Revised due dates

Since we don't have school tomorrow (Monday), may not have it Tuesday, and don't have class Wednesday (it's a B day), I've revised your due dates as follows to account for any potential power outages, and to allow you enough time to get your assignments done (and done WELL!):

On Thursday 11/1, your site visit project is due, as is your battlefield news report.
Have the webquest on early Americans and organizer (timeline or pyramid) done by Friday 11/2.
Your American Revolution test will be Wednesday 11/7

webquest directions

Please be aware of all the due dates this week (see last post):

Here's the link to the document with the webquest directions.  Please do this first; then, using the remaining time to work on your battle project.

Due the week of 10/22-10/26 and 10/29-11/2

Due Tuesday 10/23:  Declaration of Independence (read and answer the questions that accompany it, except question 6) and read and takes 1.5 pages of notes on pages 124-131.
If you need it, you may find the Declaration assignment here.  

Due Wednesday 10/24:  2 pages of notes on pages 131-141

Due Thursday:  advantages/disadvantages organizer (3 points for each box) based on your reading of "The Crisis" and 1776 excerpts

Due Monday 10/29:  in-class news presentation based on a battle or area of battle

Due Tuesday 10/30 (note the changes from Monday):  site visit project.  You also need to bring your completed webquest about the revolutionary era people to class Tuesday.

Your American Revolution test will be Friday 11/2.  It will cover chapter 4 in Brinkley and about 1/2 of chapter 5 (up to page 141).  Study questions are here:

American Revolution study questions are below.  Remember that you need to be able to substantiate your answer to each question with supporting facts/details. 

1. What characteristics define the American identity as it began to emerge in the 18^th century?  How did the formation of an American identity play a role in the revolution?
2. What were the main causes and results of the 18^th century wars for empire in North America?  (Focus especially on the French and Indian War)?
3. How did the British government (and Britons themselves) view the colonies and their inhabitants?  What effects did this have on the relationship between the colonies and the mother country? 
4. What natural rights did the colonists believe they had, and why did they believe they had them?  In what ways were they violated?  How did they react to these perceived violations? 
5. Why did Boston become a focal point for revolution? 
6. Who were the key players (people) in the revolution, and what impact did they have?  How were many of them prototypical early Americans?
7. What did key primary source documents and images created during the period attempt to do?  What do they reveal about the colonists’ motives and attitudes?  
8. Why was George Washington a good choice to lead the Continental Army?  
9. At the war’s beginning, which side seemed most likely to win?
10. What military (and overall) strategies did each side use to try to win the war? 
11. How was colonial morale at various points in the war?  What were the highest and lowest points? 
12. How did the road to and the course of revolution play out different in the northern, middle and southern colonies, respectively? 
13. Was the revolution inevitable? (What key events lined the “road to revolution?”) 
14. How would you interpret the major themes of U.S. history (U.S. is vs. are, liberty vs. security and the meaning of freedom) in the context of this period?  (The first theme is especially significant)

due dates for the week of 10/15-10/19

Here is a description of the American Revolution site visit project, and here is the Google doc in which you need to sign up.

Due Monday 10/15:  human rights assignment (see below)
Due Thursday 10/18:  notes on pages 108-115
Due Friday 10/19:  notes on pages 115-123

The American Revolution:  Human rights current event assignment

Just as we’re beginning to study the rights the American colonists believed they had (and were then denied) prior to the American revolution, the goal of this assignment is to make you more aware of human rights issues around the world today.

For this assignment, you need to find an article from within the past year that highlights a human rights issue anywhere in the world.  This might be a political rights issue, not something more basic (such as lack of food, water, shelter, etc., unless there’s a political component to that deficit).  Choose an article that is long and “meaty” enough for you to form an opinion about it. 

Please read the article and write a 1-2 page, typed and double-spaced response that addresses the following:

1.      Provide a brief summary of the article (1 paragraph is sufficient)

2.      Briefly explain why you chose it

3.      What does it make you realize about your life as an American living in the U.S. today?

4.      What do you think the purpose of this assignment was? (There are multiple right answers—be thoughtful!)

Additional notes:

·         Please organize your response effectively.  It does not need to be an essay, but should also not be a really long paragraph. 

·         You do not need to include the article, but do mention the title and source/publication info in your response. 

·         Grading will be based on the thoughtfulness of the article choice, the thoughtfulness of your response, and the fluidity and clarity of your writing. 

Out of 10 points; due Monday 10/12

due next week (Tuesday 10/9-10/12)

Due next week:

Answers to the Crevecoeur reading are due Wednesday 10/10.  The reading is here and the questions you need to answer (either print them or copy them into your notebook) are as follows:

1.  According to Crevecoeur, what characteristics do Americans possess?  Why do they possess these traits (what experiences have helped form them)?  Provide several examples from the reading as evidence.

2.  According to Crevecoeur, how are Americans different from Europeans, and how is life in America distinctly different from life in Europe?

3.  This piece was written in 1780, but could it have been written earlier than 1780? Are the traits described the same as those Americans possess today?  Explain:  

We'll be moving on to chapter 4 in Brinkley:  for Friday 10/12, please read pages 98-107 (the first two pages of the chapter, with the timeline and image of the Boston Massacre, are included in this, so definitely pay attention to them).  Please read carefully and be very mindful of detail in this chapter and the next.

Presidential debate extra credit

For up to 5 points of extra credit, please watch at least 10 minutes of the presidential debate tonight and respond to the following prompt in about 1 typed double spaced page that is *well organized* (not one gigantic paragraph):  

Focus on one issue or two specific issues the candidates are asked about.  Did the candidates' responses to the question(s) or position they presented on the issue(s) influence your support for them?  (Did each of the candidates' responses change your opinions of them?).  Explain.  

Due in class tomorrow (Thursday 10/4)