Welcome !!

Well, if you made it to this page you are burning with desire to explore the history of this planet for the last 10 thousand years or so, and as such I hope you will find the links and the information on this blog of interest.  Please browse, many students find this blog useful and there are assignments associated with its use from time to time.  For now you can earn 5 extra credit points if you leave a message before  the 8th of August at 10 pm PST.

Feel free to comment on the blog, your anticipations for the class or anything related to the course. Please keep in mind that your comments will be viewed by others.

Peace,

Mr. Parker

Unit 5 Check In!!!

5 points for responding to the following question.  5 bonus points for the most insightful response.

How does Nineteenth Century Victorian England resemble Contemporary American  Society?

We are in the lab today to hunt for worthy sites which can help us review/ study/ lean about Unit 5 (1450-1750).  Happy hunting.

Find a website.  Post the site with a brief review.
10 point assignment with Extra Credit starting at 5 points for an additional site.

Welcome!!!

Hello incoming Sophomores!
I apologize for my tardiness in getting this up.  The delay was due to technical difficulties.  While you are here check out the links and the lectures.   The bottom line- This is a tough class but you will not be left alone.  You will be overwhelmed and frustrated at times but that feeling is what always precedes learning.

I have included some comments.  In parenthesis are the # of times the comment was repeated.  Read through them and leave a comment to prove you we here.
 By the way- check out the lectures, songs and links while you're here.

Here are the comments of students from this year:

• Focus!(6) Don't get distracted by self-doubt.  Have confidence.(3)  You can learn to pass this test if you listen to Mr. Parker.(12)
• Take good notes! (9) Color code your red lines!  Remember trash in, trash out! (2) Try your best and always do one hour of homework.(21)
• The class is great.  (6) Take practice tests and buy the AP book.
• Answer the Prompt.  Prepare early.(3)
• Get ready to work you get what you put in.(8)
• Don't be lazy, don't procrastinate.(13) Don't loose your notes.
• Don't be too hard or too easy on yourself.
• Discuss the red lines in your groups.(2)
• Ask questions (7) and look up information on your own time.
• Learn the songs! (4)
• Don't give up.  (3) This a hard class but it's fun.(2)
• When you have a project due, don't wait until the last minute to start it.
• Make sure you speak up!  Participate.
• If you do your work you will pass.  Be organized
• It is really fun, don't get on Mr. Parker's bad side, and don't worry.
• You need to be on top of this class from day 1.

and my favorite:

• Listen!  Mr Parker always seems to be right.  (He is an AP Genius.)  Summaries and Red Lines are the most important!  Study and brief for the AP Test all year.  Just studying a week or two in advance will not help.  

I am looking forward to hearing from all of you!  Enjoy Summer!

Peace,

Mr. Parker

Thumb Trial

OK class...

We are going to do our first thumb trial and this is how it works:  We will have several mini-trials, each of which will be delivered to a jury (the rest of the class) who will decide by a show of thumbs. Below is a list of controversial characters ( to 1750). In order for a trial to be scheduled, at least one person on defense and one person on prosecution must sign up. No more than two students per team and as always, first come first served.  The defendants will answer ONLY to the crimes enumerated.

Sign up for a trial by leaving a comment.  The trial will take place on Friday the 16th of January.  Sign up for either the prosecution or the defense.  The assignment will be worth 25 points for the trial performance.

Shi Huangdi                        

squandering precious resources, wasting of human lives and labor, tyranny

Chandragupta                           

espionage, overtaxing, corruption

Pope Urban II                           

deploying troops to the Holy Land, inciting violence, hate crimes

Charlemagne                            

tyranny, overtaxing, corruption

Genghis Kahn                           

cruelty, war crimes, genocide

Emporer Yongle of China         

mistreatment of minorities, tyranny, land theft
Pizarro
brutality, enslavement, wanton destruction of Inca culture
Martin Luther
blasphemy, vandalism,  inciting violence

QueenElizabeth
possession of stolen property, sponsoring terrorism, religious persecution of Catholics
Machiavelli
blasphemy, inciting violence, treason
LouisXIV
 tyranny, illegal manipulation of French economy, squandering public funds

Cortes
brutality, enslavement, wanton destruction of Inca culture 
Kublai Kahn
conducting illegal war against Japan, cruelty to Chinese citizens, tyranny 
Mansa Kankan Musa
squandering public funds, destruction of local economies, tyranny
Christopher Columbus 
inciting Genocide, enslavement, theft

Suleiman the Magnificent
unethical war against Europe, enslaving Janissaries, excessive taxation

Shah Jahal
fratricide, cruelty to animals (elephants), squandering public funds

 

The assignment is worth 25 points, you can earn up to 15 extra credit by participating in a second trial. (Priority goes to those signing up for their first.)

