March 12

Before I get into today's post I'd like to direct your attention to a feature that I really enjoy from the Boston Globe called "The Big Picture" which is a great photojournalism section in their newspaper. Check out their three part feature on the 1st anniversary of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. See it here.

IB 30/35

We watched the A & E Biography of Fidel Castro today, and despite the fact that it was a bit dated (from 1996) it was a good introduction to early events in his life that may have helped shape his beliefs and ideological perspective. We started talking about the Vietnam War today as well. Clearly, many of you have not read the Vietnam War notes that I put up on the wiki over the weekend. Please read these notes before tomorrow's class. I am assigning a Vietnam War Assignment for Thursday. You are responsible for the researching the following: (please see below)

Vietnam War Assignment

A. PEOPLE
Identify and explain the role each played in the Vietnam War
1. Ho Chi Minh
2. Ngo Dinh Diem
3. Lyndon B. Johnson
4. Richard M. Nixon
5. Viet Minh
6. Viet Cong
7. Le Duc Tho
8. Henry Kissinger
9. William Westmoreland
10. "Draft Dodger"

B. CONCEPTS/TERMS
Explain the significance of the following with regards to the Vietnam War (identify participants or individuals if appropriate)
1. Ho Chi Minh Trail
2. defoliation
3. "search and destroy" mission
4. "Vietnamization of the war"
5. Gulf of Tonkin Incident
6. My Lai Massacre
7. domino theory
8. Kent State University protest (May 4, 1970)
9. Tet Offensive (January 1968)
10. Geneva Agreement (1954)

C. ISSUES
Provide the information requested
1. The predominant religion of Vietnam
2. The battle which marked the end of French colonial rule in Indo-China
3. The scandal which led to the only resignation of an American President
4. The Vice President who replaced the President after his resignation
5. Why was November 1963 a "bad month" for the governments of South Vietnam and the United States?

As we will see, public support for the Vietnam War changes over time as more and more American soldiers are killed. We see a growth in the anti-Vietnam War demonstrations, and the media also played a role in the turn of popular opinion against the war. I REALLY recommend that you have a look at the this series of photographs from the Vietnam War era, pretty powerful imagery (make sure that you read the captions too). Here is a link to the NPR that explains the story behind the photograph below, definitely worth the time to read or listen to the podcast, and make sure that you look at the photo gallery of Eddie Adams' photographs of the Vietnam War.


There are certain iconic images associated with the Vietnam War. Here is another:

The above photograph is of Phan Thị Kim Phúc, O.Ont (born in 1963), she is a Vietnamese-Canadian best known as the child subject of a Pulitzer Prize winning photograph taken during the Vietnam War on June 8, 1972. The iconic photo taken in Trang Bang by AP photographer Nick Ut shows her at about age nine running naked on the street after being severely burned on her back by a South Vietnamese napalm attack. Contrary to popular myth, the US Air Force were not involved in the attack, and only two US troops were within 60 miles (97 km) of the scene, neither of whom had any say in the bombings. Still, it is a powerful image associated with the war.

IB 20

Most of today's class was spent doing course registration for Grade 12 next year. Tomorrow we'll be looking at the Articles of Confederation in detail.

March 9

IB 30/35

You wrote a Paper 2 on the Cold War today, which took most of the period. This would be a great weekend to polish off that TOK Essay don't you think?

IB 20

I did a homework check on your Declaration of Independence study guide at the beginning of class. You wrote a current events quiz as well. We then watched a video on the Declaration of Independence, and while the video was playing you should have taken some notes. Make sure that you visit the wiki this weekend, and go to the Unit 4: Independence Movement section. Download and complete the "Two Views of the Revolution" worksheet.

March 8

IB 20

We wrapped up our look at the Revolutionary War today in class. I will be posting the PowerPoint on the wiki this afternoon so you can access it and take further notes from it if you wish. We also started looking at the Declaration of Independence in the later half of the class and you were working through a study guide of the Declaration of Independence. This study guide is due tomorrow.

IB 30/35

We did some IB paperwork at the beginning of class, so if you missed class today, you might want to see me tomorrow to complete it. We watched a video from the CNN Cold War series on Cuba (1959-1962) which detailed the Cuban Missile Crisis. There is a level of detail in this video that is just missing in the BBC 20th Century History series. If you missed this video, here is a link to a website where you can watch (the video is split into 5 parts). You also had a Cold War Quiz today. Don't forget that you have a Paper 2 tomorrow on the Cold War.

March 7

I wanted to share something different with you tonight. Here is what I posted on my Facebook status this evening, please read if you have the time.

You’ll have to bear with me on this post, I’m going to be getting up on a soapbox for this one. My Facebook newsfeed has been dominated today by people posting a link to a video for Kony 2012, a campaign by Invisible Children Inc. to shed light on the atrocities perpetrated by Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army. While I think it is admirable that you have taken an interest in global affairs and wish to attract attention to this issue, the Social Studies teacher in me feels the need to add my two cents to the discussion. I challenge you to think critically about what you “like” on Facebook, dig deeper into global issues rather than just jumping on the bandwagon. Here’s what I found out about this with a little investigation:

The organization behind Kony 2012 — Invisible Children Inc. — is an extremely shady non-profit that has been called “misleading,” “naive,” and “dangerous” by a Yale political science professor, and has been accused by Foreign Affairs of “manipulat[ing] facts for strategic purposes.” They have also been criticized by the Better Business Bureau for refusing to provide information necessary to determine if IC meets the Bureau’s standards.

Additionally, Invisible Children Inc. has a low two-star rating in accountability from Charity Navigator because they won’t let their financials be independently audited. That’s not a good thing. In fact, it’s a very bad thing, and should make you immediately pause and reflect on where the money you’re sending them is going.

By IC’s own admission, only 31% of all the funds they receive go toward actually helping anyone [pdf]. The rest go to line the pockets of the three people in charge of the organization.

Let’s get something straight: The Lord’s Resistance Army is bad news. And Joseph Kony is reprehensible, and needs to be stopped. But propping up Uganda’s decades-old dictatorship and its military arm, which has been accused by the UN of committing unspeakable atrocities and itself facilitated the recruitment of child soldiers, is not the way to go about it.

The United States is already plenty involved in helping rout Kony and his band of psychopaths. Kony is on the run, having been pushed out of Uganda, and it’s likely he will soon be caught, if he isn’t already dead. But killing Joseph Kony won’t fix anything, just as killing Osama bin Laden didn’t end terrorism. The LRA might collapse, but, as Foreign Affairs points out, it is “a relatively small player in all of this — as much a symptom as a cause of the endemic violence.”

Myopically placing the blame for all of central Africa’s woes on Kony — even as a starting point — will only imperil many more people than are already in danger.

Sending money to a non-profit organization that wants to muck things up by dousing the flames with fuel is not helping. Want to help? Really want to help? Send your money to non-profits that are putting more than 31% toward rebuilding the region’s medical and educational infrastructure, so that former child soldiers have something worth coming home to.

Here are just a few of those charities. They all have a sparkling four-star rating from Charity Navigator, and, more importantly, no interest in airdropping American troops armed to the teeth into the middle of a multi-nation tribal war to help one madman catch another madman.

The bottom line is, research your causes thoroughly. Don’t just forward a random video to a stranger because a mass murderer makes a five-year-old “sad.” Learn a little bit about the complexities of the region’s ongoing strife before advocating for direct military intervention.

There is no black and white in the world. Going about trying to solve a problem like the usage of child soldiers in central Africa as if the world was black and white just serves to make all those equally troubling shades of gray invisible. Maybe some people heard about this story and looked into the topic a little bit more, which is great, but I suspect for every person that got curious about the Lord’s Resistance Army and Joseph Kony there were ten others that simply “liked” the video on Facebook and posted it on their wall to show up in the newsfeed. I’m finished lecturing for today.

March 6

IB 30/35

We combined the two IB 30/35 classes today. Mr. Johnson lectured a bit on Harry Truman's administration, in particular his domestic policy. He will post this PowerPoint on the wiki. We started talking about the electoral college system when we looked at the 1948 election between Truman and Dewey, which Truman won. There is the famous photograph of Truman holding up a newspaper proclaiming Dewey the winner. When it came to the popular vote it was relatively close with about 2 million votes difference between Truman and Dewey, but when you look at the electoral college votes, it wasn't close between the two.

