MYP Humanities
Advanced Placement World History
Course Number: 222251
Credits (whole vs. half): Whole
Pre-requisites: World Geography
Instructors: Kimberly Thaggard, Kevin Zahner, Mick Maxey
E-Mail Address: kthaggard@dentonisd.org, kzahner@dentonisd.org, mmaxey@dentonisd.org
Conference Periods: 1st and 5th blocks (Thaggard); 1st Block, 4B (Zahner); 2A, 3A (Maxey)
Phone: 940-369-2014 (Thaggard), 940-369-2143 (Zahner), 940-369-2167 (Maxey)
Tutorials: Before and after school every day, or by appointment
MYP Mission Statement
The MYP (Middle Years Program) covers the 9th and 10th Grade portion of the International
Baccalaureate. The IB aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to
create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To this end
the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop
challenging programs of international education and rigorous assessment. These programs encourage
students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand
that other people, with their differences, can also be right.
Course Objectives and Goals:
The AP World History Program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills they
need to critically analyze world events and issues. It prepares high school students for intermediate
and advanced college courses of the same or related areas of study by providing high student
expectations and meaningful learning experiences. Students will not only learn about history, they
will experience what it means to be an active, lifelong learner.
Students will learn how to access historical materials and discern each source’s relevance to a given
problem. Formative assessment of student progress will provide opportunities to use historical
evidence and critical thinking skills to present individual interpretations of issues and events.
Students will understand the importance of primary source readings and scholarly reference
materials that they will use during the academic year and summer reading assignments.
Assessments will consist of, but not be limited to, clear and persuasive essays, quizzes, and small but
meaningful projects. Evaluation of student performance will be based on performance in class,
participation in cooperative work, and performance on assessments.
Textbook (provided)
Bulliet, Richard W. The Earth and Its Peoples: a Global History. Second ed. Boston and New
York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2001.
Approved resources:
Andrea, Alfred J., and Overfield, James H., editors. The Human Record: Sources of Global
History. New York: Random House, Inc., 2005.
Barraclough, Geoffrey. Hammond: The Times Concise Atlas of World History. Maplewood,
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New York: Hammond, Inc.
Diamond, Jared. Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies. New York: Norton
and Company, 1999.
Laden, Jennifer, and Patrick Whelan. Kaplan: AP World History 2008 Edition. New York: New
York: Simon and Shuster, 2008.
Standage, Tom. History of the World in 6 Glasses. New York: New York: Walker and Company, Inc.,
2005.
Stearns, Peter N. Documents in World History. Volume 1: The Great Traditions: From
Ancient Times to 1500. Second Edition. New York: Addison Wesley Longman, 2000.
Stearns, Peter N. Documents in World History. Volume 2: The Modern Centuries: From 1500
to the Present. Second Edition. New York: Addison Wesley Longman, 2000.
Williams, William, ed. DBQ Practice: AP-Style Document-Based Questions to Help Students
Rules/Class Procedures:
1. Platinum Rule – like the Golden Rule (Treat others as you wish to be treated), but this one requires
that you treat others as they wish to be treated. A person may not appreciate the same treatment as
you would appreciate. In other words, get to know people and respect their individuality.
2. Actively participate (take notes, complete assignments, relevant conversation only)
3. Most of the materials are on the webpage. Look there first, please.
4. Communicate. Communicate. Communicate. We cannot help you if we are unaware of the problem.
Supplies/Materials: (required materials other than text)
 Interactive Notebook
o Must be separate from all other notebooks and used only for this class
o Binder or spiral notebook (you choose)
o Must have a way to keep note book worksheets (some students staple to notebook
pages)
 Blue and/or black ink pens (No other colors of ink will be accepted.)
 #2 pencils (for Scantrons)
Grading Policy:
Grades will be as follows: 70% major grades and 30% daily grades. Major grades will include tests,
essays, and projects. Daily grades include quizzes, vocabulary assignments, classroom assignments,
and cooperative activities.
Tests will be a combination of objective and essay questions requiring not only factual recall, but,
more importantly, document analysis and higher level thinking skills.
Major essays include compare and contrast, change over time, and document-based questions.
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Comprehensive class exam: students are required to take a comprehensive exam at the end of each
semester that evaluates mastery of the material covered.
Study sessions are offered twice monthly February through March and weekly in April and May.
Practice exams are also offered in March and April.
Important Dates:
AP Study Sessions:
Saturday Practice Exam:
AP Testing dates:
To be announced.
To be announced.
May 17
Scope and Sequence:
In order for this class to coincide with College Board guidelines, it is necessary to understand what
the board expects in an AP World History course.
The College Board curriculum is organized into Six Periods:
Title Date Range Weight
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Technological and Environmental Transformations
Organization and Reorganization of Human Societies
Regional and Transregional Interactions
Global Interactions
Industrialization and Global Integration
Accelerating Global Change and Realignments
to c. 600 B.C.E.
c. 600 B.C.E. to c. 600 C.E.
c. 600 C.E. to c. 1450
c. 1450 to c. 1750
c. 1750 to c. 1900
c. 1900 to the Present
AP World History will examine Political systems, Economic systems, Religions (belief systems), Social
organization, Intellectual achievements (art/technology/philosophy), and Area (geography) as they
relate to the “development, transmission, and transformation of cultural practices” (Bulliet, Crossley,
Headrick, Hirsch, Johnson, and Northrup 2001:11).
To address the content, this course will be organized into periods based on themes set forth by the
College Board’s AP Course Description. It will integrate the periods into a study of the histories,
cultures, economies, political systems, and events with an emphasis on the connectivity with each
other.
Period ONE
Key Concepts
1.1. Big Geography and the Peopling of the Earth
1.2. The Neolithic Revolution and Early Agricultural Societies
1.3. The Development and Interactions of Early Agricultural, Pastoral, and Urban
Societies
Period TWO
Key Concepts
2.1. The Development and Codification of Religious and Cultural Traditions
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2.2. The Development of States and Empires
2.3. Emergence of Transregional Networks of Communication and Exchange
Period THREE
Key Concepts
3.1. Expansion and Intensification of Communication and Exchange Networks
3.2. Continuity and Innovation of State Forms and Their Interactions
3.3. Increased Economic Productive Capacity and Its Consequences
Period FOUR
Key Concepts
4.1. Globalizing Networks of Communication and Exchange
4.2. New Forms of Social Organization and Modes of Production
4.3. State Consolidation and Imperial Expansion
Period FIVE
Key Concepts
5.1. Industrialization and Global Capitalism
5.2. Imperialism and Nation-State Formation
5.3. Nationalism, Revolution, and Reform
5.4. Global Migration
Period SIX
Key Concepts
6.1 Science and the Environment
6.2 Global Conflicts and Their Consequences
6.3 New Conceptualizations of Global Economy, Society, and Culture
Other curriculum materials, such as the textbook-AP Curriculum and MYP alignments, will be
available on the AP World History webpage.
http://www.dentonisd.org/5212082310535170/site/default.asp
The Denton Independent School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex, handicap, race, color, and or national origins in its educational
programs. Admission to career programs is based on age, grade, interest, aptitude and ability. Lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to
admissions and participation in any educational programs.
Please sign, detach, and return the bottom portion of this form.

“I, _____________________________, parent/guardian of ____________________ have read
and understand the syllabus for AP World History / MYP Humanities.
Parent/Guardian:____________________________________
Signature
Student:___________________________________________
Signature
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Date
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