AP World History: Course Description & Guidelines
Allen High School
I. Teacher Information:
Mrs. Annette Terry
House 100
Room: G 150
Annette_Terry@allenisd.org (email is quickest method of contact)
Phone: (972) 727-0400 extn. 4124
Conference Periods: 1st Period & 8th Period (Daily)
Tutorials:
8:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. M-F
2:35 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. M-TH
Late afternoons by appointment only
II. Teacher/ Class Website:
This course will rely heavily on the use of a class webpage. Students and parents are encouraged
to use our class website to keep up with the calendar of daily homework and reading assignments
as well as upcoming quizzes, exams, and projects. Some of this information will also be
available through Skyward Family & Student Access. Please note that the webpage calendar
will always have more detailed information than other electronic sources of information.
For website access, go to http://allenisd.org/allenhs. Click on faculty websites. Then, scroll down
the page and click on Annette Terry. Regular website updates will include due dates, homework
assignments, handouts, exam reviews, class notes, and more. Please remember to check the class
website regularly.
III. Skyward Family & Student Access:
Students are expected to regularly access their own Skyward account (not a parent’s account) to
check for updated grades, messages from your teacher, as well as to complete assigned online
assignments. Online assignments can only be accessed through the student’s account.
For more information on Skyward Family Access, please visit the AISD website at
http://www.allenisd.org/domain/73.
IV. BYOD or “Bring Your Own Device”:
Allen ISD is committed to moving students forward in a 21st century learning environment. As
part of this plan, AISD allows high school students to access the EagleNet wireless network
using their own technology devices (laptops, Smart Phones, iPads etc.) during the learning day.
With classroom teacher approval, students may use their own devices in the classroom to access
and save information from the Internet, communicate with other learners and use the productivity
tools loaded on their devices. I am a firm supporter of BYOD program. In our classroom, we
are fortunate enough to have a partial set of netbooks in our classroom that we share with another
AP World History teacher. Unfortunately, there are never enough computers to go around. As a
result, it will be helpful if students bring their own devices on particular days. However, please
know there is a time and place for everything. BYOD is not meant to support texting or gaming
during class – legitimate educational/classroom use only. Also, please be aware that you will be
responsible for keeping your own device safe and secured.
V. Smart Phones:
Smart phones have many useful apps that can help you succeed in class. Here are some of the
apps you might find useful for class:
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Dictionary.com (free)
QR + (free) (reader for QR codes)
As you find more apps that you think would be helpful for the course, please let me know! There
are a few world history apps available for purchase. Use caution and your best judgment!
VI. Purpose of the Course:
The Advanced Placement World History course is a challenging survey course with the purpose
of developing a greater understanding of the historical development of global processes and
contacts in the interaction with different types of human societies. It will follow the scope and
sequences delineated in the Advanced Placement World History “ACORN” book, provided by
the CollegeBoard™, as well as the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).
Students are expected to take the Advanced Placement Exam on Thursday, May 15th in the
AHS Competition gym. Students should arrive no later than 7:30 a.m. outside the competition
gym with their student ID, #2 pencils (not mechanical), blue or black ink pens, white erasers, and
a snack/drink. CollegeBoard has estimated the cost of the exam at approximately $97 for
students, which is a slight increase from last year as the school district can no longer subsidize
part of the cost of the exam. The cost of the exam is payable by cash, check, or credit card
(electronic payments include an extra $3 service fee) and is paid in early spring. For students
who are on the free/reduced lunch program, the cost of the exam is reduced. If you think you
may qualify for the free/reduced lunch program, please see your house office asap to obtain the
appropriate paperwork. All students who successfully fulfill the course requirements will satisfy
the Texas requirements for World History and will receive additional grade points in their Grade
Point Average or GPA.
The purpose of the course extends beyond the possibility of earning extra GPA points or college
credit, by providing students with the opportunity to develop skills and knowledge that will form
a useful and practical foundation for future college studies.
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A recent study of this “AP Effect” reported the following results. Students who were simply
enrolled in Advanced Placement courses were:
 Better prepared academically for college.
 More likely to specialize in majors with tougher grading standards.
 More likely to complete more college coursework.
 More likely to take subjects (courses) in their AP subject area.
 Likely to perform significantly better over four years of college coursework.
 More likely to be superior in terms of leadership.
 More likely to make significant accomplishments in college.
 Twice as likely to do graduate level studies.
VII. Course Description:
Traditional historical points of reference in world history are identified as students analyze
important events and issues in the major civilizations of Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and
Oceania. Students evaluate traditions and institutions, which form the basis of the world’s major
civilizations and cultures. Students examine the impact of geographic factors on major historic
events and identify the historic origins of contemporary economic systems. Students analyze the
process by which democratic-republican governments evolved as well as the ideas from historic
documents that influenced that process. Students trace the historical development of important
legal and political concepts. Students examine the history and impact of major religious and
philosophical traditions. Students analyze the connections between major developments in
science and technology and the growth of economies.
