Extra Credit Blog Assignment

Go to the following article

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/11/nyregion/11councils.html?_r=1&ref=education&oref=slogin

Read the article carefully.
Post a response to the following questions.

1. Who has jurisdiction, or authority over the school discipline code?
2. Are students "rights" being violated?
3. How can rules and laws be changed?

NO CREDIT WILL BE GIVEN FOR ANONYMOUS POSTS! You must identify yourself

Tonight's HW 9/17/07

Tonight's HW:

Here are the terms for tonight's HW. Remember, for each one, you have to
1. Write a brief definition or description.
2. Discuss its purpose
3. State why the person, term, or concept is important.

You should write at least three, but no more than five sentences for each term.

The terms:

1. John Locke (he's a person)
2. Virginia House of Burgesses
3. Mayflower Compact
4. Declaration of Independence
5. Articles of Confederation
6. Northwest Ordinance
7. Constitutional Convention
8. Great Compromise.

You should find all of the information you need in your hand-out. If you want, or need more info, feel free to click on http://regentsprep.org/Regents/ushisgov/themes/government/index.htm for more information. Follow the links on the right hand side of the page to help you.

Blog Assignment # 3 - 9/11 Illness

Please click on the link below (or the posting title) and read the article that follows.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/06/nyregion/06health.html?ex=1315195200&en=555a379d601bc494&ei=5090
After you read the article, write a reflection, based on the following questions:

How has money played a role in the care of 9/11 cleanup victims?
Who is at fault for the illness?
What changes in finance need to be made to correct the problem?
Is health care a federal, city or individual responsibility?

Mr. Walter Brown, a teacher at the Queens High School of Teaching, has a senior government class that is working on the same assignment. Click on the link below to access their class blog, and see what his kids had to say.

http://qhst-seniors.blogspot.com/2007/09/911-illness.html

See you Tuesday!

A Word About Posts

Hello, Everyone:

Just a short note about posting.

1. Posts are not IM's, or texts. They are serious pieces of writing. It is a homework assignment. Please write the same way you would when you are turning in a composition for grading.

2. PLEASE sign your name, and class period to your post. It will make it much easier for me to determine who is who, and give credit to the people who deserve it.

3. Avoid using your last name. Your First Name and last initial, as well as your class period will be just fine.

4. Please avoid multiple postings of the same posts. Posts are moderated, which means I have to approve them before they go on the blog. That's why you won't see it right away. It doesn't mean that I didn't get it. If you sent it, I'll get it.

Thanks!

Blog Assignment #2 - What does it mean to be an American?

Hello, Everyone:

Here is your assignment for this weekend. I think you will find it to be helpful as you complete your project "What America Means to Me."

Here's what you have to do.

1. Click, or copy this link into your browser. You can also access the article by clicking on the title of this post.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-07-02-americans-cover_x.htm

2. After you access the article, please read it carefully.

3. After you read the article, post your response to the following question:

"What does it mean to be an American?"

4. Make sure your post is at least 50 words long, but no more than 100.

5. Please spell check your post before sending. Thanks!

See you Monday!

Blog Assignment #1: THe Human Barometer

Think about the "human barometer" exercise we completed in class today. Then, using the questions to guide you, complete a reflection on that activity.

How did you feel?
What emotions did you experience?
What surprised you?
What, if anything made you angry?
How will this help you to do things differently now? What will you change?

Please be open, and honest. Your response should be at least 40 to 50 words. You'll probably write more, and that's OK, too.

DBQ Homework Assignment

Hello, Everyone:

Here's your assignment:

1. Go to the following link, and download the August 2005 Regents Exam

http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/socstre/ushg-805.pdf

2. After you download the exam, answer the DBQ Questions.

3. Create an outline for your DBQ essay, using the block outline we have discussed in class.

Good luck!

Cold War Test Study Guide!

Test Date: Monday May 13th
HELP CLASSES will be given!

Vocabulary: About 10-12

· Containment
· Détente
· McCarthyism
· Cold War
· Iron Curtain
· Marshall Plan
· Truman Doctrine
· Berlin Airlift
· Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
· NATO
· Bay of Pigs
· Cuban Missile Crisis
· H.U.A.C.

