SPARTANS,
You will need some materials for the IB HOA class. Among those materials is a COLLEGE RULED composition book (college ruled allows for more writing lines on each page). These are the notebooks without perforations on the pages, and the black and white fleck pattern on the cover. These will be used for all of your essay assessments in class.
These notebooks typically cost about $3, but they are available at Office Depot (between Costco and Fry's in Oxnard) now for a limited time for 30 cents each.
You will need at least two (depending on how prolific your writing is); one for each semester.
30 July 2008
More research tips
SPARTANS,
Here's another resource for your research:
infotrac.galegroup.com/default
USER: mesa
PASSWORD: spartans
Good luck!
Here's another resource for your research:
infotrac.galegroup.com/default
USER: mesa
PASSWORD: spartans
Good luck!
28 July 2008
Sources for Mini Research Paper
SPARTANS,
I was recently doing some research and was reminded what kind of great resources can be found on the Internet. Two that may help you in current or future research are:
The National Archives
http://www.archives.gov/index.html
The Library of Congress
http://www.loc.gov/index.html
These two sites are rich in both primary and secondary sources.
In the words of the American poet James Douglas Morrison, "Summer's almost gone..." Make sure you are capitalizing on the time we have left. School starts 26 August. There's a lot of work and fun to be had before then.
Carpe diem,
Mr. Todd
I was recently doing some research and was reminded what kind of great resources can be found on the Internet. Two that may help you in current or future research are:
The National Archives
http://www.archives.gov/index.html
The Library of Congress
http://www.loc.gov/index.html
These two sites are rich in both primary and secondary sources.
In the words of the American poet James Douglas Morrison, "Summer's almost gone..." Make sure you are capitalizing on the time we have left. School starts 26 August. There's a lot of work and fun to be had before then.
Carpe diem,
Mr. Todd
Chapter 4 Reading Response Questions
SPARTANS,
Thank you for your patience in waiting for the Chapter 4 Reading Response Questions. Although the reading should already be done and it should only take you a couple of hours to answer the questions before tomorrow's deadline, I will extend the deadline to Thursday, 31 July (11:59pm in my inbox). The Chapter 5 deadline for next week will remain the same (August 5). The Ch. 5 Reading Response questions will be posted by the end of the week.
Please remember the heading format, the purpose of the command terms, and to answer each question accurately and fully. Please also be mindful of grammar and punctuation.
As always, e-mail me with any questions or concerns.
CHAPTER 4 READING RESPONSE QUESTIONS
1) Describe the difficulties experienced by colonists in the Chesapeake Bay region.
2) Examine the effects of tobacco cultivation on on relations between European colonists and Native Americans, and on immigration.
3) Distinguish the short- and long-term effects of the headright system on "men of at least modest financial means" and workers (Kennedy, Cohen & Baily, 2002, p. 67).
4) Explain Bacon's Rebellion and how it reflects the distinctions between life in the tidewater and life on the frontier.
5) Explain the conditions under which slavery began to grow in the 1680s.
6) Compare and contrast the lives of servants and slaves.
7) Explain how a unique culture developed from the brutality of the institution of slavery.
8) Describe the social hierarchy in the early southern colonies.
9) Compare and contrast southern and New England societies.
10) Explain how the meetinghouse helped to promote democracy in colonial New England.
11) Discuss the causes and effects of the witch hunt and ensuing trials in New England in the late-17th century and beyond.
12) Explain how the topography, geology, and climate of New England helped form its culture. How did this culture impact the rest of the nation and its history?
Thank you for your patience in waiting for the Chapter 4 Reading Response Questions. Although the reading should already be done and it should only take you a couple of hours to answer the questions before tomorrow's deadline, I will extend the deadline to Thursday, 31 July (11:59pm in my inbox). The Chapter 5 deadline for next week will remain the same (August 5). The Ch. 5 Reading Response questions will be posted by the end of the week.
Please remember the heading format, the purpose of the command terms, and to answer each question accurately and fully. Please also be mindful of grammar and punctuation.
As always, e-mail me with any questions or concerns.
CHAPTER 4 READING RESPONSE QUESTIONS
1) Describe the difficulties experienced by colonists in the Chesapeake Bay region.
2) Examine the effects of tobacco cultivation on on relations between European colonists and Native Americans, and on immigration.
3) Distinguish the short- and long-term effects of the headright system on "men of at least modest financial means" and workers (Kennedy, Cohen & Baily, 2002, p. 67).
4) Explain Bacon's Rebellion and how it reflects the distinctions between life in the tidewater and life on the frontier.
