Global History and Geography 3 & 4

Course Syllabus

Trimester 1 & 2, 2014 - 2015

Instructor: Mr. Zarrillo

A. Course Description

This course will prepare scholars by first covering the skills necessary to be college and career ready. This will entail all the skills also necessary to pass with high marks the Global Regents exam and include but are not limited to; analyzing primary source documents; creating unique arguments and defending these arguments with facts; understanding of different historical themes and the vocabulary that is used to describe these events. The course is scaffolding in such a way that shorter essays will eventually be used to write one/ several larger Portfolio Worthy / College level essays.

B. Organization

Each unit will include a study of the background of the era or major historical event followed by the pertinent vocabulary. It will be followed by a study of primary and secondary source material with a focus on personal analysis of the documents. The unit will conclude with either a document-based or thematic essay along with a regents-type multiple choice quiz with a focus on vocabulary.

C. Course Topics

  1. The Renaissance and Scientific Revolution
  2. The Enlightenment
  3. The French Revolution and the Reign of Napoleon Bonaparte
  4. Latin American Revolutions
  5. Global Nationalism (case study: Italy and Germany)
  6. The Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions
  7. Global Political Revolutions
  8. Imperialism: Africa and Asia
  9. The Great War and the Great Depression
  10. The Russian Revolution, World War II and the Chinese Civil War
  11. The Holocaust and Genocide
  12. The Apartheid
  13. The Cold War and Modern History

D: Grading Plan

75% of your grade is based upon the Subject Area Competencies, which will be used to grade your tests, and major class projects and portfolio assignments. 25% of your grade is based upon the Personal Competencies. These will be used to grade your attendance, homework, class work and participation in class.

1. Essays40%

2. Quizzes25%

3. Classwork10%

4. Homework15%

5. Attendance______10%

40% + 35% + 25% = 100%

E. Tentative Schedule

Date / Topics/ Objectives / Major Assignment
Week 1 / Folders/ Online Accounts. The Renaissance and Scientific Revolution / Document-based Questions and Essay
Week 2 / Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment / Group Project, Short Answer Quiz 1.
Week 3 / French Revolution and Napoleon / Vocabulary Quiz 2. 2-page comparison essay on King Louis XVI and Napoleon.
Week 4 / Latin American Revolutions and Global Nationalism (Germany & Italy) / 2-3 pages compare and contrast Essay on Revolutionary and Nationalist figures.
Week 5 / Agricultural and Industrial Revolution / Vocabulary Quiz 3. Argumentative paper on effects of Industrial Revolution.
Week 6 / Political Revolutions: Communism, Socialism, Totalitarianism, etc. / Compare and Contrast Essay on Communism vs. Capitalist countries. Vocabulary Quiz 4.
Week 7 / Imperialism: Asia and Africa / Essay on Shaka Zulu, DBQ Essay on Imperialism.
Week 8 / The Great War and the Great Depression / Political Cartoons and Vocabulary Quiz 6.
Week 9 / Final Exam / PWA Thematic Essay on Leaders. Vocabulary Quiz 5.
Week 10 / The Russian Revolution, World War II, and the Chinese Civil War / Essay on the Atomic bomb and its effect on the world (both politically and environmentally).
Week 11 / The Holocaust and Genocide / Essay comparing Schindler and Paul Rusesabagina.
Week 12 / The Apartheid / Movie Review and Analysis. Essay Comparing the Apartheid with anther group whose human rights are being violated (current!).
Week 13 / The Cold War and Modern History / Group Project on Cold War Conflicts. Essay discussing the merits of Korean and Vietnam Wars.
Week 14 / Final Exam / PWA Thematic Essay on Human Rights Violations