December 2008 Archives

I hope you are all ready for a restful and enjoyable break. I am still working on the exams, it is taking longer than I expected. I will post scores and comments on powerschool ASAP. I am still awaiting essays from a few folks. If this is you, please contact me today to let me know what is happening.

 

Today: We will start with a current events update

 

Next, I want everyone to look and listen to the following link (you may use headphones):

 

http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/i/iron_maiden/alexander_the_great.html

 

This is an example of history in pop culture...

 

 

I also have a handout for you w/ important/key information on Alexander.

 

Remember the packet is due when we return on 1/5.

 

Best to Everyone!

I am hoping to have the exams graded by tomorrow. I am still waiting on a couple of essays from this block. Please get them to me ASAP. Today we will talk a little about Alexander the Great, and watch a short video on Alexander.


Homework for Friday: Read pp.155-159 and answer the questions on the handout.


Homework due Monday 1/5; Read pp. 160-165 and complete handout. Read readings packet and complete the questions. Please bring to class on 1/5. I will collect everything on 1/5

I wish you all good look on the test today. We will have 10-15 minutes for questions at the start. Please have your essays printed out and ready to turn in today as well. We will staple them to the rest of the exam. 


Homework for Thursday: Read pp. 142-149 in the text and the handout that will be given out in class. Be prepared to discuss them in detail on Thursday.

It was great to touch bases with a lot of you on your essays yesterday. Today we will work on test review. I appreciate all the work most of you have put in on test preparation. We will have a few minutes for questions before the exam on Wed.

Take a look at the following link. It is a video representation of every commercial flight in the world over a 24 hour period. After you watch the video, answer the following questions in groups:


1. What patterns do you see?


2. Where are the busiest areas for flights? Why?


3. What can this visual representation tell you about the course of world history?



4. What other questions do you have about the visual?



http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/12/earlier-this-ye.html

Go to the following link

http://www.ancientgreece.co.uk/geography/challenge/cha_set.html

Great work in class today. Thursday we will go over some additional information about the Golden Age of Athens....

 

Homework for the rest of the week is to prepare your study guide and essay. We will begin review on Friday.

This is an example of the type of article suitable for the extra credit assignment.


http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/21/world/europe/21rome.html?scp=6&sq=ancient%20rome&st=cse

NEWS: Test has been Moved to Tuesday 12/16...  Today we will start with a quiz, and then look at some more questions about the early Greek city-states. I encourage all of you to join me tomorrow or Friday after school for test review.


Homework for Thursday: Read pp. 134-139 and be prepared to discuss it in detail. Also, continue working on your study guides and or essays.

http://www.startribune.com/politics/35796584.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUs

I posted the essay assignment this morning for the exam. We will talk about it in class. We will also go over the readings and your "deep questions".


Homework for Wed. is to read pp.127-133 in the text. There will be a quiz. In addition, please keep working on your study guides as you go.

This is the long essay due on 12/15 at the time of the exam. I encourage you to seek me out for consultation and advice as you begin to think about the question. I am here to help.

        Long Essay:  Your essay should be/have:

1)    Typed/ Double-Spaced
2)    4-5 Paragraphs
3)    A Clear and Distinct Thesis
4)    Topic Sentences
5)    An Introduction and Conclusion
6)    Proper Grammar, Syntax and Spelling
7)    Quotes to Back Up your Thesis/Ideas



Question:  We have looked at two excerpts from Herodotus in class. Based on these readings I would like you to answer the following: Compare and contrast Herodotus' view of the Assyrians and the Persians. Based on these texts, and these texts alone, what kind of a view of the ancient world do you think he possessed? Use quotations to back up your ideas.
The links to the excerpts are below.







http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/herodotus-persians.html

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/greek-babylon.html

I am offering the following Extra Credit opportunities:



I.    You can watch the movie "300 " on your own. Even if you have seen it, I would like you to watch it again. After viewing it, answer the following questions in writing:

1.    How does the film portray Spartans and Persians? What cultural stereotypes/representations are used?

2.    How accurate is the film in terms of history> you should use the information from class and the book in preparing your answer. You may also consult the Internet.