We also looked at more recent U.S. presidential elections, including the 2000 election where Al Gore won the popular vote but didn't win the right states to get the 270 electoral college votes to win. I tried to describe what a butterfly ballot looks like, but once I put up this graphic I think it helped you understand how some votes might have misplaced in the 2000 election in Florida.

We'll talk more about the American political system when we begin our review for the Alberta Social 30-1 Diploma Exam.

IB 20

You wrote a quiz on the movie "The Patriot" today. I also gave you some time to work on today's homework from The United States and Its People booklet, specifically reading pages 100-113, and completing the section reviews on page 106 and 113 respectively. This homework is due tomorrow.

March 2

IB 30/35

In anticipation of looking at the Korean War next week, I had to talk about the organization of the United Nations today. I will be posting the PowerPoint today on the wiki. Additionally, I will post "The Origins of the Cold War" PowerPoint as well on the wiki. That PowerPoint has additional information on it about the Hungarian Revolution, the Prague Spring and other Cold War topics and techniques. Please remember that when you are introduced to new Cold War events, try to apply the appropriate Cold War terminology that goes along with it. For example, when we talk about what happened in the Berlin Blockade we see the concepts of zones of occupation, spheres of influence, satellite states at play. I will also post my Korean War notes on the wiki, please read them before class on Monday.

IB 20

We continued watching "The Patriot" in class today, and we should be able to finish this film on Monday and write the quiz that goes along with it then.

March 1

IB 20

After writing a couple of tests this morning, I gave you a reading that had five different documents related to the Battle of Lexington. We'll talk about this document analysis activity next week. We started a film study on "The Patriot" today, which we will hopefully be able to finish.

IB 30/35

We did our last TOK group presentation today. As you know, the group looked at the War of 1812. I mentioned that I had read an article yesterday from the Los Angeles Times on the different perceptions of the War of 1812 and the planned celebrations to mark the bicentennial on both sides of the border. Here is a link to that article on the War of 1812. Also, with the L.A. Times there's an article here that covers "7 Things You Didn't Know About Dr. Seuss". (I thought it was timely given the TOK presentation we had on the Arts)

You also wrote a quiz on the Cold War, and watched a video from the BBC 20th Century History series called "Cold War Confrontation".

February 28

IB 30/35

We continued with TOK Group Presentations today (as we did yesterday). We'll hear from two more groups.

IB 20

We continued our examination today of the American Revolution. I believe you were all in class today, but if not, you will need to get the notes from a classmate. We finished watching the Revolution chapter in "America: The Story of Us". What I've been trying to do these last few days is increase your background knowledge and understanding of the events associated with the American Revolution. You do have a homework assignment tonight, which is as follows: Read 4-2 "The Path to War" in The United States and Its People booklets that you have. Then complete the Section Review on page 100. Also tonight, I'd like you to tackle the Analysis of Common Sense on page 22 in your History of the Americas textbook. I also said that we'd have a discussion surrounding the events leading to the American Revolution (chart) tomorrow. What I'd like you to think about prior to tomorrow's class is to try and rank the events leading to the American Revolution (from the chart) in order of importance.

February 24

IB 30/35

I gave you some TOK group presentation time, to get yourselves organized leading into the weekend. I then started lecturing about the Berlin blockade, we'll pick this topic up again next week. Be ready for Monday to do your TOK presentation.

IB 20

You had a current events quiz at the beginning of class. You had some time to work on the events leading to the American Revolution chart (you should be working on this on the wiki this weekend). You also have to complete the map of the Thirteen Colonies this weekend as well. You can find the map on the wiki under Unit 3 The Colonial Period.

February 23

IB 20

We continued looking at the French-Indian War today and its effects. We also discussed the Iroquois Confederacy and connections between it and current forms of government in Canada and the United States. I have created a new page on the IB 20 wiki on the French-Indian War which you will have to work on as a class. You need to complete the causes, courses/practices, events and results for the French-Indian War. You can use the photocopied booklet from The United States and Its People as a source, or any other online sources to complete this chart. Please work collaboratively on the wiki (don't steal the lock!).

IB 30/35

We began looking at the Cold War today in class. I began by doing a general overview of the origins of the Cold War, and how the Cold War was fought. We then began looking at specific WWII conferences, where "the seeds of the Cold War were first planted". I hope that you can see how the disagreements and mistrust that emerged in the WWII conferences foreshadowed the disagreements that would emerge at the end of the war, namely: the future boundaries of Poland, the future of Germany, and the type of governmental systems that will be in place in Eastern Europe. Eventually, I will post the PowerPoint presentation on the wiki in the Cold War section. I will cover a couple of concepts tomorrow in class, particularly the partition of Germany into East Germany and West Germany, zones of occupation, and the Berlin blockade. I will try to give you some TOK group presentation time so that you can organize yourselves heading into the weekend. Here's a link to the "oreo cookie" video that I mentioned in class today when I was talking about military spending. Please keep in mind that this video was made in the United States during the Bush administration, so the numbers will be out of date a bit, but you get the idea. If memory serves me correctly the U.S. military budget is about $700 billion (2011 budget), so that represents even more oreo cookies. Many of you mentioned China's military spending, and I conceded that yes, increasingly China is spending more on its military than in the past, but last I checked China was reportedly spending about $91 billion on its military (now the second most in the world, so again, the video is out of date). Now you might begin to see why as I said in class a few days ago that when Eisenhower left office he warned the American public about the "military-industrial complex" (see below).

February 22

IB 20

We continued looking at colonial America, by looking at the structure of colonial governments and mercantilism. We also started looking at the French and Indian War. I will continue with this PowerPoint lecture tomorrow in class. We're starting to set the stage for the American Revolution over the course of the next few days. You have a homework assignment from the United States and its People booklet that I gave you. You need to read Section 3-2 "Settling Colonies" (pages 54-61) and answer the Section Review questions (Identification, Comprehension, Analysis, and Evaluation) on Page 61 and page 72 (after reading Section 3-3 "Shaping New Patterns of Life"). This homework assignment is due tomorrow.

IB 30/35

We watched another video from the Gwynne Dyer "War" series called "Anybody's Son Will Do". You were given a notes sheet on this video. Also, you had some TOK group presentation time to get organized. Remember TOK presentations begin on Monday, February 27th. Your Extended Essays are due on February 28th.

February 21

IB 30/35

I really think that you should the article that Mr. Johnson posted on the IB 30 wiki over weekend on the topic of historiography and the atomic bomb. We watched a video today from the Gwynne Dyer series War called "The Road to Total War" which illustrated how the nature of warfare has changed in size, scale, scope and tactics from the late 18th century and early 19th century (French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars) to the Civil War to WWI and WWII. There is a definite shift from a limited war using conventional weapons (and in the case of Napoleonic times, with limited firing range) to weapons associated with modern warfare. Dyer discussed factors such as nationalism, industrialization, the mechanization of warfare and the targeting of civilian populations in total war. I just want to remind you of some key upcoming dates:

• TOK Group Presentations will be on Monday and Tuesday of next week (Feb. 27th-28th)
• Extended Essays are due on February 28th

IB 20

Most of today's class was spent on the Thirteen Colonies presentations. Many of you might be worried about missing pieces of information from other group presentations. I have created a page on the IB 20 wiki (in the Collaborative Notes section) that will allow you to share your information. You can post PowerPoint presentations or links to your Prezis in the chart that I have created. Get busy filling it up!

February 16

Sorry, I forgot to post yesterday.
IB 20 students: your presentations on the British colonies are happening on Tuesday, so be ready to present!

IB 30/35 students: this would be a great weekend to work on your Extended Essays and TOK group presentations don't you agree?

February 14

IB 30/35

We finished watching "White Light/Black Rain" today. You should have completed the film study that went along with it. I realize that this documentary at times was quite graphic in nature, by I think it's important for you to see the aftermath of the atomic bombs, not just the destruction of the cities, but to hear what hibakusha have to say about their lives after the event is important. I think the documentary also does a nice job of looking at how the nature of warfare changed after Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I gave you a reading booklet after the movie was over so you can prepare for tomorrow's debate.

