Dear Voyager Students and Parents,
I have posted midterm exam grades for all students whose exams I have in my possession. Unfortunately, I do not have the tests to grade for a few students in 5th and 6th hour, and I apologize to students who will have to wait until the first week of January to learn their results.
To see your grade, you need to look at the comment on the midterm assignment on Gradelink. We are posting midterm grades this way to make sure they don't affect your 2nd marking period grade.
**A note on the grading scale:**
I went back and made some adjustments to the first and second period midterm exam grades; the letter grade indicated next to your percentage is now based on the 10-point grading scale I have been using in my class all year. I will convert the percentages at the end of the marking period to reflect the letter grades earned in the second marking period and the final exam.
For instance, if your score on the midterm reads "90% A-," this means that you earned 90% of the points possible after the curve, and that I would consider this an A- on the 10-point grading scale I use on tests and quizzes in class. At the end of the marking period, I would enter this as a "93" (A-) on the official report card to make it fit Voyager's standard 7-point grading scale; I would not enter it as a "90" (B+).
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
APGEO: Midterm exam results and winter break study guidelines
Dear students and parents,
4th hour AP Human Geography midterm results have been posted on Gradelink. To see yours, you need to look at the comment on the midterm assignment. We are posting midterm grades this way to make sure they don't affect your 2nd marking period grade.
Average score: 88% (B+)
Median score: 92% (A-)
Top scorers: Lawton, Sydney, Caleb
A note on how the exam was graded: AP tests are extremely difficult; earning 50% of possible points is usually enough to earn a 3 and college credit, while earning 70% or more of possible points is often enough to earn the top score of 5. Accordingly, I curved the multiple choice section of the midterm by 30% and the essay section by 32%, allowing the top student scorer in each section to earn 100% on that section. I then calculated final grades using a weighted average: 67% of a student's grade was his/her curved multiple choice score; 33% of a student's grade was his/her curved essay score. On the actual AP test, students will complete three FRQ essays instead of two, and the multiple choice and essay sections are each worth 50%.)
Students did very well on their first practice AP test, but there is also a lot of room for improvement. We will be very busy over the next few months as we finish the course curriculum and prepare for the AP Human Geography test.
Average score: 88% (B+)
Median score: 92% (A-)
Top scorers: Lawton, Sydney, Caleb
A note on how the exam was graded: AP tests are extremely difficult; earning 50% of possible points is usually enough to earn a 3 and college credit, while earning 70% or more of possible points is often enough to earn the top score of 5. Accordingly, I curved the multiple choice section of the midterm by 30% and the essay section by 32%, allowing the top student scorer in each section to earn 100% on that section. I then calculated final grades using a weighted average: 67% of a student's grade was his/her curved multiple choice score; 33% of a student's grade was his/her curved essay score. On the actual AP test, students will complete three FRQ essays instead of two, and the multiple choice and essay sections are each worth 50%.)
Students did very well on their first practice AP test, but there is also a lot of room for improvement. We will be very busy over the next few months as we finish the course curriculum and prepare for the AP Human Geography test.
Once again, I want to strongly encourage students to use at least some of their winter break to work on AP geography in the following ways:
-Review the first three units (Introduction to Human Geography, Population and Migration, and Cultural Geography) in a test prep book.
-Read about FRQ (free response question) strategy in a test prep book and online; this was a weaker spot on the exam for most students.
-Look ahead to the rest of the Cultural Geography unit (language and religion) and on to the next unit on Geopolitics and Political Geography using a test prep book and/or online sources.
-Study for upcoming map quizzes: South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa.
-Read/watch global news sources to strengthen your knowledge of current events. Also, consider the extra credit project: http://wideawakehistory.blogspot.com/2010/12/all-economist-world-in-2011-extra.html.
Above all, Happy Holidays! Thank you for a great first semester.
--Mr. M
--Mr. M
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Honors: Midterm Exam results (1st and 2nd hour)
Dear students and parents,
1st and 2nd hour midterm exam results have been posted on Gradelink. To see yours, you need to look at the comment on the midterm assignment. We are posting midterm grades this way to make sure they don't affect your 2nd marking period grade.
Here are the results for 1st and 2nd hour Honors World History:
1st hour:
Class average: 89% (B+)
Class median: 88% (B+)
Top scorers: Lauren, Corey, Katie
2nd hour:
1st and 2nd hour midterm exam results have been posted on Gradelink. To see yours, you need to look at the comment on the midterm assignment. We are posting midterm grades this way to make sure they don't affect your 2nd marking period grade.
Here are the results for 1st and 2nd hour Honors World History:
1st hour:
Class average: 89% (B+)
Class median: 88% (B+)
Top scorers: Lauren, Corey, Katie
2nd hour:
Class average: 95% (A)
Class median: 96% (A)
Top scorers: Anna, Kyle, Shane, Sydney, James, Lawton
Great work! The honors midterm exam had 110 points possible and was curved by 5 points (students could miss 5 points and still earn 100%).
