Ms. Davis Plan Period: 7th Rm. 221 emdavis@dallasisd.org PLC Period: 4th Tutoring: Mon/Tues/Wed 4:20-5:00 Pre-AP WORLD HISTORY Expectations for the year We will have an amazing school year together learning about the history of the world from Ancient Civilizations to the Modern World. I will tell you now, if you try and work hard, you will succeed in this class. The goal of Pre-AP World History is to give you some of the knowledge and skills you will need to be successful in AP US History next year. There will be more writing and outside reading required for this class. Expect to spend an extra 2-3 hours a week working on assignments. However, that does not mean we will not do interesting and exciting things in class. Please come to class with a positive attitude, and be ready to learn. I will also expect you to complete all assignments given in class. These assignments are picked out to help you learn the content, and your overall success will rely heavily on the completion of this work (not only for your homework grade, but also for test preparation). Do not hesitate to come in for help if you need it. Please let me know when you plan to come in for tutoring, so that I can make sure to be in my room and ready to help you. If you need to come in during nontutoring hours, just ask and I will do my best to accommodate your needs! Required Materials 1. 3 Subject Notebook (It MUST be a 3 subject one) a. This notebook will be used to take notes and will be kept with the student 2. Folder (with or without brads) a. Will be used to store reading assignments and take home homework 3. Pens/Pencils EVERYDAY 4. Loose Leaf Paper for everyday use These materials will be counted as a quiz grade on Tuesday, September 2. If you have all of your supplies you will receive a 100. If you do not, it will result in a 0. (Please try to have your spiral the first day of school!) Grading Policy Classwork/Homework = 40% Tests = 25% Quizzes/Projects =20% 6 Weeks Test = 15% I will post grades at the front of the classroom on a regular basis using your ID number for identification. You can also come see me for an individual print out of your grades. Failing students will be required to attend extra tutoring hours as well as have parents sign a progress report. There will be several extra credit opportunities made available throughout the year. These opportunities will involve bringing extra supplies to be used for projects. Ex. printer paper, markers, colored paper, tissues
Absences Policy It is your responsibility to pick up your missed work after an absence. Please check the classroom calendar to see what you missed. All extra papers can be found in the folder of the day you missed. Please take one on your own during an appropriate time. If notes were taken the day you missed, it is up to you to get them from a classmate. You will have until the 3 days before the end of the UNIT to make up work from being absent, if it is an excused absence. Work from unexcused absences must be made up within the week missed. Tests must be made up the day after you miss. If the assignment or test is not made up within this time frame, it will be considered late (see late work policy). As always, if there are any extenuating circumstances regarding your absences, or a need for more days to complete work, please come talk to me. I will always be fair! Late Work Please turn your homework in on time in your class box. Unless there are extenuating circumstances or you require modifications, late work will be worth -10 points each day it is late. Late work can only be turned in for the current unit we are studying and must be turned in to the late work basket. The cut off date for late work is 3 days before the end of the 6 Weeks. Tardiness and Passes Tardiness: Please use your time wisely while passing between classes. Enough time is given so that everyone can make it before the tardy bell. If you are late, you will be marked tardy. No exceptions! You should come into class and immediately check the screen. Pick up the papers it tells you and start on the bell ringer for the day. Try to be in your seat and working when the bell rings. If you are more than 5 minutes late you will be counted ABSENT! Passes: If it is an emergency, please tell me and go. Otherwise, you must wait for an appropriate time to ask for a pass (do not ask to go while I am talking). Also, if I believe you are starting to abuse the policy, and are asking for too many passes, I will say no. Please only ask if it is necessary. Only one student will be allowed the pass at a time, so if you ask, and somebody is already using it, you will have to wait. DO NOT LOSE MY BATHROOM PASSES! Cheating Activities that involve cheating, copying, or plagiarizing are considered to be academic problems for which academic penalties will be enforced. The most severe cases will result in an automatic zero, without the option to make it up. Don t risk it! In Class Work Right Side Notes: There will be Cornell notes to take almost every single day. These will be taken only on the Right Side pages in your notebook. Always come to class with your notebook and something to write with or else you will fall behind. Notes are not optional! You must take them and they will be checked for a grade. If you are absent a day, you must copy the notes from someone.
Left Side: On the left side of your notebook there will be activities to complete daily. They can range from drawing a picture to creating graphic organizers. These activities will help you analyze the knowledge you have written in your notes to further your understanding. The directions for these activities will be found inside the PPT notes or will be given afterwards. The Left Side of your notebook will also be checked for a grade. Outside Work Reading Assignments: There will be reading vocabulary assignments required to be completed outside of school. Every student will be issued a World History textbook to keep at home. At the beginning of every unit, you will receive a list of events, people, or places that you must research using the textbook. There are 3 things that you will need to answer about every topic that will be explained at a later date. These will be completed in the Vocabulary section of your 3 Subject Notebook you purchased at the beginning of the year. The list will include a due date, so you will not become confused. Sometime, after the due date, a quiz will be given that covers what was researched in the textbook. If you did not read the chapter and do the vocabulary words, it will be very hard to pass this quiz. Homework: Homework will be periodically assigned throughout the year. It is expected that it will be completed and turned in the day it is due. If it is not, it will become late and you will begin to lose points. Writing Projects There will be at least ONE writing project assigned every 6 Weeks. Some may be completed individually, and others will be group projects. Information about the projects will be given towards the beginning of the 6 Weeks and they will be due before the end. DO NOT PANIC! We will go step by step through the writing process and extra elements will be included to make the project more enjoyable. Main Topics 1 st Semester 1. Rise of River Valley Civilizations 2. Classical Civilizations 3. Middle Ages in Europe 4. Islam and Africa 5. Post-Classical Asia 6. Renaissance and Reformation 7. The Americas 8. Absolutism and the Enlightenment 9. Industrial Revolution 2 nd Semester 10. Age of Democratic Revolutions 11. Imperialism: Europe Reaches Out 12. WWI and the Russian Revolution 13. WWII 14. Decolonization and the Cold War 15. Modern World
This class is very fast paced in order to make it through all the topics in just one year. Be prepared to move fast, so you will not fall behind. Please be responsible and keep up with your work. It is my goal to make this course as fun as possible, but that can only happened when we are not behind. The time we have to spend going back over things for people who were not paying attention is time taken away from fun activities. Don t be the person who ruins it for the class! Here are a few tips on how to make sure you are not that person. HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN MS. DAVIS CLASS BE.. 1. Prompt: You should be in your desk when the bell rings and working on your bell ringer for the day. 2. Prepared: Bring your materials EVERYDAY. 3. Productive: Maximize learning time by staying on task, following directions, and remaining seated unless you ve been given permission to get up. 4. Polite: Be nice or neutral to everyone. NO SWEARING, teasing, talking back, or bullying. Talk only when you are called on and never when I am talking. Keep your hands to yourself! 5. Patient: Wait calmly and respectfully for your turn. NO COMPLAINING. Do not leave your seat until the bell has rung. Welcome to Pre-AP World History!
PLEASE PRINT AS NEATLY AS POSSIBLE Student Name Parent/Guardian Name #1 Work # Home Phone # E-mail address Cell # Parent/Guardian Name #2 Work # E-mail address Cell *Please put a star next to the best way(s) to reach a parent/guardian during the school day. Is there a computer available at home? Are you able to log-on to the Internet? YES NO YES NO Do you give permission for your child s picture (with no name) to be used on the class website? YES NO Is there anything that would be helpful for me to know? I have read this syllabus with my charge and we have discussed and understand all of the policies and procedures. Parent/Guardian Signature Date Student Signature Date