IB 20

Most of today's class was spent in the library researching your assigned colony for next Tuesday's presentation. Make sure that you are able to communicate with one another over the course of this long weekend. Presentations will happen on Tuesday. Please try to be creative in your presentation! Simply reading off of a PowerPoint isn't what we're looking for! This is also good practice for future presentations that you will have to do in IB (TOK presentations for example).

February 13

IB 30/35

I showed you a video from the Turning Points in History on the construction of the atomic bomb during WWII, and how this invention forever changed the nature of modern warfare. We also started our film study of the HBO documentary "White Light/Black Rain", which we will continue tomorrow.

IB 20

I did a homework check at the beginning of class on your assignments related to the establishment of colonies in North America. We continued watching the video from the U.S. History series on colonization and imperialism in North America. We'll continue this video on Wednesday. Tomorrow we'll begin a little bit of library research on the Thirteen Colonies so that you can do some presentations next week. Please come to Room 111 tomorrow and then we'll go down to the Library as a whole class.

February 10

IB 30/35

We watched an excerpt of "Saving Private Ryan" today to illustrate the type of conditions soldiers faced during the Normandy invasion in WWII. You also wrote your Economics Test today. This weekend would be a great time to get some work done on your TOK group presentations and extended essays, don't you think?

IB 20

I had you do short presentations on your assigned individual from the Renaissance, Protestant Reformation, Scientific Revolution or the Enlightenment today. I also had you hand this assignment in at the end of the period. We also started watching a video on the collision of cultures that occurred with the colonization and settlement of North America. If you are interested in this topic you can watch a great PBS documentary on the subject called "When Worlds Collide". You can watch the documentary online here. There is an emphasis in that documentary on the developments of Latino culture in the Americas, post-colonization. Your History of the Americas textbook also covers this subject (pages 12-21). You have two homework assignments this weekend, bot of which are on the wiki in the Unit 3 section. You will have to download a couple of documents and complete the questions that go with the readings. One of the readings is rather short and discusses the colonial period in North America and how it was transnational in nature. The other article is called "The Settlement and Colonization of North America" with has an emphasis on Spanish, French and Dutch colonization of North America. Next week we'll look at the Jamestown settlement.

February 9

IB 20

We finished off the PowerPoint lecture on "The Age of Enlightenment". I will post it on the wiki this evening. We also watched a little bit more of the "Age of Light" video as well. You were given a homework assignment on an Enlightenment thinker. Unfortunately, we don't have an exemplar to post on the wiki. This assignment is due tomorrow. Please post on the wiki in the collaborative notes section. As a class you need to complete the Enlightenment thinkers chart, especially the far right-hand column.

IB 30/35

I gave you some notes leading up to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor at the beginning of class. If you missed class today, you'll have to get these notes from a classmate. We then watched an excerpt from the movie "Pearl Harbor". You have an Economics Test tomorrow. You'll write the test after we watch an excerpt from "Saving Private Ryan".

February 8

IB 20

We continued looking at the Enlightenment today by examining the ideas associated with Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau. We also watched a little bit of the video "Age of Light". We'll continue tomorrow with both the PowerPoint lecture and the video.

IB 30/35

We watched a short video from the BBC 20th Century History series called "Britain Alone". I then gave you the remainder of the period to work in your TOK presentation groups, which I hope was helpful to you.

February 7

IB 30/35

We went through key events in WWII today by watching "Blitzkrieg to the Bomb". You have detailed notes on WWII based on this video, so make sure that you read them! You also had a little bit of TOK presentation group time today. I am not assigning homework tonight, so that you can read the various TOK reading packages that I gave you in class today. You should have some TOK time tomorrow, so make sure that you come armed with some great ideas of some potential "knowledge issues" for your area of knowledge.

IB 20

We talked a little bit about your timelines today in class. We then moved on to looking at the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Enlightenment. We also had some interesting discussion centered around the view of human nature. We also looked at some characteristics of the Enlightenment (view of the universe governed by natural laws, Deism, free inquiry, empiricism, etc.). Tomorrow, we'll start looking at key thinkers of the Enlightenment.

February 6

IB 30/35

I went through a brief lecture on Hitler's rise to power in Germany. If you missed class today, you'll have to get notes from a classmate. We also watched "Why Appeasement?" today (a video from the BBC 20th Century History series)and completed a film study. Tomorrow you'll be watching "Blitzkrieg to the Bomb" and you'll also get some class time to get yourselves organized in your TOK presentation groups.

IB 20

We finished watching the movie "Vantage Point" in class today and we had a little bit of time to discuss the different perspectives of the assassination event and what some of the limitations were of the vantage points of many of the witnesses. Make sure that you bring your timeline to class tomorrow because we'll be looking at them and discussing them.

February 2

IB 20

This will have to be a short post tonight since I'm doing this from my iPhone. Your timeline assignment is due on Monday. We started our film study of the movie "Vantage Point", which we'll finish on Monday. There's no school tomorrow because it's a PD Day. Have a great long weekend!

IB 30

I assigned "shadow research" on the Great Depression in Latin America. Get on the wiki this weekend and fill those pages! I also went through the key events in the Interwar Years with you today. Next week, we'll be going through the key events in WWII. Have a great long weekend!

February 1

IB 20

I did a homework check on your letter of introduction at the beginning of class. I also collected your academic integrity policy and statement from you as well. We continued our look at history and historiography today by having some discussions centered around definitions of history. We also briefly looked at historical thinking skills that we'll be developing during the course. Tomorrow we will re-visit the worksheets on evaluating sources of information, distinguishing between fact and opinion, and the 8C's of historical analysis.

You do have a homework assignment tonight, please read the article "Why Study or Write History?" and answer the following questions:


1. What is history? Summarize and explain three definitions of this concept. Do these different meanings of history contradict or compliment one another?

2. Why study history? How and why do historians seek to make sense of the human experience? List and summarize at least five reasons for studying history, rank them in order of importance and justify your ranking.

3. Identify and discuss the kinds of questions historians ask that guide their investigation into the past.

4. What are primary sources? What are secondary sources? Discuss at least three problems historians must overcome when they use different types of sources.

IB 30

We covered a lot of ground today by looking at the Great Depression in Canada. You should be comfortable with any Paper 3 questions that require you to compare and contrast the Great Depression in the United States to another country in your region of study. Hopefully, you would pick Canada if you were to answer that question. I will post the PowerPoint presentation that I went through today on the wiki this afternoon. We also did a little bit of current events at the end of class. Tomorrow, the goal is to cover the Great Depression in Latin America and get into looking at the road to WWII.

January 31

IB 30

We picked up right where we left off 3 weeks ago by looking at FDR and the New Deal. I reviewed a few concepts that tie in with Social 30-1 as well by teaching you a mnemonic device to remember the principles of liberalism. We looked at some criticism of the New Deal as well today. I will post the Great Depression and New Deal study guide on the wiki (this is due tomorrow). We also sorted out what area of study your TOK group will be presenting on. TOK presentations will happen at the end of February. Make sure that you read pages 100-135 in your Modern America textbook!

IB 20

We went through the course outline for part of today's class. Please make sure that you familiarize yourself with some of the topics that we will be covering this semester. Please make sure that you read and sign the academic honesty policy, and get your parent/guardian to sign it as well. I introduced myself to you a bit as a way of introducing the concept of primary and secondary sources. Understanding the differences between primary and secondary sources will allow you to be more selective with sources when it comes time to selecting sources for your internal assessment. It will also help you when we get to discussing the OPVL document analysis component of the IB Paper 1. I gave you a IB Skills Handbook as well today, make sure that you put that into your binder. It is yours to keep, and will help you this year and next year in IB 30/35. Make sure that you keep up with current events, we tend to set aside some class time to have discussions about current events during class. I also gave you a handout on evaluating sources and distinguishing between fact and opinion. Please make sure that you complete your letter of introduction for tomorrow's class.

