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Entry # 8 |
April 28th, 2008 |
| I know it has been a long
time since I've crafted an entry into the blog here...we are
getting into the rush of the end of the school year--it's been a good
run but you've all got much left to do before the summer. This
week you'll be doing a bit of early Middle Eastern history while also
working on your note cards. I have
extended the deadline for note cards from Friday 5/2 to Monday 5/5.
Hopefully, the added time will result in better note cards.
Hang in there and check in with me if you have any
questions/concerns...
--Boother |
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Entry # 7 |
February 11th, 2008 |
| RED
ALERT!!! It seems there is some
confusion to what is coming up for class on Tuesday 2/12. As I
said in class (and is now detailed on the homework page) you will have a
40 minute mini-test on Japanese culture. Topics include:
Bathing, Pachinko, Sumo, Kaisha/Company
Life, Family Life & Schooling
Tokyo Lifestyle and your presentations on:
 | Geisha (traditional female
entertainers) |
| Yakuza (Japanese Mafia) |
| Japanese Gardens |
| Kabuki (Traditional Japanese plays) |
| Sake (Rice Wine) |
| Bonsai (miniature trees) |
| Sushi (Fish & Rice) |
| Kimono (traditional dress) |
| Harajuku (Tokyo "hip" neighborhood &
youth culture) |
| Hanami (Cherry blossom viewing) |
| Shinkansen (bullet train) |
| Bento (box lunches/meals) |
| Yakyu (Japanese baseball) |
Good luck!
--Mr. Booth |
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Entry # 6 |
January 17th, 2008 |
| Review time, exam time='s
the busiest of times. That being written, I've put together a
review sheet to help you prepare (now posted on HW page). The good news
is you've had all this material before--focus on what you do not
know/remember and you'll be fine. Of course, work hard this
weekend knowing you will have no homework the long weekend of Jan 26-28.
Best of luck!
--Mr. Booth |
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Entry # 5 |
December 10th, 2007 |
| Its been a while since I've
last jotted down some words in the mini-blog here...such is the
craziness of Winter. I've posted the HW questions for you to do
for Tuesday 12/11. We'll go over your tests (I promise) and we'll
continue with the very busy unit on Japanese Imperialism. You'll
be getting a detailed (yet edited) handout of some of the key events
during this era--pay close attention--this should help a ton.
Finally, although I know you've learned about the Pacific War
before, we'll try to keep looking at it from the perspective of the
Japanese and what they were trying to accomplish. And let's hope
for no more power outages...I am sure someone in this class had
something to do with it?!?
--Mr. Booth |
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Entry # 4 |
November 10th, 2007 |
| The homework for the rest of
November has now been posted...take a close look at what we are doing on
Monday 11/19 and that a test on Japan will come faster than you think on
11/27. Since we have only eight weeks to cover both Japanese
history and culture, they pace will be fast and if you miss a day,
you'll miss much. Stay on top of the reading--it won't be long
page wise but most of what you'll read will be chock full of
information. Focus in class! What I put on the board will be
the most crucial details distilled from our readings.
I actually get the sense that quite a few of you are happy to be
out of the anthropology section and into the more traditional
history...hope your enthusiasm stays high as we not only learn about
samurai and geisha but always some historical reasons as to why the
Japanese are they why they are today...
Ja Matta,
Mr. Booth |
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Entry # 3 |
November 4th, 2007 |
| First things first... there
will be no map quiz on Tuesday. Due to scanner difficulties at my
house, I will not post the Japan maps until midday on Monday...(UPDATE:
MAPS SCANNED & SENT TO YOUR EMAIL) Now,
I could still give the quiz on Tuesday but since today is my 43rd
birthday, you all luck out... First quarter under your
belt...if you haven't figure it out by now, I like to run a tight ship.
It seems a few of you still are adjusting to the fact that although fun
and games occur, there is work that needs to be done and if you disturb
the learning of others, there will be a price to be paid grade wise.
I know many of you can do better and I hope these last three quarters
will reveal the best in each one of you.
As I mentioned in class last week, we are shifting gears content
wise. Now that you have the basic tools of cultural
anthropology down, it is time to take what you've learned and head out
to the Far East. Japan is a fascinating country and culturally
(and literally) "night and day" from from the U.S.. Its 127
million plus population goes about life in some of the same ways we
do--people have families, go to work, enjoy their free time, etc. but
many of the mores and folkways and overall values of the Japanese are
very different from those in the U.S. Most anthropologists argue
the U.S. and Japan are THE most culturally different of all the major
economic powers in the world (by the way, Japan still ranks as the #2
economy in the world).
So fasten your seat belts and sit back for the fifteen hour
non-stop flight to Tokyo...I'll see you at Narita (Tokyo) International
and be your tour guide for the next eight weeks.
Sayonara,
Mr. Booth |
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Entry # 2 |
October 1st, 2007 |
| Okay...you've survived the
first social studies test of your upper school careers.....or at least
it's done. We test as teachers not just for you to have a grade in
a given class. We test because it forces you to synthesize many
ideas over a large block of time. Think back to what you did not
know three weeks ago and what you now know...you've really learned much
over this time--tests actually can show you how much you've learned.
As well, they give each one of you a chance to think about and to
contribute to the intellectual discourse... I hope you are
having a bit of fun as well...other than the laptop distractions
(remember the one day ban? You were all pretty focused that day!),
I 've been happy with the energy and enthusiasm of the class.
Let's keep it rolling as we head into a new unit on the family... |
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Entry # 1 |
September 10th, 2007 |
| This is it...the first full
week (well almost!) of school...from here on out we'll be moving pretty
quickly to cover all we need to do this year. This site is where
you will find all the homework assignments as well as any handouts
you'll need for the course. MAKE SURE you have Adobe Acrobat on
you computers--you need that software to download the reading handouts.
I'll try to add posts every once in a while just to keep things fresh
here...as soon as I get to know you all better, I'll post comments on
the course, the weather, the music scene, etc...whatever comes up.
Enjoy!
Mr. Booth |
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