Latham, Kevin J. - Social Studies

This course is a survey of the world’s recorded history, with emphasis on the development of western civilization from the golden age of Greece to modern times.  The course comprises the following 10 units:

-    Unit 1:  Beginnings of Civilization

–        Prehistory, Southwest Asia, Egypt, India and China

-    Unit 2:  Mediterranean World

–        Ancient Greece, The Roman Republic, The Roman Empire

-    Unit 3:  Middle Ages

–        Byzantium, Islam, Early Middle Ages, High Middle Ages, Origin of Nations

-    Unit 4:  Age of Empires

–        China & Japan, India & Southeast Asia, Africa & the Americas

-    Unit 5:  Spread of New Ideas

–        Renaissance, Exploration, Reformation, Scientific Revolution, Shifts in Power

-    Unit 6:  Transition to Modern Times

–        English & European Monarchs, Enlightenment, and Revolution

-    Unit 7:  Age of European Dominance

–        Industrial Revolution, Restoration, Romanticism, Nationalism, Imperialism

-    Unit 8:  Years of Crisis

–        WW I, Russian Revolution, Shifts in Power, Economic Crisis, WW II

-    Unit 9:  The Modern World

-    Unit 10:  Perspectives on the Present

The main goals of this course are:

-    to build in each student an understanding of the origins and development of world civilization in the areas of:

–        Government and Politics

–        Culture and Society (the text considers these two separate themes)

–        Science and Technology

–        Economics

–        Geography (covered in the text separate from historical themes)

-    to build skill in applying the lessons of history across a wide range of endeavors and occupations

-    to instill in students an appreciation for history and its importance to modern life

-    to strengthen students’ ability to read critically, research methodically, and write clearly

-    to enable students to apply the lessons of the past to the challenges of the future

Ramirez, Susan, Peter Stearns, and Sam Wineburg.  World History: Human Legacy.  Austin, TX: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 2008.

(Note: the above link is to an older text than the one used in class.  The resources provided by the link will be used in class or for homework.)

Additional readings may be distributed in class throughout the semester.

Pen (blue or black ink), No. 2 pencil, 8-1/2 x 11 ruled paper (with holes), and a three-ringed, looseleaf binder.

The basics.  Arrive in class on time; respect yourselves, your classmates, and your teacher; always strive to act honorably; be prepared; complete homework and other assignments on time; participate in class discussion and activities.  The class ends when I dismiss you, not when the bell rings.  You will be held accountable for actions or omissions in violation of the Student Handbook.

Honor.  Honor is a word that describes one’s good name or reputation, and is one of the most important of personal qualities.  Honor develops slowly, but can be lost in an instant.  It is painful and difficult to regain lost honor and the trust of others.  I expect you at all times to act honorably – in your academic work and in your personal interactions with your peers and with me.  On all written assignments in this class, you will be asked to write and sign a pledge that you have acted honorably in completing the assignment.

Homework.  Homework will be assigned daily.  You should consider this as regular an occurrence as the rising and falling of the tides.  Homework will include both reading and writing assignments, and you will be quizzed daily on the material assigned as homework.  Written assignments will be checked periodically for completion.

Essays.  Writing is an important skill.  Short essays will be assigned throughout the course, either as homework or classwork, to help students develop skill in writing clearly and with purpose.

Research projects.  One or more projects may be assigned to build student experience in conducting basic research.  Topics and due-dates will be assigned as the class progresses.

Class presentation.  Time permitting, each student may be required to prepare a class presentation of approximately five minutes, covering material in assigned (homework) readings.  Additional details will be discussed in class.

Assessment and Grading.  Students will be tested after each unit in the text.  Short quizzes will be given daily, covering assigned reading and material covered in the previous day’s class.  Grades for each quarter will be determined as follows:

-    Tests, essays, research projects:  50%

-    Quizzes:  25%

-    Class presentation and participation:  25%

Work not submitted on-time will receive a reduced grade. 

The quarter grades each constitute 40% of the final grade.  A final, comprehensive exam makes up the remaining 20%.

There is no such thing.  All students will receive full credit for the work they do; no student will receive credit for failure to complete a required assignment.  Students working to achieve a superior grade will be challenged and assisted by the teacher, and given every opportunity to demonstrate their capability. 

Students who are struggling in the course (and any other student) may approach the teacher at any time for clarification of any point or to review and reinforce the material being covered.  The teacher will also support the student's efforts to improve study habits, note-taking skills, and time management.  Struggling students will not be given additional work.  Such a practice tends to cause students to get further behind in the course, reduces the student's sense of responsibility to complete assigned work, and creates an erroneous expectation that the student's grade will improve simply because he or she completed some assignment not covered by the syllabus.  That is unfair to the student.

Class lectures, discussion, and other assignments will follow the sequence of the text, although  the schedule will remain somewhat flexible.  Based on the progress and interests of the class, some topics may be compressed or combined, others expanded.  World history is a rich and complex tapestry.  In examining that tapestry, we will attempt to understand not only history’s major events and turning points, but also the lessons of history that will enable you to make better decisions about your future.  

See the basics under “Course Requirements.”  Additional rules, to the extent they become necessary, depend on you.

Students and parents can contact me anytime by phone or email to arrange a meeting.  Also, feel free to email me anytime to pass information or to seek clarification on anything you are uncertain about.

• phone:  410-570-5037

• email:  klatham@stmarysannapolis.org