Monday, February 25, 2008

New Unit - World War I

Hello, Everyone: 

The next unit of study that we will be covering is World War I.  Listed below are the homework assignments for this topic, which is found in CHAPTER 19 of the TB

HW'S: 
Tonight: Read pp. 578-586.  Complete "Terms and Names," and questions 2, and 4 on p. 586
Tuesday: pp. 587-593.  "Terms and Names" and "Critical Thinking" #3.  
Wednesday: pp. 594-601: Complete Questions 1 and 3 on p. 601
Thursday:  pp. 604-608: Complete "Critical Thinking" 3 and 4 on p. 608
Friday: WWI Poster Mini Project: Due Tuesday March 4 NO EXCUSES

TEST: Tentatively Scheduled for March 10 and 11 (two day exam)! Click Here for Details

World War I

In case you missed today's notes, here they are!  

Friday, February 15, 2008

February Recess Assignments

Hello, Everyone: 

Listed below are your assignments for the February Recess.  

1.  Please to the QHST Class Blog and read the post.  After reading the post, what you are going to to is the following: 

  • Develop a PLAN of ACTION - something that we as a school community can DO to HELP the victims of Hurricane Katrina.  There are so many different things that need to be done.  Follow the links on the QHST site and I'm certain that you will be able to find a cause, or something that will inspire you to help.  
2.  COMPLETE any missing assignments that are outstanding at this time.  The major assignments I am looking for are the: 
  • Thematic Essay on the Supreme Court Cases
  • Federalism Mini-Project 
Check previous posts on this blog and teacherease for more information. 

3.  Extra Credit Assignment:  You can do this for extra credit, or in place of one of the major assignments listed in #2 (in case you're missing one of them).  
  1. Go to Digital History
  2. READ the Documents
  3. ANSWER QUESTION #2 at the bottom of the web page
  4. Complete a DBQ ESSAY which answers the following question
  • "Was imperialism a proper and legitimate policy for the US to follow at the turn of the nineteenth century?" 
  • In other words, should the United States have practiced imperialism? 
  • Use information in the forms of quotes from documents to back up your opinion
  • CLICK HERE FOR HELP WITH THIS ASSIGNMENT scroll down and find the links under "Writing for the Humanities..." Follow the links under "The Writing Process." 
  • This assignment is worth the equivalent of a one-hundred (100) point test.   

Thursday, January 31, 2008

America's Foreign Policy

Based on today's class...

What reasons might explain why America seems to be more willing to help other nations than people in our own country?  

For example, in the movie "When the Levees Broke," we learned that the US was able to get supplies into Sri Lanka faster than they did to New Orleans.  

Why do you think we're more concerned with other nations than our own country? 

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

When the Levees Broke - Part II

Based on the government's response to Hurricane Katrina...

In what areas was the government successful? 
In what areas did each level of government fail? 
What were the major reasons behind the government's success or failure? 
Have your ideas about the responsibilities of government changed as a result of seeing this film? Why, or why not?  

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Regents Week Assignments

Hello, Everyone:

Although we are not meeting for class next week, due to the regents exams, please do not be mistaken that this is a week of vacation.

I expect that you'll take some time to enjoy yourself this week. However, there is much work to be done before we finish this course. Therefore, you will have some assignments to complete this week.

Here are your assignments.

1. Complete your blog-post assignment related to "When the Levees Broke." This is a very important assignment, and I am really counting on everyone to make a comment on this film. CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK

2. Go to the "Foreign Policy" section of the regentsprep.org website. Print out the information for each of the topics. Read, and highlight each section (don't worry, they're really short). Bring it with you to class when we return after the Regents. CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK

3. Click Here for the "Foreign Policy Vocab" assignment. Print out the list. Using your textbook, the internet, and/or other sources, please create a definition of each term or concept in your own words.

See you next week!

Thursday, January 03, 2008

Right to a Fair Trial Part 2

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ny-tankleffgallery1002,0,3188407.storygallery.

