We Made It!

This was our final full week as we conclude our last PBGR task and get ready to take the final exam.

I have read the essays and I was impressed with your clear thesis statements. You were all very decisive as to whether Andrew Carnegie was a Robber Baron or Captain of Industry, although you differed in your answers! On Monday I will be returning the essays (before scoring) as many of you did not reference sources. You have your text, the video and four primary sources that you may use as sources. You may say “according to our text” or “according to the video” but when you reference the primary sources you must include the title of the source. Some essays referenced “according to the primary source” but you did not clearly identify which source you were using. I am also returning the essays because some of the essays did not take into consideration another opinion. The rubric clearly states that you must take into consideration a counter argument. On Monday you will have time to revise and complete the essay. The essay will be considered a 50 point in class assignment as well as a PBGR task.

The Gilded Age

You have a packet on the Gilded Age and while we will have limited time to review the worksheets, I urge you to complete the assignments. You will have time in class on Monday and Tuesday to go over the sheets with your group. I will check in with you to make sure you understand the key terms and concepts.

Study Guide

You have been given a study guide as well as a description of the final exam. Follow the directions on the guide and turn it in on June 11 (the day of the exam) and you can earn up to 10 extra points. Please take your portfolio home (after handing in your status of assignment sheet) so you can use the worksheets as a review for the exam. You also have the blog which gives you a week by week review.

A Turning Point in History

This past week has been a banner week for history teachers as newspapers proclaim Senator Obama’s emergence as the Democratic nominee for President a “watershed moment,” “a turning point in history,” or as the Providence Journal described it, “Obama Makes History.” This is a great time for us to pause and think about what it means to be living through a turning point in history. What will we remember from this time that we can pass on (as a future primary source) to future generations? How will our country be different from this point?

The Last Entry

I expect this to be the last entry for school year 2007-08. I want to thank you for being a great class and wish you a fun and safe summer. If I am lucky, I will see some of you in next year’s Comparative Government and Contemporary World Issues class or AP European.

I also want to thank my blog editor and loyal commentators. Their ideas, suggestions and recommendations have made the blog a more readable and focused source of information and enjoyment for all.

As I end this entry I am wondering if pod casting should be our next step?