APUSH - Summer Reading - "Founding Brothers"

Mr. Scalia - his website link with more information on summer reading.


Outside of class over the last week of school, we will be reading the first portion of "Founding Brothers" and discussing it some in class. I hope that this gives all of you a jump on your summer reading and assists Mr. Scalia and Ms. Flynn for next year.


Here is a link to the flyer that your APUSH teachers are assigning.


I can GUARANTEE it will be better than the first 3 chapters of Bulliet! :)


We will watch a little of the History Channel documentary based on the book and also discuss the first portion of your summer reading. It would be a great idea to purchase the book now!

Hotel Rwanda on YouTube

Just in case you are absent at all, I have found someone else's upload of Hotel Rwanda on the web. You have to flip forward a bit because they have put some graphic stuff at the beginning, but this is the full movie.

Questions that go with the movie & Hotel Rwanda Viewing Guide.

Agenda: Week of Monday, May 21 - Friday, May 25, 2012

Quote of the Week: "There will be no rescue, no intervention for us. We can only save ourselves. Many of you know influential people abroad, you must call these people. You must tell them what will happen to us... say goodbye. But when you say goodbye, say it as if you are reaching through the phone and holding their hand. Let them know that if they let go of that hand, you will die. We must shame them into sending help." - Paul Rusesabagina

Monday, May 21st, 2012 - Mr. Duez's Birthday.
Discuss the following items:
1. Book return is Wed/Thu. Bring  your book.
2. Digital Project is optional and a bonus score. If you do the project it is due on Tuesday of next week. Period - no exceptions. If you do not do the project, it will not count for or against you.
3. Final Exams - I will have a final exam review for you by Friday. (Probably Wed/Thu). The test will be including questions from Hotel Rwanda as well. It will cover Chapters 14 - Chapter 24.That is 3 chapters shorter than in the fall (remember we reviewed for the past month!).
4. Pass in Permission Slips for Hotel Rwanda. We will start the movie tomorrow.
-also students will walk the Freshman Flyer for World History AP down to the Gold House to distribute-
5. We will discuss the 2012 AP World History Essay Questions. How do  you think you did?

Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012 - Hotel Rwanda
1. Pick up the handout in the front of the room over Hotel Rwanda.
2. Watch the movie Hotel Rwanda and answer questions that go with it. Mr. Duez will also discuss it throughout and at the end of the period.
BRING YOUR TEXT BOOKS NEXT CLASS PERIOD TO TURN IN.


Wednesday & Thursday, May 23rd and 24th, 2012 - Hotel Rwanda and Book Return
1. Students will turn in their Strayer text.
2. While students are coming back from text book turn in, Mr. Duez will give them the video camera to record advice to incoming freshmen and final words of wisdom to be shared.
3. View Hotel Rwanda Movie. Use the handout to follow along with the movie and help you discuss.
We should finish the movie this period, if not we will finish it on Friday for certain.
-Final Exam Review Sheets will be distributed when they are finished and printed-


Friday, May 25th, 2012 - Finish Hotel Rwanda & Final Exam Review
1. Finish Hotel Rwanda. Discuss.
2. Final Exam Review, if time.


Monday, May 28, 2012 is Memorial Day. No School!
Remember those who sacrificed their lives to protect your freedom and liberty.
Digital Projects are due on Tuesday. 
Movie Extra Credit is due on Tuesday.


Tuesday, May 29, 2012 - Final Exam Review
1. We will review for the final exam.
2. Final look back at the year - with pictures & music.

Final Exam Schedule:
Wednesday, May 30th: Periods 1, 2, and 5.
Thursday, May 31st: Periods 3 and 6.
Friday, June 1st: Periods 7 and 4.


Have a fantastic summer! You earned it!

APUSH Meeting After School Tuesday

Email from Mr. Scalia & Ms. Flynn:

Please pass along this tidbit:  I'd like to meet with all students who will be taking APUSH next year tomorrow (TUESDAY) after school in the blue LGI.  Meeting will only take a few minutes; I want to orient them and start pressing the summer reading.
Thanks!
Scalia

Hotel Rwanda - Information & Parent Permission Slip

May 17, 2012

Dear Parents,

As I write this, I am looking back at a fantastic journey; our kids have come such a long way this year. Their progress has been staggering. Please take some time to celebrate them as the school year is ending. The dedication and sacrifice they have put forth is truly special. They have blazed a trail for future classes at Atascocita High to follow. They were the first World History AP class in our district's history and they have created a wonderful foundation for the future.

