Syllabus

World History 09 
Instructor: William Van Wyck
EWHS Credit: Social Studies .5 (one semester)
School Phone: (425) 431 - 6098
E-mail: vanwyckw@edmonds.wednet.edu
Office Location: E100
Class Website: http://www.van-wyck.org

Enduring Understandings

1. Religion affects large concepts within politics, society, economics and human conflict.
2. Examine and analyze how the contributions of various religious groups influence society.
3. Extremism exists in all religions and is a product of interpretation rather than dogma.
4. Religion in all societies contains common components which serves the need of individuals, societies and governments.
5. Expansion results in political, cultural, economic and social implications.
6. The need for resources and markets promotes expansion.
7. There are costs and benefits to global expansion and encounters.

                                          
Essential Questions and/or Learning Targets

• What are the economic, technological, political, social and geographic causes of change in human societies?
• What are the implications of different definitions of human and civil rights?
• How does religion become institutionalized and what happens to it as a result of this change?
• What causes people to resort to genocide?
• Why did historical change accelerate during this period?
• What ere the political, cultural, geographic and social implications of economic expansion during this period?
• Why did Europe increasingly dominate world politics and economics during this period?
• What impact did this European domination have on various regions of the world?
• Why did some non-Western regions lose power, influence and autonomy?
• How did people adapt to, modify and impact the environment?
• How does the natural environment shape humans and cultures?
• How are the world’s physical characteristics, human activity & culture interrelated?

Content Outline and Assessments

Grading and Final Exams

Final grades will be a compilation of the following criteria:

• Exams - 40%
• Unit tests, quizzes and other formative and summative assessments.
• Participation - 20%
• Daily Work, Citizenship, Simulations, Presentations, Discussions, Debates
• Participation – Grades are earned through attending and participating and by completing homework, projects, in class activities, tests and quizzes for points. The EWHS Social Studies department adheres to the philosophy that all courses will promote citizenship and active participation in a democratic society; therefore students are expected to be present and perform in class regularly. It is often difficult to re-create active learning experiences (debates, presentations, simulations, etc) missed in class. Therefore we have agreed that in-class participation will comprise 20% of each students grade.
• Other - 40%
• Homework, Projects, Essays, CBA

Materials
In addition to the textbook, students must have all the following items in class each day:

• A 2” or larger 3-ring binder. Assignments and handouts will be kept for the semester.
• 2 pencils
• 1 blue or black pen
• notebook paper
• colored pencils

Attendance
The EWHS Social Studies department adheres to the philosophy that all courses will promote citizenship and active participation in a democratic society; therefore students are expected to be present and perform in class regularly. It is often difficult to re-create active learning experiences (debates, presentations, simulations, etc) missed in class.

If you are absent, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed and see if it is possible to make up the credit.  Please come find me before or after school or consult my webpage.  If you have an unexcused absence the work cannot be made up.

Late Work/Make-Up Policy
Late work is accepted at half the value of earned points. Late work is not accepted after deadlines established for school wide progress reports during the semester. Students must arrange to make-up tests within two days of returning from an excused absence. Test make-ups are not possible after graded tests have been returned to other students.

Common School Expectations
Students are expected to follow all school rules which are stated in the EWHS student planner and online at our school website at http://school.edmonds.wednet.edu/ewhs.

Classroom Rules (those that are not school wide)
We are here to learn. Behavior and actions that distract from the learning of any student are not acceptable in this class. It is necessary to demonstrate respect for other students, teachers, the classroom space, and yourself. If we all demonstrate this respect for each other and our classroom, disruptions disappear.
Headphones, electronic music players, sunglasses, as well as food and drink in the classroom are all ways of showing disrespect for our learning environment and each other. These items will not be allowed in the classroom.
Pagers and Mobile Phones are discouraged, but if you must have one, set it to silent mode and ignore it during class. If a pager or phone does sound audibly in class or you appear distracted by it, it will be confiscated and given to the dean of students. Telephones are to be used during your own time.