Thursday, December 02, 2010

Latest assignment...

For the specific Goff assignments (pages 241-253), go to Mrs. Richardson's blog. Just click on the link below! Have a great weekend!

Newest assignment - See Ms. Richardson's blog

http://grade12hotarichardson.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

The times they are a changin'...

We see a rise in totalitarianism in the 1920's and 1930's: Spain (Franco), Germany (Hitler), the Soviet Union (Lernin/Stalin), Italy (Mussolini), Japan (Military Rule).  First, in your educated opinion, which is the greatest COMMON factor that led to these acts of desperation? Second, what similarities, if any, can you identify between the world of 1933 (the year Hitler became dictator) and 2010? Third, were Germans to blame for the rise of Hitler?

Homework directions...and...not all polls are wrong

For our next assignment, complete the latest Goff reading assignment. The corresponding questions do not need to be answered but are meant as a guide. Use them as you feel appropriate. Rather than having everyone post and adding 3 comments as we have done in the past, this time we will do things a little differently.

I have created a post based on the reading (listed above this post). Respond, agree, disagree, add a comment, or ask a question that you feel needs clarification. I know that this is similar to the how you (brilliantly) responded to my Wilson post, but next time I will assign the post to 3 of you, and the rest of the class will be commenting on those posts. The value of the blog is the creation of a dialogue and thus a deeper understanding, and I think this will best facilitate that.

Lastly, not all polls are wrong. However, I do appreciate your critical thinking and skepticism.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

An unrealistic idealist or a man ahead of his time?

Happy Thanksgiving!

For today, continue to listen to the available podcasts and complete the notes. Once completed with that complete the following steps: (1) comment on my post below (2) create a post on your blog, based on the effects of WWI, using the notes sheet to develop a question, comment, or perspective which you think requires further discussion or consideration, and (3) comment on at least 1 other student blog post (the one on the effects of WWI).

As the war was dragging on, Woodrow Wilson realized that offering a peaceful and forgiving settlement would help bring about the end of the war. His reasoning was that if Germany was not severely punished under terms of unconditional surrender, they would be more likely to agree to peace. This was the purpose of the 14 Points in which he outlined 3 goals: (1) prevent future wars by upholding freedom of the seas, ending secret alliances, and limiting militarism, (2) settling border problems in Europe, and (3) the creation of a League of Nations. His ideas were "agreed to" and an armistice occurred. During negotiations in Versailles, Germany learned that the Allies were not intent on being as forgiving as they originally stated. One result, against the protest of Wilson, was a humiliated and severely punished Germany which eventually led the world to a second world war. Was Wilson unrealistic, naive, and overly idealistic which caused his plans to fail? Or was he a man of genius who was ahead of his time and that, should his ideas been followed (including the US joining the League of Nations), would have prevented World War II?

Monday, November 22, 2010

Podcasts and more...

Once you "export as wav" file, save the final podcast with the appropriate title (for example: Treaty of Versailles, Freud and Nietzsche)

Once that is completed let me know and I will put it into the L drive. From that point, listen to the podcasts of your classmates by accessing them through the folder "HOTA Podcasts". Listen to the podcasts of your classmates and use this information to complete the "notes" sheet.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Great start! What's next?

The first blog posts were incredible, and we will talk more about the major concepts that were developed in class next week. There were some great insights, important questions raised, and reflected critical thinking, both about the content of history and the study of history itself. Great job!!

Our next step will be to use the reading from Gilbert, pages 80-98 to create our second post. Using the questions or comments you generated on pages 86-98, contruct a general question, comment, or perspective. When completed, take a look at the posts of your classmates and include 3 comments.

Thanks!

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Our first steps...

This week our goal is to get your blog established, choose your template design, learn about the different formatting options, learn how to make a post, and comment on another's blog.

When you register your blog, choose the name: grade12hotayourfirstnamelastinitial
For example: grade12hotatravisg
It should not be taken, but let me know if it is before choosing something else.

Your first post will be about the Goff reading, pages 102-115. It can be based on the reading questions, it can be your reaction or your viewpoint about anything you read for homework, or it can be a question you have or something you read that you don't fully understand. Whichever you choose, make it a comment that you are interested in or wondering about, rather than doing it just to do it.

Next, you need to view the blogs of your classmates. Please view as many as possible, then comment on 3 different blogs. Your comments should be agreements, disagreements (polite and respectful, of course), answers to questions, questions to questions, etc. The world is interested in your thoughts!

Once your blog and your comments are published they are open to the world - so do your best! Hopefully in the future we will be in communication with students outside of the US!

HAVE FUN!