Unit 2: Moving to the World Stage-America from 1900 to 1945 (Lessons 1-4)
Overview and a Checklist for Success

Overview: What the Title Tells You about This Unit

We begin with attempts to reform many problems by many people (especially the middle class) and both political parties. They fear the end of the republic if big business continues to dominate. The United States becomes entrapped in the world events of the Great War (now called World War I). The failure of the promises of making the world safe for democracy bring disillusionment about government and foreign affairs. At the end of that war, we also face the rise of communism with the Bolsheviks in Russia.

 

The Twenties reveal a nation divided about its culture (from entertainment to religion) and about what America is. The prosperity of some and the losses of others increased that clash. What had been an assumption that business was always right faded in the disaster of the crash and America tried a different approach with the New Deal. For all its troubles, the Great Depression and the New Deal helped to redefine most of us as one people and one nation.

 

As we work to survive the Great Depression, the world too is suffering. The great powers of Britain and France are broke. The reparations forced from the Germans mean they are broke. War and theft from other nations look like an easy answer to economic problems at home. Germany and Italy choose war as a way to distract their people and be able to steal from other nations. The new movement by the Nazis is fascism. The struggle to stop fascism:

·         Unites temporarily the communists and the capitalists against the fascists

·         Reveals to many Americans how dangerous racism is—including our own racism against African Americans and Latinos and Asians and how it makes us look like the fascists and reduces our potential allies

·         Results by the end of the war in America being the most powerful nation economically and militarily. As Winston Churchill names the situation, the United States is at the “summit of the world”

Lessons in Blackboard’s Unit 2

Unit 2 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 begin with Topics with links such as chronologies to let you see how things fit together. Some Lessons include maps and optional primaries that help some students.

Learning Quizzes in Unit 2

These statements are true for all Units. 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 2’s Learning Discussion. 

Tip: For the Lessons containing Learning Quizzes and for the recommended date to be done with each Learning Quizzes, check the end of the Study Guide.

The Exam for the Unit and the Resources for the Unit

These statements are true for all Units. The exam for the 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 28 to 34

A textbook is closest to an encyclopedia and, in this class, you are not tested on everything in the encyclopedia. As explained above:

·         For 8 of the 25 questions, the best source is to take the Learning Quizzes

·         For 17 of the 25 questions, the best source is to use the Study Guide below this link.
Tips:  

o   Use the index at the back of the book to look up the individual items in the Unit’s Study Guide.

o   The link at the top of each Lesson can help you with tools for seeing history.

o   For some students, it can be useful to flip through the chapters for the Unit or for each Lesson just to notice the headings, pictures, and maps to have a feel for the time period.

Checklist for Graded Work in Unit 2– Notice it matches your Course Plan and your Course Schedule.

 

Take all Learning Quizzes with the Lessons 1-4 in Unit 2. (Tip: The same extra credit as Unit 1.)

50

 

In Evidence Requirements, take Evidence Quizzes 3-4 @10 each. (Tip: The same extra credit as Unit 1.)

20

 

Post and reply in Unit 2 Learning Discussion (Tip: The same extra credit as Unit 1.)

20

 

In Required Writing, post your paper in the 3-Part Writing @ 100 points (50 points for content and 50 for Good Habits for Evidence).

100

 

Take Unit 2 Objective Exam. (Tip: The same opportunities for success in learning as in Unit 1.)

100

 

Total

290

 

Reminder: These 2 parts of the 3-Part Writing occur in Unit 3.

 

In Required Writing, when the 3-Part Writing reopens, post 2 peer reviews @ 50 points each (25 points for content and 25 for following all 5 Good Habits for Evidence for each one).

100

 

In Required Writing, when the 3-Part Writing reopens again, reply to the 2 peer reviews of your paper @ 40 points (10 points for content and 10 for following all 5 Good Habits for Evidence for each one; if only 1 student peer reviewed your paper, 20 points for content and 20 for following all 5 Good Habits for Evidence).

40

 

Total

140