AP European History Course Syllabus, 2010-2011
Lone Oak High School
Instructor: Mr. Sims
Room: 217
E-Mail: adam.sims@mccracken.kyschools.us
Course Design: AP European History is a challenging course that is
meant to be the equivalent of a freshman college course and can earn
students college credit. It is a two-semester survey of European history from
the age of the Renaissance to the present. Solid reading and writing skills,
along with the willingness to devote considerable time to homework and
study, are necessary to succeed. Emphasis is placed on critical and
evaluative thinking skills, essay writing, interpretation of original
documents, and historiography.
Course Objectives: The students will:
 Master a broad body of historical knowledge
 Demonstrate an understanding of historical chronology
 Use historical data to support an argument or position
 Differentiate between historiographical schools of thought
 Interpret and apply data from original documents, including cartoons,
graphs, letters, etc.
 Effectively use analytical skills of evaluation, cause and effect,
compare and contrast
 Work effectively with others to produce products and solve problems
 Prepare for and successfully pass the AP exam
Course Text and Readings:
 The Western Heritage by Kagan, Ozment, and Turner
 Germinal by Emile Zola
 A World Lit Only by Fire by William Manchester
 Night by Elie Wiesel
 Various Readings assigned from outside sources including both
fiction and non-fiction book assignments
Course Requirements
Students will need a separate notebook, a three-ring binder, a blue or black
pen, a pencil, and will need to bring these materials to class daily along with
their textbook, The Western Heritage, along with any other outside material
necessary for the class. It is also very important to have home or regular
computer access and a secure e-mail account.
Course Purpose: This course has several purposes. First and
foremost, students will learn European History. The course is also intended
to prepare students to take the AP European History exam and the state
mandated test for juniors.
Organization: A course outline and estimated schedule will be given
to the students on the first day of class. This outline will include important
information such as Unit length, expected reading responsibilities, and test
dates. The students are responsible for keeping up with the reading
assignments and being prepared for quizzes and tests. The class will be
composed of a combination of lecture, group work, discussion questions,
and answering student questions. Periodically, student essays, reports, or
presentations may be required. All essays will have a scoring rubric for
student information.
Each unit will be organized around an essential question(s) or theme(s)
related to the content and tied to one or more of the Kentucky core content
objectives.
Assignments:
Tests & Quizzes: Tests will be a combination of objective,
document-based, and essay questions. Most tests will be timed, multiple
choice just as the AP exam in the spring. Quizzes will use either announced
or unannounced to check for student comprehension and reading.
Essays: Document-based questions (DBQs) and other essays,
including free response questions (FRQs) will be assigned throughout the
year. Remember that, in an essay, there is never a right or wrong answer,
just supported and unsupported. All essays are due when the tardy bell
rings for the class period on the due date.
Book & Movie Reviews: Several historical novel readings will be
assigned throughout the school year. The students will be provided a list of
essential questions to answer or a scoring rubric for their review. The
student will also be given a list of possible movies to review during the
school year as well.
Other assignments: Each year I try to incorporate new assignments
into the class. Depending upon success and value, the students may be
assigned new assignments that fall outside the previously mentioned
categories. Possible new assignments may include:
a) Fact/Concept cards
b) Varying Viewpoints work from The Western Heritage
c) Student Presentations
d) Research paper
e) Interpretation and analysis of a variety of primary sources using
documents from the book and sources from the Internet.
f) We will also analyze art, sculptures from each time period; this
will take place in the form of writing and in class discussion.
g) Interpreting maps that correspond with the events of each chapter.
h) You will be expected to know this material along with the material
we discuss in class.
Study Techniques: Due to the amount of class time available, the
reading assignments, especially in the first semester will be considerable.
The average reading assignment is 6-8 pages per night. Quizes may be
given unannounced on the assigned reading. In order to cover the material,
sharing is encouraged within certain boundaries. Each student is expected to
read all text materials or assignments, but group activities will be shared
assignments for EACH group member. Since the student is responsible for
all assignments listed on the Unit assignment sheet, plan ahead for tests or
lengthy assignments. Time management is an essential skill for this class
and life. You must make your time count.
Remember, as you become accustomed to the course format and texts, things
will become easier. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO NOT GET
DISCOURAGED. If you ever have a question about the assignments or
material, please ask.
Keys to Success: The most important factor in this class is consistent
effort and improvement. Do not be discouraged if your grade seems low in
the first grading period. Prior knowledge of the material is beneficial but
building on what you already know is more important. The improvement
and learning that you achieve will be worth the effort.
Also keep in mind that no late work is accepted.
Grading: The grading scale will be based on the ten-point scale. For
example, A 90-100%
Attendance: Attendance is essential. Classroom lessons will be indepth and crucial to your success.
