feedback

I'm just curious: are any of you taking the practice exam? Let me know if you've given it a try, and what you think of it, by giving me a comment or sending me an email.

I hope your holidays are going well!

Practice Exam

Here it is: a practice exam so you can prepare for the semester exam!

Here are some things you need to know about this practice exam:

• This test has been generated by the publishing company that wrote the textbook. We did not cover everything in every chapter. Therefore, you are not expected to know everything in this practice test.
• However, many questions in this practice test will be on your semester exam. If we covered it in class, or if it was in your assigned reading, expect questions on it. Go back to your blog, or my blog, to see if certain material was covered.
• The chapters we covered were Chapter One, Two, Three, Four, and Six.
• We also covered the videos Guns, Germs and Steel, Storm That Drowned a City: Hurricane Katrina, and God Grew Tired of Us. You won't see these questions on this practice exam, but you will see them on your semester exam.
• There are 187 questions on the practice exam.
• You can take the exam as many times as you like.
• After you submit your answers, the computer will grade your test and tell you what questions you got wrong, and give you the correct answer.
• You do not have to take this practice exam; it is just being offered to help you prepare for the real deal.
• The semester exam will be given on Tuesday, January 12, the first day of semester exams. It will count for 20% of your semester grade.
  

As always, comment below or email me with any questions.

Snow, man.

eat, drink and be Merry!

We will be chillin in class tomorrow. Bring some holiday food to share if you like, bring a DVD or VHS of your childhood home movies if you dare. Bring your computer if you want to make a difference in the world (more on that tomorrow).

I plan on posting a sample test on this blog soon. You should be able to use this test to start getting ready for the semester exam, which will be given on Tuesday, January 12. More on that in class tomorrow.

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I have enjoyed this school year more than any other since I arrived at JC many years ago. You freshmen are the main reason why. I truly love you guys, and I hope you have a wonderful holiday break. Click below for a little reminder of why we celebrate Christmas in the first place. Merry, merry Christmas to every one of you!

...partridge in a big pear tree...

Today: we worked on our mini research projects on sub-Saharan Africa. Don't forget, this 50-point assignment is due Friday.

Tomorrow, Sections 01 & 05 meet in the Brown Room for the Cheyenne presentation. Section 03 is cordially invited to stop by during any free mods.

Friday, all sections bring in anything you want to eat and share. If you have any home movies of your adorable childhood (on DVD or VHS) you want to share, we'll be happy to watch!

In the meantime, enjoy the 12 Days of Christmas!

sub-Saharan Research mini-project

The research paper is to be handed to me at the beginning of class tomorrow.

(Section 03 was introduced to the sub-Saharan Research mini-project assignment today; 01 & 05 will hear all about it tomorrow.) Worth 50 points. Due this Friday. Click here for details.

Three days until the break! Here's what we're doing with those three days:

Wednesday (tomorrow): All sections will use class time to work on the sub-Saharan Research mini-project (01 & 05 - I'll explain it tomorrow).

Thursday: 01 & 05 will go on an in-house field trip. Meet in the Brown Room as Mr. Scholl's Anthropology class presents an up-close look at Cheyenne life. See first-hand examples of how the environment shapes culture! (My 03 Section is invited to attend this field trip whenever you have free mods.)

Friday: You are all invited to my home (kind of) to celebrate Christmas. Bring your computer to class, plus any food you care to share, as we start the Christmas holiday.

Christmas draws near...

... but there are still four more days of classes to go! 03 took their test on God Grew Tired of Us today; 01 and 05 take it tomorrow.

Everyone's research paper is due at the start of class Wednesday.

Other activities will be announced as the week goes on.

Research Project Rubric

The rubric for the research paper can be found here. It can also be found under Human Geo Class Documents.

What's a rubric? It's a scoring tool that lists the criteria for a piece of work. In other words, it shows exactly how I'm going to grade your project.

FAQs about the research paper

When is the paper due?
You will hand me your paper at the beginning of class on Wednesday, December 16.

What happens if it's late?
You will lose 10 percent for every day (or part of a day) the paper is late.

