Winter Break Extra Credit 2014

Many of you might be interested in extra credit over Winter Break! Completely successfully, this will earn you up to 3 points on your midterm exam. This, plus reading notes on Chapters 17-18, could result in a total of 6 points extra credit on the exam. (What???? Is Ms. Harris crazy????!)

What you need to do:

1) Go to this website and pick out a podcast to listen to. Look through the archives to find something that is appealing to you. Part of the goal of this assignment is to have you explore an interest that hasn't been satisfied in class and to learn some of the stories that we haven't had time for but that make history great. Some shows that I have listened to and enjoyed are: A City Upon A Hill, All Hopped Up, Rules of Engagement, Mission Accomplished, and Grassy Knolls. You can download them, listen to them through this site, or access them through Itunes podcasts.

2) Listen! Don't listen in an environment where you are easily distracted.  Go walk your dog (that's what I do). Or listen while you're running on the treadmill or sitting in a car on the way to see family. Listen to the whole thing. 

3) Write a one page response to the following questions:

• How is listening to this podcast different from reading your textbook? 
• What makes it better or worse as a learning tool? What do we gain/lose from hearing more anecdotal stories from history? 
• What is the theme of the podcast you chose? If you could pick one story that you think was worth sharing with the class, what would it be, and why is it so important? How did this story add to your understanding of the larger theme?

Due date: January 6th by 2:45...for ALL CLASSES.
Note: This should go without saying, but all work must be your own. Plagiarized or shared work will result in 3 points taken off of your midterm grade, as well as lots of bad karma. Don't even think about it. 

Hope you enjoy! And, more importantly, I hope you have a wonderful, restful, and fun-filled break! See you in 2015!

Essay Prompts for the Midterm

2014 Midterm Essay Possibilities: 

On test day, you will be given two essays to choose from. You will write ONE essay. You may not use any notes or prep work to help you with your exam on test day. 

1. Compare the ways in which THREE of the following reflected tensions in colonial society: Bacon’s Rebellion (1676); Pueblo Rebellion (1680); Salem witchcraft trials (1692); Stono Rebellion (1739)

2. Although the power of the national government increased during the early republic, this development often faced serious opposition. Compare the motives and effectiveness of those opposed to the growing power of the national government in THREE of the following: Whiskey Rebellion, 1794; Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions, 1798-1799; Hartford Convention, 1814-1815; Nullification Crisis, 1832-1833

3. How did the two-party system evolve from the parties of the 1790s to the parties of the 1860s? Describe points of continuity and change in the issues dividing the parties.

4. Evaluate the extent to which the Declaration of Independence marked a turning point in American history, analyzing what changed and what stayed the same from the period immediately before the declaration to the period immediately following it.

5. Evaluate the impact of religious, democratic, and intellectual movements on American reform during the mid-nineteenth century.

6. “The Civil War was a turning point in the lives of African-Americans.” Agree, disagree, or modify this statement.

Midterm Review Information

Midterm Review Guide is here.

My room will be open Thursday 12/11 afternoon for guided group study (resources available, but I will not be leading anything. Come prepared to work with your peers).

Monday 12/15, I will be around for a student-led review.

Good luck! Start studying now!

Just in case there is any more confusion...

There is NOT a DBQ tomorrow.

Test Prep for Civil War & Reconstruction

Your test will be on Civil War and Reconstruction. Your study guide covers up through the Civil War, but you will need to review on your own for Reconstruction. (Hint: use the chronology at the end of the chapter).

Questions from sections 16 and 17 on Historyteacher.net's quizzes will be helpful too!

I will be available Tuesday after school for a student-led review session from 2:45-3:30.