Ninth grade students this year who are enrolled in AP World History for next year attended a meeting on May 27, 2010. They discussed the course and were given the summer assignment. Over the summer the students are expected to read the first three chapters of the textbook and take specific outline notes over them.

This assignment will be due on the first day of school, and will be the first major grade of the year, so if a student decides not to do it, they will be starting the year off with a failing grade. Coach Hjort, says that “Usually about 90% of the students will actually do the assignment, and the other 10% will have to complete it, along with all the other work they will be assigned.” The same goes for any students joining it last minute, although they will have around three weeks to complete it.

The class is open to any student wishing to join, and the test at the end of the year will be for college credit. However, the class is hard work and the student must be willing to take on that commitment. Coach Hjort said “I expect all the Pre-AP world geography kids to take AP world, however in reality I know they all won’t. I think they should because sophomore year is the only year with one AP [class] all the other years you have multiple AP [classes].”

“The assignment introduces the students to the foundations of world history, and teaches them how we take notes,” said Coach Hjort. Coach Hjort taught AP World History this year, but next year he will be moving up with the sophomores to AP US History. Next year, the AP World History teachers will be Ms. Palazzolo and Ms. Howard. While both are currently World Geography teachers, they will be moving up as well.

AP world might be a challenging class, but it is definitely worth the effort. Coach Hjort says that “Everyone should take AP world, at least if they plan on going to college.”