AP European History Lansdale Catholic HS Course Syllabus 2012-13

AP European History Lansdale Catholic HS Course Syllabus 2012-13                         Dr. Smith


Required textbook: Kagan, Ozment, Turner, The Western Heritage
                                                                     (9th ed-Prentice Hall)


Course Description:

The Advanced Placement European History course is considered the equivalent of a full-year, freshman college survey course in Western Civilization. It is designed to prepare students for the AP European History Exam in May. Students who pass the exam (3 or better out of 5) may earn college credits.
In addition to providing a basic narrative of events and movements, the goals of the AP European History program are to develop: (a) an understanding of the principal themes in modern European history, (b) an ability to analyze historical evidence, and (c) an ability to analyze and express historical understanding in writing.
What sets this course apart from an “honors” course is extensive reading of college level texts, combined with a heavy emphasis upon analytical skills that include forming and substantiating various historical hypotheses. Major themes of the course include the basic chronology and major events and trends in European history from approximately 1350 to the present, as well as various interpretations of the European past. Significant emphasis is given to political and diplomatic history, intellectual and cultural history, and social and economic history.







Class Expectations:
1) Be prepared to provide your best effort. Your work ethic will determine your success.
2) Be prepared to work outside of class at least 1-2 hours each night. There is a great deal of outside reading assigned and class lecture will not cover every aspect of the class content. You are responsible to keep up with the pace of the course.
3) Be aware that writing is one of the core components of the class. Both Document Based Questions (DBQ’s) and Free Response Essays are included in the AP Euro Exam and will be utilized as assessment tools throughout the entire course.
4) Try to improve your neatness, grammar, completeness, and spelling. Most assignments, assessments (DBQ’s, Free Response) will be written, placing a great importance on the quality of writing. Each student will write on lined, looseleaf paper, standard size.
5) Each student must have a large binder, with multiple sections, marked by tabs. This will ensure that each student has all material needed for class in one location, greatly improving organization.
6) Organization is key to your preparation for class each day.

Section 1 - Course syllabus
Section 2 - unit notes
Section 3 - blank loose leaf paper
Section 4 - Honor code contract
Sections 5-? - Multiple sections for miscellaneous info

      Be aware that time management is one of your biggest challenges.      
     Befriend your syllabus, it is the key to planning.

     An AP class environment can bring out your very best. It is a foretaste of college life, an academic heaven.










Grading System

Assessment % of Quarter Grade

Multiple Choice Tests 40%
DBQ’s 20%
Free Response 20%
Quizzes 10%
Homework/Alternate assessment 10%

Units will be comprised of the following

1) TEST- 50-80 questions multiple choice- Typically entire class period
2) DBQ and Free Response Essays- Separate day from TEST
3) Quizzes (at least 4 per quarter) – BOTH MC and Fill in the blank
4) Written homework

Semester Exams - Cumulative Exam in June

-Semester exam format- test questions used throughout the year

All assessments are geared towards preparing students for the AP European History exam format.

The AP European History Exam:  Friday, May 11 - 2012

Length: 185 minutes (3 hrs, 5 min)

Format:
1) Multiple-choice: 55 minutes 80 questions Weight=50%

2) Document-based question: 15 min read/45 minute write
1 DBQ with up to 12 documents Weight=22.50%

3) Free-response question (FRQ): 70 minutes total
Choose 2 of 6 (1 per 3) 13.75% + 13.75% = Weight=27.50%



Core-Scoring Guide for AP European History DBQ’s
The document-based question (DBQ) in AP European History will be scored using the "core-scoring" method.
1. The core score is the number of points awarded, from 1 to 6, for basic competence in the skills identified in the current rubric - those historical skills that the AP European History Development Committee and the readers deem appropriate.
2. If a core score of 6 is achieved, a student may earn expanded score points - 0 to 3 - from the expanded core area for excelling in any of the skills. A student must earn 6 points in the basic core area before earning points in the expanded core area.
(Score Scale 0-9)
BASIC CORE
EXPANDED CORE
Points
Points
1) Has acceptable thesis.
1
2) Uses a majority of documents.
1
3) Supports thesis with appropriate evidence from documents.
1
4) Understands the basic meaning of documents cited in the essay. (May misinterpret one document.)
1
5) Analyzes bias or point of view in at least two or three documents.
1
6) Analyzes documents by grouping them in one (or two or three) ways, depending on DBQ question.
1
Expands beyond basic core of 1 to 6 points. A student must earn 6 points in the basic core area before earning points in the expanded core area.
Examples:
Has a clear, analytical, and comprehensive thesis.
Uses all or almost all documents.
Uses documents persuasively as evidence.
Shows careful and insightful analysis of the documents. ·
Analyzes bias or point of view in at least four documents cited in the essay.
Analyzes documents in additional ways - additional groupings or other.
Brings in relevant "outside" historical content.
0-3
Subtotal
6


