Weekly Online Discussion Blog
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3. For Name: Type in your first and last name! (No exceptions… however, for your first name you
can type the “nickname” of which you would want to be called in class.)
4. For Password: Create a password that you will remember!
Keep in mind that the process doesn’t require you to reaffirm your password. Therefore it is
very important to slowly type in your password. In addition, it is recommended to use your
assigned BCPS external password.
5. In order to read and respond to the post, you click on the desired Post.
6. Read the post and leave a comment in order to participate in the post discussion. Once you
submit the comment, you will notice that the comment cannot be published to the web until
after the teacher’s approval.
Logging Back In after your initial sign up:
Login by entering the URL (your class) address. Hit “Login.” Find your name and then type in your
password. DO NOT REENTER YOUR CLASS CODE. THIS WILL CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT.
In order to receive credit for completing answers to the teacher’s posted question…
Create a post to one of the discussion questions! Include the following in your post:
1. In the thesis paragraph, you should address how you are going to address the question.
2. Throughout the subsequent paragraphs, use and cite historical examples to support your
thesis statement.
3. Remember, unless otherwise specified, you should include three examples or three
supportive statements for each topic. (Of course, each topic should also relate back to the
thesis statement.)
4. Be insightful & original with your response.
5. For essay questions, utilize essay format (about 5 paragraphs).
In order to receive credit for completing Critiques to your colleagues’ responses.
Create a minimum of two posts that address your peer responses to two different questions.
1. While utilizing the PQP (Praise, Question, and Polish) format, create a response to your
peers’ essay.
2. Make sure to justify your response by using historical examples in your critique.
3. Be insightful & original with your response.
4. This post should be approximately 5-7 sentences.
The following examples are used to demonstrate expectation in overall quality
and essay structure. Keep in mind that the teacher views all of the posts before
they are published. Posts that fail to meet such expectation (strong 2 or higher)
will not be published; and therefore will receive no credit. In addition, all posts
are expected to be completed by its due date.
4 (A): Your thoughts and reflections that were used to complete the assignment were well developed,
clearly focused, and consistently supported by specific, relevant, and accurate information. Your
analysis was in-depth and, when applicable, thoroughly confronts and discusses different points of view.
3 (B/A-): Your thoughts and reflections that were used to complete the assignment were developed,
focused, and supported by relevant and accurate information. Your analysis was superficial, and, when
applicable, acknowledges different points of view.
2 (C/D): Your thoughts and reflections that were used to complete the assignment were partially
developed, somewhat focused and partially supported by information. Your analysis was illogical, and
when applicable, refrains from acknowledging different points of view. *
1 (D/E): Your thoughts and reflections that were used to complete the assignment were poorly
developed, lacking focus, and often off-topic. It includes irrelevant and/or inappropriate information.
Your analysis was off-topic and/or does not exist.*
EXAMPLE QUESTION FOR PART ONE
------------------------------------What was the role & importance that each of the following had on the Progressive Era? Discuss on
three of the following:
-Muckrakers
-Theodore Roosevelt
-William Taft
-Woodrow Wilson
Thesis Paragraph: Make sure to create brief overview of the historical era before creating
a thesis sentence.
Body: Write the essay. Make sure to include examples that support each of the topic
sentences of each paragraph. (Make sure that the topic sentence of each paragraph is
consistent with the thesis sentence).
Make sure to bold or CAPITALIZE any historical event, legislation, concept, etc. that you
refer to in your Essay.
Conclusion: Briefly state how your Essay’s body supports the Thesis statement (Tying up
loose ends!) Briefly make a connection of this time period with how it affects future US
History.
Example Response
The progressive era was a period of social, economic and political reform in the United States that lasted
from the 1890s to the 1920s. During this time period many groups of people fought for change in
various parts of American society, like better working conditions, an 8 hour workday and better
sanitation. Some of the most influential people that fought for reform in the progressive era were the
Muckrakers, Theodore Roosevelt, and Woodrow Wilson.
