Summer+Assignment+2010

AP US History - Summer Assignment

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.

Due the first day of school: Thursday, September 2, 2010

Choose two of the following films to watch and summarize in 500 words or less each. Make sure your summary includes a recap of what you saw, some of your reactions, and some analysis of the history involved. I would suggest taking some notes as you watch. Feel free to watch with other students taking the course next year and to discuss the films with them, but make sure you do your own written work. Choices:  2. Find three websites devoted to a historical topic or period in 20th century (1900s) U.S. history and annotate them. What does annotate mean? It means to explore and give commentary and explanation. In other words: A. Find three websites devoted to a topic or period in 20th century (1900s) American history B. Report each site address C. Give an explanation and critique of each site (at least a solid paragraph for each)
 * FILM || YEAR || DIRECTOR || TOPIC ||
 * All the President’s Men || 1976 || Alan Pakula || Watergate Scandal ||
 * Hamburger Hill || 1987 || John Irvin || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Vietnam War ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">World War II: When Lions Roared || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1994 || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Joseph Sargent || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">World War II ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Fog of War || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2003 || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Errol Morris || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Vietnam War ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Flags of our Fathers || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2006 || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Clint Eastwood || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">World War II ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sinking of the Lusitania || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2007 || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Christopher Spencer || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">World War I ||
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Capitalism: A Love Story || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2009 || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Michael Moore || <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Capitalism ||

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Examples of acceptable sites (do not use these sites for yours): <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[] <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[]

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you have questions you may email me at <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">bmax@malden.mec.edu <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> but do not expect a speedy response and do not wait until the last night of the summer.

Have a great summer! See you for AP U.S. History in September.