World History II, 1

Craftsbury Academy
World History II - Course Syllabus

1. What will we be learning? See the following…

Curriculum Guide
Units of Study
2. What are the rules in this class? See the following…
Classroom Standards
3. How will we be graded? See the following…
The Grading Process
Determining Your Quarter Grade
Determining Your Yearly Grade
Midterm and Final Exams
Binder & Effort Rubric
4. What should we do now? See the following…
New Year Checklist
Movie Permission Slip
 World History II, 2

A. Curriculum Guide
1. Origins of America– This unit will likely address the following topics:
 The colonization of America, the thirteen colonies
 World History II, 3

B. Units of Study
The following units may be used. These units will vary in length and in content
depending on the understanding, needs, and interests of the students.

1. Absolutism & Enlightenment – This unit will likely address the following topics:
 Absolutism in Europe, limited monarchy in England
 The Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment, including key figures of each

2. Revolution & Nationalism – This unit will likely address the following topics:
 The French Revolution, including origins, sequenced events, and effects
 Napoleon Bonaparte, including his rise and fall
 The Congress of Vienna and lasting peace
 The Spread of Nationalism, the Unifications of Germany and Italy

3. Industry, Democracy & Imperialism – This unit will likely address the following topics:
 The industrial revolution, including causes and effects
 The growing pressure for democracy and social reform
 Imperialism by Region, including Africa, the Middle East, and Asia
 China and Japan respond to Pressure

4. World War I – This unit will likely address the following topics:
 Setting the Stage: Imperialism, Nationalism, Militarism
 The Conflict, including trench warfare, mechanized war, and the global span of the war
 The Treaty of Versailles: A flawed peace
 Russian Revolution & Bolshevism
 Nationalism in India

5. World War II – This unit will likely address the following topics:
 Times of crisis, including the great depression, the rise of Fascism, and so forth
 World War II, including the Blitzkrieg, course of the war, and the allied victory
 The Holocaust

6. The Modern World – This unit will likely address the following topics:
 The Cold War, including the competing superpowers and the end of the cold war
 Decolonization and the transformation of world politics
 Conflicts in the Middle East

7. Africa, Asia and the Americas – This unit will likely address the following topics:
 Survey of the histories of the regions
 World History II, 4

C. Classroom Standards
1. Communication
 No profanity or hostile language is allowed.
 No harassing language is allowed, including sexual innuendo or racial or religious slurs.
 Do participate in discussions, don’t have side conversations or speak during quiet times.
 You may always question classroom procedures, but you must be respectful about it.

2. Behavior
 Don’t be an instigator for trouble. If you are caught trying to upset others so that they
get themselves in trouble, you will share their punishment!
 Keep your hands off each others’ bodies and possessions! Don’t make me remind you!

3. Attendance & Use of Time

 Be to class on time and get started right away.
 Stay focused on assigned work during class, and only leave briefly and for good reasons
 Stay busy until class is done, and never put your work away early just to wait.
 Check with me following an absence for missing work. I’m not your secretary!
 I’m pretty flexible about letting you leave the room if you need to. However, you need to
check with me before leaving. Don’t just call out and leave!

4. Classroom
 Put things away when you are done, don’t leave trash and materials around the room.
 Yes, you can leave things in your desks. I can’t keep other students away from it though!
 My computer, desk, and office area are generally off limits.

5. Textbooks
 Everyone will be given one textbook, and none will be held in reserve in the classroom.
 Textbooks must be covered with thick paper covers by the second week of school.
 If your textbook is treated badly you may have to pay part of the replacement cost.

6. Miscellaneous Stuff
 Yes, you can eat and drink in the classroom. Just clean up and be courteous.
 You can have headphones during study times with teacher permission.

7. Academics
 You may lose ten points a day on late assignments, up to thirty points
 Don’t be foolish enough to cheat. Also, when students “help” each other and have
identical work they split the grade between them!
 Extra credit and special assignments are usually not allowed
 You can redo work, but I’ll average your new grade and your old grade.
 Hand in your work into my basket in a timely manner. If it isn’t there don’t blame me!
 World History II, 5

D. The Grading Process

1. Quizzes - includes regular quizzes and major projects or essays

2. Schoolwork- includes all homework and classwork which has its own grade
Grading: The following factors are considered (in this order) when grading an assignment:

 All Exercises must be completed. Each exercise is not weighted equally, so short
questions should not be favored over long ones to achieve and “adequate” grade.
 All questions should be fully answered. I give you enough space to include the amount of
information I am looking for. Leave extremely short answers or writing in an abnormally
large style will cause points to be deducted.
 All information must be accurate. Contrary to the common perception it is impossible to
check the accuracy of every exercise – it’s too much for any poor history teacher! I
usually randomly check a few answers on each assignment, and if they are unsatisfactory
I check others!

