Quarter 2 Exam Review, Part 1

1. What is Africa's longest river? Where is it located? How does it affect the people around it? What ancient civilization formed around it? What effect(s) does it have on trade?
2. What are the causes of desertification? Where, specifically, does it happen in Africa? What are its specific effects on the people who live nearby?
3. What is the relative location of the Red Sea? What are its effects on the nearby countries?
4. Argue for or against the following statement: "A new trade route through the Persian Gulf spelled the end for the Aksumite Empire.
5. Describe the major trade routes in Eastern and Western Africa.
6. Describe the goods traded by Eastern and Western African trade empires.
7. What does the existence of Aksum, Ghana, Mali and Songhai tell you about Africa before the arrival of the Europeans?
8. What is the major reason that North Africa is culturally different from Sub-Saharan Africa?
9. Name four major European mountain ranges. Then, in general, describe the impact of these mountain ranges on European countries.
10. Argue for or against the following statement: "In general, Italy's climate is warmer than the climate of Germany." Support your response with evidence from your text.
11. If a merchant wanted to travel from Switzerland to the Black Sea, what would be the best route for her to take? Explain your response.
12. If a merchant wanted to travel from Switzerland to London, England, what would be the best route for him to take? Explain your response.
13. What are the two major rivers in Europe? Which direction does each flow?
14. How did General Hannibal use his knowledge of geography to catch the Romans by surprise?
15. Describe each of the three levels of human society discussed in class.
16. Argue for or against the following statement: "Ancient Rome reached the most advanced level of society." Support your response with evidence from your notes.
17. Argue for or against the following response: "Russia has not moved past the most basic level of human society." Support your response with evidence from your notes.
18. What was the Berlin Conference? What were its immediate effects? What were its long term effects?
19. How did colonialism impact Africa?
20. Define command economy.
21. Define free market economy.
22. Compare and contrast a command and a free market economy. Explain which would be better for independent businessmen and women.
23. What is the Great Rift Valley? What is its impact on the land around it?
24. Define divergent plate boundary.
25. Argue for or against the following statement: "European colonialism had a positive impact on the people of Africa." Support your response with evidence from your text, notes and lectures.
26. What is the Occupy Wall Street movement? What are its goals?
27. Write a three-part thesis for a potential essay comparing and contrasting the culture of your assigned African country with the culture of the United States.

Review questions for Thursday's test!

1. Where is Olduvai Gorge? What is its significance?
2. Describe the relative location of ancient Ghana, Songhai and Mali. Then, describe the relative location of Aksum.
3. Describe the reasons for the success of Ghana, Songhai and Mali.
4. Describe the reasons for the success of Aksum.
5. Summarize the reasons why each of the empires above fell.
6. Describe the economic importance of the Red Sea.
7. What countries would you find in the Horn of Africa?
8. Describe the positive and negative effects of the Nile River on the surrounding countries.
9. What landform forms a barrier between northern and southern Africa?
10. What religion dominates North Africa's culture?
11. Describe the relative location of the Great Rift Valley. Then, describe its impact on the land and people around it.
12. Describe the Berlin Conference, then summarize its impact on Africa. Finally, argue persuasively whether or not the Conference had a positive or a negative effect on Africa.
13. Define desertification. Describe its potential impact on people and animals it affects.

Exploring Africa's Culture

Today, we will go back to the countries you examined last week to look at their culture. As a reminder, you may have been assigned to one of the following:

• Cameroon
• The Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Gabon
• Kenya
• Madagascar
• Nigeria
• The Republic of Congo
• Rwanda
• South Sudan (If using CultureGrams, search for Sudan)
• Tanzania
• Uganda
• Zambia

Note: The information you learned about your country will be eligible for inclusion on your exam. That includes last week's assignment as well as today's.

Life in Africa and in the United States

You are a student in the United States. You expect your life to be a certain way every day. If you were to move to another country, you might find that people's daily expectations are completely different.

Today, you will examine what life would be like in your assigned African country. It might be just like your life is in the United States. On the other hand, it might be completely different.

Go to the the PSM LRC Page. You may use any of the research sources on the lower left hand side of the page today. I would recommend the following sources:

• CultureGrams (login: 73-82792remote; password: bigchalk)
• Gale Student Resources in Context (login: psmlrc; password: psmlrc)
• The CIA World Factbook

We will focus on Religion and Lifestyle today. Use the information to answer the following questions on loose leaf paper. Although you may work with your partner from last week, you must complete the assignment on your own sheet of paper.

Title the assignment "Life in _______." Fill in the blank with your country's name. The assignment is worth 20 points.

You may also type the assignment. Either way, you will need a hard copy of today's work to bring with you to class tomorrow.

Answer completely. For each question, include the name of the source (i.e., Gale, CultureGrams, etc). 

1. Do most people in your country tend to live in an urban or a rural environment? Compare/contrast their typical environment with your environment.
2. What language(s) are spoken in your country? Could you hope to easily communicate with people there? Explain.
3. What religious beliefs do people have in your country? Compare and contrast religious practices in your country with the religious practices of your family.
4. Describe family life in your country. Compare and contrast it with your family's structure.
5. What type of housing do people typically have in your country? How is this similar or different to your home?
6. Compare and contrast the clothing worn by people in your assigned country with the clothing you and your friends wear.
7. What traditions does your country have related to dating and marriage? Are these similar or different to what people experience in the U.S.? Explain.
8. Compare the diet of a person from your country with your diet.
9. What do people in your country do for fun? Compare recreation in your country to the types of recreation you enjoy in the U.S.
10. What traditions does your country have in regards to the life cycle of an individual? How long can men and women expect to live in your country? Compare/contrast this with the U.S.
11. Free Space: Choose any topic available on the sources you are using today. Fully describe this topic and give any information on how it relates to your life in Chicago.

Browsing Africa's Culture

Don't forget: you have a test Thursday over Africa.

We will visit the computer lab tomorrow to examine African culture.

For tonight, BROWSE through Ch. 19 (sections 1-5).

Find 3 places where your book discusses Africa's culture.

Number each (1-3). Then, complete the following for each one:
Record the page number where you found your information
Write a 2-3 sentence summary describing the aspect of Africa's culture discussed in the passage.

Environmental Conservation in Africa

A ranger in Zambia surveys his park.

Today, you will have an opportunity to do two things:

• Print your essay, staple it, and turn it in to me.
• Work with a partner to investigate the culture and environment of an African nation.

First, PRINT YOUR PAPER. I will collect these 5 minutes after the bell.

When you are done, you may move on to work on the next part of today's assignment.

Environmental Conservation in Africa
As the world's population passes 7 billion people, there are few places left untouched by humans. Many people across the world are becoming increasingly concerned with the environment.

One of the greatest sources of concern for many people is Africa. Because the continent has such an incredibly high amount of biological diversity, it has become a focal point for environmentalists and scientists.

In order to apply our geographic skills to Africa's environment, each of you has been assigned a country to look at with a partner.

You will complete all work in an e-mail to me (one per group).

• In the subject line, put your period and the name of your country (ex.: "Period 1: Egypt")
• Start your e-mail with your complete PSM heading, including the name of each group member. Title the assignment "Researching Africa's Environment."
• Include each of my bold headings in your e-mail. Number each answer.

Part 1: Basic Facts

Use the CIA World Factbook website to find out basic information about your country. Complete the following in your e-mail.

1. Name your country.
2. Describe its relative location (hint: use landforms, bodies of water, and countries nearby).
3. Describe the physical geography, including any important landforms.
4. Name the capital and any other major cities.
5. Give the population.
6. Describe the country's economy, including any major resources and/or industries.

Part 2: The Environment

Once you've gathered basic information about your country, you will examine your country's environment through the work of one conservation agency: The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Complete the following in your e-mail.

1. Examine the WCS "About" page. What is the WCS? What is its mission? Why is it important for us to know who produced this site?
2. Go to the WCS "Africa" page. Find your country. Summarize the information the WCS gives about your country's environment. Include at least 3 specific details in your response.
3. Give 3 environmental facts about your country.
4. What threats or challenges face your country's environment? Be specific.
5. Does the WCS offer a plan or response to your country's environmental issues? Describe their response, giving specific information about actions planned or taken.
6. Name and describe any projects funded by the WCS currently ongoing in your country. You may need to click on an additional link to find this information.

Africa Map Practice

Don't forget to study your map in preparation for Friday's quiz! Play the Africa Map Game to help you study. If you play this game, you will do well on the quiz.

Compare/Contrast Essay: Writing the First Draft

Today you will start writing your rough draft for your Compare/Contrast essay. It is a 100 point homework grade, and is due at the end of Thursday's class.

You will follow your outline as you begin writing. I will hand these back today. If you need to look at the outline format, you can find the document here.

A rubric for the paper can be found here. It will tell you EXACTLY what needs to be included in your paper. If you follow this rubric, you will get a fantastic grade!

Before the end of this class period, you need to show me your thesis. A complete, approved thesis gets you a 5 point homework grade.

Final drafts for these papers are due next Wednesday, December 7, 2011. They are 100 point project grades.

Thesis and Outline

Today we will:

Don't be like Calvin! Use facts from your research
to support your thesis.

• Write your thesis
• Begin outlining your paper

Due at the end of this class period:

• A printed copy of your works cited and bullet-point notes (30 points, based on the rubric)

Homework

Outline your paper using the worksheet example. You may type the assignment or write it out by hand. A hard copy is due on your desk at the start of Monday's class (20 points).

Rules for Writing a Thesis

A good thesis statement should:

• Directly answer the question asked. Our basic question is "How can I compare Russia to the United States?" Or, "How can I compare Russia's government under the Soviet Union to Russia's current government?"
• Provide a road map for the paper
• Usually be one sentence in length
• Tell the reader how you are interpreting your subject

A Basic Compare/Contrast Thesis

Complete the following example thesis in your notebook, filling in the blanks using information from your research:

I can compare ______________ to ______________ by examining ______________, ______________ and ______________.

This is a VERY basic three-part thesis. It simply answers our question and ensures that the reader knows exactly what he/she will read in each paragraph.

An Improved Thesis
This thesis breaks a basic writing rule, however: AVOID USING THE PRONOUNS "YOU" AND "I."


In order to write an effective thesis, you must find a way to remove these pronouns. Here's an example:

• Basic Thesis: I can compare China and India by looking at their large populations, governments, and environments.
• Improved Thesis: While China and India both face environmental concerns due to large populations and heavy industrial growth, each country's government reacts to problems very differently.

Write your improved thesis paper in your notebook.

Outlining Your Paper

We are writing a 5-paragraph paper. Here's a basic outline:

1. Paragraph 1: Introduction, ending with your thesis
2. Paragraph 2: First body paragraph, including the first topic from your thesis
3. Paragraph 3: Second body paragraph, including the second topic from your thesis
4. Paragraph 4: Third body paragraph, including the third topic from your thesis
5. Paragraph 5: Conclusion paragraph, including re-stated thesis

In order to get ready to write, you must outline your paper using this worksheet. You may do one of the following:

• Print out the worksheet and fill it in by hand *recommended*
• Write the information on the worksheet out on loose leaf paper
• Type in your information and print it out

Whichever you choose, the outline is due on your desk at the start of Monday's class period.

Next week:

• Classroom Monday, Wednesday and Friday to start looking at Africa
• Computer Lab Tuesday and Thursday to write our paper
• Quiz Friday over introduction to Africa

Africa Map Game

Want to get a head-start on studying the map of Africa? Play this map game.

Research and the Three-Part Thesis

Today we will continue working on our Russian research projects. Once we are done with our research, you will write a compare/contrast paper using your chosen topic related to Russia (and the United States). You are looking for at least 3 ways in which the two countries are similar and different based on your chosen topic.

Research
Last week, you found a source for Russia. Today, if you haven't already done so, you need to find a source for the United States. If you are comparing Russia's modern with its historic government, you will do something slightly different. Talk to me individually.

At the end of this class period, you should have a Word document containing the following saved in the correct location on the Y: drive:

1. The source you cited and annotated in class last week
2. The notes you took on this source over the weekend (in an outline format)
3. A second source cited and annotated
4. Notes on your second source (in an outline format)

The rubric for this section of the project is accessible here.

Thesis

A thesis statement is an arguable sentence about your topic. Just like any argument you make in real life, the thesis has to be supported with evidence.

Once you have both sources cited and annotated, and you've taken your notes on the sources, you're ready to move on to the next step -- your thesis! For this project, we will use a very basic format: the three part thesis. See the example below:

I can compare ______________ to ______________ by examining ______________, ______________ and ______________.

In the first part of the thesis, you state what you are comparing. In the second part, you state three ways you will support your comparison.

If you finish, start working on an outline for your paper. This worksheet will help you get started.

Extra Credit: Occupy Wall Street!

Looking for some extra credit over the weekend? Watch this video from CNN. It gives a quick summary of the Occupy Wall Street movement.

After watching the video, answer the following questions on loose leaf paper. Turn it in to me on Monday for 5 points EC!

1. What is the goal of the Occupy Wall Street movement?
2. Who are the "99%"?
3. Who are the "1%"?
4. What does the video tell you about the earning potential of different groups of Americans?
5. What do you think about the group?

Researching Russia

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin

Today we will practice two specific tasks:

• Researching using the Big 6 method
• Citing and annotating a source

You will complete today's activity in an MS Word document. Save the Word document to the "Y:\Ramin World Geography\Period ____\Russia Research" folder. Save the assignment as "Your Last Name - Russia."

Today's research assignment is worth 30 points.

The Big 6

Step 1: Task Definition. When conducting research, you must first identify your task. In some papers, you will decide what your purpose is. For this paper, I will define it. You must choose a topic related to modern Russia to research. You will write a 5 paragraph paper on this topic. 

Some potential topics:

• Russia's transition from a communist government to a democratic one
• Russia's government in comparison to the U.S. government
• Russia's transition from a command to free market economy
• Social issues in Russia compared with social issues in the United States
• The Russian space program compared with the U.S. space program
• Russia's culture and America's culture

Step 2: Information Seeking Strategies. Here's the part of your research where you make a list of potential sources. Again, for this portion of our project, use my list.

• CIA World Factbook
• The Economist magazine
• The official website for the Russian government
• The U.S. State Department website on Russia
• The Russian Federal Space Program
• CultureGrams (accessed through PSM LRC page)

Step 3: Location and Access. Choose your source. Take a look at it, and examine its contents. Think about the following guiding questions when choosing your source:

• How is the information in the source organized?
• Helpful Hint: Every source has its own system of organization. Check out the way each one is organized when you start using it. Look for the index and table of contents. Ask me for help if you can't find these things! Through practice like we're doing today, you'll learn to use a wide range of sources.
• Is the source in alphabetical order like a dictionary or encyclopedia?
• Is there an index you can use to find pages you need?
• Is there a search bar on the site?
• How will I know what to look for in sources?
• Make a list of key words and phrases related to your topic. This is what you will use to search the website using the site's search bar.
• Helpful Hint: Don't type questions into search bars -- the Internet is not as smart as you are! You have to type in short, specific terms or phrases to get any results.
• Never start a search with common words like "the" and "a." The website will search for these first, and you will not get the results you want.
• When searching for a phrase, type it in quotations. This will search for the whole phrase, not just the individual words.

Part 4: Use of Information. This is where you finished during yesterday's class. In Part 4, you cite and annotate your source. Then, you begin taking notes on the source.

Think about the following when doing Part 4: 

• Is the information complex enough for me? Or is it too superficial?
• Does the information give me answers to your questions?
• Does the information give you new ideas, or lead you to other sources?
• Is the information too scientific or technical for my project's requirements?
• Does the information in the source help me complete my task?
• Does the information in the source give me additional ideas that could help me create or add to my thesis?

If your source fulfills these questions, you are ready to extract information from it. Do the following in your Word document:

• Citing Your Source
• In your Word document, cite your source following the format used in last week's class. You can review the citation format on the Purdue Owl Website.
• Creating Your Annotation
• Follow the same format from last week's class to annotate your source. Again, you can find help on the Purdue Owl Website.
• Take Notes on your source. Take approximately 1 page (typed) notes on your source. Include the following in your notes:
• An outline format -- you can ask me or your neighbor if you don't know how to do this in Word.
• A title for this source
• Key terms, phrases, people, dates, etc.
• Anything else you find relevant!

Once you've completed ALL of this, you're ready to move on to your next source. For your second source, you will find a current event using one of the following newspapers:

• The New York Times
• The BBC News
• The Washington Post
• The Economist
• Time Magazine
• CNN
• The Moscow Times

Complete the same steps you did for your first source to access your second source.

Russia Introduction: Homework and Extra Credit

Homework

Next week, we'll start looking at a new part of the world -- Russia! In order to prepare for this topic, you have two homework options:

• Read Ch. 16.1. Take Cornell Notes on loose leaf paper. Have them on your desk at the start of Monday's class. 20 points.
• Read Ch. 16.1. Then, complete p. 367 #1-4 on loose leaf paper. Have your answers on your desk at the start of Monday's class.

Extra Credit Option

For 10 points extra credit, print out this Russian political map worksheet. Complete all of the steps and turn it in on Monday. You need the actual worksheet to complete the assignment -- you cannot just turn it in on loose leaf paper.

Test Review Questions

1. Name the major rivers of Europe. Explain their importance.
2. Name Europe's major mountain ranges. How do they affect Europe (Hint: There are at least 2 different ways)?
3. Think about Europe's landforms. What areas can we compare them to in the United States?
4. What is the BEST definition for the word polis?
5. What is the difference between Nationalism and Feudalism?
6. What are the major Romance languages? Why are they called this?
7. In what two major ways did the Roman Empire influence modern Europe? Explain.
8. Name and describe each of the three main levels of human organization.
9. What is required for settlements to move from one level of organization to another?
10. Why did some Europeans think of their continent as a queen? Explain your response.
11. Were Athens, Rome and Sparta "modern" societies? Explain your response.
12. What is the proper format for citing a source?