5) Explain the conditions under which slavery began to grow in the 1680s.
6) Compare and contrast the lives of servants and slaves.
7) Explain how a unique culture developed from the brutality of the institution of slavery.
8) Describe the social hierarchy in the early southern colonies.
9) Compare and contrast southern and New England societies.
10) Explain how the meetinghouse helped to promote democracy in colonial New England.
11) Discuss the causes and effects of the witch hunt and ensuing trials in New England in the late-17th century and beyond.
12) Explain how the topography, geology, and climate of New England helped form its culture. How did this culture impact the rest of the nation and its history?
06 July 2008
Reading Response Directions and Chapter 3 RRQ
1) Reading Response Directions
2) Chapter 3 Reading Response Questions
SPARTANS,
1) Reading Response Directions
Please take note of the suggestions and directions for RR posted today and on 22 June.
Please make sure you have the proper heading on your assignment (Blog entry: 4 July), and assignment title centered below the heading and in your e-mail subject line.
Please also start parenthetically citing any quoted information, as some of you have already begun doing. For example, at the end of a sentence using a quote to answer #1, a student would add the following at the end of the sentence before the period: (Kennedy, Cohen & Bailey, 2002, p. 44). This is APA format, not MLA which you are using for your mini-research papers.
DO NOT wait until July 15 to begin this assignment. It is due in my e-mail inbox at spartan.hoa@gmail.com by 11:59pm (Pacific Time) on 15 July 2008. Anything received after this time will get no credit/0 points.
2) Chapter 3 Reading Response Questions
1) Explain the ideas of John Calvin and their influence on the Anglo-American colonies and their people.
2) Describe how documents such as the Pilgrims' Mayflower Compact, the Fundamental Orders, and the New England Confederation were influential in developing representative government in the New World.
3) Explain (the causes and effects) of the Great English Migration.
4) Describe how the ecclesiastical nature of early New England society impacted the concept of government.
5) Evaluate the the actions and consequences of religious dissidents like Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams.
6) Explain the roots and impact of the Pequot War and King Philip's War.
7) Briefly describe the impact of the Glorious Revolution on the Anglo-American colonies.
8) Compare and contrast Dutch colonization in the Americas with English colonization in the New World.
9) Describe the Religious Society of Friends and the Pennsylvania settlement.
10) Analyse the Middle Colonies and their unique characteristics.
11) Define the term "Eurocentric" in your own words.
12) The term "historiography" refers to the history of the historical record, methods of historical investigation, and interpretations of history. (We will spend more time on "historiography throughout the year.) Explain the implications of the newer historiographical approaches to colonial history shared by historians such as White, Kupperman, and Gutierrez, to an understanding of early American history and the study of history in general.
2) Chapter 3 Reading Response Questions
SPARTANS,
1) Reading Response Directions
Please take note of the suggestions and directions for RR posted today and on 22 June.
Please make sure you have the proper heading on your assignment (Blog entry: 4 July), and assignment title centered below the heading and in your e-mail subject line.
Please also start parenthetically citing any quoted information, as some of you have already begun doing. For example, at the end of a sentence using a quote to answer #1, a student would add the following at the end of the sentence before the period: (Kennedy, Cohen & Bailey, 2002, p. 44). This is APA format, not MLA which you are using for your mini-research papers.
DO NOT wait until July 15 to begin this assignment. It is due in my e-mail inbox at spartan.hoa@gmail.com by 11:59pm (Pacific Time) on 15 July 2008. Anything received after this time will get no credit/0 points.
2) Chapter 3 Reading Response Questions
1) Explain the ideas of John Calvin and their influence on the Anglo-American colonies and their people.
2) Describe how documents such as the Pilgrims' Mayflower Compact, the Fundamental Orders, and the New England Confederation were influential in developing representative government in the New World.
3) Explain (the causes and effects) of the Great English Migration.
4) Describe how the ecclesiastical nature of early New England society impacted the concept of government.
5) Evaluate the the actions and consequences of religious dissidents like Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams.
6) Explain the roots and impact of the Pequot War and King Philip's War.
7) Briefly describe the impact of the Glorious Revolution on the Anglo-American colonies.
8) Compare and contrast Dutch colonization in the Americas with English colonization in the New World.
9) Describe the Religious Society of Friends and the Pennsylvania settlement.
10) Analyse the Middle Colonies and their unique characteristics.
11) Define the term "Eurocentric" in your own words.
12) The term "historiography" refers to the history of the historical record, methods of historical investigation, and interpretations of history. (We will spend more time on "historiography throughout the year.) Explain the implications of the newer historiographical approaches to colonial history shared by historians such as White, Kupperman, and Gutierrez, to an understanding of early American history and the study of history in general.