• Turn it in between the beginning of class Wednesday and 8:00 am on Thursday - 10% off.
• Turn it in between 8:01 am Thursday and 8:00 am on Friday - 20% off.
• Turn it in between 8:01 am Friday and 3:00 pm on Friday - 30% off.
• If you don't turn it in by 3:00 pm on Friday, you will receive a zero on this 200-point assignment.

For the record, this assignment was given on Wednesday, November 18.

Do we need a Works Cited?
Of course you do. This is a research paper. You were already taught how to do Works Cited (MLA format) in English class, but you may use easybib.com, or you may click here, or review your Bedford Handbook, to refresh your memory. Or, you can see me for help.

Do we need to use parenthetical citations?
Of course you do. This is a research paper. If you are using a direct quote from one of your sources, put it in quotation marks and follow it with the source in parentheses. For a refresher on how to do this, go here or see p. 609 in your Bedford Handbook.

Do we have to have photos with captions, maps, charts, or other illustrations?
Definitely. You want to include material that helps accentuate the written word. Think of how horrible it is to turn the page in your textbook and see nothing but words. Make your paper more interesting and more informative through the use of visuals.

Do we have to use Microsoft Publisher?
It is not required, but many students have told me it is easy to use, and it makes your paper much more attractive looking than using Word. If you decide to use Publisher, you will probably get the best results by choosing Newsletters. There is no penalty if you use Word and paste in your visuals instead of using Publisher. It's up to you.

How many sources do we need?
At least four to merely pass. You really need at least six to eight or more sources (not including photo credits) to write a decent paper of this length.

I don't have a color printer. What do I do?
Put your project on a flash drive, give it to a friend with a color printer and have them print it for you. Or you can email them your paper, but that is a little riskier. I do not recommend waiting until Tuesday night to do this.

Will we have more time in class to work on this?
Negative. This is now officially a homework assignment. Your test on God Grew Tired of Us is on Monday (Section 03) or Tuesday (Sections 01 & 05), and the paper is due Wednesday. Nobody does their best work by waiting until the last minute, so I recommend you git'r'done this weekend.

If you have any other questions, please post them in the comments section below or email me at rschick@johncarroll.org.

I LOVE when this happens!

We all finished watching God Grew Tired of Us in class today (except Section 01 which has just five minutes to go). I've been getting a lot of good feedback from you guys about the film - you seemed to enjoy the story of John Bul (don't you love his mom in the airport?), Daniel, and Panther. So you can imagine how happy I was to see that the story of another Lost Boy was the main headline on CNN.com today. Check it out here.

If there is interest, I will show this film again at 3:00 on Friday in the TV Studio. So if you missed some of it and want to catch up, let me know. The Harford County Public Library also has over a dozen copies so you can watch at home.

Section 03 will test on God Grew Tired of Us on Monday; Sections 01 and 05 on Tuesday. It's worth 100 points.

While we're at it, go here to visit John Bul Dau's foundation website. His foundation is also on Facebook - go here to become a fan, or you can even friend John Bul - imagine! Panther founded a school in Sudan, and the website for his foundation is here. And finally, you can get updates on all the Lost Boys from the film here.

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Okay, on to your projects. This is a reminder to all sections: print out your research paper and bring it to class tomorrow so you can benefit from some peer editing. If you have a red pen, bring that to class, too.

The Works Cited page is required for this project. We will use the MLA format. Help can be found at Easy Bib. I require at least four sources; I recommend at least six to eight (not counting picture credits).

This research paper is due at the beginning of class on Wednesday, December 16.

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Many, many thanks to Jordan for the bagels, and to Lauren for the cookies! You guys are the greatest!

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Don't forget - a blog posting a day keeps the zeroes away!

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And finally, if you haven't already done so, please enter your email address in the window on the right hand side of my blog, then click "Subscribe" so you can be notified whenever I post to my blog.

ripped from today's headlines

ITEM #1: If you still need more material for your paper (due next Wednesday!), just check today's headlines. For example:

"How the US Became Stage for Mexican Drug Feud" is a story from TODAY's New York Times that would be perfect if your project is the Mexican drug cartels.

"Eco-Wall or Segregation? Rio Plan Stirs Debate" is a story from TODAY's CNN.com that would be perfect if your project is the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest or the problems associated with the 2016 Summer Olympics.

There's a lot more where those came from. Look around!

