International Baccalaureate Higher Level- History of America’s

Course Syllabus 2017-2018

Magnolia West High School

Mr. Jon Wheeler Room 2714

E-mail: Cell: (281) 810-6627

Google Classroom Code: j24ewt

Course Description: History of the Americas is part one of a 2-year course, ending in the senior year with World Studies. History of Americas is the “regional studies option” Magnolia ISD has chosen, as it will also help you pass the EOC STAAR Exam for US History. This is an intense course designed to prepare the student to successfully complete the History Paper 3 of the IB Higher Level History Exam. This course is two semesters in length and will be US-centric, examining the political, social, cultural, and economic history of North

America and Latin America.

The class is conducted in seminar fashion. There is lecture, notes and a lot of discussion. Each student is expected to prepare as assigned and to participate actively in daily discussion. The quality of your discussion is just an important as the quantity.

Assessments: Grades will be composed of written, reading and oral assignments, as well as essay tests and quizzes over the material. As with the nature of IB, you will do a lot of writing, either with daily notes from lectures, discussions, and presentations, or with frequent essay assignments. It is imperative that you keep up with the assignments so that you are prepared for the IB tests in May of your Senior Year (not to mention my tests throughout the year.)

Assignments can be turned in handwritten, or submitted digitally. However, most essay assignments will be submitted via Managebac. All course materials, other than the textbooks, can be found on Managebac or Google Classroom. If you miss class or need copies of anything, please consult those two resources before asking for copies.

Textbooks:

Fellows, Nick and Wells, Mike. The Great Depression and the America’s (mid 1920’s-1939). 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press. New York. 2016.

Wright, John. The Second World War and the Americas (1933-1945). 2nd ed. Hodder Education, London, England. 2016.

Stanley, John. The Cold War and the Americas (1945-1981). 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press. New York. 2016.

Stacey, Mark and Scott-Baumann, Michael. Civil Rights and Social Movements in the Americas Post 1945. 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press. New York. 2016.

Grading Standards: Because of the nature of the class, only the highest quality work is expected, and must be maintained throughout the year. Late work will not be accepted, unless there was excused absence, or previous arrangements have been made. All assignments will be graded in an IB style, meaning that each assignment will have a small point value. For example, essay assignments, which are the most common, will only be worth a maximum of 7 points. An outstanding essay would receive the maximum grade of seven. Seven point, perfect score essays are rare. In essence, every point is important. These point totals will then be converted on a 100 point scale to be entered into the grade book.

The approximate IB grade ranges for conversion to gradebook grades are as follows:

7= 97-100

6= 90-96 *Please understand that these are “approximate” grades to

5= 81-89 reflect how you may do on the IB Exams. This IS NOT an

4= 76-80 exact science, as IB has ranges for all their rubrics.

3= 60-75

1/2= 0-60

Internal Assessment: IB refers to your biggest project of the year as the “internal assessment” or IA. More specifically it is called an “historical investigation.” We will work on this for about five weeks, over the course of the next 2 years. More information will follow in the coming weeks. The finalized copy will be due in the fall of your senior year.

IB History Test: The test in May of your senior year consists of three “papers,” or exams, over 2 days. Paper one and two are predominantly from material covered in your senior year, and paper three is from material covered as junior. You will have one hour to complete Paper 1, an hour and a half for Paper 2, and 2½ hours for Paper 3. By keeping the end goal of the IB test in mind, it will help to keep your focus throughout the semester.

New MISD Policy dealing with weighted course credit: *If you do not take the IB exam associated with this course, you will not receive weighted credit for the course. (adopted Summer 2017)

Course Outline:


First Semester- Fall 2017:

Week 1: August 28 Intro to History- Why and How to Study History

Week 2: September 4 How to Study for IB, program requirements (Begin History content)
Week 3: September 11 The Great Depression and the America’s (mid 1920’s-1939)

Week 4: September 18 The Great Depression and the America’s (mid 1920’s-1939)

Week 5: September 25 The Great Depression and the America’s (mid 1920’s-1939)

Week 6: October 2 The Great Depression and the America’s (mid 1920’s-1939)

Week 7: October 9 The Great Depression and the America’s (mid 1920’s-1939)

** First Major Exam: Week of October 9

Week 8: October 16 The Second World War and the Americas (1933-1945)

Week 9: October 23 The Second World War and the Americas (1933-1945)

Week 10: October 30 The Second World War and the Americas (1933-1945)

Week 11: November 6 The Second World War and the Americas (1933-1945)

Week 12: November 13 The Second World War and the Americas (1933-1945)

Week 13: November 27 The Second World War and the Americas (1933-1945)

** Second Major Exam: Week of October 9

Week 14: December 4 Research and Internal Assessment Practice

Week 15: December 11 Extend Essay Introduction- Library

Week 16: December 18 Research and Internal Assessment Practice

** Final Exam and Research Component: Week of December 18

Second Semester- Spring 2018

Week 1: January 8 The Cold War and the Americas (1945-1981)

Week 2: January 15 The Cold War and the Americas (1945-1981)

Week 3: January 22 The Cold War and the Americas (1945-1981)

Week 4: January 29 The Cold War and the Americas (1945-1981)

Week 5: February 5 The Cold War and the Americas (1945-1981)

Week 6: February 12 The Cold War and the Americas (1945-1981)

Week 7: February 19 The Cold War and the Americas (1945-1981)

** First Major Exam: Week of February 19

Week 8: February 26 Civil Rights and Social Movements in the Americas- Post 1945

Week 9: March 5 Civil Rights and Social Movements in the Americas- Post 1945

Spring Break

Week 10: March 19 Civil Rights and Social Movements in the Americas- Post 1945

Week 11: March 26 Civil Rights and Social Movements in the Americas- Post 1945

Week 12: April 2 Civil Rights and Social Movements in the Americas- Post 1945

Week 13: April 9 Civil Rights and Social Movements in the Americas- Post 1945

Week 14: April 16 Civil Rights and Social Movements in the Americas- Post 1945

** Second Major Exam: Week of April 19

Week 15: April 23 US History/EOC STAAR Review

Week 16: April 30 US History/EOC STAAR Review

Week 17: May 7 Internal Assessment

Week 18: May 14 Internal Assessment

Week 19: May 21 Internal Assessment

** Final Exam Research Component: Internal Assessment Due May 25th- Last Day of School

Please Complete and Return to Mr. Wheeler
______

I have read and understand the requirements, expectations and grading procedures for IB History of the Americas for the 2017-2018 School year. I understand that it is expected that I take the IB Exam in May of my Senior Year, or I could lose weighted credit. I also understand that the MWHS Honor Code will be strictly enforced. I agree to be on time, be prepared and to do my best!

Student Name ______Date______

Student Signature______Date______

Parent Signature______Date______

Teacher Jon Wheeler