visitors to our blog

Has anybody noticed that in addition to the 1600+ visits to this blog (mostly you guys, of course), we have also had visitors from Canada, Pakistan, France, Italy, Lebanon, and the United Arab Emirates? Click on the ClustrMap and check it out.

We're so global...

the end is near

Tonight I will finalize your 4th quarter grades. If you see anything that does not look right to you, EMAIL ME TONIGHT, or see me in class tomorrow.

Taylor, two words: maple syrup.

You will have one final homework assignment, due Wednesday, June 9 at 11:59 PM. Here it is.

In your final blog posting, tell me about this class. What worked for you and what didn't work; what you liked or didn't like; what I can do to improve the class. I hope this class was a learning experience for you, and I want to continue to improve the course, and improve myself as a teacher, so I definitely welcome your honest and candid feedback. Please tell me what I need to hear, not just what I want to hear. Thanks for taking the time to do this last assignment.

I enjoyed the time we spent together this year, and I hope you did, too. I'm looking forward to seeing many of you in TV Production class next year, and hopefully even more of you will take TV in your junior of senior year.

Good luck on exams, and have a great summer!

update

As you may have noticed, I have added a few items to the Semester Exam Docs list. As you remember, I had a computer crash that wiped out a lot of the tests you took from me this semester, so I have posted some tests from years past (better than nothing!). You may notice that we did not go over all the material on these tests; however, most of it should look familiar to you. (If NONE of it looks familiar, then you are in trouble!) Combined with the fantastic notes you took this semester, these tests should help you out quite a bit.


Reminder... The test will cover:

Egypt
Greece
Rome
Middle Ages
Reformation/Martin Luther
Renaissance

100 objective questions; 3 essay questions.

exam info

We're just a few days away from exams. Here is a little info that will hopefully prepare you for your Western Civ test.

There is a new item to the left, just above the Countdown to Exams. It's called Semester Exam Docs. There, you will find documents and links (tests, notes, etc.) that should be useful. I will be posting these over the weekend. This will be a little more complicated than I would like, since the Great Computer Crash of last month, but I will do my best.

You will be allowed to use one page of notes (standard size paper, meaning 8.5 X 11 inches; one side only; either printed or hand-written) during the exam. You may not reproduce entire tests on this page. I will check this sheet during the exam, and you will turn the sheet in with your exam.

You will not be allowed to use your computer during the exam.

The exam will be around 100 objective questions, worth 50% of the exam grade, and three essay responses, worth 50%.

We will discuss this more in class on Friday, so let me know if you have questions.

Awards Assemblies and Renaissance Patronage

I want to thank you for how you conducted yourselves at the awards assembly today. I appreciate how hard it it to sit in those bleachers for a long time, and today's assembly was pretty long! Plus, it seemed to be all about the seniors, which may have had limited appeal for many of you. I'm sure you'll be more interested when you guys are seniors - and you have more comfortable seats!

I see a couple of lessons here. *climbs on soapbox* Throughout your lives, you are going to be required to do things that bore you to tears. Tedious seminars, endless banquets, long speeches - don't think these things end when you finish high school (or college). But one mark of maturity is the ability to hang in there. To show respect to the speakers by paying attention. To resist the urge to over-fidget - or worse, clown around - during presentations. Today's assembly featured government officials, reps from the armed forces, as well as private individuals, many of whom were being darn generous with scholarships and other monetary rewards. (I mean, $1000 for an essay on patriotism? That's VERY benevolent!) Some were even donating funds in honor of loved ones who had passed away. It may not be easy for them to appear before us, so it's fantastic when you show our visitors John Carroll students at their best.

Did anyone catch the parallels between these benefactors and the patrons we are studying in Western Civ? The Medicis supported artists by providing paints, brushes, and blocks of marble; the people you saw today are donating money to students who improved their grades, who were excellent student-athletes, or who performed community service. They are patrons who support your efforts.

And in just three short years, we will be hearing many of your names called, accepting awards, scholarships, and accolades. I can't wait.

Construction Worker Paints Mona Lisa with Nail Gun

It's on the Internet, so it must be true.

Michelangelo painting God

This week will be spent studying the Renaissance (which WILL appear on the semester exam), and next week we will review for the big test.