Modern World History

Homework Calendar - link to Canvas Calendar for due dates for all homework. 

Textbook Link to online text - password and username required. 

Daily Powerpoints - link to page with powerpoint presentations for all units

Unit review sheets and classwork packets - link to page with homework review sheets for each unit and each unit's classwork packet pages. Please print out or download unit review sheets and all graphic organizers at the beginning of each unit.

Important course documents - including directions for core assessments, core assessment rubrics, major projects  and the final exam essay question choices.

Quizzes

computer use agreement 

Modern World History is a one-credit, 18 week, academic or honors level Social Studies course. It is a required course that all sophomore who don’t take AP Europe need to pass for graduation. It is a reading intensive course. The reading level of the textbook and the difficulty and frequency of assignments is geared towards students who are preparing for the possibility, at least, of going to college. It's expected that such students are seeking academically challenging material, are serious about their education, and are motivated to work to the very best of their ability at all times.

Course Description

MWH will concentrate on the history of the modern world, both Western and non-Western, from 1450 C.E. to the present. Topics will include foreign policy, political systems, social and cultural change, and economic trends.

All students in Mr. Klein's Social Studies classes are expected to exhibit the following Required Class Behaviors:

1. Respect members of the class, their ideas and their property.

2. Participate actively. Take intellectual risks, for you will learn from your own risk-taking as well as each other..

3. Ask whenever you have a question. “The only stupid question is the question that goes unasked.” Donald K. Anderson, Clerk of the United States House of Representatives.

4. Be prepared everyday – Covered textbook, pen, and pencil, notebook, agenda book/assignment book.

5. Be in the classroom before the bell rings. West’s lateness policy is strictly enforced.

6. Complete all work to the best of your ability because homework, essays and classwork will help you to obtain the necessary and required skill and knowledge. Also, these learning activities will be evaluated through a combination rubric/points system. Summing all of the earned points divided by the total possible points will result in a percent score that will be the marking period grade. This score will then be calculated as 66% of the final grade and added to the other 14% obtained from the final exam (objective and essay) and 10% each for the two Core Assessmentsto reach a final course grade. No individual extra credit will be available.

7. Complete all assignments by their due date. Daily homework assignments will lose 50% of their value if one day late, and will receive no credit beyond one day. Long-term assignments (over one week allotted for completion) will lose 10% for each day late.

8. Headphones may NOT be worn at anytime in the classroom - they must be removed before entering class.

Assignments / Deadlines:

At the beginning of the course, or before each unit (approximately every 2 weeks) a schedule for all work, due dates and deadlines for that unit will be provided and also posted on this site on the documents page for your course. Students are expected to budget their time to complete all assignments on time. Assignments will be accepted one day late for 50% credit of the grade earned. Major assignments receive a 10% deduction for each day they are late. If you are in school the day an assignment is due, you are responsible to submit it. For major assignments (paper deadlines, etc) the deadlines are firm, and you must submit these assignments on these days regardless of attendance (via a friend or email). These deadlines will be made clear in class.

Common Core Assessments*

1. There are two related research projects for this course. The first project is a case study related to imperialism (Unit III) and the second project is related to decolonization (Unit VII). More detailed information about these projects will be provided later in the course.

2. There is a comprehensive final exam consisting of 50 multiple choice questions worth 60% of the final exam grade.

3. There is a final exam essay question worth 40% of the final exam grade. This essay question will be given out at the beginning of the course. You will be required to write this essay in class without the aid of any rough draft or notes.

* District requirements of all C.B. students who take Modern World History

4. HONORS ONLY - a variety of ancillary readings.

Test make-ups - if a student has an excused absence on the day of a test, the student will be prepared to take the test after school the first Tuesday or Thursday the student returns to school, or at 6:00 am on the following day with Mr. McDermott in room B119. (Significant difficulties which may arise that hinder completion of the make-up times must immediately be communicated to Mr. Klein via e-mail prior to return to school so that special accomodations can be made - make ups will not occur in class) If a student does not make up the test at these times, the student will earn no credit for the test.

There is no extra credit or retests ("second chance learning".)

All school and district policies regarding cheating and plagiarism will be followed. Plagiarism (using another’s words or ideas without giving credit for any reason) is unacceptable.

Class Procedures:

Students are expected to take personal responsibility for themselves and their work at all times. This includes being an active participant in all assignments and class activities. Students should be focused on the task at hand and NOT on work for other classes.

• cell phones and other electronic devices are unacceptable unless directly used for class purposes - see student handbook for school cell phone policy.
• Students should arrive on time and be prepared with all materials prior to the bell.
• Students who are absent will be responsible to access this site, contact a classmate or e-mail the instructor to keep up with all assignments.
• All in-class assessments for which a student is absent must be made up after school the first Tuesday or Thursday the student returns to school, or at 6:00 am on the following day with Mr. McDermott in room B119 (unless there has been an extended absence when the school policy for absence takes effect - please see student handbook.
• Tests or quizzes not made up within the specified time frame will receive a zero.
• Prior to exiting the classroom during class, students must surrender their communication devices until returning to class.