Learning about learning objectives

Your homework assignment is to read Chapter 1, Section LO-1, found on pages 4-11 in your text, taking notes along the way.  Post these notes in your blog before midnight Saturday night.

But the REAL assignment is to practice being a more efficient and effective reader.  Your textbook is filled with visual cues that help you recognize what information is worth noting.  These cues include:

• chapter headings
• section headings
• definitions printed in bold or a different color
• information found in the margins
• photo captions
• charts and maps
• timelines (called "chronology" in our book)

According to Dartmouth University, these are some common myths concerning reading (the entire article is found here):

• You must read every word.
• One reading is sufficient.
• Don't skip passages.
• A faster rate means less comprehension.

You'll have a lot to read in high school, and even more in college.  Work smarter, not harder!

student teaching

The mighty Section 3 reviewed material on the transition from hunter/gatherers to the more organized communities of Sumer.  Jevan and Phil commanded the front of the room like champs, even after a lockdown and a shelter-in-place.  We were then introduced to the Code of Hammurabi, one of the oldest (maybe THE oldest) codes of law in the world.

Tonight, for homework, pick three particular law in the Code, and briefly describe why they stand out to you.  Maybe one seems completely unfair, while another appears to be completely reasonable and would not seem out of place in today's world.  Maybe one seems to be unenforceable, or one might be unequally applied to different parts of the hierarchy.  In any case, briefly discuss three different laws and post your writings in tonight's blog.

an old story...

...200,000 years old, actually.  That's where we begin our studies.  How did we get here, with our iPhones, our HDTV, and our drones?  Actually, it all started with our plows, our wheels, and our granaries.  Technological breakthroughs have always been game-changers.

on the verge of greatness

In just a couple days we will finally get the second semester underway. Most of you have successfully set up your blogs - if you got an email response from me, and you see your name listed on my sidebar, you are good to go.  If not, get it done so you can pick up your first points of the quarter.


Newbs: don't forget to pick up a Compositions book for notetaking. Veterans: bring your old one to class.  

The WCIV textbooks will be supplied by the MSDE, and you will pick up yours next class.  You will be responsible for the book you are given.  By this I mean that you will turn the book back into me at the end of the year, and if you don't, you will have to pay for it (boo!).  Otherwise, the book is free for you to use until June.  No purchase necessary.

We're underway!

I've been teaching at John Carroll for 13 years, and I've never had a 16 minute class.  Until today.

Section 3 made the most of the shortened class time, creating new blogs and emailing me your URLs.  If you see your name in the right sidebar of this blog, you know you successfully got me your blog info.

I'll see ALL of you tomorrow, even if we are two hours late.  At least the classes will be more than 16 minutes long!

Welcome. Bienvenido. Willkommen. 欢迎. Bienvenue. ترحيب. Kuwakaribisha. καλωσόρισμα. Howdy.

Welcome to my blog.  You will be referring to this blog often - for assignments, announcements, to see what we did in class, and just to read my words of wisdom.

I'll be reading your words of wisdom, too, since you will be keeping a blog.  It is a big part of your grade, so let's make sure you get off on the right foot.  Here are some suggestions for good blogkeeping.

• Switch your browser to Google Chrome.
• Bookmark my blog, and put it in your Bookmarks bar.
• If you don't have one already, create your own Gmail account.  Make note of your username and password.
• Create your own blog for Western Civilization through blogger.com.
• Bookmark your blog, and put it in your Bookmarks bar.
• Very important: Email the web address for your blog to rschick@johncarroll.org. 
• Make sure your postings will be in Eastern Time (Design -> Settings -> Language and formatting).

A crucial component of this course is your written contributions.  You are expected to post to your blog whenever we have class - usually four times a week.  Your posting is due before midnight on that same night, except on Fridays, when the blog is due midnight Saturday night.  You need to complete all the above steps so you don't fall behind right off the bat.  See me after school in Room 121 (the TV Studio) if you need help.