So what is happening after the test? Our other incredible World History AP teacher, Mr. John Gillespie, and I have been working on a surprise. We are going to engage the kids in discussion and analysis of the film Hotel Rwanda, a dramatized depiction of the Rwandan genocide of 1994. Having shown this film before, I can attest to its power to motivate kids to think critically about international violence, and the responsibility of the individual. I will use a teaching guide produced by Amnesty International.

We will not only study the Rwandan Genocide, but also relate it to the other atrocities of the 20th century. The genocide of Bosnia-Herzegovina also occurred at the same time as Rwanda. Many are familiar with the Holocaust during World War II. The students have already studied about the horrors of the Rape of Nanking, Mao’s Great Leap Forward, Stalin’s forced famine of his own people in Russia, and Pol Pot in Cambodia. Information on Hotel Rwanda will be included on the final exam.

I would also like you to be aware that this film is rated PG-13. As a courtesy to you, I would like you to acknowledge your consent before I show the film. A duplicate copy of this letter, along with the permission form can be downloaded on my website: http://whap.mrduez.com

If you choose not to allow your child to watch the film, an alternative assignment will be arranged.
Please return the form by Monday, May 21.


Hotel Rwanda Information & Parent Permission Slip

Trailer for Hotel Rwanda:

Top 10 Tips for Tomorrow's AP World History Test

Well, one more pop culture reference that my students won't understand. Why not?
Top 10 Things That you should NOT forget for the WHAP Test Tomorrow:

10. Answer ALL the Multiple Choice. There is no penalty for guessing. Try to at least narrow the choices down to two good choices and then take a chance.
9. Bring a watch. Don't less the time slip away on the essays without answering one or two of them! Remember, they don't have to be perfect to still score some points. The readers are trying to help you, but you must hit the rubric.
8. There are FOUR main parts to the DBQ: Thesis, Grouping the documents, Point of View, and Need for an Additional Document. 
1. No Pizza-Taco Thesis! Make an analysis or judgement for your thesis and then back it up. Remember it is the opening statement in your court case. You are the prosecuting attorney and you are about to tell the jury who did it, where, when, and why. 
2. Group the documents 3 ways with 3 docs in each grouping. That is a safe bet. The groups should make sense. Establish a common reason for each group. 
3. For point of view, look for a document from a person that you clearly understand their background and what side they are on. For example, a quote from Maximilien Robespierre during the revolution would most definitely show a point of view that is against the king of France. State, "Maximillien Robespierre has a clear point of view that favors the third estate against the interests of the rich royals and fortunate clergy." You may even want to point out emotional language or possible bias. 
4. Students often forget to suggest a document. If you are totally and completely stumped, think of a historical figure that is not represented in the DBQ and suggest a quote from that person... or a chart, graph, map, or even a picture. Remember, you can't get that point if you fail to refer to a missing document. Remember you are trying to prove your case. So explain that although you may have the murder weapon (strong evidence), it would be great to have a fingerprint, lie detector test, or eye witness account. 
7. Do not forget to write your essays with your historical knowledge. This is your chance to show your knowledge of history and analyze World History in a serious way. I know the prompts (questions) are sometimes vague. But, if you get a date range, consider what events happened in that range. Don't just freak out that you "Don't know dates!" For example, between 1450 and 1750... do you know a certain someone who sailed the ocean blue? 
6. Bring 2 sharpened pencils and 2 blue or black ink pens.
5. Don't get frustrated. Remember you are going to miss a lot of questions and they are going to be hard. But, you don't have to be perfect to get a 3, let alone a 4 or 5. Keep marching. Keep chopping. Keeping running through the test. It is a marathon. 
4. Do NOT write a Pizza-Taco Thesis. (Pizza-Taco thesis is defined as any thesis where the words "Pizza" and "Taco" can be substituted for your actual comparison and still make sense. For example: "The Roman Empire (PIZZA) and the Han Chinese (TACO) were very similar, but they were also quite different." 
3. Know the code. On the test they often refer to a rather vague date, name, region, or theme without giving much information. If you 'know the code' you will understand what the question is asking for. 
Periodization: Memorize each of the 6 period dates and names. Include in your memory a few key dates to reference. 
Regions: East Asia (China), South Asia (India), Southeast Asia (Vietnam).. don't get tricked by these. 
Themes: Check below for the full breakdown on themes. We have covered them all!
2.Relax. You have an awesome (and good looking) teacher who has prepared you the best he could. Worst case scenario: you fail to get a 3, but you do leave with a learning experience that will help you prepare for the APUSH test. AND YOU ARE ALMOST A JUNIOR! Best case scenario - you relax, let your learning flow, remember these tips and you get college credit that could equal 6 full credits! At the University of Texas, 6 credits of World History would cost you $3,039. That's a nice savings!
1. Celebrate! When you are finished with this test... do something special for yourself. Celebrate your hard work. Don't forget about our party in class on Friday!

