World History AP

Today in WHAP we continued the lecture on economics. First, at the beginning of class, Will (Nickols) and Mr. Profitt started arguing about the merits of the thesis. It seemed like they'd been talking about the topic before as the debate seemed to get quite heated considering exactly what they were talking about. Essentially, Nickols point was that it wasn't useful because it basically cut out the influence of Asia, which was a pretty big deal. Mr. Profitt than argued that while that may be true, it's still important to use the divisions given and reserve judgement as this was just one guy's opinion on the thesis. I'd use the office meme where they're pointing fingers at each other, but I've already used it before so by the transitive property, it's stale. After this, we continued talking about the core regions and peripheral societies, which this circle chart from the presentation illustrates well. Then, we talked about how around 1100 Europe starts...

Today in WHAP we continued our lecture over economics in world history. First, Mr. Profitt checked our notes over Wallersteins thesis, which I got a 5/5 on, and were the model for the class. Then, we moved onto the lecture, starting by going over the definition of a core region. A core region has a strong government, can control production of goods, and can control distribution of goods. Along with core regions there are peripheral regions and external regions. Not every country fits perfectly into kne if these category’s, because I’m the example of China it is considered external even though it doesn’t really match the definition very well. We then looked at the pattern if his societies become peripheral, and all of them seem to exploit the vulnerable in some way of serfdom or slavery in order to raise profit margins. We then talked about game themes, of which there are 3 types: 0 Sum games, where net+ is added to net-, always equaling zero. In this scenario, there’s one wi...

Today in WHAP we took a clicker quiz. So first, class started off with Mr. Profitt graciously congratulating himself on his triumphant return to room A120, and finally winning his battle with the flue. He still had some battle scars, as one of his eyes had a popped blood vessel, making his eye look a little...demonic. Seems like most of the students have healed back up by now, so I don't foresee the school closing for more sick days anytime soon. After welcoming back Mr. Profitt, we began studying for the clicker quiz. We then took the quiz, and while I hate to be a downer, there is no way that we got the bonus today, just too many questions with multiple wrong answers. But, I'd love to be surprised. After the quiz, we started a lecture on the Early modern world's economy. One of the first things we went over is how most cities have negative impacts in a fiscal sense because they don't really give out much, but take a lot in taxes and other fees. A real world exam...

Today in WHAP we took a reading quiz. We reserved the first 10 minutes to study for the quiz, like normal. I made sure to go over the key terms and some of the margin review questions with my table team, and then we took the quiz. It wasn't too difficult, however I blanked a bit on the Safavid empire so we'll see what happens with that. Anyway, with that the bell rang and we were dismissed. Make sure to read Strayer and watch the CC video this weekend!

Today in WHAP we had a talk history day. The debate started, like it usually does, with Garrett saying how he was of the mindset that the conquered people all faced the same concept of empire, whereas Will Nickols disagreed with him. They had a nice argument, each presenting large amounts of evidence (on Garret’s blog probably, he took notes). Eventually, I’m a rare occurrence, the class came in agreement in the debate and thus, to all of our relief, ended the debate peacefully. After the debate ended, we began to study for the quiz on Friday. Pretty one dimensional class today so not much for a blog entry. Remember to study for the quiz on Friday, because we WILL be having school tomorrow, much to everyone’s chagrin. Anyway, with that the bell rang and we were dismissed. Until tomorrow!

So these past few days in WHAP where we haven't had school we've had some assignments and other activities, so I figured I'd cover those two days and then what the rest of the week will look like. So on Tuesday and Wednesday, we had two CC videos/quizzes assigned, and while the Tuesday one is closed, you can still attempt the quiz on Wednesday so if you haven't done it yet, go take it. We also have a WHAP reflection assigned which is due tomorrow morning for our WHAP Thursday debate day, so make sure to get that in. Then, moving on to Thursday and Friday, Mr. Profitt won't be at school either of those days, so we will have subs. We will still be having the debate tomorrow and the quiz Friday. Luckily, we will have extra time for the quiz on Friday, so enjoy that to craft some especially good SARS' and HTS'. Anyway, that's essentially all that has happened/will happen in WHAP in these past/future days, so remember to finish Strayer and to study fo...

Today in WHAP we took a moodle quiz. First off, Mr. Profitt wasn’t at school today due to the flu. Noticeably, all of our classes had less people then normal as many people fell ill this weekend. Hopefully the don’t drown in make up work. Mr. Profitt will not be at school tomorrow either, according to the moodle page. Something I was thinking about is I heard from a source (pretty iffy on credibility) that many of the Peruvian exchange students are coming down with the flu. Once I heard that, I immediately thought of the Columbian Exchange and how the natives became sick due to the diseases brought by the Europeans. Obviously the situation is quite different, but there are some similarities in that foreign sickness can nab you as it’s somehtung that you may not have been exposed to in your native country. Similarly, in Peru, foreigners visiting and even some that live in Peru can’t drink the water there or else it will make you sick due to the presence of bacteria that we aren’t us...

Today in WHAP we had another WHAP debate. Today's discussion was over whether the Colombian exchange had a positive or negative effect. The way we did it today was that you would go in between a number line of a sort in order to say how much you agreed/disagreed. I chose the neutral zone. Generally the argument that our group made was that how positive or negative the situation could be changed depending on the eyes of the beholder, keeping in line with a truly neutral viewpoint. Each group had time to make their statement, but unfortunately we didn't have any time to really "debate" because all the time was taken up by 1AC's. With that, the bell rang and we were dismissed. Have a great weekend, signing off until Monday.

