World History AP (WHAP)
Mr. John Ermer
Miami Beach Senior High School
jtermer@dadeschools.net
http://miamibeachhigh.dadeschools.net/Domain/164
Exam Date: Thursday; May 12, 2016 (8:00 Morning Administration)
Textbook:
Bentley, Jerry et. al. Traditions & Encounters, New York: McGraw-Hill, 2011.
Recommended Review Guide:
5 Steps to a 5: AP World History, by Peggy Martin, McGraw-Hill
Required Supplemental Reading:
Diamond, Jared. Guns, Germs, and Steel: the Fates of Human Societies, New York:
W.W. Norton & Company, 1997.
Hochschild, Adam. King Leopold’s Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in
Colonial Africa, New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1998.
Hersey, John. Hiroshima, New York: Schastlivye Books, 2013.
Additional Readings: a variety of primary and secondary source readings will be
assigned throughout the year.
Required Materials: one large three ring binder with a minimum of 8 dividers,
dark blue pens, pencils. No spiral notebooks.
Instructor: Mr. Ermer
Course Description: World History AP
If students receive a score of 3 or higher they may be able to receive college
credit. Each university has their own standards for awarding college credit based on AP
exam scores and students should check with individual colleges as to their policies
concerning AP credits.
This course is designed to assist students in passing the World History AP Exam
and the earning of potential college credits, as such the level of work necessary may be
more than students (especially those in ninth grade) have come to expect from Social
Studies instruction. Students should expect a challenging and rigor course of instruction
demanding skills many have not previously learned or used.
The College Board designed the AP World History course for advanced students,
and the national average age of students enrolled in the course is 17. The learning curve
for most ninth grade students is steep, and very few ninth graders earn a grade of “A” or a
score of 5 on the exam (and for those who do, the grade does not come easily). Neither
the course, nor the exam is designed to encourage mere memorization of facts, dates, and
details. WHAP students are required to analyze, evaluate, synthesize, discuss, compare
and contrast.
The course follows the events of world history from Paleolithic hunter-gatherer
societies to the present-day, with a focus on global processes and patterns. Additionally,
this course emphasizes the writing skills necessary for success in a college-level history
course. This course devotes a considerable amount of time to essay writing in preparation
for the AP Exam which is one part essay and one part multiple choice. Students will be
required to write three types of essays: compare and contrast, change and continuity over
time, and a DBQ (document-based essay).
Skills Based Learning:
1. Constructing and evaluating arguments, using evidence.
2. Using documents and other primary data. Understanding point of view, bias
and context.
3. Assessing issues of change and continuity over time.
4. Understanding diversity of interpretations.
5. Seeing global patterns and processes over time and space.
6. Comparing within and among societies.
7. Being aware of human commonalities and differences.
Themes:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Change and Continuity Over Time
Interaction Between Humans and the Environment
Stat-Building, Expansion and Conflict
Creation, Expansion, and Interaction of Economic Systems
Development and Transformation of Social Structures
Course Periodization:
Mr. Ermer’s periodization is slightly different to what most World History AP outlines or
guides state, mainly done to better reflect time periods used by the College Board on the
AP exam CCOT and comparative essays.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Start to 500 B. C.E. Early Complex Societies
500 B.C.E to 500 C.E. The Formation of Classical Societies
500 to 1500 The Postclassical Era & Cross-Cultural Interaction
1500 to 1750 The Origins of Global Interdependence
1750 to 1914 The Age of Revolution, Industry, and Empire
1914 to Present Contemporary Global Realignments
Grading Policy: Attendance is paramount to success in this class. Students are expected
to arrive on time and prepared for class. When the bell rings to begin class, students must
be seated and engaged in the daily “Do Now” activity or reading quiz. The College Board
requires students to write essays in dark blue or black ink, as such any incomplete work
submitted to Mr. Ermer will not receive a grade. Mr. Ermer expects work to be submitted
on time. Each day an assignment is late will result in a lower grade. According to MiamiDade County Public Schools policy, students may only make up work for excused
absences and they must do so within a week of being absent. More than 10 unexcused
absences may result in automatic “No Credit” and the student will be required to make up
the World History credit in a lower level class. All grades and agreements made in Mr.
