Happy New Year! [and also you have a DBQ next week]

Hi everyone.  Hope you're all having a lovely break and preparing for a fun and safe New Year's Eve.  Just a quick reminder that you have a DBQ at the end of next week (Thursday, Jan. 7 for B-day and Friday, Jan. 8 for A-day).  In case you want to get in a little prep this weekend, the topic for your DBQ will be society, culture and politics in the 1920s.  I don't want to get much more specific than that, but if you're preparing, think about how those three topics intersect with each other and you'll probably have some productive study time.

Enjoy the rest of your break, and we'll see you next Tuesday!

- Flowers

Semester exam update

Our APUSH semester exam is just around the corner - Wednesday, December 9 for A-day and Thursday, December 10 for B-day.  Here's how the exam day will look -

Section 1 - 55 multiple choice [45 minutes]
Section 2 - 4 short answer questions [40 minutes]

In all classes (except 0A), we will sit the MC section first.  As always, the MC section is comprehensive - roughly 60% will be from the current six weeks, and roughly 40% from the first two six weeks.

This six weeks, due to time constraints, we will sit all four of our short answers on the exam day instead of sitting a long essay or DBQ.  Unlike earlier in the semester, this time around the short answers will also be comprehensive.  One short answer will come from material in the first six weeks, one will come from the second six weeks, and the last two will come from this six weeks. This set of four short answers will be combined to count as one grade in the essay category for the third six weeks (same as last six weeks).

Although we don't normally allow students to opt out of writing short answers, if you are satisfied with your grades from your two DBQs from this six weeks you may choose not to write the short answers on the exam day.  Remember, you should only choose to opt out if you have written both of the DBQs for this six weeks AND you are completely satisfied with your grades on those essays. Otherwise, you should prepare for and write the short answers as normal.

Please talk to (or email) me or Ms. Pettigrew if you have any questions at all about the semester exam or any of the information in this blog post.  Also, remember, we will have an after-school review on Tuesday, December 8 in a location to be determined (but most likely Mr. Journeay's room).

- Flowers

Woodrow Wilson in the news

Sometimes, as a teacher, you have that moment where you think - didn't I just say this in class today?

Woodrow Wilson, Princeton and race

Enjoy.

- Flowers

Next Week - DBQs!

So, we're going to devote next week to writing, and specifically to introducing the APUSH Document-Based Question.  On Monday and Tuesday, we will talk about the rubric, look at sample essays, and do some documents work.  Each student will receive a copy of the 2000 DBQ on organized labor, and we will work through the documents - summarizing, analyzing and identifying point of view.  On Thursday and Friday, all students will write their first DBQ in class.  The topic of the DQB will be organized labor, and the question and documents packet will be similar to (but not the same as) the one on which we practiced in class.

Calendar Updates!

B-day students, we have decided to push your exam back to Thursday, Oct. 29.  Also, we will be offering a review / essay writing clinic for Exam 2 on Tuesday afternoon in my room after school.

- Flowers

Grading update - Flowers

So, I'm grading things now.  I'm going to try and get everyone all their essays and short answers back by Tuesday, and I'm going to have terms lists back before the exam as well.  You may see some essay and short answer grades pop up in TEAMS by later tonight, but if not, certainly by tomorrow.  Please look in the 'graded work' slot for your class tomorrow and Tuesday and collect anything of yours that's there.

Exam week!

It's exam week in APUSH, and I know everyone is excited!  The test is written and all the versions are formatted and ready to copy.  I'll be putting the essays together later tonight.  Remember, you'll be taking both a multiple choice section and writing one long essay on exam day, so make sure you're preparing for both.

Also, remember that we'll be doing an exam review Monday afternoon as soon as last period ends.  We'll start in my room, but if we have enough people show up we'll switch over to the library.  Feel free to show up if you think it would be useful.  We'll do a general overview and then take questions.  We'll probably go until 4.15 or 4.30, depending on how many people show up and how long they want to stay.

Hope your studies are going well, and please feel free to email me (or Ms. Pettigrew) if you have any questions.

- Flowers

Mini-lecture 4

For your viewing pleasure... mini-lecture 4.

So, that's a thing... Impeachment!

Mini-lecture 3

Mini-lecture 3 is also posted.

So, that's a thing... Laws!

