August 5, 2006

Dear History 203/204 Student

	According to the Guidance Office, you have enrolled in the Genesee Community College’s History 203 course to be offered this fall at Keshequa.  I am writing to welcome you to the class and start you on your “adventure” in American History.
	As you probably know, the course will be taught on an college level which requires a higher level of work and responsibility than the regular regent’s level.  Since some students may also be interested in using the course work to prepare for the spring Advanced Placement exam in American History, we need to get started as quickly as possible.
	I am asking each student to stop and pick up the textbook The American Pageant and begin the work on the attached handout as soon as possible.  (Since this course is also a required course in preparation for the US History & Government Regents in June, the District provides the textbook).   The books will be available in the Central Office beginning August 7th.   Please be sure to sign your name and write down the number of the book you take on the sheet you will find with the textbooks.
	This year GCC has added a new component to the His 203 and 204 courses.  It is called the Community History Project.  The description below is from the class syllabus that you will receive in September.

“Community History Project:  You have two options for this project.  You will complete one of the options.
Option A (Service Learning):
You can volunteer with a local historical society or museum for a minimum of 5 hours during the semester.  During your service learning experience, you will keep a brief journal of your activities.  At the completion of your work, you will write a 1-2 page reflective summary of your work experience.  A separate information packet will be distributed early in the semester.
Option B (Research Paper):
You can research and write a traditional college research paper of at least 6 pages on a topic related to Western New York State history from pre-colonial times to the Civil War.  An informational sheet with specific details will be provided to you later in the semester.”

	I am bringing this requirement to your attention at this time because there will be two opportunities in August to pick up hours for option one.   The first will be on August 12th, when the Friends of Nunda Cemeteries offers tours of Oakwood Cemetery at both 9 AM or 7 PM. Participation in one of the tours would result in 1 hour of service learning credit.  Also, the Town of Nunda Bicentennial Planning Committee will be meeting at the Nunda Historical Society Museum (near Kiwanis Field) on August 30th at 7 pm.  The Committee is preparing for the yearlong bicentennial celebration to be held in 2008.  The Committee meets once a month, so any student who joins the Committee and participates in the meetings for the next school year would meet their Community History Project requirement for both His 203 and 204!  Since we do not have any students on the youth committee, it would be a great way to earn your service learning credit.  There will, of course, be other ways to meet either option during the course.  I will provide you with more details in September, or you can go to my docushare folder and go to “His 203/204 folder to get a preview of the course handouts.

	If you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact me.  Enjoy the rest of the summer – and don’t forget to pick up your textbooks!

Sincerely Yours,

Mr. Thomas S. Cook
Instructor
His 203/204

tscook@rochester.rr.com (home email)
tcook@keshequa.org (school email)
468-5991 (home phone number)

American History
GCC His 203
Summer Prep Work
Mr. Cook

Directions:   Pick up the textbook from the Central Office and read the Part One Introduction (pp2-3) and Chapter One pp 4- 24). 

 To get the most out of the reading, it is recommended that you follow these steps.

1.  Review any study questions and terms you may have been given. (see below)
2.  Read through the material – jotting down reading notes as you go. These can be on separate papers or in your notebook.  (Each student is required to keep a notebook)  Do NOT “hunt and pick” the questions or terms – read the whole thing first. 
3.  Then, depending on the instructions, respond to the study questions and identify each of the terms either in your notebook or on a sheet to be handed in.  When responding to the study questions, you can either do it in paragraph form or outline – what ever works best for you. (Unless, of course, I give you specific instructions)
4.  Review the material you wrote before class.

Chapter One Study Sheet – New World Beginnings

Study Question: 

1.  What were the main geographical, social, cultural, and political features of North and South America before contact with Europeans?

2.  “If it wasn’t for Columbus, the New World would not have been discovered”  Do you agree or disagree with this statement?  Support your answer with specific information.

3. What impact did the Spaniards have on the New World?  What impact did the New World have on Spain and the rest of Europe?

Terms:  (identify what they are and how they are important to the topic or chapter)

Great Ice Age           Incas       maize            L’Anse aux Meadows        Crusades

Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile

Columbian Exchange (between old and new worlds)        encomienda system

Don Juan de Onate