Global Studies Syllabus

Welcome to 8th grade Global Studies! This year will be all about studying the issues affecting countries around the world and the concept of globalization. We will be studying the world by region. Students will actively engage in the work of a geographer conducting research, using primary sources, and analyzing a variety of sources to make conclusions about events and issues around the world.

August Rules, procedures, expectations, and content overview September:

Skill - Using the internet and doing keyword searches, choosing a source based on credibility and readability, citing your sources

Theme: Rights and Responsibilities of Individuals Introduction to Global Studies Five themes of geography and Latitude and Longitude Culture Globalization Economics - Globalization and Development Political Systems Standard of Living October:
Skill - Using sources to fill out graphic organizers about an event with background, build up, main event, and impact, citing sources (cause and effect, critical thinking)

Theme: How groups cooperate to ensure individual rights. Latin America - Middle America Introducing the Realm Mexico Central America The Caribbean Tropical Cyclones South America Introducing the Realm Urban North and Andean West Brazil The Southern Cone

November:
Skill - Primary and Secondary sources - analyzing a primary source to better understand a topic (speeches, pictures, posters, letters, newspapers, etc.)

Theme: Human rights abuses. AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND Introducing the Realm Australia New Zealand THE PACIFIC AND ANTARCTICA

SUBSAHARAN AFRICA Introducing the Realm Human Geography of Subsaharan Africa December
Skill - Using Drive to share documents, keep a bibliography, save pictures, and write an essay.

Theme: The rights of citizens and the responsibilities of governments. (Subsaharan Africa continued) West Africa Central Africa East Africa Southern Africa

January: Theme: When rights and responsibilities of various groups are in conflict. NORTH AFRICA AND SOUTHWEST ASIA Introducing the Realm Muhammad and Islam North Africa and the African Transition Zone Israel and Its Neighbors Arabs, Islam, and Oil Iraq, Turkey, and Iran NHD - set up folders in drive as a class - nhd, subfolders of backgound, build up, event, impacts, bibliography, pictures and quotes, rough draft (no plagarizing) and regular classes - computers to research, gather info in subfolders, share all info with me (grading is based on a paragraph of what I have learned about my topic 10 points - information based on secondary sources) -write thesis, decide what else needs to be researched, focus on primary sources (grading is based on thesis 10 points) -more research - begin putting info into rough draft without plagarizing (grading is based on info in rough draft - there should be info in each category and it should be 500 words minimum - thats like 2 pages typed and double spaced. 20 points - content based grade, all components present (background, build up, thesis, event, impact) and the synthesis of at least 2 primary sources into the analysis) February: Central Asia and Afghanistan NHD -revise project, create final product with picks, quotes, and such.... -final project is due with bibliography and process paper and presentations - 50 points total New checklist: 1. poster - 500 words, 5 quotes, 10 pictures 2. documentary - 15 slides (500 words of script, 5 quotes, 10 pictures) 3. play - script must be 500 words, 5 quotes, describe props and have 10 pics you used that helped you decide on props 4. website - 5 pages, each with approx. 100 words, not including 5 required quotes and 2 pictures on each page 5. prezi (not eligible for contest) - 500 words, 5 quotes, 10 pictures organized as appropriate

March: Theme: Individual rights and responsibility to family. SOUTH ASIA Introducing the Realm The Peripheral States of South Asia Pakistan and Bangladesh India Religions of India and South Asia EAST ASIA Introducing the Realm Emerging China Chinas Periphery Japan and Korea (North and South)

SOUTHEAST ASIA Introducing the Realm The Mainland Countries The Insular Region (Islands of Southeast Asia) April: Theme: Government responsibilities. EUROPE Introducing the Realm Historical Development Patterns The European Union and Supranationalism Regions of Western Europe Eastern Europe RUSSIA Introducing the Realm The USSR and the Russian Federation Regions of Russia

May: NORTH AMERICA Introducing the Realm United States: Early Development and Globalization United States: Population and Religion Canada Regions of the United States and Canada
Both reading and writing skills will be stressed in this class. You will complete a variety of class work, conduct research for a National History Day project, engage in class discussions, and take lecture notes. Grades will be based on a point system. Assignments will be given a point value and your total will accumulate throughout the quarter. Grades will be given using the standard grade scale issued according to district policy.