The Alexander The Great Trial

Each student will need to select a role for the upcoming trial. The points possible for each role are 50. I will offer up to 15 extra credit points for dressing in character IF you wear the costume the entire day (PE excluded).   Sign in on this blog to select a role or see Mr. Parker, first come first served.  Following each role is a brief description of the responsibilities.

The roles:

Judge

You will Oversee the proceedings and direct the behavior of the courtroom. (Mr. Parker will help.) You will rules on items of procedure and instruct the jury. You will make legal interpretations of legal concepts when needed.

Prosecuting Attorneys (3)

Your team will research the alleged crimes of the accused. Prosecute the case against Alexander. Obtain testimony from the witnesses and build a case to convict. (note- with so many charges and such limited time, it will be a good idea to prioritize the crimes of the accused.)

Defense Attorneys Same as prosecuting attorneys but your team will present a defense for the Accused. The Defense will cross-examine and call witnesses that will speak to Alexander's innocence.

Press

Although you won't have a great deal of research to do. You will prepare a report based on court room observation and post testimony interviews. You will publish your report on this blog.

Witnesses

Each of the witnesses selected will need to reseach that person and impersonate him or her. All questions should be answered as historically accurately as possible.

The potential witnesses are:

Darius III, King of Persia
Demosthenes
Arrian
Plutarch
Diodorus
Curtius
Antipater
Parmenio
Philotas
Ptolomy
Aristobulos
Nearchus
Cleitarchus
Callisthenes
Aristotle
Alexander's Mother
Roxana
Stateira

Jury

One person will serve as the jury. Just as with the Press, this person will not have researching responsibility but will be responsible for taking notes on the trial and rendering a written verdict.

You have until Wednesday to make a selection at which time I will assign one. 

The charges against Alexander are as follows:

Crimes against Humanity (War Crimes)
Murder of Clitus
Public Intoxication
Disorderly Conduct
Theft
Burning of Persepolis
Massacre at Branchidae
Poor leadership with regard to the disaster at Gedrosia

Welcome to AP History

I have included some comments.  In parenthesis are the # of times the comment was repeated.  Read through them and leave a comment to prove you we here.
 By the way- check out the lectures, songs and links while you're here.

Here are the comments of students from this year:

• Focus!(6) Don't get distracted by self-doubt.  Have confidence.(3)  You can learn to pass this test if you listen to Mr. Parker.(12)
• Take good notes! (9) Color code your red lines!  Remember trash in, trash out! (2) Try your best and always do one hour of homework.(21)
• The class is great.  (6) Take practice tests and buy the AP book.
• Answer the Prompt.  Prepare early.(3)
• Get ready to work you get what you put in.(8)
• Don't be lazy, don't procrastinate.(13) Don't loose your notes.
• Don't be too hard or too easy on yourself.
• Discuss the red lines in your groups.(2)
• Ask questions (7) and look up information on your own time.
• Learn the songs! (4)
• Don't give up.  (3) This a hard class but it's fun.(2)
• When you have a project due, don't wait until the last minute to start it.
• Make sure you speak up!  Participate.
• If you do your work you will pass.  Be organized
• It is really fun, don't get on Mr. Parker's bad side, and don't worry.
• You need to be on top of this class from day 1.

and my favorite:

• Listen!  Mr Parker always seems to be right.  (He is an AP Genius.)  Summaries and Red Lines are the most important!  Study and brief for the AP Test all year.  Just studying a week or two in advance will not help.  

I am looking forward to hearing from all of you!  Enjoy Summer!

Peace,

Mr. Parker