In addition, the course will address the following critical-thinking and historical thinking skills,
including: Crafting Historical Arguments from Historical Evidence (historical argumentation and
the appropriate use of relevant historical evidence), Chronological Reasoning (historical
causation, patterns of continuity and change over time, and periodization), Comparison and
Contextualization, and Historical Interpretation and Synthesis. In doing so, students will address
the skills and themes common to future AP Social Studies classes, the SAT II subject tests, as
well as the PSAT and SAT tests. They will also address the College Readiness Standards
developed by Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
The focus is primarily on the last thousand years of the global experience. The periods of major
units of the one-year course include the following:
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Period 1:
Period 2:
Period 3:
Period 4:
Period 5:
Period 6:
Technological and Environmental Transformations to 600 B.C.E.
Organization and Reorganization of Human Societies, 600 B.C.E. to 600 C.E.
Regional and Transregional Interactions, 600 C.E. to 1450
Global Interactions, 1450 to 1750
Industrialization and Global Integration, 1750 to 1900
Accelerating Global Change and Realignments, 1900 to Present
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The AP World History course provides balanced geographical coverage with Africa, the
Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania regions represented. Coverage of European history does
not exceed 20 percent of the total course. Knowledge of year-to-year political events is not
required in this course.
A student-centered classroom environment will be fostered to engage and encourage the student
in critical thinking skills and to be an active part of the learning process. Students will cultivate
a community of learning while participating in cooperative learning to promote a sharing of
knowledge and to grasp the greater goal of understanding the big picture in world history. This
course will require several hours of outside reading and study per chapter to meet the
requirements in the curriculum. Students are expected to take the AP exam in May.
VIII. Class Supplies:
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(1) 2” 3-Ring Plastic Notebook (Yes, it really needs to be a 2” binder and it will be
filled!)
(1) Pkg. Dividers (at least 8 tabs)
Blue or black pens (required colors for essays according to CollegeBoard)
#2 pencils (required for scantrons)
Loose-leaf notebook paper (college or wide rule)
Class special _____________________________________*
Class special _____________________________________*
Optional, but highly suggested AP World History Study Guide (see IX below)
* In order to reduce the amount of required supplies and cost to your family, each class period
will be responsible for bringing two items (in unopened, new condition) for general use by all
classes. All supplies can be purchased for lower costs at discount stores such as Wal-Mart and
Target, instead of specialty office supply stores. Please let me know if your child needs help in
acquiring their supplies for the course.
IX. AP World History Study Guide:
Students will purchase the following AP World History study guide to assist in preparing for the
AP World History exam in May. We will also use this book throughout the year to supplement
our work in the class. Please pay attention to the edition of the book below as it does matter in
preparing for the revised AP exam.
Kaplan AP World History 2013 by Patrick Whelan, 2013 Edition. (Used books are fine!)
If you would like a secondary source to help review, the following study guide is a good
resource, but it is not required for the course.
AP World History Crash Course by Jay Harmon, 2012 Edition.
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The average cost of both study guides is about $18. Both can be found at local bookstores such
as Barnes and Noble, or at reduced prices at about $11 on Amazon.com or at Half-Priced Books.
Also, past students are often willing to sell their books to new sophomore students.
X. Teacher Expectations for Students:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Be on time and prepared for class.
Listen and participate.
Complete all assignments.
Be respectful of everyone.
Always give your best effort.
XI. Consequences for Actions:
Positive
1. Improved Academic Performance
2. Positive Parent Contacts
3. Teacher Recommendations
Negative
1. Warning and/or Talk with Student and/or
Parent Contact
2. Detention and Parent Contact
3. Referral to Office
XII. Various Course Policies:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Homework: Homework will be assigned almost daily in some form. Most often,
students will be assigned reading from the textbook or will be provided with a reading
appropriate for the current unit of study. Quizzes will be given over reading
assignments. You must complete your homework assignments, including your study
guides. There will be no time to do homework in class so make sure you come with
your assignments completed. All work assigned is due at the beginning of the class,
no exceptions, no excuses.
Late work penalty: Late work is accepted one day late for a starting value of a 70; two
days late for a starting value of a 50; and after two days the
assignment may not be accepted for any credit. Due to the amount
of time invested, projects, class notebooks, and other specified
assignments cannot be turned in late.
Makeup work: Makeup assignments are due on the next class day. Any previously
assigned work is due on the day of the student’s return to class.
