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https://sites.google.com/a/arlington.k12.ma.us/arabasz/home/u-s-history-h

Due Friday 9/15

Please read and take notes on pages 21-30.  Please be sure to read and follow the expectations for note-taking as outlined here.

First post of the 2017-18 school year

Welcome back! You can find the course syllabus (also given out in class on the first day) linked here.  Please remember to read and sign (and have a parent read and sign) the syllabus, complete the short technology survey at the end, and return the last page of the document with the signatures on or before the start of class Friday 9/8.

Due Monday 9/11: response to the first section of Brinkley chapter 1.

Civil War and Reconstruction chapters and articles

Choose one or more of these articles to peruse this period (Tuesday).

For your references:  here are the chapters on the Civil War (opening action through emancipation, life during the war and turning points, the end of the war) and Reconstruction and the Reconstruction primary sources from class.

Due dates for 5/31-6/9 and final project guidelines

Due Wednesday 5/31:  preliminary thesis and outline
Due Friday 6/2:  submit 3-5 internal/parenthetical citations you plan to use in the paper.  Include the full source information for each citation.  This step will count for 10 points, not the 20 indicated on the assignment sheet.
Due Tuesday 6/6:  first draft - peer editing in class - please be sure to bring a *printed copy* to class
Due Friday 6/9:  final draft  (you may want to try this method of targeted editing before completing your final draft)

If you missed the Old Hall work on Tuesday 5/30, here is the reading (read p. 338-56) and the organizer.

Here are the general guidelines for the final project.  More specific guidelines are below:
- Please remember that you need to create a product.  Be prepared to share your creation with the class during the scheduled final exam period.
-The final product will be your choice:  you may choose one of the options from the list, or come up with your own!
- You may work with a partner (from either my A or C block classes) or on your own.
- To show your understanding of the scope of U.S. history you learned this year, you will need to trace the theme by demonstrating how it manifested itself in 5-10 historical eras or events within the timeframe of the course (pre-Columbian America through the end of Reconstruction).  Since you did not have a project or test on the Civil War and Reconstruction, be sure to represent this period in your project.  Beyond that specific requirement, be sure that the other periods you select are varied (e.g. don't use four different examples from the Age of Jackson).
- You will have three periods of class time to work on this next week (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (long block) for A block; part of Tuesday's long block, Thursday, Friday and the following Monday for C block)
- If you can bring a device (laptop or tablet) to work with next week, please do so.

next unit reading and research paper due dates

You can find the two documents with the textbook reading for the next unit linked below.  You will have reading assignments due over the next few weeks, but never on the same days as a research step is due.

As a reminder, notes need to be your own, original, handwritten notes to receive credit for a notes check, or to be used on a reading check/quiz.  Remember to structure them by including headings, subheading and page numbers, and by underlining or otherwise highlighting key terms.

Chapter 9/Manifest Destiny and Chapter 10/The Union in Crisis
p. 297-304 due Tuesday 5/9 for C, Wednesday 5/10 for A
305-310 due Thursday 5/11 (both classes)
Preliminary works cited page due Friday 5/12 (both classes)
p. 311-315 due Monday 5/15 and p. 323-329 due Thursday 5/18 for C block
p. 311-315 and 323-329 due Thursday 5/18 for A block
p. 331-338 due Friday 5/19 (both classes)
p. 339-345 due Monday 5/22 for C block, Tuesday 5/23 for A block
p. 346-353 due Tuesday 5/23 for C block, Wednesday 5/24 for A block

C block:  5 kahoot questions (each with 1 right and 3 wrong answers) due by Wednesday 5/24 at 2:45

Multiple choice quiz with one very short (a few sentences) open-ended writing prompt on ch. 9 and 10 from the alternate textbook (Manifest Destiny and the Crisis of Union) on Friday 5/26 - plan on having work time for research papers following the quiz in class.
For review:
Here are the documents from the 1850's we looked at and analyzed in class.  The second to last document are the last words of John Brown.  The last document, the artwork Tragic Prelude, can be viewed in color here.
Also, you may find the last 15-20 minutes of America:  The Story of US "Westward" episode (from 32 minutes to the end) and the "Division" episode (30-43 minutes) to be helpful in your reviewing.
Here's the kahoot from class.

Preliminary thesis and outline due Wednesday 5/31 (C block:  since you do not have class on Wednesday, be sure to drop off your printed work to me in room 336 by the end of the day).

Oregon Trail link - please open in class when directed!

Research Paper Resources and America: Story of Us

Happy Wednesday everyone!

