Summer+Assignment+2011

=AP US History - Summer Assignment – 2011 - Mr. Max – D445= bmax@malden.mec.edu

Congratulations on your choice to take AP US History next year. If you work hard, it will be a rewarding experience for you. Like many opportunities, what you get from taking this course will be relative to what you put into it. Some of the work involved in the course begins this summer. Below you will find the summer assignments, which are due on the first day of school. Perhaps the most important characteristic you must possess for success in AP US History and beyond is having disciplined work habits. In other words, do not complete these assignments on the night before school begins. A second extremely valuable characteristic is critical thinking. These assignments provide an opportunity for that, so take advantage of it and show that you can think and that you are going to push yourself to become an even better thinker. __Due the first day of school: Thursday, September 1, 2011__ //Before outlining the assignment, let’s make sure we are clear that any work you present must be yours. It must be your work, in your words, and any sources you use must be kept track of and cited. If you do take any information directly, word for word, from a source, it must be shown as such.// _______________________________________________________________________________ Our summer assignment is titled “Capitalism & Democracy”. You will deal with America’s economic system: capitalism and its political system: democracy. The goals of the assignment are for you to become deeply knowledgeable about these two systems and the ways they are practiced in America, and to do some critical thinking about how they work. Your work on these 10 items may be done in whatever form you choose, but it is preferable for you to put your work into a wikispace if you can. Don’t forget to keep track of and cite your sources. _________________________________________________________________________________ The website for our AP US History course is |http://MaxAPUSHistory.wikispaces.com This assignment will be posted on that site, along with other important information for the course. Take a little time to familiarize yourself with the site and the course, check out each page. Email me any questions or stop by to see me. I will be at MHS many days during July, usually in D444 or D445. If you have questions you may email me at bmax@malden.mec.edu but do not expect a speedy response and do not wait until the last night or two of the summer. Have a great summer! See you for AP U.S. History in September. - Mr. Max
 * 1) What is capitalism?
 * 2) What form of capitalism does the United States practice? What are the details of this form of capitalism?
 * 3) Why does the U.S. practice capitalism – why is it the system that the founders of the United States established?
 * 4) What are the positives and negatives of having this economic system?
 * 5) What is democracy?
 * 6) What form of democracy does the United States practice? What are the details of this form of democracy?
 * 7) Why does the U.S. practice democracy – why is it the system that the founders established?
 * 8) What are the positives and negatives of having this system?
 * 9) Please watch Michael Moore’s 2009 documentary “Capitalism: A Love Story” and summarize 4 or 5 of his main points. Also, please critique his arguments – what does he leave out, what problems do you find with his approach, etc. Make sure you relate the film to your earlier research on capitalism and democracy. //(So please do these steps in order, so this film should be viewed after you’ve done the work for #1-8)//
 * 10) What is the relationship between capitalism and democracy? How do they work together, how do their principles coincide and how do they oppose each other?