Write+Again

=Unit 8: Write Again=

Unit Objectives

 * Identify important scientific and mathematical contributions of the ancient Greeks
 * Conduct research on one Greek scientist or mathematician
 * Form a thesis statement about the contributions of a Greek scientist or mathematician
 * Organize information in preparation for writing
 * Demonstrate knowledge gained in previous lessons in a well-constructed essay with thesis, supports, and conclusion

Tips on Writing an Expository Essay Writing a Thesis Statement How to Write an Essay Outline

Lesson 1: Preparing to Write
The ancient Greeks left us many legacies in a wide variety of fields--in everything from the arts and sciences to mathematics and philosophy. A legacy is something received or passed on from the past. You've already examined some of those legacies and you will explore more in the next unit. Let's get started by looking at ancient Greeks whose theories, inventions, or ideas still influence us today in the areas of math and science.

Lesson Objectives

 * Identify important scientific and mathematical contributions of the ancient Greeks

Greek Medicine Proving the Pythagorean Theorem Euclid Pythagoras Archimedes Ancient Greece ThinkQuest: Archimedes Hippocrates

Activity 1. Greek Scientist and Mathematicians
How do we know that we can determine how much carpet we will need in a room by measuring and multiplying to get its square footage? How do we know that it is germs or allergens and not a curse of some sort that gives us runny noses? We have the Greeks to thank.

While many peoples in ancient Egypt, India, and China made important scientific and mathematical discoveries, most early peoples relied primarily on superstition and their beliefs in a variety of gods to explain the world and themselves. You can learn a lot about the beliefs of the early reeks from their mythology. But by the sixth century B.C., the Greeks had begun to turn away from magic and from explaining natural occurrences as the result of the whims of the gods. The Greeks began to celebrate the power of human beings to observe the workings of the world and then to apply reason to explain what they saw.

Today it is easy to take that thought process for granted. We might enjoy stories about Zeus and Athena, but we separate the stories from scientific and mathematical reality. We know that lightning is the product of electricity in the atmosphere, not a bolt thrown dow from Mount Olympus. Scientific and mathematical thought enables us to attack a terrible disease or an environmental disaster with research and reason so we can find a logical solution. We can invent computers and send shuttles into outer space. We assume that we will learn more and more about the universe as we continue to study it. The Greeks gave the world that way of thinking. That's quite a gift!

Pythagoras was one of the first people to use logic--and only logic--to argue mathematical points. People after him followed his approach in other fields of study. Democritus reasoned that everything is made of tiny particles--atoms. he didn't convince many people to agree with him in his own time, but he did push them to think about matter in new ways. His student, Hippocrates, taught doctors to look for natural causes and cures for illnesses. He event old people to eat well in order to be healthy.

The list of Greek achievements in science and mathematics could go on and on. As you read about some of the most important contributors to those fields, think about their influence on the world. Their gits were not limited to a few key discoveries. They changed the way the world thinks.

As you read, also identify the field(s) they contributed to (math, science, etc.) and list one or two of their accomplishments or contributions. Try to identify an important impact each man had on the world. Remember, this is preliminary general research. You will select one individual to focus on in your essay and explore his contributions and his impact in greater detail later.
 * 1) Review the above sites about writing an expository essay, an outline, and a thesis statement
 * 2) On the Lasting Effects: Greek Scientists and Mathematicians sheet you'll see the name of four ancient Greeks. Use your library books from this unit, as well as the links above to read about the main scientific and mathematical contributions. As you read about each of the men, ask yourself the following questions:
 * What was his lasting contribution to his field?
 * Do I think he is fascinating?
 * Do I think his achievements are fascinating?

Lesson Objectives

 * research one Greek scientist or mathematician
 * Form a thesis statement about the contributions of a Greek scientist or mathematician
 * Create an outline to prepare for writing the essay

For Hippocrates go online to: San Jose State University Virtual Museum Nova Online: Hippocratic Oath Today Quotations from Hippocrates

For Archimedes go online to: Mac Tutor History of Mathematics Weber State University Eric Weisstein's World of Biography

For Euclid go online to: Mac Tutor History of Mathematics Euclid Biography

For Pythagoras go online to: Mac Tutor History of Mathematics


 * 1) Begin your research by going back online and rereading the article(s) on the Greek scientist or mathematician you have selected. Select the library books that have information on this person as well. Write down the important information on the Taking Notes sheet.
 * 2) It's time to find other sources. Go online to find more information about the individual you have chosen. Add the information to the Taking Notes sheet. You can use a search engine such as Yahooligans, or use several of the links above.

Lesson 3: Writing
You will write an essay about the Greek scientist or mathematician you selected. Make sure the essay includes an introduction with a thesis statement, supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion that summarizes your ideas.

Lesson Objectives

 * Demonstrate knowledge gained in previous lessons in a well-constructed essay with a thesis, supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion


 * 1) Place your outline and taking Notes sheet where you can see them easily as you compose your essay. if you need additional information to support your ideas, find it now. Remember, your outline and essay should match each other exactly.
 * 2) Use your thesis statement from your Taking Notes sheet to introduce your essay. The introduction should get the reader's attention and set the scene so you may want to add some historical information or an explanation before or after the thesis statement. Be sure your introduction tells the reader what you will be writing about. Don't write more than four or five sentences.
 * 3) Follow your outline as you write the body of your essay. use the topic sentences you wrote in your outline. Explain or support your topic sentences with information from the corresponding section of your outline. Write a concluding sentence that connects back to the thesis statement. Follow the same procedure to write each of the supporting paragraphs.
 * 4) Write a concluding paragraph that summarizes the main ideas of your essay and restates your thesis statement in some way. Write no more than four or five sentences.

Lesson 4: Semester Review: Units 2, 3, and 4
Now it's time for you to pull together what you have learned this semester. Reivew it unit-by-unit, starting with the following units:
 * From Gathering to Growing
 * The Mesopotamian Moment
 * Civilization Spreads

Lesson Objectives

 * Demonstrate mastery of important knowledge and skills taught in the From Gathering to Growing unit
 * Demonstrate mastery of important knowledge and skills taught in The Mesopotamian Moment unit
 * Demonstrate mastery of important knowledge and skills taught in the Civilization Spreads unit

2. Read Part 1, Conclusion: A Look Back and a Leap Forward, pages 140-147, in //The Human Odyssey: Prehistory Through the Middle Ages//
 * 1) Review what you learned this semester by going through your History Journal & Wikispaces. Look at:
 * Completed activity sheets
 * Printouts of online activities
 * Maps
 * Keywords and definitions
 * Assessments
 * Comparing Cultures sheet

Lesson 5: Semester Review: Units 1, 6, and 7
Continue to pull together what you have learned. Review the following units:
 * History: The Map of Time
 * Some Lasting Ideas
 * More Lasting Ideas

Lesson Objectives

 * Demonstrate mastery of important knowledge and skills taught in the History: The Map of Time Unit
 * Demonstrate mastery of important knowledge and skills taught in the Some Lasting Ideas Unit
 * Demonstrate mastery of important knowledge and skills taught in the More Lasting Ideas Unit

2. Read Part 2, Conclusion: The Power of Ancient Ideas, pages 271-277, in //The Human Odyssey: Prehistory Through the Middle Ages//
 * 1) Review what you have learned this semester by going through your History Journal & Wikispaces. Look at:
 * Completed activity sheets
 * Printout of online activities
 * Maps
 * Keywords & definitions
 * Assessments
 * Comparing Religions sheet

Lesson 6: Review and Reflect

 * 1) Complete the Semester Assessment, parts 1 & 2