US+History+2011-12+Announcements

Class announcements will be made here with the most recent announcements at the top. Students will be notified via email when additions are made to this announcements page.

Thursday May 3
A. The Modern US History Debates page has been updated to include the debate topics and key due dates for the project. B. A couple of small but important changes have been made to the original project description that you downloaded from the Modern US History Debates page. They are highlighted in the new version (available on the wiki!). The changes are as follows: > A. For the class on Tuesday May 8 (BUS) or Friday May 4 (FUSH), do the following to help you better understand US politics through 2 of Mr. Duncan's good friends--1, a Republican, and the other, a Democrat:
 * // 1. Debate Project Updates //**
 * Opening statement several specific stats/data with sources verbally cited
 * Opening statement includes at least one anecdote/personal story
 * // 2. A Republican and a Democrat Answer Questions for KIS US History Class //**
 * Go to the A CONSERVATIVE AND A LIBERAL ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS FOR KIS US HISTORY! part of The 2 Americas? wiki page. Once there, read the brief bios of each person and then read their answers to 5 questions they both considered.
 * Fill out the Student Survey Based on Dave & Peter's Answers that is listed below their answers. When answering, keep in mind the following:
 * Each answer should be in complete sentences.
 * Though it does not look like a long assignment, to read/think/write will likely take around 1.5 hours. Because of this...
 * It is __highly recommended__ to fill out your answers offline 1st, saving often, to prevent you from losing your hard work if the internet fails or if you accidentally close the tab where you are working. After filling out the answers, you can copy/paste them into the survey and submit it.
 * If you do not finish during class, it is to be completed before the next class (Thu May 10 for BUS, Mon May 7 for FUSH).

Tuesday March 27
A. After finishing the Cold War "If They Shook Hands" Character ID test, students should start working on learning about the major events of the US Civil Rights movement (1954-1968). To do this, pick up the 2 "Rough Places Made Plain" Civil Rights Movement documents. B. In case there is a problem with the printouts to be handed out in class, here are the e-copies of what students will be working on in class today:
 * // 1. FUSH Post-ID Test Activity //**
 * One of those is a map activity. For today's class, ignore this part. You will work on the map portion during Thursday's class.
 * Instead, work on completing the event descriptions. These are based primarily on information from Ch. 28 in your textbook. Use this as the basis for your information. If you cannot find what you are looking for, then you may search the internet for some answers. This activity does not require complete sentences, but it does require each part be answered correctly.
 * After everyone is finished (and not sooner) with the ID test, students may work in the pairs listed below to complete the "event descriptions" in a more timely fashion. However,
 * students may not work with more than the partner(s) listed below)
 * each student will still need to handwrite the answers on their own paper, even if their partner looked up some of the answers for them
 * Pairs for Civil Rights "event descriptions"
 * Claire, Sara
 * Sung-Woo, Arnold
 * Jae, Han Baik
 * Vicky, John
 * Steve, Justin
 * Peter, Diana
 * Jerin, Andy
 * Albert, Rachel
 * Jane, Jennifer
 * Joon, Sally, Eric (note: If someone in another group is absent, Joon will take his/her place in a different group)
 * This is not due next class. Students should bring their maps and event descriptions (even if they are incomplete) to class next time as we will have a little more time to work on them. However, there will not be much time in the following class to get much farther as Thursday is a 1/2 day of school.
 * [[file:Civil Rights - Key Places Map Activity.pages]]
 * [[file:Civil Rights - Key Places Map Activity Event Descriptions.pages]]

Thursday March 15
A. Students should fill out this survey between now and 3:00 p.m. on Friday afternoon if they want input on when/what they will be teaching for the music project: A. Due to adding a 3rd day of presentations, the original schedule has been modified. Click on this link to see the updated version. A. As you may have noticed, the wiki banners at the top of each page have been rotating every 2 weeks. This trend is likely to continue. If your design gets selected (even if you submit it any time after this post), you can still get a homework pass for the 2nd semester. See the below announcement for specifications on banner size & file format.
 * // 1. Music Project Voting //**
 * BUS: []
 * FUSH:[| http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2KBBJZG]
 * // 2. Updated "If They Shook Hands" Schedule //**
 * // 3. Wiki Banners //**

