North Paulding High School

Honors World History

& World History
Syllabus 2010-2011
Teacher: Chris Wolski
Room: 218
E-Mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
Telephone: 770-443-9400
Book Title: World History: Patterns of Interaction (McDougal Littell)
Replacement Cost: $74.95
Attitude – by Charles Swindoll
“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.
Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than
money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is
more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It’ll make or break a church…a home…a school…a
classroom. The remarkable thing, however, is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we’ll
embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the way people will act.
We cannot change the inevitable.
The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude.
I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.”

Course Description: The purpose of this World History course is to develop greater
understanding of the evolution of global processes and contacts in interaction with different
types of human societies. It is the study of those aspects in human experiences that relate
to the experiences of the larger grouping of humanity, like whole societies, civilizations,
hemispheres, and humanity as a whole. The understanding is advanced through a
combination of selective factual knowledge and appropriate analytical skills. This will be
accomplished through a chronological comparative study of cultures from roughly 8000
B.C.E. to present.

What You Will Need

The following is a list of materials you will need for this class. Please let me know if you will
have trouble obtaining any of these items and we can work something out. Success in this
class depends on each student having adequate supplies.

• Loose Leaf Notebook Paper

• Pens and Pencils
• One 1" or 2” three-ringed binder *
• Five tabbed dividers **
• Post-It Notes (various sizes)
• Highlighters

Grades

Most assignments are awarded points. Points will vary depending on the assignment. I will
provide a scoring guide/rubric for major assignments and projects. The scoring guide/rubric
will tell you exactly what you need to do in order to earn the maximum points possible.

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Through my own discretion I will provide you with a detailed progress report if I feel one
should be brought to your attention. These reports are designed to let you know where you
stand and what you may need to do if you are dissatisfied with your grade. Your parent or
guardian must sign an acknowledgment stating they have review your progress report.

Certain assignments are weighted more than others.

Your overall grade will be calculated using the following grade divisions:

Projects (research paper, lengthy essays, etc.) = 25%

Chapter and/or Unit Tests (prearranged assessments) = 25%
Quizzes (pop quizzes, questions on readings, etc.) = 20%
Homework (reading, work not finished in class, etc.) = 15%
Class work/skills (discussions, group work, behavior, etc) = 15%

The standard grading scale will be used to calculate your letter grade:

5 pts. Added at
A = 90-100% B = 80-89% C = 70-79% F = 69 and below End of Course For
% Passing Grades
(Honors Only)

Classroom Guidelines and Repercussions

Our class will follow the same rules, guidelines, etiquette, etc. as the school. We
will refer to the school’s Code of Conduct to gain a higher understanding of
theses expectations. Our class, however, will maintain its own set of guidelines to
ensure our ability to meet our class objectives. These “Requirements,
Expectations and Class Rules” are detailed on the following page.

Failure to abide to our classroom etiquette will result in the following actions:

First Time: Warning (Either written or verbal)

Second Time: Discussion Outside of Class (either during or after class)
Third Time: Detention and/or call home
Fourth Time: Additional Detention, Call home, and Requested Conference with
Parent
Fifth Time: Referral to AP

*Severity Clause:
If a student’s action is severe enough, it will immediately result in a referral to the AP.

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Requirements, Expectations and Class Rules:
1. All students are required to submit their work on time. Students who encounter an
emergency that prevents them from submitting their work on time are required to
discuss the matter with me in advance, if at all possible, or to notify me through
email at [email protected]. Students who submit late work without
advance permission will be penalized. For each weekday their work is late, the grade
will be reduced by a letter grade.
No work will be accepted more than a week late without prior arrangement.

2. Work should be submitted to me in person, during our class time (not through e-mail
or in through my school mailbox), unless previously arranged.

3. Students are expected to keep up with the material presented in class regardless of
whether they miss a day. If you know ahead of time that you will be absent, it is a
good idea to arrange with someone else to take notes and obtain assignments during
your absentness.

4. Punctuality is not only important, but expected. By arriving late, you cause a
distraction for everybody. By doing so repeatedly you are likely to annoy me, which
will lead to disciplinary actions.

5. Drinks and Food are acceptable, however, the moment it becomes distracting your
privileges will be revoked. Do not share your food and/or drinks during class. You are
responsible for your food and/or drink and must clean up prior to leaving the
classroom. Noticeable traces of food and/or drink after you have left the classroom
will result in the entire class losing their food and drink privileges.

6. Students are expected to behave themselves in a way that shows courtesy and
respect to me, the classroom and their fellow students. They are expected to be
attentive and respectful. Language or behavior that demeans or harasses other
students will not be tolerated.

7. Plagiarism and cheating will not be tolerated. Plagiarism is the use of the
ideas, organization, or words of another writer without giving proper credit. Students
must produce their own, original work for this course. Any student found to have
committed a serious act of plagiarism will fail the course and face school punishment.
I take this requirement very seriously and I actively hunt for plagiarism. If I catch you,
I will not care about any excuses you may have. Don't plagiarize! Trust me, it's not
worth the risk.

8. PLEASE BE AWARE: Life does not exist in a vacuum. Rules and regulations
to the class are subject to face amendments upon unforeseen proceedings
during the class year. The U.S. Constitution has the ability to amend itself
during the courses of events, as do our rules.

9. The Golden Rule – Treat others as you want to be treated.

The golden rule has roots in a wide range of world cultures and is well suited to be a
standard to which different cultures appeal in resolving conflicts. Our world in our
classroom is no different. To apply the golden rule adequately, we need knowledge
and imagination. We need to know what effect our actions have on the lives of
others. And we need to be able to imagine ourselves, vividly and accurately, in the
other person's place on the receiving end of the action.

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 * The three-ringed binder will be your class notebook. You must bring your
notebook with you everyday to class. There will be “pop” notebook checks as
well as a quarterly notebook grade.

** The five tabbed dividers are for your notebook. The five sections are:
1. Notes (should be filled with blank notebook paper)
2. Maps (periodic maps corresponding with lessons)
3. Hand-outs & Worksheets (material supporting our lessons)
4. Tests & Quizzes (Use these to study for the exams, which will be
cumulative)
5. Projects, Papers, Essays, and various research

Signatures of Agreement
Return this page to Coach Wolski with signatures no later than August 13th for a bonus.

I have read and understand the information contained in Coach Wolski’s Syllabus.

____________________________________________ ____________________
Print Student Name Class Period

____________________________________________ ____________________
Student Signature Date

____________________________________________ ____________________
Print Parent/Guardian Name Date

____________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature