AP World History

Dear all,
   Great to meet you this afternoon! I look forward to an exciting adventure.  Since much of our work will depend on clear communication, I'd like to invite you to bookmark this website.  It is the main portal for all of the classes I teach.  Below you will find your assignment for tonight, along with some documents and links.

1) Please register at the UPenn, Authentic Happiness website and take the VIA Survey of Character Strengths Test.  You can take the adult or child's version, both are sufficient.  The adult test is more extensive and take a little more time, but it is more in depth.  Please bring the results with you to class tomorrow.

2) Please reread the prequel and chapter on the Era of Foraging in This Fleeing World.  Please come prepared to discuss the questions of historical inevitability and determinism and what was the causal impetus behind the age of foraging.

3) Here are some important documents that you will need for the course. 

Course Invitation

AP World History Exam and Course Description 

AP World Historical Thinking Skills

The more you do; the more you'll know; the more you know, the more successful you'll be.

We will begin working on formal essay writing soon.  Anticipate writing work.

See you tomorrow!

JMN

AP World History

Welcome back, crew! 

I hope your break was restful and rejuvenating.  As we embark on the last two weeks of our course together, we are going to step back and take stock of all the skills and knowledge we have gained up to this point.  We will begin with an examination of the Pruitt-Igoe project of the 1950s in St. Louis.  Our examination will look for causes as to why this spectacular social-architectural endeavor failed. Your job will be to catalog the events and determine the possible, most reasonable causes. 

 99percentinvisible

Then, we will look into the 15th century and explore the various societies around the globe during that time.  You will take stock of the major characteristics of each society, its problems and conditions.  Then, you will look into any possible interactions among societies.  Finally, your job will be to determine the possible, most reasonable causes of the conditions of the 15th century. 

What we are doing here is an exercise in Heuristics as applied to history.  Heuristics is how we make sense of the world, its conditions and causes, from a limited point of view. From our study, we should begin to see the difficulty of historical reasoning and the methods historians employ to make up for those difficulties.

Bon Voyage!

AP World History: Chinggis Khan--"Guilty of War Crimes?" extra documentation

What were the main features of the Mongol Empire? 
http://www.learner.org/courses/worldhistory/unit_video_11-1.html?pop=yes&pid=2154#
watch 4:17 to 12:16  View the Video Online  (Mongols, Mali, and Inca from 1000-1500) 
 
What led to Mongol conquests?:
http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/mongols/conquests/conquests.htm

How did a small band create the largest empire? http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/mongols/conquests/conquests_3.htm
 

273-281:  Where and how did the Mongols rule and what was their impact on others?  Why did they fall and what was their legacy?
 
Why did the empire collapse?
http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/mongols/conquests/conquests_4.htm
 
What was the Mongol impact on World history?
http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/mongols/

AP World History--Homework

Dear all,
   Tomorrow we will continue our exploration into China from chapter 12.  Also, we will listen to our final presentation on trade routes and trade cities.  Please come prepared. You will most likely have a quiz on Wednesday.

Best,
JMN

AP World History--Byzantium and Justin Presentation

All,
   here is a link to the presentation today. It contains the four videos I would like you to watch.  Enjoy.

The Emperor Justin

JMN

AP World History--Homework

Dear all,
  This week we will be working on writing. Your process work tonight is to go over your test from last week.  Your performance for the night is to write a quality thesis paragraph for the Buddhism DBQ.  The rest of the week will be dedicated to developing the Compare and Contrast essay along with learning how to grade AP essays.  If you want to review some material, I recommend visiting (or revisiting) chapter 9.  Talk to you tomorrow, and glad to have you back!

AP World History Power Point: Rome and Han Comparison

Dear all,
  Here is a helpful Power Point giving basic comparisons between the Roman Empire and the Han Dynasty.  Good stuff for AP prep. 

Roman Empire and Han Dynasty Power Point

AP World History Homework for the Week

Dear all,
for your homework for the week and preparation for your unit exam please read the following:

For Wednesday:  pp. 148-152.  Greek relations and society
           
For Thursday:  153-157.  Key features of the Roman Republic and especially Empire. (focus on the political); and 158-163.  Key features of Roman society & economy
Compare Roman Empire to Han China  (see examples from test)

For Friday: Prepare for Unit Exam

AP World History Homework

Dear all,
For the weekend, please make sure that you have IDs for chapters 5 and 6 and that you understand the major political, religious, social, and economic facts about Persia and early China.

