World Studies I Honors
2014-2015
Ms. McKinney
Course Description
The course is based on a global perspective of the world and human interactions from 8000 BCE
to 1600 CE, using the five themes outlined in the AP® World History Course Description
consistently throughout the course. Students refine their analytical abilities and critical thinking
skills in order to understand historical and geographical context, make comparisons across
cultures, use documents and other primary sources, and recognize and discuss different
interpretations and historical frameworks. This course imposes a heavy reading, writing, and
studying load throughout the year.
Contact Information
Email: meghan.mckinney@smusd.org
Phone: (760) 290-2700 ext. 3480
Room: 480
Tutoring: Available for by appointment only.
Materials
 Blue/Black pens; pencils; highlighters
 Binder for handouts/notes/homework
 College rule paper
 Planner for assignment dates
Weekly Schedule
 Monday: vocabulary definitions due, quiz corrections
 Tuesday: chapter outlines due. Lecture, vocabulary, activity.
 Block Day: group activity, historical analysis/skills, writing workshop.
 Friday: section assessment, new vocabulary.
Grading Scale
Semester 1
 Homework
 Tests/Quizzes
 Essays
 Activities
 Unit Exams/Final
 Project
30%
25%
15%
15%
15%
N/A
Semester 2
25%
30%
15%
10%
10%
10%
General Assignment Expectations
 All work must be written in complete sentences and in blue/black pen or pencil unless
otherwise stated (i.e. bell work, summaries, reflections, in class writing)
 The correct heading must appear on every assignment.
 Any work turned in without a correct heading, incomplete sentences, or in a color not
specified will receive a zero. Absolutely no text message grammar is allowed.
 It is the student’s responsibility to check with the teacher for missed notes, tests, or
assignments after an excused absence.
 Late work is not accepted, except in unforeseeable circumstances; contact teacher.
Chapter Note Expectations
 All notes will be collected every Tuesday of each week.
 All notes must be hand written; no typed notes.
 Correct heading: name, date, class period, topic title.
 Identify objective(s), thesis, vocabulary, summary.
 Identify aspects of PERSIAN.
Vocabulary Expectations
 Students must identify the vocabulary terms for each section.
 Information
o Vocabulary Term
o Definition, civilization (region), time period, influence on society, page number.
The structure of the course will follow five themes outlined by the AP College Board which
serve as a guide to our understanding of world history and will be referred to throughout the
course the year. These themes are:
1. Interaction between humans and the environment: demography and disease,
migration, patterns of settlement, technology
2. Development and interaction of cultures: religions, belief systems, philosophies,
ideologies, science & technology, arts & architecture.
3. State building, expansion and conflict: political structures and forms of governance,
empires, nations and nationalism, revolts and revolutions, regional, transregional, and
global structures and organizations
4. Creation, expansion, and interaction of economic systems: agricultural and
pastoral production, trade and commerce, labor systems, industrialization, capitalism
and socialism.
5. Development and transformation of social structures: gender roles and relations,
family and kinship, racial and ethnic constructions, social and economic classes.