Subtotal
3
TOTAL
9

Course Planner-2012-2013
Approximate

UNIT I- Introduction 8 class days

(1 week) Sept 7-16 Wed-Friday
- syllabus-Class expectations, Format
- AP exam-College Board information
- Collect Summer Assignments-map, outlines
- Summer Reading Quiz and discussion

UNIT 2- Renaissance & Discovery (Chapter 10) 10 days

(2 weeks) Sept 19-Sept 30 Mon-Friday

Readings
Kagan, 316-351 MC Test- Tues 9/27

UNIT 3- Age of Reformation & Age of Religious Wars 14 days
      (Chapters 11-12)

(2-3 weeks) Oct 3-Oct 24 Mon-Monday

Readings 11- MC Test- Thurs 10/13 12- MC Test- Fri 10/21
Kagan, 352-387 (chapter 11)            Kagan, 388-415 (chapter 12)

UNIT 4- European State Consolidation in 17th & 18th centuries   10 days
                (Chap 13)
(2 weeks) Oct 25-Nov 9 Tues-Wed

Readings 13- MC Test Mon 11/7
Kagan, 416-451

BEGIN reading CHAP 14- Wed 11/9     - 2 day wrap of 1st Qtr- thur/fri
     - Fri 11/11- take practice tests

1st QTR ENDS- Friday- 11/11

2nd QTR

UNIT 5- New Directions in 16th/17th Centuries & Society in 18th century
(Chapter 14 & Chapter 15) 7 days

(1 week) Nov 10-Nov 22 Thur-Tues

Readings
Kagan, 452-479 (chapter 14) 480-513 (chapter 15)

UNIT 6- Transatlantic Economy & The Age of Enlightenment
(Chapter 16 & Chapter 17) 8 days

(2 weeks) Nov 23-Dec 9 Wed-Fri

Thanksgiving Break-Homework Assigned- Read/OUTLINE both chap’s

Readings
Kagan, 516-534 / 541-547 (chapter 16) 550-591 (chap 17)

UNIT 7- French Revolution & Age of Napoleon and Romanticism
(Chapter 18 & Chapter 19)           18 days

(3-4 weeks) Dec 12-Jan 13 Mon-Fri

* Christmas break- homework assigned *
Readings
Kagan, 592-625 (chap 18) 626-655  (chap 19)

UNIT 8- Conservative Order & Reform Challenges (chap 20)
9 days
(1 week) Jan 17-27 Tues-Fri

Readings
Kagan, 656-687
_____________________
2nd QTR ENDS- Fri- 1/27
END of 1st Semester - Practice 1st Sem exam on fri 1/27

3rd QTR

UNIT 9- Economic Advance & Social Unrest (Chap 21) 7 days

(1 week) Jan 30- Feb 7 Mon-Tues

Readings
Kagan, 688-727
UNIT 10- Nation-States & Society to WWI & European Thought
(Chapter 22 & Chapter 23 & Chapter 24) 18 days

(2-3 weeks) Feb 8- Mar 2 Wed-Fri

Readings
Kagan, 730-759 (chap 22)   760-793 (chap 23)   794-825 (chap 24)

UNIT 11- Imperialism and WWI and Political Experiments of 1920’s
(Chapter 25 and Chapter 26) 10 days

(2 weeks) Mar 5- Mar 16 Mon-Fri

Readings
Kagan, 826-875 (chap 25) 876-905  (chap 26)

UNIT 12- Bolsheviks/Fascists & Great Depression & Nazism
(Chapter 27) 10 days

(2 weeks) Mar 19- Mar 30 Mon-Fri

Readings
Kagan 906-935  (chap 27)


3rd QTR ENDS- Tues 4/3
- 2 day wrap of 3rd Qtr- mon/tues




4th QTR

EASTER Vacation- Wed 4/4-Mon 4/9
- homework assigned-Read Chap 28-outline

UNIT 13-World War II (Chapter 28) 12 days

(2 weeks) April 10- April 25 Tues-Wed

Readings
Kagan, 938-977

UNIT 14- Cold War & The Dawn of the 21st Century 4 days
(Chapter 29 & Chapter 30) (chap 29)
******* Potential reading done on your own *************

(1 week) April 26-May 1 Thur-Tues

Readings
Kagan, 978-1023  (Chap 29)-Test 1024-1056  (Chap 30) ??


AP TEST REVIEW- Begin WED 5/2 to Thurs 5/10

7 days of review – Multiple Practice exams given in class

5/10-Thursday-LAST day to review

AP European History Test- FRIDAY 5/11


“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act but a habit.”
Aristotle