Happy Holidays,
--Mr. M
Thursday, December 9, 2010
ENRICHED + HONORS: Homework and reminders, Thursday 12/9
-The Byzantine Empire scavenger hunt was due today (should have been completed in class). If you didn't turn it in today, you must turn it in Friday for credit.
-All late and missing assignments.
-Middle Ages document assignment (on http://www.sasinschool.com/login); should have been completed in class Thursday.
-Do Nows from November and December will be collected (done in class).
Finally, students should be using the study packets I provided on Monday and Tuesday to study for their midterm exam.
Thank you,
Mr. M
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
ALL: Economist World in 2011 extra credit opportunity
Each December, bookstores receive copies of the Economist magazine's The World in 2011, a special issue in which Economist writers as well as world political and business leaders share their thoughts about current world trends and make predictions about events and developments that might occur in the following year.
Students interested in completing an extra credit project over Winter Break should purchase a copy of the magazine from a local bookstore (such as the Barnes & Noble at New Hope Commons on 15-501 in Durham, or the Borders down the road). You can also see many of the articles online by searching for them at http://www.economist.com/worldin2011.
Project guidelines:
The purpose of this extra credit project is to give students an opportunity to familiarize themselves with a major current issue in world affairs.
1. Choose a topic and read the article mentioned. Pick a topic from the list below; read the articles mentioned next to the topic (all of the articles listed can be found in The World in 2011).
2. Find and read THREE additional news articles about the topic that have been written in the past year. You should search for relevant articles at the following news sources (and only these sources, unless you clear a different source with me in advance). These are great sources for research and current events that you may want to bookmark for future use:
General news and current events:
BBC (British Broadcasting Corp.)
The Economist
New York Times
NPR (National Public Radio)
Reuters
The Wall Street Journal
Foreign policy and international affairs:
Center for Strategic and International Studies
Council on Foreign Relations
Foreign Affairs
Foreign Policy
Other resources:
CIA World Factbook
3. Country research. Please visit the CIA World Factbook website to do additional research on countries mentioned in your articles. Look for the drop-down menu that says "---Select a Country or Location---." For at least THREE of the countries mentioned in your articles, read the description of the country, and research the basic statistics listed below. For each statistic, include both the statistic itself and the country's rank in the world:
Population; Population growth rate; Life expectancy at birth; GDP (purchasing power parity); GDP - per capita (PPP); Distribution of family income - Gini Index.
All of these measures are explained here - make sure you understand them. Feel free to include additional measures that are relevant to your article.
4. Article summaries and analyses. For each article you read, type two paragraphs. The first paragraph should summarize the article's main points and conclusion. The second paragraph should be your analysis of the article and informed opinion about the topic discussed in the article.
5. Visual aid - optional but recommended for extra points. Please consider developing a large poster or Powerpoint presentation about your topic; for additional credit, you can schedule a time to present it to the class in 5 minutes or less.
How many topics can I choose?
-As few as one or as many as three.
How much extra credit is this project worth?
-It depends on how much you do, how much effort you put into it, and the overall quality of the final product. Overall, the maximum amount of extra credit I can envision giving out for a marking period would be up to 6% of a student's grade. This would be in the rarest of cases for exceptional extra credit work. More realistically, a high-quality project could bring your final marking period grade up one grade - from a B+ to A-, an A- to an A, a high A to an A+, etc.
Due date: Your complete project must be received no later than Wednesday, 1/12
Topics to choose from (with The World in 2011 article):
Please note: If you want to propose a different topic, or you do not want to use an article from The World in 2011, I am open to alternative suggestions.
-General predictions for the next 25 years: "The world in 2036" (pp. 111-114)
International Affairs
-U.S. foreign policy: "The limits of power" (pp. 37-38) and "Way to Lead" (p. 52)
-China's rise; competition between the U.S. and China: "Welcome to a zero-sum world" (pp. 85-86)
-North Korea's soon-to-come transfer of power: "Kim-wee" (p. 64)
-Territorial disputes involving China: "A sea of troubles" (p. 65)
-U.S. war in Afghanistan / development in Afghanistan: "More gloom for Afghanistan" (p. 72)
-U.S. war in Iraq / development in Iraq: "Still nothing like normal" (p. 77-78)
-Middle East peace talks (between the Israelis and Palestinians): "What if..." (p. 79)
-Iran's economy; economic sanctions on Iran; conflict over Iran's nuclear program: "Iran's president nuked by the economy?" (p. 78)
-The weakening of nation-states (national governments): "The state of the state" (p. 90)
Politics and Government:
-Government spending, government debt, and cuts in government spending: "Tremble, Leviathan" (pp. 17-18) and "Avoidable errors" (p. 22)
-Chinese politics: "The long goodbye" (pp. 63-64)
Regions of the World:
-Democracy and development in Latin America: "Latin America changes its guard" (pp. 55-56), "Castro v. Cuba" (p. 56), and "We, the bicentennials" (p. 60)
-South Sudan - a soon-to-be new country; also, the conflict/genocide in Darfur: "Hello country number 193" (p. 82)
-Turkey's politics and foreign policy; Islam in Turkey; Turkey's relations with Europe and Israel: "The trouble with Ottomania" (p. 100)
-Politics, economics, and development in Russia: "Twenty years on" (pp. 101-102)
Population and the Environment:
-Climate change (global warming), political responses to climate change, and geoengineering: "Cooling the Earth" (p. 26)
-World population growth: "Another year, another billion" (p. 28)
-Building environmentally-friendly cities: "Let it Pour" (p. 50)
-The retirement of the baby-boomers; economic and political consequences of aging populations in the U.S., Japan, and other wealthy countries: "The slow farewell" (p. 89)
Science, Technology, and Global Health:
-Newspapers, Media, and the Internet: "Metering the news" (p. 141)
-Eradicating malaria: "A fight to the death" (pp. 159-160)
-Space exploration and space technology: "Mars trek" (p. 163)
Economics and Business:
-U.S. economy: "Cheer up" (p. 48, 50)
-India's economy and China's economy: "The fastest lap" (p. 68, 70); "How fast can they go?" (p. 70-71).
-Economics and development in sub-Saharan Africa: "South of the Sahara" (p. 80)
-Germany's economy: "Powerhouse Deutschland" (pp. 93-94); "A chancellor at bay" (p. 95)
-Economic outlook for different industries: "The world in figures: Industries" (pp.125-128) (choose five different industries)
-New emerging markets (fast-growing economies in developing countries): "The emerging emerging markets" (pp. 131-132)
Please let me know if you have any questions!
Students interested in completing an extra credit project over Winter Break should purchase a copy of the magazine from a local bookstore (such as the Barnes & Noble at New Hope Commons on 15-501 in Durham, or the Borders down the road). You can also see many of the articles online by searching for them at http://www.economist.com/worldin2011.
Project guidelines:
The purpose of this extra credit project is to give students an opportunity to familiarize themselves with a major current issue in world affairs.
1. Choose a topic and read the article mentioned. Pick a topic from the list below; read the articles mentioned next to the topic (all of the articles listed can be found in The World in 2011).
2. Find and read THREE additional news articles about the topic that have been written in the past year. You should search for relevant articles at the following news sources (and only these sources, unless you clear a different source with me in advance). These are great sources for research and current events that you may want to bookmark for future use:
General news and current events:
BBC (British Broadcasting Corp.)
The Economist
New York Times
NPR (National Public Radio)
Reuters
The Wall Street Journal
Foreign policy and international affairs:
Center for Strategic and International Studies
Council on Foreign Relations
Foreign Affairs
Foreign Policy
Other resources:
CIA World Factbook
3. Country research. Please visit the CIA World Factbook website to do additional research on countries mentioned in your articles. Look for the drop-down menu that says "---Select a Country or Location---." For at least THREE of the countries mentioned in your articles, read the description of the country, and research the basic statistics listed below. For each statistic, include both the statistic itself and the country's rank in the world:
Population; Population growth rate; Life expectancy at birth; GDP (purchasing power parity); GDP - per capita (PPP); Distribution of family income - Gini Index.
All of these measures are explained here - make sure you understand them. Feel free to include additional measures that are relevant to your article.
4. Article summaries and analyses. For each article you read, type two paragraphs. The first paragraph should summarize the article's main points and conclusion. The second paragraph should be your analysis of the article and informed opinion about the topic discussed in the article.
5. Visual aid - optional but recommended for extra points. Please consider developing a large poster or Powerpoint presentation about your topic; for additional credit, you can schedule a time to present it to the class in 5 minutes or less.
How many topics can I choose?
-As few as one or as many as three.
How much extra credit is this project worth?
-It depends on how much you do, how much effort you put into it, and the overall quality of the final product. Overall, the maximum amount of extra credit I can envision giving out for a marking period would be up to 6% of a student's grade. This would be in the rarest of cases for exceptional extra credit work. More realistically, a high-quality project could bring your final marking period grade up one grade - from a B+ to A-, an A- to an A, a high A to an A+, etc.
Due date: Your complete project must be received no later than Wednesday, 1/12
Topics to choose from (with The World in 2011 article):
Please note: If you want to propose a different topic, or you do not want to use an article from The World in 2011, I am open to alternative suggestions.
