Understanding the DBQ

Part of knowing what to write on a DBQ is knowing what you are being asked to do.

Here's some information about the words used on DBQ essays, to help you understand what you are expected to produce. This information comes from the website www.fdmurphy.com


Analyze. Here you break something down into parts in order to understand it. A coach may play a tape of a game and analyze specific plays by running them over an over.

Analyze the reasons for the United States involvement in Vietnam.

Compare. When you compare, you are looking for similarities in separate issues or occurrences. Parents will often compare their children to look for common behavior patterns.

Compare the long-range causes of WWI and WWII

Contrast. Show the differences between two things. You may wish to contrast your recent performance with that of your friend, who is failing a certain class.

Contrast the beliefs of Hinduism and Islam.

Define. Here you tell exactly what something is. It can be as simple as word definition like peninsula, and as complicated as the definition of racism.

Define the term Totalitarianism.

Describe. When you describe, you tell about the parts of something. You can describe how a car looks, or you could describe the causes of WWII.

Describe the key factors that lead to global warming.

Develop. When you show development, you show how something came about; how it grew and came to be. When you develop an argument, it grows because of the specific things that you wish to say. (The difference between seed and a flower.)

How did the Jim Crow Laws develop in America?

Discuss. When you discuss, (rather than yell or become belligerent), you formulate an argument around certain well thought facts, details and reasons. These are the bricks in your wall. Without them, your argument is literally transparent.

Discuss the reasons for the American Revolution

Evaluate. Once you have presented facts, details, opinions, then you are able to evaluate the strength of your information. You can evaluate a teacher’s performance, but it would be unfair to do so after the first ten minutes of your first class. It would be equally unfair
to be evaluated for a marking period because of a grade on one homework assignment.

Evaluate America's success in the war on terrorism

Explain. Give reasons for something. Demonstrate what something is or how something works. Explaining why the sky is blue to a child is difficult.

You can explain how the system of Mercantilism worked.

Show. Make information presentable to someone. You can show how a vacuum cleaner works, and that would be easier than describing how it worked.

Show how Napoleon made errors concerning his invasion of Russia.

Cool Thing to Do!

A good friend of mine coaches baseball @ Queens High School of Teaching.

On Thursday April 19, they're playing a "home" game at Alley Pond Park.

Game starts @ 4PM. Anyone interested in going to check out the game, let me know!

Spring Break Assignment

Start it now, and save time over the break!

Over this spring break, I will asking that you complete a DBQ essay on the United States' reaction to the start of WWII.

Here's what you have to do:

After World War I, events in Europe caused the United States to review its foreign
policy. This review led to controversies between those who supported a return to
isolationism and those who wanted to see the United States take a more active role
in world affairs.

Using information from the documents and your knowledge of United States
history, answer the questions that follow each document in Part A. Your answers to
the questions will help you write the Part B essay in which you will be asked to

Discuss United States foreign policy toward Europe prior to World War II. In
your discussion, include the arguments used by those who supported isolationism
and those who were opposed to it.

The essay comes directly from the June 2005 Regents Exam. For the DBQ's and the essay CLICK HERE.

Essays may be typed, emailed, or neatly handwritten. The assignment is due ON WEDNESDAY APRIL 11, 2007. NO EXCEPTIONS. NO EXCUSES! Any papers not turned in at that time will receive a grade of ZERO.

If you choose to email me the essay, you must save it as a document first. I will not accept essays inside of an email.

CLICK HERE for a rubric to guide you as you write the essay!

World War II WIKI

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Causes_of_World_War_II

Very in-depth. Great background info for a DBQ Essay

Homework Assignments 3/26 and 3/27

Hello, Everyone:

In case you missed them, here are the HW assignments for today 3/26, and tomorrow 3/27.

Tonight's HW: READ Chapter 24 section 4. Complete "Terms and Names" and "Critical Thinking: Evaluating Decisions (#3)" on page 763.

Tomorrow's HW: "Terms and Names" p. 764, and "Main Ideas" #7, and #8, on page 764

REGENTS REVIEW SITE - START STUDYING NOW!!!

http://www.edusolution.com/regentsquiz/ushistorypackage/index.htm

Don't Wait Until June!!

Start Studying NOW!!

Don't say you weren't warned!!!

Homework 3/21/07

1. READ Chapter 24 Section 1 (pages 734-741)
2. Complete: Terms and Names, p741
3. Complete: "Analyzing Political Cartoons" p.740

This assignment will be graded as a 20 point quiz!

Notes on Isolationism

Just in case you were absent today...

ISOLATIONISM

What? BELIEF that the US should stay out of foreign affairs

When? 1920-1941

Why?
People not happy with results of the war
Believed US couldn’t be attacked
US superior to other nations

How?
Not joining the League of Nations
High Tariffs on European Goods
Limited Immigration
Washington Naval Conference 1921
a. US agrees to limit the size of its navy

Effects
Destroys trade w/other countries
Leads to Great Depression
Leads to anti-immigrant feelings
LEADS TO WWII - US was the only nation with the power to stop Germany, Japan and Italy, but did nothing about it.