We are going to take a lot of fun pictures during the party on Friday. One of them will be a big picture with everyone who took this test. It will go on my wall in a frame and it will ALWAYS hang on my wall. 

It impossible for me to express how deeply proud I am of all of you. Thank you for your hard work this year!

If you absolutely can't read another word... 
Check out these videos. They do a great  job of analyzing world history. We have not watched them all in class.


CNN Millennium - The entire playlist (from Eleventh Century through Eighteenth Century)
John Green's Crash Course - The entire playlist (From Agricultural Revolution to Islamic Africa)
Mr. Duez' Youtube World History Playlist - 85 of the best World History videos on YouTube.

Themes of World History:

  1. Interaction between humans and the environment

    1. Demography and Disease
    2. Migration
    3. Patterns of Settlement
    4. Technology
  2. Development and interaction of cultures

    1. Religions
    2. Belief Systems, philosophies, and ideologies
    3. Science and Technology
    4. The arts and architecture
  3. State-building, expansion and conflict

    1. Political Structures and forms of governance
    2. Empires
    3. Nations and nationalism
    4. Revolts and revolutions
    5. Regional, transregional, and global structures and organizations
  4. Creation, expansion, and interaction of economic systems

    1. Agricultural and pastoral production
    2. Trade and Commerce
    3. Labor Systems
    4. Industrialization
    5. Capitalism and socialism
  5. Development and transformation of social structures

    1. Gender roles and relations
    2. Family and kinship
    3. Racial and ethnic constructions
    4. Social and economic classes

Great Review Videos for AP World Test

Here are some nice World History AP Review videos. You might be kind of burned out on studying flash cards, reading essay prompts, multiple choice, etc. So I thought these might help.

This is a pretty nice student attempt at using the song "We didn't start the fire" by Billy Joel and using it with World History AP.


A decent teacher review of the entire year in 12 minutes.


Fantastic 43 Minute Review of Units 1 and 2. Great stuff. Lecture and Discussion at Westlake High. Just an example of what your competition is doing to prepare:

Neil DeGrasse Tyson Quote

If everyone was... what an awesome world it would be!

T-Shirts Look GREAT!

I don't have mine yet and I'm so jealous! They look awesome. So glad they turned out so well. Can't wait to get mine. I may wear it for a week straight. :)

Agenda: Week of Monday May 14 - Friday May 18, 2012

Unit 6 Review - see table of contents for period 6.
Period 6: Accelerating Global Change and Realignments, c. 1900 to the Present
Key Concept 6.1 Science and the Environment
Rapid advances in science altered the understanding of the universe and the natural world and led to the development of new technologies. These changes enabled unprecedented population growth, which altered how humans interacted with the environment and threatened delicate ecological balances at local, regional, and global levels.
Key Concept 6.2 Global Conflicts and Their Consequences
At the beginning of the twentieth century, a European-dominated global political order existed, which also included the United States, Russia, and Japan. Over the course of the century, peoples and states around the world challenged this order in ways that sought to redistribute power within the existing order and to restructure empires, while those peoples and states in power attempted to maintain the status quo. Other peoples and states sought to overturn the political order itself. These challenges to, and the attempts to maintain, the political order manifested themselves in an unprecedented level of conflict with high human casualties. In the context of these conflicts, many regimes in both older and newer states struggled with maintaining political stability and were challenged by internal and external factors, including ethnic and religious conflicts, secessionist movements, territorial partitions, economic dependency, and the legacies of colonialism.
Key Concept 6.3 New Conceptualizations of Global Economy, Society, and Culture
The twentieth century witnessed a great deal of warfare and the collapse of the global economy in the 1930s. In response to these challenges, the role of state in the domestic economy fluctuated, and new institutions of global governance emerged and continued to develop throughout the century. Scientific breakthroughs, new technologies, increasing levels of integration, changing relationships between humans and the environment, and the frequency of political conflict all contributed to global developments in which people crafted new understandings of society, culture, and historical interpretations. These new understandings often manifested themselves in, and were reinforced by, new forms of cultural production. Institutions of global governance both shaped and adapted to these social conditions.
Monday May 14, 2012
Quote: "Even a clock that does not work is right twice a day." - Polish Proverb
Agenda:
1. Christianity from Judaism to Constantinople - Crash Course. 11 minutes.
2. Discuss comparison of religions.
3. Get essays back, in groups discuss and critique them. Special emphasis on thesis statements and analysis. Also checking for how many points have they gotten?