Don't forget to study your map! You can find the Europe Map Game here.

Writing a Postcard and your TEST

Today you will finish your "Postcards from the Past" project.


First, make sure you've saved everything to the correct folder:

• Save your annotated bibliography to the Y:\Ramin World Geography folder. Save it as "Your Last Name - AB" in the "Greece Annotated Bibliography" folder for your correct class period.
• If you haven't done so already, locate my "Postcard Template" in the "Y:\Ramin World Geography" folder. Save it to your period's folder in the file marked "Greece Postcards." Save it as "Your Last Name - Postcard."

You will also need to print your postcard. You have two options:

• Print in black and white at PSM for regular credit
• Print in color at home for regular credit + 2 points EXTRA credit on your project. This could be the difference between an "A" and a "B" -- and is a GREAT way to improve your grade in this class!

The final project is due at the start of tomorrow's class period.

• 50 points postcard
• 30 points annotated bibliography

Getting Your Photos

You need 2 photos for your project. 

• 1 for your ancient topic -- Get this from the British Museum website.
• 1 for your modern topic -- You may use any of the sources I gave you yesterday. You may have to search a little!

The Back of the Postcard

Now you're ready to start writing the back of the postcard. Begin typing the text for the back of your postcard from the past in an MS Word document. You are writing as though you are in the past, trying to relate what you are seeing to something that is familiar to your audience (i.e., the Colosseum to Soldier Field, etc.). It should be approximately 200-300 words in length. 

• Choose a friend or family member to send your postcard to
• Place the address in the appropriate location
• Place an image in the location where the stamp would be -- this should be something that illustrates where you would send your card from, just like a real stamp!
• Begin writing your 200-300 word letter comparing the ancient world to the modern world using your chosen topic. Be creative!

Your written component should include:

1. A greeting;
2. An introduction to your chosen topic;
3. The body, where you show the relationship between your ancient and modern sources;
4. A conclusion; and
5. The closing ("Sincerely," "Wish you were here," etc.)

Test

I have pushed your first test of this quarter back to FRIDAY.

Tomorrow, we will meet in the classroom to review. Your test will include:

• 15 multiple choice, including a map and a chart, covering Ch. 12.1-12.3 and Ch. 13.1-13.2
• 15 multiple choice questions about Europe's political map
• Proper citation format -- you'll have to follow the same format you did in your annotated bibliography!
• 2 short answer questions related to a map
• 2 short answer questions based on class content.

The test is 90 points.

Postcard Prep Work

This postcard shows images from the islands
off the coast of Greece.

Finish the work from the previous post before you look at this one!

When you're finished with the annotated bibliography, it's time to start working on your postcard. You will use a template I created in PowerPoint to complete this section of the assignment. First, take a look at these documents:

• The project rubric
• You can find the template for the postcard in my folder on the Y: drive. SAVE THIS to the "Postcard" folder in your class file. Save it as "Your last name -- Greece Postcard". If you don't save it, you can't edit it.

The rubric tells you exactly what your postcard must include and how you will be graded. Here are the highlights:

• The postcard is a 50 point project grade
• It must have a front and a back
• The front must contain at least two photos, a caption for each, and a postcard-style greeting (i.e., "Greetings from Ancient Athens!")
• The back must contain a 200-300 word letter to a family member or friend (you can change the font size to make it fit the template) comparing and contrasting your ancient and modern topics using the information you got from your sources
• The back must also contain the address for your friend/family member
• The back must also contain an image where the stamp would go. Think -- what would an ancient stamp look like if one existed? Get creative here!

First, save the template in the "Y:\Ramin World Geography" folder. Find your class, then save it in the "Greece Postcards" folder. Save the file as "Your Last Name - Postcard."

We're ready to move on! But first...

A Note on Plagiarism: NEVER copy and paste ANYTHING from a website. This is plagiarism, and it is incredibly easy for me to discover. When in doubt, make sure your writing sounds like it was written by you. If your text does not sound like your writing, I will type a  phrase into the Google search engine. This will show me exactly which sites you may have copied from.

Postcards Project: The Annotated Bibliography

An example of a modern postcard from Athens, Greece

The first project grade you will receive for your Postcards From the Ancient World project is for you Annotated Bibliography. An annotated bibliography lists the sources that you plan to use in a project. It is different than a simple works cited page because it also includes a summary and an evaluation of the source.

A rough draft of this annotated bibliography is due at the end of this class period. 15 points, based on half the rubric's score.

Don't forget -- you have a quiz tomorrow over your notes on Ancient Greece and the 30 European countries I listed earlier on this blog. Play the map game tonight!

The purpose of an Annotated Bibliography is to help you figure out whether or not you are using the best sources available for your project. You will use this method at PSM, at college, and even in the real world.

You can find the rubric for your annotated bibliography here. It is a 30 point project grade.

We will use MLA format for our Annotated Bibliography. You can find more information on how exactly to cite sources from the Purdue University OWL website. We will use MLA style to cite your sources.

An example of how each entry in your annotated bibliography should look is below:

Citation: Aristotle. Poetics. Trans. S. H. Butcher. The Internet Classics Archive. Web Atomic and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 13 Sept. 2007. Web. 4 Nov. 2008. ‹http://classics.mit.edu/›.

Summary: This reading from Aristotle summarizes the Greek philosopher's ideas on poetry. It is a primary source. Aristotle tells the reader what purpose poetry serves, why it is important to the world, and why he enjoys it personally. The author's goal is to make sure that his readers understand the true worth of poets and poetry. The reading also gives an excellent example of Greek thought in the era around Alexander the Great's conquest of Asia. 