ITEM #2: we will be doing peer editing in class on Friday. Print out your paper and bring it to class for a review by your fellow students (and me). If you don't arrive in class with your paper in hand, you cannot take advantage of this opportunity to get valuable feedback on your project.

ITEM #3: Many thanks to Adam, Jordan B, Nate, Pete, Josh, Steph, Melissa, Susie, Amy, Fiona, Alexa, Matt, Sammy, and Jenna for the birthday greetings! Asante sana! (That's "thank you" in Swahili...)

ITEM #4: Section 03 finished God Grew Tired of Us today in class. Be sure to answer the 10 questions and post them to your blog before Friday's class. And don't forget your paper on Friday (see ITEM #2 above).

a little something extra...

Tomorrow happens to be my birthday, and that means presents. One for you, and one for me!

Here's the deal. Go online and find out how to say "Happy Birthday, Mr. Schick" in the language of any African tribe. Write it on a small sheet of paper (identifying the language, of course). Hand that sheet of paper to me as you walk into class tomorrow, and I'll give you five extra credit points. (Write your name on the paper, too.)

Other than that, we will continue to watch God Grew Tired of Us in class tomorrow. I hope you're enjoying the story of John Bul, Daniel, and Panther.

another excellent source

Global Issues in Context is a database that presents global perspectives on current events and world-wide issues, like deforestation, women's rights, fair trade coffee, drug cartels, the 2016 Olympics, and many, many more. They are even labeled as news, opinions, articles, editorials, etc., so you can tell the difference between fact-based stories and opinions. The resources are from all over the world, so you get not only the American/Western viewpoint, but the news from the Manila Times, Xinhua, and even Aljazeera. No passwords are needed; just jump in and research!

God Grew Tired of Us

The following questions are relative to the film God Grew Tired of Us, which we will be watching in class. Copy these questions into your OneNote, and answer them in class and/or for homework. Post the completed answers in your blog.

1. What Academy Award winning actress narrates the documentary?

2. In what countries does the film take place?

3. List the main characters of the film.

4. Define refugee.

5. Define IDP.

6. The film centers around a group of boys. What are they called?

7. Track the movement of the boys after they leave their homes in their original country (the answer to number 2).

8. What are some major differences between the lives of the boys and your own life, specifically when they are living in the refugee camps?

9. What are some of the difficulties that they boys must deal with when they arrive in the United States? How are their lives different in the United States in comparison to their home countries?

10. Answer the following question only after you conclude the viewing of the film:

The title of the film, "God Grew Tired of Us", seems to be somewhat ironic after hearing the account of the boys first hand. Explain why the title is ironic using specific examples from the film. Do the boys really believe that God had abandoned them? Or is their faith stronger than ever? Why? Give examples.

more resources, and the beginning of the Sub-Saharan Africa section

More online resources for your paper:

National Geographic Example: "Biodiversity Amazon Rainforest" in the search window netted 49 results. "2016 Olympics Rio" got 26 results. Often these sites come with spectacular photographs.

NationMaster Statistics, statistics, statistics. The real danger here is that you'll get distracted by all the cool stuff here (ranking nations by obesity, telvevision use, church attendance, happiness, cannabis use) and forget to do your research (literacy, oil use, most murderous, TFR, infant mortality). This one is a keeper.

Sections 01 & 05! Read p. 223, 224, and the first half of p. 226 in the text. Friday we will have a 10-point quiz on this material. I will also collect your maps (worth 5 points) in class Friday morning.

03: welcome to Sub-Saharan Africa; 01 & 05: project

For Section 03 only! Read p. 223, 224, and the first half of p. 226 in the text. Friday we will have a 10-point quiz on this material. I will also collect your maps (worth 5 points) in class Friday morning.

Sections 01 and 05: We spent more time working on your projects in class today. They’re due two weeks from today!

But wait! There's more!

Need another good source for your paper? Got a Harford County Public Library card? Go to Academic ASAP and enter your library card number. Excellent stuff there.

Do I have it right? Let me know.

I have listed the research paper topics, and the people working on them, in this document. Please check to make sure I have you paired up with the right person, and make sure I have identified your topic accurately.

