Essay Writing Tips

7 Steps to Writing a Good Essay

Structuring Your Essay

Happy Labor Day

 Please Do Now:

1. Why does Jared Diamond say some people decided to become farmers, while others remained hunter gatherers?  Do you agree or disagree?

Today, students will:

1. Understand human prehistory (SS.A.1.2.4)
2. Take two column notes on a PowerPoint presentation. (LA.A.1.4.2)
3. Understand the beginnings of civilization.

Tonight’s homework is:

1. 5 paragraph essay:  Explain why ‘civilization’ developed and spread so unevenly.  Use as many of the vocabulary word from pages 6-15 as possible, in a way that shows me you know what they mean.  
2. Use your best written English and post to your blog.

A New Week

Everyone posted a paragraph about civilization and evolution - although some essays could have been a little more developed.

Congrats to those who were able to post pictures – one request though, please make sure the picture is of YOU!  It helps me learn your names.

The next step is to post a picture of you in “My profile”  This will show your picture whenever you post a comment on someone else’s page.

Also, please title your posts! 

Please Do Now:

1. 13,000 years ago, human beings all over the earth lived the same ‘uncivilized’ life.  Why do you think some peoples developed amazing technologies and advanced material cultures, while others have remained poor for most of their history?

Today, students will:

1. Learn Jared Diamond’s theory about the relationship between geography and civilization (SS.B1.4, SS.B.2.4)
2. Answer questions on a powerpoint about the Maori and Moriori civilizations (SS.A.1.4, SS.A.2.4).
3. Hypothesize reasons for the unequal development of human civilization (SS.A.1.4, SS.B.2.4).

Tonight’s homework is:

1. Read pages 6-10.
2. Answer question 1, 2, 3 or 4 on your own blog.

You Guys are Great!

Almost everyone set up their weblogs correctly!  If you are still having trouble, see me.

Please Do Now:

1. What is civilization?  What do you need to do if you want to be called civilized?  What does a group of people need to do to be called civilized?  Is it always good to be civilized?

Today, students will:

1. Come to an imperfect working definition of the world “civilization”
2. Come to know the major factors that have led to the growth and spread of world civilizations

Tonight’s homework is:

1. Post a SCHOOL APPROPRIATE picture of yourself to the Custom Image Header under the Presentation tab of your weblog.
2. Answer the following question as a post on your weblog:  Some people say that civilization is the end of human evolution.  Do you agree or disagree – why or why not?  Don’t forget to press the “Publish” button when you post.

Congratulations!

100% of you correctly completed the Book Form, Class Survey and Name-A-Gram last night!  WAY TO GO!

I still need Blandon, Casaubon, Hernandez, Noel and Cifuentes to eSign the syllabus page of the website.

I still need parent-signed syllabi from Guerrero, Hernandez, Jara, Morales, Noel, Saenz and Cifuentes.

Please Do Now:

In the DO NOW section of your binder, answer the following questions (make sure you write your name, my name, today’s date and DO NOW in the upper right hand corner): 

What does this cartoon say about the differences between ancient and modern civilizations?  Is it funny?  Why or why not?

Today, students will:

1. Activate prior knowledge about ancient civilizations
2. Learn about everyone in the room
3. Go over the policies and procedures of Honors World History

Tonight’s homework is:

1. Set up your wordpress.com weblog by following the World History weblog instructions
2. Read pages 12-15 and be prepared to discuss in class

Welcome Back!

Thanks to everyone who successfully posted their homework last night. Please see me immediately if you are having trouble navigating the website.

Blandon, Casaubon, Henandez, Noel, Stringer and Cifuentes need to eSign the SYLLABUS!

Today, students will:

1. Make personal “Name-A-Grams”
2. Sign for textbooks
3. Share survey stories?
4. Go over the policies and procedures for Honors World History

Tonight’s homework is:

1. Electronically sign for your textbook by typing your full name and book number into the comments box on the “Book Forms” page
2. Create a wordpress.com weblog by following the instructions
3. Print off your confirmation email (paper, I know!) and bring it to class tomorrow
4. Post your “Name-A-Gram” to this website by pasting into the comments box for THIS POST!
5. If you haven’t already done so, post your class survey to the website using the comments box for THE FIRST POST!

Please Do Now:

1. Make a “Name-A-Gram” for yourself in the style of the example below. Take each letter of your first and last name, and turn it into a creative statement about yourself. We will share these tomorrow.

EXAMPLE:

A A

N Nasty,

D Dastardly

Y Yankee

W Who

E Excels

I In

S Scaring

S Students

An Announcement about Class Surveys

Something just popped into my head: 

If the answer to one of my survey questions is personal, and you’d like to tell me without broadcasting your business to the rest of the world, don’t answer that question online – just give me a sheet of paper (and I’ll try hard not to lose it).  If you can, answer any not-too-personal questions in the comment box for the previous post.

Welcome!

Welcome to Mr. Weiss’ Honors World History class. Please, take a book from the back of the room and silently take your seat according to the seating chart.

Today, students will:

1. Learn a little bit about everyone in the room
2. Learn the policies and procedures of Honors World History
3. Sign for a copy of the course textbook

Tonight’s homework is:

1. Print off a copy of the syllabus and bring it in tomorrow signed by a parent
2. Electronically sign the syllabus by posting your full name as a comment to the syllabus page
3. Get a valid email address (Free email accounts are available at mail.yahoo.com)
4. Finish the class survey if you run out of time

Please Do Now:

In the upper right hand corner of a blank sheet of paper write your name, my name, today’s date and the words “Class Survey”. Write the answers to the following questions. You do not have to write the questions.

1. What other social studies classes have you taken in the past?
2. What do you remember about what you learned?
3. What did you like about the last social studies class you took?
4. What didn’t you like about the last social studies class you took?
5. What are your goals for this class? Are you looking for an “A” or a “B,” or just to pass?
6. What are you hobbies?
7. Do you have a job?
8. What are some fun games that you have played in other classes? Explain them fully so that I can try them in this class.
9. What can I do for you to help you learn best in this class? Do you have any special needs that I should know about?
10. Where are you from? What do you know about your own family’s history?