   
Modern World
History 8
Content:
Modern World History 8 focuses on the history of three
regions: the Middle East, Europe, and East Asia. In addition to studying
the basic social, political, and economic changes that have shaped the
history of these regions, you will read historical literature related to the
region in order to better understand the contexts surrounding these
changes. Research projects form another major component of the course.
Each trimester you will submit a full-length research paper including note
cards, bibliography, citations, outline, first draft, and a final draft.
Specific research projects include the Person of the Century Project, which
focuses on the most significant person of the twentieth century (political
leader, artist, etc.). Throughout the year, you will be encouraged to
address the issue of American Exceptionalism. In other words, how does
America’s development measure up to the development of other nations?
Finally, you will be required to maintain a social science vocabulary list
of relevant terms in your spiral notebook.
Textbook: World Cultures: A Global Mosaic
(Pearson/Prentice Hall 2004)
Historical Literature/Fiction:
Middle East: Kiss the Dust by Elizabeth Laird
Europe: Animal Farm by George Orwell and All
But My Life by Gerda Klein
East Asia: Red Scarf Girl by Ji-Li Jiang
Upfront Magazine (New York Times)
Goals:
The primary goals of this class will focus on
increasing your overall knowledge of modern world issues (past and present)
and developing a sense of empathy for different individuals and cultures.
Skills:
You should expect to develop such skills as reading
comprehension, writing, note taking, analyzing information, synthesizing
information, making predictions, and researching.
Expectations:
Since you will be called on in class during our
discussions, you should anticipate spending about 20-30 minutes each
night preparing for class.
Grading:
- Homework [20%]: Homework assignments will be
checked both at random and on test days. You will
start every trimester with a homework grade of 100. However, five points
will be deducted for every incomplete homework assignment. In addition to
this, homework assignments will be collected from time to time and graded
for quality. Homework must be legible.
- Class Participation [20%]: Positive
participation that contributes to the class’s overall understanding of a
topic or issue.
- Quizzes [20%]: Quizzes (announced and
unannounced) will be given throughout the year.
- Tests [20%]: You will take written tests
periodically. These will be announced at least one week in advance.
- Written Work [20%]: Written assignments
(essays and research papers) will be assigned periodically. These
assignments will be evaluated both in terms of content and form.
Student Materials:
Spiral Notebook (200 pages)
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