This document is listed under Human Geo Class Documents on my blog.

research project

We're back from break, and today we're working on our projects in class. Since it is a really bad idea to procrastinate on a project this size, and the paper is due December 16, (two weeks from tomorrow), now is the time to get to work.

As you research your topic, here are a couple suggestions that are far more useful than the lazy Google search:

Facts on File: World News Digest This site is perfect for this project. Example: I typed "Amazon deforestation" in the search box and got 23 stories. "Mexican drug cartels": 48 stories. "US - Mexican immigration policy": 81 stories. You get the picture.

History Study Center Great place to find Historical documents. Example: Type "Panama Canal" in the search box and choose "Historical documents" in the second drop box, and you get 26 excellent primary source documents. Choose "Multimedia" in that dropbox, and you get some incredible old photographs.

CIA Factbook Choose a country, then click on "Transnational Issues" (near the bottom). Often a goldmine of information. Plus, there is never any dispute about this being a legitimate source of unbiased information.

I will post these under "Useful Links" on the right hand side of my blog. More to follow.

Día de Acción de Gracia

Time to give thanks! This is a reminder to help put a Latin American spin on the Thanksgiving holiday by bringing an authentic main dish, side dish, or dessert to school tomorrow (Tuesday). Please see Thursday's blog post for details.

Some final thoughts:

• Report directly to the Brown Room for class.
• If you don't want to keep your food in your locker, put it on the table in the back of Mr. Fendryk's room (room 127).
• Or, if your dish needs to be refrigerated, put it in the fridge in the Brown Room.
• Bringing your food in a nice dish or piece of Tupperware? Mark it (use an address label or just write on it with a Sharpie) so you can get it back at the end of the day.
• If your dish needs a serving spoon or a spatula and you can bring one in, that would be great. (Label it!)
  
• Don't forget to include a card or sheet of paper that includes your name, the name of the recipe, the ingredients, and the country of origin.

This should be a lot of fun! See you mañana !

review

Today in class, Sections 01 and 05 reviewed the Katrina/Global Warming test. Tomorrow will be 03's turn.

01 and 05 will begin work on their papers tomorrow in class. We will determine who is going to work with whom, and then each group will choose their topic.

REMINDER: Next Tuesday, our last full day of classes before the break, we will have a gustatory extravaganza. We will celebrate an American holiday (Thanksgiving) with a Latin American flavor. Since we are inventing this holiday, we'll call it Día de Acción de Gracias !

In a twenty-point graded homework assignment, each student will prepare an authentic Latin American dish to share with the class next Tuesday. This can be a main dish, a side dish, or a dessert. Recipes are available online, and can be from ANY Latin American country (listed below). Write or type out your recipe, the country of origin, plus what makes it authentic, to earn all 20 points. If you don't bring in a dish, or if you bring in Taco Bell, you receive a zero!

One more rule: NO SALSA.

This should be an eye-opening and mouth-watering experience!

Latin American countries: Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Peru, Venezuela, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Panama, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Survey Monkey and Research Paper

If you would like to give real feedback on your Human Geography course, please complete the SurveyMonkey (student feedback survey) found here. This survey is completely anonymous, and I will not know how you answer the questions or what comments you choose to make. This link will be live through the end of this week. Thank you in advance!

As promised, here are more details on the research paper.

The length will be at least 1500 words. (That's the equivalent of three typewritten pages.) You have the option of including photos, charts, pictures, graphs - anything that will enhance your paper - but you still have to write at least 1500 words.

The paper is due at 8:00 AM on Wednesday, December 16. It will be posted to your blog. There will be penalties for every day (or portion of a day) it is late.

You will work in pairs, so for the next class please select your workmate.

