HOTA Course Syllabus - Sunny Hills High School

IB History of the Americas
Syllabus and Course Requirements
Mr. Weinreich
Email: cweinreich@fjuhsd.net
Phone: (714) 626-4307
INTRODUCTION:
Together, IB History of the Americas (HOTA) and AP US History (APUSH) fulfill the HL History course
requirements for the International Baccalaureate Program in 20 th Century Global Studies. This course is an
accelerated and intensive study of selected 20 th Century world history topics that include
the causes, practices, and effects of wars;
independence movements and the challenges of nation-building;
the emergence of the Americas in global affairs;
the rise and rule of single-party states;
the Cold War.
This course is also designed to provide you with the analytical skills and factual knowledge necessary to deal
critically with the problems and materials found throughout the history. Basic historical, economical,
geographical, social, and political knowledge and concepts as well as critical thinking and reasoning skills
are emphasized. This course will enable you to understand:
history as a discipline, including the nature and diversity of its sources, methods and interpretations;
the present through critical reflection on the past;
one’s own historical identity through the study of the historical experiences of different cultures;
the impact of historical developments at national, regional and international levels;
the way in which learning is relevant to both the culture in which the student lives, and the culture of
other societies.
THE I.B. EXAM:
The focus of this course will be on preparing you to take the I.B. Exam in History in May. While the exam is
not mandatory, all students are strongly encouraged to take the exam. The exam consists of:
A. Part One (20%) – Document Analysis.
You will have three topics to choose from. You must choose one topic and answer all questions for
that topic. The topics are
Peacemaking and Peacekeeping (1918 – 1936)
Arab–Israeli Conflict (1945 – 1979)
Communism in Crisis (1976 – 1989)
B. Part Two (25%) – Five Topics.
You must select two different topics and answer one question each. The Topics are
Causes, Practices, and Effects of War
Democratic States: Challenges and Responses
Origins and Development of Single Party States
Nationalists and Independence Movements post-1945 in Central and Eastern Europe
The Cold War
C. Part Three (35%) – Twenty-Four Questions.
Answer three out of the twenty-four questions which all deal with the Americas.
This is where your APUSH comes in handy.
D. Part Four (20%) – Internal Assessment.
2,000 word paper

COURSE MATERIALS:
TEXTBOOKS:
1. Mastering Modern World History (4 th edition) by Norman Lowe
2. Modern Latin America (6 th edition) by Thomas Skidmore and Peter Smith
3. Other supplemental readings as assigned.
SUGGESTED MATERIALS:
3-Ring loose-leaf notebook with plenty of white, college ruled paper and room to keep everything
from class – do not throw anything away!
blue or black ink pens
#2 pencils
textbook and any other supplemental reading materials
RECOMMENDED MATERIALS:
1. A quality preparation guide for the IB History exam such as
IB Diploma Course Companion: 20th Century World History by Oxford University Press
IB Diploma Course Companion: History of the Americas by Oxford University Press
Pearson Baccalaureate: History: Causes, Practices and Effects of Wars for the IB Diploma by Kelly
Rogers & Jo Thomas
Pearson Baccalaureate: History: The Cold War by Kelly Rogers & Jo Thomas
Pearson Baccalaureate: History: 20th Century World - Authoritarian and Single Party States by
Brian Mimmack, Daniela Senes, & Eunice Price
Pearson Baccalaureate: History: A Comprehensive Guide to Paper One by Brian Mimmack,
Daniela Senes, & Eunice Price
2. Supplemental history books covering topics we will discuss such as:
Paris 1919 by Margaret MacMillan (The Treaty of Versailles)
The Legacy of the Great War, Peacemaking, 1919 by William R. Keylor (settlement of WWI)
A People’s History of the United States 1492-Present by Howard Zinn (social history of US)
A History of Latin America by Benjamin Keen & Keith Haynes (Latin American survey)
The Cold War by Michael Dockrill & Michael Hopkins (a survey of 1945-1991)
There are tons of other options as well!
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Homework – Homework will be assigned daily. It is your responsibility to
keep up with required reading assignments! Reading your textbooks is
essential to success in this class. Students planning on receiving an A or B
in this class as well as passing marks on the IB Exam (this should be
everyone!) should plan on spending at least a half hour of reading nightly.
2. Quizzes and Essays – Reading quizzes on assigned readings will be given
weekly. There will also be at least three in-class essays at the end of major
units. In addition, there will also be a comprehensive final exam at the end
of each semester. Finally, your Internal Assessment will be due at the
beginning of February.
3. Class Participation – Your participation grade is subjective and is based on the quality and number of
responses made during discussion, as well as student interaction and attentiveness to your tasks. A
positive attitude, respectful demeanor, and appropriate manners are required at all times. Absences of
any kind will negatively affect your participation grade – if you are not here, you cannot participate!

