Goal

The goal of this class is for the student to become more aware of the world’s history and how there are distinct patterns to world events. We will be working together to identify themes throughout history and in different areas of the globe. Current issues that relate to the changes and challenges of our world’s history will be brought into our discussions. Classroom participation will be very important to both flesh out our discussions and keep the class interesting and fresh. Without your participation to our discussions this class could end up a lecture, and I don’t think anyone wants that.

Evaluation

You will be evaluated throughout the semester. There will be many evaluation devices used to measure your learning. You will have quizzes at the end of some sections of the reading. There will also be presentations, and short papers to help you gain points for 40% of your quarter grades. Your classroom participation is also a component of this 40%.

You must also show competency with the State of Michigan’s World History High School Content Expectations (HSCEs). To establish this, there will be two tests each marking period. These tests will be strictly over the HSCEs associated with the material covered. You must score a 60% or better on these tests or you will have to re-take the test. Failure to score 60% or better on any of these tests will require you to re-take the test until a 60% is achieved. If you do better than a 60% on a re-take, however, a maximum of 60% will be recorded. The importance of scoring at least a 60% on the evaluations of the HSCEs cannot be overemphasized. It is State of Michigan required and cannot be set aside. Failure to score the 60% will result in no credit being given and you will not graduate. This score earned will contribute to your quarter grade as well and be weighted the remaining 60%.

The HSCEs are available on the Michigan Department of Education website. I will also have a set of them printed and put up in the room. I will also provide a copy of them for all students so you are able to see what will be on the tests. There will be no surprises.

Classroom participation, as stated before, is important; without classroom discussion this class will be much more difficult.

The rough syllabus is also included. It will roughly entail three chapters followed by a test on the HSCEs. More on that later.

Educational Materials

We will be using several different forms of educational materials. Magazine articles, internet sites, handouts, and newspaper articles will compliment our textbook. Other sources of information will be used if possible to help you get a wide array of data on our subjects.

Grading Scale

A 93-100

A- 90-93

B+ 87-89

B 83-86

B- 80-82

Topics

Our topics will come from most of our world’s history. Most of our topics will be covered chronologically. Contemporary issues, such as our struggle with terrorism, have roots in the past. We cannot hope to solve our current problems without first figuring out what caused the problem. This class will help show the causes, and why we should pay attention to them.

C+ 77-79

C 73-76

C- 70-72

D+ 67-69

D 63-66

F 0-62

If during the course of the class

you have problems, please come

to my VIP for help.

Mr. Phillips

2009-20010 World History Syllabus

Chapter 4- ChinaChapter 8- AfricaChapter 9- The AmericasTest 1 on HSCEs Chapter 10- Byzantium and RussiaChapter 11- Islamic WorldChapter 12- East AsiaTest 2 on HSCEs Chapter 13- Middle AgesChapter 14- High Middle AgesChapter 15- Renaissance and ReformationTest 3 on HSCEs Chapter 16 Exploration and ExpansionChapter 18-1 OttomansChapter 20- Enlightenment and RevolutionsTest 4 on HSCEs Semester ExamSemester Ends Chapter 21- French RevolutionChapter 22- Industrial RevolutionChapter 25 NationalismaTest 5 on HSCEs Chapter 26- ImperialismChapter 27- WWI and Russian RevolutionChapter 28- Rise of TotalitarianismTest 6 on HSCEs Chapter 29- NationalismChapter 30- WWIIChapter 31 Cold WarTest 7 on HSCEs Chapter 32- AsiaChapter 33- Africa and Middle EastChapter 34- Latin AmericaTest 8on HSCEs Semester ExamSemester Ends
Mr. Phillips' Room Rules

(Also known as 12 rules to make our lives together easier.)

Remember the golden rule; treat others as you would have them treat you.

1. Raise your hand to ask a question; interrupting others is rude!2. Go to the bathroom before you get into the room. Excessive bathroom requests will count as tardies. I know an emergency may come up. You have no more than two before they count as tardies.3. You are only allowed to be late 2 times per semester. Every time you are late after the second time, you will have 5 points taken off of your classroom participation grade; after all, you can’t participate if you are not here. Those points could be the difference between passing and failing. You will also be assigned an unexcused absence on each third tardy in accordance with the school policy. Be on time.4. Class starts at the bell. When class starts I expect you to be in your seat and quiet; ready to go. As per the school policy, if you are late you will have to go to the office for a tardy pass.5. Your work is due on the due date. That is why I give a due date. If it is late I will deduct a lot of points for each day it is late (usually 50% of the points possible), if I take it at all. Excuses are fine to try, but they will not work. 6. You will be expected to follow all of the school rules in this classroom. I don't care if "none of the other teachers follow that rule". I do follow that rule.7. I will not put up with harassment of other students. You will treat your fellow students with respect, or you will not be in here.8. You will never give a substitute teacher a hard time. If a substitute has to write down your name for any reason, you will get two detentions in the office; that easy. Please be nice to our subs, they have a hard job.9. If by the end of the quarter you are missing a large assignment you will not get credit for the class until you finish the assignment. You may get 0 points for it due to late charges, but it will be completed, and done to the best of your ability, or you will not receive a grade.10. Class is not finished until the bell rings. Do not get up and head for the door. 11. You only have as many days to make up work after you are absent as you were absent. For example, if you are absent one day, whatever was due on that day is now due the first day you are back; you miss a quiz, you take it the first day you are back. If you miss two days, what ever was due on the first day you were absent is due on the first day you are back. It is your responsibility to find out what you missed and turn it in. Don’t try to turn in work later than the due date and claim it is OK because you were absent. It is up to you to come to me about what you missed. If your excuse is a pink unexcused slip, your work will not be allowed to be made up.12. Do not cheat. I know this seems obvious, and most of you would never do this. However, each year I end up with one or two students who copy off the internet without giving credit (plagiarism), or who just plain look on someone else’s paper. Please don’t try this. It makes me feel bad to flunk you. If you do cheat you will receive a 0 for the assignment. You will also receive a second 0 of the same weight for an assignment all of your own. I will also contact your parents and let them know what you did. For all of our sakes, please don’t do it.