Mini-lecture 2

Mini-lecture 2 is posted.  Enjoy!

So, that's a thing... Amendments!

Mini-lecture 1

The first in our ongoing series of mini-lectures has been posted!  We've decided to call the series 'So, that's a thing...', and the first topic is taxation in America.  All these lectures will be posted on Vimeo, and the password for each will be the same - apushlasa.

These lectures are designed to be a very brief overview of certain topics in the course that we would like you to have some command of as we move forward.  Also, at some point, groups of terms from the 'So that's a thing...' series will pop up on terms lists.

We hope you find these useful, and we will continue to post them over the course of the year.

So, that's a thing... Taxes!

Pettigrew - Contact Information and Office Hours

Here is my contact information and office hours for the 2015-2016 school year.

Kim Pettigrew

Room 272
Conference periods - A0; B7
Email - kbpttgrw@gmail.com
Classroom phone - 512.841.3072 

Office hours - Tues. and Thurs. 3:45 - 4:30 and by appointment

Pettigrew - Syllabus

Here is a copy of the syllabus for my sections of APUSH.

- Pettigrew

APUSH Syllabus Pettigrew

Terms List 1 and Outline 1

At Ms. Pettigrew's suggestion, we will post every outline and terms list on the web site.  Please note, you MUST turn in a handwritten copy of your terms list.  Typed copies will not be accepted for credit.

- Flowers

Terms List 1
Lecture 1 Outline

Flowers - syllabus

Here is a copy of the syllabus for my sections of APUSH.

- Flowers

APUSH Syllabus Flowers

APUSH makeup and retake policy

Here is the handout detailing the APUSH makeup work and retake policy.  This policy will be explained in detail on the first day of class, and will be posted on the bulletin board in room 274.

APUSH makeup and retake policy

Flowers - contact information and office hours

Here are my contact information and office hours for the 2015-2016 school year.

Jason Flowers

Room 274
Conference periods - A1 (split); B6
Email - historytime@gmail.com
Classroom phone - 512.841.3070 [not currently working]

Office hours - Tues. - Fri. mornings (7.45-8.10); Mon, Tues, Thurs. afternoons (3.45-4.15); other times by appointment

Welcome to APUSH!!

It's a new year at LASA, and it's time to get started with APUSH!  Ms. Pettigrew and I will be excited to welcome all of you over the next few days, and I know we're all going to have a great year.  Also, since 2016 is an election year, we'll be able to have a lot of fun following the 'invisible primary' season this fall and the actual primaries starting in January.

Over the course of the year, please refer to this site for information about the course, announcements, handouts, and the all-important calendar (helpfully embedded right at the top of this page).

I hope you've all had an exciting summer, and that you're ready to get started with another fun year at LASA tomorrow.  See you then.

- Flowers

APUSH post-exam survey

Here is a link to the post-exam survey.  Please take a minute to help Ms. Pettigrew and I out with planning for next year by evaluating a few more things from this year.  Thanks!

APUSH Post-Exam Survey

APUSH alternate final assignment

Here is the alternate final assignment for those choosing NOT to do the ERB assignment.  In order to complete this assignment, you will need to register with turnitin.com using the class information below -

Class ID - 9949004
Enrollment password - apushlasa

Handouts for the assignment are linked below - you will need both the assignment sheet and the readings.  Paper copies will be available upon request.

Federalism paper assignment

Federalist / Antifederalist Readings

Epic Rap Battles Assignment Information

One of the two options for your final project is our own APUSH version of Epic Rap Battles of History.  If you are choosing this assignment, please note the following - 

1. Read the entire assignment sheet before you pick group members or subjects for your rap.

2. You must form a group of three to five people, all of whom MUST be in your class period of APUSH.  No two-person groups OR groups of more than five people will be allowed.

3. As soon as you have determined your group members AND the two subjects who will appear in your ERB, please fill out the Google form linked below.  All groups and subjects must be selected by Monday, May 11 at 4pm.  If you are not part of a group by Monday afternoon, you will be required to complete the paper assignment.

Please email Mr. Flowers if you have any questions about the project, and remember to fill out the form once you've settled on your group and subjects.

ERB assignment sheet

ERB sign-up form

Lecture 11!

After myriad technical problems, I present you the last lecture of the year -

Lecture 11!

Less than 36 hours to the exam.  Are you prepared?  I hope so!

Lecture 10b

Here is lecture 10b -

Lecture 10b

AP Breakfast - more food needed!

Students - 

As I'm sure you know by now, it is our tradition at LASA that we provide breakfast for those taking the APUSH examination on the day of the exam.  Back in the days when we had 60 or 70 test-takers, this was a little easier to manage.  Now, with nearly 200 of you sitting the exam on Friday, we need parent (and even student) volunteers to make this happen.

If your parents would like to volunteer to provide food or drinks for our APUSH breakfast, please have them sign up using the link below.  If you would like to provide something (and it won't stress you out on the day before or morning of the exam), please also feel free to sign up. 

Thanks!

APUSH Breakfast Sign-up

Lecture 10a

For those of you who didn't get this in class (mostly first and second period on A days), here is lecture 10a.  I will be recording 10b in the next hour or so, and I hope to have it posted tonight.  I'll do the first part of 11 tomorrow.

Lecture 10a

Lecture 9c is also posted

Here is the link to 9c (slavery) -

Lecture 9c - Slavery

Lecture 9b is up!

After several failed attempts at compressing and uploading, Lecture 9b (the economy and transportation) is now live on Vimeo.  Password remains the same.

Lecture 9b - The National Economy

Lecture 9c (slavery) is already recorded, and I'm waiting on the file to compress and upload to Google Drive so I can get it over to Vimeo.  Hopefully it will be up and running in the next hour or so.  I'll post the link as soon as it's ready.

I will be recording ALL of Lecture 10 (broken into 2 or 3 abbreviated sections) for the A-day students, and for any B-day class that didn't make it to the end.  I will also have a brief bit of Lecture 11 (Reconstruction) that we didn't get at the beginning of the year - mostly on presidential Reconstruction and the Grant administration - recorded at some point this weekend or early next week.

My to-do list (i.e. what you can expect from me between now and the AP Exam)

So, I'm trying to knock out things as quickly as I can between now and the exam.  Here is what I'm going to get done the next few days, and when you can expect it to be ready (if all goes well).

1. Recording lectures - 9a is done (see link below); 9b (the 19th century economy and transportation), 9c (slavery), and 11 (a brief version of Reconstruction) are next.  I may try to record the rest of 10 for the A-day students, but that's a lower priority than the rest of them.  I'm going to begin this process either tonight or tomorrow during my conference period, so expect to see links to lectures popping up by Friday afternoon, and continuing into Saturday.

2. Test-taking strategies - I will revise the official LASA APUSH test-taking guide, including tips for getting a passing score on an essay using complete BS, and some tips and tricks for short answer questions.  I will have this done by Monday morning, and I will post it on the web site and have physical copies available as well.

3. Reviews - I will be conducting three more review sessions next week (on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday), and Ms. Pettigrew will provide a special guest lecture on Native American history on Tuesday.

4. Breakfast - In case I didn't mention it, there will breakfast on the morning of the AP exam in Ms. Aguayo's room, provided by PFLASA and some lovely parent volunteers (organized by Corin's mom).  Breakfast will be served beginning around 7.20am, so please stop by and get some food and drinks before the test.  I will be providing coffee from my own personal stock (so you know it will be good), and I will brew it for you myself.

5. Other stuff - I you need anything from me between now and the exam, or if you have any questions, please let me know.  Send me an email to historytime@gmail.com and I'll get back to you as quickly as I can, even if it's just a random question about something you're studying.

We're in the home stretch now!  Keep studying!

US History EOC Review

Here is the long-awaited EOC review.  Sorry it took me so long, but once you see it you'll know why.  Please, DO NOT spend hours and hours studying this thing.  Most of the stuff on here is crazy, and you'll never need to know this outside of taking this one test.  I would review it once or twice this weekend and then maybe once on Monday morning before the test.  NONE of this stuff may pop up on the test, but some of it certainly did last year.

A-day students, there will be hard copies of this available for you tomorrow morning by 8am or so in a folder outside of my room.  Please feel free to take a copy if you would like, or download this and print it.

US History EOC Review

Lecture 9a - Andrew Jackson and 'Jacksonian Democracy'

Here is the link to lecture 9a on Vimeo - password remains the same.  I will post further parts of lecture 9 as soon as I can.