Evaluation: Because it is a primary source, this document is very useful to me. I am able to use it to explain the way some Greeks looked at the world, and can compare this to the modern world. I would recommend that other people writing papers on Greek philosophy use this source because Aristotle is very easy to understand.

Getting Started

Remember -- your goal for this project is to do one of the following:

• Compare and contrast one topic from Ancient Greece with the same topic in the modern world (i.e., Ancient Greek and Modern Chicago architecture)
• Explain the influence of one topic from Ancient Greece on the same topic in the modern world (i.e., Ancient Greek food's influence on food in Modern Chicago)

You have to cite two research sources for your project -- one for Ancient Greece, one for the Modern World. You already found one source -- the information from the British Museum you looked at on Tuesday! Follow the steps below to cite the source. In addition to your project grade, you will receive a 10 point homework grade for following the steps below correctly:

Basically, the citation should look like this:

Editor, author, or compiler name (if available). Name of Site. Name of institution/organization affiliated with the site (sponsor or publisher), date of resource creation (if available). Medium of publication. Date of access. Link.Let's break it down:

1. Create a new Word document. Save it in the Y:\Ramin World Geography folder. Find your correct period and save the document in the "Annotated Bibliography" folder. Save the document as "Your Last Name - AB" (1 point)
2. Put your heading in the document. The name of the assignment is "Ancient Greece Annotated Bibliography" (1 point)
3. Begin citing your first source. First, record the author's name. For a website, unless an article has a specific author listed, use the name of the organization who produced the site. (1 point)
4. Record the name of the page you are citing in italics. (1 point)
5. Record the name of the institution/organization that sponsors the site. (1 point)
6. Record the date of publication, if available. (1 point)
7. Record the medium of the publication -- for a website, put Web. If the source were print, you would put Print. (1 point)
8. Record the date you accessed the publication. (1 point)
9. Record the link for your website (1 point).
10. Check to make sure that you followed the format shown above correctly! (1 point)

Summary

Now it's time to summarize your first source. The summary should be approximately 3-4 good sentences in length. Use the questions below to help create your summary. Ask yourself: 

1. What was the main point/main idea/central theme of the source?
2. What important information did you get from the source?
3. What did you learn from the source?
4. How will I use this source in my project?

Evaluation

Finally, you must evaluate your source. This should be approximately 3-4 good sentences in length. Use the questions below to help create your evaluation. Ask yourself:

1. Why is this a good source?
2. Why should I trust the author? What are his/her/its qualifications?
3. Is this source as good as, better than, or worse than other sources I've used?
4. Would I recommend this source to other people?

Congratulations! You've completed the first entry on your annotated bibliography. You've got your ancient Greek source ready to go. Now it's time to find a modern source.

Remember -- you must find a source about a similar topic in the modern world. If you researched Greek art, you must find an example of modern art!

Here are some sources you could use:

• Lonely Planet, a travel guide website
• CultureGrams
• National Geographic
• The City of Chicago website
• The official Chicago Tourism website
• Chicago Magazine
• The Official U.S. Army website
• The Official U.S. Army recruiting website
• A site on Religion from CultureGrams

If you have a topic in mind that is not covered by these sites, talk to me! I can always help you find something new.

Once you've found your source, complete the same steps you followed for your ancient source to include it in your annotated bibliography.

Postcards from the Ancient World Project

A Greek vase.

Introduction: Ancient Greece is seen by many as one of the most influential civilizations the world has ever seen. Nearly everywhere you go in the world today you will see, hear, taste or participate in something that first developed in the Greek world.

Objective: In this project, you will:

• Examine the cultural characteristics of Ancient Greece
• Compare these cultural characteristics with the modern world (especially Chicago and the U.S.)
• Practice writing a thesis
• Practice visual and written communication methods

Ultimately, you will create a postcard to explain your journey to the class and to compare the modern world with the past.

Tasks: Each student will:

• Research a specific aspect of Greek civilization
• Compare this ancient information with the same topic in modern life
• Create a post card (following the example provided) with at least two images on the front and text description on the back. This could be created using a computer program or using the handout provided.

Products:

• Research Evidence: 2-source annotated bibliographies (one ancient, one modern) (30 point project) (Introduced Thursday)
• Synthesis of Evidence: Post card containing images and text which explain the influence of Ancient Greece on modern life OR compare life in Greece to modern life (following the example format) (50 point project)

Part 1: The Time Machine

Each student will take a virtual trip back in time to Ancient Greece. In order to take this “trip,” we will use the The British Museum's online database.

On the museum's site, you'll find a list of topics on the left hand side of the page. These include:

• Two cities (Athens and Sparta)
• One downtown area (The Acropolis in Athens)
• Daily Life
• Festivals & Games
• Religion
• War

Choose one topic. You will use this topic to complete today's research session. The assignment is worth 30 points -- make sure you keep a close eye on where you are earning points!

1. Create a new Word document. Save the document under the appropriate period for in the Y:\Ramin World Geography folder. Save your document as "Your Last Name - Your Topic Name." (2 points)
2. Put your heading at the top of your page. Title the assignment "Ancient Greece Research." (1 point)
3. Record your topic. Summarize the information on the introductory page for your topic (3 points).
4. Click on the Story link on your page. What is the main idea of this page? (2 points)
5. Go through the Story page. Record 5 specific facts about your topic (5 points).
6. Click on the Explore link. What is the main idea of this page? (2 points)
7. Go through the Explore page. Record at least 5 specific facts about your topic (5 points).
8. Click on the Challenge page. Describe what is required of you in the challenge (2 points).
9. Play through the challenge. Summarize what you learned from this activity (5 points).
10. OPTIONAL: Look through the rest of the site. If you have time, explore the different links. Choose at least one other topic which interests you and explain your response.

AP PARTS Homework

For homework tonight, complete the AP PARTS outline we began in class today. Do this on loose leaf paper. It is due at the start of tomorrow's class period, and is worth 10 points.