You will choose your topic by next Tuesday. Here are some suggestions:

• the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest
• Andes mountain dwellers
• Mexico City: an environmental mega-disaster
• the Panama Canal
• the role of the Catholic Church in Latin America
• emigration from Mexico to the US
• the status of women in Latin American society
• Latino "futbol" (soccer)
• Contras and Sandinistas in the 1980's
• indigenous (native) peoples: a forgotten minority?
• Brazil's helpful role in climate change
• history of (pick a country): from colony to democracy
• the growth of Mercosur (a trade organization)
• drug trafficking in Colombia (or Bolivia, or Peru)
• the amazing diversity of the Amazon Basin
• farming (especially soy) in Brazil (or Argentina)
• enviro-tourism in Costa Rica
• the weird relationship between Hugo Chavez's Venezuela and the US
• urbanization and the megacities
• the violent drug cartels of Juarez (a border town near El Paso, Texas)
• how the weather patterns of El Niño affect Latin America - and us
• earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in Latin America
• the 2016 Olympics being held in Rio de Janeiro
• how the history of Mexico and Texas are intertwined
• eco-friendly fair trade coffee and biodiversity

If none of these float your boat, feel free to check out the chapter (p. 124 - 177) for more ideas. If you discover something else to write about, please submit it to me for my approval by Tuesday.


Don't forget to take the SurveyMonkey!

Latin America

For the chapter on Latin America, we will write a research paper.

(I will pause here for a moment to let that sink in...)

You guys have already written one research paper this semester, for your English class. This will be a chance to use the same skills and the same research methods, but in the context of Social Studies.

I have a couple dozen suggestions for topics, which we will be discussing in class. If you have another topic you would rather write on, you may submit it to me for approval.

You will be working in pairs on this project. There will be some class time devoted to this paper, but you will be expected to do a significant amount of research and writing outside of class.

You will choose your topic before we go on Thanksgiving break, so you will have the option of working on this over the break. The paper itself will be due in December; I will have an exact date for you soon.

Obviously, there will be a lot more information regarding this paper, which I will be telling you in class and posting on this blog.

Test day

I'll be entering grades tonight. Buckle up!

Our next chapter will cover Latin America. Since Thanksgiving is just around the corner, we are considering a class activity that involves celebrating the holiday. Which could mean eating. And cooking. What do you think?

You guys are the greatest!

You guys rock. I heard nothing but good things from all of your subs last Friday. Words like "a real pleasure," "no problems," and "great bunch of students" are always nice to hear. Thanks for being your usual incredible selves!

Final reminder: 100 point test on North America tomorrow. Scantron (so bring a pencil). Not open note, not open book (so bring your brain). It covers the five themes of geography as they apply to North America, so you should be studying your notes, Chapter 3 in the text, and this PowerPoint.

Study hard, and good things will happen!

When the cat's away...

...the mice will study for next Tuesday's test!

For Friday's class, you will break into small groups. Using your text and the PowerPoint I have posted here, each group will prepare at least 12 - 15 questions (with correct answers) that could appear on the test. Make sure your questions cover all five themes of human geography as they apply to the region of North America. When you are finished, one person from each group should post these questions to their blog, along with the names of the people who worked in your group. Finally, whoever posts these questions should email me at rschick@johncarroll.org so I know whose blog to check.

Thank you, and I'll see you next week!

the future...

Thursday 11/12: Section 01 and Section 05 finish PowerPoint
Section 03 has no class

Friday 11/13: All sections work in small groups writing questions for Tuesday's test. You will have a sub, since I will be chaperoning a JC field trip to the Big Apple.

Monday 11/16: Section 03 finishes the PowerPoint
Sections 01 and 05 have no class

Tuesday 11/17: All sections take test on North America!

Please see me before the end of the day Thursday if you have any questions.

MATT RYAN RAPS!

All sections met today, with class time spent reviewing your observations on North America.

But the king of summation
gave his dissertation
on both immigration
and urbanization

He's sweeping the nation
like Tupac-ization

his industrialization
caused a class sensation

A new education
through commercialization

Matt Ryan WAS his name
But now there's a new game

He's doin what he oughta
Call him "Buck&aQuarter"

Everybody toast him
When y'all do your postin

Seriously, when you post tonight, you should be transferring the notes you took in class today. A proper post is NOT "Today we talked about North America in class." You should include your notes on the five themes of human geography, and how they relate to North America. These notes will come in handy when it is time to take your test next Tuesday.

Yo, peace out.

Writing assignment

A few notes about your writing assignment:

You need to decide which of the five themes of geography will be the subject of your paper. So...

First, read the five short paragraphs on p. 73, then read the five bullet points on p. 122.

Decide which of the five themes look interesting to you.

Then find that theme in the chapter. Skim until you find some aspect of that theme that appeals to you.