AP exam: Registration for the exam will be in February and the
exam is given in May. Although it isn’t required, it is highly recommended
and may earn college credit.
Exam preparation will begin in mid to late April. The students will be
learning test-taking skills throughout the year in preparation for the exam.
Timed tests, DBQ’s, and essays will be given on a routine basis.
Comprehensive Tests: All tests will be comprehensive in order to
build AND retain knowledge.
Final Thoughts: Because this is an AP class, the expectations are
very high for each student. A discussion of classroom discipline will not be
necessary because each student will be expected to be a responsible and
conscientious student.
Any behavior issues will be handled at the instructor’s discretion. The class
will follow the school code of conduct as a baseline for behavior
expectations.
I expect this to be an excellent year in the classroom. Possible trips will be
discussed if there is historical relevance and time to complete them.
Course Outline
Semester 1
Note: I have listed an estimated time for each unit. Within the semester, I’ll
be building some mini-units to cover other topics such as The World Lit
Only by Fire, Night, and Germinal. Dates will be announced before we read
the books.
Unit 1: Chapters 9 – 10, pages 290 - 350
Themes:
1. The Late Middle Ages: Social and Political Breakdown
2. Renaissance and Discovery
Major Assignments: Reading, chapter review, discussion questions from
each chapter. DBQ, A World Lit Only by Fire questions
Interpretation and Analysis of:
Art /Images
- A procession of flagellants at Tournai in Flanders in 1349
- The Prince of the World
- The Renaissance celebrated human beauty and dignity
Maps
- 9-1, Spread of the Black Death
- 9-2, The Hundred Years War
- 10-1. Renaissance Italy
Documents
- Joan of Arch Refuses to Recant Her Beliefs
- Michelangelo and Pope Julius II
*Test: Unit 1 August 31, 2010
Unit 2: Chapters 11 – 12, pages 352-414
Themes:
1. The Age of Reformation
2. The Age of Religious Wars
Major Assignments: Reading, free response question, class discussion
questions
Interpretation and Analysis of:
Art /Images
- Matthias Grunewald’s Crucifixion
- Albrecht Durer
- Baroque and Plain Church: Architectural Reflections of Belief
Maps
- 11-3, The Religious Situation about 1560
- 12-2, Germany in 1547
Documents
- Zwingli Lists the Errors of the Roman Church
- Theodore Beza Defends the Right to Resist Tyranny
*Test: September 29, 2010
Unit 3: Chapters 13 – 14, pages 416-478
Themes:
1. European State Consolidation in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth
Centuries
2. New Directions in Thought and Culture in the Sixteenth and
Seventeenth Centuries
Major Assignments: Reading, DBQ, chapter reviews in class
Interpretation and Analysis of:
Art/Images
- Louis XIV of France
- Sir Robert Wapole
- Galileo Galilee
- John Locke
Maps
- 13-2, Europe in 1714
- 13-5, Ottoman Empire
Documents
- King James I Defends the Popular Recreation against the Puritans
- John Milton Defends the Freedom to Print Books
- Copernicus Ascribes the Movement to the Earth
*Test: October 23, 2010
Unit 4: Chapters 15 – 16, pages 480-544
Themes:
1. Society and Economy Under the Old Regime in the Eighteenth
Century
2. The Transatlantic Economy, Trade Wars, and Colonial Rebellion
Major Assignments: Reading, discussion questions, DBQ
Interpretation and Analysis of:
Art/Images
- Iron Forge
- 18th century roads in Europe
- General James Wolfe
Maps
- 16-2, The Slave Trade
Documents
- Rules are Established for the Berlin Poor House
- Visitors Describe the Portobello Fair
- A Slave Trader Describes the Atlantic Passage
*Test: November 12, 2010
Unit 5: Chapter 17, pages 550-590
Themes:
1. The Age of Enlightenment: Eighteenth-Century Thought
Major Assignments: Reading, free response question, chapter review
Interpretation and Analysis of:
Art/Images
- Printing Shops
- The salon of Madame Marie Therese Geoffrin
Maps
- 17-1, Expansion of Russia
- 17-2, Partitions of Poland
Documents
- Denis Diderot Condemns European Empires
*Test: November 24, 2010
Unit 6: Chapters 18 – 19, pages 592-654
Themes:
1. The French Revolution
2. The Age of Napoleon and the Triumph of Romanticism
Major Assignments: Reading, DBQ, discussion questions
Interpretation and Analysis of:
Art/Images
- On July 14, 1789, crowds stormed the Bastille
- Challenging the French Political Order
- Tennis Court Oath, June 20
- Portrait of Napoleon on his throne
- When Napoleon Invade Egypt
Maps