Today in WHAP we took two clicker quizzes. First, we started class off with review for the quizzes, and then for the first time in forever Mr. Profitt opened the floor for some questions. With a question about Mr. Profitt's personal opinion on if King Charles was a good king, Mr. Profitt said in short he agreed with how he couldn't really do anything as monarch because of the rulers of the subdivisions of the HRE along with having too large of a territory for one man to successfully govern. Then, we went into another topic which I thought was pretty fascinating over Martin Luther. So Martin Luther is known for sparking the Protestant Reformation because of the 95 thesis' that he nailed to a church door, and which were eventually distributed with the printing press throughout the land. These thesis' were quite accusatory towards the church, but many people agreed with what he was saying. As a result, the HRE attempted to get Martin Luther to revoke his statement abo...

Today in WHAP we talked about DBQs. First, we started class off by listening to a parody of "roar" which referenced the experiences of Columbus, as we studied for the clicker quiz. What I've found as we take these quizzes in this week full of clicker quizzes is that they are easier, probably because we've already gone over some of the information in a class lecture, which is another reason to be pro-lecture. Also, not having the strayer question and quite frankly just not having to read strayer makes the quizzes and class that much easier. After taking the quiz, which we DID get the bonus on (well done 6th, two days in a row), we moved onto a nifty little powerpoint over DBQ's, or document based questions. Before today, I thought that these would be easier than anything we've learned yet since we don't really have to know much as the information is provided. That was an thought proved incorrect right as we started. While the information is provided, ...

Today in WHAP we took a quiz over the reading we had this past weekend. We started class by reviewing for the quiz later in the period. For clarification, I'm pretty sure it's an Q grade and not an E grade, as that's a rumor I've heard buzzing around the 28 today. After spending some time reviewing to the tune of a Swahili song, we took the quiz and quite frankly I didn't think it was too difficult, and I feel pretty confident about it. It appears that we did receive the bonus, so congratulations to everyone on a 100! We then moved onto a short lecture going over some of the periodization we talked about way back in the first semester. With that, the bell rang and we were dismissed. Until Tomorrow!

Today in WHAP we took our first Reading Quiz of the Semester. First, we started off with three minute of review. Three minutes of review. Three minutes of review. Then, Mr. Profitt started talking about some of the terms, and inadvertently gave away the HTS because when Will Florer suggested "Chosen Woman" Mr. Profitt shied away from it and asked for another one. Good deductions class. We then took the quiz, and I felt pretty well prepared, hopefully this leads to a solid start of the semester. Something I noticed when doing some pondering was that since some people will be receiving bonus quiz points from the reflection we had, there is a very good chance that we get that communal +1 point on our Reading quizzes. Kinda wish I would have thought of that fact earlier so I would have written a longer reflection, but oh well. Don't forget to do the HW over the weekend and be prepared for the clicker quiz over the assignment on Tuesday. Until Tuesday!

Today in WHAP we had a "What if" discussion. First, we started off class by choosing what type of discussion we wanted to have. After going around the room, we decided upon an argument consisting of information for the quiz and what ifs of history. The topic we ended up going with was the one relating what if China hadn't destroyed their naval fleet and continued to sail the Indian Ocean Trade route. The debate started with Garrett, our resident Master Debater, to say how if China had been present than Portugal wouldn't and really couldn't have been as aggressive as they were with the Cartez system. Because of China's superior navy, they would have been intimidated a bit and really, as we talked about later, they wanted to trade with China so they'd have that opportunity now, so they wouldn't have needed to become the pirates that they were. To elaborate off of that, they really only became pirates because the people of the coast of Africa didn...

Today in WHAP we took a clicker quiz and continued the lecture from yesterday. We started off with our first clicker quiz of the semester, then moved into the lecture. the beginning of the lecture was about the fall of the Mongols and how before this fall, they destroyed the Abbasid Caliphate, but the real meat of the lecture started off with us going over the defeat of Constantinople by the Ottoman Empire, hence the song Istanbul not Constantinople, as on any map it says Istanbul and not Constantinople. We then moved into the Safavid Empire, which was composed of Shiite Muslims and was a "gunpowder" empire as gunpowder was used in combat, all located in Persia. The next empire was the Mughal Empire, which took over after Tamerlane's empire collapsed and was based in India. Then, we moved into discussion sparked by Asher's questions about why the Sunni didn't destroy the Shia, to which Mr. Profitt countered with why doesn't the US destroy North Korea, ev...

Today in WHAP we had a lecture over the 15th century. We tried what will be a more common method of getting the information across this semester, which was the lecture form. I definitely liked the form, but at the end Mr. Profitt said that whenever he gives these types of lessons people tend to get bored or stop paying attention. Mr. Profitt, if you were looking for any tips on avoiding that happening, I'd suggest perhaps maybe once or twice in the lecture show something like an interesting picture/video/joke that's related to the topic, just to "jazz up" the presentation a bit and get people to start paying attention once that comes up, so they will be paying attention once you start lecturing again, in case they zoned out. Just a suggestion, and like I said, I like this method quite a bit. We started out by talking about the Muslim Synthesis, or the term for how certain idea from the Arabian world would be passed on to Europe, an example of which would be chess ...

Today in WHAP we received the much anticipated December Assesment! I did just as well as I could have expected on the exam, so I'm pretty pleased with my results and glad that all the studying paid off in the long run, and from what I've gleaned from others they tend to feel the same way. After we received the exams, we did a reflection for the rest of class over the exam and the first semester in general. Without going into too much detail, the one thing I want to improve on is my quiz category, and make sure to start off strong this Friday with a good grade. In one of a few moments of deep contemplation over break, I realized how we really only have one very hard thing left this year, which is the AP exam, as most of the finals will be easier than the midterms as they'll be essays and we'll know how to study. Keep that in mind as we enter the second part of the semester. If you're feeling tired this week, just remember we've got Monday off. Little bit ...