Social Studies Department

Diana Bonneville	Matt Wohl	Seth Hersch

This course covers the same historical periods and issues as the standard World Beginnings course, but each unit includes a greater degree of depth of study and academic rigor.  Particular emphasis is placed upon the development of proficient reading, writing, and speaking skills through challenging assignments, in-depth class discussions, and student projects, including persuasive essays, research projects, debates, and presentations.  In addition to the readings from the assigned test (World History: The Human Experience by Farah and Karls), students will be expected to read, analyze, discuss, and write about a wide variety of primary and secondary sources such as: The Koran, Summa Theologila by St. Thomas Aquinas, A Letter to Boccaccio: Literary Humanism by Francesco Petrarch, Justification by Faith by Martin Luther, A Philosophical Dictionary by Voltaire

402 WORLD BEGINNINGS
Prerequisite: Grade 9 requirement
1.0 credit

This comprehensive course, which follows the recommendations of the Massachusetts History and Social Science Frameworks for the 9th grade curriculum, begins with a review of the major contributions of ancient Greece and Rome, and then examines the major historical developments which took place in Europe, Asia, Pre-Columbian America, and Africa between 500 and 1800 AD.  Relevant political, economic, social, and cultural issues are explored in each unit.  Special emphasis is placed on the development of academic abilities, critical thinking skills, and essay writing.  Students will be expected to complete regularly assigned homework and a variety of projects (such as persuasive essays, debates, and presentations) which will provide them with the opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge and skills they have acquired.
Assigned Text: World History: The Human Experience by Farah and Karls

438 HONORS MODERN WORLD
Prerequisite: Grade 10 requirement - teacher recommendation
1.0 credit

This course covers the same historical periods and issues as the standard Modern World course, but each unit includes a greater degree of depth of study and academic rigor.  Particular emphasis is placed upon the development of proficient reading, writing, and speaking skills through challenging assignments, in-depth class discussions, and student projects, including persuasive essays, research projects, debates, and presentations.  In addition to the readings from the assigned text (World History: The Human Experience by Farah and Karls), students will be expected to read, analyze, discuss, and write about a wide variety of primary and secondary sources such as: An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith,  Manifesto of the Communist Party by Kari Marx and Friedrich Engels, The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin, Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler.

437 MODERN WORLD
Prerequisite: Grade 10 requirement
1.0 credit

This comprehensive course, which follows the recommendations of the Massachusetts History and Social Science Frameworks for the 10th grade curriculum, begins with a review of the major historical events and issues of the early modern era (1500 to 1800 AD), and then examines the important historical developments which have taken place throughout the world during the past 200 years.  Each unit explores relevant political, economic, social and cultural issues, and special emphasis is placed on the development of academic abilities, essay writing, and critical thinking skills.  Students will be expected to complete regularly assigned homework and a variety of projects (such as persuasive essays, debates, and presentations) which will provide them with the opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge and skills they have acquired.
Assigned text: World History: The Human Experience by Farah and Karls.
 

405 ADVANCED PLACEMENT UNITED STATES HISTORY
Prerequisite: Grades 11 & 12 - Teacher recommendation/mandatory reading and essay sample
1.0 credit

This rigorous and challenging course is the equivalent to a college-level introductory class and is recommended for those students who are truly motivated.  This narrative of United States history, beginning with the Age of Exploration, will explore our nation’s history both chronologically and thematically.  An examination of the political, social, cultural, economic, geographic, and intellectual forces that shaped our country’s history will be explored in depth.  Particular emphasis will be placed on the development of critical reading, writing and speaking skills through challenging assignments, in-depth class discussions, and student projects, including persuasive essays, research papers, debates, projects, and presentations.  Students will be expected to read, discuss, analyze, and write about a wide variety of primary and secondary sources including: The American Pagent  by Thomas Bailey; A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn; The Strange Career of Jim Crow  by C. Vann Woodward; Since Yesterday  by Fredrick Lewis Allen; The Founding Father’s Federalist Papers; The Constitution of the United States; Gettysburg Address  by Abraham Lincoln; and Letter From a Birmingham Jail  by Martin Luther King.

In May, students will be eligible to take Advanced Placement examinations.  Depending on the level of performance, students may be eligible for advanced placement at the college level or college credit.  In order to prepare students for this goal, additional learning opportunities will be provided.