-General predictions for the next 25 years: "The world in 2036" (pp. 111-114)
International Affairs
-U.S. foreign policy: "The limits of power" (pp. 37-38) and "Way to Lead" (p. 52)
-China's rise; competition between the U.S. and China: "Welcome to a zero-sum world" (pp. 85-86)
-North Korea's soon-to-come transfer of power: "Kim-wee" (p. 64)
-Territorial disputes involving China: "A sea of troubles" (p. 65)
-U.S. war in Afghanistan / development in Afghanistan: "More gloom for Afghanistan" (p. 72)
-U.S. war in Iraq / development in Iraq: "Still nothing like normal" (p. 77-78)
-Middle East peace talks (between the Israelis and Palestinians): "What if..." (p. 79)
-Iran's economy; economic sanctions on Iran; conflict over Iran's nuclear program: "Iran's president nuked by the economy?" (p. 78)
-The weakening of nation-states (national governments): "The state of the state" (p. 90)
Politics and Government:
-Government spending, government debt, and cuts in government spending: "Tremble, Leviathan" (pp. 17-18) and "Avoidable errors" (p. 22)
-Chinese politics: "The long goodbye" (pp. 63-64)
Regions of the World:
-Democracy and development in Latin America: "Latin America changes its guard" (pp. 55-56), "Castro v. Cuba" (p. 56), and "We, the bicentennials" (p. 60)
-South Sudan - a soon-to-be new country; also, the conflict/genocide in Darfur: "Hello country number 193" (p. 82)
-Turkey's politics and foreign policy; Islam in Turkey; Turkey's relations with Europe and Israel: "The trouble with Ottomania" (p. 100)
-Politics, economics, and development in Russia: "Twenty years on" (pp. 101-102)
Population and the Environment:
-Climate change (global warming), political responses to climate change, and geoengineering: "Cooling the Earth" (p. 26)
-World population growth: "Another year, another billion" (p. 28)
-Building environmentally-friendly cities: "Let it Pour" (p. 50)
-The retirement of the baby-boomers; economic and political consequences of aging populations in the U.S., Japan, and other wealthy countries: "The slow farewell" (p. 89)
Science, Technology, and Global Health:
-Newspapers, Media, and the Internet: "Metering the news" (p. 141)
-Eradicating malaria: "A fight to the death" (pp. 159-160)
-Space exploration and space technology: "Mars trek" (p. 163)
Economics and Business:
-U.S. economy: "Cheer up" (p. 48, 50)
-India's economy and China's economy: "The fastest lap" (p. 68, 70); "How fast can they go?" (p. 70-71).
-Economics and development in sub-Saharan Africa: "South of the Sahara" (p. 80)
-Germany's economy: "Powerhouse Deutschland" (pp. 93-94); "A chancellor at bay" (p. 95)
-Economic outlook for different industries: "The world in figures: Industries" (pp.125-128) (choose five different industries)
-New emerging markets (fast-growing economies in developing countries): "The emerging emerging markets" (pp. 131-132)
Please let me know if you have any questions!
Monday, December 6, 2010
ENRICHED: China test corrections info.
China Test Corrections - DUE Friday, 12/10:
Students have the option of earning back up to half of the points they missed on the matching and multiple choice portions of their recent China test. Only whole points lost are eligible for corrections; the map sections are ineligible.
Matching and multiple choice sections: For each answer that was incorrect, students must both:
(1) define the key concepts tested in a question in their own words and
(2) provide either an example of those concepts or an extended explanation of those concepts in their own words.
You should be able to find information on these topics on the test study guide and in your course readings and notes.
**Please note: you MUST staple a copy of your original graded quiz to the back of the corrections you turn in.**
Here are the key concepts that were tested:
ENRICHED - FORM A
I. Matching
1. Genghis Khan
2. Qing Dynasty
3. golden age
4. junk
5. Lao Zi (Lao Tzu)
6. moveable type
7. Shanghai
8. Silk Road
9. tribute system
10. Yuan Dynasty
II. Multiple Choice
11. China's cultural and religious influence on surrounding countries such as Korea
12. Why the Chinese economy expanded during the Song dynasty
13. How were Chinese bureaucrats selected to join the civil service?
III. Short Answer
Students who lost points on the short answer question should rewrite their answer after going back to read about Daoism, Legalism, and Confucianism in their study guide and reading notes. Here is the question:
In a paragraph, compare and contrast the philosophies of Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism. For each philosophy, describe at least one key idea or belief. You might also explain what each philosophy’s goal was: what do you think the thinker who invented each one was trying to accomplish? Accurately use and explain at least four of the terms below in your answer.
the Way
obeying the laws
unnecessary action
fame
reward and punishment
materialism
worldly
human nature
good government
supernatural
filial piety
conflict
well-being
social order
five relationships
education
authority of government
ENRICHED - FORM B
I. Short Answer
Students who lost points on the short answer question should rewrite their answer after going back to read about Daoism, Legalism, and Confucianism in their study guide and reading notes. Here is the question:
In a paragraph, compare and contrast the philosophies of Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism. For each philosophy, describe at least one key idea or belief. You might also explain what each philosophy’s goal was: what do you think the thinker who invented each one was trying to accomplish? Accurately use and explain at least four of the terms below in your answer.
the Way
obeying the laws
unnecessary action
fame
reward and punishment
materialism
worldly
human nature
good government
supernatural
filial piety
conflict
well-being
social order
five relationships
education
authority of government
V. Matching
1. Genghis Khan
2. Qing Dynasty
3. golden age
4. junk
5. Lao Zi (Lao Tzu)
6. moveable type
7. Shanghai
8. Silk Road
9. tribute system
10. Yuan Dynasty
VI. Multiple Choice
11. China's cultural and religious influence on surrounding countries such as Korea
12. Why the Chinese economy expanded during the Song dynasty
13. How were Chinese bureaucrats selected to join the civil service?
Students have the option of earning back up to half of the points they missed on the matching and multiple choice portions of their recent China test. Only whole points lost are eligible for corrections; the map sections are ineligible.