Classroom Rules/Expectations of Behavior:

I think that I have very simple, straight-forward classroom rules and expectations. I will be discussing these in class tomorrow, but here's a quick recap:

• Please be on-task during classroom time (visit later)
• You must wear your visual ID around your neck during class time, no exceptions!
• No cell phones; if your parents really need to get in touch with you, they should call the office. Please don't bring cell phones to class, or if you do, please remember to turn them off! Yes, you have some new freedom this year with regard to electronic devices, but not in the classroom!!
• Please don't listen to music on MP3 players or iPods during class time, UNLESS I have given you permission to do so.
• Be polite. You should be listening during class lectures or when your classmates have questions to ask (you might have some of the same questions).
• Be on time. If you are late, please enter the classroom quietly and apologize for being late. If the door is locked, I have started the lecture or there is a class presentation in progress; I will open the door and let you in as soon as possible.
• Clean up after yourselves. Please don't leave garbage on the floor. I like my classroom fairly neat and tidy.
• Don't bring junk food to class. Healthy snacks only. Or you could always wait until lunchtime.
• You may chew gum in class on the following conditions: don't chew like a cow, I don't want to see the gum or hear you chewing it, that's just gross.
• Late assignments: 10% is deducted for every day an assignment is late. If you have an excused absence, then there is some flexibility with this rule.
• Please make sure that a parent or guardian calls the school to have absences excused. If you miss a test due to an unexcused absence you will be assigned a mark of "zero".
• I will be contacting parent/guardians if you have unexcused absences.
• Please adhere to the school's academic honesty policy which is on the back of your course outlines.
• If you are going away on holidays (please do not schedule holidays during examination periods in June), please let me know in advance. I can prepare materials for you, let you know what you'll be missing, and even give you handouts in advance. This way you won't feel "lost" when you come back from holidays.

Posting on the Blog:

Here are some simple rules that I have established for using the blog, and some other informational items:

• Please post on the blog anonymously.
• If you feel the need to identify yourself, or clarify which grade you're in, please use your initials and your class and section (for example, K.G. in Social 30-1 Period 3).
• Some of you may have your own Blogger accounts. Please don't post on this blog using your Blogger ID, otherwise you may have people visiting your blog that you may not want to see what you're posting.
• Please be courteous, polite and respectful when posting comments on the blog. Don't be rude to your classmates on the blog.
• Please be patient with my response time.
• Please post comments and questions on the blog prior to 10 p.m.
• Between 6-8 p.m. I am usually not online.
• Monday nights are particularly busy for me, this is the night that I have a Masters class at the University.
• Please do not post links to questionable materials.
• Inappropriate comments will be deleted. Please don't do this, it's a waste of my time, I could be doing more productive things, like answering questions that you may have.

January 16

Tutorial Times during Final Exam Period:

• Tuesday, January 17th 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Wednesday, January 18th 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
• Thursday January 19th 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

January 10

IB 30

The focus for today was introducing the TOK essay and TOK presentation that you are responsible for completing. Diploma students must complete both the TOK essay and TOK presentation, and they must work with other Diploma students on their presentations. Certificate students only have to do the TOK presentation. TOK presentations will happen at the end of February. The TOK essay will be submitted electronically and it is due on March 9th. The word limit range for the TOK essay is 1200-1600 words. We gave you numerous handouts for the TOK today and split you into your TOK presentation groups. If you missed today's class, sometime over the exam break you should come and see me for the handouts that you missed today and find out what group you will be in for your TOK presentation.

Social 30-1

We played a Jeopardy review game today in class which took most of the period. I am supervising the English Diploma Exam Part A tomorrow morning, but I will be available for tutorial sessions in the afternoon (approximately 1-3 p.m.).

Social 20-1

You wrote Part A of your Final Exam today in Room 241. Results of the essay won't be know immediately, nor will they likely be known prior to the writing of Part B of the Final Exam (which is on Thursday from 1-3 p.m.). I will mark them as soon as I can.

January 9

IB 30

We did a quick review of the boom and bust cycle and Keynesian economic responses to the various stages of the cycle today. We then looked at the New Deal in a little bit more detail. I also gave you a study guide for the Great Depression and the New Deal that you can work on using your textbook The United States and Its People. Your IA is due tomorrow!! Please meet in Room 111 tomorrow. We will go down to Room 121 as a group to talk about the TOK essay.

Social 20-1

We played a review game of Jeopardy today which took up most of the period. Review! Part A of your Final Exam is tomorrow and Part B is on Thursday afternoon.

Social 30-1

We went through some essay outlines today, and I have sent you a bunch of essay outlines, so please check your e-mail inbox.

December 22

Social 30-1

I went through a study guide for the 30-1 course for most of the period. I'll make some minor revisions to this booklet before I send it out to you. You MUST study for your two part Diploma Exam over your Winter Break. The study materials that I will be sending to you today will definitely help! Enjoy your holidays, see you in January. Here's a link to the HBO documentary "Shouting Fires: Stories from the Edge of Free Speech".

Social 20-1

You worked with a partner today in class going through sample multiple choice questions from Unit 4 material. Part B of your Final Exam, which has 100 multiple choice questions on it has 10 questions from Unit 4, so you are responsible for this material. You must review and study over the Winter Break as you have your Final Exam Part A on Tuesday, January 10th (in Room 241) and Part B in the Main Gym on Thursday, January from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Be prepared!! See you in January!!

IB 30

We finished watching "The Grapes of Wrath" today. Make sure that you work on your IA over the Winter Break. You can hand it in on Monday January 9th or Tuesday, January 10th. Please check the wiki for more information on writing the Internal Assessment (there's a whole section devoted to it).

December 20

IB 30

We continued to look at the causes of the Great Depression and FDR and the New Deal today. We finished watching the video "The Great Depression and the New Deal" today as well as a video from the BBC 20th Century History series called "FDR and the New Deal". Please go directly to Room 121 tomorrow so we can start watching "The Grapes of Wrath".

Social 30-1

We watched "Shouting Fire" today in class which looks at controversies in the United States centering around the freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the right to peaceable assembly, in other words, the First Amendment in the U.S. Bill of Rights. Your Trial Final is tomorrow.

Social 20-1

You wrote your Unit 3 Final Exam today, and you'll get the results back tomorrow. Your chapter 14 and 15 Key Terms and Questions are due tomorrow.

December 19

IB 30

We did a short discussion of current events today, namely the death of Kim Jong-il and its implications for security and stability in East Asia and the Korean peninsula. I am starting to return some rough drafts of the Internal Assessment this week. Every day there will be about 5-7 IAs returned to their owners. We need to discuss how to cite sources properly! I started talking about the causes of the Great Depression (and I'll start with this tomorrow) and then we'll get into the FDR and the New Deal tomorrow. We'll watch "The Grapes of Wrath" on Wednesday and Thursday in Room 121. Please complete the homework assignment on Hoover and FDR tonight.

Social 20-1

I gave you back your Unit 3 WRA II Essays today. I also gave you some advice as well today: if your final mark in Social 20-1 falls between 50% and 65%, you should take Social 30-2 next year. If you have failed any of the essays or unit finals this semester, you should take 30-2 next year. Social 30-1 is a more demanding course than what this year has been. It moves at a fast pace (for example, you might be writing your first essay in 30-1 within the first week in class) and the it is academically demanding.

I went through a lecture today on Unit 4 material, specifically "A History of French-English Relations". I have sent this PowerPoint to you already as well all of the PowerPoint presentations from Unit 3. Your Unit 3 Final Exam is tomorrow, please see the study guide here (scroll down to find it). Your Chapter 13 Key Terms and Questions were due today. Your Chapter 14 and 15 Key Terms and Questions are due on Wednesday, and your Chapter 16 Key Terms and Questions are due on Thursday.

Social 30-1

You wrote your Unit 3 Final Exam today, and you'll get the results of this test back tomorrow. You'll also have to make a decision tomorrow as to which test you want to wipe out with your Trial Final which is happening on Wednesday. Remember, you wipe out your lowest mark from the term with the Trial Final. I gave you back your Unit 3 WRA II Essays today.