Grading Assignments and Feedback for Chapter Reading Response Assignments
1) Grading Assignments
2) Feedback for Chapter Reading Response (RR) Questions
SPARTANS,
1) Cutter White e-mailed me asking about how students are being graded on the assignments:
You are being graded based on completion, quality of answers, and following directions. Those students who do not complete the assignment or have low quality answers due to a failure to follow directions, address the questions properly, etc. will earn lower grades. Students who do not have assignments to me by the deadline will earn no credit ("0") for that assignment.
2) I responded to about the first dozen or so of the Ch. 1 Reading Responses that were e-mailed to me, but stopped since I was essentially writing the exact same response to each student. I posted some feedback which you would all do well to heed (see 22 June post). Here are some more recommendations for your RR assignments:
a) Command Terms: Most of you are not following the Command Terms (see the last page of your Summer Learning Packet) properly. These directions are VERY specific. When an assignment asks you to "EXPLAIN" something, it does not to just mean to type out an answer. According to the Glossary of Command Terms, "Explain" means students must "give a detailed account, including reasons or causes". May of you are failing to follow directions. You are not answering the questions fully because, for example, you do not follow the command terms. These are critical directions because they are the same that will be used in your Papers 1, 2, and 3 (IB essay tests) at the end of the course. If you do not start using them properly, you will do poorly in the class and on the Papers.
Most of you had the hardest time with questions that began with "To what extent". These are not just words to vary the way a question begins. Think about the phrase. What does it mean? It does not ask if something happened or not. It does not ask how it happened. That phrase is asking if the impact of the person/event/thing was extensive, limited, significant, unimportant, et cetera.
b) Errors: Many of you have consistent typographical errors ("typos"), improper grammar, wrong spellings, or incorrect capitalization or punctuation in your assignments. There is simply no excuse for these mistakes. If there are one or two of these errors it is understandable. We're human. But to be consistently doing these things shows a lack of concern, laziness, poor work ethic and/or inattentiveness to the assignment. If you are doing the assignment on MS Word, Grammar and Spell Check should help you. Everything should be spelled correctly since you are writing about what is in your book (everything is spelled out in the pages in front of you!).
c) "Thus" and "hence": Many of you use transitional phrases such as "thus" and "hence" and other "smart sounding" phrases in your writing. Please make sure to use these phrases and other terms properly. I get the impression that some of you are sprinkling these words into your writing because they "sound" good. Keep in mind that if you use words incorrectly in your writing just because they seem like they will make your writing look "smart", they may be used incorrectly and do the opposite. Don't write the way you think you should to appear like Honors students. Just write well.
d) Do not write in sentence fragments. Write in complete sentences, restating the question in the answer.
e) Make sure you answer questions fully and correctly. You do not need to add information that does not apply to the question. It does not make your answer better. A long narrative is not necessary. Make sure to answer the question adequately and appropriately.
PLEASE take all of these points into consideration for your future assignments.
2) Feedback for Chapter Reading Response (RR) Questions
SPARTANS,
1) Cutter White e-mailed me asking about how students are being graded on the assignments:
You are being graded based on completion, quality of answers, and following directions. Those students who do not complete the assignment or have low quality answers due to a failure to follow directions, address the questions properly, etc. will earn lower grades. Students who do not have assignments to me by the deadline will earn no credit ("0") for that assignment.
2) I responded to about the first dozen or so of the Ch. 1 Reading Responses that were e-mailed to me, but stopped since I was essentially writing the exact same response to each student. I posted some feedback which you would all do well to heed (see 22 June post). Here are some more recommendations for your RR assignments:
a) Command Terms: Most of you are not following the Command Terms (see the last page of your Summer Learning Packet) properly. These directions are VERY specific. When an assignment asks you to "EXPLAIN" something, it does not to just mean to type out an answer. According to the Glossary of Command Terms, "Explain" means students must "give a detailed account, including reasons or causes". May of you are failing to follow directions. You are not answering the questions fully because, for example, you do not follow the command terms. These are critical directions because they are the same that will be used in your Papers 1, 2, and 3 (IB essay tests) at the end of the course. If you do not start using them properly, you will do poorly in the class and on the Papers.