Tonight's HW

Based on our class discussion today...

Was the policy of ISOLATIONISM good, or bad for the United States? Explain your answer in a post of AT LEAST 75 Words.

Please CHECK SPELLING AND GRAMMAR before posting. Thank you!

Isolationism

The next part of U.S. Foreign Policy that we will be researching is called Isolationism. Basically, what that means is...

Following our involvement in World War One, the United States entered a nearly two decade long period of isolation from world affairs. The result was not only a rejection of leadership and membership in international organizations, but a restricting of our borders and an anti-foreign feeling among society

Here are some links to help you learn more about this part of US Foreign Policy:

http://regentsprep.org/Regents/ushisgov/themes/foreignpolicy/isolation.htm
http://www.socialstudieshelp.com/Lesson_75_Notes.htm

This is a very short unit, and should only take a couple of days. After that, we jump into WWII.

What are YOU Willing to Work For

As we start the 3rd trimester of our first year at WJPS, we've made some significant progress. We've still got a ways to go, however. We won't get to where we have to be without hard work.

Your assignment: What are the things that you are willing to work hard for?

Good Study Links!

Here are some good places visit to study not only for this test, but for all of the topics we'll be looking at, and for regents prep!

The link below will take you to a bank of about 12 questions that have to do with the US entry into WWI.
http://regentsprep.org/Regents/core/questions/question.cfm?Course=USHG&TopicCode=5a&QNum=1&Wrong=0

Great all-around study site, for all subjects!
www.regentsprep.org

WWI Notes - Will be very helpful for your essay!
http://www.socialstudieshelp.com/Lesson_72_Notes.htm
http://www.socialstudieshelp.com/Lesson_73_Notes.htm
http://www.socialstudieshelp.com/Lesson_74_Notes.htm

World War I Study Guide

World War I Study Guide:

Exam Dates: Day 1: Thursday March 15

Day 2: Friday March 16

Day 1: Multiple Choice and Thematic Essay

Day 2: DBQ, DBQ Outline, and Essay

Multiple Choice: approximately 10 vocab questions, 20 m/c (A, B, C, D) questions

Thematic Essay Topic: Supreme Court Cases Concerning Constitutional Civil Liberties
Task: Using the case of Schenck vs. United States,

• Discuss the facts of the case (what do you know about it?)
• Identify a specific constitutional civil liberty issue addressed by the Supreme Court (what rights were in question)
• Discuss how the decision of the Supreme Court either expanded or limited a specific constitutional civil liberty in the United States (how did the decision affect how people were able to use that right?)

DBQ – Topic: Why did the US enter WWI?

Will be VERY similar to the assignment we did in class, and the essay you were already assigned

You’ll have about 5 DBQ’s to answer. Each document will relate to the US’s entry into WWI.

After you finish the DBQ’s, you’ll have an outline to complete

After the outline, you’ll write your essay.

Has to have intro, conclusion, and body paragraphs

Answer MUST make reference to the document(s) (ex: “in document 1, it shows that the US was exporting nearly 2 billion dollars to Britain by 1916.”

Vocab	Multiple Choice	Thematic	DBQ
Militarism Alliances Imperialism Nationalism Lusitania Zimmerman Note Espionage/Sedition Acts 14 points	The effects of the “clear and present danger” test from Schenck vs. US The US policy at the start of WWI. Can the government limit your civil rights during wartime? What was the purpose of the 14 points? Why did the US Senate object to the Treaty of Versailles What was the IMMEDIATE cause (“trigger) of WWI? How did President Wilson persuade Congress to enter WWI? What was the purpose of the League of Nations? WHEN did the US enter the War? WHO were the members of the Allies/Central Powers?	Schenck vs. US (1919) Supreme Court Case Information can be found on pages 602-603 of your textbook.	Review the reasons why the US entered the war. Submarines Spies Sales (exports) Democracy

Tonight's HW: Civil Liberties and the War on Terrorism Periods 2 and 5 Only

Think about the current war on terrorism. Do you think that your freedoms are being limited during this war?

Explain why or why not in a post of at least 100 words.

Friday's HW (Hour 2 and Hour 5 ONLY)

Sorry for the late post. Anyway, if you didn't get the HW yet, here it is...

Hour 6 classes, you are in the process of writing the DBQ essay on the causes of WWI. Hope you will have it by Monday!

Hours 2 and 5, based on our lesson Friday...

What is more important; your rights and freedom, or the safety and security of your country?

You may post your reply here, or handwrite it (posts are preferred, but not necessary to receive credit). Please write at least 125 words.