December 16

IB 30

You wrote a short matching quiz on Prescribed Subject 1 today for part of the period.We then did a quick review of the boom and bust cycle before applying Keynesian economics to the business cycle. You need to know not only the various parts of the business cycle, but also the "economic snapshots" (what's going on in the economy at that stage) and how monetary and fiscal policy try to address those stages.

Social 20-1

I did a homework check on your Chapter 12 Key Terms and Questions today at the beginning of class. The rest of the class period was given over to you to get some work done on your Unit 4 Worksheet. You have all of your key terms and questions from this unit due next week. Next week we will be looking at a history of French and English relations in Canada and regional disparity in Canada as well, two major themes in Unit 4 that I haven't covered yet. Your Unit 3 Final Exam is on Tuesday, December 20th, please see the study guide here (scroll down to find it).

Social 30-1

We looked at the issue of the invasion of privacy today for part of the period particularly emphasizing increased airport security in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks and other subsequent attempted attacks and the response being increased pat-downs and full body scanners at airports in addition to the no-fly lists. You should be making connections between these concepts and the ideas of Thomas Hobbes. We also looked at the issue of CCTV cameras in the UK and Austria by watching a couple of short YouTube videos on the subject. Your Chapter 12 Key Terms and Questions are due on Tuesday. Your Unit 3 Final Exam is on Monday, December 19th, please see the study guide here (scroll down to find it). Your Social 30-1 Trial Final is on Wednesday, December 21st.

December 15

Social 30-1

You wrote your Unit 3 WRA II Essay today in the Blenheim Room. It will be interesting to see how many of you agreed with Benito Mussolini. You have your Unit 3 Final Exam on Monday December 19th, please see the study guide here (scroll down to find it). Your Trial Final is on Wednesday December 21st, and it will cover the entire course.

Social 20-1

You had the entire period to get caught up on some work. Like I said in class, we will be pushing very hard to finish Unit 4 material next week. Your Chapter 12 Key Terms and Questions are due tomorrow. Your Unit 3 Final Exam is on Tuesday, December 20th, please see the study guide here.

IB 30

We reviewed a lot of the concepts that I taught to you yesterday for the first part of the class. The only new concept today was the business cycle (the boom and bust cycle) which we will be building upon when we look at Keynesian economics tomorrow. We also watched a short video from the BBC 20th Century History series called "Boom and Bust" which should have reviewed some of the concepts that we've already looked at including "buying on margin". Please remember that you have your quiz tomorrow on Prescribed Subject 1, it will be a matching quiz with another surprise or two.

December 14

Social 20-1

You wrote your Unit 3 WRA II Essay today in class, and it took all of the period to write. Your Unit 3 Final Exam is on Tuesday, December 20th, please see the study guide here (scroll down to find it). Your Chapter 12 Key Terms and Questions are due on Friday.

Social 30-1

We watched the video "Unconstitutional" today in class, and as you watched this film you were to complete a film study sheet. Tomorrow you are writing your Unit 3 WRA II Essay in the Blenheim Room. Please go there for tutorial tomorrow, I'll let you start the essay early because there is apparently a fire drill during our class. Your Unit 3 Final Exam is on Monday, December 19th, please see the study guide here(scroll down to find it).

IB 30

I took in your 1920s Study Guide at the beginning of class today. We finished off the "Roaring Twenties" video as well. Then I launched into a long-winded lecture on economics. A lot of the material that was covered connects to the Social Studies 30-1 curriculum, but in order to understand the economic crisis that emerges in 1929 you have to have some understanding of basic economics. We looked at the principles of individualism and collectivism (if you want more details on these please visit the Social 30-1 Unit 1 section of the wiki), classical liberalism and its political/democratic and economic foundations, the 20th century political spectrum, basic economic systems, basic economic values, the political-economic grid, basic economic values (GESSEF), the basic problem economic problem facing all societies (scarcity) and the basic economic questions. It was, I'm sure, a lot to take in. Tomorrow we will forge ahead with looking at the market economy in greater detail, including the boom and bust cycle. Please check the Great Depression section of the wiki as well, as we've posted some YouTube videos there.

December 13

IB 30

We started looking at the 1920s today as a precursor to our next unit of study in IB 30, the Great Depression. I went through a lecture on conservatism in the 1920s and talked briefly about the Harding and Coolidge administrations. I have put a 1920s Study Guide on the wiki under the Great Depression unit. The answers may be found in your United States and its People textbook. This homework is due tomorrow. We also started watching a video from the United States History series called "The Roaring Twenties". We'll pick this video up tomorrow where we left off, "The Jazz Age". Please remember that you have a quiz on Prescribed Subject 1 material (Paris Peace Conference to the Abyssinian Crisis) on Friday.

Social 30-1

You wrote your Chapter 10 Test today in class, as per usual you will get the results back tomorrow. You have your Unit 3 Final Exam on Monday, December 19th, please see the study guide below. Your Unit 3 WRA II Essay is on Thursday, you will be writing it in the Blenheim Room.

Social 30-1 Unit 3 Final Exam Study Guide:

This exam will be entirely multiple choice format. It will be on Monday, December 19th. Please study the following material:

• make sure that you have read Chapters 9-12 in Perspectives on Ideology
• study all key concepts from the Chapters 9-12 Worksheets (see below)
• study all questions/answers from the Chapters 9-12 Worksheets
• "Political Challenges to Liberalism" (PowerPoint presentation)

Review the following notes/packages:

• Democratic Systems
• Non-Democratic Systems
• types of dictatorships
• techniques of dictatorships
• Civil Rights Movement
• authoritarian systems (China notes)
• review the economic and political spectrum (again!)
• re-read the notes on rights that I put on the board (Charter of Rights and Freedoms to War Measures Act)
• FLQ Crisis 1970

Know the following key concepts/key events/key terms/key people:

• assimilation
• self-interest
• humanitarianism
• Indian Act
• residential school system
• enfranchisement
• the White Paper
• the Red Paper
• “war on terror"
• authoritarianism
• consensus decision-making
• direct democracy
• military dictatorship
• oligarchy
• one-party state
• party solidarity
• representation by population
• proportional representation
• representative democracy
• responsible government
• democracy
• single-member constituency (first past the post)
• the Senate
• the House of Commons
• the House of Representatives
• the Senate
• mixed-member proportional system
• lobby groups
• American Bill of Rights
• Anti-Terrorism Act
• Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
• emergency and security legislation
• illiberal
• language legislation
• Bill 101
• Bill 178
• Bill 86
• Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms
• respect for law and order
• terrorism
• rendition
• the War Measures Act
• enemy aliens
• internment
• the Emergencies Act
• USA PATRIOT Act
• consumerism
• environmental change
• extremism
• pandemics
• postmodernism
• global warming
• Kyoto Protocol
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• drought

Social 20-1

We watched a video on the genocide in Darfur called "Darfur: On Our Watch" for part of the period. You could use information in this video for your Unit 3 WRA II Essay. Remember, genocide is considered a contemporary global issues. You could argue that internationalism is effective, if not for nation-states pursuing their own national interests. In the case of Darfur, blame could be leveled at Chinese oil interests in Sudan and the Chinese government's usage of their veto power in the UN Security Council to block resolutions on Darfur being passed. You could also use information in the video for the other side of the argument as well.
Here are some other useful links on Darfur:

• sudanrreves.org (website on Darfur maintained by Eric Reeves, mentioned in today's video)
• PBS Frontline/World: Who's Who in Darfur: Geopolitics of a Tragedy
• Amnesty International: Eyes on Darfur

Please remember that you have your Unit 3 WRA II Essay is tomorrow in Room 107. Please go directly to the computer lab tomorrow. Your Unit 3 Final Exam is on December 20th, please see the study guide below.

