Foundations of
Western World History
Ms. Sally E. Crouse
www.sallyecrouse.weebly.com
sally.crouse@lovett.org
SYLLABUS
OBJECTIVE:
To provide a basic knowledge and understanding of human events and
civilization from Pre-History up to the Renaissance. This class aims to instill a love of history
in the students, and hopefully, a desire to explore more about the world around them through
reading, study, art, and travel.
TEXT:
World History: Patterns of Interaction, McDougal Littell, Publishers,
CLASSES:
There will be several assessments to reinforce what we have discussed in class, including:
 study guides and quizzes,
 tests
 a research paper
 a final project
 a final exam.
For homework you will be expected to:
 read sections of the textbook and/or primary and secondary supplemental sources to
prepare for the upcoming class
 students may research a current event* and write a short paragraph paraphrasing that
event to share with the class for extra credit towards their participation grade
In class, we will have:
 lectures
 group discussions
 view slide presentations of relevant art, architecture, and monuments
 view movies, and work on projects.
*Current Event Homework: paraphrase your current event on a notecard and bring into
class with date, event, and source.
*Current Events can be obtained from the following news sources, in addition to others:
CNN, New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today,
Reuters, A. P., BBC, BBCAmerica, The Telegraph (UK), ABC, NBC, CBS,
Bloomberg. The current event you choose should reflect a situation happening in an area of
the world that we are studying in class.
Written homework assignments will not be accepted late without an excused absence.
All late assignments (by one day) will receive a "50%" grade. After one day,
assignments will not be accepted.
You may take notes on your nightly reading for a "Note Check" grade as part of your
Classroom Participation grade. This is an easy way to lift up your average and reinforce what
you have learned from your reading.
**Please check my website often for schedule changes and updates.**
GRADING:
Classroom participation (discussion, promptness, homework, current events)
Study Guides and Quizzes
Tests
Projects
Final Exam
10%
20%
40%
20%
10%
TEST/QUIZ SCHEDULE – SEE WEBSITE FOR CALENDAR
*Current Event Homework: paraphrase your current event on a notecard and bring into
class with date, event, and source.
*Current Events can be obtained from the following news sources, in addition to others:
CNN, New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today,
Reuters, A. P., BBC, BBCAmerica, The Telegraph (UK), ABC, NBC, CBS,
Bloomberg. The current event you choose should reflect a situation happening in an area of
the world that we are studying in class.
CLASS CONTENT:
Ancient Near East, Ancient Egypt, Hinduism/Buddhism, Minoans/Phoenicians, Judaism,
Egypt/Nubia/Assyria/Babylon, Persians, Ancient Greece, Hellenistic Culture, Ancient Rome,
Late Antiquity, Early Christianity, Islam, Byzantine Empire, Early Russia, Turks/Crusades,
Charlemagne and the Early Middle Ages, Medieval Culture/Feudal System, Early European
Royalty and Monarchies, The Renaissance in Italy and the North
HONOR GUIDELINES:
 Students should expect any make-up test or quiz to be different and, since students have longer to
prepare, perhaps to be more challenging. Also, tests and quizzes that are given to two or more sections
in the same course may have substantial differences as well. Essays may be different unless students
are told the essay question ahead of time.
 Students should not discuss any test or quiz outside class until all students have received the test or
quiz back from the teacher(s).
 Students should put all of their writing that will be graded in their own words. The exceptions are direct
quotations that need to be put within quotation marks and then footnoted or otherwise given credit to the
original source.
 Students should expect that all Honor Council violations shall be submitted to the Honor Council.
All policies and procedures of The Lovett Upper School are in force in this class, particularly policies
regarding the Honor Code, dress code, and use of technology (refer to The Lovett School Parent/Student
Handbook 2013-2014).