Tuesday May 15, 2012
Quote: “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity”  - Albert Einstein
Agenda:
1. Buddha and Ashoka - Crash Course. 12 minutes.
2. Discuss comparison of religions. 
3. Islam, the Quran, and the 5 Pilars - Crash Course. 13 minutes.
4. Compare Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism. There is almost always an essay question related to religion.
5. Also spend some time on essays in groups. Special emphasis on thesis statements and analysis. Also checking for how many points have they gotten?


Plan party on Friday. What can you bring. How do you want to celebrate the end of the AP test! :)




Wednesday & Thursday May 16 & 17, 2012
Quote: "Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." - John Wooden
Agenda:
1. Last minute tips & review game on preparing for the AP test. 
(Fourth and Sixth Period students should be finished with their test, so we'll debrief. Remember, do not share any knowledge of test questions with anyone. But, I want to know how the testing room was and what feedback I can give to our coordinator for next year.)
3. If extra time, we'll discuss recent history with a focus on Mozambique. How did colonization from Portugal, communism, and revolution impact the people living in Mozambique. How is it unique in Africa? What do they need to succeed in the modern world?




Friday May 18, 2012
Quote: "Success is never final. Failure is never fatal. Courage is what counts." - Sir Winston Churchill
Agenda:
1. You have fought for your right... to PAAAAARRRRRRTTTTTTY.
Let's celebrate.
We'll also discuss the digital project (rubric here) and freshmen boot camp (rubric here).

MOCK AP Test Monday at 3pm


Many students have asked for another opportunity to take a MOCK or Practice AP Test. After thinking through this past week and the horrible schedule we had, I think Monday after school might be a perfect time to do it. So I am offering a chance to come in at 3:00 to 5:00 in Blue 2 2605 and take the 70 question practice test (55 min) and I will choose 1 essay question at random that you'll have 1/2 an hour to do. Afterwards, I'll run through the answers with everyone. This should give you a very good practice. 

I am inviting anyone in Mr. Gillespie's class as well. So let them know they are welcome to come by. Please let me known if you plan on coming. That way I will know how many test copies to make.

I'll see everyone tomorrow and we'll be writing the Comparison Essay. Remember, I mentioned that we'll be focusing that question on the 15th century. If you did not have a chance to watch the CNN Millennium episode, "The 15th Century: Century of the Sail." It would be a good refresher for the essay.

Sunday May 10, 1992

First of all, take care of your Mom this weekend. Mother's Day is Sunday. If you can't afford anything, make her breakfast in bed, or lunch or dinner... or all 3! Ask her if there is anything you can do for her (and mean it). And put down the history books for a few hours and spend some time with her. (Unless part of what she wants is to be given some alone time!)

The picture below is from the day I graduated from college. It was May 10, 1992. The day was Mother's Day. I can think of no better Mother's Day gift for a mom than seeing her son graduate from college.
Juniata College, 1992. Secondary Education, History, and Political Science POE (Program of Emphasis). Although in all honesty, I had quite a lot of emphasis on football & baseball as well. :)
Can you imagine what your picture is going to look like when you graduate from college?

The interesting thing is that in the background is the Sports and Rec Center (gym, locker rooms, workout facilities, coaching offices). I spent quite a lot of time there! The building behind it is the Student Center where the Baker Refectory is (the cafeteria), our student organization offices, college radio station, mailboxes and loads of other student stuff. Behind that is a mountain. :) I lived my senior year in a suite that sat right at the base of that mountain.

And the really crazy thing? Notice the Japanese Flag sitting there on the right? We had a bunch of international flags situated around the commons where we graduated. It just so happened that the Japanese one made this picture. I had not yet started to date Mrs. Duez. We knew each other pretty well and I would start calling and dating her the following month. I guess the camera just knew that someone with Japanese ancestry would be in my future?

Beastie Boys RIP MCA. History of Modern Music.

Mr. Duez discussed this with many of you today in class. The impact of the Beastie Boys on popular culture, music, and hip hop specifically is remarkable.