Social 20-1 Unit 3 Final Exam Study Guide:

Please review all of the Unit 3 PowerPoint presentations that I have sent to you:

• "Nations, Nation-States and Internationalism"
• "Canada's Foreign Policy"
• "Nationalism and Internationalism"

Please review all of the Unit 3 Key Terms from the Unit 3 Worksheet in addition to the key concepts that were introduced in the PowerPoint presentations. In addition to this, I would like to emphasize the following points with you:

• know the difference between multilateralism, unilateralism and bilateralism and know examples of each
• know the spectrum of foreign policy: internationalism, nationalism, ultranationalism, and supranationalism
• know the different foreign policy options
• know the 6 themes of Canadian foreign policy/Canada's foreign policy goals
• what influences foreign policy decisions?
• methods of foreign policy
• motivations for nations involvement or non-involvement in international affairs
• how can foreign policy promote internationalism?
• tied aid, bilateral aid, multilateral aid
• examples of INGOs and IGOs
• the United Nations (organization/structure, bodies, etc.)
• peacemaking vs. peacekeeping (and examples)
• different understandings of internationalism (types of internationalism)
• why do international organizations exist? purposes and examples

December 9

IB 30

We watched an A & E Biography of Benito Mussolini today, which took most of the period. this sets the stage for the last topic in our study of Prescribed Subject 1 next week, the Italian invasion of Abyssinia.

Social 20-1

Most of today's class was spent in small groups discussing how international organizations address contemporary global issues and their effectiveness in doing so. Please make sure that you check the upcoming important dates below.

Social 20-1 Important Upcoming Dates:

• Unit 3 WRA II (Essay) is on Wednesday, December 14th (you will get the essay question sheet on Monday)
• Unit 3 Final Exam is on December 20th (the study guide will be posted next week on the blog)
• Social 20-1 Final Exam Part A (In-Class Essay) is on Tuesday, January 10th (you will of course, not receive the essay question sheet in advance)

Social 30-1

For most of today we looked back on the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2011. I typically do this to set the stage for discussing anti-terrorism legislation that is passed post-9/11 in Canada and the United States. This is a topic that we will be exploring next week. Please check out the upcoming important dates below.

Social 30-1 Important Upcoming Dates:

• Chapter 10 Test is on Tuesday, December 13th (please see the study guide here)
• Civil Rights Movement Assignment outline is due on Friday, December 8th
• Chapter 11 Key Terms and Questions are due on Monday, December 12th
• Unit 3 WRA II (Essay) is on Thursday, December 15th (you will not get the essay question sheet in advance)

December 8

Social 30-1

We watched a video from the Turning Points in History series on the FLQ Crisis of 1970. PLEASE make sure that you finish off the FLQ Crisis booklet. There is a useful document based analysis on the FLQ in there, and make sure you read about the Emergencies Act as well.  In today's video we looked at the FLQ crisis, this is the interview on the steps of Parliament that features Trudeau's "just watch me" speech. It's an interesting little debate that is waged being Trudeau and the reporters over the issue on giving up or losing civil liberties in order to ensure security.

Upcoming Important Dates for Social 30-1 Students:

• Chapter 10 Test is on Tuesday, December 13th (please see the study guide here)
• Civil Rights Movement Assignment outline is due on Friday, December 8th
• Chapter 11 Key Terms and Questions are due on Monday, December 12th
• Unit 3 WRA II (Essay) is on Thursday, December 15th (you will not get the essay question sheet in advance)

Social 20-1

I gave you class time to work on a booklet that outlined various key concepts associated with internationalism and foreign policy. This booklet required you to define the key terms and also provide real-world examples of these concepts. Concepts covered in this booklet included: foreign aid, supranationalism, multilateralism, peacekeeping, peacemaking, international law, international agreements, unilateralism, bilateralism, NGOs. Your Chapter 11 Key Terms and Questions are due tomorrow.

Upcoming Important Dates for Social 20-1 Students:

• Chapter 11 Key Terms and Questions are due tomorrow
• Unit 3 WRA II (Essay) is on Wednesday, December 14th (you will get the essay question sheet on Monday)
• Unit 3 Final Exam is on December 20th (the study guide will be posted next week on the blog)
• Social 20-1 Final Exam Part A (In-Class Essay) is on Tuesday, January 10th (you will of course, not receive the essay question sheet in advance)

IB 30

You had the entire period today to write your Emergence of the Americas in Global Affairs Unit Test as well as the Paper 1 on Prescribed Subject 1. Tomorrow we will be looking at the A & E Biography of Benito Mussolini, which will provide you with biographical information on this dictator, his rise to power, his brand of fascism, his invasion of Abyssinia, and his ultimate demise. Next week, we'll look at the Abyssinia crisis.

December 7

Social 20-1

We finished off the "Internationalism and Nationalism" PowerPoint lecture today in class. I will be sending this to you by e-mail soon. I gave you the remainder of class time to work on your Chapter 11 Key Terms and Questions.

Social 30-1

You completed an in class writing assignment on a propaganda poster today in class. I also did a homework check on your Chapter 9 Key Terms and Questions. Please remember that your US Civil Rights Movement Assignment is due tomorrow, but the essay outline that goes along with this assignment is due on Friday now. The Chapter 11 Key Terms and Questions are now due on Monday. You have your Chapter 10 Test on Tuesday, December 13th, please see the study guide here (scroll down to find it).

IB 30

We finished off our examination of the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931 today in class. I will be posting some study notes on the wiki covering the Manchurian incident and the Lytton Report as well. Tomorrow you have your Emergence of the Americas in Global Affairs Unit Test, please check on the study guide on the wiki, or here on the blog. You will also be writing a Paper 1 on Prescribed Subject 1 tomorrow as well. Today is the 70th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, so if you are so inclined, have a look at this collection of photos from the Boston Globe feature "The Big Picture".

December 6

IB 30

We looked at international relations in the Inter-War Years today by focusing on a reading that covered the Ruhr Crisis, the Dawes Plan, the Young Plan, and the Kellogg-Briand Pact. We also started looking at the Japanese invasion of Manchuria, which we will continue tomorrow. I also gave you back your Paper 2 essays today on WWI. This Thursday you have a test on the Emergence of the Americas in Global Affairs unit. This test will be multiple-choice format. Also on Thursday, you will be writing a Paper 1 on Prescribed Subject 1 right after the multiple choice test. Please see the study guide below.

The Emergence of the Americas in Global Affairs Unit Test

This is a 38 question multiple choice test. It will be administered in class on Thursday, December 8th. It covers the Emergence of the Americas in Global Affairs unit. Here are some points to review:

• Teddy Roosevelt "big stick diplomacy"
• Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine
• Alfred A. Mahan (naval sea power theory)
• What is the "Open Door Policy"?
• What is "dollar diplomacy"?
• Spanish-American War (causes, practices, effects/results)
• Venezuela crisis and jingoism
• Portsmouth Peace Conference (Russo-Japanese War; what role does Teddy Roosevelt play); results?
• President McKinley's accomplishments re: expansion/annexation
• MAIN causes of WWI
• nature of warfare in WWI
• World War I (causes, practices, effects/results: a word of caution here-don't spend any time studying the battles in WWI)
• Canadian participation in WWI (contributions, issues on the home front)
• key players/leaders in WWI (ex. Kaiser Wilhelm II, Nicholas II, etc.)
• Sedition Act and Espionage Act (USA)
• George Creel

After you complete the multiple choice test, you will be writing a Paper 1 on Prescribed Subject 1 (Peacemaking, Peacekeeping and International Relations). Review how to write a Paper 1 by visiting key links on the wiki, especially the OPVL document analysis link. Remember to try and write 4 similarities and 4 differences between the sources (NOT in chart format), and to create an OPVL chart. I have put up an example Paper 1 on the wiki with examiner's comments that covers the Japanese invasion of Manchuria (obviously Thursday's Paper 1 will NOT be on that topic). Other topics in Prescribed Subject 1 that we have covered a fair game, so have a look at this section of the wiki.