Remember: follow these steps to complete your outline:

1. AUTHOR
   Who created the source? What do you know about the author?
   What is the author’s point of view? 
2. PLACE AND TIME
   Where and when was the source produced? How might this affect the meaning of the source? 
3. PRIOR KNOWLEDGE
   Beyond information about the author and the context of its creation, what do you know that would help you further understand the primary source? For example, do you recognize any symbols and recall what they represent? 
4. AUDIENCE
   For whom was the source created and how might this affect the reliability of the source? 
5. REASON
   Why was this source created at the time it was produced? 
6. THE MAIN IDEA
   What point is the source trying to convey? 
7. SIGNIFICANCE
   Why is this source important? What inferences can you draw from this document? Ask yourself, “So what?” in relation to the question asked.

The Countries of Europe

Denmark, just one of the 30 countries in Europe you must
know for your European map test.

Here is the list of countries you must know for your map of Europe. The countries in bold are the ones you will be tested on for Friday. If you want to play the map game to study for the quiz, you can find it here.

1. Portugal
2. Spain
3. France
4. Belgium
5. The Netherlands
6. Germany
7. Switzerland
8. Italy
9. Poland
10. Czech Republic
11. Slovakia
12. Austria
13. Hungary
14. Slovenia
15. Croatia
16. Bosnia & Herzegovina
17. Denmark
18. Albania
19. Macedonia
20. Greece
21. Bulgaria
22. Romania
23. Ukraine
24. Russia
25. Turkey
26. Norway
27. Sweden
28. Finland
29. United Kingdom
30. Ireland

Below are the landforms of Europe we will focus on during this unit:

1. Pyrenees
2. Apennines
3. Ural Mountains
4. The Alps
5. The Danube River
6. The Rhine River
7. The Atlantic Ocean
8. The North Sea
9. The Baltic Sea
10. The Mediterranean Sea
11. The Black Sea
12. The Northern European Plain

Ocean Currents and Europe

Today we will examine the impact of ocean currents on the lives of Europeans and other people around the world. In order to do this, we will use resources provided by the U.S. National Ocean Service.

You will complete all of today's work on a piece of loose leaf paper. Title the assignment "Ocean Currents and Europe."

While you work, keep your notes from last night on your desk. You will need them to complete today's assignment. I will also walk around and grade them during this class period.

Label each section on your piece of loose leaf paper exactly as I have it labeled on this blog post.

Answer in complete sentences -- that means you must re-state the question.

Answer in your own words -- that means you CANNOT simply copy down exactly what is written on the website/in your book.

Part I: Background

1. Look back to your notes on Chapter 12.2. In what ways do winds affect Europe? Give at least 3 specific examples.
2. Now you will start looking at the Internet resources we will use today. First, examine the "About" page for the National Ocean Service. Use it to answer the following:
1. What is the National Ocean Service?
2. What are its goals?
3. What is its mission?

Part II: Currents Introduction

1. Look in your notes or on p. 278 of your book. What current is important to Europe's climate?
2. Now, examine the NOS site about currents. What is a current? What are two different examples of currents you might be familiar with?
3. What three factors drive ocean currents? You can either use the information written on the page or listen to the first 5 minutes of this NOS podcast.

Part III: Surface Ocean Currents

We will focus on surface ocean currents today. Use this page from the NOS to answer the following:

1. What is the difference between coastal currents and surface ocean currents?
2. What is the Coriolis Effect? How does it affect the circulation of air across the planet?
3. What are Trade Winds? Why are they called this? How could these winds affect the weather in Europe and other places in the world?
4. Click on the tab marked Boundary Currents. What is a gyre? What causes gyres to form?
5. According to the caption below the central image, what flanks each gyre?
6. What powerful boundary current affects Europe? Record its two names, then explain its impact.

Part IV: Synthesis

Use the information you've learned today, the map below, and the political maps in your textbook's Atlas, answer the questions that follow.

1. Which location would you expect to have a warmer average temperature: Minneapolis, Minnesota or London, England? Explain.
2. Which location would you expect to have a warmer average temperature: Chicago, Illinois or Rome, Italy? Explain.
3. Think back to our discussion of the Columbian Exchange. Using the information you learned in class today, explain why the Columbian Exchange moved in the direction it did, and not the other way.

Back to the Columbian Exchange
The Columbian Exchange, as we learned, did not only affect the United States. It affected all of the continents involved -- Africa, Europe, and North America.

The European country most associated with the slave trade in the United States is Great Britain. In this document, titled Five Readings about the Columbian Exchange, you will hear from an enslaved individual, an accountant, and a slave ship captain. Use the readings to complete the following.

1. What can we learn about the slave trade from Equiano's account?
2. What can we learn about it from the Captain Roberts' balance sheet?
3. What can we learn from Captain Newton's diary?
4. What effects did the Columbian Exchange have on the three men in these documents?

European Political Map Practice

We're studying Europe during our current unit. You can find a game that will help you learn Europe's political boundaries here.

More Exam Review!

1. How many hemispheres does the earth have? What hemispheres contain the continent of South America?
2. How is place different from location?
3. Imagine that you are the captain of a ship sailing the Atlantic Ocean. How might you use coordinates and lines of latitude and longitude to find your destination?
4. Look at the map on p. 15. Which country should you move to if you plan to work for an oil company? Explain.
5. Look at the map on p. 15 again. Then, argue for or against the following statement using the information on the map: "Afghanistan is the poorest country in Southwest Asia."
6. Look at p. 16. When would a small scale map be better to use than a large scale map?
7. What are the four layers that make up the earth's INNER structure?
8. What layer of the earth's OUTER structure are you a part of? Explain.
9. What is continental drift theory?
10. True or false: Water is a nonrenewable resource. Explain your answer. Hint: Think about the hydrologic cycle.
11. What is a landform? Give three examples of landforms you can find in Chicago.
12. What type of plate boundary is most likely to produce earthquakes? Explain.
13. What "secret weapon" did the Europeans bring with them to North America? What effects did this have on the native population?
14. What does GDP tell you about a country? What would GDP per capita tell you about a country?

Extra Credit!

Print and complete the following multiple choice practice for 5 points extra credit:

You can also find the document at this link.

