World History I
Syllabus
1st Trimester 2007-2008
Instructor: Glenn Medeiros
E-mail: glenn.medeiros@maryknollschool.org
Voice Mail: 952-7284
Office: Room 321
Website:
http://www.teacherweb.com/HI/MaryknollSchool-HighSchoolDivision/GlennMedeiros/
(On this site you will find all of the information you will need regarding
homework assignments, upcoming projects, tests, the latest announcements and
more.)
Course Description: World History I is a course that asks students to
examine our world’s magnificent past through retrieving, comprehending,
analyzing, and utilizing information embedded in predetermined thematic
units. Much emphasis is placed on the study of human behavior by focusing on
the lives of “great
people” in history. The overall essential question is: “Have we really
changed?” And if
so, who and what were the driving forces behind those changes? This course
will use
a variety of assessment methods ranging from research papers, essay
questions, tests, quizzes, competitive games, portfolios, oral presentations
and more; however, our overriding goal in class will be for students to utilize
their higher cognitive skills through discussions based on research they
bring to class on a daily basis. Here are the themes which we aim to cover:
The First 3 Weeks – People Places, and Nature
1. Archeology and Early Humans
2. Early World Civilizations
3. The Agricultural, Industrial, and Technological Revolutions
The Next 4 Weeks – Journeys and Search for Understanding
1. Early cultures of the world (With an emphasis on Greek, Israelite and Egyptian
history)
2. Exploration throughout the world (With an emphasis on the Age of
Exploration)
The last 5 Weeks – Values and Beliefs
1. Development of World Religions
2. Roman Culture and History
3. Development of Legal Systems
World History I Department Student Learning Expectations
1. Students will demonstrate their understanding of the significance for
events, ideas and key people who have shaped history.
2. Students will analyze the relationships among people, places and environment.
3. Students will demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the importance
of global interdependence.
4. Students will identify the role that technology played upon intellectual
and cultural development throughout history.
5. Students will demonstrate how change and continuity have influenced
people’s lives and the world they live in.
6. Students will explore how past events are relevant to today’s social,
political, and economic concerns.
7. Students will synthesize information and ideas in order to gain new
understanding of a topic or event.
8. Students will write a cohesive and thoughtful expository essay, discussing
historical events, people and concepts.
World History I Course Goals
1. Students will examine the cause and effect role between
values/beliefs/ideologies and actions/events when studying human behavior in
history through oral reflection and writing. (Oral and Written
Reflections/Tests – Cause and Effect)
2. Students will compare and contrast the perceptions we have of those which we
consider “good/right” and “evil/wrong” people in history and what lead us to
perceive them as such both orally and in writing. (Oral and Written
Reflections/Tests – Compare and Contrast)
3. Students will analyze how our four basic emotional needs as humans (the
need for belonging, competition, freedom, and fun), drives people in history
to take the actions they do. (Tests – Cause and Effect).
4. Students will place the major events in history in sequential order, summarize
them, and prove its significance today orally and in writing. (Annotated
Timelines - Project)
5. Students will locate patterns in history and recognize how those same
sequences often repeat themselves in today’s world. (Current Events Homework
in Short essay/Outlining)
6. Students will research the roles that “great” people in history played
during their lifetimes.
(Research and Response Homework)
7. Students will provide assistance in our community by emulating someone in
history who shared similar beliefs as he or she does. (Performance-based
project)
Assessments:
Grading on all tests and major assignments will be on the following grading
scale, which is standard for all classes at Maryknoll High School.
A+ (97–100) B+ (87-89) C+ (77-79) D+ (67-69) F (59 &
Below)
A (93-96) B (83-86) C (73-76) D (63-66)
A- (90-92) B- (80-82) C- (70-72) D- (60-62)
Your semester grade will be determined on a strict point basis:
Tests (Essay questions, short answer, multiple choice), 25%
Class work/Homework (Daily Research and Response Essay/Current Events Short
Essay),
Oral presentations of research,
Participation in class 25%
Joint Essays/Annotated Timeline/Projects 25%
Final Exhibition/Completed Works World History Portfolio 25%
Skills
These are the major skills we will be focusing on developing in this World
History Class.
1. Essay writing
2. Summarizing both orally and in writing
3. Writing and recognizing cause and effect
4. Persuasive writing and speaking
5. Comparing and Contrasting both orally and in writing
6. Outlining
7. Making connections
8. Sequence information in the form of a timeline
9. Create and deliver a presentation orally
10. Utilize technology to do research and present information
11. Working collaboratively with others
12. Debate points of view
13. Think at a high cognitive level
Extra Credit
Most of our time in class will be spent gaining a deeper understanding of
history through evaluating, analyzing, and synthesizing information as with
think at a higher cognitive level during classroom discussions.
However, learning basic facts of knowledge in history allows for better
understanding of the topics we discuss in class. To accomplish this goal,
there will be friendly competitions that take place during class that test
each student’s knowledge of the basic facts in history that we will cover.
