Main content
Course: World History Project - 1750 to the Present > Unit 4
Lesson 1: Unit 4 Overview | 4.0BEFORE YOU WATCH: Unit 4 Overview
Use the “Three Close Reads” approach as you watch the video below (next in the lineup!). If you want to learn more about this strategy, click here.
First read: preview and skimming for gist
Before you watch, you should skim the transcript first. The skim should be very quick and give you the gist (general idea) of what the video is about. You should be looking at the title, thumbnails, pictures, and first few seconds of the video for the gist.
Second read: key ideas and understanding content
Now that you’ve skimmed the video transcript and taken a quick peek at the video, you should preview the questions you will be answering. These questions will help you get a better understanding of the concepts and arguments that are presented in the video. Keep in mind that when you watch the video, it is a good idea to write down any vocab you read or hear that is unfamiliar to you.
By the end of the second close read, you should be able to answer the following questions:
- What are three categories of identity and relationships that we take for granted today, and which were shaped by this era?
- What social revolution in gender does the video feature, and what does the data tell us about its success or failure?
- What roles did women play in the abolition of slavery in the Atlantic world?
- What were some questions social reformers raised about the status and activities of children, according to the video?
- What is a working class, or proletariat?
- Did the abolition of slavery create a fair system of labor in the British Caribbean?
Third read: evaluating and corroborating
Finally, here are some questions that will help you focus on why this video matters and how it connects to other content you’ve studied.
At the end of the third read, you should be able to respond to these questions:
- Pretend you were a reformer in the Long Nineteenth Century who wanted to fix one of the categories addressed in this video. What are some arguments you would make for capitalism? What about for socialism?
- Did the reform movements of the Long Nineteenth Century resolve inequalities and injustices in the categories of race, class, and gender? If not, where do you see them in your society?
Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to watch! Remember to return to these questions once you’ve finished watching.