Exam Review Part 2: Vocabulary List

Here are all of the vocabulary terms you will be responsible for on your exam. Note -- you should be able to find these in your notes.

Hint: If you are having trouble remembering some or all of these terms, try making flash cards. This will help you study.

1. Absolute Location
2. Relative Location
3. Hemisphere
4. Equator
5. Prime Meridian
6. Latitude
7. Longitude
8. Physical Map
9. Political Map
10. Legend/Key
11. Compass Rose
12. Scale
13. Qualitative Maps
14. Flow-Line Maps
15. Landforms
16. Landmarks
17. Hydrologic Cycle
18. Relief
19. Topography
20. Tectonic Plates
21. Fault
22. Earthquake
23. Seismograph
24. Epicenter
25. Richter Scale
26. Tsunami
27. Volcano
28. Ring of Fire
29. Economy
30. Economic System
31. Command Economy
32. Market Economy
33. Natural Resources
34. Per Capita
35. GDP
36. Population Density
37. Beringia
38. All U.S. landforms
39. Columbian Exchange

Exam Review Part 1

These are the first set of review questions you'll see in preparation for your Quarter 1 Exam. Choose 5 of the ten to complete on loose leaf paper. They are due on your desk at the start of tomorrow's class, and are worth 10 points.

Remember -- your exam is worth 25% of your final grade. Choose the review questions that are hardest for you to answer, not easiest.

1. Explain the difference between relative and absolute location. Give an example for each.
2. Name and describe the four types of tectonic plate boundary. Then, explain what each type of plate boundary could cause to happen.
3. What type of information can you learn from a physical map? A political map?
4. What is the difference between latitude and longitude? (If you want some practice finding latitude and longitude, check out this site!)
5. What are coordinates? Why are coordinates useful to geographers?
6. Review the landforms of the U.S. Then, explain a) which mountain range you'd have to cross on a journey from Chicago to New York City, and b) which landform you'd have to cross on a journey from Chicago to Denver, Colorado.
7. Argue for or against the following statement: Disease enabled Europeans to successfully conquer the Americas. Support your response with text and lecture evidence.
8. Define “Columbian Exchange”. Describe which continents/countries were involved, what was traded between them, and the reasons trade moved in the pattern it did.
9. Compare the spread of bacteria such as Listeria in the modern United States with the spread of disease during the time of the Columbian Exchange. Explain why people might be more prepared today than they were then to face a disease outbreak.
10. Examine the photo to the right at the top of this post. Then, argue whether or not the geographic theme of movement applies to the photo. Explain your response.

Republican Presidential Candidates

Leading Republican candidates
Herman Cain and Mitt Romney

Tomorrow we will be in the classroom -- we'll take a look at the U.S. economy and use the terms you defined last night. Make sure you have those out for me to check at the start of class.

For today, we'll take a look at one important current event. Although it seems like Barack Obama just took office as president, 2012 marks the end of his first term. That means the president will have to run against a candidate from another party.

 

What party does President Obama belong to?

 

What is the other major U.S. party?

 

Currently, the following 9 people are competing to earn the Republican nomination for president.

• Michelle Bachmann
• Herman Cain
• Newt Gingrich
• Jon Huntsman
• Gary Johnson
• Ron Paul
• Rick Perry
• Buddy Roemer
• Mitt Romney
• Rick Santorum

You have been assigned a candidate to research today. Complete the questions below in an e-mail to me. The e-mail is worth a total of 20 points.

For each question, if you do not use one of the links I've provided, paste the link where you found your information after your answer. You can find most of the information at your candidate's official site.

1. Name your candidate and paste the link for his/her official website.
2. What is a Republican? What values does the Republican Party stand for? Use the Encyclopedia Brittanica to answer this question.
3. What state does your candidate come from? What can you find out about his/her background in that state?
4. What past experience does your candidate have?
5. Do you think your candidate's past experience prepares him/her to be President? Explain.
6. What issues does your candidate seem to care most about? Explain.
7. Look at the chart at the Real Clear Politics website. Which candidate is currently winning? How is your candidate doing?
8. Free Space: Find one additional fact about your candidate and explain it here. 

The Columbian Exchange

European settlers unload goods upon their arrival
in the Americas

Once you've completed your PowerPoint, you will use your textbook (Ch. 6.1) and Internet sources to complete the activity below. You will be examining the movement of goods and people between the U.S., Europe and Africa.

Call the assignment "Columbian Exchange Introduction". Complete it on loose leaf paper.

Part 1
Respond to the following:

1. Review: When did the earliest people arrive in North America? Where did they come from?
2. Based on the information in your book, define and describe the Columbian Exchange.
3. Sketch the Columbian Exchange, showing what moved from place to place at each step.

Part 2

Then, watch this video clip, entitled "When Worlds Collide."

1. What does the video mean when it mentions a "staple" crop?
2. What were some foods eaten by people in the Americas?
3. Argue for or against the following statement using evidence from the video: People in the Americas were better off than people in Europe.

Part 3

Then, watch a second clip from "When Worlds Collide." Use it to answer the questions below.

1. What is the main idea of this clip?
2. How did resources from the Americas affect the European economy?
3. How did contact with the Americas change what Europeans ate?
4. What are some common foods Europeans tried for the first time because of contact with the Americas?
5. What "bad habit" did Europeans pick up?

Part 4

Finally, read the article titled "Foods that Changed the World." You will see information on 8 crops. 

1. Choose 4 crops. Describe why each became very important in the world today.
2. Which of these crops do you think is most important? Explain.

Library Cards and a Test

Don't forget to bring your Chicago Public Library or suburban library cards to class on Wednesday. Ms. Meers, our librarian, will visit us to talk about how you can use your library card to access online resources for free.

I will give anyone who brings their card in on Wednesday 5 points of Extra Credit!

Also, don't forget -- we've got a test over the political and physical geography of the United States on Friday.

Starting your PowerPoint

Once you've completed Part 4 in your Word document, you need to find just a little more information about your state and Afghanistan.