Perfect Scores: Well done schoolwork typically earns a ‘95’; if you want a ‘100’ your work
must truly be exceptional in terms of all three of the areas listed above:

3. Effort
Assessment: Students will periodically self-assess their effort using a rubric, which will be
considered by Mr. Cornelius when determining your actual grade.

Rubric: The following factors determine a student’s effort grade:

 Participation (20%) – Contribute positively to discussions and activities

 Initiative (40%) – Work diligently on assignments without prompting
 Ownership (40%) – Complete work on time, check for missed work after absences

4. Binder
Assessment: Students will periodically self-assess their binders using a rubric, and these
will be handed in along with their binder to Mr. Cornelius.

Rubric: The following factors determine a student’s binder grade:

 Organization (40%) – Work is in correct order in required sections

 Neatness (20%) – Binder is in good condition and work is secured inside
 Contents (40%) – All work and notes are included

Sections: The following sections should be included in your binder:

 Schoolwork – includes all homework, classwork, and some other activities

 Quizzes – includes all study guides, quizzes, essays, and projects
 Journal – includes notes and journal writes (this is where you store some blank paper)
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E. Determining Your Quarter Grade

Quizzes 20%
Schoolwork 40%
Effort 20%
Binder 20%
----
Yearly 100%

F. Determining Your Yearly Grade

Quarter 1: 20%
Quarter 2: 20%
Midterm Exam: 10%
Quarter 3: 20%
Quarter 4: 20%
Final Exam: 10%
----
Yearly 100%

G. Midterm and Final Exams

Rather than having a standard test for our exams, we will have research projects
which culminate in a five minute oral presentation.

Students can choose from a wide variety of topics relevant to their studies during
the previous semester, and then will conduct research on that topic. During the
exam period oral presentations will be given by the students and judged by the
teacher.
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Name: ___________________

Binder Rubric
Not Yet Meeting Approaching Meets Exceeds
Expectations Expectations Expectations Expectations
Organization

Sections are not labeled but
Binder and binder contents is
work is generally organized
not divided into sections
by type
The binder contains sections The binder contains sections
and most work is in and all work is in correct
appropriate sections order within these sections

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40
Neatness

The binder is heavily battered The binder is battered or The binder may be slightly The binder is obviously
and little or no work is substantial amounts of work battered or some work may treated with care, and all
secured inside is loose inside be loose inside work is well secured inside

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Contents

Most work is included, notes

Some work is included, notes Most work is included, notes All work is included, notes
and journal entries are
and journal entries are and journals are evident and and journal display an
sparse
largely lacking reasonably well done excellent effort in class

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40

Effort Rubric
Not Yet Meeting Approaching Meets Exceeds
Expectations Expectations Expectations Expectations
Participation

Student usually does not
contribute or is negative
during class discussions
Student sometimes
Student often does not Student usually contributes
contributes thoughtfully and
contribute or is negative thoughtfully and positively to
positively to class
during class discussions class discussions
discussions

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Initiative

Student usually does not Student often does not work Student usually works quietly Student always works quietly
work quietly at their desk quietly at their desk without on their work at their seat on their work at their seat
without prompting prompting without prompting without prompting

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40
Ownership

Students often hands in work Students sometimes hands in Student usually completes Student always completes
late, leaves exercises work late, leaves exercises work on time, completes all work on time, completes all
undone or incomplete, or undone or incomplete, or exercises thoroughly, and exercises thoroughly, and
does not check with the does not check with the checks with the teacher checks with the teacher
teacher following absences teacher following absences following absences to make following absences to make
to make up missed work to make up missed work up missed work up missed work
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40
Complete these rubrics and return to Mr. Cornelius. Your input helps determine your actual grade
 World History II, 8

H.New Year Checklist

 Become familiar with the guidelines for behavior and academics

 Return your signed Movie Permission Slip
 Cover your textbook with a durable cover (this must be repeated mid-year)
 Prepare a binder with the appropriate sections (separate from History binders)
Please note that you will be required to complete these tasks within a specific period of
time, and this will be an effort grade.
 World History II, 9

Student Name: ________________________

Movie Permission Slip

I’d like to welcome your son or daughter to Geography and/or Economics! Please feel free
to review the syllabus to become familiar with this course.

In our studies we may watch ‘R’ rated films that connect with our studies, such as
Schindler’s List or Amistad. I am cautious to show films that connect well to our studies,
have minimal sexuality, and places violence or profanity in historical context.

If you consent, I’d like you to sign this permission slip granting your child permission to
watch these films. Please note that if you’d prefer not to have your son or daughter watch
such films alternatives will be arranged and your son or daughter will not be singled out for
any reason. By signing this form you are giving your child permission to watch these films.

Name of Parent or Guardian : ________________________

Signature: ________________________

Furthermore, I am available to discuss and questions you may have for me now or in the
course of the school year. My contact information is:

School Phone: 586-2541

Home Phone: 586-9900
Preferred Email: crazyacorn@gmail.com

If your son or daughter is enrolled in more than one course only one permission slip is
required for all classes.