Using the information in the chapter, write a minimum of 200 words on how this theme applies to North America.

I recommend you write your essay in Word. When you are done with the first draft, reread it slowly, checking for errors. Edit and rewrite as necessary.

When your paper is perfect, copy it to your blog and post it.

This assignment is due before the start of class Tuesday, and is worth 20 points.

Enjoy your three-day weekend!

Welcome to North America!

***IMPORTANT UPDATE!***

THIS ASSIGNMENT IS NOW DUE ON TUESDAY FOR ALL SECTIONS!

SPREAD THE WORD!

(The extra time should enable you to do a really good job on this 20-point assignment.)

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Read the five short paragraphs on p. 73.

Read the five bullet points on p. 122.

These reflect the five themes of geography we discussed at the beginning of the year. Tonight, pick ONE of these themes, and write approximately 200 words on how this theme applies to the region where you live: North America.

If you need more information to complete your essay, the pages between 74 and 122 will be very helpful.

After you've written (including proofreading and editing) your piece, post it on your blog.

links

1) http://tinyurl.com/ccjqg

2) http://tinyurl.com/ll9w7f

3) http://tinyurl.com/ot2k8

Preparing for tomorrow's test

Preparing for the test on Hurricane Katrina, Global Climates, and Global Warming

Part of the test will cover the video The Storm That Drowned a City: Hurricane Katrina (which can be viewed again here). You should refer to the notes you took while you watched. You may also refer to the accompanying website.

You are also responsible for the material on Global Climates found on p. 53 – 55 in your text. Be familiar with the five processes that influence our global climate.

There will be questions on the test about Global Warming that refer to p. 56 – 61 in your text. Be able to identify causes of Global Warming, and be able to identify the greenhouse gases and their sources. Based on this material, and our class discussions, you should also be able to tell the difference between a true statement, a false statement, and a statement of opinion.

This test will be taken on paper, so remember to bring a pen. Questions will be fill in the blank, multiple choice, and short answer, plus you will write a brief essay. You may refer to your notes, blogs and websites while taking the test. You may not refer to your textbook.

The test is worth 100 points. Study hard and good things will happen!

Challenges

As we have worked our way through this chapter on global warming, a lot of things have surprised me. I’ve been surprised at how strongly some of you feel about this issue. Surprised at how much you discuss this class with your parents. Surprised at how much work you have done in researching this topic. That’s all good. Nice work!

As we near the end of this section, I want to make a few statements that apply not just to global warming, but to your education in general.

When necessary, you should challenge what you are being taught. When I say challenge, I don’t mean reject. Take what your textbook (or your teacher) tells you and research it, to see if it holds up under scrutiny. Do good, academic-based, thorough research, like we have been talking about in class. If what you have been reading can be backed up and verified, you’re good to go.

If you get into the habit of challenging what you are being told, this will serve you well in many aspects of your life. Challenge what commercials tell you, and maybe you won’t be disappointed by unnecessary purchases. Challenge what politicians (from both parties) tell you, and maybe we’ll elect fewer snake-oil salesmen, and more public servants. Challenge what television, newspapers, and the Internet tells you, and you will be able to make up your own mind when it really counts.

If we all exercised our brains as much as we exercise our abs and our biceps, we would be in terrific intellectual shape. When it comes to knowledge, stay thirsty, my friends!

More on this tomorrow in class.

PowerPointPresentations

Our discussion on global warming is heating up. (Get it? Warming? Heating up?) More tomorrow as we continue with causes, effects, and controversy.

take a stand!

Global warming, climate change - whatever you call it, it's one of the most important and most discussed issues of our time. In this assignment, you will take a stand on global warming, and defend your position with facts and evidence. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but a well-informed opinion is always based on knowledge and information.

Each of your small groups has spent class time working on a PowerPoint presentation, in which you will attempt to convince the class of your position. It's up to you how many slides you need to make an effective argument. Please make sure the first slide has your section number and the full names of everyone in the group, and the last slide should have the websites and other sources where you found your evidence. We'll let you take the first mod of the next class to polish up your PPt, but most of the work should be done tonight.

Remember, if you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything!

