Social categories, roles, and practices are created, maintained, challenged, and transformed throughout American history, shaping government policy, economic systems, culture, and the lives of citizens.
KC 1.2.2.b In the encomienda system, Spanish colonial economies marshaled Native American labor to support plantation-based agriculture and extract precious metals and other resources.
KC 1.2.2.c European traders partnered with some West African groups who practiced slavery to forcibly extract slave labor for the Americas. The Spanish imported enslaved Africans to labor plantation agriculture and mining.
KC 1.2.2.d The Spanish developed a caste system that incorporated, and carefully defined the status of, the diverse population of Europeans, Africans, and native Americans in their empire.
This section will list all of the required and supplemental readings addressing this topic within this module. You must complete the required core reading assignments. The required reading is taken from the AMSCO textbook. Scans of the textbook are provided on this site. This textbook is concise and aligned to the framework thus providing a greater opportunity to dive deeper into our studies reading more primary and secondary sources. Students may select to read the parts or the entirety of the extended Brinkley or American YAWP textbook assignment in addition to the AMSCO in order to read the richer narrative. The Brinkley and American YAWP textbooks are a useful source for extended research and deeper narratives.
Supplemental readings range from articles to excerpts providing additional information. Sometimes the supplemental readings are optional, sometimes a supplemental reading may be required, and sometimes you will be required to choose one of a selection.
Preview the options for the Topic Reflection assignment that you will complete as a final product for this topic. This will help you decide how you want to gather your information. The research (information) you gather from the readings (and the presentation) will be used in creating your final product that requires you to answer the essential question for this topic.
REQUIRED: Textbook: AMSCO, 4th edition.
Topic: Topic 1.5
Option: AMSCO, 3rd edition. Chapter 1 (full), pages 11-12
EXTENDED: Textbook: Brinkley, Alan. American History: Connecting with the Past
Topic: Chapter 1, pgs. 17-21
Supplemental: PPT of chapter overview
Presentations may include videos, podcasts, PowerPoints/Slide Decks, or Infographics. Similar to the readings, presentations may range from optional to required with potential separate tasks to be completed. If you come across a great presentation (video, podcast, etc.) on this topic that is not currently posted, please let me know. I appreciate student feedback to update the collection to keep resources relevant and useful.
Research gathered may assist you with the completion of the aligned Key Concepts and the topic reflection. It is recommended that you subscribe to the appropriate YouTube channels when you find a presenter you enjoy.
The following section material focuses on developing historical thinking and writing skills. You may be asked to simply review the information; you may be asked to review the information and complete a Google Form to submit completion of the task and to submit questions or concerns regarding the process or the strategy; or you may be asked to practice the skill by submitting an assignment to Google Classroom.
Responding to Colleagues in Google Classroom: Follow the protocols for responding to colleagues in our Google Classroom platform. There are two different types of posts: informal and formal.
Colleague Responses: When you are asked to respond to a colleague, you need to follow a few simple protocols [norms] to maintain a positive learning environment.
Acknowledge: First make sure you identify whether this is a formal or informal activity and then adhere to the guidelines for that type of post and response.
Informal Posts: There will be some prompts that are more conversational in purpose. While you should still adhere to appropriate language for a safe, positive, respectful learning environment for all students, you do not need to be as formal thus keeping responses more conversational in tone and purpose.
Formal Posts: There will be many prompts that are more professional and academic in purpose. Proper writing conventions [language, grammar, tone] need to be observed. These posts are academic and need to remain at a higher level. These posts need to respect and maintain a positive learning environment for all students.
Key Components to Formal Responses
Gratitude: start your post by thanking the individual for his/her/their post/contribution
Respect: Online academic conversations need to promote and pursue positive academic discourse without resulting to rudeness, harsh language, or personal attacks regardless of conversation type. The key to presenting alternative viewpoints is to respectfully refute, modify or support your colleague's position and then to supply evidence to substantiate your alternative position. [i.e. Although I can see your point about ..., I respectfully disagree with... because....]
Key Takeaways: Identify the key takeaways from the post that you may have learned. This lets your reader know that you really read and understood their post.
Make connections: Discuss the significance of the topic and extend the discussion by including additional evidence to be considered or pose additional questions.
The following activities are considered works in progress. Although progress checks will be completed and feedback provided, you may only officially submit them a few times during the term. This will provide you flexibility in completing them with accuracy, depth, and purpose. Completion of these activities promote long-term preparation for the course and AP exams.
Extended Research files or format will be provided.
Conduct extended research and complete the following key concepts:
1.2.2.b
1.2.2.c
1.2.2.d
Conduct extended research and then complete the following SAQ prompt/s:
SAQ 1.5
The following activity is designed to help you gauge your understanding of this topic. You will need to log into your My AP account in order to access the assignment. Although there are a few different types of questions you may be assigned in MyAP, you will complete a few (3) stimulus-based multiple choice questions for almost every topic. These questions focusing on the individual topics are referred to as Benchmark Review Questions (BRQ). Topic BRQs may be factored into your grade. At the conclusion of a module, you will complete a Personal Progress Check (PPC) for the module which includes AP exam aligned stimulus based multiple choice questions spanning the entire module. These questions are also designed to provide you immediate feedback.
Go to your My AP account and complete the following assignment.
Topic 1.5
Gather and report information that would be used to write a formal response that answers the essential question for this topic. You are only providing your research. You are not writing a formal response....yet. The written response will be LATER in the course after training on effective writing and it is appropriate to come back to topics as a review activity.
There are several ways to review information. You need to select a style that helps you. What is an ideal format for one person may or may not work for another. At this point, you are not be asked to formulate a thesis statement. This component will be added later. Right now, you are tapping into prior knowledge, while shifting into US history, exploring various notetaking systems, and adjusting to the new course and procedures.
Make sure you include specific, relevant vocabulary, names, dates, and details that answer the essential question. Additionally, the information you include should help you recall this information days, weeks, and MONTHS later. This will be a regular assignment for you. However, you are NOT required to do each topic reflection using the exact same format. In fact, you are highly encouraged to explore and try new strategies. This is your opportunity to find out what is the best format for YOU!
Remember that the purpose of the assignment is to provide information to answer the essential question. Keep a focus on only answering the question. This will help you filter information and maintain a focus on the task at hand.....answering the question being asked.
Create a mind map. You are encouraged to complete this on blank paper or a whiteboard. Instructions - Tutorial - Samples
Create an infographic. This may be completed on regular paper or computer-generated. Instructions - Instructions for Google-- Samples
Create a formal outline. This may be handwritten or typed. [If you select to keep this assignment as an ongoing document, title the document as Topic Reflections and then use headers to indicate Topic 1.1, Topic 1.2, ...] Instructions
Create a graphic organizer. This may be completed on regular paper or computer-generated. Samples
Record a short video clip reponse (no more than 2-minutes). Make sure the final video title is accurate, the link is active, and the link works.
Save the document.