Social 30-1

I went through some notes today on rights, responsibilities, human rights, civil rights, the entrenchment of rights, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the notwithstanding clause. I also mentioned the usage of the War Measures Act (we will discuss this in greater detail when we look at the FLQ Crisis of 1970). Check out the following upcoming important dates:

• Chapter 9 Key Terms and Questions are due tomorrow.
• Civil Rights Movement assignment is due on Thursday, December 8th
• Chapter 11 Key Terms and Questions are due on Friday, December 9th
• Chapter 10 Test is on Tuesday, December 13th (please see study guide below)
• Unit 3 WRA II Essay is on December 15th
• Social 30-1 Trial Final is on December 21st

Chapter 10 Test Study Guide:

This test is multiple choice format, with 55 questions. Please review the PowerPoint "Political Challenges to Liberalism". You're responsible for all key terms and questions from the Chapter 10 Worksheet. Please review the following as well:

• Democratic Systems (handout notes)
• Non-Democratic Systems (handout notes)
• Structure of Canadian Government
• Structure of American Government
• similarities/differences between the parliamentary system and presidential system
• types of dictatorships
• techniques of dictatorships
• authoritarian systems
• proportional representation concept
• first past the post system
• review political and economic spectrum (again!)

Social 20-1

I started a PowerPoint lecture today on "Internationalism and Nationalism" which I will finish tomorrow in class. For the remainder of the period I gave you time to work on your Chapter 10 Key Terms and Questions, which are due tomorrow. I did a homework check on the Chapter 9 Key Terms and Questions today. Check out the following important dates:

• Chapter 10 Key Terms and Questions are due on Wednesday, December 7th
• Unit 3 WRA II Essay is on Wednesday, December 14th
• Unit 3 Final Exam is on Tuesday, December 20th
• Social 20-1 Final Exam Part A is on Tuesday, January 10th

December 5

IB 30

You handed in your IA rough drafts today. I had a cursory look at them at the end of the day, and there are missing elements in many of the IAs, such as title pages, table of contents, word counts, poor wording of IA essay questions, etc. Also, don't pictures on the cover of your IAs. Remember, we are not marking the IAs at this point, we are simply giving you some feedback on what you have so far. Some of you won't have as much to do to revise your IA over the Winter Break. Some of you will have a lot of work to do because you have taken shortcuts in your analysis of the sources. We will be getting these IAs back to you prior to Winter Break (last week of classes is what we are targeting). We continued looking at the League of Nations today, in particular successes and failures. We will look at some other diplomatic developments in the 1920s tomorrow before we look at the Manchurian Crisis. You will be writing a test this Thursday, that covers the unit The Emergence of the Americas in Global Affairs (this is multiple choice). On the same day you will be writing a Paper 1 on Prescribed Subject 1 material.

Social 20-1

You wrote your Unit 2 Final Exam today, and you will get the results back tomorrow. Your Chapter 9 Key Terms and Questions are due tomorrow.

Social 30-1

We watched a short video from the CBC News in Review series on the election in Afghanistan in 2009. This is important information as it pertains to democratization, spreading democracy. Can liberal democratic values be exported? This ties into the main theme for Unit 3, the viability of liberalism. Please check out the important dates below.

Important Dates for Social 30-1:

• Canada-USA Government Comparison Chart is due on Tuesday, December 6th
• Chapter 9 Key Terms and Questions are due on Wednesday, December 7th
• US Civil Rights Movement Assignment (plus essay outline) is due on Thursday. December 8th
• Chapter 11 Key Terms and Questions are due on Friday, December 9th
• Chapter 10 Test is on December 13th (study guide goes up on the blog tomorrow)
• Unit 3 WRA II Essay is on December 15th

December 1

Social 30-1

We look at a case study for authoritarianism today in class by watching a couple of videos from the BBC 20th Century History series called "One Man's Revolution" and "China Since Mao". I also gave you a booklet with lots of information and articles on the modern history of China. Read this material!! You have your USA-Canada Government Comparison Chart Assignment due on Tuesday. Enjoy your long weekend!

Social 20-1

You wrote your Unit 2 WRA II Essay today. You have your Unit 2 Final Exam on Monday, please see the study guide here.

IB 30

We continued working through Prescribed Subject 1 material today by looking at the organization and structure of the League of Nations. Please remember that the rough draft of your IA is due on Monday.

November 30

Social 20-1

I went through a PowerPoint lecture on "Canada's Foreign Policy" today, which I have already sent to you. Your Chapter 9 Key Terms and Questions are due on Tuesday, December 6th. You are writing your Unit 2 WRA II Essay tomorrow in class. Please go directly to Room 241 tomorrow. If you are late you may not get a computer! Your Unit 2 Final Exam is on Monday, December 5th, please see the study guide here.

Social 30-1

I went through a PowerPoint presentation today that covered "Political Challenges to Liberalism". This presentation covered democratic systems like the United States and Canada as well as different examples of non-democratic systems. I also gave you a reading called "The End of Democracy?" which is highly recommended reading. Your Canada-USA Government Comparison Chart is due on Tuesday, December 6th.

IB 30

We finished looking at another major topic in Prescribe Subject 1 today, specifically looking at three major disarmament conferences in the Inter-War Years. I will be posting this PowerPoint on the wiki tonight. Here is your homework today:

• please read in your 20th Century World History textbook on the following topics: the Ruhr Crisis, the Dawes Plan and the Spirit of Locarno sections.
• complete the Locarno source analysis on page 65.

November 29

IB 30

We watched a video today called "Make Germany Pay" from the BBC 20th Century History series. As you watched this video you had to complete answers to the questions on a video study sheet. We also started to look at enforcement of the Paris Peace Conference treaties and tomorrow we will look at the three main disarmament conferences that occurred in the Inter-War Years. Your homework assignment tonight centers around the Treaty of Rapallo. Please complete the Source-Based Questions on page 39 in your 20th Century World History textbook.

Social 30-1

We covered the electoral college system and looked at past U.S. elections today. I also gave you your U.S.-Canada Government Comparison Chart assignment. This is due next Tuesday (one week from today). We also had a class discussion centered around questions such as: should voting be mandatory? Should the voting age be lowered? Should everyone over 18 be allowed to vote? Is the first past the post (FPTP) system democratic? I also did a homework check on your Chapter 10 Key Terms and Questions.

Social 20-1

Your Unit 2 Dossier Assignment was due today. You received your Unit 2 Essay Questions Sheet today. You will be writing this essay in class on Thursday. Please see the quote below, and the essay question as well. I also gave you time to work on your Chapter 9 Key Terms and Questions. Please see the study guide for your Unit 2 Final Exam here.

November 28

IB 30

We had a fairly lengthy discussion about current events today, in part because there have been some important developments around the world including parliamentary elections in Egypt, NATO strikes in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, the Arab League and Syria, the eurozone and an article in today's Calgary Herald about standardized tests in Alberta. We also looked at the League of Nations mandate system today, I'll post the lecture on the wiki. You do have homework tonight:

• Please complete the Source Analysis on page 30-31 in 20th Century World History (the source-based questions are on page 31)
• Also, complete the Discussion Point on p. 31, but do not do the OPVL part of the question. Simply find three different historian's perspective on the Treaty of Versailles. I'd recommend you look at A.J.P Taylor, David Thomson, Fritz Fischer, John Terrain, John Scherer, Douglas Newton or Margaret MacMillan for starters. (I just made your lives easier by giving you these names)

Social 20-1

I gave you back your Unit 2 WRA I assignments today. I also gave you the results for your Chapter 7-8 Test. Your Unit 2 Final Exam is next Monday, please see the study guide below. Your Unit 2 Dossiers are due tomorrow. Please start working on your Unit 3 Worksheet, specifically your Chapter 9 Key Terms and Questions. You will be writing your Unit 2 WRA II Essay this Thursday, you will receive the essay question sheet tomorrow in class.