The muckrakers were journalists that wrote articles that exposed a wide range of issues like corruption
in the government, poor sanitation in factories and child labor. The Muckrakers’ articles were a driving
force behind much of the progressive era legislation. One of the most well-known muckrakers was
Upton Sinclair. In his novel The Jungle, Sinclair documented the appalling sanitation conditions in
factories. This novel led to congress passing the Meat Inspection act which declared that the
preparation of meat shipped over state lines was subject to federal inspection. This law improved
sanitation conditions in many U. S. factories. In his article “The Treason of The Senate” David G. Phillips
exposed the corruption in the Senate. Phillips’ novel created public demand for the direct election of U.
S Senators which led to congress passing the seventeenth amendment. The amendment allowed the
public to directly elect senators. This prevented corporations from bribing state legislators to vote for
candidates that would support their interests instead of the interests of the public. Finally, John Spargo
detailed the horrors of child labor in his novel “The Bitter Cry of Children” this helped open the eyes of
the public to the atrocities of child labor which led to congress passing the Keating-Owen child labor
act. This law prohibited the sale of goods produced in factories that employed children under 17. This
law helped reduce the amount of exploitation of children by corporations.
President Theodore Roosevelt played a large role in the progressive movement primarily because he had
to approve legislation passed by congress in order for it to become law. Roosevelt passed the HEPBURN
ACT which further limited the power of bad trusts by expanding the power of the Interstate Commerce
Commission to cover bridges, terminals, ferries, railroad sleeping cars, express companies and oil
pipelines. Roosevelt also limited the power of bad trusts by approving the Elkins act which gave the
Interstate Commerce Commission the power to impose fines on railroads that offered rebates, and on
shippers that accepted rebates. Roosevelt also passed laws that favored conservation reform like the
forest Reserve act which authorized the president to set aside public forests as national parks.
President Woodrow Wilson was also a key figure in the progressive reform movement because he had
to approve all bills proposed by congress before they became law. Many of the laws passed during his
administration reformed factory labor. The ADAMSON ACT granted factory workers an 8 hour workday
and additional pay for overtime work. Before the Adamson act was passed workers were forced to work
as long as the corporations felt was necessary, and they generally did not get paid for overtime work.
Many labor unions fought for a shorter workday but most were unsuccessful. Wilson also approved the
Workingmen’s compensation act which provided federal civil service employees with compensation for
wages lost because of job-related illnesses. Wilson also passed laws that limited the power of trusts, and
restricted the powers held by industries. The Federal trade commission act allowed a presidentially
appointed commission to investigate industry.
In conclusion, The Muckrakers, President Roosevelt and President Wilson were all important figures in
the progressive era. They each got legislation passed that placed heavier restrictions on industry, and
improved working conditions in factories. Many laws that were passed as a result of the efforts of the
progressive reformers still exist in some form today such as the Workingmen’s compensation act.
EXAMPLE
Post #2 & #3 (Critiques) due by Fri. (11:59 pm)
One full paragraph: Remember to treat it as having a historical discussion. Make sure to
reference historical examples (w/ elaboration) & content when having this discussion.
In order to receive credit, your response should demonstrate understanding of content
and/or new learning.
Your response successfully cited specific examples and legislation passed during the terms help by the
progressive presidents. You also did a good job of citing specific examples of muckrakers and their
influence on the passing of progressive legislation aimed at social improvements. Additional examples of
muckrakers you could’ve included are Ida B Wells and her attempt at exposing the lynching of AfricanAmericans, Dewey’s attempts to reform Public education, and Walter Rauschenbusch’s attempt for the
Implementation of the Social Gospel among America’s upper-class citizens. As for the legislation passed
by the progressive presidents, it would benefit your essay to include more diverse examples such as the
Land preservation acts and the 16th through 19th amendments. The amendments gave a voice to the
minority citizens who would not have a voice in politics otherwise, or attempted to reform the moral
values of American society. The 17th amendment called for direct election of Senators, The 16th
amendment Allow Congress to levy an income tax that could be used for infrastructure or for future
social programs to improve society. The 18th amendment called for prohibition and the 19th
amendment gave women the right to vote. The passage of these amendments would not have been
possible without the support of the progressive era presidents.