Matching and multiple choice sections: For each answer that was incorrect, students must both:
(1) define the key concepts tested in a question in their own words and
(2) provide either an example of those concepts or an extended explanation of those concepts in their own words.
You should be able to find information on these topics on the test study guide and in your course readings and notes.
**Please note: you MUST staple a copy of your original graded quiz to the back of the corrections you turn in.**
Here are the key concepts that were tested:
ENRICHED - FORM A
I. Matching
1. Genghis Khan
2. Qing Dynasty
3. golden age
4. junk
5. Lao Zi (Lao Tzu)
6. moveable type
7. Shanghai
8. Silk Road
9. tribute system
10. Yuan Dynasty
II. Multiple Choice
11. China's cultural and religious influence on surrounding countries such as Korea
12. Why the Chinese economy expanded during the Song dynasty
13. How were Chinese bureaucrats selected to join the civil service?
III. Short Answer
Students who lost points on the short answer question should rewrite their answer after going back to read about Daoism, Legalism, and Confucianism in their study guide and reading notes. Here is the question:
In a paragraph, compare and contrast the philosophies of Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism. For each philosophy, describe at least one key idea or belief. You might also explain what each philosophy’s goal was: what do you think the thinker who invented each one was trying to accomplish? Accurately use and explain at least four of the terms below in your answer.
the Way
obeying the laws
unnecessary action
fame
reward and punishment
materialism
worldly
human nature
good government
supernatural
filial piety
conflict
well-being
social order
five relationships
education
authority of government
ENRICHED - FORM B
I. Short Answer
Students who lost points on the short answer question should rewrite their answer after going back to read about Daoism, Legalism, and Confucianism in their study guide and reading notes. Here is the question:
In a paragraph, compare and contrast the philosophies of Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism. For each philosophy, describe at least one key idea or belief. You might also explain what each philosophy’s goal was: what do you think the thinker who invented each one was trying to accomplish? Accurately use and explain at least four of the terms below in your answer.
the Way
obeying the laws
unnecessary action
fame
reward and punishment
materialism
worldly
human nature
good government
supernatural
filial piety
conflict
well-being
social order
five relationships
education
authority of government
V. Matching
1. Genghis Khan
2. Qing Dynasty
3. golden age
4. junk
5. Lao Zi (Lao Tzu)
6. moveable type
7. Shanghai
8. Silk Road
9. tribute system
10. Yuan Dynasty
VI. Multiple Choice
11. China's cultural and religious influence on surrounding countries such as Korea
12. Why the Chinese economy expanded during the Song dynasty
13. How were Chinese bureaucrats selected to join the civil service?
HONORS: China test corrections info.
China Test Corrections - DUE Friday, 12/10:
Students have the option of earning back up to half of the points they missed on the matching and multiple choice portions of their recent China test. Only whole points lost are eligible for corrections; the map sections are ineligible.
Matching and multiple choice sections: For each answer that was incorrect, students must both:
(1) define the key concepts tested in a question in their own words and
(2) provide either an example of those concepts or an extended explanation of those concepts in their own words.
You should be able to find information on these topics on the test study guide and in your course readings and notes.
**Please note: you MUST staple a copy of your original graded quiz to the back of the corrections you turn in.**
Here are the key concepts that were tested:
I. Matching
1. Beijing
2. Genghis Khan
3. golden age
4. Han Feizi
5. inflation
6. junk
7. Lao Zi (Lao Tzu)
8. Ming Dynasty
9. moveable type
10. Qing Dynasty
11. Shanghai
12. Shi Huangdi
13. Silk Road
14. tribute system
15. Yuan Dynasty
II. Multiple Choice
16. China's cultural and religious influence on surrounding countries such as Korea
17. Why the Chinese economy expanded during the Song dynasty
18. How were Chinese bureaucrats selected to join the civil service?
19. List five of China's dynasties that we studied in class in the correct chronological order (first, second, third, etc.)
III. Short Answer
Students who lost points on the short answer question should rewrite their answer after going back to read about Daoism, Legalism, and Confucianism in their study guide and reading notes. Here is the question:
In a paragraph, compare and contrast the philosophies of Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism. For each philosophy, describe at least one key idea or belief. You might also explain what each philosophy’s goal was: what do you think the thinker who invented each one was trying to accomplish? Accurately use and explain at least five of the terms below in your answer.
the Way
obeying the laws
unnecessary action
fame
reward and punishment
materialism
worldly
human nature
good government
supernatural
filial piety
conflict
well-being
social order
five relationships
education
authority of government
Students have the option of earning back up to half of the points they missed on the matching and multiple choice portions of their recent China test. Only whole points lost are eligible for corrections; the map sections are ineligible.
Matching and multiple choice sections: For each answer that was incorrect, students must both:
(1) define the key concepts tested in a question in their own words and
(2) provide either an example of those concepts or an extended explanation of those concepts in their own words.