Unit 2 Final Exam Study Guide:

1. Study the following PowerPoint presentations from Unit 2:

• The Causes of World War I
• Total War-Allied Victory in WWI-Paris Peace Conference
• Ultranationalism in WWII: Italy, Japan, Germany
• The Internment of Japanese-Canadians in WWII
• The Holocaust
• Eight Stages of Genocide (from the Genocide Watch website)
• Contemporary Examples of Genocide

2. Know the following key concepts:

• national interest
• domestic policy
• foreign policy
• Triple Alliance
• Triple Entente
• Treaty of Versailles
• Big Four (Woodrow Wilson, David Lloyd George, Georges Clemenceau, Vittorio Orlando)
• appeasement
• ultranationalism
• propaganda
• conscription crisis
• Adolf Hitler
• Nazis
• Hirohito
• Tojo
• Kristallnacht
• The Way of Subjects
• League of Nations
• total war
• internment
• War Measures Act
• Great Depression
• the Great East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere
• irredentism
• genocide
• crimes against humanity
• war crimes
• Holocaust
• ethnic cleansing
• lebensraum
• Weimar Republic
• Final Solution
• decolonization
• successor state
• self-determination

3. Make sure that you review the following broad topics in your review of Unit 2 (and make sure that you can answer ALL of the questions on the Unit 2 Worksheet):

• World War I (don't concern yourself with memorizing battles though)
• Paris Peace Conference and the Treaty of Versailles
• The Interwar Years
• Rise of ultranationalism in Germany, Japan, and Italy
• Causes of World War II and key events (turning points in the war)
• The Holocaust
• Contemporary examples of genocide (review case studies that were emphasized in class and in the textbook, review your notes for "Scream Bloody Murder", "Shake Hands with the Devil")
• Decolonization and self-determination (quick review of "Gandhi" film study booklet, what are successor states? What is self-determination? Kosovo case study)

Social 30-1

You wrote your Unit 2 WRA II Essay today in the Blenheim Room. Your Chapter 10 Key Terms and Questions are due tomorrow.

November 25

IB 30

You wrote a Paper 2 on World War I today, which took most of the period. You do have the following homework this weekend:

• The Peace Settlement: Analyzing a Primary Source (handout)
• Prescribed Subject 1 Prep Booklet: p. 27 Review Section 1 and Student Section A and B
• Prescribed Subject 1 Prep Booklet: p. 30 Student Study Section

Please remember that the Prescribed Subject 1 Prep Booklet was photocopied and lent to you last week. It might also be a very good idea to read over this section of the 20th Century History textbook as well.

Social 20-1

You wrote your Unit 2 WRA I today in class. Please remember that your Unit 2 Dossiers are due on Tuesday, November 29th. Please check your e-mail for the detailed marking guide for this project.

Upcoming Important Dates for Social 20-1:

• Unit 2 Dossiers are due on Tuesday, November 29th
• Unit 2 WRA II Essay is on Thursday, December 1st
• Unit 2 Final Exam is on Monday, December 5th (study guide will be posted on the blog on November 28th)

Social 30-1

I gave you your Unit 2 Essay Question Sheets today, and I gave you some time to brainstorm in small groups possible arguments and evidence that might be used on this essay. You are only allowed to bring this essay question sheet into the computer lab on Monday, and you are only allowed to write your notes on the front of the sheet. We are booked into the Blenheim Room for this essay, so please go there directly on Monday. Your Chapter 10 Key Terms and Questions are due on Tuesday, November 29th.

November 24

Social 30-1

We covered different electoral systems from around the world today, and the division between federal and provincial governments in Canada. I gave you the Chapter 10 Worksheet, the Chapter 10 Key Terms and Questions will be due on Tuesday. Tomorrow, we should be able to have some time to work in small groups brainstorming arguments and evidence for the Unit 2 WRA II Essay that you will be writing on Monday.

Social 20-1

You wrote your Chapter 7-8 Test today. You will be writing the Unit 2 WRA I tomorrow, review content from Chapters 7-8 only.

IB 30

We finished looking at the fight to pass the Treaty of Versailles in the United States. Keep in mind there were two main groups of Republicans that  lead the opposition to the passage of the treaty, the "reservationists" led by Henry Cabot Lodge, and the "irreconcilables". I will be posting the PowerPoint presentation on the wiki today along with some very detailed notes on World War I that I highly recommend you have a look at. I will post both of these items in Peacemaking, Peacekeeping, International Relations section of the wiki. Tomorrow, you will be writing a Paper 2 during class time. You will be given three different essay questions to choose from, and you must choose one and answer that essay question. I have posted the Paper 2 Markbands on the wiki and you were given a handout on advice for writing the Paper 2 yesterday. The essay questions will focus on the outbreak of the war, and not on the end of the war or the Paris Peace Conference.

November 23

Social 20-1

We started Unit 3 material today by looking at an Internationalism Opinion Survey, and starting a PowerPoint presentation called "Nations, Nation-States and Internationalism". We will come back to this presentation next week. You have your Chapter 7-8 Test tomorrow, please see the study guide here. You are writing your Unit 2 WRA I on Friday. Please review how to write a three source analysis (WRA I).

Social 30-1

We covered a few different key concepts associated with democratic systems today including: federalism/federal systems of government and unitary systems. We also looked at the structure of the Canadian government and what the Canadian federal election of 2011 would have looked like if Canada had a proportional representation (PR) system. Remember Canada employs a first past the post (FPTP) system in elections, in other words, you don't need 51% of the popular vote to win a constituency, you just need to get more votes than the second place candidate in the election. I also gave you back the results of the Unit 2 Final Exam today. Please remember that your Chapter 8 Key Terms and Questions are due tomorrow.

IB 30

Most of today's class was spent in the library working on the IA. Your rough draft of the IA is due on December 5th. We'll continue looking at the Treaty of Versailles by examining the fight to pass the treaty in the United States.

November 22

IB 30

We finished watching "Paris 1919" today in class. If you wanted more information on the key players at the Paris Peace Conference, please check the wiki (under Peacemaking, Peacekeeping, International Relations) for the PDF file called "Who's Who at the Paris Peace Conference". When you were watching this film, some questions should have emerged for you, such as:

• Is it possible for all stakeholders to be satisfied?
• Can values be placed on dead soldiers, lost livestock and destroyed countryside?
• Will new national boundaries be fair and just?
• Can new nations be successfully created out of dissolved empires?
• Is there a place for idealism in peacemaking?
• Is it too much to expect international organizations to be able to maintain world peace?
• Can a new world order remedy enduring causes of conflict such as religious and ethnic divides and power hierarchies?

As you should have surmised from the film, none of the major participants in the Paris Peace Conference is completely satisfied with the results. Tomorrow we will be going to the library to work on your Internal Assessments. Please come to Room 111 first and then we will go down to the library together.

Social 30-1

You wrote your Unit 2 Final Exam today. You will get the results of this test back tomorrow. Your Chapter 8 Key Terms and Questions are due on Thursday, November 24th. Your Unit 2 WRA II Essay is on Monday, November 28th. Please review the economic concepts that were taught to you in Unit 2. You will be getting the essay question sheet on Friday.

Social 20-1

We continued looking at how to write a WRA II Essay today. You will be writing your Unit 2 WRA II Essay on Thursday, December 2nd. Your Chapter 7-8 Test is on Thursday, November 24th, please see the study guide here. Please remember that you are writing your Unit 2 WRA I (3 Source Analysis) this Friday (November 25th) in class. I collected your Gandhi Film Study today. Don't forget that your Unit 2 Dossier Assignment is due on November 29th.

November 21

Greetings to you in Council Bluffs, Iowa!

IB 30

We continued looking at the Paris Peace Conference and the major issues dealt with by the negotiators, namely, disarmament, a new map for Europe, war debts and reparations. We started watching the film "Paris 1919" today, and we will finish this film tomorrow. This film should have reviewed the major players at the Paris Peace Conference and their motivations and national interests at the conference. The following is for homework tonight and is due tomorrow:

• Source Analysis on page 18 (Questions 1-2) in 20th Century World History (see below)
• TOK Link page 19 (you can find a copy of Wilson's Fourteen Points on the wiki, or linked here on the blog)
• Source Analysis on page 22-23 (all Sources A-D, all questions)

Social 20-1

We looked at the issue of Kosovo's independence by watching a short video from the CBC News in Review series. Please have a look at this link from The Guardian on the break up of the former Yugoslavia. Please remember that your Chapter 7-8 Test is on Thursday, please see the study guide here.

Social 30-1

I collected 10 Questions About Democracy, and we discussed the results of the Political Compass survey. We continued looking at Unit 3 material by looking at the two main types of representative democracy that we will be looking this semester: parliamentary democracy and presidential democracy. Your Unit 2 Final Exam is tomorrow, please see the study guide here.