Best,
JMN

AP World History-Lord of the Flies Exam

Dear all,
   The following questions should be studied in preparation for your essay tomorrow.  I will choose one for you to answer. 

1)  How does the boys' perspective of the island change over time?
2) What causes the boys to separate into groups throughout the book?
3) Compare the naval officers' assumptions and the perspective of the boys about what happened on the island.

Best,
JMN

AP World History: Lord of the Flies

Dear all,
   While your parents love to see you, they also want you to maintain your responsibilities.  Your homework for the weekend is to read chapter 7-10 of Lord of the Flies.  We will end our discussion of the book by Tuesday on which day you will have a written exam.  Please look back at our original Lord of the Flies questions from earlier posts to guide you.

Happy Reading

Expository Writing: Food and AP World History Homework

Hi, all.
   Here is your homework for the weekend.

Expository Writing--Food:

Please view the following movie over the weekend, and answer the following questions.  Please come to class with the answers written.  You will not need to turn anything in, but your process will be judged on the basis of your preparation.

The Corporation

1) To what extent is global responsibility shaped by the actions of corporations?
2) Should corporations be given the legal status of persons?
3) Are individuals still responsible if their actions were not the cause of global food crises, but were caused by the actions of corporations?
4) How does a corporation get its power?
5) What responsibilities do corporations have to individuals/to society?

-----------------------

AP World History:

For Monday: Read Chs. 2 and 3.  What can you surmise about the setting and characters?  What are two big questions raised and how do they resolve them? What is the literal and symbolic functions of the conch, the fire, the huts.

The following are a list of questions that you will want to consider while reading.  You will be asked to write an essay at the end of reading the book, so pay careful attention to the questions below.

1.  Before you read consider: What is Civilization? What would be necessary for a group of people to create a strong society on a remote island?  (see handout by Peter Stearns)

2. Change over Time. What happens to a group of boys stranded on an island without adult supervision? How do the boys seek to create a “civilization” on the island?  How does the society and island change over the course of the book?

3.  Causation. Why does the society breakdown friendships, change language, and result in violence, terror, war, and destruction?

4.  Point of view. Compare and contrast Ralph’s point of view with Jack’s:  How does each view what happened on the island? What does each know firsthand compared to what they only hear about? What would each say of the other?

5.  Leadership. Who would be the best leader of the group and why? 
Evaluate Ralph’s and Jack’s leadership. (Why do some follow Ralph and others Jack?  What motivated each?  How did each contribute to what went wrong?  Could Ralph have done anything to prevent the outcome? To what extent is Ralph’s vision of “citizenship” in the new “civilization” a reflection of his own upbringing? Is citizenship natural to the group or is it something created?  Do Ralph and Jack rise up as leaders naturally, or do they become leaders for reasons outside of their control? What responsibility do Jack and Ralph have to the group?)

6. Art and text. What figurative language and symbols are used in the book and what do they mean?  Consider the meaning of the title, the pig, and the problem of evil.

7.  Imagination. If the characters were girls instead of boys how would the story be different? Would the violence and cruelty be the same? (Compare to movie “Mean Girls.” What would it be like if staged at a military school of boys—compare to the movie “Taps.”  “The Election” with Witherspoon and Broderick—high school election.)

8.  Context. What is the context of the story?  What happened at the time the book was written that may have influenced the author’s understanding of humans?  Is the world the boys return to very different than the island?

9.  Critical Thinking.  What does the novel suggest about what is necessary to create a strong society and what gets in the way?

Some resources
See http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/english_literature/proselordflies/
As you read build your vocabulary.  Create your own list or see www.vocabulary.com/lists/24171

AP World History: Homework

For Monday:  pp. 67-76.  Olmec to Maya.    No quiz on Monday.

  

- For class on Monday: BRING World History in Documents.  Read pp. 11-24 over the weekend.  Answer questions 1-3 on  p. 14. Compare the similarities and differences of the earliest complex societies. Were the earliest Civilizations more similar or different? Consider making a Venn Diagram to illustrate the similarities and differences. (You do not need to write out your answers.  Notes and diagrams are sufficient.)

For Tuesday:  pp.76-81.  Chavin and Oceania.  Brief, Basic Quiz on most important Chapter 4 IDs and concepts from reading.