You should be able to find information on these topics on the test study guide and in your course readings and notes.
**Please note: you MUST staple a copy of your original graded quiz to the back of the corrections you turn in.**
Here are the key concepts that were tested:
I. Matching
1. Beijing
2. Genghis Khan
3. golden age
4. Han Feizi
5. inflation
6. junk
7. Lao Zi (Lao Tzu)
8. Ming Dynasty
9. moveable type
10. Qing Dynasty
11. Shanghai
12. Shi Huangdi
13. Silk Road
14. tribute system
15. Yuan Dynasty
II. Multiple Choice
16. China's cultural and religious influence on surrounding countries such as Korea
17. Why the Chinese economy expanded during the Song dynasty
18. How were Chinese bureaucrats selected to join the civil service?
19. List five of China's dynasties that we studied in class in the correct chronological order (first, second, third, etc.)
III. Short Answer
Students who lost points on the short answer question should rewrite their answer after going back to read about Daoism, Legalism, and Confucianism in their study guide and reading notes. Here is the question:
In a paragraph, compare and contrast the philosophies of Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism. For each philosophy, describe at least one key idea or belief. You might also explain what each philosophy’s goal was: what do you think the thinker who invented each one was trying to accomplish? Accurately use and explain at least five of the terms below in your answer.
the Way
obeying the laws
unnecessary action
fame
reward and punishment
materialism
worldly
human nature
good government
supernatural
filial piety
conflict
well-being
social order
five relationships
education
authority of government
APGEO: Reminders and deadlines, 12/6 and 12/7
-Please make sure you carefully read the email I sent out this weekend as well as the attached packet entitled "AP Human Geography Test Strategies." I don't want anyone to be surprised by the midterm!
-Middle East / North Africa map quiz: Tuesday, 12/7
-Reading notes on Cultural Geography - Language: Wednesday, 12/8
-***MIDTERM EXAM AFTER-SCHOOL REVIEW SESSION - Attendance Highly Recommended***: Thursday, 12/9, 2:55-3:35 p.m. in Mr. McCarl's room.
-Midterm exam date: Wednesday, 12/16
-Last day for all missing/late work: Friday, 12/10.
Suggested calendar for studying for the Midterm test:
Tues 12/7: Finish creating Unit I ("What is geography?") study guides in class or as homework
Weds 12/8: Begin creating Unit II ("Population and migration") study guides
Thurs 12/9: Finish creating Unit II ("Population and migration") study guides in class or as homework; attend after-school midterm review session.
Fri 12/10: Hand out student-created study guides for Units I and II. Begin creating Unit III ("Cultural geography: Culture and Identity" - ignore language and religion for now) study guides in class, finish as homework; ask any questions you have.
Over the weekend: Review all three units, and come to class Monday with a few questions you have about topics that seem particularly important to understand.
Monday 12/13: Hand out student-created study guides for Unit III (cultural geography). Ask remaining questions to clear up misunderstandings.
Mon 12/13 and Tues 12/14: Study independently in the evenings; email or stop by to ask any questions you have. Review test strategies packet to make sure you are approaching the multiple choice and essay sections with a plan.
Thank you,
Mr. M
-Middle East / North Africa map quiz: Tuesday, 12/7
-Reading notes on Cultural Geography - Language: Wednesday, 12/8
-***MIDTERM EXAM AFTER-SCHOOL REVIEW SESSION - Attendance Highly Recommended***: Thursday, 12/9, 2:55-3:35 p.m. in Mr. McCarl's room.
-Midterm exam date: Wednesday, 12/16
-Last day for all missing/late work: Friday, 12/10.
Suggested calendar for studying for the Midterm test:
Tues 12/7: Finish creating Unit I ("What is geography?") study guides in class or as homework
Weds 12/8: Begin creating Unit II ("Population and migration") study guides
Thurs 12/9: Finish creating Unit II ("Population and migration") study guides in class or as homework; attend after-school midterm review session.
Fri 12/10: Hand out student-created study guides for Units I and II. Begin creating Unit III ("Cultural geography: Culture and Identity" - ignore language and religion for now) study guides in class, finish as homework; ask any questions you have.
Over the weekend: Review all three units, and come to class Monday with a few questions you have about topics that seem particularly important to understand.
Monday 12/13: Hand out student-created study guides for Unit III (cultural geography). Ask remaining questions to clear up misunderstandings.
Mon 12/13 and Tues 12/14: Study independently in the evenings; email or stop by to ask any questions you have. Review test strategies packet to make sure you are approaching the multiple choice and essay sections with a plan.
Thank you,
Mr. M
HONORS: Homework and Midterm Exam information, 12-6
Homework and reminders:
***ALL LATE AND MISSING WORK is due Friday, 12/10. This will allow grades to be brought completely up to date over winter vacation, and enable students to return to class with a clean slate in January.***
-Byzantine empire scavenger hunt (should have been completed in class) - due Thursday, 12/9. The scavenger hunt questions are located at http://www.spsk12.net/departments/STAR/socialscience/whI/byzantine%20empire/index.htm.
