Take Home Test 1
adapted from Deborah Smith Johnston and Susan Graham
TAKE HOME “PORTFOLIO” “TEST”” 2007
600 TO –1450
Due Date:
Required Element:
1. Choose one of these travelers: Marco Polo, Ibn Battuta, or Zheng He.
2. Learn about the individual by visiting the Saudi Aramco website
(http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/200504/) There is a brief five page
essay on each of them at this web site that you need to read. Additionally, for
a. Zheng He, google National Geographic Society Zheng He and get:
http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0507/feature2/index.html
b. Or look at images and read the primary sources of Ibn Battuta’s journal at:
http://www.sfusd.k12.ca.us/schwww/sch618/Ibn_Battuta/Ibn_Battuta_Ri
hla.html
c. For Marco Polo, you may wish to check out the Silk Road Foundation
website including the information at http://www.silkroad.com/artl/marcopolo.shtml but there is much more at this web site.
3. After you have completed your research, write a diary entry of no less than 300
words (2-3 pages) describing what they saw and did using information from the
article. Mention specific cities and experiences—smells, sounds, etc. Be sure your
point of view is clear and you use specific examples. Use the first person! Feel free to
add a few pictures of what you see! Include a bibliography of at least three GOOD
sources (they may all be on-line sources.) Use parenthetical citations in your
entry. This must be MLA style. Please include a word-count on the bottom of
your diary.
4. Include a hand-drawn map of your explorer’s route. Label the route and where he
travels.
5. Write a one page resume for him. Now that he is home, he needs a job.
CHOICE ITEMS:
In addition to the elements above, choose THREE of the following items. Make sure
your choices represent as wide a breadth of knowledge as possible and the three AP
themes listed below. I will assess how much you have learned during this unit based on
your choices. Be sure to always include facts and specific evidence from the readings, class
discussions and lectures. Feel free to do more than THREE only if they are of equal
high quality. Each individual item will count less then, so less is at stake for each one.
Extra effort does count.
Required:
One element that looks at the theme of Interaction Between Humans and the
Environment
Take Home Test 2
One element that looks at the theme of Development and Interaction of Cultures
One element that looks at the theme of Development and Transformation of Social
Structures
Choices (Select three): Note that my suggestions of which requirement each of the
following may fulfill are only examples. You can apply any of these choices to any of the
requirements. (Note: http://ias.berkeley.edu/orias/travelink.htm This website will be helpful
for many of the entries including anything on the travelers, the Crusades, maps etc.)
1. Draw a political cartoon looking at the impact of demographic change due to travels,
war, climate, technology etc. Be sure your cartoon includes lots of context—
historical clues as well as a brief caption. (Interaction)
2. Write a two- three page editorial (350 words) on the spread of Islam in Al-Andalus
(Spain) and/or east and west Africa. Be sure your opinion is stated clearly at the head
of the article, include a GOOD headline, and lots of specific evidence to support
your claim. (interaction, cultural & intell.)
3. Write a diary entry(s) of no less than two pages (350 words) which uses specific
facts, quotes, if possible and imagery to convey what is was like to live among the
Vikings, the Mongols, or the Bantu peoples moving south and east in Africa. Be sure
to indicate who you are in the society, and why your society is on the move (climate,
trade, migration, war, etc.) Include in your entry, a comparison to one of the other
groups listed here. Use the first person. (social/ gender structure, interaction)
4. Choose two works of architecture built between 600 and @1300 (from two
different regions) and write a description in no less than 250 words how they both
convey (ed) representations of POWER. Include pictures of the buildings. The
web is a great source.

You might choose Tikal (Guatemala), Machu Picchu (Peru), the Forbidden
City (China), Great Zimbabwe (Africa), Borobodur (SE Asia), Mezquita
(Cordoba, Spain), Alhambra (Granada, Spain), Cahokia Mounds or Anasazi
Cliff dwellings, Chartres cathedral (France), the Abassid Palaces in Baghdad,
Golden Gate (Vladimir, Russia), Imperial Palace (Kyoto), or any other
building from the time. (Cultural and intellectual development)
5. Use primary and secondary readings to create an exchange/dialogue between the
emperor of China and Zheng He discussing whether or not to continue the treasure
ship voyages. You can find a great set of materials at www.askasia.org (Asia Society)
under lesson plans- Should the Ming end the treasure ship voyages? The dialogue
should be of substance and be 2-3 pages long, involving at least 30 exchanges of
information.
http://www.askasia.org/teachers/Instructional_Resources/Lesson_Plans/China/LP
_china_7.htm (interaction, social/gender structure)
6. Read the full text of Sundiata (you will have to go to the public library or purchase
this on your ownthe Longman African Writers Series has a good translation) &
create a GOOD list of the “Top-10 Reasons Why This Is Good Historical
Take Home Test 3
Literature.” The list should demonstrate your reading & understanding of the full
text. Dudes, this means quotes and explanations from multiple locations in the book,
etc. (cult. / intell.)
7. Create a photo essay using at least ten pictures from the web or other sources
looking at the Arab influence on Europe as a result of the Crusades. Your first
picture should be a map. Do include the entire time span of the Crusades. Images
of the items and ideas shared are expected. Only captions should be used to tell the
story. (You write the captions.) (interaction, cultural/ intellectual)
8. Eulogy (rhetorical, celebratory speech) of a famous person (or not so famous if you
would like to do a woman, slave, peasant, merchant etc. and use more artistic
license) A eulogy is always quite favorable to the person who died so use rhetoric
and lots of adjectives to describe the person. Include references to what you
“personally” remember – moments together, being there when… etc. Minimum 300
words. This is to be a real historical person. (social/ gender)
9. Web sampler. Create your own web sampler or web quest that explores Marco Polo,
Zheng He, or Ibn Battuta. Try to use a variety of sources within the sampler: audio,
video, pictures, primary sources, and secondary sources. Interactive sites are always
great. You should have your sampler include 5-7 sites. Include 3 questions for each
one. The following website will help walk you through and create the web project.
http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/ (You can also google “filamentality” ).
10. Others by prior approval only.
Extra credit (will count only if have turned in four required pieces)
 Create an advertisement (time period: 600 – 1450) that draws upon
values, products and/ or services. Be sure to indicate where and when.
Assessment:
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Make sure all of your submissions are neat, factual, typed where appropriate
and creative. Handwritten is not acceptable.
All materials should be original. (In other words, copying a chart from a
book would not count as one of your items.)
Plagiarism is unacceptable. Hence, all materials should be original.
I will deduct 1 point for each spelling or grammar error. This adds up
quickly, so be sure to proofread!
Take Home Test 4
Portfolio Test EvaluationTurn in with your portfolio test:
Required element:
_________ /50
Diary entry (20)
Map (10)
Resume (20)
One element that looks at the theme of Interaction.
_________ /25
One element that looks at Cultural and Intellectual Developments _________ /25
One element that looks at Social and Gender Structure.
_________ /25
Overall form
_________ /25
(neatness, spelling/ grammar, creativity, global & thematic balance)
TOTAL
______150
Take Home Test 5
SAMPLE RESUME
Name and Contact Information:
Objective
(What kind of job are you looking for?)
EDUCATION:
RECENT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS/ LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE/ COMMUNITY
SERVICE: ( You choose any or all of the above depending on what you want to
emphasize.)
RECENT INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE:
References Available Upon Request.