Here is a link to a folder on GoogleDrive that has a number of resources that will support you as you write your research papers. They address everything from formulating a working thesis to creating a works cited to polishing your final draft. Feel free to take a look and download anything that you think will be useful.  *Be aware that some requirements mentioned in these resources are for an A level class, and will be slightly different for H level (see the actual assignment description if you have questions).*

Here is the actual assignment description for A and C blocks.  Pre-search is due Monday 5/8 for C block and Tuesday 5/7 for A block.  The page of notes for this stage is *optional* and notes will not be collected for points (you can take notes, though, if you think they will help you).  The most important part is that you think seriously about a topic and read about it before we meet in the Media Center next week (Monday for C block, Tuesday for A) so you can make the best use of the time there.  Step 2 (works cited) will be due at the end of next week, to give you time to seek out sources from other places (e.g. the Robbins Library, or Minuteman Library Network in general) if you wish.

Also, here is the link to the America:  the Story of Us "Division" episode.  The relevant segment from this unit starts at the beginning and ends around 30 minutes into the clip.

reading for the next unit - A block

Happy vacation!  If you're looking to get ahead, here are the reading and outlining assignments that will be due in the weeks after break.  This reading is less dense than the Brinkley text, but please follow the typical guidelines for outlining:  1 page of handwritten notes per 5 pages of reading.  (But if you're looking just to relax and enjoy your vacation, you can do that, too!)

(From this document):
Due Wednesday 4/26:  p. 228-235
Due Thursday 4/27:  p. 236-245

(From this document):
Due Friday 4/28:  p. 267-273 (start at "New Religious Groups")
Due Tuesday:  finish the stations organizer based on these document stations: industry and transportation, the Erie Canal and immigration
Due Wednesday 5/3:  p. 274-277 and 286-291
Due Thursday 5/4:  p. 278-285

Reading Schedule - C Block

I hope that all of you are enjoying your spring break and making the most of the sunshine we've been having. I wanted to upload the readings that we will be using for the rest of our unit on Andrew Jackson just in case some of you want to work ahead.

Because this is the era that you will be writing your research paper on, Ms. Arabasz and I have decided that it will be best to pack the rest of the reading into our first few days back in session so that you can all have an overview of the period and a basic understanding of the assortment of topics you could choose to explore in your papers. As you read, keep this in mind and take note of anything that grabs your interest.

The readings are in two documents located here and here. I will hand out hard copies on Monday.

Due Tuesday, April 25: Pp. 228-235 (from the packet labelled "Industry")
Due Friday, April 28: Pp. 236-244 (from the packet labelled "Industry")
Due Monday, May 1: Pp. 267-273 (from the packet labelled "Slavery and Reforms; start at "New Religious Groups")
Due Tuesday, May 2: Pp. 274-277, 286-291 (from the packet labelled "Slavery and Reforms")
Due Thursday, May 4: Pp. 278-285 (from the packet labelled "Slavery and Reforms")

Stations: Andrew Jackson - Man of the People?

Hey all,

Happy spring break!

Here is a link to the various vignettes illustrating Jackson's life, values, and worldview that we looked at last week.

"Democracy and the Age of Jackson" chapter and organizer

Read the Jackson chapter handed out in class (you may also highlight the packet and make notes if you wish - it's yours to keep) and fill in the organizer (with good detail, and in lieu of notes) for Thursday 4/13 (both classes).

For A block: please open this link in class when directed:
Close-up of "Defeating the Mother Bank"
Close-up of the Coffin Handbill

presidents videos and kahoot

Here's the kahoot from class and here's a link to The History Channel program on the presidents (Jefferson, Madison and Monroe).

updated due dates for Jefferson/War of 1812/EGF project and test

Due to guidance meetings this week, assignments have been pushed back; here's the updated schedule:
C block:  project due Thursday 4/6, test Monday 4/10
A block:  project due Friday 4/7, test Tuesday 4/11

As you begin to review for your test on Jefferson's presidency and the War of 1812, use these study questions to guide your process.  You may also to help create a class study guide with specific key terms by editing this document.

Also, C-Block, here is a link to summaries of the 4 different perspectives on war that we looked at earlier this week.

C block:  please open this link Friday in class.

Film Poster Project (both classes)

Hey everyone!

Here's a link to the film poster project that we discussed in class today. Let me know if you have any questions.

A block: due March 27-31

Due Tuesday 3/28:  notes on pages 209-213; alternatively, you may (neatly) graph--just as you would in math!--American morale throughout the war.  To do so, use a blank 8 x 11" piece of paper and create a graph, with "date and event" on the x axis and morale on the y axis.  Choose ten events from the chapter and plot a data point for each event that, based on your best judgment and information from the reading, reflects American morale at that particular point in the war.  You need a brief (3-4 bullet point) summary of each even that should make it clear why morale was high/medium/low as as result of that event.