413 UNITED STATES HISTORY
Prerequisite: Grade 11 requirement
1.0 credit

This comprehensive course which follows the recommendations of the Massachusetts History and Social Science Frameworks, emphasizes the major political, social, economic, and historical development from Reconstruction to the present time.  Important themes such as tolerance, equity, and societal improvement are incorporated in the study.  Particular emphasis is placed upon the development of proficient reading, writing, and speaking skills through challenging assignments, in-depth class discussions, and student projects, including persuasive essays, research projects, debates, and presentations.  Students will use a variety of primary and secondary sources including: A History of the United States by Daniel Boorstin; A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn; The Birth of a Nation by: D.W.Griffith; The Jungle by Upton Sinclair; Bury the Dead by Irwin Shaw; and The Good War by Studs Terkel.

406 ADVANCED PLACEMENT EUROPEAN HISTORY
Next offered during the 2001-2002 school year
Prerequisite: Grades 11 & 12
Teacher recommendation/mandatory reading and essay sample
1.0 credit

This rigorous and challenging course is equivalent to a college level introductory course and is recommended for those students who are truly motivated.  Emphasis is on the general narrative of European history from 1450 to the present.  The study also includes an examination of the political, diplomatic, intellectual, cultural, social, and economic  factors that have shaped the history of Europe.  Students will analyze themes using factual knowledge in modern European history and trace developments in a particular category through several chronological periods.  Particular emphasis will be placed on the development of critical reading, writing and speaking skills through challenging assignments, in-depth class discussions, and student projects, including persuasive essays, research papers, debates, projects, and presentation.

Students will be expected to read, discuss, analyze, and write about a wide variety of primary and secondary sources including: A History of the Modern World  by Palmer and Colton; The Prince  by Machiavelli; The Courtier by Castiglione;  Mein Kampf  by Adolf Hitler, 95 Thesis  by Martin Luther, Two Treatises of Government  by John Locke, Leviathan  by Thomas Hobbes, Discourse on Method by Descartes, Mother Russia on a New Course by Mike Edwards.
 

In May, students will be eligible to take Advanced Placement examinations.  Depending on the level of performance, students may be eligible for advanced placement at the college level or college credit.  In order to prepare students for this goal, additional learning opportunities will be provided.
 

417 POST-WAR AMERICA
Prerequisites: Grades 11 & 12
1.0 credits

This course examines selected themes in post-second world war American history, and serves as a capstone course in American history, as recommended by the Massachusetts History and Social Science Frameworks.  A social history approach is taken by examining how peoples’ lives, behaviors, ideas, and institutions made and shaped who we are as individuals and as a society.  Students are expected to read, write, and think substantially; participate in research assignments of their own choosing; and present their findings in written and spoken forums.  In addition to the readings from assigned texts, students will be expected to read, analyze, discuss, and write about a wide variety of primary and secondary sources including: A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn; Pinky  by Llya Kazan; The Eyes on the Prize Reader; Born on the Fourth of July  by Ron Kovic; and A History of Women in America  by Carol Hymowitz.
 

404 BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE
Prerequisite: Grade 11 or 12 status
1.0 credit

This course approaches the behavioral sciences through the study of psychology, sociology, and social history.  This course starts with the very beginnings of life, infancy and childhood, and proceeds to adolescence, adulthood and old age.  Personality theory, stress and health psychology, abnormal psychology, as well as therapeutic models of remedy and recovery are closely examined.  The practical application of these topics will be emphasized.  Students are expected to exhibit effort while actively engaging in individual and cooperative projects, reading and writing assignments, observations, and presentations.

Assigned text: Psychology: An Introduction  by Charles Morris.
 

422 CONTEMPORARY INTERNATIONAL PROBLEMS
Prerequisite: Grade 11 or 12 status
1.0 credit

This course offers students the opportunity to study many of the major problems which face the world today.  The course takes a geographic approach, focusing on the root causes and current status of issues such as the search for peace in the Middle East, environmental degradation in Latin America, the transition to free-market democracy in eastern Europe, and the economic opportunities which lay in the far east.  Class activities and instructional methods will combine lectures, discussions, debates, persuasive essays, and student presentations.  Instructional materials will include up-to-date video presentations, newspapers, magazine articles, and relevant scholarly texts.
 
 

421 CRIMINOLOGY: JUSTICE, SOCIETY, AND LAW
Prerequisite: Grade 11 or 12 status
1.0 credit

This course is designed to provide students with an examination of the past, the present, and the future of the American system of criminal justice by examining various methods of thinking about crime and the effectiveness of traditional and community policing, law reforms and the criminal court system.  Class activities and instructional methods will combine lectures, discussions, debates, persuasive essays, student presentations, and field trips.  Instructional materials will include video presentations, magazine articles, and relevant texts (Criminal Justice; The Last Victim  by Jason Moss; A Rage To Kill  by Ann Rule).