Unit 1: From New World to New Empires – the 16th Century to 1776 (Lessons 1-4)

Overview and a Checklist for Success

Overview: What the Title Tells You about This Unit

We begin with the encounter in the 16th century (the 1500s) between:

·         Native Americans in North and South America

·         New nation states (a concept you need to know) of Europe
For these European nation states (Spain, Portugal, and later England, France, and the Netherlands), the Americas were a New World.

 

We end with the nation states having established empires with colonies (two concepts you need to know) and with the struggles between these nation states to maintain or enlarge their territories in the Americas.  The last imperial war in a series of wars in the Americas was the French and Indian War, which left England as the most powerful nation in North America and perhaps the most powerful in Europe as well. The taxes to pay for that expensive war were among the issues leading to 1776, a complex revolution whose intellectual foundation was approximately 100 years of thought called the Enlightenment.

Resources in Unit 1and How to Use Them to Learn (and to Make a Good Grade on the Unit Exam)

Lessons in Blackboard’s Unit 1

Unit 1 consists of Lessons 1-4. The word Lesson refers to a specific Blackboard learning module in the Unit. Blackboard learning modules have a Table of Contents on the left that let you see all of the resources available for the Lesson. You can click directly on the one you want. All Lessons have links from your instructor and sometimes a folder containing specific primaries. Some Lessons also include resources such as maps.

Learning Quizzes in Blackboard’s Unit 1

When you see a folder labeled Learning Quiz, you do these things.

1.       In the Self-Test, use the password selftest (no spaces, no capital letters, and no punctuation).
Tip: Self-Tests do not count against you. They are a tiny (.01) extra credit.

2.       Without any preparation (or fear), carefully answer the questions quickly so you know what your brain thinks is true.

3.       When you submit your Self-Test, Blackboard automatically displays in the same folder content to help you—if needed—and the Full-Test. For the Full-Test, there is no password. You may take it as many times as you wish with highest score counting.

4.       Do not just click. Make sure you understand. If the answer does not make sense to you, post your question in Unit 1’s Learning Discussion. 

 

The Objective Exam for the Unit and the Resources in Unit 1

The Objective Exam for each Unit has a total value of 100 points. There are 25 questions each at 4 points:

·         8 of the 25 questions come from these Learning Quizzes in the Unit

So use those Learning Quizzes and ask questions in Learning Discussion if you need help!

·         17 of the 25 come from the Study Guide (a link below this one). The Lessons in the Unit contain the Instructor’s links. Those links provide visuals, frequently in tables, to help you compare facts to see similarities and differences.

So use those links and ask questions in Learning Discussion if you need help!


Tip:
 from Getting Starting:

Because I see students memorizing random facts, I am trying to get you to focus on useful, usable facts for your life time because is about life works. In this class, questions do not require that you show you know everything, but that you show that you know something. The questions focus on your recognizing significant traits of such things as regions, time periods and their dominant beliefs or events, and historical figures. (See Learning Quizzes, Concepts, and the Goal of Exam Questions)

Click here for an example of a question that lets you show that you know something that is worthwhile. (URL: http://www.cjbibus.com/GS_Good_Habits_What_Is_a_Question_Where_You_Show_You_Know_Something.htm )

 

If You Want a Resource, The Brief American Pageant, Chapters 1-6

It can be helpful to examine each Lesson just to notice the headings, pictures, and maps to have a feel for the time period. Use the index at the back of the book to look up the individual items in the Study Guide.

Checklist for Graded Work in Unit 1 – Notice it matches your Course Plan and your Course Schedule.

 

Assignment

Points

 

Take all Learning Quizzes in Unit 1. Tip: Each Learning Quiz is broken into:

·         A one-time Self-Test so you determine what you know and do not know. Once you take the Self-Test, you see content (if needed) and the Full-Test (Points: .01 per question as extra credit)

·         An unlimited retake Full-Test so you can teach yourself. You can take the test as many times as you want, with the highest score counting. (Points: 1 per question)

If you complete a quiz’s Self-Test and its Full-Test 2 days before the start of the Unit Exam, you earn 1 incentive point for each quiz There are many small quizzes so these points can add up.

70

 

In Evidence Requirements, take Evidence Quizzes 1-2 @10 each. (Tip: The same incentive points as with the Learning Quizzes.)

20

 

Post and reply in Unit 1 Learning Discussion (Tip: If you post as its rubric explains and earn over 14 points and if you make over 60 on the Unit 1 Exam, you earn 10 extra credit incentive points)

20

 

Take Unit 1 Exam. (Tip: This is learnable. Over 30% of the questions are from the Learning Quizzes, and 70% are listed in the Unit Study Guide. Also, you can help each other in the Learning Discussion.)

100

 

Total

210