Hi Everyone,

We are just getting started with Unit 2. Unit 1 went well. The surf is up and many are riding the World History wave. If you haven't caught the wave yet, here are some pointers.

-Use the online tools. The book is available in audio and readable versions. Over to the right are links to some of the favorite tools. One page summaries and note-taking templates are available. If you are feeling overwhelmed, try those. (to use the book go to www.phschool.com, username: studentID +0 and password: GHHS12)

-Use your peers. Learning is usually a complex process that involves more than just a 1-to-1 interaction. The best learners are curious and ask questions quickly when they are unsure. For example, one student might ask another student on the bus ride to school what was special about the Sunni-Shiite split in early Islam. ...or maybe another student at lunch is curious about how the Silk Roads, Indian Ocean Trade and the Trans-Saharan trade network all relate or how they could possibly be used in to answer essay question #1...and so they bring it up at the lunch table. I completely understand someone might flick peas at you for asking this at lunch, but more than likely good things will happen if you bring up your academic concerns to friends you can trust. Try it.

-Start writing a draft to one of the 3 essays now. You'll get achievement points and you'll build essay skills and confidence. ....Aaaaannnd... Mr. C loves to give feedback on essays (no joke). Around 10 students total wrote drafts for me to look over before the last test. Let's double that this time. I'll help you by asking you to consider making a choice for your essay #1 thesis statement.

Was civilization spread more by trade, religion or nomads? (Make a choice by the end of the week...trade, religion or nomads)... Then write an intro and body paragraph. After today it would be easy to write a body paragraph about religion spreading civilization.

From its beginning, Islam spread civilization by conquering new places and through the Hajj. When the early Islamic caliphates, like the Umayyad caliphate, were growing they would conquer new places and require a tax from non-Muslims. Sometimes they would pay the tax, which would help the empire to grow and sometimes they would convert to Islam and avoid paying the tax. As more people converted to Islam, they took the Hajj which is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. When traveling long distances people brought with them ideas and goods. In the same way, people brought back goods and ideas when they returned from the Hajj. ....wrap up however you'd like...

See if you can add a new paragraph after we finish with Africa, Europe or Asia.

-Try new study habits. If reading in the living room where the dog paces, siblings chat loudly, mom and dad argue, electronics distract you....find a new place. ...a distraction free place. Claim it as your own, put up a sign that says beware of student and get it done. Pre-reading strategies help, too. Look at pictures in the section you're supposed to read, read questions in the margins, begin with the end of the chapter study guide...FIRST.      THEN read the actual text.

-Come to class with questions prepared. Most of the time I think I know what you need from me and plan your class accordingly. Things are much more productive if you are able to ask a few well-timed questions.

-Check back here later for more essay tips.

-Use the schedule in the outline.

I think that's it for now. I'll try to post the unit 2 outline to the right soon. G'night.
Mr. Callendar