Students are responsible for obtaining their makeup work and for
abiding by makeup work deadlines. Students who do not complete
makeup work or who fail to abide by deadlines may earn a grade of
zero for each missed assignment, including exams. Please email or
talk with Mrs. Terry and/or consult the class website to find out
makeup work ahead of time.
Exam Days: Due to the extensive notice of due dates and upcoming assignments,
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E.
F.
G.
students who are absent the class period before an exam will not be
excused from the exam. The student will take the exam as scheduled.
The policy also applies to notebook checks.
Extra Credit: Will be offered each nine weeks to the entire class, and not on a caseby-case basis in accordance with AISD Grading Regulations.
Redo Work: Will be allowed in AP World History in accordance to guidelines set
forth by AISD as well as the team of AP World History teachers. Test
corrections will be allowed under specified guidelines. Students will
receive more information about test corrections prior to the first exam.
Course Policies: Please note that the course policies described above are followed by
all AHS AP World History classes in order to provide for
consistency and fairness to all students.
XIII. Grading:
50%
30%
20%
Exams, Essays, Major Projects, Class Notebook
Quizzes & Mini-Projects
Daily Work/Other, including in-class activities & on-line assignments
XIV. Class Notebook:
Each student will prepare and maintain a 2” binder for AP World History. This binder may not
contain work from other classes. Students are responsible for bringing his/her notebook to each
world history class period. Keeping an organized binder for both semesters will aid in preparing
and reviewing for the AP Exam in May. Students will be given “Notebook Checks” on a
periodic basis. Some of these binder checks will be announced in advance – others will be
unannounced. Therefore, it will be the responsibility for the student to keep their binder
organized at all times!
Students are expected to have their binders “operational and ready to launch” within the first two
weeks of school. If this is an issue, please let me know so we may discuss alternatives. The
notebook should be organized exactly with eight following headings:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Beginnings to 600 B.C.E.
600 B.C.E. to 600 C.E.
600 C.E. to 1450
1450 to 1750
5.
6.
7.
8.
1750 to 1900
1900 to the Present
AP Writing & Essays
AP Exam Review
XV. Academic Dishonesty:
Academic dishonesty in any form is unacceptable. This includes (but is not limited to) copying
any kind of work (in any portion) from another student, sharing answers with another student
(collusion), taking photos of your work or others’ work and posting it for others to view,
plagiarism, using any form of aid (a.k.a. cheat sheet) on a test, etc…
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There is a distinct difference between copying work and collaborating with other students. We
will work together to understand this difference. The testing environment is less than stellar and
the challenges and temptations are many, as your student will attest to. However, cheating in
school has become far too acceptable among many students and needs to be eliminated.
XVI. Suggestions for Students:
A. Read. No really. The single most important contributor to student success in AP World
History is whether the student completes each reading assignment and its accompanying
work. There is no substitute. Do the reading faithfully. Reading is assigned for each
class period. At first, it may seem time consuming and difficult, but practice makes
perfect! Use a dictionary each time you do not understand a word.
B. Expect to be challenged. Although, we are in high school, this will be a college course.
That means that students will be given college-level materials and will be expected to
produce college-level work. This will be a demanding course for all students. However,
every student will be given every opportunity to achieve success in the course. Your
main focus should be preparing to pass the AP exam, not getting an “A” in the course.
C. Don’t panic about your grade. That’s why I’m here. The students in my class become
part of my extended family, and I will do whatever it takes to make sure that my kids
succeed. The first weeks of school will be the most difficult – not because the material is
the most difficult – but because it is still August and early September, and you haven’t
gotten back into the groove of school. Or, you actually have to do your homework now
and complete your study guides and readings. Stick with it! The course will become
easier by the second month after you have acclimated to the expectations of a true
advanced class. Do not worry so much about your grade unless it is failing – then, we’ll
have a conversation about earing credit. This is a college course and universities know
the difference on transcripts between On-level and Pre-AP classes and Advanced
Placement (AP) classes. University Admissions will tell you they would rather see a “C”
in an AP class than an “A” in another course, even a Pre-AP class. AP classes earn
higher grade points. Consequently, an 87 in an AP class is worth a 77 in a regular class.
University Admissions also want to see you take the AP exam. Why take the class if you
weren’t going to bother with the exam? It would make no sense and send up a red flag to
any admissions office. You can do this! And, I’ll be here to help you!
D. Don’t do homework for another class in world history! While I understand that
sometimes you get in a bind and are very busy, this is definitely not a habit to get into.