- 18-1, French Provinces and the Republic
- 19-1, The Continental System
Documents
- The Third Estate of a French City Petitions the King
- French Women Petition to Bear Arms
- Napoleon Makes Peace with the Papacy
*Test: December 15, 2010
2nd Semester -------------------------------------------------------------------------Unit 7: Chapters 20 – 21, pages 656-722
Themes:
1. The Conservative Order and the Challenges of Reform
2. Economic Advance and Social Unrest
Major Assignments: Reading, chapter reviews, discussion questions,
Germinal reading
Interpretation and Analysis of:
Art/Images
- In 1830, revolution again erupted in France
- Prince Klemens von Metternich
- George Stephenson: locomotive
- Irish Famine
Maps
- 20-1, Latin America in 1830
- 20-2, Centers of Revolution, 1820-1831
- 21-1, European Railroads
Documents
- Mazzini Defines Nationality
- Women Industrial Workers Explain Their Economic Situation
- Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels Describe the Class Struggle
*Test: January 22, 2011
Unit 8: Chapters 22 – 23, pages730-792
Themes:
1. The Age of Nation-States
2. The Building of European Supremacy: Society and Politics to World
War I
Major Assignments: Reading, discussion questions
Interpretation and Analysis of:
Art/Images
- The Crimean War Recalled
- Count Camillo Cavour
- The Eiffel Tower
- Emmeline Pankhurst
Maps
- 22-1, Unification of Italy
- 22-2, Unification of Germany
- 23-1, Patterns of Global Migration
Documents
- Lord Acton Condemns Nationalism
- The People’s Will Issues a Revolutionary Manifesto
- A French Physician Describes a Slum in Lille
*Test: February 9, 2011
Unit 9: Chapters 24 – 25, pages 794-904
Themes:
1. The Birth of Modern European Thought
2. Imperialism, Alliances, and War
Major Assignments: reading, DBQ, discussion questions
Interpretation and Analysis of:
Art/Images
- Darwin’s theories about evolution
- Marie Curie
- The use of poison gas
- Opening of the Suez Canal
Maps
- 25-4, The Balkans 1912-1913
- 25-6, WWI in Europe
- 25-8, WWI Peace and Settlement
Documents
- T.H. Huxley Criticizes Evolutionary Ethics
- Herzl Calls for a Jewish State
- An Eyewitness Account of the Bolshevik’s Seizure of Power
*Test: February 25, 2011
Unit 10: Chapters 26 – 27, pages 876-934
Themes:
1. Political Experiments of the 1920’s
2. Europe and the Great Depression of the 1930s
Major Assignments: reading, chapter reviews
Interpretation and Analysis of:
Art/Images
- During the Civil War in the Soviet Union
- Nazi Party Rally in Nuremburg
- Hitler masters the art of propaganda
Maps
- 26-1, Germany’s Western Frontier
Documents
- Trotsky Urges the Use of Terror
- Hitler Denounces the Versailles Treaty
- Hitler Rejects the Emancipation of Women
*Test: March 11, 2011
Unit 11: Chapters 28 – 29, pages 938-1021
1. World War II
2. The Cold War Era and the Emergence of a New Europe
Major Assignments: reading, free response question, Night reading
Interpretation and Analysis of:
Art/Images
- August 1945 US exploded the atomic bomb
- Picasso’s surrealist painting
- Rosie the Riveter
- September 11, 2001
- Allied airlift in action during the Berlin Blockade
- Cuban Missile Crisis
- Berlin Wall
- Taliban Fighters
Maps
- 28-1, The Spanish Civil War
- 28-3, Axis Europe
- 28-6, WWII in the Pacific
- 28-7, The Holocaust
- 28-8, Yalta to the surrender
- 29-1, Territorial Changes in Europe after WWII
- 29-10, Invasion of Iraq
Documents
- Hitler Describes His Goals in Foreign Policy
- Mass Murder at Belsen
- The Truman Doctrine Declared
- Gandhi Explains His Doctrine of Nonviolence
*Test: April 14, 2011
Unit 12: Chapter 30, pages 1024-1050
Themes:
1. The West at the Dawn of the Twenty-First Century
Major Assignments: reading, chapters review
Interpretation and Analysis of:
Art/Images
- Margaret Thatcher
- Simone de Beauvoir
- Jackson Pollock, One
- Early Computers
Maps
- 30-1, The Growth of the European Nation
Documents
- Margaret Thatcher Asserts the Need for Individual Responsibility
*Test: April 28, 2011
*AP Exam Review and Preparation-Test Week of April 30th -May 4th
If you are serious about both passing the class and the AP test, you should
also consider buying a review book for the AP test before school begins.
These books could help you get a head start on the year as well as prepare
you for class discussion, tests or assignments. Also note that there isn’t a
“magic” book and don’t expect review books to be used instead of The
Western Heritage textbook.
You can purchase any of the books (required or suggested) at any bookstore
or online.