HOTA Summer Assignment
IBDP History of the Americas Year 1
Summer Assignment
Welcome to IBDP HOTA I!! Below you find your summer assignment, which requires that you purchase A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn. If you find it a financial hardship to purchase this book, please let the instructor know. I do have a few copies to sign out. This book will be used throughout the year and will be invaluable to you as you proceed in your education.
Over the summer, you will prepare for IBDP HOTA I by catching up on United States’ history from 1492 to the 1840s, the starting point of this course. This assignment will be due on the first day of class and will be graded with the rubric below.
TO DO:
1. Read chapters 1-8 in Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States.
For each chapter do the following:
2. Analyze and reflect on Zinn’s viewpoint in the chapter. Explain Zinn’s opinion on the event(s) in the chapter, and explain what you think about Zinn’s opinion. (How does Zinn portray the event(s)? What spin did he put on history that maybe wouldn’t be in a traditional interpretation of history such as a textbook? Do you agree with Zinn’s interpretation or do you think he’s leaving things out that may change a person’s viewpoint?) Note: this is not a chapter summary. You should mention the main topics of the chapter, but only in order to explain Zinn’s opinion on those topics. For example for Chapter 1 think about the following: What is Zinn’s opinion of Columbus and early European settlers in the Americas? What is Zinn’s opinion on exploration and conquest? How does Zinn view the Native Americans? Etc. This should be no more than one page (double spaced) in length.
3. Explain the meaning and significance of the title of each chapter. Why do you think Zinn titled the chapter as he did? What is he saying though the chapter title? Keep in mind Zinn is often sarcastic. This should be a few sentences in length.
After doing 1-3:
Summer Assignment
Welcome to IBDP HOTA I!! Below you find your summer assignment, which requires that you purchase A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn. If you find it a financial hardship to purchase this book, please let the instructor know. I do have a few copies to sign out. This book will be used throughout the year and will be invaluable to you as you proceed in your education.
Over the summer, you will prepare for IBDP HOTA I by catching up on United States’ history from 1492 to the 1840s, the starting point of this course. This assignment will be due on the first day of class and will be graded with the rubric below.
TO DO:
1. Read chapters 1-8 in Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States.
For each chapter do the following:
2. Analyze and reflect on Zinn’s viewpoint in the chapter. Explain Zinn’s opinion on the event(s) in the chapter, and explain what you think about Zinn’s opinion. (How does Zinn portray the event(s)? What spin did he put on history that maybe wouldn’t be in a traditional interpretation of history such as a textbook? Do you agree with Zinn’s interpretation or do you think he’s leaving things out that may change a person’s viewpoint?) Note: this is not a chapter summary. You should mention the main topics of the chapter, but only in order to explain Zinn’s opinion on those topics. For example for Chapter 1 think about the following: What is Zinn’s opinion of Columbus and early European settlers in the Americas? What is Zinn’s opinion on exploration and conquest? How does Zinn view the Native Americans? Etc. This should be no more than one page (double spaced) in length.
3. Explain the meaning and significance of the title of each chapter. Why do you think Zinn titled the chapter as he did? What is he saying though the chapter title? Keep in mind Zinn is often sarcastic. This should be a few sentences in length.
After doing 1-3: