AP World Blog

Lesson 4 SUMMER READING

ofalvo — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 09:03:11 +0000

SUMMER READING FOR AP WORLD HISTORY

Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond

Created by Mrs. Samantha Herrington

Answer these questions to guide your reading: To be successful in AP World History, you must begin to understand that reading is not simply looking at words on a page. It is a process of reviewing those words, and analyzing their greater meaning. Often, this requires the material to be read multiple times in order for the larger meaning in the text to ‘click’. There is no special technique or shortcut in this process. Only through reading and analysis of information on a repeated basis can a person hope to develop this skill. Eventually, our goal will be the ability to read a series of documents, process their meaning, and organize a coherent outline of ideas for an essay.

There may be opinions expressed in the book you find to be true or you may find the opinions expressed to be untrue. The purpose of education is to grow and learn and to come up against thoughts we can believe and agree and to also listen to and evaluate opinions we do not agree with.

You should endeavor in your personal beliefs to align yourself closely with your parents and your own religious convictions. World History provides us with the opportunity to explore other beliefs or viewpoints…but that doesn’t mean we should abandon our own.

These questions are due the first day you come to my class the last day this will be accepted is September 28th. We will take a test over the general information and summer reading the following week

DO NOT WAIT UNTIL SCHOOL STARTS TO BEGIN THIS ASSIGNMENT.

If you read and answer the questions as well as study the “Knowledge you must have” information…You will be off and running for the 2009-2010 school year!

Prologue

1. Summarize Yali’s question. This requires mentioning race, intelligence, and development of

technology.

2. Summarize the three main objections to answering Yali’s question.

3. What is meant by a “eurocentric” approach to history?

4. Summarize Diamond’s response to the idea that Europeans may perhaps be more innately

intelligent that New Guineans. Use his major points to support your summary.

5. Give an example of “passive entertainment”. Explain why we seem to have a better

opportunity to experience this type of entertainment in America and its possible effect on our

ability to think critically.

6. Explain the theory of how cold European weather may have affected mental development of

Europeans.

7. Explain how the theory of irrigation development may have affected the mental development

of river civilizations.

8. Summarize Diamond’s thesis. This requires you to first understand Yali’s question, and

outline how Diamond proposes to answer this question.

Up To The Starting Line

9. What is significant about 13,000 years ago or 11,000 B.C.?

10. What stage in human development does Diamond characterize as the Great Leap Forward?

11. What are the major human achievements that characterize this Great Leap Forward?

12. What technological advancement (and give the date) was necessary for the colonization of

New Guinea and Australia.

13. What theory does Diamond propose for the disappearance of mega-fauna in Australia/New

Guinea?

14. What mega-fauna existed in the North America prior to 11,000 B.C. (for more information

on this topic, watch What Killed the Mega Beasts? on the Discovery Channel.

A Natural Experiment of History

15. What about the natural environment of the Chatham Islands caused the Moriori people to

develop so differently from their Maori conquerors of the same ancestral heritage?

16. What are the three staple domesticated animals of the Polynesians?

17. What are the main causes of low human population density in many Polynesian islands?

18. What man-made constructions allowed for increased human population density in islands

such as Hawaii?

Collision at Cajamarca

19. If you had witnessed Cajamarca prior to the overthrow of Atahuallpa, explain why you may

not have believed Pizarro’s overthrow of the Incas was possible.

20. Explain the role of technology in the overthrow of the Inca.

21. Explain the role of religion in the overthrow of the Inca.

22. Explain the role of disease in the overthrow of the Inca.

23. Explain the role of literacy and government organization in the overthrow of the Inca.

Lesson 6: The AP World Exam

ofalvo — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:35:43 +0000

This site explains to you what the AP world History Exam is all about. It also will explain how the Exam is broken down into Multiple Choice Questions, DBQ’s and Free response question.

You should understand what you are expect to do so it won’t overwhelm you come exam time.
Ap World Exam

Lesson 5

ofalvo — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:29:10 +0000

Over the next few weeks, I will post links and information that you need to know about the course AP World. Understanding this before school starts and preparing yourself for what is expected will give you a better chance to succeed.

Do not simply read the assigned links and forget what you have read but try to understand what will be required of you and start setting you mind on the task ahead, especially focus on the “Themes” and “Habits of mind” for AP World History. They are the heart and soul of this course and the National Exam

So…before you begin here are some quotes to help you get your mind in focus. Knowing what is to come and preparing for it will help you succeed in this class.

These first two quotes, I know are true (life experience) but usually are learned after you lose something you really want…like passing the AP World Exam.

The first time I heard this quote was from my high school chemistry teacher. “Success is 10% inspiration and 90 % perspiration”. He looked a lot like Severus Snape. This quote of course came from Thomas Alva Edison

This one I learned when I failed to get a part in a major stage revival of “Guys and Dolls” (a musical) and I thought I could get the part just based on talent. “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity” Seneca (Roman philosopher, mid-1st century AD)

Here are a few more by people who have known both great success and failure.

“People only see what they are prepared to see.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

“By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail.”

– Ben Franklin

“Everybody wants to win but very few of them prepare to win.”
Rajesh Yadav

Now to your assignments …review these two links from AP Central

1. Chronology, Themes and Habits of Mind in AP World

2. Foundation Period…a look at what AP Central expects you to learn in this first time period 8000 BCE to 600 CE.

If you are confused by BCE (before the Common Era) and CE (Common Era) check it out at Wikipedia.com.

For Fun: Watch “Deadline”

ofalvo — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:18:45 +0000

I saw this video and I know (from what my students tell me) that this is how many of us deal with deadlines. I think you will find it entertaining and a little scary how accurate it might be in your life.

Link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpWM0FNPZSs

Enjoy

2. View a study site and a video

ofalvo — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 01:40:30 +0000

July-06-2009

This week I want you to view a special site and a video. Sounds easy and it should be, but it is still a part of what you will be expected to know and ready to discuss when we start school in August.

1. The first think I would like you to do is register at CourseNotes.Org. This site has helped many students in AP World. You can find it a great site to help you in AP World this year. I am register at this site and have used it for years. http://www.course-notes.org/.

Once you’ve register (it is free) look it over. Scroll down to AP World and view the site. If you have any questions or comments e-mail me at pfalvo99@yahoo.com. (Give me a few days to respond)

2. Visit “Cornell Notes-How to” at You Tube. It is a little droll but it will give you an idea of the type of notes I want you to take in my class this year.

The First Summer Assignment

ofalvo — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:20:22 +0000

One of the skills needed for AP World is interpreting art of a particular time or event. Today we look toward political cartoons to explain, interpret or humor us over events occurring in and around the world. Two major political events this year have made a strong impact around the world, the election of Barock Obama as the 1st African American President and the elections in Iran.

American’s often turn to Political cartoons for insights into these events as will you with this assignment.

First, print off two copies of the NARA Cartoon Handout here. This assignment will be expected on the first day of school. I recommend you do it this week and get it out of the way.

Second, pick one political cartoon concerning President Barack Obama and one on the election riots in Iran from these two links. (Do not pick the first one’s that you come to but look around and find something you like.)

You will use the handout’s,following its instructions for each one. (fill them out completely)

Hello AP World!

ofalvo — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 13:58:22 +0000

This is the first post for the AP World History Blog. I hope this will be a useful tool. Have a great summer.