Course Syllabus 2010-2011

Global History & Geography
Ms. Hanemann
MHSHS
Room 564
2010-2011 School Year

Course Overview:

• This year in 9^th grade you will be studying world history beginning with the Paleolithic Age through the European’s arrival in the Americas and the English adoption of Democracy in 1688. We will be exploring world geography, religions, ideas and inventions, politics, and the economics of the world in these early periods of human civilization.
• Global History and Geography is a two-year course in the history of the world. The first half occurs in the 9^th grade where we focus on the first half of world history, as determined by the NYS Board of Education. In 10^th grade you will study world history beginning with the Scientific Revolution through today. At the end of 10^th grade you will take a Regents exam that tests the skills and knowledge you learned in both 9^th and 10^th grade.
• This course is taught in conjunction with World Literature, where you will read literature from the regions and time periods we study. Both courses will focus on raising your reading and writing skills to a college-ready level and enhance your understanding of historical events.
• A college-ready student is both on grade-level and has mastered a set of skills that will help he/she to be successful in a college setting.

Course Goals:

• In addition to exposing students to historical and literary content, the course aims to prepare students for college-level history work, particularly focusing on reading and writing skills.
• Students will work towards the ability to complete historical research.
• Students will be able to identify and evaluate different approaches to and interpretations of historical events and topics, and explain the causes and effects of historical change

Course Objectives:

• Understand and use historical documents in writing and debates
• Compose historical essays with accurate information and control of the English language
• Interpret Primary Sources, Historical Literature, Documentary Materials, Maps, Charts, Graphs, and Political Cartoons
• Research and evaluate sources for a given topic
• Understand and utilize debate format to make a historical argument
• Raise organization and note-taking skills to the college-ready level
• Raise reading comprehension skills to the college-ready level

Required Materials:

• 3-holed College Ruled loose-leaf paper.
• 1 Three-Ring Hard Plastic Binder at least 2” wide. This will be your Global Studies 9 Portfolio.
• 12 plastic dividers, will be kept in the classroom
• 1 Three-Ring Hard Plastic Binder, 1” is fine. This will be your “WORKING” binder.
• This is the binder that you will bring to class everyday and keep current work in.
• Access to the Internet and a printer. Please make arrangements for this within the first week of school if you do not have home access. See Ms. Hanemann if you need suggestions.
• All assignments ARE TO BE written in black or blue pen or typed. PENCIL is not acceptable.

Texts & Resources:

• Textbook: World History (McDougall Littlel)
• A variety of primary and secondary sources, which will be provided
• Castle Learning (www.castlelearning.com)
• Class Blog (address listed on first page) and other electronic sources available via the internet
• All of your homework assignments will be posted on the class blog.

Assessment:

Exams 20%	Class Participation 20%
Quizzes 10%	Projects & Presentations 10%
Essays & Written Work 20%	Global Studies Portfolio
Homework 20%	Department Mid Term and Final Exams

Grading Policy, as per the MHSHS grading scale:

A: 90-100

B: 80-89

C: 70-79

D: 65-69

F: 64 and below

• At MHSHS we use an online system call My Grade Book, available at www.mygradebook.com. You, your parents, your advisor, and your guidance counselor will be given access to this system. Your assignments and grades will posted here in a timely fashion so that you may keep track of your progress as the year goes on. It is advisable that you check your grades regularly so that you are aware of any missing work or low grades that might be amendable.

• Extra credit means extra work. If you are missing many assignments, therefore not keeping up with the work, then you will not be given additional work to compensate for your grade. Any considerations for extra credit will be given on a case-by-case basis.

Academic Support:

• Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday I am available at S.O.S. (2:17- 3:06pm) to provide support on assignments, study or to work on social studies skills.

Classroom Expectations:

1. Always give your best effort on all class activities and assignments. That means coming to class prepared with you working binder, paper, a pen, you assignments and ready to participate in class.

2. Academic Freedom: All students have a right to their opinions, however unpopular. How you support your opinions is a key to doing well in this class. Respect for the opinions of others is a class requirement. 


3. Remember that your personal honor and integrity are a very precious and important part of who you are as a person. Therefore, I expect that you will do all of your OWN work at all times (see the MHSHS History Dept. Plagiarism Policy below). 


4. Do not be late. Be inside the door when the bell rings, unless you have a legitimate excuse to be tardy. 

5. Remember, this is OUR class, yours as well as mine. Your actions have a direct affect on everyone around you, including me.
6. All rules and expectations are subject to change at Ms. Hanemann’s discretion.

MHSHS History Department Late Work Policy:

• It is expected that your work will be turned in by the assigned date. Assigned work received after the prescribed date will not be eligible for full credit. If you are absent you will be required to make up any missed assignments including tests. One day of absence affords one day of make-up work opportunity. If you are absent, a note is required to allow late work to receive full credit. Late Assignments will receive a deduction in points as listed below:
• Received at the time due: Eligible for Full Credit
• Received on due date but after time due (ex: after school): -10%
• Received 1 day past due date: -20%
• Received 2 days past due date: -30%
• 3 or more days past due date: Not Accepted, 0%

MHSHS History Department Plagiarism Policy:

• All work is to be completed in your own words.
• Work that is not your own must be properly cited using MLA format.
• MHSHS History teachers and administration will deal with incidences of plagiarism on a case-by-case basis. Students should be aware that some plagiarism cases may result in punishment beyond the school level, as there are state and federal laws protecting copyrighted works.
• The following items MAY be copied directly from the textbook:
• Definitions of vocabulary words
• Headings used in the textbook for note-taking formats
• If a student is unsure of their use of words from a source, they must inform the teacher of their need for support BEFORE the assignment is due.
• Turnitin.com writes that plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

o "The Ghost Writer"
 The writer turns in another's work, word-for-word, as his or her own.

o "The Photocopy"
 The writer copies significant portions of text straight from a single source, without alteration.

o "The Potluck Paper"
 The writer tries to disguise plagiarism by copying from several different sources or classmates, tweaking the sentences to make them fit together while keeping most of the original phrasing.

o "The Poor Disguise"
 Although the writer has kept the essential content of the source, he or she has altered the paper's appearance slightly by changing key words and phrases.

o "The Labor of Laziness"
 The writer takes the time to paraphrase most of the paper from other sources and make it all fit together, instead of spending the same effort on original work.

o "The Self-Stealer" 
The writer "borrows" generously from his or her previous work, violating policies concerning the expectation of originality adopted by most academic institutions.