Nice job, you guys!

The exams have all been graded!  The grades have been entered!  And I must say, I am pretty impressed.

The average score on this exam was 87.  The average score on the objective part was 86, and the average essay score was 88.  So, obviously, no curve necessary!  Great work!

On PowerSchool, you'll see two grades, one for the objective (which is triple-weighted), and one for the essay (single-weighted).  That's how I needed to do it in order to make the essay worth 25% and the objective worth 75%.

So, you'll see a score for your objective, such as 243 or 267.  Divide that score by 3 to see what you got on the objective part.  Simple.

If you want more specific information, just email me and I'll tell you exactly how many objective questions you got right out of 133.

Bragging rights go to Carly and Cam, who each got 132 out of 133.  That's right, they only got one wrong on the objective.  Incredible.

Also, everyone got the last question correct.

I have enjoyed teaching you guys this year.  I hope you have a fantastic summer!  Just remember, in the words of Morgan Freeman, "The unexamined life is not worth living."

room assignments for tomorrow's exam

Section 1 meets in Room 223.  I am your proctor.

Section 3 meets in Room 106.  Mr. Baran is your proctor.

Section 7 meets in Room 308.  Mr. Huber is your proctor. 

Best of luck tomorrow, and with all of your exams this week!

test question breakdown

Here is how your Western Civ exam will look on Tuesday:

The first 25 questions are on ancient civilizations and ancient Egypt.

The next 40 questions are on ancient Greece.

Followed by 45 questions on Rome, Rome, Rome, Rome...

Finishing up with 23 questions on the Middle Ages.

That's right, 133 total objective questions.

You will also see the following written responses:

What was life like at the various levels of the Egyptian hierarchy?

What are some of the lasting effects of the ancient Greeks on today's world?

How did Christianity evolve from an upstart, cultlike group into the world's largest organized religion?

Describe some possible causes for the decline of the Roman Empire.

What are the main differences between European life at the height of the Roman Empire, and life during the Middle Ages?

Fact:  Studying for this test is better than not studying for this test.  Be ready, and you will have good luck.

potential exam questions

Here are some short answer responses you may see on the Semester Exam this Tuesday.  Preparing for these questions will also help you prepare for the objective part of the test.

• What was life like at the various levels of the Egyptian hierarchy?

• What are some of the lasting effects of the ancient Greeks on today's world?

• How did Christianity evolve from an upstart, cultlike group into the world's largest organized religion?

• Describe some possible causes for the decline of the Roman Empire.

• What are the main differences between European life at the height of the Roman Empire, and during the Middle Ages?

Middle Ages test results

Maybe some of you have started summer vacation a little early.  Or maybe there were just too many names for you to keep track of.  In any case, this test did not work out too well for a few of you.  So, I decided to curve the test for everyone by three points.  These adjusted grades have been entered in PowerSchool.  The average grade for all three classes is now 76, which is a C.  Congratulations to the 16 of you who scored an A on this test.

I also entered the bonus scores for those of you who read my blog on May 14 and took advantage of my offer.  If you didn't do the Chronology, you weren't penalized, but if you did do it, you picked up a few free extra credit points.

Tomorrow, Section 3 meets for the last time, at which time we will review for the test.  Sections 1 and 7 meet Monday for their review.  Be sure to check my blog over the weekend for more information, as the exam gets finalized.

test tomorrow

Our test on the Middle Ages - the final test of the fourth quarter - will be tomorrow.  30 questions, multiple choice.  Study the GoogleSlide I've posted, plus the information on Charlemagne, and you will be in great shape for the test.  No open blog, so pack everything into your craniums.

Charlemagne and his medieval friends

As promised, I have posted a Google Slides version of the Charlemagne PowerPoint.  Enjoy it and employ it for next Wednesday's test!

more medieval material

Add Charles the Hammer, Pepin the Short, Charlemagne, Louis the Pious, Charles the Bald, and Louis the German to your list of key players in the Middle Ages.  Would hurt to know the significance of the Battle of Tours and the Treaty of Verdun as well.

the clock is ticking down...

We will finish our studies of Western Civilization with the Middle Ages.  This week we will cover feudalism and the likes of Clovis, Pope Gregory, Charlemagne, Muhammad, and others.  We will test on this material next Wednesday, May 28.

Then on Thursday, section 3 will review for the final in our last meeting.  Sections 1 and 7 will do the same on Monday, June 2.  The semester exam will be given on Tuesday, June 3, at 10:00.

For your convenience, here is the entire exam schedule:

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

·         8 AM – English

·         10 AM – Social Studies

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

·         8 AM – Math

·         10 AM – World Language

Thursday, June 5, 2014

·         8 AM – Religion

·         10 AM – Science

       Friday, June 6, 2014, will be a makeup day in case we have a snow day earlier in the week.

Arrivederci, Roma...

Today, we tested on Rome.  Almost a thousand years, from republic to empire, from consuls to emperors, from superpower to collapsed government.  And now we are done with it - until the semester exam, that is.

Now, we move on to... the Middle Ages. (Sometimes known as the Dark Ages.  You'll see why soon.)

Tonight, read p. 151 and put your notes in your blog.  Also, for five extra points, copy the Chronology found on page 152, and put that in your blog.

test tomorrow

Repeating the message from yesterday:   Tomorrow's test will combine the last two tests with info from the "Rome Fades Away" GoogleSlide.  Emphasis should be placed on the three emperors and the invading barbarian tribes.  Be ready for tomorrow!

finally, the fall of Rome

See the link to the right?  The one called "Rome Fades Away"?  Take around ten questions based on that presentation, add in a couple dozen from the last two tests, and you have the final, definitive test on Rome.  The one you're going to take on Wednesday, May 14.  Be ready!

finally Friday

A productive day:

• Large Rome Tests were returned
• Large Rome Tests were reviewed
• Chapter 8 was begun
• a PowerPoint on the rise of Christianity and the decline of Rome was presented
• a homework assignment was given

The HW: read p. 123, and put the notes you take on it in your blog.

Oh yeah, have a good weekend, too.

learn anything today?

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.

Aristotle

Whatcha doin this week?

Well, you're taking a test on Rome on Wednesday.  But before that, you're reviewing the first Rome test you took before we went on break, because a number of those test questions will magically appear on this week's test.  Plus, you're watching a PowerPoint in class that will cover Caesar Augustus and some other emperors, because that will also be on this test.

classwork for Friday, May 2

We won't be watching any more of the video on Nero in class - feel free to search it on YouTube and watch more on your own time if you like.

Today's classwork is as follows:  Take notes (in your blog, or in your notebook - your choice) on these sections of your textbook.

• First, read "Assassination and Another Caesar" on p. 101.
• Then, read p. 103.
• Follow that with p. 104-107, LO1 The Rule of the Emperors.

Again, take good notes on this material in class today.  What you don't finish is homework.  Any notes you enter will count as today's blog.

Obviously, the test will not take place today, and since we will need to have a proper review, we will shoot for Wednesday, May 7, for our test on Ancient Rome.

Thank you, and have a great weekend.

announcement

Today Section 3 took a look at one of the more bizarre of all the Roman emperors - Nero.

Descended from Caesar, but without the political acumen, Nero ruled over Rome following a devastating fire, determined to turn Rome into a great city that would celebrate art and artists.  But a little thing called insanity kept him from achieving his goals. 

Rome - from Republic to Empire

Today the mighty 01 and 07 sections covered some more Julius Caesar, which included a bit of video from the BBC.  As I previously mentioned, these links are listed on this blog if you want to review them at home.

The plan for the rest of this unit is to cover Caesar Augustus and a couple of the other emperors, leading us to the fall of Rome in the fifth century.  We will probably be able to test on this material this Friday, May 2.  Stay tuned!

Julius Caesar is next

If you want to get a jump on Julius Caesar, you should read the section in the textbook found on p. 100-101.  

There is also a great video put out by the BBC.  The Brits definitely love their Roman history.  Some of you have mentioned that you find Caesar interesting - these vids should be right up your alley.  

Part one is here, part two is here to get you started. 

Give me a break...

... an Easter break, that is!

I hope all of you have a terrific time on your big ten-day break.

Fun facts about what's left of this school year, as of the day we return to school (April 22):

• your 200-point project presentations begin (April 22-23)
• midquarters are a week away (Tuesday, April 29)
• there are 43 days until Semester Exams (M-T-W, June 3-4-5)
• there are 46 days until summer vacation!

Until then, have an incredible break. Recharge your batteries (YOUR batts, not just your computer's), relax, and I'll see you when we get back.