Feedback after Unit 1 Test on Historical Habits of Mind and Renaissance

1. Non-fiction literacy, which could also be termed critical reading, takes center stage in this year in this course. Just as there is a summer learning “loss” for math, so there is for non-fiction reading. Non-fiction requires very different skills than fiction/literature. This is a class about ideas, so we ask 1-3 guided “idea” questions about the reading. (We don’t ask about tiny details such as dates, kings, etc.) A helpful homework handout that we gave you previously students is linked here:
http://ateurohistory.blogspot.com/2019/09/helpful-checklist-for-students... Our goal is for you to focus and take notes only these 1-3 questions as they read. It is called "predatory reading." Writing while reading helps students focus on their comprehensive and work as active readers. 

2. Prepare for and participate verbally during class discussion, and take notes during class discussion. Highlight the quotes other students point to in the readings to key in on important ideas. Write down three key ideas from each day's class. Build your study guide as we go. Make it the first 5 minutes of your homework routine. 

3. Some fun things help with the reading too, such as watching movies and Youtube videos sent in the historical time period, so you have the chance to SEE and visualize much more of the material culture and context at work. John Green just started a new series for Modern European History that is amazing! Each one matches up exactly with what we are studying in class:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tecocKSclwc There are other series like it as well (e.g., Tom Richey). Much can be learned on YouTube. 

4. There is always a study guide for every test. Here is the one we gave you for this past test: it is audio, visual and text. http://ateurohistory.blogspot.com/p/unit-i-study-guide-renaissance-and.h...

5. Finally, we encourage you to go back through the readings side-by-side as you begin to prepare for each exam. This is called "synthesizing" the readings, i.e., putting it all together. You should remember the author and main idea of each supplement (non-textbook) reading. 

6. Test-taking strategies. We encourage you to make sure you are answering the question we asked, not the question you hoped we asked.  Incorporate as many supporting details as possible.  You want to dig deep, scuba-diving not snokeling.  Incorporate specific and precise examples of supporting details from the reading. 

Please do not hesitate to let us know if you have any additional questions, insight, etc.