|
AP
European History |
Online for 2011-2012 School Year
We have two sections, a new section taught by Meghan Bishop Paher and the other by Gloria Harrison.
Teacher: Meghan Paher
Email: paherhistory@gmail.com
Texts Required: Main text Western Civilization
Since 1300, by J. J. Spielvogel, 6th edition,
and three other texts. Cost of textbooks may be about $150, depending on
which you editions you get and whether they are new or used.
Tech Needs: Full internet access.
Class Fees
Early Bird
Registration: $615
After July 1: $635
Who should apply: Highly motivated homeschooled students
in grades 10 to 12 in the 2011-2012 school year.
Students must be avid readers and writers with a love of learning and
strong interest in history, and who enjoy an academic challenge. As with
all history classes, AP European History will require very large amounts of
reading and writing, as well as regular class discussion and interaction on the
website. Students must have advanced reading and writing skills and must
be prepared to spend 10-12 hours minimum per week on this course.
Students considering a college major or minor in history are encouraged
to apply; I will be glad to help them prepare for their future studies and
offer career guidance.
Class
Description: This
course prepares students for the AP European History exam in May 2012,
covering the social, economic, cultural, intellectual, political, and
diplomatic history of
Parents are
encouraged to check the website regularly and be involved. I send out
weekly assignment emails, a midyear progress report, and a final progress
report to parents, which includes a final letter grade based on the student’s
class work. After the exam, the student
will receive an AP score which, if high enough, will give them college credit.
The progress reports and grades will be very useful to show evaluators and
include in a portfolio.
The class will begin
Registration: Click the link to access an
application for this class. Please email me with any questions, or if you
cannot access the application. Class size is limited and there will be
summer reading assignments, so sign up early!
Instructor
Qualifications:
M.A. in History,
B.A. in History,
In addition to
holding two degrees in history, I've worked for a number of historic sites,
museums, and historic institutions, including the Indiana Historical Society,
the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana,
Class Philosophy: "For young students, history
comes alive when we concentrate on the end of the word: hiSTORY."
So said Jane Yolen, historic
fiction author, during an interview in 2002. I agree with Yolen, and history as a great story has been my teaching
philosophy with students ages kindergarten through retirement. I believe
history should be fun! It has always been one of my loves, and I enjoy sparking
a similar love of history in my students. In addition to readings and
essays, my course includes a number of creative assignments. My goal is to make this class a fun and
memorable experience for my students!
In spite of the fun,
however, this is a difficult, fast-paced, college-level course. I
expect my students to work hard and invest a large amount time and energy in
their studies—at minimum 10 to 12 hours per week. If you are not willing work hard and go above
and beyond, please do not apply. Students who do not participate in extra credit work, going
above and beyond the requirements, are not likely to do well.
Some material
discussed in brief sections of the textbooks may be considered immoral or
objectionable. Although this is a secular class, I am a New Testament
Christian and will not give writing assignments on potentially offensive
topics. If for some reason students or parents do object on moral grounds
to a certain reading or assignment, we will find an alternative.
Click here to
read class reviews from participants in this class
Click here to download an application for this section
Instructor: Mrs. Gloria Harrison, harrison220@juno.com
Tuition Fees: Early Bird Special $630 if paid by July 1st. After that date, regular fee $660.
Registration Deadline:
Who should apply: Homeschooled students in grades 10-12,
who are avid and mature readers, have advanced writing skills and a strong
passion for history. Academic performance
must be well above average, as substantiated by standardized tests scores, such
as
Texts Required: Main text Western
Civilization Since 1300, by J. J. Spielvogel, 6th edition. Two other books required, as well as optional
texts. These books will be described in more detail in the application form.
Cost of textbooks may run from $100 to $150, depending on whether they are new
or used. It is fairly easy to find good secondhand copies online.
Technical Requirements: High-speed Internet access. Computer and printer both in peak working condition. Anti-virus program required. Latest version of free Adobe Acrobat Reader, easily downloaded from the Internet. Scanner highly recommended.
The class is very intense and fast paced. Students and their parents must understand
that the reading and writing component is significant. Students will also be expected to use outside
sources as well as their textbooks: movies, novels, biographies, and Internet
research. They will be submitting two or
three essays a month, as well as taking weekly multiple-choice tests. Students should NOT apply unless they are
extremely self-motivated, hard-working, and have both the time and the
willingness to spend about 12 hours a week on the class. They will be expected to actively participate
in the class through regular discussion on the website. The class website is highly interactive (rating: 3) with a message board, links
to history sites, quizzes, etc.
Class Meeting Time: Students do not "meet" at a scheduled time, but
all homework is due by Friday evening via an online checklist. Although the basic syllabus is posted online,
I send out detailed emails on Fridays with the assignments for the following
week.
Class description: A study of the social, economic, cultural,
intellectual, political, and diplomatic history of
The class lasts 34 weeks
(not counting a three-week Christmas break, during which there will be a reading assignment)
and begins
General Objectives of the Class:
·
to develop a knowledge
of European history from the Late Middle Ages to the present
·
to develop an
appreciation of the cultural traditions of Western Civilization
·
to analyze
relationships in European political, social, economic and intellectual issues
·
to understand the
consequences of European contacts with other cultures
·
to analyze and interpret
primary and secondary historical sources
·
to develop skills in
written and verbal historical analysis
Instructor
qualifications: This will be my 11th
year teaching this class online. I have participated
in a workshop for AP European History teachers, and am on the AP European
History teachers' list-serve. My
teaching experience also includes homeschooling my four children for 24 years,
running the Homeschoolers Geography Club from 1995 to 2001, creating and
maintaining during three years a Geography enrichment website for
homeschoolers, and giving French lessons.
My background is, to put it mildly, very international. My father was Portuguese, my mother from
My approach to the class: This is a secular class. All textbooks appropriate for AP European History have material which students and/or parents might find offensive, particularly from a religious or political viewpoint. I consider myself a Christian, and I will not ask students to write essays on these or other topics which might be deemed inappropriate, nor will my exams contain questions on these topics. I will not require my students to watch R-rated movies or read 'racy' novels. I approach the class from a relatively conservative point-of-view, but due to my 60 years of globe-trotting, and my European background, I tend to view the world from a broader perspective. Even so, I do not seek to enforce my own opinions. In turn, students should feel free to express theirs, while always being respectful of others' religious or political views, even if those views don't agree with theirs. I monitor the class website and reserve the right to caution any student whose postings may unintentionally offend others. I believe that careful reading and study of historical texts with an open mind can help to better understand the world we live in and God's plan for it.
Click here to read class reviews from former participants in Gloria Harrison’s class
Return to the PA
HOMESCHOOLERS® Home Page
Return to the
AP Internet Classes Home Page