Course & Instructor Information 
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| Instructor's Name: |
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Mr. Lazarewicz |
| Room: |
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LL6 |
| Email: |
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adam.lazarewicz@tusd1.org |
| Course Description: |
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Western Civilization provides a survey of the political, economic, social, and cultural history of the West from antiquity to the Middle Ages over the course of one semester. This course will address the origin and evolution of national and international stability and identity in ancient civilizations, and will analyze the development of institutions and ideas which continue to shape our society today. In addition, Western Civilization is geared to convey information about western culture and to provide an enriched experience in the study of European history. Students will learn to read and analyze primary documents, collaborate on historical research projects, and develop writing skills that will prepare them for AP European or World History.
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| Content Outline: |
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Unit 1: Classical Greece (1650 - 338 BCE) and the Hellenistic World (338 - 146 BCE)
Unit 2: The Roman Republic and Empire (750 - 44 BCE) and Late Antiquity (350 - 600 CE)
Unit 3: Europe in the Middle Ages (600 - 1300 BCE)
Each unit will include a research project/paper and will culminate with a Unit Exam.
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| Textbook: |
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McKay et al. A History of Western Society. Boston, MA: Houghton-Mifflin, 9th ed. 2008.
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| Website: |
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http://www.uhseport.net/published/A/La/ALazarewicz/collection/9/
The course website has resources such as class announcements, due dates, class handouts, primary source readings, a copy of this syllabus, and much more. Please bookmark this site on your computer and check in regularly.
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| Class Materials: |
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Three-ring binder
Loose-leaf lined paper (or a laptop) for notes
Pens and pencils
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Grading Procedure 
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| Grading Policy: |
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Your grade in this class will depend on your performance in 6 assessment areas: exams, quizzes, projects, homework assignments, Portfolio checks, and class participation. Each assessment will be worth a specified number of points (see below). At the end of each quarter, the number of points you earn will be divided by the total number of possible points to calculate your grade percentage. Letter grades will be determined according to the traditional scale below.
A: 90-100%
B: 80-89%
C: 70-79%
D: 60-69%
F: below 60
e.g. If you earn 285 out of 300 possible points, you will receive an A (285/300 = .95). If you earn 210 of the 300 points, you will receive a C (210/300 = .76).
***Extra credit may be given at the teacher’s discretion and will be offered to the entire class. Absolutely no individual extra credit will be assigned or accepted.***
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| Exams: |
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There will be four exams this semester: one after each unit of the course, plus a final exam. The exams will include material from the textbook, lectures, assignments, films, and class discussions.
Exams are worth 100 points each.
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| Quizzes: |
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There will be a quiz every Friday, unless announced otherwise. Quizzes will be on material covered in class and the textbook during that week.
Quizzes are worth 20 points each.
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| Projects: |
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There will be three projects this semester, corresponding with the three units of the course. Specific details of a project will be announced as we move through the matching unit.
Projects are worth 100 points each.
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| Homework Assignments: |
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We will do a variety of in-class assignments this year, several of which will be graded. If you miss one, please look it up online and turn it in during the next class period. There will also be a few assignments that you will complete at home.
Point values for in-class/homework assignments will vary, but will be announced in advance.
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| Portfolio Checks: |
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Every other week, I will check your Portfolio. Please see the “Portfolio” handout for additional information on requirements and grading.
Portfolio Checks are worth 10 points each.
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| Class Participation: |
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Student participation is critical to the success of this class. Being a good participant means not only engaging in class discussions, but also being an attentive and respectful member of the class. Keeping up with the reading is a key element of participation. Attendance and tardiness are also considered when assigning Class Participation grades (see below).
At the end of each quarter, each student will be assigned up to 20 points for class participation.
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Class Policies 
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| Attendance: |
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Students are expected to be present and on time for class. The TUSD and UHS 10 Absence policies will be enforced in this class. Specifically, any student with 10 or more unexcused absences must submit a petition to myself and also to the UHS administration in order to receive consideration for class credit.
In the event of excessive absences or excessive tardies, the student’s participation grade will drop. Attending class and being on time are critical pieces of Class Participation.
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| Classroom Behavior: |
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Any student caught cheating or plagiarizing will be awarded a zero for that exam, quiz, assignment, or project, and they will also be reported to UHS administration.
No electronic devices (cell phones, iPods, video games, etc.) are allowed in class, unless I specifically tell you otherwise. Any such devices being used during class will be confiscated until the end of the class period.
Please be respectful of your classmates by keeping talk during class to a minimum. There will not be assigned seats to begin the year, but this policy will change if students abuse the privilege.
Sleeping in class is unacceptable. Any student who sleeps in class will be referred for disciplinary action and/or examination by the school nurse. Sleeping in class is also an excellent way to lower your Class Participation grade.
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| Missed Work: |
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Keep up with class. It is YOUR responsibility to be up-to-date with course material, whether you are here or not. Be sure to get notes from a classmate for any classes you miss.
If you anticipate missing a quiz or exam, please let me know in advance so we can schedule a make-up.
***You may not schedule a make-up on the day of an exam or quiz, you must do so in advance.***
If you miss any quizzes, exams, or other assignments due to an unexpected absence, you are expected to make up the assignment during the next Monday/Tuesday conference period. If you do not show up and have not made other arrangements with me, you will receive a 0 for that assignment.
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| Extra Help: |
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This class covers a lot of material. I am available throughout the school year to address any questions or concerns that you may have. Please do not ever hesitate to come talk to me before or after class. I’m here to help you!
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| Disclaimer: |
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This syllabus is subject to change!
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