we would lack the
context for understanding the development of contemporary institutions, the role
of continuity and change in present-day society and politics, and the evolution of
current forms of artistic expression and intellectual discourse.
In addition to providing a basic narrative of events and movements, the goals
of AP European History are to develop (a) an understanding of some of the
principal themes in modern European history, (b) an ability to analyze historical
evidence and historical interpretation, and (c) an ability to express historical
understanding in writing.
The AP exam consists of a lengthy multiple-choice section and two different writing
sections—two Free-Response Questions (FRQ) and one Document-Based Question (DBQ). Part
of my curriculum is devoted to instructing and training students in the skills needed to succeed at
those tasks. I will test/quiz students frequently in one or more of those formats in order to give
them experience and practice in these kinds of evaluations.
Course Timetable
(Dates are approximate)
First Quarter (September 4 – November 5)
European History from pre-Renaissance to about 1688, the Glorious Revolution
Second Quarter (November 6 – January 24)
European History from 1688 to 1850, the end of the Industrial Revolution
Third Quarter (January 27 – April 4)
European History from 1850 to 1939, the rise of Communism
Fourth Quarter *shortened* (April 7 – April 24)
European History from 1939 to the present. Test review will occur until the exam date.
The AP Exam is May 9, 2014, so we must finish our curriculum early. The time after the exam
through the end of the school year will be for student research projects, presentations, and
viewing historical films.
AP European History Syllabus
Miss Lyndsay Wildner
2013 – 2014
AP Exam Overview
The AP European History Exam covers European history from 1450 to the present and
focuses on three general historical categories: intellectual-cultural, political-diplomatic, and
social-economic history. College Board explains how time periods and overlying historical
categories are proportioned on the exam as follows:
Approximately half of the multiple-choice questions cover the period from 1450
to the French Revolution and Napoleonic era, and half cover the period from the
French Revolution and Napoleonic era to the present, evenly divided between the
nineteenth and twentieth centuries. About one-third of the questions focus on
cultural and intellectual themes, one-third on political and diplomatic themes,
and one-third on social and economic themes. Many questions draw on
knowledge of more than one chronological period or theme.
The exam will take a total of 3 hours and 5 minutes to complete. The following is a brief
breakdown for each section of the exam:
50% Section I
80 multiple-choice questions (55 minutes)
50%
Section II
DBQ and 2 thematic essays (1 each from 2 groups of 3 essays), (15-minute
reading period, 115-minute writing period – total of 2 hours and 10 minutes)
Sources
The main textbooks for students in this course are:
1. Kagan, et al. The Western Heritage, since 1300. Boston: Pearson, 2014.
2. Sherman, Western Civilization: Sources, Images, and Interpretations. Boston:
McGraw-Hill, 2008. (7th edition)
Additional resources will be provided for students to analyze and interpret, including
both primary and secondary sources, from the following online resources:
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/modsbook06.asp,
http://library.csusm.edu/subject_guides/history/online_primary.asp#europe,
http://eudocs.lib.byu.edu/index.php/Main_Page, http://primarysouresonline.com/europe.html,
http://history.hanover.edu/project.php, http://www.nationalarchives.gov/uk
AP European History Syllabus
Miss Lyndsay Wildner
2013 – 2014
Class Procedures
AP European History will meet for 42-minute periods five days per week, with an
additional 42-minute period once per week. The AP exam covers material in European history
from 1450 to the present: that is a lot of information to cover in-depth for such a short amount of
time. In order to minimize distractions and maximize productivity during class time, the
following procedures are expected to be followed:
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Be on time, be prepared, and be ready to learn when you enter the classroom.
Homework is due at the beginning of class. There will be a folder for you to place it in
near the door before you take your seat. If the homework is an oral report or presentation,
have all components of your report on your desk as soon as you are seated.
There will be a Do Now at the beginning of each class, either on the white board or on
separate handouts which will be piled on a desk near the classroom door.