03 discussing global warming

Very impressive! Section 03 weighed in today on global warming. Some people made some excellent points. It's obvious that many of you feel quite strongly about this (while some of you care very little!) and express yourselves brilliantly.

So don't just sit there...blog about it, 03!

last call for Q1

I'm finalizing your first quarter grades, so check your gradebook, and check comments I have put on your blog. If you have any questions, you must see me in person by 3:00 today (Monday Oct. 26). Any makeup work must be posted (with an email to rschick@johncarroll.org, telling me you're turning in makeup work) by 5:00 today. Make it a priority.

A-B-C's of Global Warming

Your blog will cover three aspects of the global warming discussion.

Your sources of information will include the textbook (p. 56-60) and these online news sources:

* New York Times
* Google news
* BBC News
* Yahoo! News
* Guardian
* The Independent (UK)

Write a paragraph on each of these topics:
A) What are the causes of global warming?
B) What are the effects of global warming?
C) What are the controversies surrounding global warming?

Please provide the links to any website you found helpful in completing this assignment. This is due at the beginning of the next class.

Why YouTube is just as good as a textbook (sometimes)

First, look at Figure 2.11 on page 55 of your text.

Then, watch this video.



Seriously, you guys are so lucky to be living in the 21st century! (Thanks for the video, Katelyn, Hannah, Mike and Alexa)

My recommendation: stare at the video for all 53 seconds. Then read the material found on p. 53 to 55. Then watch the video again. Then read again. Then watch again. Do this for an hour. When you're finished, you will be a meteorologist.

Don't forget to blog.

Okay, now you teach.

We're learning about the different factors that determine our climate. A little bit of reading (p. 53-55) and a little bit of class lecture got us started. Now it's your turn.

In your small groups, you're going to teach the rest of the class about one atmospheric process that controls climate. At least three PowerPoint slides should do the trick. Make them interesting and informative. Start with the info in the text, and expand from there if you think it will help the class understand.

What you don't finish in class is homework, due at the beginning of your next class.

post-Katrina aftermath

Now all the sections have finished watching the Katrina video. We discussed a lot of complicated issues, and I especially want to commend Section 05 for rising to the occasion and asking some interesting questions in class.

In tonight's blog, sum up what you learned or what you found interesting in this video.

I'll be looking at the TodaysMeet tweets soon, and giving out good grades for good questions and comments, and lower grades for...the other stuff.

This weekend you read GLOBAL CLIMATES: An Uncertain Forecast (p. 53), up to the end of Global Wind Patterns, halfway through p. 55. Review this material tonight, and you'll be ready for class tomorrow.

Katrina, Katrina

Section 03 got their first look at Hurricane Katrina: The Storm That Drowned a City. (The website to accompany the video is here.) We also had a (graded) virtual discussion via TodaysMeet.

For tonight's blog, tell me your impressions of the video, plus tell me what you think of the whole TodaysMeet format, and how your class handled it.

Bono says Hi.

Here's a message from Bono to the Human Geography class.


(This is not my endorsement of Bono's words and ideas; it's meant to show you that the things we discuss in class - globalization, poverty, climate change - are also being discussed around the world.)

weekend homework

Now we move on to The Changing Global Environment. What better way to begin than by studying the greatest natural disaster to hit America in your lifetime. Hurricane Katrina: The Storm That Drowned a City, goes into great detail about what happened in New Orleans just a few short years ago. (The website to accompany the video is here.) As we watch, we'll be having a (graded) virtual discussion via TodaysMeet.

Environment, climate, weather, the greenhouse effect, global warming - these are all pretty complicated terms. On p. 53-55 of our text, you can read a pretty thorough explanation of these concepts. Starting with GLOBAL CLIMATES: An Uncertain Forecast (p. 53), read up to the end of Global Wind Patterns, halfway through p. 55. This should help you understand how climate works.

I would also like you to find at least one website related to global warming. See if you can identify one or two of the issues that people are debating, and identify who is on each side of the debate. Post this information before our next class.

