Mr.
Weiss
International Relations- Syllabus
International Relations- 2015-2016-Mr. Weiss
Email Address: School: brettweiss@u-46.org
Home Email Address: brettteach@gmail.com
School Phone – 630-372-4700 ext. 4737;
Cell Phone: 630-248-5405
Mr.
Weiss
International Relations Syllabus
Welcome to International Relations! This is a
Social Studies elective open all students who
have expressed an interest in better
understanding the global issues we all face
in this world. The goals of this course are:
1. Cover in some depth most of the key
issues/problems the world faces today, to
give each student a good understanding of
the issue/problem, and the opportunity to
search for some possible solutions.
International Relations- Syllabus
Mr.
Weiss
2. Provide each student in the class with the ability to
learn how to use the tools available to explore these
global issues both during this semester, and for the
rest of your lives. These tools will include,
newspapers, the internet, hand-outs, TV, Radio, books,
DVD’s/Videos, etc.
3. Create a student who will forever make it a point to
remain aware of key global issues/problems, and use
his/hers ability to help the world come up with a
solution.
4. Create a student who will learn that the truly educated
person of world issues gets his/her information from a
variety of sources from around the entire world.
Mr.
Weiss
International Relations- Syllabus
5. Study the issue of genocide over the last 100 years
and several specific genocides. This study will help
you to better understand some of the worst events in
the last 100 years of world history. It is the hope then
with that increased knowledge that you will be
understand the serious issues facing the world today,
and have a much better idea of what the world can do
to solve these problems, and for you to have an idea of
what you can do in your life to make our world a better
place for all to live in. I want to change each of you
from “bystanders” to “UPSTANDERS”
International Relations- Syllabus
Mr.
Weiss
Weekly Article Work
Each Friday (or the last day of the week), you need to
turn in one article from a reputable newspaper,
magazine or web site that deals with the topic of the
week. Print out or cut out the article and staple it to
the back of this form. The article must be about the
topic of the week. Be sure to answer all questions
that apply to your article! The article will be collected
at the beginning of class, so it must be done before
you get to the classroom. To receive full credit the
form must be used, completely filled out and turned
in on time.
International Relations- Syllabus
Mr.
Weiss
Weekly Article Work
You must be prepared to verbally summarize &
discuss your article each Friday. An article that
you have complete answers for & is turned in on
time will be given the full 25 points. Late articles
will only get partial credit unless you will absent
on the due date and are turning it in the next
school day. (You MUST use this form or
your will not get credit!)
International Relations- Syllabus
Mr.
Weiss
Weekly Article Work
Recommended sources are places like The
Chicago Tribune, The Chicago Sun Times, The
New York Times, Time, Newsweek, US News
and World Report, CNN.com, ABCNEWS.com,
MSNBC.COM, CBS.com, Foxnews.com or
Reuters.com. If you use another source, I
recommend you ask me first and get my
approval. There are many places on the web
you can get articles, but they are not very
credible. Articles from non-credible sources
will not be accepted.
Mr.
Weiss
International Relations- Syllabus
Quiz
Weekly Article Work
Several times during the semester
there will be a take home quiz on
the articles you have done. To be
successful on these quizzes you will
need to really understand your
articles and really listen when we
talk about them.
Mr.
Weiss
International Relations- Syllabus
Units Covered
1. We will cover units on the following topics: China;
Islam; Genocide; Armenian Genocide; Ukrainian
Genocide; The Holocaust; Cambodian Genocide;
Rwandan Genocide; Sudan Genocide;
2. You will have tests periodically on these units. In
order to be ready for these tests you will need to
review notes you have taken in class, review all
handouts and packets for movies or documentaries
you have watched in class.
Mr.
Weiss
International Relations- Syllabus
Presentation Project
You will each be given an assignment
to put together a presentation on an
important International Relations
issue. You will work with a couple of
other people on this. This will be fully
explained a separate handout. It will
be worth 200 points, or about two
tests.
Mr.
Weiss
International Relations- Syllabus
Weekly Participation Points: You will get 25
points each week for doing what you are
supposed to do: Be on time; Listen; Do your
work; etc. etc. If you do not do the things you
are supposed to be doing each week, then you
will get something less than 25 points per
week. BE SURE TO CHECK HOW MANY POINTS
YOU ARE GETTING EACH WEEK. THIS WILL
BECOME A LARGE PART OF YOUR GRADE!!
Final Exam – Worth about 200 points.
Mr.
Weiss
International Relations- Syllabus
Your final semester grade will be made up of the
following:
1.Weekly Article Work
2.Participation Points
3.Article Quizzes
4.Unit Tests & Final Exam
Weighted
categories will be
passed out on a
separate sheet of
paper.
5.Group Presentation
6.Various kinds of packet and classroom work
Mr.
Weiss
International Relations- Syllabus
Final Exam and Final Grade
To take final exam you must have
taken all tests and quizzes and
completed 60% of all
homework. If you do not take the
final you cannot pass the course.
Mr.
Weiss
International Relations- Syllabus
Excellence: It is expected that each of you will
strive for excellence each and every day in this
class. Success will come from hard work and
pushing yourself harder than you thought you
could.
Honesty: It is expected that at all times in this
class you will be a person of honesty and
integrity. Nothing less than 100% honesty and
integrity will be tolerated.
Mr.
Weiss
International Relations Syllabus
One of the main lessons I have learned from working
in schools in Kenya and Rwanda is how committed
each of the students in these countries are to their
education. None of them would ever consider being
late for a class; missing a class; talking while
someone else is talking; being disrespectful in any
way. It has made me realize that I should expect
nothing less from my students here at Bartlett High
School. Maybe they are just luckier than you that
they live in absolute poverty!!
Mr.
Weiss
International Relations- Syllabus
It is expected that you will be in class every day, on time, and
working hard. It is expected that you will do all assignments
to the best of your ability and on time. If you have questions,
problems, issues, etc, please do not hesitate to come and talk
to me, email or call me. Do not wait if you have an issue…let’s
talk right away!
I expect and want each of you to be very successful in this
class. I will work very hard to help you to be successful; the
rest will be determined by how much work you want to put in.
Good Luck….learn a lot…..open your mind…..and be very
successful!