Most of you had the hardest time with questions that began with "To what extent". These are not just words to vary the way a question begins. Think about the phrase. What does it mean? It does not ask if something happened or not. It does not ask how it happened. That phrase is asking if the impact of the person/event/thing was extensive, limited, significant, unimportant, et cetera.
b) Errors: Many of you have consistent typographical errors ("typos"), improper grammar, wrong spellings, or incorrect capitalization or punctuation in your assignments. There is simply no excuse for these mistakes. If there are one or two of these errors it is understandable. We're human. But to be consistently doing these things shows a lack of concern, laziness, poor work ethic and/or inattentiveness to the assignment. If you are doing the assignment on MS Word, Grammar and Spell Check should help you. Everything should be spelled correctly since you are writing about what is in your book (everything is spelled out in the pages in front of you!).
c) "Thus" and "hence": Many of you use transitional phrases such as "thus" and "hence" and other "smart sounding" phrases in your writing. Please make sure to use these phrases and other terms properly. I get the impression that some of you are sprinkling these words into your writing because they "sound" good. Keep in mind that if you use words incorrectly in your writing just because they seem like they will make your writing look "smart", they may be used incorrectly and do the opposite. Don't write the way you think you should to appear like Honors students. Just write well.
d) Do not write in sentence fragments. Write in complete sentences, restating the question in the answer.
e) Make sure you answer questions fully and correctly. You do not need to add information that does not apply to the question. It does not make your answer better. A long narrative is not necessary. Make sure to answer the question adequately and appropriately.
PLEASE take all of these points into consideration for your future assignments.
04 July 2008
Late e-mails (AGAIN), Assignment Headings & Ch. 3 RR Questions
1) Emailing assignments/late work
2) Headings for all assignments
3) Posting of Ch. 3 Reading Response Questions
SPARTANS,
1) Let me once again state my policy on late work: I DO NOT accept late work. All Reading Responses need to be in my spartan.hoa@gmail.com e-mail inbox by 11:59 (Pacific Time) on the due date. Do not risk delivery problems and a late assignment by waiting until the last day to start your assignment.
2) I have noticed that many of you are e-mailing me from accounts that do not state your name. Also, your assignments sometimes do not have your names on them. From now on, it is required of all students to include the following heading in the upper right-hand corner of every assignment:
Your name
RM student number
Date* (day month year; example: 4 July 2008)
Assignment title should be centered at the top of the page underneath your heading.
*Dates are written in this fashion throughout most of the world (approximately 90 countries). Since IB is an international program(me), we must all get used to recognizing and using this dating format. The standard format used in the U.S. is writing the month, day, then year. This is done in about five countries.
3) Posting of Ch. 3 Reading Response Questions will be posted on the blog on or before Sunday, 6 July.
Thank you for your attention to these matters,
Mr. Todd
2) Headings for all assignments
3) Posting of Ch. 3 Reading Response Questions
SPARTANS,
1) Let me once again state my policy on late work: I DO NOT accept late work. All Reading Responses need to be in my spartan.hoa@gmail.com e-mail inbox by 11:59 (Pacific Time) on the due date. Do not risk delivery problems and a late assignment by waiting until the last day to start your assignment.
2) I have noticed that many of you are e-mailing me from accounts that do not state your name. Also, your assignments sometimes do not have your names on them. From now on, it is required of all students to include the following heading in the upper right-hand corner of every assignment:
Your name
RM student number
Date* (day month year; example: 4 July 2008)
Assignment title should be centered at the top of the page underneath your heading.
*Dates are written in this fashion throughout most of the world (approximately 90 countries). Since IB is an international program(me), we must all get used to recognizing and using this dating format. The standard format used in the U.S. is writing the month, day, then year. This is done in about five countries.
3) Posting of Ch. 3 Reading Response Questions will be posted on the blog on or before Sunday, 6 July.
Thank you for your attention to these matters,
Mr. Todd
Independence Day
SPARTANS,
On this Independence Day, let us not indulge in our opportunities for leisure without remembering the historical significance of the date. The imagination, hope, bravery, and sacrifices of many well-known and also nameless people of that "founding" generation have afforded us liberties heretofore unimagined. It has only been because of continued vigilance, historical understanding, appreciation, and a willingness to continue to defy tyranny that we still have any semblance of that for which our antecedents struggled.
Be safe and enjoy your holiday.
Sincerely,
Mr. Todd
On this Independence Day, let us not indulge in our opportunities for leisure without remembering the historical significance of the date. The imagination, hope, bravery, and sacrifices of many well-known and also nameless people of that "founding" generation have afforded us liberties heretofore unimagined. It has only been because of continued vigilance, historical understanding, appreciation, and a willingness to continue to defy tyranny that we still have any semblance of that for which our antecedents struggled.
Be safe and enjoy your holiday.
Sincerely,
Mr. Todd
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