In order to minimize distractions and maximize productivity during class time, bathroom
breaks will be limited to 3 passes per quarter per student, and food and drink (except
water) should be kept out of sight and hearing during class as it can become a distraction.
Student Evaluation
30% – Tests and quizzes: At the end of each chapter, a test will be given with AP exam
multiple choice questions and a thematic essay question. There will be other
short quizzes designed to hone DBQ analysis skills, thesis-writing skills, and
other necessary skills for success on the AP exam.
20% – Homework: There are several key terms to go along with each textbook chapter;
students will write the key terms and their definitions on index cards, due on the
date of the chapter test. These cards will serve as a study tool when review time
comes in April and May. Other homework assignments will include textbook
readings and short supplementary activities. Notebook checks are also included
in this category; they will take place periodically, at least twice per quarter.
Notebooks will be graded based on neatness, organization, and completeness.
30% – Document-Based Questions (DBQs) and Free-Response Questions (FRQs):
College Board requires all AP Euro students to construct 4 DBQs and 4 FRQs
before the exam. One of each essay question will be assigned each quarter. The
two essays for the fourth quarter will be worth only 20%, and the other 10%
will be composed of post-exam projects.
10% – Class participation: Students are expected to be engaged during each class. No
cell phones, side conversations, working on assignments for other classes, or
anything else that may deviate from what students are supposed to be doing
during class time.
AP European History Syllabus
Miss Lyndsay Wildner
2013 – 2014
Lateness and Absences
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Late assignments will be accepted for three days beyond the due date with the following
penalty scale:
Later on the due date =5pts Next Day =10pts Two Days =20pts Three Days =30pts
Assignments late due to an excused absence will be accepted on the first day of return to
school without penalty. If you sustain a lengthy excused absence, please make sure you
communicate with me to work out a schedule for making up missed work, assignments,
and any tests or quizzes.
Late or missed work for unexcused absences will be given penalties according to the
above scale. If you have a planned unexcused absence, such as a family vacation, please
let me know in advance. There may be a possibility of completing work ahead of time to
avoid penalties.
AP European History Syllabus
Miss Lyndsay Wildner
2013 – 2014
By signing this page, I, (print name) ______________________________________, hereby
affirm that I have both read and understood the contents of this syllabus, and that I will make the
utmost effort to abide by the procedures and policies within. I also pledge to uphold academic
integrity and honesty in all that I do during this school year, for the glory of God.
Signature: ______________________________________________
Date: _____________
AP European History Syllabus
Miss Lyndsay Wildner
2013 – 2014
Course Themes and Schedule
The following is a brief outline of themes and anticipated schedule. It by no means
includes all readings, activities, or discussions, but will give an idea of the breadth and depth of
the course.
First Quarter
Unit 1. The End of Feudalism and the Renaissance
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Generic attributes of feudalism: agriculture, guilds, kings versus nobles, kings versus
popes
Compare and contrast the Renaissance in the south versus the Renaissance in the north
Unit 2. Reformation
Unit 3. Religious Wars
Unit 4. State Consolidation
Unit 5. Scientific Revolution
Second Quarter
Unit 6. The Old Regime
Unit 7. Transatlantic Economy
Unit 8. Enlightenment
Unit 9. French Revolution
Unit 10. Napoleon and Romanticism
Third Quarter
Unit 11. Conservative Order and the Challenges of Reform
Unit 12. Economic Advance and Social Unrest
Unit 13. Nation-States
Unit 14. Society and Politics to World War I
Unit 15. Birth or Modern European Thought
Unit 16. Western Imperialism
Unit 17. Alliances, War, and Troubled Peace
AP European History Syllabus
Miss Lyndsay Wildner
Unit 18. Interwar Years: Dictators and Depression
Unit 19. WWII
Unit 20. Cold War, Decolonization, and a New Europe
Unit 21. Post-WWII through EU Formation
2013 – 2014