Homework 11/11

1. Read pp. 319-327 in your textbook.

Homework November 6

1. In your textbook read page. 217, 261- 265 and 314-319.

Online seminar

Between now and Friday morning you must make a minimum of three posts. Be sure your posts include evidence and try to build on the comments of your peers.


Do you think Alexander Hamilton's or Thomas Jefferson's ideas were the best to bring greatness to America? Why?

Homework October 25

1. Read for fifty minutes out of the primary source packet on Hamilton and Jefferson.

2. Below is the link for the chart comparing the two.

Hamilton vs. Jefferson

Homework October 24

1. Read 156 - 163 in your textbook. You can stop at the section " Charges of Treason". Be sure you take carful notes on the reading.

Homework October 23

1. Read the Federalist # 10. The link is below.

Federalist # 10

Homework October 21

1. Read Chapter 11 in Birth of the Republic

2. Type the answer to your assigned case in You be the Judge

3. Be sure you have played your game and commented on it in the blog.

Homework

1. On Monday you will have a quiz on the Constitution. Below is a link for an interactive Constitution and a link for an interactive Constitution quiz.

Interactive Constitution

Interactive Constitution Quiz




2. Below is the link for the Constitution Games. Please be sure you have played your game by Wednesday and be ready to report to the class what you learned from it.

Constitution Games

Homework 10/3

1. Read Chapter 8 in Birth of the Republic

2. Read pp. 130-132 and 136 - 141 in your textbook.

Homework 9/27

1. Write a rough draft of your essay that answers the question: Were the American colonists justified in rebelling against Great Britain? Remember you need three points to support your thesis statement. Each body paragraph should have at least two pieces of evidence. Below are some guidelines for the essay.

Guidelines for Your Essay

1. 12 pt. New Times Roman Font.
2. Margins, header and footer should be 1''
3. Write in the past tense
4. Keep verb tenses consistent.
5. Avoid using the verb "to be" (was, were)
6. Use action verbs.
7. Write in the active voice.
8. Be sure your intro has background information and a thesis statement.
9. Be sure each body paragraph has a topic sentence, evidence, analysis and a transition.
10. The conclusion should restate your thesis and connect to a larger theme.
11. The first time you introduce a person be sure to use the full name after that you can refer to the person by last name.
12. Any number under a hundred needs to be spelled out.
13. Avoid using the word "very"
14. Make sure you have subject and verb agreement.
15. Eliminate redundancies (decided in my mind, end result)
16. Delete empty words and phrases (In my opinion, The area of linguistics)
17. Reduce inflated expressions (at this point in time, due to the fact of, for the purpose of)
18. Avoid slang.
19. Avoid cliches (believe it or not, last but not least, rear its ugly head, hit the spot)
20. Avoid biased language.
21. Be sure you cite your quotes correctly. We will use parenthetical for essays.
22. Be sure you check spelling and grammar.

Homework 9/26

1. Read the Declaration of Independence pp. 159 - 162 in Birth of the Republic

2 Write thesis statement and three supporting points.

3. Write an introduction paragraph for paper.

Paul Revere's Engraving

1. Comment how Paul Revere's engraving of the Boston Massacre is a piece of propaganda.

Paul Revere's engraving of the Boston Massacre

Work due 9/25

1.      Write a letter to Parliament as a colonist condemning the Stamp Act or as loyalist supporting it. Remember you must have two reasons to support your beliefs. You should use two pieces of evidence to support your ideas.

2.      Read pp.106-118 in your textbook.

3.      Read Chapter Four in Birth of the Republic

4.      Comment on the blog on the picture of the Boston Massacre

5.      Read the handout on Common Sense and answer the questions on it. Please type your answers.

Homework 9/16

1. Finish reading all of the primary sources you have been assigned.

2. Read Chapter Three in the Birth of the Republic.

Homework 9/13

1. Read the primary sources on the Stamp Act.

Homework 9/12

1. Read Chapter two in The Birth of the Republic

Homework 9/11

1. Read pp. 66-68 in your textbook.

2. Read the first two sources in American Spirit: Burden of Mercantilism

3. Read pp. 12 - 14 in The Birth of the Republic.

4. Word process your answers to the Mercantilism worksheet.

Homework 9/9

1. In a well written paragraph explain what elements from the Mayflower Compact can you see in our government today?

2. Read pp. 1- 11 in Birth of the Republic.

3. Study for a map quiz on Canada using the following link: Map of Canada

Class Expectations

Below are some general guidelines for the course this year. In this class you can expect to learn content, but more importantly learn skills that will help you in college and later in life. Each you needs to put forth a maximum effort each day. If you ever need help I have a desk in the history office and in the college office. My phone extension at school is 1556, and my cell phone number is 978-877-8063. I live in Elm Tree Hall if you need extra help at night and my email address is ssheehan@lacademy.edu.

BOOKS:

Robert Divine America Past and Present.
Edmund S. Morgan The Birth of the Republic

Tim O'Brien If I Die in a Combat Zone

 PROBLEM APPROACH

In this class we will do a series of problems meaning we will try to answer an essential question for a given topic. For instance when we study the American Revolution we will try to answer the question- Were the colonist justified in their revolt against England? Our work on the Revolution will help us gain a deeper understanding of that question. We will not study every event that happened during the Revolution. Moreover, we have one essential question for the entire course, Is American History a history of progress? We will go back to this question often. Each term we will examine three problems, therefore there will be many events that happened in American history that we will not study.

ATTENDANCE

If you are in school you are to be in class on time. Being late to class or skipping class will not be tolerated. If you choose to skip class, you will have a zero for the day factored into your grade. If you miss more than four classes, you will have to meet with Mr. Ellsasser to determine if you can receive credit for the class that term.

GRADING

All the work you do in this class will be assigned a point value. Generally homework assignments are worth 10-50 points, quizzes 25-75 points, tests, seminars, essays and simulations 100-200 points. I do consider class participation when I compute your final grade. You earn your grades in this class, I do not give them. Late work will be marked off a full letter grade for each day it is late. If you have trouble finishing an assignment let me know before class starts.

QUIZZES AND TESTS

You will have announced quizzes and tests, and unannounced quizzes. I do not like to give unannounced quizzes; however, if I feel you are not doing the reading and taking reading notes I will give you a quiz.

ESSAYS

You will be asked to write essays in this class. Each essay should contain a thesis statement, an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Your paper should have a title page and be stapled in the upper left hand corner. You should be aware of the plagiarism rules as they are stated in the Omnibus Lucet. You are expected to use proper grammar and spelling. You must have specific evidence from your readings to support your argument. You must use proper citations in your paper, even when you are paraphrasing. We use the MLA format for this.

FINAL NOTE

I look forward to working with you this year. I expect each of you to work diligently each day and night to improve. If you do not work hard you will struggle in this class. You will get out of this class what you put into it. If you are willing to work we can have a great year.