9/30 Today in Class

We took an open note quiz on today's readings.
We then explored the differences between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, first by looking at this VIDEO CLIP and then by beginning to analyze the excerpts from the two documents that are posted HERE and in the Unit Two tab above.

Today in Class

Today we worked on the written portion of the Constitution test.  There is a new assignment sheet posted in the Unit Two tab above.  Please note your homework for this evening.

Today in Class

1) Sign up for Turnitin.com !!  Here are the INSTRUCTIONS
2) Work on written test in class.  Brainstorming sheet must be done prior to writing.  Draft responses for Monday.

Written Constitution Test

The written portion and the corresponding brainstorming sheet are posted in the Unit One tab above.

What we did in class today

Continued our review of the Constitution.  Passed out written portion of the test.  Review guide and written portion are posted above.

9/15-What we did in class today

We took a quiz.  If you were absent it is in the testing center.  We then discussed Articles I and II of  the Constitution.

9/12-What we did in class today

Today we discussed and defined the phrases in the Preamble and then explored the conflicts that existed at the time of the writing of the Constitution.  We spent the last part of the class considering several provisions of Article I.

Blog Post Due Thursday, 9/18

As today is the anniversary of the attacks that took place on September 11, it is important that as students of history, we reflect on that moment.  Thus, in a post to your blog that is due next Thursday, 9/18, please respond to the following.  You may consider the questions in #3 below as guiding questions and need not respond to all of them individually but instead work to compose a cohesive paragraph that addresses the issues raised.

1. Any thoughts, reflections, commentary on 9/11.
2. Watch President Obama's speech from 9/10/14 regarding military engagement with ISIS.   
3. Consider that the United States has been a nation at war for most of your lives.  What does this mean?  How has it impacted your lives or your vision of what America is?  What issues are raised as a result?  What do you think of the plans that President Obama outlined in his speech? Do you support them or not?  Why not?  How does his speech define what it means to be an American?  Does that match up with your vision?  How does 9/11 impact that vision?

9/11-The Great Debate

In class today, we explored the options that existed for Americans in regard to the new proposed Constitution in 1787. If you were not in class, here are your tasks (all readings and documents are posted in the Unit One Tab above).
1) Read and annotate the Options that you did not prepare for homework.
2) Fill out Part I of the Great Debate Chart.
3) Choose any four "Travellers at the Inn" and fill out Part II of the Great Debate Chart.

HW for tomorrow is to begin the Constitution Worksheet that is also posted in Unit One above.  You may find the link to the Interactive Constitution under Resource Links to the right to be helpful.

9/9-What we did in class

We finished the film Liberty. Took notes as we watched.
Assigned the "Great Debate" assignment for Thursday.  Handouts are linked in the Unit One tab above.

9/8-What we did in class today

Checked in and then discussed responses to the Declaration of Independence.
Began the film Liberty-only watched about the first five minutes, tbc tomorrow.

Defining Liberty

Today in class we will be examining two additional documents and then working to make some conclusions about the notion of liberty and how it was defined during our origins as a nation and how it's defined today.
Here are your tasks:

1) With a partner, read Chief Logan's Lament in the American Reader(30).  Then discuss and annotate the document according to the following questions:  Annotating is becoming an ACTIVE reader- and not just underlining everything! You need to engage with the text by having a conversation.

a.      Who wrote this document? (Circle this)  How much do you know about him/her/them?

b.      Who is the intended audience? (Circle this)  Could there be more than one?  What is the relationship between the author(s) and the audience?

c.      What is the context of the document? (Underline) What is happening during this time in history? What event in history is the document relating to?

d.      What is explicitly stated? (Underline) The basic information?

e.      What questions do you have based on the text? (Put a question mark and the question within the text) Think about what questions you would pose during a discussion about the text.

f.      What connections can you make within the text and to other aspects outside of the text? (Underline)

g.      Why was this document written?  (Underline) What is the author trying to prove? Multiple reasons?

2) With a partner, read The Slaves' Appeal to the Royal Governor of Massachusetts in the American Reader (31).  Then follow the same instructions above.

3) When finished, write a post to your blog that explores the notion of liberty in colonial times and makes a connection to your notions of liberty today.  Be sure to consider John Adams' Liberty and Knowledge as well as the two documents you just read.  You should use quotations to support the assertions you make.  Your textbook reading from today can also provide context to your post.

4) After you've done your own post, go to someone else's blog and read what they wrote.  Make a comment to their post in which you critique (agree or disagree) with the ideas they expressed.

**NOTE-the readings for tonight's homework are posted in the Unit One Tab above.  They are also now linked on the assignment sheet.