Course Syllabus

Faculty

Ms. Warner

Course Description

AP European History focuses on developing students’ abilities to think conceptually about European history from approximately 1450 to the present and apply historical thinking skills as they learn about the past. Five themes of equal importance — interaction of Europe and the world, poverty and prosperity, objective knowledge and subjective visions, states and other institutions of power, and individual and society — provide areas of historical inquiry for investigation throughout the course. These require students to reason historically about continuity and change over time and make comparisons among various historical developments in different times and places.

Instructional Aims

• Students will investigate significant events, individuals, developments, and processes from approximately 1450 to the present.
• Students will develop and use the same skills, practices, and methods employed by historians: analyzing primary and secondary sources; developing historical arguments; making historical connections; and utilizing reasoning about comparison, causation, and continuity and change over time.
• Students will explore seven themes throughout the course and will make connections among historical developments in different times and places: interaction of Europe and the world, economic and commercial development, cultural and intellectual development, states and other institutions of power, social organization and development, national and European identity, and technological and scientific innovations.

Learning Outcomes

Assessment and Evaluation

Assessment of student learning is divided into tools of assessment (what is used to assess student learning) and grades (the demonstrated level of achievement of student learning). The tools of assessment include discussions, group work, and document-based and free-response essays. Rubrics and assessment criteria will be provided to you on our Canvas page so that you can understand how your course marks have been generated. 

 

Prep work consists almost solely of readings from the Sherman (Western Civilization) source books, which will form the basis for our Harkness discussions. Optional background readings can be found Palmer, A History of the Modern World.

 

On most coursework you will be given written feedback. It is of critical importance this feedback is considered, as a number grade alone does not provide you enough information to understand your progress in this course. 

 

Note: You do have the option of writing the final AP European History Exam (released by the College Board) in early May. Whilst the AP exam is not compulsory, the curriculum is geared towards preparing all students for the exam. Only students who achieve 86% or higher in course work should consider writing this AP exam with any certainty of a score of 5/5 on the exam.  Performance on the exam, however, cannot be guaranteed to correlate to performance in this course. 

 

Plagiarism, cheating and other violations of expectations will be dealt with in accordance with the Academic Integrity Policy. Students are urged to be honest, when explaining late assignments or failure to complete work. Dishonesty is dishonesty. Be transparent and authentic in all communications with your teacher and fellow students.

First Peoples Principles

We would like to acknowledge that the land on which we gather is the unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We are honoured to live, work, and play on this land together.

 

As part of contribution to reconciliation, this course makes the following First Peoples Principles visible in class:

• Learning is embedded in memory, history, and story
• Learning requires the exploration of one’s identity
• Learning supports the well-being of the self, the family, the community, the land, the spirits, and the ancestors
• Learning involves recognizing the consequences of one’s actions

 

Literacy

Students will improve their comprehension of the course content by completing an extensive amount of reading throughout the year. Certain readings will provide necessary historical context while other readings will require students to critically analyze and evaluate arguments and claims made in primary and secondary sources, while making connections across different time periods throughout European History. Students will be expected to demonstrate their learning through both oral and written communication. Through this process, students will receive feedback on their comprehension, analysis, and communication in order to hone these literacy skills as the year progresses. 

 

Resources

• Textbooks: Palmer, R.R. A History of the Modern World and Sherman, Denis ed. Western Civilization (vols I and II).

Course Expectations

• Assignments are to be completed on-time and submitted directly to Canvas for feedback/grading. All assignment deadlines, details, and rubrics are on Canvas.
• This course requires a great deal of independent reading that needs to be completed outside of class hours. The expectation is that you arrive to each lesson having already read the assigned page numbers/articles in order to contribute to all activities in an informed and productive way.
• Conduct yourself in a manner conducive to supporting the expected tone and purpose of each class and activity. This is not a class of soloists, but colleagues. Many of our lessons are centered around discussion and as such, it is important that you actively contribute and listen when your classmates are sharing.
• This is a student-centered course. Students are expected to maintain collegiality, be active and engaged (not passive), be fully prepared for all discussions and tasks and committed to maintaining a highly disciplined, focused and supportive attitude conducive to learning European History.
• Never disrupt other students’ opportunity to learn by straying from the expectations. Misusing computers and/or mobile phones is considered distracting and not collegial.
• No mobile phones may be used during class time. They must be switched off and not consulted. All students are expected to act in accordance with the school’s technology policy at all times.

Contacting Me

As this will be a fast-paced course, I am certain there will be many occasions when you will need to discuss concerns and/or topics with me. I may be contacted in the following ways:

• in person in my office in the back of room 106
• a note placed by another staff member in my mailbox in the staffroom
• school voice mail
• email awarner@stgeorges.bc.ca

 

The excuse that you were "unable to find me" or "contact me" will not be accepted.