Hey guys! I’ve checked your timelines for Phase 1 (5000BCE to 200BCE) and here are my first impressions and comments.
First, some good news. This is a non-graded checking. I’ve written down some marks but they are not going into my record books yet. They’re just here to give you an idea in how I think you’ve done for Phase 1. If you disagree with the grade I’ve given, don’t argue with me (not yet). Prove me wrong when I check for Phase 2.
But I guess it’s a good thing I’m not recording them since the grades will be by team. Let’s say that I’m giving everyone a single grade though. What would it be?
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
I’ve given each class three grades.
I. QUALITY OF CONTENT
I start by looking at the entries themselves. Are they accurate? Are they complete? Are some unclear and need to be rewritten? When I look at the civilization as a whole, are they thorough? When I look at the table as a whole, do the pieces fit together? And perhaps the most important question: Is this something we can actually use for a history class?
I’ve given Ilang-Ilang a rather low grade because the content, particularly for China and India, are pretty thin. On the other hand, the research of the Islam team is pretty thorough. In the Ilang table, I highlighted entire rows spanning the three civilizations and this was my comment: “Make the entire block parallel. Either subtract from the Islam team’s input or add to the input of the other civilizations.” We wouldn’t want a timeline where we depict only one civilization as thriving and the rest not. We have to be fair.
Dahlia gets a higher mark for two reasons. One, their content is fairly balanced throughout the three civilizations, except for some blocks of time. But what really impressed me is that they’ve taken the initiative to add pictures this early. I did not ask for it, but I can see that it helped them write their timeline better since they had to place the pictures in precise locations. From the first page, their timeline looks like something I can use to actually teach my class. Well done.
II. QUALITY OF TEAMWORK
I do check the Revision History and take note of who logs on to work on the timeline. While I don’t expect everyone to log-on, I also wouldn’t encourage just one person working on the timeline most of the time. The frequent editors can be counted in the fingers of one hand for Ilang-Ilang, but I also know their assigned civilization and aspect.
Hence, I am not surprised that the inputs for the Islamic civilization is so fleshed out compared to the other two. I would appreciate if other members of the class dropped by from time to time and tweaked a thing or two. I’ve left comments (a lot of them) to help you get started.
Again, I am impressed by Dahlia. I think they were among the classes fortunate enough for me to have taught how to insert comments. I apologize to the others, particularly Champaca and Jasmin, if I didn’t get to teach you this. The real story? Because I discovered it through a student in Camia (my last class on Monday, just after Champa and Jasmin). Nonetheless, I left a note in your timelines about it and I hope you use it. Dahlia has been very smart about it. I could see comments left behind by many people identifying statements they would like changed or revised. I appreciate the effort a lot, and so I am not surprised by the quality of the final product. Well done.
III. OVER-ALL
This is not an average. I take a step back and look at your timeline, and I write down the first letter that comes to mind. Simple as that. Classes with a higher mark shouldn’t relax though. This is just Phase 1. Many more can happen from now until the final checking on September 15. You will have to literally keep up the good work.
For those classes which need to work harder, let this be your wake-up call. September 15 is still a long way to go and it is more than enough time to get your act together.
I hope to start giving out As when I get to Phase Two. Will it be another non-graded checking? No, it won’t. I’ll be recording your next over-all mark as a 20/20 quiz.
FORMATTING ISSUES
I will be releasing a formatting and style guide as we near the final phase. But for now, here are some standards I would like everyone to follow.
1. STANDARDIZED THOSE BCEs
In one timeline, I saw something like this:
- 5000BCE:
- 4900 BCE:
- c. 4900 BCE -
- circa 4800 BCE.
So what is it really? Here is what I prefer:
- 5000 BCE.
- 4900 BCE.
- c4900 BCE.
- c4800 BCE.
Simple as that. “Circa” (which means approximately) is a small ‘c’ attached before the date. Then there is a space, and then BCE (all caps) and then a period.
IF YOUR CLASS HAS AGREED ON YOUR OWN FORMATTING FOR BCE, NO PROBLEM. Just make sure you stick to it at all times.
2. STICK TO ONE VERB TENSE: PAST TENSE
Either the past or present tense will do. While the past tense is more technically proper for a history project, the present tense is more conversationally appealing. Earlier, I announced that we use the past tense since this is a history project. We will stick to that. Please convert all your verbs to the past tense.
3. HOW DETAILED MUST WE BE?
The keyword is highlights.
I noticed that some simply printed out the dates from Wikipedia and transposed them on the timeline. Problem is, they’re hardly highlights. They’re everything.
So how to know what to focus on? No big secret. Read our text book. It’s our base. Start from there, and then expand. In our book you’ll know the main time periods and empires. Your job is to fill the spaces in between and add more meat to the bone.
SO WHAT DO WE NEED FOR PHASE 2?
Focus on the years 200BCE to 500. These are the years of the first empires. From here, things will go very quickly since we will go from empire to empire.
HOMEWORK! On Monday, August 23 (Ch, Ja, Ca), and Tuesday, August 24 (Da, Il), I will check your dates for Phase 2. I’d like to see them in either a whole intermediate pad or printed on a short bond paper. Don’t forget your name.
Also, you will submit your Phase 1 input on August 23. I’ll be collecting those papers now for your quiz score.
Good luck and see you all soon!
