AP Assignments—Week 1, September 2-8, 2003: HOW TO READ THE ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE: The assignments
given below are due on the day that they are listed; when you come to class the material listed for that date and day should
be completed.
9/2, TUE, The Big Idea: INTRODUCTION TO AP HISTORY. 1) Check out Davidson and Zinn textbooks. 2) Discuss
expectations and requirements. 3) Introduction to teacher. 4) Hand out and read the document on fishing and address
questions.
9/3, WED, The Big Idea: THE NATURE OF HISTORICAL THINKING. 1) Read “The Strange Death of Silas Deane” from
After the Fact: The Art of Historical Detection and take notes on the reading questions provided in class on Tuesday. 2) Read
Zinn, Chapter 1, pages 1-11. From both Deane and Zinn prepare for a discussion on these questions: a) What IS history? b)
What are the primary characteristics of history? c) What is historical thinking? d) What are the key attributes of the discipline
of history—what does an historian do? e) What is Zinn’s definition of history and what was his purpose in writing The
People's History of the United States? f) Who controls history and for what reasons? I.P. discussion grade.
9/4, THU, B.I.: MANY WORLDS: UNDERSTANDING THE COMPLEXITY OF AMER-INDIAN PEOPLES. 1) Read
Davidson, Prologue, pages 2-15. Bring to class any questions or observations that you have about native culture from the
reading. 2) Read Davidson, "Tracking the First Americans, " pages 16-19, and write on notebook paper the answers to these
two questions: a) What key new idea or learning did this essay provide? b) After reading this essay, what questions are raised
for you? 3) Read in class a native creation story, and discuss it: Is myth history? Is it a viable historical explanation for native
peoples?
9/5, FRI, B.I.: SPAIN MOVES WEST: 1) Read Davidson, Part One Introduction, 21-24 and Ch. 1, 26-38, stopping at The
Reformation in Europe. 2) In your Reading Response Journal (RRJ), write a list of the five most important reasons that
Europeans ventured to the new world, with a one sentence explanation for each justifying why you have included each. As
you compile your list, consider social, demographic (the arrangement and number of people), technological and cultural
aspects as well as the more traditional economic and political.
9/8, MON, B.I.: ENGLAND’S TENTATIVE STEPS. 1) Read Davidson, Ch. 1, 38-50. 2) Read Document 1.5, pages 7-9, in
Corbett, V. 1. and come to class ready to use evidence from the reading to discuss the following: a) What are Drake’s attitudes
toward the native people of California? b) What are the native responses to Drake and his company? c) In light of what you
know about each culture, how do you explain their respective attitudes toward the other? IP discussion grade. 3) Learn
about and practice writing an annotated timeline entry.