CLICK ON THE LINK ABOVE. Take time to read some of the articles related to this case...Then, answer the questions below.

1. Do you agree with the decision to set Mr. Tankleff free, even though he confessed to the murder of his parents?
2. Were Martin Tankleff's civil liberties violated? How?
3. Which of Martin Tankleff's rights were violated?
4. What type of recourse should Martin Tankleff have in this case?
5. Based on this case, and the case yesterday, do you think a jury trial is always a fair trial?

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

The Right to a Fair Trial

http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/ny-opfocus5518442dec30,0,182822.story

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-limill1211,0,1911067.story?coll=ny_breaking_500

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-limill1212,0,1976604.story?coll=ny_breaking_500

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-limill1128,0,2304290.story?coll=ny_breaking_500

Click on the links above, or copy, and paste the links above into your browser. Read the articles. Then answer the questions below in the form of a paragraph.

1. What role, if any, do you think race played in this trial?
2. Do you think race SHOULD have played a role in this trial?
3. Do you think the outcome of the case would have been different, if the races of the people involved were reversed? Why?
4. Do you believe that John White received a fair trial?
5. What other actions could/should Mr. White or Mr. Cicciaro have taken in this case?

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Vacation Assignment for the Rapumentary

Hello, Campers:

As you know, we've been working very hard in class to complete the rapumentary project. Despite some setbacks, we should be able to complete the project shortly after we get back from vacation.

The only way that we can make that happen is if we all do our best, and continue to work hard. That means that over the vacation, you will be expected to complete the following.

1. You are expected to complete TWO VERSES for your group's rap.
2. One of the verses will be an INTRODUCTION. In other words, it will be just like the introduction to an essay. In that intro verse, you should reflect:

  • The purpose of the Supreme Court
  • Why the Supreme Court is important
  • How the Supreme Court's decisions can affect Civil Liberties.


3. You will also be responsible for writing a verse based on one of your cases. Your verse MUST reflect:
  • The BASIC FACTS OF THE CASE: Who's involved? What happened? How did the case get to the Supreme Court?
  • The CIVIL LIBERTIES in question: What amendment? What right?
  • The OUTCOME AND EFFECTS OF THE CASE: How did the court rule? Did this ruling EXPAND, or LIMIT CIVIL LIBERTIES
4. Please note that each group will lose TEN POINTS for each group member who fails to complete their verses, and bring them to class on January 2 (the day we return from vacation). If you are going to be absent, then email your team-mates. "....is absent, and he/she has the..." is NOT an acceptable excuse.

Here's a link to help you "kick it." Be Creative. Work Hard. HAVE FUN!!!

Friday, December 14, 2007

Dumbing Down?

Click on the link for the article that Follows, and answer the following:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/12/14/2007-12-14_harlem_principal_gets_a_slap_over_memo.html


1. What is your reaction to the article?
2. What reasons might explain why the Principal sent the memo to the teachers?
3. Would you be happy if you knew that a teacher gave you a "passing" grade, even though you didn't deserve it?
4. Should teachers challenge students to learn, or just help them to pass exams like the Regents, and the State Tests?
5. Do you feel that you are challenged enough academically in your classes? If not, then what should teachers be doing to challenge you more?

Monday, December 10, 2007

Rapumentary Project Day 6

Morning, Campers:

Today's Mission:

Before you leave class today, you MUST email a copy of your work to ME and yourself. My email is MTessler@schools.nyc.gov.


1. You've had time to research AT LEAST two cases. Today's mission will involve those cases and PowerPoint.

2. You will have time today in class to complete a PowerPoint Presentation on your case. Your presentation should contain


  • A Background (not plain)
  • A graphic related to the case you are researching
  • A short summary of facts of the case
  • The Civil Liberty (or LIBERTIES) in Question
  • An explanation of how the OUTCOME of the case INCREASED OR DECREASED CIVIL LIBERTIES


3. IF you didn't finish your thematic essay, you will be working on that during class today. It will be due at the end of the period. If you don't finish by the end of the period, you will have 24 hours to hand it in. If you do no work at all on the essay during class, you will choose to take a grade of zero for the thematic assignment.

