AP European History


Mr. Vogt
Autumn 2009
Parkway North High School
e-mail: bvogt@pkwy.k12.mo.us
Phone: 314-415-5659

Course Description:

This will be a rigorous course investigating the emergence of the ideas and institutions which shaped the modern world. Students will develop and demonstrate a knowledge of basic chronology, intellectual history and an understanding of the major events, themes and trends from the late Middle Ages to the recent past. Together we will investigate the cultural, political, artistic, economic and social developments that played a fundamental role in shaping the world in which we live. Taking the AP exam will be optional. However, the function of the class is to prepare students to take the examination in the spring.

Primary Themes – From the College Board themselves
1. Intellectual and Cultural History

  • Changes in religious thought and institutions
  • Secularization of learning and culture
  • Scientific and technological developments and their consequences
  • Major trends in literature and the arts
  • Intellectual and cultural developments and their relationship to social values and political events
  • Developments in social, economic, and political thought
  • Developments in literacy, education, and communication
  • The diffusion of new intellectual concepts among different social groups
  • Changes in elite and popular culture, such as the development of new attitudes toward religion, the family, work, and ritual
  • Impact of global expansion on European culture
2. Political and Diplomatic History
  • The rise and functioning of the modern state in its various forms
  • Relations between Europe and other parts of the world: colonialism, imperialism, decolonization, and global interdependence
  • The evolution of political elites and the development of political parties and ideologies
  • The extension and limitation of rights and liberties (personal, civic, economic, and political); majority and minority political persecutions
  • The growth and changing forms of nationalism
  • Forms of political protest, reform, and revolution
  • Relationship between domestic and foreign policies
  • Efforts to restrain conflict: treaties, balance-of-power diplomacy, and international organizations
  • War and civil conflict: origins, developments, technology, and their consequences
3. Social and Economic History
  • The character of and changes in agricultural production and organization
  • The role of urbanization in transforming cultural values and social relationships
  • The influence of sanitation and health care practices on society; food supply, diet, famine, disease, and their impact
  • The development of commercial practices, patterns of mass production and consumption, and their economic and social impact
  • Changing definitions and attitudes toward mainstream groups and groups characterized as "the other"
  • The origins, development, and consequences of industrialization
  • Changes in the demographic structure of Europe, their causes and consequences
  • Gender roles and their influence on work, social structure, family structure, and interest group formation
  • The growth of competition and interdependence in national and world markets
  • Private and state roles in economic activity
  • Development of racial and ethnic group identities
Environment:

This class will be a community of people dedicated to learning. I am always learning with you and as such think more of myself as a senior scholar joined by my students in a quest for knowledge and truth. You are expected to approach the class as though this were a collaborative effort on all of our parts to make this class the best that it can be. In order to jointly pursue our goals we must have deep respect for each other. I think that this class can provide all of us with a rare opportunity to create an intellectual haven in which we all feel comfortable and which will enrich all of our lives both personal and academic. I have many things planned for this course. However, none of this will be possible if you do not assist in this project. I take my studies seriously and expect that you will do so as well this year. I promise that each of you will be rewarded for the time and dedication you put forth in this class.

Expectations:

All students are expected to:
  • Be respectful to the instructor and to their fellow students.
  • Maintain good attendance and to arrive to class on time.
  • Keep up with all of the readings.
  • Turn in all work on time and completed to the best of your ability.

Course requirements: (These are subject to change if necessary)
  • Complete daily readings from the text and the handouts.
  • Complete weekly writing assignments (1-2 pages).
  • Participate frequently in class discussions/debates.
  • Complete all projects on time.
  • Complete a research paper due towards the start of the spring semester.
  • Complete the reading of books outside of the class in addition to your text

Grading Scale:

H -------------------------------------------- 96 – 100
A -------------------------------------------- 90 – 96
B -------------------------------------------- 80 – 89
C -------------------------------------------- 70 – 79
D -------------------------------------------- 60 – 69
F --------------------------------------------- Below 60%

Requirements for an H:

You must have a 96% or above in the class. You must also participate regularly in class discussions, debate and trials. There will be no extra paper this year. Only your outstanding work will qualify you for an H. The person who wishes to receive an H must also exemplify the positive characteristics of a scholar. This person should be diligent in his/her studies, of course, but also assist in shaping a positive learning environment. They must aid in fostering a class environment in which people are free to question and learn. This is at the discretion of the instructor.

The TEST!

The AP European History Test will be administered on 7 May 2010 in the afternoon session. This class will work to prepare you for the test. However, given the breadth of the information covered on the test successful performance will be determined by individual student effort. If you plan to take the test you should plan to begin your work immediately. Work with that goal in mind throughout the year and you will be well prepared for the exam. I am always here to help you should you have questions or need extra assistance.

Given that this class is oriented toward preparing you for a final culminating exam experience, every student will take a final comprehensive exam in May. This exam will follow several weeks of review for the AP examination. All students should prepare for this exam.

Athens and the Islands Trip:

It is traditional part of the AP European History experience that the class take a trip to Europe to see the many places we will have studied. This class will be no different. Our trip this year will be to Athens, Crete and the Greek Islands. This is an amazing trip in which we will be able to experience the lands of Homer, Plato, Aristotle and more! We will get to see the Parthenon, Knossos, Delphi, Rhodes and more. I do hope that most of you will try to take advantage of this incredible learning experience. I believe that this will be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life.


Books for the Year:

We will be reading several books together during the course of the year. I do expect that you will be prepared by procuring copies from the library or a bookstore. I imagine that you will all want to have your own copies in which to write and take notes.

Marlowe - Faust
 Mann’s – Doctor Faustus: The Life of the German Composer Adrian Leverkuhn

I will assign other choices for independent reading as the semester proceeds.
We will announce in class when you should begin reading each of these.

Late Work:
Late work will be accepted the following class period only for a 20% reduction in your grade for that assignment. After this, you may turn it in and I may enjoy reading it, but I will not grade it.

You are all expected to keep a notebook dedicated to this class. I will look at them periodically in order to assess it as part of your grade – be diligent about this as this will make your life easier as we approach the AP examination.