-Do Nows from November and December will be collected on Thurday, 12/9.
-Test corrections for the China test are due Friday, 12/10. Information regarding these corrections will appear in a separate post later today.
Important Midterm Exam Information:
The midterm exam dates for Honors World History are Tuesday (12/14) and Friday (12/17). Per school policy, this exam will account for 20% of students' semester grade - a permanent grade that appears on transcripts and official GPA calculations.
The World History midterm exam will cover all of the units we have studied so far: prehistory, early civilizations, the five major world religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam), ancient Greece, the Roman Republic and Roman Empire, ancient and medieval China, and the Byzantine Empire.
On Monday and Tuesday in class, I provided (or will provide) students with two important study materials for the World History midterm:
1.) "Midterm Study Guide" - the first three pages of this are newer material on Islam and the Byzantine Empire. The remainder of the packet is a compilation of quiz/test study guides that were handed out earlier in the semester. Every topic tested on the exam will be in this packet somewhere.
2.) "Optional Midterm Practice Tests" - this packet is a compilation of all of the tests and quizzes we have taken in class so far. Students are welcome to work through this packet as a workbook in order to refresh their memories, get extra practice, and identify potential trouble spots.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. M
***ALL LATE AND MISSING WORK is due Friday, 12/10. This will allow grades to be brought completely up to date over winter vacation, and enable students to return to class with a clean slate in January.***
-Byzantine empire scavenger hunt (should have been completed in class) - due Thursday, 12/9. The scavenger hunt questions are located at http://www.spsk12.net/departments/STAR/socialscience/whI/byzantine%20empire/index.htm.
-Do Nows from November and December will be collected on Thurday, 12/9.
-Test corrections for the China test are due Friday, 12/10. Information regarding these corrections will appear in a separate post later today.
Important Midterm Exam Information:
The midterm exam dates for Honors World History are Tuesday (12/14) and Friday (12/17). Per school policy, this exam will account for 20% of students' semester grade - a permanent grade that appears on transcripts and official GPA calculations.
The World History midterm exam will cover all of the units we have studied so far: prehistory, early civilizations, the five major world religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam), ancient Greece, the Roman Republic and Roman Empire, ancient and medieval China, and the Byzantine Empire.
On Monday and Tuesday in class, I provided (or will provide) students with two important study materials for the World History midterm:
1.) "Midterm Study Guide" - the first three pages of this are newer material on Islam and the Byzantine Empire. The remainder of the packet is a compilation of quiz/test study guides that were handed out earlier in the semester. Every topic tested on the exam will be in this packet somewhere.
2.) "Optional Midterm Practice Tests" - this packet is a compilation of all of the tests and quizzes we have taken in class so far. Students are welcome to work through this packet as a workbook in order to refresh their memories, get extra practice, and identify potential trouble spots.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. M
ENRICHED: Homework and Midterm Exam information, 12-6
Homework and reminders:
***ALL LATE AND MISSING WORK is due Friday, 12/10. This will allow grades to be brought completely up to date over winter vacation, and enable students to return to class with a clean slate in January.***
-Byzantine empire scavenger hunt (should have been completed in class) - due Thursday, 12/9. The scavenger hunt questions are located at http://www.spsk12.net/departments/STAR/socialscience/whI/byzantine%20empire/index.htm.
-Do Nows from November and December will be collected on Thurday, 12/9.
-Test corrections for the China test are due Friday, 12/10. Information regarding these corrections will appear in a separate post later today.
Important Midterm Exam Information:
The midterm exam date for Enriched World History is Thursday, 12/16. Per school policy, this exam will account for 20% of students' semester grade - a permanent grade that appears on transcripts and official GPA calculations.
The World History midterm exam will cover all of the units we have studied so far: prehistory, early civilizations, the five major world religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam), ancient Greece, the Roman Republic and Roman Empire, ancient and medieval China, and the Byzantine Empire.
On Monday and Tuesday in class, I provided (or will provide) students with two important study materials for the World History midterm:
1.) "Midterm Study Guide" - the first three pages of this are newer material on Islam and the Byzantine Empire. The remainder of the packet is a compilation of quiz/test study guides that were handed out earlier in the semester. Every topic tested on the exam will be in this packet somewhere.
2.) "Optional Midterm Practice Tests" - this packet is a compilation of all of the tests and quizzes we have taken in class so far. Students are welcome to work through this packet as a workbook in order to refresh their memories, get extra practice, and identify potential trouble spots.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. M
***ALL LATE AND MISSING WORK is due Friday, 12/10. This will allow grades to be brought completely up to date over winter vacation, and enable students to return to class with a clean slate in January.***
-Byzantine empire scavenger hunt (should have been completed in class) - due Thursday, 12/9. The scavenger hunt questions are located at http://www.spsk12.net/departments/STAR/socialscience/whI/byzantine%20empire/index.htm.
-Do Nows from November and December will be collected on Thurday, 12/9.