4. If you're not really familiar with PowerPoint, click on the link for this post. You will be taken to a site that will give you a brief lesson on how to use it.

5. TONIGHT'S HW: Finish your PowerPoint, and email it to me before 11:59 PM tonight.

Thursday, December 06, 2007

Extra Credit Post

Hello, everyone:

CLICK HERE and Read the Following Story. Then, answer the following questions.



Is justice being served in this case?
What recourse does the family have?
What lesson is to be learned from this incident?

Rapumentary Day 3

Morning, Campers:

Here's our mission for day 3. You will have until Monday to complete it.

1. Using the information that you have gained from your research of Supreme Court Cases, you will use that knowledge to create an amazing Thematic Essay. This essay will work very well to help you with the PowerPoint section of your project.

2. Here's what you're going to do:

Write a well-organized essay that includes an introduction, several paragraphs addressing the task below, and a conclusion.

Theme: Supreme Court Cases Concerning Constitutional Civil Liberties

The United States Supreme Court has played a major role in either
expanding or limiting constitutional civil liberties in the United States.

Task:
Identify two Supreme Court cases that have had an impact on civil
liberties in the United States.


For eachcase identified:


  • •Discuss the facts of the case
  • •Identify a specific constitutional civil liberty issue addressed by the
    Supreme Court
  • •Discuss how the decision of the Supreme Court either expanded or limited a specific constitutional civil liberty in the United States


You may use any appropriate Supreme Court case from your study of United States
history. Some suggestions you might wish to consider include


  • Plessy v. Ferguson(1896),
  • Schenck v. United States (1919),
  • Korematsu v. United States (1944),
  • Brownv. Board of
    Education of Topeka(1954),
  • Mapp v. Ohio(1961),
  • Gideonv. Wainwright(1963),
  • Miranda v.Arizona (1966),
  • Tinkerv. Des Moines School District(1969),
  • New Jersey v. T.L.O. (1985).

You are not limited to these suggestions.

Links to help you:
1. Use the links in the posts from TRP Days 1, and 2 to help you.
2. Here are links to the scoring rubric, and Outline.

CLICK HERE FOR THE SCORING RUBRIC
CLICK HERE FOR THE ESSAY OUTLINE

Good Luck!

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

More Cases

Hello, Everyone:

Do you need an additional case to work on? Don't understand the cases given? Want to do more research, or find a more interesting case?

Here's some links related to cases involving students:

http://www.uscourts.gov/outreach/resources/landmark_studentcases.htm

Here's some cases that deal with civil liberties

http://www.acluprocon.org/LandmarkCases.html#table

More SC Cases

What's up, people:

Here are some more cases you can research for this project. These cases specifically speak to the rights of students.

Board of Education v. Pico (1982)
Books may not be removed from school libraries simply because they may be offensive.

Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier (1983)
Administrators may edit the content of school newspapers.

Bethel School District #43 v. Fraser (1987)
Students do not have a First Amendment right to make obscene speeches in school

CLICK HERE FOR ALL OF THE PROJECT LINKS!

Rapumentary Project Day 2

Good Morning, Campers:

Here's your mission for today.

1. Choose ONE additional case to work on, besides the case you were working on yesterday. Your job is to research, and determine the important information about the case. Specifically, we need to focus on whether or not the case INCREASED, or LIMITED the civil liberties of Americans.

2. When you finish your research, you will make a post to this blog, that provides a SUMMARY of your information. Your summary should contain the information asked for in yesterday's post.

Hopefully, this blog will create a reference for all of us to use as we head towards the completion of TRP (the rapumentary project).