Students will be divided into groups and given points based on the number of
responses that are correct. The winning team will be given one point per
student. Once points are redeemed, that student starts again with no points.
The extra credit awards are as follows:
10 points – 5% rise on a specific test or quiz score
20 points – Free homework pass (good for one day’s homework)
Classroom Rules
1. Be impeccable with your word – Speak with integrity. Say only what
you mean. Avoid using words to speak against yourself or to gossip about
others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.
2. Don’t take anything personally – Nothing others do is because of
you. What others say and do is a projection of their perception of reality.
Be amused to the actions and opinions of others and you will avoid needless
suffering.
3. Don’t make assumptions - Find the courage to ask questions and to
express what you really want and feel. Communicate with others as clearly as
you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama.
4. Always do your best – Your best is going to change form moment to
moment. It will be different when you are healthy as opposed to when you are
sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best and you will avoid self-
judgment, self-abuse, and regret.
Course Schedule and References:
The schedule and references can be found on my website, which is listed at
the tope of the first page of this syllabus. You can also find due dates for
assignments there.
Materials
You must come to class each day with your laptop, portfolio, black or blue
ink pen, a pencil, and lined writing paper.
Your portfolio will consist of these items.
1. A three-ring binder with a 2 inch. spine (Black or white with a
clear cover to insert a Portfolio cover on the front)
2. A set of 8 Dividers titled as such:
a. Tests/Quizzes
b. LAL (Learning About Learning)
c. Annotated Timeline
d. Joint Essays
e. Projects
f. Rubrics/Forms
g. Homework/Research and Response or Current Events
h. Final Exhibition
Laptop Policy:
Have your laptop with you everyday. We will be working with them frequently.
It is your responsibility to make sure they are always in working order. I
will not accept any excuses for it not working or any lost files associated
with it. Back up all of your papers on a flash drive or CD. Do not do
anything irresponsible with your laptop when in class, which includes the
following, but is totally up to Mr. Medeiros’s discretion: gaming, surfing
the web without my permission, instant messaging, use of email not having to
do with school work, chatting, or anything not having to do with our class.
Use your good judgment, and if you think it is wrong, don’t do it. If I find
any illegal programs on your laptop, I will system restore it, erasing those
programs. Any student who is caught breaking the laptop rules will be given
detention.
Late Work and Sick Days:
All work should be turned in on the date it is due. However, if you do not
complete your assignment on time, you may turn it in up to three days late
after the due date with 10% of your grade knocked off each day it is late.
This includes weekends. If your assignment needs to be turned in on the
weekend, you must email it to me with a read receipt. You are responsible
for me getting me the assignment. If you do not receive a response from me,
that means I did not receive the assignment and you must send it again. If
you do not want to return an assignment during the weekend, then you may
turn it in beforehand.
If you are sick and you miss a day of class it is your responsibility to
come and see me before or after class or check out our website and get your
missing assignments. I will not seek you out. Missing assignments are due
without penalty before or by the number of days you were out sick. For
example, if you are sick and miss two school days, your assignments are due
at the latest two days after you get back to class.
Homework
There are two types of homework you will be given (generally one every other
day). Make sure to
read my homework link
(http://www.teacherweb.com/HI/MaryknollSchool-HighSchoolDivision/GlennMedeiros)
each day to find out what will be due in class. Also remember to print out the
Research and Response/Current Events Rubric worksheet, your "cheeseburger"
outline worksheet, and your Presentation Rubric and bring them to class as
part of your Research and Response and Current Events homework assignments.
The first homework/class work assignment is called Research and Response.
1. You will choose one person in the period of time being studied and write a
paragraph summarizing why he or she is “great” or “significant” in history.
2. You will discuss with the class how this person’s beliefs influenced his or
her actions.
The second homework/class work assignment is called Current Events. This
assignment requires that you do these three things:
1. Find a current event article that you believe is about a significant event
in history.
2. Using the graphic organizer provided for you, write an outline of a
paragraph you will use to explain why you believe the current event you chose
is significant. You will then take that outline and utilize it to write a
well-written paragraph arguing your point.
3. In class, you will orally summarize what the article you chose is about,
and then you will read your response to it.
Plagiarism Policy:
When writing a research paper for history class, you will be required to
cite source material in the body of your work. However, copying large
sections of text from a source onto your paper and not citing it is
considered plagiarism. Plagiarism will not be tolerated in this class and is
totally unacceptable. The teacher has the right and will consistently ask
students to defend their work at any time. Furthermore, all Maryknoll School
teachers are equipped with a specific computer program that can determine if
a piece of work is plagiarized or not. I will not hesitate to use it if
there is the slightest suspicion of plagiarism with any student. Plagiarism
will earn a student zero and disciplinary action will be taken by Maryknoll
School accordingly.