Multiple Choice: About 20

How were the Red Scare after WWI, and McCarthyism SIMILAR to each other?
What the TRUMAN DOCTRINE, MARSHALL PLAN, and EISENHOWER DOCTRINE all had in common
WHY did the Cold War take place?
What was the constitutional issue with the Vietnam War and Korean War (hint: was war ever declared?)
How did America’s foreign policy change after WWII (hint: what is NATO?)
How did the US try to stop the spread of communism in Europe?
Why did President Truman dismiss General MacArthur during the Korean War?
What was the purpose of the WAR POWERS ACT?
What has been the aim of America’s foreign policy THROUGHOUT its history?
What was a RESULT of the GULF OF TONKIN resolution?
What caused the Bay of Pigs invasion, Cuban missile crisis, and building of Berlin Wall?
What was a major result of the Korean War?
How are the Korean War, Vietnam War, and Persian Gulf Wars all similar (no declaration of war).
What was the main reason for the Marshall plan?
Why did the US become involved in Vietnam?
Reason for HUAC investigations
GOAL of the policy of Containment
Why did the relationship between USSR and US become strained after WWII

Thematic Essay: Cold War (from the August 2005 Regents Exam)

Following World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union were engaged in
a conflict that became known as the Cold War. The Cold War created problems
that the United States addressed with specific actions. These actions had varying
degrees of success.

Task:

Identify two problems faced by the United States during the Cold War and for
Each

• Explain how the problem led to conflict between the United States and the
Soviet Union (Give the reasons why this problem led to conflict)

• Describe one action taken by the United States in response to the problem (tell us about the action; don’t just say what it was! How did it work? What happened?)

• Evaluate the extent to which the action taken was successful in solving the
problem (how successful was the action? Why?)

You may use any Cold War problems from your study of United States history. Some
suggestions you might wish to consider include the postwar economic upheaval in Western
Europe (1945–1947), Soviet takeover of Eastern Europe (1945–1948), threat of Communist
takeover in Greece (1947), Soviet blockade of Berlin (1948), nuclear arms race (1950s–1970s), and placement of Soviet missiles in Cuba (1962)

Resources:
Chapter 9 (p 90-99) of the BLUE Review Books, p. 108, 112 of the BLUE Book (for Bay of Pigs, Vietnam)

Textbook Chapter 26

Regentsprep.org – follow the links for Foreign Policy/Cold War

Fdmurphy.com – follow the links for essay writing

Socialstudieshelp.com

HW Assignment 5/8/07

Internet Assignment.

You will need to have internet access to complete the assignment. If you are reading this, then you have internet access.

Here is what you need to do:

1. Click on the link below for "The Vietnam War: A Study in Photographs"

http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/vietnam-photos/

2. Follow the webpage down, and click on the links for the pictures related to the war.

3. Choose THREE PICTURES, and complete a PHOTOGRAPH ANALYSIS WORKSHEET for each picture. The link is also listed below.

http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/worksheets/photo.html

Due Thursday

Extra Credit Part II

http://qhst-seniors.blogspot.com/2007/04/privacy-vs-safety-on-campus.html

Click on the link above. Post a creative, thoughtful comment. Make sure it is checked for spelling, and grammar.

NO CREDIT FOR ANONYMOUS POSTS! If I don't know who did it, you don't get credit!

Worth up to 2 points on your final semester grade!

Tonight's HW 5/1/07

DUE DATE THURSDAY 5/03/07

Counts as a quiz (25 pts)

Review Chapter Section 3 in your textbook.

Complete "Alternative Assessment" #1 on p. 837

Due Thursday!

Cold War Notes

Become an expert on the Cold War!

Impress your teachers!

Be the smart, popular kid that everyone looks to for the answer!

Here's some links to some of the topics we'll be covering in the next couple of days.

http://www.socialstudieshelp.com/Lesson_97_Notes.htm

http://www.socialstudieshelp.com/Lesson_98_Notes.htm

http://www.socialstudieshelp.com/Lesson_99_Notes.htm

http://www.socialstudieshelp.com/Lesson_100_Notes.htm

http://www.socialstudieshelp.com/Lesson_101_Notes.htm

http://www.socialstudieshelp.com/Lesson_102_Notes.htm

http://www.socialstudieshelp.com/Lesson_103_Notes.htm

Know it. Learn it. Live it!

Homework Assignment 4/23/07

The Cold War

Click on the picture, or on the heading of the blog post to access the documents you will need for the assignment.

Based on the documents...

1. What did Churchill and Kennan believe were the goals of the Soviet Union?
2. What did the authors believe should be the response of the United States to Soviet actions?
3. Historians generally agree that the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union began between 1946 and 1947. How do you think Churchill and Kennan would define "cold war?"

Your posts must be spell-checked! I am looking for some really deep thinking here. Don't give one-word answers!

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!