Monday February 13
A. For those interested in the possibility of earning a homework pass for the 2nd semester, you can design the banner for the top of Mr. Duncan's wiki page. Mr. Duncan will choose the top 7 from the submissions. Of those 7, an independent panel of 3 judges will choose the Top 3 and give a suggestion for the banner that will be used. The students who are in the top 3 are guaranteed to get a homework pass. Beyond that, nothing is guaranteed but the possibility of extra passes for other quality submissions exists. Here are the specifics on what is required: A. See the announcement below from Saturday February 4!
 * // 1. Wiki Banner Design Opportunity //**
 * The size must be 990 X 237 with the cropping to these dimensions done using "Preview."
 * The file must be saved as a .jpeg (or .jpg).
 * Students who participate in this contest must submit their banner design to Mr. Duncan's Dropbox (on the KIS server, aka "xfs1") by email before **3:00 p.m. on Monday February 20**.
 * To submit on the server, follow these directions:
 * Log in using the "Server Home Login"
 * Select KDuncan
 * Select Public
 * Select Dropbox and submit your entry there.
 * The entry should be titled "(first name last name) Banner"
 * ***Please note that the server may only be accessed at KIS.
 * There is not much required in the design other than the following:
 * it should say something like "Mr. Duncan's wiki," "Welcome to Mr. Duncan's wiki," etc.
 * To possibly inspire you, Mr. Duncan teaches (or has taught @ KIS) a variety of social studies courses such as US History, Sociology, Geography, and Economics as well as serves as the MUN advisor. Nothing related to any of these has to be in the design...they just may be a springboard to help you with a design.
 * One example of a quality banner is included below:
 * // 2. Field Trip Transportation Reminder //**

Saturday February 4
A. For the Friday February 17 field trip to the Korean War Museum in Yongsan, any students who do not plan on riding the bus back to school (which will arrive at KIS at approximately 2:30pm) **must** bring a signed note from one of your parents that gives you permission to not take the bus back. This note is due to Mr. Duncan **no later than 3:00pm on Thursday February 16.** Students who bring a note later than this (e.g. on the day of the field trip) or who do not have a note will be required to take the bus back to school, __//even if they live in Itaewon//__. If you have any questions, please see Mr. Duncan.
 * // 1. Field Trip Transportation //**

Friday December 9
1. WWII Movie Extra Credit In order to provide more perspective on World War II (our next unit) and make the events of WWII come to life, KIS US History students have the opportunity to watch a movie focusing on WWII to earn extra credit. Students who choose to do this can earn extra credit by following these steps: 1. Watch one of the following movies: The Pianist, Saving Private Ryan, Schindler's List, or Swing Kids. **STUDENTS MUST NOT HAVE EVER SEEN THE MOVIE BEFORE IN ORDER TO EARN EXTRA CREDIT.** 2. Take a picture of yourself(ves) watching the movie and email it to your teacher anytime prior to **Tuesday Jan 10 at 8:00 am**. //(This is not due at the beginning of class. It really is 8:00 a.m. Tuesday).// 3. On that day, students will receive their assignment that will require questions to be answered about the movie. It is approximately 2 pages (typed) of answers. Students will email that assignment to their respective teachers on **Thursday January 12 by 8:00 am**. Those who have completed all steps and have thoughtful responses will earn up to 7 bonus points on a 1st semester test/project grade.
 * When you email this to your teacher, **the title of your email MUST be: “WWII Extra Credit Photo.”** If you do not title it properly or if you do not turn it in on time, you will not be allowed to complete the rest of the assignment for extra credit.


 * Note: This is completely optional**.

2. Exam Grades The exam grades will not be posted until after school resumes in January.

Friday November 18
**//FUSH--Please realize that this is not for your Monday class. The lesson plans are still the only item due then.//** A. For both classes: B. In addition, for BUS only: Read pages C. In addition, for FUSH only:
 * // 1. Assignment for Monday (BUS) or Tuesday (FUSH). //**
 * In your journals, do the following as one combined entry:
 * 7 quick bullet points on ways you could have improved your research paper
 * A paragraph reflection about what you learned from writing this research paper. (Could be content, research process, writing process, etc. -- it is up to you)
 * - 654-655: great migration
 * - 660-665: leisure activity
 * The day seems slightly quizzy so make sure you do your reading :)
 * Print out a hard copy of your brief reaction after listening to these tunes from the era:
 * [|"In a Mellow Tone"]
 * [|"It Don't Mean a Thing"]

A. If your group wants to post anything on the wiki for your presentation, please use the 1920s-1930s Teaching Project Student Uploads link on the Unit 5 - 1920s & 1930s wiki page. You may create your own link on the "student uploads" page. Using the wiki is not required, however.
 * // 2. 1920s-1930s Project Wiki Links //**

