World Studies - World Literature & World History

Instructor: Nancy Hale, Stacy Newsom Kerr
Length of Course: 1 Year

Curricular Map (PDF)

Overall Course Description:
World Studies class is project based so that you will be an active part of the curriculum. As a classroom of learners, we will delve into the driving question of why people behave the way they do, all over the world. Our focus is on understanding the cultures and histories that make us unique, and the individual experiences that unite us in our humanity.

This class is designed so that both the English and History components are interconnected in the projects and is based upon the standards established by the state of California . You will receive a grade for English and a grade for History on your transcripts, but your gradebook will be for the class “World Studies” and your two grades in your transcript will be the same.

World Studies Course Description:
Why do we try to understand the past in the first place? What patterns do we see in global events? We believe we must try to understand the historic world cultures in order to be able to make sense of how people interact with one another today. Factors such as religious differences and histories of exploitation drive how people choose to react to one another in the modern world. Here in the United States , whether we like it or not, we are connected to people all around the world through the products we buy, the wars we fight and the rich cultural diversity of our own population.

During the school year we will cover history, culture and literature from around the world beginning in the late 1700s (with a quick leap back to Ancient Greece and Rome ) through the 20th century. Our focus will be on the history and literature of Europe, Africa, the Americas and Asia .

It may be hard to believe, but much of what we will cover in class has had a direct impact on the United States and on you. You might ask, “What does Commodore Perry's forcing Japan to open itself up to the rest of the world have to do with me?” Consider that Perry's action was the first step that led to Japan becoming a fully industrialized nation in less than half a century and, ultimately, led to the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

Course Texts:
We will be using the Prentice Hall's textbook World History Connections to Today: Modern Era and Fran Claggett's The Daybooks of Critical Reading and Writing . We will be reading: Antigone by Sophocles, Night by Elie Wiesel, All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Marie Remarque, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, as well as many student-selected, teacher- guided novels and memoirs.

Course Films:
During the year we will be watching several narrative films as well as documentaries that are related to the topics that we will cover in class.

Grading:
Your grade in this class will be divided amongst the following learning outcomes. Each project will evaluate your proficiency in several of these areas.

• 20% Work Ethic
• 25% History Content
• 25% English Content
• 5% Collaboration
• 5% Citizenship and Ethics
• 10% Written Communication
• 10% Oral Communication

Course Expectations:
Each student is expected to arrive on time and prepared for class. Every class will begin with silent independent reading. You must bring a book to read, a writing instrument, a notebook (or loose binder paper), the required literary text, and any required assignments.

If you have an excused absence, it is your responsibility to look at the course calendar and make up any missed assignments or tests in a timely manner. (See late work policy.)

It is also an expectation that we will treat one another with respect and foster a positive learning environment in which every student feels comfortable sharing his or her ideas with the class.

Late Work Policy
As a rule, you should try to speak with Ms. Hale or Ms. Stacy in advance if you are going to be unable to meet a deadline. We are more likely to give you an extension on an assignment if you show a good faith effort and come to us with problems early on.

Assignments that are critical to the completion of a final project must be turned in on time, and presentations may only be made up with independent written assignments in the case of an excused absence.

Other assignments will lose 20% of the work ethic points for each day the assignment is late. To receive any credit for work, it must be handed in within a week of the due date except in the case of excused absences. Assignments that do not include a work ethic grade will not be accepted late unless you have an excused absence.

If you have an excused absence, you will be given an extra day for each day absent to complete the work. However, if work was due on the date of your absence, and was assigned prior to your absence, it is expected that the work will be turned in on the day you return to class.