The Iroquois Constitution

Assignment Directions: Title a piece of lined paper "Blog Assignment #1: Iroquois Constitution." For each section, write the title of the section and number your responses.

PART A: Vocab 

1. Look up confederation on dictionary.com. Write the definition.
2. Infer: Why do YOU think separate groups of Native Americans sometimes came together to form confederations?
3. Click here for the definition of confederacy. Write the definition. (Keep in mind that, often, when we say Confederacy with a capital C, we are referring to the southern part of the USA during the Civil War; however, many other groups have also formed confederacies.) 
4. Click here to get the definition for constitution. Write it down. (Keep in mind that many groups have constitutions. Here in the United States, we refer to our own as THE Constitution.)

PART B: Maps

Directions: Use the maps below or search for additional maps online. Restate the questions in your responses.
1. Where was the Iroquois Confederation located?
2. Why do you think this was an important area for Native Americans as well as European Colonists?
3. Which group named on the second map below came up with the origin myth "The Earth on Turtle's Back," which we read in class? 

Part C: Dekanawidah and the Iroquois Constitution

Click here to read a story about Dekanawidah (you will find his name spelled in several different ways).

Directions: Answer these questions using the article linked above. Restate the questions in your responses.

1. Around what time period did Dekanawidah help create the Iroquois Confederacy? 

2. What was unique about Dekanawidah's birth? 

3. What happened during Dekanawidah's childhood, according to legend? 

4. What personal issue did Dekanawidah face that held him back from expressing his ideas? 

5. How did Hiawatha help Dekanawidah?  

6. How did the Iroquois Confederacy play a role in building the United States government? 

7. Name three archetypes found in the Dekanawidah story and explain what makes them archetypes.

#8: Of Mice and Men (Blog #8)

About the Author: John Steinbeck

Click here to read about the author and answer the following questions.

1. When and where was the author born?
2. What kinds of problems and topics did the author write about?
3. In what year was Of Mice and Men first published?

Characters

4. Go to this page and use the drawing to write down a brief description for each character.
   a. George
   b. Lennie
   c. Candy
   d. Slim
   e. Crooks
   f. Curley
   g. Curley's wife
   h. The Boss

Slide Show

5. Go here to view the slide show.
    a. Go to slide 9. List three important details about George.
    b. Go to slide 10. List three important details about Lennie.
    c. Go to slide 14. What is one topic to look for in the novel? Briefly explain it.

Major Topics

6. Click here and read the list of major topics (they call them themes) in the novel. Choose one of these topics and explain what it means to you. 

#7 The Great Gatsby Historical Context (Blog #7)

The Jazz Age

1. What time period in history is referred to as The Jazz Age? Click here for help

2. Who came up with the name "The Jazz Age"? Click here for help

3. List some activities associated with The Jazz Age. Click here for help

4. List some key people and events from The Jazz Age Click here for help

5. Why did jazz music become so popular during this time? Click here for help (scroll down and skim the whole article). 

6. Read the lyrics from this Jazz Age song. What attitudes and ideas are expressed in the lyrics? Click for song lyrics

About the Author

1. What is his full name? click here for help
2. List his birth and death years. Click here for help

3. List some places that he lived. Click here for help

4. How does F. Scott Fitzgerald's life contain elements of "The American Dream"? Click here for help

5. Describe the complications surrounding Zelda and F. Scott's marriage. Click here for help

6. What did Zelda Fitzgerald end up doing near the end of her life? Click here for help

Book Preview

1. Who narrates most of the novel? Click here 
2. List some of the narrator's traits. Click here
3. Where and when does the novel take place? Click here
4. List five major topics that are explored in the novel. Click here
5. Look at the map of East Egg and West Egg. What places and things are labeled on this map? click here

#6 Persuasive Letter: Meet Me Out West (Blog #6)

Note: This blog is worth 40 points. 20 for the letter, and 20 for the Pre-Writing Research notes.

Letter Assignment:  
SITUATION: The year is 1862. You (and some of your family, imaginary if you want) have moved westward from Bridgewater, Massachusetts, to any territory of your choice. Maybe you settled with a big group, or maybe you struck out on your own. Use your imagination.

PURPOSE: Write to convince someone (another family member, a friend, or maybe even that *special* someone) to leave Bridgewater and join you out West.

DIRECTIONS: Write a persuasive letter describing all the benefits of your new home in the West. Use ethos, logos, and pathos to convince the recipient of your letter to move to wherever you are. 

CONTENT: Write with vivid imagery about your daily activities, the natural features of the land, how you make money and get everything you need to survive, and the relationships you have with those around you. For some extra pathos, throw in something about how much you miss the person you are writing to.

*Pick an old fashioned name for the person you are writing to: click here

Pre-Writing Research Notes: 
Use some of these primary sources to get details for your letter. 
Visit each link below. Take notes on two details from each link and how they appeal to readers/viewers to move west. 

Song about reasons to go west: click here
Landscape paintings of the West: click here
The Homestead Act: click here
Diaries of people who moved west: click here

Iowa and Nebraska: click here
California: click here
Kansas: click here