Part 5: Culture

Using the CultureGrams website, you will compare and contrast the culture of your state and Afghanistan. Culture refers to the shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices of a group of people. This is what people who study human geography focus on.

Use the "states" edition to find information about your state, then the "world" edition to find out information about Afghanistan. You may also use the other websites I showed you earlier to find information about Afghanistan.

Recommendation: one partner should answer questions for your state, the other for Afghanistan.

Answer the questions below about your state. Make sure that you answer COMPLETELY. Don't leave details out!

1. Describe the culture of your state (Hint: use the "Cultural Background" link on the side of the page!).
2. Describe the population of your state. What are the people like who live there?
3. What are some popular foods in your state? Describe them.

Now, answer the following questions about Afghanistan. Again, answer COMPLETELY. Don't leave details out!

1. Describe the culture of Afghanistan.
2. Describe the population of Afghanistan. What are the people like who live there?
3. What are some popular foods in Afghanistan? Describe them.

Once you've completed these questions, you've completed the Research Sheet component of your project. Make sure that you save your finalized research sheet to the correct folder for your period on the Y: drive.

The PowerPoint

Once you've finished finding your data about your state and Afghanistan, it's time to start putting your PowerPoint presentation together. First, take a look at the PowerPoint presentation rubric.

Your PowerPoint should include, at minimum, 5 slides:

• A title slide, including your name, your partner's name, and your state's name, as well as maps of both your state and Afghanistan
• A slide comparing the major landforms of your state with the major landforms of Afghanistan
• A slide comparing the climate of your state to the climate of Afghanistan
• A slide comparing the culture of your state with the culture of Afghanistan
• A slide evaluating the ability of a person from your state to adapt to the physical and human geography of Afghanistan

Include a photo on each slide. Be able to explain what each photo shows and why you chose to use it.

You will find an example PowerPoint in my Y:\Ramin World Geography folder. The file is called "A Soldier from Minnesota Goes to Afghanistan."

Your final presentation should, of course, look more beautiful and complete than mine. I completed mine in 10 minutes. You should not.

Once you finish finding your information, you may begin working on the PowerPoint. Follow the project description, the instructions on the blog, and your rubric to make sure you are successful. Some hints:

• You may use Google to search for images. However, remember: you must be able to explain what each one is and why you chose it. If your image is inaccurate, it will cost you major points.
• Don't write EVERYTHING you plan to talk about on your PowerPoint. Keep the information short.
• Be prepared to make eye contact -- each partner should know what is on the PowerPoint!
• Make sure it looks nice and that the text is readable.
• When in doubt, ask for help!

United States Map Game

Here's a map game to help you study for your 50 states test.

We will take this test for the first time on Wednesday, September 28. It will be 50 points total.

"Training for Afghanistan" Project

We will continue working on the project we started in class yesterday. First, look at the project description.

Internet Resources:

• Culture Grams
• CIA World Factbook
• Online NewsHour: Afghanistan and The War on Terror

Part 1: U.S. State Data
Finish answering the questions we began about your state. Type the answers into a Word document, and save it to the following location: Y:\Ramin World Geography\Period X

Save the document as "Your Last Names - Your State". It must be saved by the end of this class period.

You can finish answering the questions using your book, any of the websites listed in the project description, or using the U.S Census website.

1. What is the approximate elevation of your state?
2. What major bodies of water, if any, touch or go through your state?
3. What is your state's largest city?
4. What is the distance from your state's largest city to Chicago?
5. Which American Indian tribes, if any, were found in your state in 1600 CE?
6. What are the main economic activities in your state? Describe what you think each activity means.
7. Are there any natural hazards in your state? Describe them.
8. What is the population density of your state’s largest city? What is the population density of the majority of your state?
9. What is your state’s total population as of 2000? What percentage of your state’s population lived in an urban area as of 1990?
10. What percentage of your state's population graduates from high school?
11. What is the "per capita" income in your state? What do you think this means?
12. What landform region(s) does your state belong to?
13. What natural resources exist in your state?
14. What is the climate like in your state?
15. What type of vegetation grows in your state? List each type.

Part 2: An American Tale

Now that you have your data on your state, use it to write a  descriptive story telling what life might be like for a person in your state. Your description should include the following types of information:
What you do for a living
How your state’s physical environment affects your life, if at all
Where you live – urban or rural area, etc.

This should be approximately 2 paragraphs in length -- exactly enough for each partner to be responsible for writing one!

Complete this in the same Word Document. 10 points.

Part 3: Afghanistan Data
You know everything there is to know about your state! Well, almost. But you definitely have enough information to move on to looking at Afghanistan.

Using the websites listed on the project description sheet, answer the questions below for Afghanistan. For each answer, copy and paste the link where you found the information.

1. What is the highest point in Afghanistan? The lowest? Record the name and elevation for each.
2. What major bodies of water, if any, touch or go through Afghanistan?
3. What is Afghanistan's largest city?
4. What is the distance from your state's largest city to Afghanistan's largest city?
5. What is the major religion practiced in Afghanistan?
6. What are the main economic activities in Afghanistan? Describe what you think each activity means.
7. Are there any natural hazards in Afghanistan? Describe them.
8. What is the population of Afghanistan’s largest city?
9. What is Afghanistan’s total population? What percentage of Afghanistan’s population lives in an urban area?
10. What percentage of Afghanistan's population graduates from high school?
11. What is the "per capita" income in Afghanistan? What do you think this means?
12. What landforms can be found in Afghanistan?
13. What natural resources exist in Afghanistan?
14. What is the climate like in Afghanistan?
15. What type of vegetation grows in Afghanistan? List each type.

Part 4: Afghanistan Predictions
Now, put yourself in the shoes of a soldier from your state sent to Afghanistan. Use the data you gathered to make a list of five predictions. Your predictions should include

• challenges the soldier might face based on the differences between his or her home and Afghanistan
• advantages the soldier might have in Afghanistan because of his or her home environment

Try to think in terms of both urban and rural areas.

Complete this in the same Word Document.