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World Cultures Syllabus

SYLLABUS

Text: 

World Cultures: A Global Mosaic textbook

Overview:

            World Cultures is divided into eight units.  The first unit introduces the key concepts that will guide students through the study of the seven regional units.  Generally, in each regional unit, students will learn about a region’s geography, history and traditions, economics and daily life, and literature and art.

            More specificially, we will begin each unit looking at the region geographically.  From there, we will look at the area’s history and heritage, and show students how diverse cultural traditions have affected those living in the region lives, directly and indirectly.  Next, we will look at how regions have transitioned in the past; politically, socially, and culturally.  Lastly, we will study the region’s place in a global perspective.

            As any good social studies course should, we will also be looking at current events that are taking place around the world, especially in the areas we are studying.

 Units:

1. Introduction to World Cultures
2. Africa
3. South Asia
4. Southeast Asia
5. East Asia
6. Latin America
7. Middle East
8. Europe and the Former Soviet Union 

Assessment:

            Students will be graded many different ways throughout the year.  Group projects will play a large part in the course, as well as tests, quizzes, journals, classwork, oral presentations, homework and class participation. Each will be weighed differently, based on its importance within the course.  Students will be told when the assignments are given how many points each is worth and its percentage of the total grade.  Homework will be given almost every night and will be a major part of a student’s grade.  Students who do not do their homework will not pass the course.  At the end of the semester there will be a final exam.  All of these assessment techniques will be combined to make up the students’ total grade.

            Effort is very important to me, therefore, if it is obvious a student is working hard and making every possible effort to do well, they will be very successful in my class.

Classroom Rules:

I have come up with the following rules to create the ideal setting for students to be able to learn successfully.  They are as follows:

1. This is a POSITIVE environment.  Therefore, we will be nice to each other, and never mean.
2. We will RESPECT everyone; the teacher, each other, and ourselves at all times.
3. We will always try our best, no matter how hard something may seem at first.
4. We will raise our hand when we would like to speak out loud to the teacher and/or the class.
5. We will sit in our seats unless we have permission to move around the room.
6. We will not touch others or their property without permission.
7. We will use good manners at all times.  This means saying “Please” when asking for something; saying “Thank you” when receiving something; saying “Excuse me” when interrupting someone; and using appropriate volume when talking.
8. We will not talk while others are talking.
9. We must follow all the rules set forth in the APHS student handbook
10. Students will be notified of the due date of every assignment.  If not turned in on time, one letter grade will be deducted for each day the work is late.
11. Students are responsible for obtaining work missed for either an excused or unexcused absence.  It is not the teacher’s responsibility to make sure they make it up.
12. Have fun!

Class Requirements:

• Notebook and Binder/Folder:  Students will be hole-punching worksheets to put into their Binder/Folder.  This will help keeping everything together which will help when studying for tests.  The notebook will be used for taking notes, writing essays, and other classwork activities.
• Writing utensils:  pen or pencil (please no glitter pens or red pens)
• Textbook: must bring covered World Cultures book to class every day
• Composition book: this will be used for journal entries, which we will be doing on a daily basis.

SMART Goals:

As a class we will be using SMART goals as a tool to help students succeed.  SMART is an acronym for goals that are Specific, Measurable, Aligned to Standards, Results focused and Time-framed.  The goal will be agreed upon by the class.  Also, each class will come up with a mission statement, which will describe how they will go about reaching their goal.  At the beginning of the class, students will take a world cultures exam as a baseline.  The baseline will show students where they are in regards to their agreed upon goal.  Throughout the course, students will take the test two other times to see how they are progressing towards their goal.  After taking these tests, we will collaboratively review their scores and answers to see where they are having problems.  At the end of the year, we will take the test a final time, where we hope to have reached our goal.