This is the first course in a two-course sequence. This AP study of European history since 1300 introduces students to economic, cultural, social and political developments. These developments played a fundamental role in shaping the world in which they live. The Advanced Placement course in European History is designed to provide students with the factual knowledge and analytical skills necessary to understand and evaluate the evolution of European history from approximately 1450 to the present.
The course is divided into 8 modules that focus on the intellectual and cultural, political and diplomatic, and social and economic developments in Europe, examining these themes as they interconnect and show changes over time in European history. Analysis of primary source material, including readings, maps, art, cartoons, graphs, and charts, is a vital aspect of the course. The significance of varying viewpoints and interpretations of a variety of episodes and issues will introduce students to historiography and the evaluation of historical evidence. Statistical analysis is included as appropriate. Each module will provide students the opportunity to prepare for the AP exam at the end of the course. Students will participate in class discussion that includes thought-provoking questions that will prepare students for the short answer section of the exam. Students will also complete document-based questions (DBQs) and free-response questions in each module. Each assignment is designed to have students think deeply about the topics discussed and analyze primary and secondary documents thoughtfully and analytically.
The course will also utilize the AP Classroom practice activities at the College Board site to maximize the AP Exam preparation experience. Course does not include the AP Exam; students can contact their school’s AP Coordinator or the College Board to sign up to take the Exam. There are required due dates in AP courses. The pacing of due dates in AP courses aligns to the completion of all lessons and required assignments and assessments prior to the national AP exam date related to this course title. This course requires purchase of a textbook.
Prerequisites: None
Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to...
- Analyze events based on various points of view
- Examine historical themes as they interconnect and show changes over time in European history
- Identify and explain historical developments and processes
- Analyze sourcing and situation of primary and secondary sources
- Analyze arguments in primary and secondary sources
- Analyze the context of historical events, developments, or processes
- Use historical reasoning processes (comparison, causation, continuity and change) analyze patterns and connections between and among historical developments and processes.
- Develop an argument that supports an historically defensible claim with specific and relevant evidence, as well as historical reasoning to explain relationships among select evidence
- Compose academic writing in conformance with AP Exam scoring criteria
Course Outline:
Unit 1: Late Middle Ages, Renaissance, Reformation, Age of Religious Wars (AP Units 1, 2)
Unit 2: Consolidation of Thought, Culture, Society, and Economy 16-18th Century (AP Units 1, 2, 3)
Unit 3: The Age of Enlightenment, the French Revolution, Napoleon, and Romanticism (AP Units 3, 4, 5)
Unit 4: Conservative Order and Challenges of Reform, Economic Advance, and Social Unrest (AP Units 4, 5, 6)
Final Exam
Resources Included: Online lesson instruction and activities, opportunities to engage with a certified, online instructor and classmates, when appropriate, and online assessments to measure student performance of course objectives and readiness for subsequent academic pursuits.
Additional Costs: Western Heritage, since 1300 (12th edition, Pearson), by Donald Kagan. ISBN-13: 9780135260432; ISBN-10: 0135260434
Princeton Review AP European History Premium Prep, 2023 ISBN-13: 9780593450796; ISBN-10: 0593450795
Scoring System: Michigan Virtual does not assign letter grades, grant credit for courses, nor issue diplomas. A final score out of total points earned will be submitted to your school mentor for conversion to their own letter grading system.
Time Commitment: Semester sessions are 18-weeks long: Students must be able to spend 1 or more hours per day in the course to be successful. Summer sessions are 10 weeks long: Students must be able to spend a minimum of 2 or more hours per day, or about 90 hours during the summer, for the student to be successful in any course. Trimester sessions are 12-weeks long: Students must be able to spend 1.5 or more hours per day in the course to be successful.
Technology Requirements: Students will require a computer device with headphones, a microphone, webcam, up-to-date Chrome Web Browser, and access to YouTube.
Please review the Michigan Virtual Technology Requirements: https://michiganvirtual.org/about/support/knowledge-base/technical-requirements/
Instructor Support System: For technical issues within your course, contact the Customer Care Center by email at [email protected] or by phone at (888) 889-2840.
Instructor Contact Expectations: Students can use email or the private message system within the Student Learning Portal to access highly qualified teachers when they need instructor assistance. Students will also receive feedback on their work inside the learning management system. The Instructor Info area of their course may describe additional communication options.
Academic Support Available: In addition to access to a highly qualified, Michigan certified teacher, students have access to academic videos and outside resources verified by Michigan Virtual. For technical issues within the course, students can contact the Michigan Virtual Customer Care by email at [email protected] or by phone at (888) 889-2840.
Required Assessment: Online assessments consist of formative and summative assessments represented by computer-graded multiple choice, instructor-graded writing assignments including hands-on projects, model building and other forms of authentic assessments.
Technical Skills Needed: Basic technology skills necessary to locate and share information and files as well as interact with others in a Learning Management System (LMS), include the ability to:
- Download, edit, save, convert, and upload files
- Download and install software
- Use a messaging service similar to email
- Communicate with others in online discussion or message boards, following basic rules of netiquette
- Open attachments shared in messages
- Create, save, and submit files in commonly used word processing program formats and as a PDF
- Edit file share settings in cloud-based applications, such as Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides
- Save a file as a .pdf
- Copy and paste and format text using your mouse, keyboard, or an html editor’s toolbar menu
- Insert images or links into a file or html editor
- Search for information within a document using Ctrl+F or Command+F keyboard shortcuts
- Work in multiple browser windows and tabs simultaneously
- Activate a microphone or webcam on your device, and record and upload or link audio and/or video files
- Use presentation and graphics programs
- Follow an online pacing guide or calendar of due dates
- Use spell-check, citation editors, and tools commonly provided in word processing tool menus
- Create and maintain usernames and passwords
Additional Information: The official course descriptions for Advanced Placement courses and information about their exams are located on the College Board site at http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/courses/descriptions/index.html.
Michigan Virtual prepares students in AP courses for the AP exam, but does not offer the exam test itself. It is the responsibility of the school or parent to register for a local administration of the AP exam.
There are required due dates in AP courses. The pacing of due dates in AP courses aligns to the completion of all lessons and required assignments and assessments prior to the national AP exam date related to this course title. The calendar of AP exam dates is published by the College Board (Exam Calendar).