Thanks for a great week, you guys! Enjoy the weekend!

catch-up day

This test consists of one fill in the blank section, and two essay questions. There are five steps required to complete this test.
STEP ONE: Copy and paste the following paragraphs into your blog, including the Honor Code.
STEP TWO: In your blog, fill in all the blanks with correct answers. Be sure to use bold font for your answers and delete the underlines.
“On my honor, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this graded academic work. I am a person of integrity and I do not cheat.” Agree to this statement by typing your name here: ___________
Globalization is the increasing ____________of people and places through converging processes of ____________ , ____________ , and ____________ change. Those who are pro-globalization believe that wealth will “____________ down” from rich countries to poor countries. They also believe it will spread the benefits of new ideas and new ____________ to all nations. One organization that loans money to nations so they can invest in business is the ____________ . On the other hand, those who are anti-globalization say it is not fair, because the richest ____________% of the world’s people consume ____________% of the world’s resources, resulting in ____________ between “haves” and “have nots.”
Use the CIA Factbook to answer the following questions: In Afghanistan the life expectancy is ____________ , the infant mortality rate is ____________ deaths per 1000 live births, the literacy rate is ____________, and the TFR is ____________ . In Australia the life expectancy is ____________ , the infant mortality rate is ____________ deaths per 1000 live births, the literacy rate is ____________, and the TFR is ____________ .
We often categorize nations as being “developed” or “developing” nations. Vietnam and Mexico would be considered ____________ nations; Japan and Canada are ____________ nations.
The current world population is over ____________ billion people. The number that measures how many children the average woman in a nation will bear is known as the ____________ , which is abbreviated as ____________ . When this number is exactly ____________ , then the population stays the same; if it’s higher, the population goes up, and if it’s lower, the population decreases. The population is growing fastest in ____________ nations.
A population pyramid that is shaped just like a pyramid -- wide on the bottom and narrow at the top -- shows a country whose population is ____________. If it is shaped more like a vase or a soda bottle, that nation’s population is ____________. ____________ people are found at the bottom of the pyramid, and ____________ are found on the left hand side.
When discussing migration, people who are entering a country are known as ____________, and people who are leaving a country are known as ____________. People leave their country for many reasons. An example of a push force is ________________________, and an example of a pull force is ________________________ . If a nation’s net migration rate is a ____________ number, it means more people are leaving the country than are arriving.

STEP THREE: In a short, well-written essay, answer ONE of the following questions:
1) Some people feel very strongly in their pro-globalization opinions, while some anti-globalization advocates have different beliefs. It’s likely that the truth lies somewhere in between. What do you think is the “middle ground” in this argument? Be sure to provide evidence for your opinion.
OR 2) Explain the academic discipline of Human Geography using the five themes. How is this discipline different from the study of physical geography? In your opinion, what is the benefit of studying Human Geography?
OR 3) The demographic transition graph describes the changes in birthrates and death rates that a country experiences over time. Describe the changes that the United States has gone through by using the demographic transition diagram.

STEP FOUR: First, go to the following website and read the news story you will find there: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/24/world/americas/24mexico.html
Then, in a short yet brilliant essay, summarize that story by relating it to our studies of immigration in class. Try to use terms from the text and from our class discussions.

STEP FIVE: When you have finished your test, publish your post.

sneak preview

Want to see tomorrow's news today?

GG&S test today, PSAT test tomorrow

There is no homework tonight.

I highly recommend you get a good night's sleep tonight, so you come to school tomorrow well-rested and ready to do your best on your PSATs.

Good luck!

Test Tomorrow

All three sections take their test on Guns, Germs and Steel tomorrow (Tuesday).

This will be an old-fashioned traditional test: a Scantron (don't forget your pencil), objective, multiple choice, fill in the bubble test worth 50 points.

The test will cover the portion of the video we viewed in class, and the Guns, Germs and Steel website material that you based your PowerPoints on.

Link to video here. Link to website here.

See you tomorrow!

Goats in the News

If you thought goats were only important to ancient civilizations, think again. Click here to read about how goats are being used today in the city of Baltimore.

In the meantime, here are some fun facts to know and tell about our friend, the goat.

* a herd of 30 goats can eat up to a quarter acre of vegetation a day

* they eat all kinds of poisonous and invasive species of plants including poison ivy

* they can reach vegetation up to six feet off the ground

* the droppings provide natural fertilizer

* they eat brush and not grass

* they have four-chambered stomachs and special enzymes which allow them to digest plants