Lecture 9a

Political Cartoons Review

Here is Ms. Pettigrew's political cartoon review from last year in PowerPoint form.  It's not necessarily a comprehensive list, but it's got many of the important cartoons we've seen over the course of the year (and a few we haven't yet).

Political Cartoons

AP Exam Review Schedule

Here is the schedule for our after-school review sessions leading up to the AP exam.  Reviews will be Monday and Thursday afternoons in my room from 3.45pm to 5pm.  You are welcome to come and go as you please.  The last portion of every session will be open to your questions - please feel free to ask anything you think would help you (and your classmates) prepare for the exam.

Monday, April 20 - American foreign policy and military conflicts
Thursday, April 23 - American economy
Monday, April 27 - Women's rights / slavery and civil rights
[I will be out during the day on this Monday, but I will be back in town in time to have the review]
Thursday, April 30 - Religion in America
Monday, May 4 - Topic TBD
Thursday, May 7 - Topic TBD

Review Packet

Here is the review packet.  I'm attaching the file in .pdf format, which you are free to download and share.  If you would like a printed copy, please come by and see me before school.  If you come before 8am, I'll have you a copy printed by 8.15.

APUSH Review Packet

APUSH Course Survey - Thanks!

Thanks to everyone who took the survey!  We got some really good feedback, and we're going to take your comments into account when we plan the course for next year.

Social Studies Department makeup times

So, I'm not sure why this is an issue so late in the year, especially since this has been Social Studies Department policy since you all have been students at LASA, but the number of you asking when assignments such as essays should be made up has become quite alarming.  

Please find below the relevant passage from the handout you were given on the first day of school (and which has been available on the web site since BEFORE the first day of school) - 

AP US History Makeup Work Procedures

Social Studies Department makeup work times will be Tuesday and Wednesday during lunch.  In order to make up examinations or essays, students should see Mr. Flowers at the beginning of lunch to obtain the required materials and their room assignment.

If you have missed one or two consecutive calendar school days, you will have two makeup sessions to make up your assignment.  After two sessions have passed, you WILL NOT be allowed to sit your makeup.  If you have missed three or more calendar school days, please see Mr. Flowers to arrange an appropriate time for your makeup. Students with extended absences will be given appropriate time to complete their makeup work, but they should make arrangements (i.e. definite plans for when their makeup work will be completed) within a day of returning to school. 

Snowmageddon 2015! Sorry, you still have an essay...

B-day students, please note that you still have to write on Friday.  That said, you can scratch the 'American identity' in the 18th century topic off the list, since we won't have a lecture on that topic tomorrow.

Please email if you have any questions about essay topics or weather-related catastrophes between now and Friday.  Have a nice snow day!

Lecture 6b posted

Here is the link to the Ford, Carter and Reagan lecture.  The password remains the same.

https://vimeo.com/120970891

First video lecture is up

Here is the link to Lecture 6a, covering Richard Nixon's domestic presidency.  The video is password protected.  The password for this, and all future videos is apushlasa.

https://vimeo.com/120955303

I am currently uploading Lecture 6b, which covers the Ford, Carter and Reagan administrations.  I'll have the link posted here later this afternoon.

Selma Field Trip Registration

LASA APUSH classes will be attending a screening of the movie Selma on Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 10am.  This screening will be followed by a brief presentation by Mark Updegrove, the director of the LBJ Presidential Library, on LBJ's involvement in the events portrayed, and the historical accuracy of LBJ's depiction in the film.  We will return to campus by lunchtime.  The cost for this field trip is $6 per student.  You MUST complete this registration form AND bring your payment to Mr. Flowers no later than the beginning of 8th period on Thursday, Jan. 15.  Payments may be made in cash or by check payable to LASA High School.

Please click the link below to access the registration form -

Selma Field Trip Registration

Yay school!

In mere hours, Winter Break is over.  Aren't you excited??  Yeah, me either.

Anyway, if you're paying attention, the calendar is up for the fourth six weeks.  Also, it's worth noting that this six weeks is a little front-loaded with writing, especially since we're introducing the APUSH DBQ this week.

We're in the home stretch now.  It's less than 17 weeks to the AP exam, and we've got a ton of ground left to cover.  Hope you had a good break, but now it's time to get back to work!