Tonight's H.W.

  Today in class we looked at some different tactics on writing a proper introduction for an essay.  Here is a link to the notes from class. The Rough Draft for your essay is due Friday before we leave for February Vacation.  When you are working on your homework you need to have your Writing in History Shouldn't Be a Mystery handout with you.  Use the pages that offer advice on writing a thesis as well as working on your claims and evidence. For tonight I want you to choose to do one of the following:

   1. Look over Body Paragraph One with Mr. Chute's Checklist and make any needed corrections.    Then work on Body Paragraph Two.

  2.  After looking over Body Paragraph One, write your Introduction Paragraph for the essay.

Body Paragraph 1

 Once you have created your Googledocs document for your Mexican-American War essay I want you to start writing the first body paragraph.  That is the only thing that I want you to focus on, writing the body paragraph.  Do not worry about the Introduction and Thesis we are going to devote class time to that, focus on getting your first claim and evidence down.  That is the H.W. for tonight, finish Paragraph 1
   A good paragraph should have a structure that is easy to follow, for example:

   Background Information
   Claim/Thesis Statement
   Supporting Evidence and Details

   If you follow this format it will make your paragraphs easy to read and give your essay a natural flow.

Before you start your body paragraph I recommend you look at page 4, Social Studies Do's and Don'ts  in your Writing in History Packet.  On this page are some simple pieces of advice that will make a very big difference in your final product.

  On page 6 you will find some advice on how to write a claim and on page 7 is some advice on evidence.

Mr. Chute  has created a form to help with paragraph structures for the essay that you may want to check out.
 

Google Docs

                 
     I hope that you are taking some time to enjoy your Snow Day and the now three day weekend.  We now have one less day to be working on the essay together in class, a day that we can not make up.  I am encouraging you all to be proactive and start the assignment on your own by setting up the essay on google docs.  
     If we had class today we were to spend time on drafting our thesis statements and our opening paragraphs.  You can still do this by using your Writing in History Packet for guidelines and helpful tips.  Here is a link offering advice on how to write a good thesis statement on Youtube.

                                        

For the Mexican-American War Essay we are going to be using googledocs again.
Be sure to sign in to the Wellesley Google Apps website.  Please Note: This is different than your own personal google account.

You will need to use your regular school computer ID and PASSWORD.
Here is the link

Once you have successfully logged in, you need to set up your document and share it with me so I can have access to it.

1. Select DRIVE to see your google docs account.

2. Select CREATE and select "Document".

 

5. A new document will come up and now you need to STOP and immediately rename the document. Click on the name of the document at the top of the page using the following format: 
Period#Word for Name of Assignment_LastName

So, in this case, my dog Thurman Mullady would name his paragraph: Period6MxAmWar_Mullady

6. Your last step is that you need to share the document with me so I can see it. Select Share in the upper right hand corner of the doc. 

7. Type in my last name and select my name from the list. Now, select that I can comment.

8. hit DONE

9. Congrats, you did it!!! Begin writing and enjoy using GOOGLE DOCS!!

For Additional Information click on the link to Mr. Chute's site on how to create a google doc.

  I am going to close this post with a request.  In the beginning of the year, I asked you to get the contact information of some classmates. You have also worked with other students before on the Indian Removal Act.  If you checked the site, please encourage your classmates to check it as well. It will reduce set up time in class and increase the amount of time you will have to work on your essay.

 Thank you,

Mr. M

Snow Day!!

Since we do not have school tomorrow, please check the website tomorrow for some tips on working on your introduction.

Mexican-American War

Overview: In 1846 the United States declared war with Mexico. Like many wars the United States has fought, this war had its strong supporters and its vocal critics. By the end of the war, over 40,000 people from both sides were dead and almost half of the land controlled by Mexico was added to the United States (making the U.S. about ⅓ bigger). This writing assignment requires you to take a stand and answer the following question: Was the United States Justified in Going to War with Mexico?

There are two options for your essay:

    Option 1: An Essay with 3 Body Paragraphs (Claims) that will be supported with 2 pieces of evidence. Three quotes are needed for this essay.

   Option 2: An Essay with 2 Body Paragraphs (Claims) that will be supported with 3 pieces of evidence.  Two quotes are needed for this essay.

To be successful for this essay you will need to be focused, be willing to challenge yourself, be able to ask questions when you need some assistance, be open to coming in before or staying after school if you think it will help you, and to plan ahead so that you get everything completed that is needed for you to do your best work.

  In order to have a well thought out essay you should take advantage of the following sources:

  Your Primary Source Packett
  Your Bucket  Lists
  The Howard Zinn Reading
  The Notes from Class
  The Mexican-American War Documentary

Being a good historical writer will reacquire you to use multiple sources in presenting your information. This will create a balanced paper that will offer a better chance of proving your thesis.

   Here is a basic timeline for the essay but these dates are subject to change.

Friday, February 8th: Tree Maps Completed

Tuesday, February 12th: Body Paragraphs are Completed

Wednesday, February 13th: Rough Draft of Essay Completed and brought to Class

Monday, February 18th: Final Document is Shared on Google Docs with Mr. Mullady

Document F

   U.S. Naval Commander John D. Sloat was ordered by the government to sail to California at the outbreak of the Mexican-American War.  Sloat was sent to California for two reasons:

   1. to make sure that the British did not attempt to seize California

   2. claim California in the name of the United States.

     When Sloat's forces arrived off the coast of Monterey California was in a period of economic decline.  The Mexican farming ranching industries had suffered heavy losses and the Mexican population had not effectively grown over the past decade.  There were 4,000 Californians of Spanish descent living in the territory.  The area's biggest city was San Diego with a population of 1,300 followed by Monterey with 1,000 then the cities of Santa Barbara and San Francisco with 800 people living in each community.  With such small numbers scattered around California, Sloat knew that the Mexican government would have a tough time defending the area.


 Your H.W. tonight is to finish marking up Document F.

   Then find 3 reasons why the Mexican-American War was not justified and use three quotes from the Primary Source Packet that supports those reasons.

Using Your Primary Source Packet

       Over the course of the past few weeks we have been discussing whether or not the Mexican-American war was just.  In class we made lists that gave reasons that supported both arguments and gathered evidence to support those claims.
   
     The Primary Source Packet is taking that fact finding to the next level by having use specific historical quotes as evidence.  Documents A, John O'Sullivan's essay on the Annexation of Texas listed reasons why the United States needed to take control of Texas as well as California.  In his essay, O'Sullivan explains why it was necessary for the United States to expand.

   Document B is sections of President Polk's Address to Congress requesting a declaration of war with Mexico.  In his message the President outlines the events leading up to the war as well as explaining why it is necessary for the U.S. to take action against Mexico.

   Last night for H.W. you read and analyzed Document C a letter from the President of Mexico to the Mexican people addressing the Annexation of Texas. In his letter President Hererra explains the Mexican perspective regarding the hostile relationship with the United States.

   Document D is portions of a speech from Charles Sumner to the Massachusetts State Legislature regarding the Annexation of Texas.  Sumner was a very vocal critic of slavery and believed that the expansion of America was only an excuse to expand slavery.

There is no homework this weekend.

Enjoy the big game.