Social Studies Department

Essential Knowledge and Skills

Advanced Placement European History is college-level course in European history, which covers the period from the Renaissance (c.1400) to the present day, and includes a brief overview of Ancient and Medieval European civilization. It is meant to prepare students to take the Advanced Placement Examination in European History which is given in early May by the College Board; students will take the exam at Judge. Students will study the European/western past by examining primary and secondary sources; they will be exposed to political, intellectual, and social history of the period, and will improve their reading and writing skills. All students who take Advanced Placement European History are expected to take the Advanced Placement examination. The course may be taken by sophomores, as their 10th grade Social Studies credit or by juniors and seniors as additional Social Studies elective.

Indicators of Student Learning

Upon the completion of this course, students will:

Content

• Gain knowledge about European Political-Diplomatic History, including the areas of nation-states, nationalism, colonialism, imperialism, etc.

• Understand the major issues concerning Social and Economic History, including wealth, agriculture, commercial economy and commerce, urbanization, industrialization, demographics, family and gender, race and ethnicity.

• Know the major movements in European Cultural and Intellectual History, for example trends in religion and secularization, science and technology, literature, art, music.

Communication

• Learn to read and utilize a textbook and to read primary and secondary sources in a critical manner.

• Learn to write more analytically and express themselves clearly when analyzing historical events.

• Write effective and evaluate them using AP rubrics.

• Synthesize information to answer questions, solve problems, and communicate ideas about European history.

• Develop a comprehensive written and oral vocabulary of people, places, and events in European history.

• Share ideas and information in small groups and general class discussion.

Technology

• Use a word processor to produce essays.

• Evaluate how different sources of technology convey messages and influence perception.

Assessment

Upon the completion of this course, students will:

• Do their best on the Advanced Placement European History Examination, and on examinations throughout the year.

• Demonstrate their ability to read analytically through daily work in their notebooks, which will include notes from nightly reading assignments.

• Show their ability to write analytically by producing essays both FRQ (Free Response Questions) and DBQ (Document Based Questions) based on actual Advanced Placement Examination questions, throughout the course.