**I apologize for the long post in advance**
My school is implementing AP World History: Modern for the 2026-2027 school year and I am a first time teacher of AP World History: Modern course. I am currently navigating the syllabus approval process and I have had my syllabus rejected. For context, I used the OER Project’s AP World History: Modern course syllabus that is posted on the web page and it was rejected. Here is the feedback that I received and the three areas that I need to "fix"...
Curricular Requirement 5:
The course provides opportunities for students to develop Historical Thinking Skill 2: Sourcing and Situation, as outlined in the AP Course and Exam Description (CED).
Required Evidence:
The syllabus must describe at least one activity in which students analyze a scholarly secondary source for at least one of the following features: author’s point of view, author’s purpose, audience, and historical situation. The syllabus must cite (author and title) or describe the secondary source used for the activity.
At least one activity must be labeled with Skill 2.
Note: If sourcing acronyms are used (e.g., SOAPSTone), they must be defined at least once in the syllabus.
Rating: Insufficient Evidence
Rationale: At least one activity in which students analyze a secondary source for at least one feature must be described.
Curricular Requirement 9:
The course provides opportunities for students to develop Historical Thinking Skill 6: Argumentation, as outlined in the AP Course and Exam Description (CED).
Required Evidence:
The syllabus must describe at least two activities (including at least one essay) in which students do all of the following:
- Make a historically defensible claim;
- Support an argument using specific and relevant evidence;
- Use historical reasoning to explain relationships among pieces of historical evidence; and
- Corroborate, qualify, or modify an argument using diverse and alternative evidence in order to develop a complex argument.
The activities must be labeled with Skill 6.
Rating: Insufficient Evidence
Rationale: The syllabus must describe at least two activities (including at least one essay) in which students do all of the following: Make a historically defensible claim; Support an argument using specific and relevant evidence; Use historical reasoning to explain relationships among pieces of historical evidence; and Corroborate, qualify, or modify an argument using diverse and alternative evidence in order to develop a complex argument. The activities must be labeled with Skill 6.
In addition to the curricular requirement(s) above, the reviewers had to make significant assumptions about the items listed below. Although not required please keep in mind that strengthening the evidence in your course document for each of these curricular requirements will assist us in expediting your final review.
Curricular Requirement 6:
The course provides opportunities for students to develop Historical Thinking Skill 3: Claims and Evidence in Sources, as outlined in the AP Course and Exam Description (CED).
I know it is a busy time of year for people but any help this group could provide would be greatly appreciated!
