due the weeks of 9/24-9/28 and 10/1 to 10/5

Please remember that you have guided reading due Monday 9/24 on chapter 3 (see earlier post).

Due tomorrow (Tuesday 9/25):  Please complete the "mysteries of history" reading and summarize the article in 5-6 bullet points, all of which should aim to answer the question posed in the article title.

Due Friday 9/28:  one fact that supports an argument for one of the mock town meeting warrant articles (to be explained in class on Tuesday).  Here are the warrant articles we'll discuss, and here's the overview of town meeting I gave you in class (if you read this document, disregard the warrant articles at the end, since we're changing them

Due Tuesday 10/2:  your colonies project.  Here's the project description I shared with you in class last week.

Due on Wednesday 10/3:  you will have a set of short documents to read, annotate and analyze in preparation for class discussion.  (I'll give these out on Tuesday 9/25 in class).

On Friday 10/5, I will be testing you on Brinkley chapters 1-3.  Test format:  part 1 will consist of objective questions (likely multiple choice) and part 2 will be a written response section.  Here are some questions to help you review (you need to be able to answer them thoroughly and with ample, significant, relevant supporting details):

Exploration and Colonization Study Questions:

1. What defined the cultures of the native peoples of the Americas? 
2. The Europeans who encountered natives of the Americas viewed them as uncivilized – is this a fair analysis? 
3. What motivated explorers in the age of exploration?  What were the various motivations for colonization, from both the perspective of the colonists and the monarchies of Europe that promoted colonization?
4. How did the colonies of the various colonial powers differ?  What distinctive features and traits did colonies have, both individually and by region?  (Focus especially on the English colonies)
5. What successes and failures did the early colonists experience?  (Was colonization of North America a success or a failure overall?)
6. How would you characterize native/colonial relations and interactions?
7. What themes or trends emerged that would define the future American republic? 
8. How would you interpret the three themes of early American history (US is vs. are, liberty vs. security, meaning of freedom) in the context of this period?  

Extra credit opportunity -- due Wednesday 10/3 (note the change from Tuesday)

Some of you  have raised some very thoughtful questions already this year...many of which I haven't had a very clear answer to!  So, for extra credit, you may choose to research an answer yourself.  Please provide a 1-1.5 page typed, double-spaced, well-organized response that clearly states the question/topic of research, provides an answer and lists (and briefly describe) the sources used.  Please consult at least 3 sources.  Also, be prepared to share your findings with the class on a date to be determined.

The first opportunity to do this must be based on something from the age of exploration or colonial settlement in the Americas, and needs to be completed by Wednesday October 3rd (note the change from Tuesday--you may have the extra day to do this if you want, since we won't be able to talk about it in class until Wednesday anyway).  I'll give you 5 extra points for a write-up/short presentation that meets the criteria above.      

readings for next week (9/18-9/21) and Monday 9/24

Please remember your notes for tomorrow (see previous post).
Due next week:

p. 33-45 for Tuesday 9/18
p. 45-54 for Thursday 9/20
p. 56-63 for Friday 9/21

Please remember the rule of thumb of taking 1 page (one sided) of handwritten notes for every five pages of reading.

Due Monday 9/24
In lieu of notes on chapter 3, please complete this guided reading sheet instead.  You may choose to print it or copy the prompts into your notebook.  This will count as two homeworks (10 points).  Please be thorough in your answers (which can be in note/bullet point form rather than sentences).

Due Thursday and Friday

For Thursday 9/13, please read pages 3-22 in the Brinkley book and create a timeline of events based on the reading.  The events you choose can be specific or related to more general periods (i.e. you don't need a specific date for each event--some may be more general time periods, which is fine).  The items you choose to include should reflect the larger themes and trends of the reading, so please explain what happened and how it's significant.

For Friday 9/14, please read pages 23-30 (to the end of the chapter) and take 1.5-2 pages of handwritten notes.  Really focus well on what you're reading--the settlement of the Americas is an important topic.

due Tuesday 9/11 and Thursday 9/14

For tomorrow (Tuesday), please remember to bring a thoughtful and relevant prop for your skit.  You'll have about 15 minutes at the start of class to finish up writing your skits before you present them.

For Thursday, please read pages 3-23 in the Brinkley text and create a timeline of 10 key events from the chapter.  These can be specific dates or more general if there's something you think you should include but can't find a specific date for it.  For each event, record the name of the event, its date, a brief summary and its significance (what larger themes or ideas does it reflect?).  I'll give you a template timeline in class tomorrow (Tuesday), but you can also just make your own on a piece of notebook paper if you're looking to get started tonight.

first 2 homework assignments - due Monday 9/10

Due Monday 9/10:

Assignment 1:  Please read chapter 1 in the red book (the Enduring Vision) and
1.  Take three pages of handwritten notes based on the reading.  This is a general guideline you will be following for the year (1 page of handwritten notes for every 5 pages of reading in the textbook), unless I tell you otherwise.
2.  Also, after you've read, please write down what you consider five key themes or "big ideas" in the chapter.  These need to be phrased as full sentences.
3.  Please return the book to me on Monday.
This will count as a double homework assignment (10 points total).

Assignment 2:  please read over and have your parents sign the syllabus, and return the smaller sheet with the signatures to me on Monday 9/10.  This assignment is worth 5 points.

For those of you who are curious about where those monuments/locations in the slideshow are located, here's the PowerPoint I showed you with the answers.

class syllabus

Here it is for future reference.

Note to members of last year's class:  I'm reusing this blog address, so you'll probably want to "unfollow" this blog.  Otherwise, you'll continue to get alerts when I update the blog.