Ermer’s class are subject to student attendance and the “No Credit” policy.
Grading Criteria:
 Tests: 5 grades
 Notebook Check: 5 grades
 Essays: 3 grades
 Quizzes: 2 grades
 Primary Source Packets: 2 grades
 Do Now Activities: 1 grade
Notebook:
Students are required to keep an organized notebook for my class with the following
sections:
1) W.E. = World Essentials (general handouts, maps, etc.)
2) W.C. = Writer’s Corner (AP Scoring Rubrics, sample essays, and outlines)
3) Start to 500 B.C.E.
4) 500 B.C.E. to 500 C.E.
5) 500 to 1500
6) 1500 to 1750
7) 1750 to 1914
8) 1914 to present
Within each time period, students will keep the following: maps, timelines, Do Now
activities, Cornell Notes based on Mr. Ermer’s lectures, and key vocabulary.
Notebooks are graded holistically on test days. A well-organized notebook is extremely
important for success both in the class and on the AP exam.
Unit Tests: Unit Tests will be given once or twice a marking period. Tests are based on
the College Board’s World History AP curriculum framework and unit reading
assignments per the attached reading schedule. Students who perform poorly on Unit
Tests will be afforded the opportunity to raise their grades through test-repair to be
completed during lunch, before school, or after school on predetermined days in Mr.
Ermer’s classroom.
Essays: Students will be doing a substantial amount of writing, mostly in class. Work is
expected to be original, which means students are not to copy answers directly from a
book, the internet, or another student. All typed assignments will be submitted via
Turnitin.com, and checked for grammar and plagiarism. Plagiarized papers will result
in a zero for the assignment and an appearance before the MBSH ethics board for
plagiarism. Note that plagiarism may result in the removal of a student from the
AP class and/or a failing grade for the assignment, marking period, or course.
Quizzes: Students should expect frequent quizzes based on maps, readings, notes, and
vocabulary. In addition to regular quizzes, any assignment may be collected and counted
as a quiz grade: homework, classwork, maps, etc.
Grading Scale: A (4-3.5) =Excellent, B (3.4-2.5) =Above Average,
C (2.4-1.5) =Average, D (1.4-1) =Below Average, F (0.9-0) = Failure
Essay Grading: Mr. Ermer will grade essays on a scale of 1-9 per the AP World History
rubrics. Grades will translate as follows: 0=F, 1=D, 2-4=C, 5-7=B, 8-9=A
Reading Assignments: The reading schedule for Mr. Ermer’s World History AP class
can be found attached to the back of this syllabus, as well as on Mr. Ermer’s class
website. Students are expected to keep up with reading assignments and are responsible
for the information in each chapter by the last day of class for each week listed. Keep in
mind that AP classes are essentially college classes monitored by the College Board, and
students are obliged to take ownership of their education. Much of the “homework”
associated with this class asks students to read independently. Reading quizzes will be
given on occasion to ensure fidelity to the reading schedule.
World History AP Reading Schedule
Week of
Reading Assignment
Period 1: Start to 500 B.C.E.
Chapter 1-2
August 24
Chapter 3-4
August 31
Chapter 5-6
September 7
Period 2: 500 B.C.E. to 500 C.E.
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
September 14
September 21
September 28
October 5
October 12
October 19
Period 3: 500 to 1500
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
**Winter Break**
**Winter Break**
Chapter 21
October 26
November 2
November 9
November 16
November 23
November 30
December 7
December 14
December 21
December 28
January 4
Period 4: 1500 to 1750
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
January 11
January 18
January 25
February 1
February 8
February 15
Period 5: 1750-1914
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
**Spring Break**
Chapter 32
February 22
February 29
March 7
March 14
March 21
March 28
Period 6: 1914 to Present
April 4
April 11
April 18
April 25
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35-36
Chapter 37-38
I have read, and understand the above requirements and expectations, and promise to
follow the rules of the class to the best of my ability. Return this page to Mr. Ermer.
Student Name (print):_______________________________
Student Signature:____________________________ Date:_____________________
Parent Signature:_____________________________ Date:_____________________