De La Salle High School
De La Salle High School
Course Information Form
World History
INSTRUCTOR:Matthew Harrison
GRADE LEVEL: Ninth Grade
TEXTBOOKS:World History – Patterns of Interaction. Beck, Black, Kreiger, Naylor, Shabaka; McDougall Littel Inc., 2009
OTHER RESOURCES: Copies of primary sources, excerpts from historical literature, and historical videos/documentaries
APPOINTMENT AND CONTACT PROCEEDURES: Parents who wish to contact me or set up an appointment can call the school voice mail system (288-8100) and use my extension: #7021. You may also reach me via school e-mail at I will get back to you as soon as possible. I am also available before school Monday through Friday.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This is a survey course of world history from ancient to modern times. Throughout the course students will be introduced to several new methodologies in addition to new content based on a more global approach to history. The course begins by examining unresolved problems in today's world to help students form questions about the effects of the past on the present. We will then move to ancient times and explore the major themes that contributed to political and cultural development. As we move chronologically through history, we will conclude the year as we began, in modern times.
COURSE OUTCOMES:
The student will be able to:
1. Identify the basic components of civilization.
2. Recognize and assess the major turning points in the shaping of the modern world.
3. Use critical thinking skills (categorize, evaluate, synthesize) to compare and contrast
events of the past with recent events.
4. Develop their writing skills through a variety of assignments.
5. Demonstrate a mastery of study and organizational skills.
6. Read and distinguish the difference between primary source and secondary sources.
INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS:
This course is an introductory survey course that will establish a foundation for the student’sother requirements and electives in the Social Studies department. Instruction will consistof lectures, class discussions, student cooperative learning groups, and audio-visual materials. The course will emphasize organizational skills and time management that will require consistent effort and performance by the student.
ASSESSMENT AND GRADING PROCEDURES:
Binder: Each student will be required to have a hard cover binder. The binder will be used to keep the semester point sheet, all assignments, tests, quizzes, and notes. It is the student's responsibility to provide paper and writing material
Homework: All homework assignments are expected at the beginning of class the day they are due. There is no late work accepted. Homework must be labeled, dated, neat, and completed on a clean edged sheet of paper.
Tests, Quizzes, and Projects: There will be assessments given for each chapter or unit, and a final examination given at the end of each semester. Tests will be announced well in advance. It is important that the students be present on test days. Quizzes will also be dispersed intermittently -sometimes announced, other times unannounced – to check students’ understanding of the material. There will also be group and individual projects throughout the year.
Students will be responsible for turning in all assignments on time.NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR CREDIT. Each assignment will be given a point value. Points will be totaledby the students and teacher for progress reports and the end of each grading period. All points are recorded by the student in he student’s point folder.THE STUDENT SHOULD BE AWARE OF HIS PROGRESS IN THIS CLASS AND PARENTS SHOULD REVIEW THEIR SON’S WORK CONSISTENTLY THROUGOUT THE COURSE BY REFERING TO HIS POINT FOLDER. The total points earned for each grading period will be divided by the total points possible for the grading period, and Grades will be assigned based on the percentages listed below.
GRADING SCALE
100 - 94% - A 76 - 74% - C
93 - 90% - A- 73 - 70% - C-
89 - 87% - B+ 69 - 67% - D+
86 - 84% - B 66 - 64% - D
84 - 83% - B- 63 - 60% - D-
79 - 77% - C+ 59 - 0% - NOT PASSING
ACADEMIC HONESTY–
De La Salle High School expects students to be honest in their academic work. Academic dishonesty is viewed as a serious ethical issue andviolation of the principles of justice and personal responsibility inherent in the school’sideals. Should a student violate the De La Salle “Academic Honesty” policy, there will be consequence in all cases. The teacher will confer with the student; the teacher will informthe Assistant Principal for Academic Life of the violation; and the teacher will contact thestudent’s parent. Repeat offenses and behaviors not included in the following list will beassessed on an individual basis by the administration and personnel involved. Cheating of any kind may result in the loss of credit, academic honors, and may be consideration forexpulsion.
The following consequences will be enforced when a student violates this policy.
1. Homework –. Other than assignments which are determined to be “cooperative assignments.” A student who copies another student’s homework, or a student who allows others to copy his/her work will receive a grade of “zero” for the assignment
2. Cheating on a Quiz or Examination – The student will receive a grade of “zero” for
the quiz or examination.
3. Unauthorized Possession, Viewing, or Copying of an Examination – The student will be dropped from the course with a grade of F.
4. Plagiarism – “The use of quotations within a paper is a way of representing the continuity
of research within a field and introducing the ideas of others by referring directly to their
works. By definition, a research paper involves the assimilation of prior scholarship and
entail the responsibility to give proper acknowledgement whenever one is indebted to another
for either words or ideas….Failure to give credit is plagiarism.” (Cf. Kate Turabian, A Manual
for Writers of Term papers, Theses, and Dissertations, Section 5.1 and 5.2)The student will
receive a grade of “zero” for the assignment.
TEXTBOOK POLICY
The Social Studies Department has implemented the following policy regarding the use of textbooks in all of its courses.Students are not to write, mark, or highlight in their texts in any manner if they wish to return the textbook as new at the end of the course. If a student wishes to purchase the text he or she is free to mark in the text as they see fit.