      

-  In Class: Discuss: Were the earliest Civilizations more similar or different? 

Compare: Where? When? What/how: Ag, govt, religion, writing, math/science/engineering, art/craft, trade.

     

For Wednesday: Unit exam 1

 

AP World History Links

Dear all,
Here is an important look at how to write a better essay.

A Step by Step Guide to Writing an Essay

 For homework over the weekend, I would like you to rewrite your essay from last week, but now include a comparison to another early complex society.  The question you should be answering is, "How are the two civilizations similar in how they developed?"

AP World History-Homework for next week

Dear all,
Here is the homework you can expect for next week. Feel free to get a jump start this weekend, if you wish.

For Monday pp. 51-55 Know Vedic culture and religion.  Begin longer assignment on China for Tuesday.
 
For Tuesday:  pp. 56-64  The development of complex society on the Yellow River (in East Asia).
(Compare early river valley civilizations.)
 
For Wednesday: Quiz on Chapter 3.

AP World History: Work for the Week

Dear all,
As you look forward to tomorrow's test, please be mindful that we are beginning to move at a very rapid pace. My suggestion to you is that you do everything you need to do well and correct the first time in order to reduce any redundancy in your work. You should serisously consider taking notes on the chapters you read and making note cards of all major terms and concepts. Here is the work we will do for next week.

For Monday September 5: Chapter one quiz; Chapter walk through

For Tuesday September 6:
Read Bentley textbook pp.  27-35 and construct notes with study terms for Chapter 2
 
For Wednesday September 7:
Begin to Read and construct notes (IDs)  pp. 35-41

For Thursday September 8:
Read and Construct notes pp. 41-45.  Finish Chapter 2 notes for check.
 
For Friday September 9:
Test on Chapter 2. Know Study Terms IDs and major themes and concepts.
 

AP World History and Expository Writing Homework

AP World History: Read through page 14 in your textbook and be prepared to answer all applicable terms from the end of the chapter.

Expository Writing: Please review your concept map on the concept Healthy.  Associate ideas so that you come up with an interesting and creative thesis/topic to write about.  Bring your food and your ideas to class tomorrow.

Expository Writing and AP World History Homework

Dear all,
    tomorrow there are no Humanities classes.  Your homework for the next couple of days is as follows:

AP World Histoy: Please work on your essay due Thursday: Why are their statistical similarities and differences among the countries you have been studying?  Make sure you are also very familiar with the material from pages 2-9


Expository Writing: Please watch the following full length documentary, Food Inc.  You will be asked to write on and answer questions about the movie, so please let me know if you cannot view the video for any reason.

AP World History--Homework and Power Point

Dear all,
   As you work on your research tonight, be curious about the differences each country has.  What do you think are the causes of the differences, or the reasons behind the differences?

   Next, please follow the instructions below:

   READ Traditions and Encounters, 2^nd Brief Edition.

1.Get a sense of how the book is organized by skimming the table of contents, preface, part I and a few pages later in the book.   Go to the textbook website and check out the resources (hyperlink above.)

2. Preview Chapter 1, especially the intro, figures (images/maps), summary, & study termsà List of key concepts and terms to learn.

3. Actively READ with a purpose: pp. 2-9.

4. Construct Notes: List the major features of major themes—

How did humans spread around the world? (see map in Traditions and Encounters, 2^nd Brief Edition.   http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073385514/student_view0/chapter1/interactive_map_quiz.html

How did humans transition to agriculture?  What were some major results?

Identify (ID) the appropriate study terms (see p. 25)
Homo Sapiens, Paleolithic, Neolithic.

   Finally, here is a link to the Power Point from today.

Periodic Divisions of the History of the World Along with AP Targets

Expository Writing and AP World History Weekend Homework

Dear all,
   A reminder about your homework this weekend:

AP World History: Write an historical essay about yourself.  What is your history?  Use periodization to tell your story.  Please write no more than five paragraphs. 

·       Expository Writing:   Examine your eating habits.  Try to emphasize super foods in your diet this weekend.  Then, write an essay where you describe your typical eating habits, what you ate this weekend and how you feel in comparison to your usual dietary lifestyle.  Please also focus on making your work interesting and worth reading.  Look for a good hook, or way of writing that makes your words gold.