Historical Investigation, Day 6 - Class Recap

The light at the end of the tunnel is getting brighter! At the start of next class, your historical investigation is due. I hope everyone is on track to turn it in on time and hit all the learning targets we have been working on! Picture taken at Cape Kiwanda on the Oregon Coast in 2009.

Hi everyone,

I hope you are reading this with the confidence that your historical investigation research project is done, or almost done! The entire final draft of the project, along with the rubric, is due next class (Friday). Here's the recap:

Learning Targets Addressed: 
SS.HS.RE.ALT.04: I can use evidence from my research to effectively address the research topic.
SS.HS.CO.ALT.01: I can organize ideas in a logically sequenced manner and in a way that is appropriate to the content area.
SS.HS.CR.ALT.04: I can evaluate information and explanations within a given context and develop a relevant conclusion.
SS.HS.RE.ALT.02: I can access relevant information from multiple and varied sources.
SS.HS.CR.ALT.05: I can justify and support arguments or interpretation with appropriate evidence.

Soundtrack: “Help Yourself” by Sad Brad Smith. Selected because today's peer review day was in the hopes that you would help yourself by getting feedback on your historical investigation. Lyrics here.

AGENDA 2/27/14: 
News Brief
Peer Review
Independent Work Time

Homework: Historical Investigation due next class (on Monday)! Read the blog! Next news brief is assigned to Daniel.

News Brief: Today's news brief was helpfully brought in by Ifrah. She chose this story to talk about: CNN.com - Oklahoma father dies in police encounter after mother slaps daughter.

Peer Review: The entire rest of the class was devoted to peer review and work on the historical investigation. If you missed class, or want to see the form again, here it is to download:

Google Drive - Historical Investigation Peer Review Sheet

If you would like to see the overview of the entire project again, here it is:

Google Drive - American Studies Historical Investigation Research Project Overview

If you are interested in exactly how you will be graded, please see the learning target rubrics here (the formatting is off - there are extra copies in class):

Google Drive - Historical Investigation Rubrics

If you are looking for details about any specific element of the assignment, links are here on the blog, or just comment and I will post whatever you need. I am here to help, but ultimately, it is up to you to make sure that the project is done and ready to turn in next class!

Independent Work Time: After peer review, there was time in class to keep working on the project. I made sure, once again, to talk to every student in class about how it was going and offer a pass to the computer lab or library if needed.

See you next class - please bring your entire revised Historical Investigation printed and ready to turn in, with the grading rubric on top! Thank you!

Historical Investigation and Forecasting, Day 5 - Class Recap

Independence Hall, in Philadelphia. This is where the US Constitution was debated and signed! Photo taken in 2011.

Hi everyone,

Thanks for another day of hard work! Hopefully, you are feeling confident at having a product to bring next class for some peer review. This means you should really try to have a rough draft of everything, ready to go! Here's what happened in class today:

Learning Targets Addressed:

SS.HS.RE.ALT.04: I can use evidence from my research to effectively address the research topic.

SS.HS.CO.ALT.01: I can organize ideas in a logically sequenced manner and in a way that is appropriate to the content area.

SS.HS.CR.ALT.04: I can evaluate information and explanations within a given context and develop a relevant conclusion.

SS.HS.RE.ALT.02: I can access relevant information from multiple and varied sources.

SS.HS.CR.ALT.05: I can justify and support arguments or interpretation with appropriate evidence.

Soundtrack: “Two Days in February” by Goo Goo Dolls. Selected because there are now two days (in February) left of class before your historical investigation is due! Lyrics here.

AGENDA 2/25/14:

News Brief

Parts D and E

Computer Lab S210
Forecasting (S210)

Homework: Historical Investigation due next Monday! Bring everything, printed, for peer review next class. Read the blog! Next news brief: Ifrah. 

News Brief: Chloe selected this story to talk about: NYTimes.com - Governor of Arizona Is Pressed to Veto Bill. This is a really interesting current event! I talked about the specifics of the legislation, which would give business owners with sincerely held religious beliefs the right to not serve those they disagree with (in essence). The legislature in Arizona already passed the bill, and now it will go to Governor Jan Brewer, who is being asked to veto it because it could be used to discriminate against gay people. We will probably start the next unit by looking at civil rights, so this was especially good to start thinking about. Thanks, Chloe!

Parts D and E: The last two sections to go over for the historical investigation! Here are two documents that might help with explaining how to do this:

Google Drive: Historical Investigation Parts D and E, Explained

Google Drive: Ms. DeFrance-Gilman's Part D Analysis Example

Basically, Part D is your own thoughts about how the evidence you summarized and presented in Part B helps answer your research question. This should be one page or more. Part E is the conclusion to the paper, which should be a paragraph, including a thesis statement.

Computer Lab: For the rest of class, we went to the computer lab again and worked (we also completed forecasting for next year there, as well). This is the last time we will do this as a class for this project. I was more than happy to write passes to the library or computer lab for your study hall. I also would love to provide assistance or support through comments on the blog, emails, or before or after school! Please let me know how I can help you be successful on this!

Come next class with everything you have, printed and ready to be looked at for a peer review, please. This is an important step in the process. Thanks! See you next class!

Historical Investigation, Day 4 - Class Recap

The Statue of Liberty and Lower Manhattan, New York City. Photo taken in 2011.

Hi everyone,

Another "short" week done! I don't know about you, but it seems like we have packed quite a lot into the two weeks I have been your teacher. Next class, please come with Parts A, B, C, and F of the Historical Investigation done, so we can work on Parts D and E in class. On to the recap:

Learning Targets Addressed:
SS.HS.RE.ALT.04: I can use evidence from my research to effectively address the research topic.
SS.HS.CO.ALT.01: I can organize ideas in a logically sequenced manner and in a way that is appropriate to the content area.
SS.HS.CR.ALT.04: I can evaluate information and explanations within a given context and develop a relevant conclusion.
SS.HS.RE.ALT.02: I can access relevant information from multiple and varied sources.
SS.HS.CR.ALT.05: I can justify and support arguments or interpretation with appropriate evidence.

Soundtrack: “Just Dance” by Lady Gaga & Colby O’Donis. Selected because of MORP this weekend! Lyrics here.

AGENDA 2/21/14:
News Brief
HI Targets/Rubrics
Computer Lab N210

Homework: Historical Investigation due on Monday, March 3! Bring Parts A, B, C, and F next class! Read the blog! Next news brief: Chloe.

News Brief: Riley had the news brief today and chose this story to talk about: USAToday.com - IOC: There's no figure skating judging controversy. She related it to the US by saying if the judges were biased towards Russians, the American contenders would be adversely affected.

HI Targets/Rubrics: After the news brief, I went over the learning targets for the historical investigation again, and explained how you could best get a score of Highly Proficient/4 on them. Here they are again - I will pass out a sheet with them next class. The formatting is off online - the copy in class is better.

Google Drive - Historical Investigation Grading Rubrics 

Each element of the historical investigation contributes to one or more of the learning targets, so please be sure you know how you are addressing them!

Computer Lab N210: For the rest of class, we went to the computer lab to continue working on the historical investigation. I checked in with everyone about how it was going and I wanted to be sure that students were on track to finish Parts A, B, C, and F for next week. Please let me know if you need help! Work hard this weekend, please!