A. After each teaching lesson (starting Monday Nov 21 for BUS and Tuesday Nov 22 for FUSH), students will not submit anything to turnitin.com (as originally indicated in the project description). Instead, their reflections will be submitted via Google Docs. For each reflection (the reflection specifications are listed below & in your project description), students should follow these instructions carefully: >>>> ***Note: This paragraph should be more detailed for the reflection on one’s own group. That reflection should also include an evaluation of the students’ own work, his/her partners’ work, and what lessons were gained from the project.
 * // 3. Reflections for Each 1920s-1930s Lesson //**
 * **Reflections Instructions**
 * 1) Create a Google Doc
 * 2) Title the Doc "1920s-30s Reflection for (date) class - (your name)"
 * Example "1920s-30s Reflection for Tue Nov 22 class - Mr. Duncan"
 * Misnamed reflections will not be counted.
 * 1) Be sure the document is in your BUS or FUSH "collection" shared with Mr. Duncan.
 * 2) There should be a separate document for each reflection.
 * 3) These documents are due before the next class begins. Do not make any edits to the document after the next class begins. If edits are made, then Mr. Duncan will consider it turned in late, dating from the time of the last save. Revision history will not be considered.
 * 4) Possible ways your reflections would not be accepted
 * 5) not properly titled
 * 6) documents not part of your shared collection with the teacher
 * 7) 2+ reflections in one document
 * 8) For students who miss a day of class, they should:
 * 9) consult Mr. Duncan in person on the revised due date and expectations for making up the journal
 * **Reflections Specifications**
 * 2/3 to 1 page single-spaced (Times New Roman, 12 pt font) reflection divided into 3 brief paragraphs
 * Paragraph I: Reflections on Objective #1
 * Paragraph II: Reflections on Objective #2
 * Possible guiding questions for objectives reflections (not all have to be answered...many not on this list could be answered!): What was the objective? What did you learn about it? What would you like to know more about? How does this relate to your own experiences of the US or Korea in the 21st century? What surprised you about this topic? How is this similar to or different from what you have studied in US or World History? If you were alive during this time period, how would you be different?
 * Paragraph III: Reflections on Overall Lesson
 * What went well, what could be improved

Friday September 30
A. Research papers will be due printed out at the beginning of class on Tue Oct 4 (BUS) or Wed Oct 5 (FUSH). Before class begins, each student should have submitted their research papers to turnitin.com. It is not necessary to submit the cover page and/or bibliography to turnitin.com. B. All students should have received an email Thursday night with the turnitin.com class user ID & password. Please use that to log on to and submit papers at turnitin.com.
 * // 1. Turning in Research Papers //**

When finishing your papers, please remember: A. to read the rubric carefully. B. to look at the sample paper for correct formatting C. that the thesis statement should clearly answer the research question D. that the entire paper should be supporting the thesis E. to do the best you can! You will improve as a writer this year and this is an important step in that process.
 * // 2. Research Paper Reminders //**

Monday September 19
A. For the next class (not counting the test day), you will find a current events article (internet or newspaper) that relates to the Bill of Rights in some way.
 * // 1. Bill of Rights Current Event Assignment //**

The article needs to have been written within the past month. You will then complete a write-up (1-2 paragraphs) about this article that includes the following information:

1. A brief summary of the article

2. Answer: "How does the issue in this article relate to the Bill of Rights?"

3. Answer: "What is the impact of this article on (some) citizens of the United States?"

To find a copy of the Bill of Rights, you may click [|here] or [|here.]

Be sure that you turn in a hard copy of this assignment **and** a copy of your article at the beginning of the class on Thu Sep 22 (BUS) or Fri Sep 23 (FUSH).

Wednesday September 7
A .Assignment for Thu Sep 8 (BUS) or Fri Sep 9 (FUSH) -- All should be printed out and ready to turn in when class begins
 * // 1. Research Paper Assignment //**
 * **Narrowed Topic:** Finalized, polished research question
 * **Thesis Paragraph**: Introductory paragraph to paper with thesis at end; This may (and will likely) change
 * **Rough Outline**: For now, just include the thesis and the main points that will support that thesis. More detailed points are not required.
 * **Sources List:**Working bibliography of sources; While the sources may end up changing, what is turned in on Tuesday needs to (a) be cited correctly using Chicago Style and (b) have all of the required sources (e.g. 2 primary sources).
 * An example paper with a correct cover sheet, footnotes, and bibliography is now posted at the bottom of the US History Research Papers page.

Monday August 8
A. To help your teacher "get to know you a bit more," download the document. After downloading, answer the questions and print it out for next class. Later on, we will put this in a Google Folder, so do not delete it after turning it in! Be sure to be descriptive on the paragraphs and write the "Why" and teacher name for the best class taken @ KI.
 * // 1. Getting to Know You Activity //**