4. Grading – Your grade will be based on the points you receive for everything you do in and out of class:
quizzes, homework, classwork, essays, and class participation. My grading scale looks like this:
100-98% = A+, 97-93% = A, 92-90% = A-
89-88% = B+, 87-83% = B, 82-80% = B-
79-78% = C+, 77-73% = C, 72-70% = C-
69-68% = D+, 67-63% = D, 62-60% = D-
59 AND BELOW = F
5. Missed Assignments/Exams – I do NOT accept ANY late work except in the case of an excused absence!
YOU are responsible for all work missed during your absence. All make-ups will be done at my
convenience. You have the same amount of time you were absent to make up your missed assignments
(i.e. if you were absent two days, then you have two days to make up the work). If you only missed the
day of a quiz you must be prepared to make up that quiz on the day you return.
6. Academic Honesty - CHEATING OF ANY KIND WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE DISIPLINARY ACTION!
7. Miscellaneous – In addition to following all classroom rules listed here, you are expected to follow all
school procedures regarding absences, tardies, school property, and electronic devices as outlined in
your Student Handbook.
CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS:
In order to maintain a safe and suitable learning environment, I expect the following classroom behavior
from each of you:
Respect the teacher and other students.
Listen to others and the teacher.
Use polite language and behavior.
Be in class, be on time, be prepared.
Follow all directions the first time.
Stay on task – do not disrupt the class.
No food, drinks, or gum in class.
Try hard, be creative, and give your best effort.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE – I LOOK FORWARD TO A GREAT YEAR!

Classroom Policy Agreement
By signing you name below, you are indicating that you have read the
preceding class policy and that you understand and support the requirements
of taking IB History of the Americas, including the time commitment for
coursework as well as subsequent preparation and financial commitment to
take the IB Test, and that you will assume all the responsibilities of being a
student (or parent of a student) in this class.
If you have any questions about my classroom policies, please do not hesitate
to contact me.
Sign, date, and return this form tomorrow.
_______________________ ________
Student Name Period
_______________________ ________
Student Signature Date
_______________________ ________
Parent/Guardian Signature Date

History of the Americas:
Unit and Testing Information
I. Units
A. World War I
B. Versailles and the Depression (1918-1936)
C. World War II
D. Latin America
1. Colonization to Independance
2. Mexico
a. Mexican Revolution (100 years of chaos)
b. Independence – Hidalgo
c. Civil War
d. Mexican Revolution (1910–1940)
e. Constitution of 1917
3. Brazil (Independence)
4. Argentina
a. Independence
b. De Rosa
c. Immigration
d. Peron
5. Cuba
a. Independence
b. Machado
c. Batista
d. Castro
6. Malvinas (Falklands) War 1982
7. Nicaraguan Revolution (1976–1979)
E. China
1. Mao
2. Deng Xiaoping (Hua Guofeng and the Gang of Four)
F. Cold War
1. Wartime Conferences
2. Truman (Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan, NATO, Berlin, etc.)
3. Korean War
4. Eisenhower
5. Vietnam
6. Soviets (Warsaw, Comecon, Khrushchev, Gorbachev, Glasnost, etc.)
G. Review
We will spend two to three weeks reviewing for the IB test in late April.

II. The IB Test
A. Part One (20%) – Document Analysis.
You will have three topics to choose from. You must choose one topic and
answer all questions for that topic. The topics are
Peacemaking and Peacekeeping (1918 – 1936)
Arab – Israeli Conflict (1945 – 1979)
Communism in Crisis (1976 – 1989)
B. Part Two (25%) – Five Topics.
You must select two different topics and answer one question each. The Topics
are
Causes, Practices, and Effects of War
Democratic States: Challenges and Responses
Origins and Development of Single Party States
Nationalists and Independence Movements post-1945 in Central
and Eastern Europe
The Cold War
C. Part Three (35%) – Twenty-Four Questions.
Answer three out of the twenty-four questions which all deal with
the Americas.
This is where your APUSH comes in handy.
D. Part Four (20%) – Internal Assessment.
2,000 word paper