Course Descriptions

Students in grade ten study major turning points that shaped the modern world, from the late eighteenth century through the present, including the causes and course of the two world wars. They trace the rise of democratic ideas and develop an understanding of the historical roots of current world issues, especially as they pertain to international relations. Students relate current world issues to their historical, geographic, political, economic, and cultural contexts. Students consider multiple accounts of events in order to understand international relations from a variety of perspectives. Finally, students use their knowledge of history and current events to advocate for a country on a particular issue at the 10th grade Model United Nations.

Essential Concepts/Skills

Students will complete document-based essay assignments, which will develop social science analysis and reading skills. Digital literacy is also a part of the course; students will navigate popular media to determine source reliability, create presentations and graphs/charts, and research using up-to- date international sources. Additionally, the state of California emphasizes these skills for history classes:

• Students will compare, analyze and use data to develop chronological and spatial thinking.
• Students will distinguish between types of evidence, identify bias and points of view, evaluate arguments in history, and construct and test hypotheses through historical research and evidence collection.
• Students will improve their ability to interpret historical events, specifically cause and effect.
  
  

Major Units

FALL SEMESTER
Three Modern Revolutions: U.K., U.S., and French Revolution 1789 [10.1 and 10.2] Includes document-based questions, essay practice
Industrial Revolution, Imperialism [California State Standards 10.3 and 10.4]
Review of Imperialism and World War I - causes and events [10.4 and 10.5]
First Semester Final: DBQ-based essay test

SPRING SEMESTER
Effects of World War I and Rise of Totalitarian Governments [10.6 and 10.7] Timed essay (DBQ) practice
World War II—causes and events [10.8]
The Cold War and International Tensions in a Post-Colonial World [10.9 and 10.10]
Cumulative Final: A full-day Model United Nations conference as the cumulative final project