3.    Why is this a compelling story over 2000 years later?



After you answer the questions, you should make an appointment with me to discuss the film and your answers for about 15 minutes or so. You must turn in the assignment and have your appointment before Friday January 9. It is worth up to 30 points.




II.    You can find a story in the media relating to Ancient Greece or Rome. It should have been written in the last year and appear in a reputable source( check with me first). It can be about a new archaeological discovery, a new interpretation of history, etc. However, it needs to connect to the time periods we are studying. After reading the article, you will write a 1-2 page paper answering the following question:

How does this new development affect our understanding of Greek or Roman history, and why does that matter?


You must also make an appointment to discuss your paper by January 9. It is worth up to 30 points.

Hello, I hope everyone has recovered from the Semi-Formal and the snow and is ready to go for the week. I enjoyed meeting with all of you for conferences, and am excited for our last three weeks together. Today, we will go over the chart you have been working on, followed by an introduction to Greece.

You will receive a study guide this morning. Please begin working on it. Some of the terms have not been covered, but we will be covering them over the course of the week.

I will be available from 3-4PM on Thursday and Friday for test review.

HW: For Tuesday: Read Chap 5 Sec 1 and handout. Please bring in 5 deep questions. In addition, you should keep working on your study guide.

Happy Cold December Day to all! I have updated powerschool for everything except the quiz. I hope to finish them later today. Today, I would like to expand our discussion of Herodotus a little. We were a little rushed yesterday. After that, You will work in pairs on the comparison chart. We will go over it on Monday. During that time, I would like to meet with each of you individually to touch bases on how things are going with the class. I am doing this because this is a larger class, and I have not had a chance to talk with all of you in an individual context. We are also having conferences tonight and tomorrow, and this will be a good lead in.

The homework for today (China Questions) can be turned in until 3 PM Friday.

Great work on posters thus far. I would like groups to finish today. I will give you the last 30 minutes to wrap up. We will start today with a quiz, and a brief reading on the Persians.


After the quiz please go to the following link:

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/herodotus-persians.html


In pairs, take a look at this writing by Herodotus.What kind of  view of the Persians do you get from him? Is he biased? Why does he focus his attention on these customs over others?

Be prepared to discuss.



Homework: A. Read pp. 104-109 in the text and answer the following questions:


1. Compare and Contrast Confucianism, Taoism/Daoism, and Legalism?



2.  Describe the rise and fall of the Qin Dynasty.



B. Begin work on Chart- We will work on it together in class tomorrow.

Today, We will go-over homework and readings, and spend some time working on our posters.


HW: For Wed. Read pp. 99-103 in the text, Quiz on Wed.

Your assignment is to create a unique poster comparing three of the six religions you presented on. In your presentation groups, you will be given time to construct it in class. Your "visual" should have at least the following categories/ areas: Deities, Basic Beliefs, Founder(s), Geography- Where, History- When, Texts, Leadership/Clergy, and The Religion Today.


Be as creative as you can. You can be "conceptual", but make sure your information comes through. You may use marker, crayon, photos, etc.  I encourage you to use information from the presentations, the Internet, and pp. 282-296 in your book in making your poster.


You will be graded on :     Creativity- 10 Points
                    Information 20 Points

Hello, I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving Weekend!. We have a 4 day week this week so here is the plan....


Today we will work on a comparison chart of world religions, followed by a discussion of Egypt.

Homework for tomorrow (12/2) is to Read pp. 95-98 (make notes) and the article at the following link.....

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/greek-babylon.html


This is a reading from the Greek historian Herodotus in which he describes the Assyrians. After reading the article, write a paragraph answering the following question:


What kind of view does Herodotus give of the Assyrians? What impression of them is created by the text?