Assignments for the week of 3/22

Hello Grade 8'ers:

Here's your assignments for the week.

We're going to spend this week working in class and out of class on a DBQ essay. The topic of this essay is Progressivism, which we've been studying for the last few days.

CLICK HERE for the link to the DBQ, and the accompanying essay. The essay is due when you return from Spring Break on Monday the 29th.

The key to a REALLY successful DBQ is adding information that goes beyond what's given to you in the documents, as well as being able to see the "big picture." In other words, can you go beyond just telling the person reading your essay what's listed in the documents? Can you tell them why it's important that they know about this stuff? I KNOW you can!

Here are some links that I think you will find very helpful in completing this assignment.

1. Review the Video, and Lectures that you've already watched on this topic.

2. CLICK HERE for an AWESOME presentation on the Progressive Era.

3. Another Excellent Source!

So, here's how we're going to do this.

1. Monday Night: Please do your best to print out a copy of the DBQ packet. You can get that by clicking on the link above for the essay. If someone you know is having trouble printing, be a good team-mate, and print out a copy for them. I will give extra credit to those people who do that for the community.

2. Tuesday Night: Finish answering the short answer questions (we're going to begin working on that in class)

3. Thursday Night: Using the outline we'll write in class, create a ROUGH DRAFT of your essay for class on Friday. We'll peer review each other's work, and figure out how to fix our essays in class on Friday.

4. Friday - Use the vacation to write your final draft of the essay, and bring it on the 29th.

Class #5 HW

Hello, Grade-8'ers:

Here's your HW for tonight.

1. REVIEW the lecture that you viewed, as well as the notes that you took over the weekend.

2. Using the lecture, your notes, and your knowledge of US History, answer the questions below. Each answer should contain some facts, and details, and should be between three (3) to five (5) sentences each. Please complete your assignments on looseleaf paper (in ink), or type on the computer.

1. What were the problems the Progressives tried to fix?
2. According to the Progressives, what caused these problems?
3. Who were the MUCKRAKERS? What reasons might explain why they are so important?
4. In your own words, describe a "political machine."
5. Briefly explain how the "city manager" system worked?
6. How did companies try to get around laws set up to protect workers?
7. What was so important about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire?

Class #4 HW

Hello Grade-8er's:

Here's tonight's HW.

1. CLICK HERE. Please watch, and listen to the lecture entitled "The Progressive Impulse."

2. Watch the lecture again. This time, while you're watching the lecture, complete the PODCAST SHEET (the same one you used for the movie!)

3. Using what you've learned from the lecture, the video, and other resources you might find helpful, please identify the following KEY TERMS (vocab) and NAMES (ppl)

1. Progressive Movement (Or "progressivism")
2. Muckraker
3. Suffrage
4. Susan B. Anthony
5. Theodore Roosevelt
6. The Jungle
7. NAACP
8. Woodrow Wilson
9. Clayton Anti-Trust Act
10. Federal Reserve System
11. Square Deal
12. Triangle Shirtwaist Fire

If for some reason you can't complete this work at home, feel free to show up to extra help (in room 353) to work on it, and avoid losing credit.

Class #3 HW

Hello, Grade 8'ers!

Here's tonight's HW Assignment: This assignment is due on Friday.

1. Click HERE to set up your account with POWER MEDIA PLUS. You will need this account, as sometimes you will be asked to watch videos for this class at home. DON'T WORRY! IT'S FREE! Enter the following passcode (copy and paste works best) yPNvYtchCh - If for some reason, you can't set it up, please come see me during afterschool, and we can set up your account.

2. Once you've signed into your account, click here to watch the video "America in the 20th Century: The Progressive Era."

3. After you've watched the video, click here and print out the PODCAST SHEET. Don't worry about the "AP US History" heading. I use this sheet for all of my classes. Watch the video again, but this time, fill out the sheet as you're watching it.

Please check back for Friday's assignment shortly.

Class #2 HW

Think about the "Cultural Biography" Exercise we did today in class.

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.

Welcome to Grade 8 US History

Greetings, Class of 2014!

Thanks for visiting the blog. I've set this up as a way for us to communicate with each other, and share ideas about Social Studies, school, the world, etc. I'd like to use this a way for us to even complete our homework assignments; saves paper, time, trees, etc.

As 8th graders, you and the other members of our Junior High School Learning Community (JHLC) have been engaged in a rigorous course of study in American History. As you know, it is an extremely challenging course. At the end of this school year, your learning community will take the Grade 8 New York State Social Studies Assessment. Your performance on that exam may enable some members of our learning community to take Advanced Placement (AP) US History next year. This is a college-level course, and if you pass a very tough, very demanding exam, you may earn up to SIX (6) college credits, saving you valuable time and money when you get to college.

So. Here's what I need YOU to do tonight.

1. Complete the short essay we discussed in class today.

2. Click here. Download and print your student contract,

3. Click here. Download and print the list of procedures

4. Please review the contract, and list of procedures with your parents. Both you and your parents must sign that contract, and return it to class TOMORROW.