This document provides an overview of an AP World History course. It explains that the AP course examines world history from a global perspective rather than a Eurocentric view. The course covers 5 regions and 6 time periods, analyzing history through 5 themes. It describes the format of the AP exam, including multiple choice and essay questions. Resources for exam preparation are provided. The document emphasizes that the course requires hard work to learn a significant amount of material in preparation for the rigorous AP exam.

1. Welcome to AP World History
Mr. Rock
SHS 2013-2014

2. What is the AP
(Advanced Placement)?
• The AP, or Advanced Placement,
indicates a college-level course. Through
college-level coursework and exams,
students can earn college credit by taking
the AP Exam.
• The AP Exam is given at the end of the
year and depending on your grade and the
university you attend, your test score can
count for college credit.

3. Why take the AP?
• You can get a head-start on
college!
• If you pass the AP Exam, you
won’t have to take or pay (and
college is expensive) for the
courses you’ve taken.
• It looks great on college
applications.
• You will gain skills that will
help you be successful in
college.

4. What should I expect this year in
AP World History?
• Expect to work incredibly hard.
• Expect to improve your writing skills and
sharpen your problem-solving techniques.
• Expect to engage in intense discussions, solve
problems collaboratively, and learn to write
clearly and persuasively.
• Expect to learn test-taking strategies that will
help you be successful on the AP Exam.
• Expect to learn… A LOT.

5. What does the AP Test look like?
• Three hours and five minutes
• 70 multiple choice questions
– Worth 50% of the AP Exam grade
– 55 minutes long
• 3 essay questions
– Worth 50% of the AP Exam grade
1. DBQ- Document Based Essay Question
– 50 minutes long
2. Continuity and Change Over Time Essay
– 40 minutes long
3. Comparative Essay
– 40 minutes long
• The AP World History Exam will take place on Thursday, May 15th
2014

6. Where can I find good resources to
prepare for this course?
• collegeboard.com website
– Find World History under Courses and Exams
– Here you can find outlines, sample questions,
past essay questions and scoring guidelines

7. What are good study guides I can find?
• Buy this as soon as possible!

8. Also…
• This course will be your primary resource to
passing the AP Exam. However, I cannot cover
it all, so you must read your book.
• There are many good resources outside of this
class. Many of them you can get for free by
simply going on the internet.
• You can also purchase many test guides at
Barnes and Noble or amazon.com.

9. AP World History
1) Course was created in an effort to look at the world
as an interrelated system, rather than looking at how
Europe imposes itself upon the rest of the world (Euro-
centric)
2) Follows current historical scholarship
3) Examines 5 different geographical regions, 6
different time periods, and 5 different themes (SPICE)
4) Focuses more on comparisons, connections, trends,
themes rather than details and rote memorization

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Five Regions
1)Americas 2) Africa 3) Europe 4) Asia 5) Oceania
Each region will be 20% of the course

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Time Periods
1) 8,000 BCE – 600 BCE
1) 600 BCE – 600 CE
1) 600 CE – 1450 CE
1) 1450 CE – 1750 CE
1) 1750 CE – 1900
1) 1900 - present
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4
Unit 5

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SPICE Themes
1) Social
Gender, family, race, ethnicity, classes
1) Political
Governance, empires, nations, revolts and revolutions
1) Interactions with the environment
Disease, migration, settlements, technology
1) Cultural
Religion, philosophies, science, arts, architecture
1) Economic
Agriculture, production, trade, commerce, labor, industry

13. In conclusion…
• Please remember that we will be working
hard this year.
• You will need to devote a lot of your time
to your homework and to studying outside
of this class.
• The AP Exam is 287 days away! We have
a lot of work to do until then.
• Any questions?

14. About Mr. Rock
• From Scottsbluff
• Graduate of SHS, 2000
• Doane College 2004 and 2006
• B.A. in Criminology and History
• M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction
• Men’s Soccer Coach at SHS

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I have read the basic requirements for this course and fully understand that these
requirements must be completed in order to receive credit for this course.
Student Signature_______________________________________________
Date__________
Parent/Guardian Signature________________________________________

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