-Test corrections for the China test are due Friday, 12/10. Information regarding these corrections will appear in a separate post later today.
Important Midterm Exam Information:
The midterm exam date for Enriched World History is Thursday, 12/16. Per school policy, this exam will account for 20% of students' semester grade - a permanent grade that appears on transcripts and official GPA calculations.
The World History midterm exam will cover all of the units we have studied so far: prehistory, early civilizations, the five major world religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam), ancient Greece, the Roman Republic and Roman Empire, ancient and medieval China, and the Byzantine Empire.
On Monday and Tuesday in class, I provided (or will provide) students with two important study materials for the World History midterm:
1.) "Midterm Study Guide" - the first three pages of this are newer material on Islam and the Byzantine Empire. The remainder of the packet is a compilation of quiz/test study guides that were handed out earlier in the semester. Every topic tested on the exam will be in this packet somewhere.
2.) "Optional Midterm Practice Tests" - this packet is a compilation of all of the tests and quizzes we have taken in class so far. Students are welcome to work through this packet as a workbook in order to refresh their memories, get extra practice, and identify potential trouble spots.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Mr. M
Thursday, December 2, 2010
APGEO: Cultural geography vocab quiz I results
GREAT WORK on a difficult vocabulary quiz yesterday!
Class average: 92.4% (A-)
Top scorers: Lawton, Sydney, Matt, Caleb, Danyel
The quiz was curved by two points and had an additional extra credit point possible.
Current second marking period average grades:
Class average: 87.5% (B)
Extra credit opportunities coming soon....
***Important reminders:***
-The Southwest Asia (Middle East) / North Africa map quiz has been postponed until Tuesday. Make sure you study the De Blij "geographical features" of the region sheet as well. After this, our next map quiz will be on South Asia.
-Reading notes on the De Blij language and cultural geography chapter are due on Wednesday, 12/8.
-The online cultural geography activity we worked on in class Tuesday and today should be turned in no later than Wednesday, 12/8.
Have a great day,
--Mr. M
Class average: 92.4% (A-)
Top scorers: Lawton, Sydney, Matt, Caleb, Danyel
The quiz was curved by two points and had an additional extra credit point possible.
Current second marking period average grades:
Class average: 87.5% (B)
Extra credit opportunities coming soon....
***Important reminders:***
-The Southwest Asia (Middle East) / North Africa map quiz has been postponed until Tuesday. Make sure you study the De Blij "geographical features" of the region sheet as well. After this, our next map quiz will be on South Asia.
-Reading notes on the De Blij language and cultural geography chapter are due on Wednesday, 12/8.
-The online cultural geography activity we worked on in class Tuesday and today should be turned in no later than Wednesday, 12/8.
Have a great day,
--Mr. M
ENRICHED + HONORS: Homework and reminders, Thursday 12/2
DUE TOMORROW (Friday, 12/2):
---
1.) Islam paper. Click here for guidelines; click here for a sample document with the correct formatting. Please follow directions very carefully on this assignment, and turn it in on time. I prefer that you turn in a paper copy in class tomorrow. However, if this is not possible, you may email it to me before the start of class with "Islam paper - final copy - (last name)" in the subject line of the email.
2.) Islam reading notes. (Islam and Byzantine Empire reading notes for Honors students)
-If you are feeling overwhelmed, I will consider giving a one-day extension on the Islam/Byzantine Empire reading notes due tomorrow if and only you ask me in advance (preferably in person, otherwise via email).
---
-I will be announcing one or more extra credit opportunities soon. If you have an extra credit project idea, please let me know ASAP!
DO NOW, Friday 12/2:
Please answer both of the following questions:
1. What is the Byzantine Empire? What did it have to do with the Roman Empire?
2. After answering question #1 above, describe and explain one additional thing you have learned so far about the Byzantine Empire.
Thank you,
--Mr. M
---
1.) Islam paper. Click here for guidelines; click here for a sample document with the correct formatting. Please follow directions very carefully on this assignment, and turn it in on time. I prefer that you turn in a paper copy in class tomorrow. However, if this is not possible, you may email it to me before the start of class with "Islam paper - final copy - (last name)" in the subject line of the email.
2.) Islam reading notes. (Islam and Byzantine Empire reading notes for Honors students)
-If you are feeling overwhelmed, I will consider giving a one-day extension on the Islam/Byzantine Empire reading notes due tomorrow if and only you ask me in advance (preferably in person, otherwise via email).
---
-I will be announcing one or more extra credit opportunities soon. If you have an extra credit project idea, please let me know ASAP!
DO NOW, Friday 12/2:
Please answer both of the following questions:
1. What is the Byzantine Empire? What did it have to do with the Roman Empire?
2. After answering question #1 above, describe and explain one additional thing you have learned so far about the Byzantine Empire.
Thank you,
--Mr. M
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
ENRICHED + HONORS: Byzantine empire web inquiry address
The activity we are starting in class today can be found here: http://www.spsk12.net/departments/STAR/socialscience/whI/byzantine%20empire/index.htm
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