When I was growing up near Pittsburgh the Beastie Boys were constantly played in our bedrooms, locker rooms, cars, and boom boxes (yes, we had those!). Along with groups like Run DMC, LL Cool J, and Public Enemy, Rap and then Hip Hop was expanded into the popular culture. The Beasties made this new type of music more popular to a larger number of people because of the way they presented themselves. They were often a satirical and comedic look at the world. Fight for Your Right to Party was not what most thought it to be. It was not "a bad boys anthem" as much as it was a tongue-in-cheek joke about how stupid bad boys looked. It was a parody of party rock songs.


Mike D commented that in an interview with NPR in May 2011, "The only thing that upsets me is that we might have reinforced certain values of some people in our audience when our own values were actually totally different. There were tons of guys singing along to 'Fight for Your Right' who were oblivious to the fact it was a total goof on them."

As a kid that was very similar to these 3 white boys from the northeast, I could relate. My two other friends and I had our little rap sessions of silliness. It was fun. It was interesting. And it was a way to look at and relate to the world that was contagiously entertaining. My rap name was "Double D," of course. David Duez, right? It also could double as "Designated Driver" since I never drank.


This video is from Forbes.com and it is a nice tribute to what the Beastie Boys were and how much impact they have had on today's hip hop world:



And another video that looks at the impact these three had on black culture in America and hip hop in general.


Agenda: Week of Monday May 7 - Friday May 11, 2012

Review Targets - See table of contents for each period.


Period 4: Global Interactions, c. 1450 to c. 1750

  • Key Concept 4.1. Globalizing Networks of Communication and Exchange
  • Key Concept 4.2. New Forms of Social Organization and Modes of Production
  • Key Concept 4.3. State Consolidation and Imperial Expansion

Period 5: Industrialization & Global Integration, 1750 to 1900

  • Key Concept 5.1 Industrialization & Global Capitalism
  • Key Concept 5.2 Imperialism & Nation-State Formation
  • Key Concept 5.3 Nationalism, Revolution & Reform

Crazy schedule this week. No late arrival at all. 1-2-3 periods each day of the week. 4th and 6th periods will not meet much at all, compared to the rest.

Monday May 7, 2012
Quote: "If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll probably end up somewhere else." - Yogi Berra
Agenda:
1. Review for Unit 4.
2. Periodization work. Students will analyze a number of periodization attempts by history books, authors, and historians. Which works the best?
3. Students will work in groups to line up key events in world history to the period that matches it according to the AP Guidelines.

Tuesday May 8, 2012 & Wednesday May 9, 2012 (These are both "block days" due to testing)
Quote: "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose." - Dr. Seuss
ONLY PERIODS 3, 5, & 7 on Tuesday
ONLY PERIODS 3, 4, & 6 on Wednesday
Agenda:
1. Students will watch the Millennium Series for the 15th Century: The Century of the Sail (Renaissance & Aztecs). They will also answer questions corresponding to the video.
2. If any time remains (3rd period will have extra time) - they will be given a chance to work on test corrections quietly -or- do practice exam questions or essays.


Thursday May 9 & 10, 2012
Quote: "You don't look up truthfulness in a book, you look it up in your gut." - Stephen Colbert
Agenda:
ONLY PERIODS 3, 5, & 7 Today
1. Students will watch the Millennium Series - The 18th Century - The Age of the Furnace. Questions here.
2. If any time remains (3rd period will have extra time) - they will be given a chance to work on test corrections quietly -or- do practice exam questions or essays.


Friday May 11, 2012
Quote: "It is far better to be alone, than to be in bad company." - George Washington
Normal Schedule Today
Agenda:
1. Students will turn in Test Corrections for AP Practice Test #2.
2. Students will write the Comparison Essay in class. 35 minutes to complete.

T-Shirts

OK, I know I sent an email out earlier with this explanation, but I wanted to be clear about t-shirts. This post should give everyone a great opportunity to order if they would like. I understand if you aren't up for it or can't lay down the $ for one.

Part of the fun of celebrating the accomplishment of completing an AP course and preparing so hard for the AP Exam is purchasing a T-Shirt to wear with some pride. I came up with these designs and hope you enjoy them.

Obviously, you guys can always come up with something on your own. I encourage it. The site I used to design and order them is fully customization. So there is an endless amount of things you could create.

They have free shipping through Thursday (check the top banner for details). And through this week they have a 15% discount on purchases with the mother's day code (also on the site).

Here is "Tank Man."
To order this t-shirt, click here



And "Chairman Meow":
To order this t-shirt, click here