Due Thursday 3/30: notes on p. 216-225 (read for the big picture - only record 1-3 supporting details per section)

Due Friday 3/31: notes on 225-233

Extra credit:  due by Friday 3/31
Create a political cartoon about Jefferson's presidency that reflects an event or idea that has not been well represented in class to this point.  It may be drawn or digitally created (cite sources for images you use), must be insightful, visually appealing (use color, use space well, be neat) and explained in 2-4 well composed, grammatically correct sentences on the reverse of the image.  Be prepared to share briefly in class.  Worth up to 5 extra points for term 3.

Homework March 27-31 (C Block)

Due Monday, March 27: Nothing! Enjoy your weekend!
Due Tuesday, March 28: Notes on pages 209-213
Due Thursday, March 30: Notes on pages 217-227. Take them using this graphic organizer. I will explain the expectations for this on Monday.
Due Friday, March 31: Notes on pages 227-233 (skip the bit on Marshall and the Court)

A block - due Friday 3/24

Reading 204-209 due Friday 3/24.  That's your only homework for next week.  Good luck with MCAS!

Cultural Nationalism Stations

Here is a link to the Cultural Nationalism stations that we did in class this week and here are the images of buildings in and around Washington DC from A block on Thursday (C block:  you will look at these in class next week).

Next Week's Reading (3/20-3/24) (C Block)

Monday, March 20: Pages 228-229 (The section titled "Marshall and the Court")
Friday, March 24: Pages 204-209

reading due next week (3/13-3/17)

180-188 reading/notes due Monday 3/13 (C block), Tuesday 3/14 (A block)
188-194 reading and timeline based on early industrial development due Tuesday 3/14 (C block), Wednesday 3/15 (A block) - C block:  you will get this on class on Monday, but can feel free to print it out or recreate it in your notebook if you want to get started on it.
194-204 due Thursday 3/16 (C block)
194-200 due Thursday 3/16 (A block), 200-204 due Friday 3/17

next week (3/6-3/10)

Party politics project (see below) due Tuesday 3/7.

Quiz on Washington and Adams presidencies and party politics today on Thursday 3/9.  All multiple choice questions (expect about 20), based on the assigned book reading and class handouts, activities and discussions.  You may also use these study questions to guide your review.
*You can find a link to the political terminology (filibuster, gerrymandering, etc.) in the party politics project description.*

As a follow-up to your party politics project and based on the projects you saw today in class, please contribute one thought or comment to your class's document:  A block, C block by Wednesday night at 9 p.m.

Here is a link to the Kahoot! game from class

due Friday 3/3

Write a paragraph that responds to the following:

Where do you see evidence in the iCivics games played in class today of how Washington and Adams shaped the role of the presidency?  In what ways has that role evolved since then?

This may be typed or neatly handwritten, and is worth 5 points for term 3.

govn't and party politics project

Here is the project description (due Tuesday 3/7 - note the change) and here is the list of questions that have already been claimed.  After you have viewed it, please sign up for a unique question using this form.

due Thursday 2/16

notes on pages 174-8

due Thursday 2/9

Create a symbol for one of the first two political parties (Democratic-Republicans or Federalists). The symbol should reflect the values and ideals of the party itself, based on what you read in the previous reading assignment.  Use an unlined (blank) 8" x 11" piece of paper, make it neat and colorful, and explain in 2-3 sentences (on the back) that explains how the symbol reflects the party and its values. Out of 10 points for term 3, and based on the visual appeal, creativity and knowledge demonstrated, and clarity of the writing.

due Monday 2/6 (C block), Tuesday 2/7 (A block)

Reading/notes on p. 168-174

American government test Tuesday 1/31

The format is the usual (multiple choice and free response writing prompt).  Study questions are here.
Guide to the Constitution answer key is here.  Finally, here are the documents from class groupwork on Friday (today) that I recommend everyone review.
C block, here are your presentations from class:

Checks and balances
Electoral college
The legislative process
Congressional committees
Amendments 11-27
Voter turnout

to be done in class - please open only when directed

Please read the following two articles (which can be found here and here) and make three or more thoughtful, relevant, well-explained Constitutional connections.  Write a paragraph-long response explaining the connections and bring it to our next class in hard copy.

The pair/small group assignment is here.

due Monday 1/23 (C block) or Tuesday 1/24 (A block)

Use www.oyez.org to look up the decisions from the court cases you read about in class.

for class on Thursday 1/12

Please open this link when directed to in class.

due next week

Guide to the Constitution due Tuesday 1/10 (C block) or Wednesday 1/11 (A block).