Not only is it rude and disrespectful, the data shows that students who don’t pay attention
in class earn lower scores on the AP exam because they missed several parts that
mattered. I could name 5 students last year that should have earned 5’s or 4’s but didn’t
because they were always working on French or Pre-Cal homework. Live and learn from
their mistakes. I will help you in monitoring for this as well, so please understand that if
I take up your homework for another class, it is not to be mean, but because I want you to
succeed in the only sophomore class that can get you college credit.
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E. Study groups can be lifesavers! Form and join an informal study group with other
students. Study groups can be made up of students from this class or any other AP World
History class, even if they have a different teacher. The teachers and teaching styles are
different, but the classes will cover the same material. These study groups can help
contribute to student success. The group is not a substitute for the individual reading or
the work and definitely not for splitting up the work, but two heads are often better than
one. I would recommend keeping your study group to no more than four or five people
as larger groups diminish their effectiveness. This also allows you to get missing notes
and help from an additional source should you need it. Exchange phone numbers with
other students, so you can call, text, or post on Facebook as needs be. Figure out what
works best for you. Going at it (the course) alone is a bad choice! Everyone needs help at
some point – even me!
F. Take the AP World History Mock Exam. Taking the mock exam lets you feel the
panic and pressure you will feel on the day of the actual AP exam. Even if you don’t feel
prepared or if you don’t score well on the mock exam, it will still help you prepare. Last
year, I had 25 students that did not take the mock exam. They scored lower than they
could have because they didn’t know what to expect and didn’t study as hard as a result.
G. Review! Review! Review! We will offer a variety of opportunities to review for the
unit and semester exams. More importantly, the AP World History teachers will rotate
and offer weekly review sessions for the AP exam before and after school during the
month of May. Take advantage of them. You may not think you need the help, but they
couldn’t hurt! Some of our past students may tell you the sessions were “a waste of
time” but consider the source: They could be a weaker/stronger student than you or
earned a 2, which is not a passing score on the AP exam.
H. When in doubt, ask! If you have a question or a concern, email me or come by my
room. This course will challenge you, but ultimately, better prepare you for your future
advanced classes than other choices. I am here to help you!
XVII: Final Thoughts:
As a teacher, I am fair, consistent, and available for assistance to you. Success in this course will
depend on the timely completion of assignments and maintaining communication with the
teacher. If you have questions or concerns, please contact me in a timely manner using the
information provided at the beginning of the syllabus or though the Skyward Family Access
Message Center. Email is the best method (in terms of response time) of contact for me. Please
expect to receive group email updates and reminders at least two times per six weeks.
I want all of my students to be successful! Keep up with the reading assignments and study
guides, and talk to me about any problems you may be experiencing. Every year, I have students
in my class expecting to get good grades because they have always received good grades in the
past. Other students never participated in their past history classes or never did their homework
and could ace their exams; then, they found this to be untrue at the sophomore level. Expect the
AP World History class to be challenging and to be different. If you are having problems and/or
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you cannot understand something, that’s why I’m here. I welcome the chance to help my
students (and students from other classes – your friends) better understand the concepts we cover
in class. Your questions and suggestions help me to become a better teacher.
Parents, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to teach your young adult and for your
support. Please fill out and sign the next page and return it to me indicating that you have read
and understood the course description and guidelines. The rest of this handout will be kept in the
student’s AP World History notebook for the duration of the year.
The syllabus will remain in your notebook for the entire year.
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House ________
I have read the course description for Advanced Placement World History. I understand my
responsibilities in this course, the requirements to be successful, and what I can do to succeed. I
will do my best to abide by class expectations.
I will return this information sheet to Mrs. Terry by the end of the week. I understand that the
syllabus will remain in my world history binder for the year but that an additional copy will be
available online should my parents like a copy.
___________________________
Student’s Signature
____________________________
Parent’s/Guardian’s Signature
___________________________
Student’s Printed Name
_____________________________
Parent’s/Guardian’s Printed Name
___________________________
Student’s E-mail Address
_____________________________
Parent’s/Guardian’s E-mail Address
Please check to make sure your email address is correct in Skyward for future communications!
Does the student have access to a computer at home? Yes ________ No ________
Does the student have access to the Internet at home? Yes ________ No ________
Does the student have access to a printer at home?
Yes ________ No ________
Does the student have a Smart phone?
Yes ________ No ________
Does the student have unlimited texting?
Yes ________ No ________
We will use texting features in our class as part of our data-gathering process. However, if the student
does not have texting on their phone, it is not necessary to add it!
If parent communication is necessary, please initiate contact using the following method(s):
 Email at the address listed above (and/or)
 Skyward Family Access
 Phone
 Other ________________________________
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Parent’s Home Phone Number
___________________________
Parent’s Cell Number
___________________________
Parent’s Work Number
Is there anything you would like me to know about your young adult?
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