Shareware Overload/ShartewareOverload.cdr/games/statetst.zip/USTATE.DOC

Text File | 1989-05-01 | 22KB | 455 lines

** SHAREWARE:  This program may be copied or shared freely.  It
may be given a fair trial.  If used it should be registered with
the author for $10.00 for which you will receive notification of
the latest version and notice of other programs.

------------------------------------------------------------



                       The American States
                                by
                       Hubbard C. Goodrich
                          RFD #1 Box 880
                       South Harpswell, ME
                              04079

              Copyright (c) 1989 Hubbard C. Goodrich
                       All Rights Reserved

     The American States is a computer assisted learning program.
It was written to provide students with an opportunity to learn,
review, and test their historical knowledge of The American States
in the independent, non-threatening environment of the computer.
It is meant to give students an activity for the acquisition of
knowledge supplemental to the classroom.

INSTALLATION:  These programs fill two floppy disks:

  Disk A   includes all the tests, QUIZSTAT.EXE, and USTATE.DOC.

     QUIZSTAT.EXE   - the main program
     USTATE.DOC     - this documentation
     **.TST         - 50 test FILES used by QUIZSTAT.EXE
     PC.COM         - State histories for the Pacific
     README.1ST     - a file to get you started


  Disk B contains all the State histories, .BAT files, READSTAT
  and LISTSTAT for reading the histories.

          **.COM    - 8 (9) State histories by Region
    READSTAT.BAT    - Batch file for calling the histories
        STATE.LST   - list of States called by READSTAT
       README.1ST   - duplicate of the above
     REPLY.COM   - used by BATch file

     With greater disk density available you may, of course,
place all the material on one disk or one DIR of a hard disk.
You may also change the .BAT files to better match the path
environment of your computer system.  No provision is made here
for that change.

     The ANSI.sys (or NANSI.SYS) driver should be loaded ON THE
CONFIG.SYS for the .BAT files to work properly.  This should work on
any MSDOS compatible computer and any monitor. (DEVICE = ANSI.SYS).
---------------

     The program is made up of two parts: the State Histories and
the Quiz-Review.

STATE HISTORIES:

     The State histories are 9 .COM files marked ##.COM where `#'
represents an abbreviation for the geographic region (ie, NE.COM
= New England, MA.COM=Mid-Atlantic, AP.COM=Appalachia, SE.COM =
Southeast, GL.COM=Great Lakes, MW.COM=Midwest, MT.COM=(Rocky)
Mountain, SW.COM=Southwest, and PC.COM=Pacific coast (but also
includes Alaska and Hawaii.  There is no room for PC.COM on disk
B so it has been placed on disk A.)

     [I am indebted to Mr. Keith P. Graham for his TXT2COM program
for the display of these histories.]  The histories may be studied
by typing:

          READSTAT   or  "region" directly.

     Each [region].COM file contains 5 to 7 State histories.  You
may use the Function keys to page directly to the start of each
"chapter", the Page up/down keys, Home, End, or the arrow keys.
You may use the search function (F) to find material of direct
interest or print (T) the entire document (see the bottom of the
screen for a list of commands).

     As mentioned, there are too many State histories to fit on one
floppy disk.  PC.COM has been placed on the A disk in this offering.


QUIZSTAT

     The Quiz-Review is a program designed to ask you a series of
questions on the CRT (50 maximum) on our fifty States.  From the
QUIZSTAT menu you will have a choice of subject area: you may choose
to be quizzed on just names of States, State Capital, Geographic
Region, Population or Area Rank, Date or Rank of Statehood, or State
Nickname - six subject areas in all.  You might also choose a seventh

which has been called POT LUCK - it will select each of the other
questions at random.


 ┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
 │        T H E   A M E R I C A N   S T A T E S          │
 │                                                       │
 │     QUIZ MENU:                                        │
 │                                                       │
 │   1. State Name             5. Statehood Date/Rank    │
 │   2. State Capital          6. State Nickname(s)      │
 │   3. Geographic Region      7. Pot Luck               │
 │   4. Population/Area Rank   8. Review All Summaries   │
 │                0. Quit Program                        │
 │   <D>irections         <S>earch         <T>est        │
 │                                                       │
 │                                                       │
 │  Enter your choice (0 to 8, <D>, <S>, or <T>) -->     │
 │                                                       │
 │_______________________________________________________│
 │   [/] or [ESC] to Exit or Return to the Menu.         │
 └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

     Subject areas 1-6 each have three-four possible question
types chosen at random.  So if you choose POT LUCK, a total of
twenty-three different types may challenge you in six different
State areas.

     While you are in a subject review area, you will be provided
with a brief instruction before starting the questions.  As an
aid to memory, you will be provided with a visual prompt - the
number of characters required for the correct answer.  DO NOT USE
PUNCTUATION.  Other answers for dates, numbers, and States are
also prompted graphically with a space if necessary.

╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║                                                          ║
║Question  1            |                 Score: 0.00      ║
║──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╢
║                                                          ║
║                                                          ║
║   What State has Lincoln for a Capital?                  ║
║                                                          ║
║                                                          ║
║                                                          ║
║                    ^^^^^^^^^                             ║
║Type in his Name:                                         ║
║                                                          ║
║                                                          ║
║                                                          ║
╟──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╢
║(</> = Rtn to Menu)(@ = Score/Review)(? = Hint) +<RETURN> ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

    When you answer a question, do not use commas or periods or
any other punctuation marks.  The program will recover but they
will not be part of an acceptable answer.  Be very careful with
spelling.  The program will not accept `variations'.  If you enter
a wrong answer you will be given the option to review.  Also, you
may answer a question with one of the following: a '/' which will
return you to the Main Menu; you may also enter the `@' key to
obtain a score and the choice to review your mistakes; and the '?'
for a textual hint to help you recall the correct answer.

     You may wish to review all the data base by typing #8 at the
Menu in which case you will have displayed a synopsis of each
State History in turn.  You may study each set for as long as you
wish.  Use the PgUp/PgDn (or up and down arrow keys) to move back
and forth; use HOME or END to go to the first or last of the list
in the rank order of gaining statehood not alphabetical.

╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║PRESS Up/Down Arrow or PgUp/PgDn to Advance or Reverse     ║
║one paragraph.                                             ║
║PRESS Home or End to go to 1st or Last of the State Data.  ║
╟───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────╢
║                                                           ║
║++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++   ║
║STATE # 1 : Delaware; Region: Mid-Atlantic; Capital: Dover ║
║Became a State: 12/07/1787;                                ║
║Ranked #47 633 K in Pop & #49 2,057 sq mi in Total Area.   ║
║» The State Bird: the Blue Hen; Flower: Peach Blossom; and ║
║> The State Tree is the American Holly.                    ║
║ Popular Nickname(s) is the First State,Diamond State.     ║
║ Misc:Zwaanendael-1631,(13),Swedish Charter 1638,English   ║
║Charter 1683                                               ║
║Misc:Cooch's Bridge-1777,Evans:auto-flour milling          ║
║++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ║
╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝


     Included in the nine choices from the Menu (0 to quit the
program), you also have [D]irections, [S]earch and [T]est.  The
Directions, in addition to the obvious, provides you with an
opportunity to limit the number of States you wish to study.
That is you can limit your study to the first 10 or 20 States and
need not review all 50.

     The Search option allows you to look through the data for
pieces of information.  You may wish to look for all names
beginning with NEW or States which are in a particular geogra-
phical Region.  You may want to know which States were involved
with specific trees (pine) or bird (robin).  This section will
find the State and the number with that association.  You need
not type in the full name.  For example, if you choose the Name
category you may not remember how to spell Minnesota so type `M'
or `Min' and it will find all States that begin with that letter
or group of letters.

╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║   The SEARCH mode will allow you to find information you are ║
║curous about in this State Data (see #8 Review). You will be  ║
║asked to enter the area of interest, the whole or partial     ║
║search key, and search logic.                                 ║
║                                                              ║
║1 = Name of State     6 = Population Rank  11 = State Symbols:║
║2 = Geographic Region  7 = Area Rank       (Bird,Flower,Tree) ║
║3 = State Capital      8 = Nickname(s)   12 = Misc Info: (Hist║
║4 = Statehood Year     9 = Population #   Names,Places,Events)║
║5 = Statehood Rank    10 = Area #                             ║
║                                                              ║
║        Enter your Choice (1-12 [or /]) ?                     ║
║                                                              ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝


TESTS:

     The 50 Tests are ASCii files with a .TST extension.  This
section will allow you to selected a test (based on the State
histories) for a specific State.  The test can be written to
paper, a disk or to the screen.  If to the screen each question
will be presented in turn to await an answer.  The correct answer
will be given after the student's response.

╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║                                                  ║
║          TEST MENU FOR THE AMERICAN STATES       ║
║        ═════════════════════════════════════     ║
║                                                  ║
║        Choose one of the following by number ... ║
║                                                  ║
║    1 - Display the Test to Screen and Score;     ║
║    2 - Send Test to printer [randomized];        ║
║    3 - Send Test to disk [randomized];           ║
║    4 - Send Test to printer [not randomized;     ║
║    5 - Directions; or                            ║
║    0 - RETURN to the Main Menu.                  ║
║                                                  ║
║          ┌────────────────────────┐              ║
║          │ Select one (0-5) -->   │              ║
║          └────────────────────────┘              ║
║ ________________________________________________ ║
║   [/] or [ESC] to Exit or Return to the Menu.    ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

     The test may also be sent to a printer for use in a normal
paper and pencil test environment.  The answer key may also be
printed.  When sent to the printer, the program will stop after
each `page' to be sure you adjust your top-of-line.  The
procedure can also create a disk file which can then be modified
by you and printed with your favorite word processor.

╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║                                                           ║
║ 1 . AL     11 . HI      21 . MA      31 . NM      41 . SD ║
║ 2 . AK     12 . ID      22 . MI      32 . NY      42 . TN ║
║ 3 . AZ     13 . IL      23 . MN      33 . NC      43 . TX ║
║ 4 . AR     14 . IN      24 . MS      34 . ND      44 . UT ║
║ 5 . CA     15 . IA      25 . MO      35 . OH      45 . VT ║
║ 6 . CO     16 . KS      26 . MT      36 . OK      46 . VA ║
║ 7 . CT     17 . KY      27 . NE      37 . OR      47 . WA ║
║ 8 . DE     18 . LA      28 . NV      38 . PA      48 . WV ║
║ 9 . FL     19 . ME      29 . NH      39 . RI      49 . WI ║
║ 10 . GA    20 . MD      30 . NJ      40 . SC      50 . WY ║
║                                                           ║
║∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙  ║
║ Select the STATE by number (1-50) & press <ENTER>? 50  .  ║
║∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙∙  ║
║                                                           ║
║······················································     ║
║ Enter the Drive (& Path) [A:] ? A                   ·     ║
║······················································     ║
║                                                           ║
║Be sure a:WY.TST is correct?   [ENTER or /]                ║
║                                                           ║
║_______________________________________________________    ║
║   [/] or [ESC] to Exit or Return to the Menu.             ║
╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

Choose your State quiz from the list by number.  Enter the Drive
letter (and path if necessary).  You will then receive a prompt
to check whether the information is correct.  Press enter and the
procedure will start.  If you request the quiz be sent to the
printer you will receive additional questions and warnings to
"ready your printer"; if to the disk you will be asked for the
drive where you wish it sent.  You will also be asked for the
number of forms you wish.

Sample Question:

╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ QUESTION:  1        CORRECT:  0          WRONG:  0   ║
║______________________________________________________║
║                                                      ║
║ Alabama seceded from the Union in ...?               ║
║                                                      ║
║  A) 1856                                             ║
║  B) 1865                                             ║
║  C) 1870                                             ║
║  D) 1861                                             ║
║                                                      ║
║ Type your Answer by letter (A-D) or /.? D            ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

     All of these questions will be randomized when requested.
That is the order of the questions as well as the order of
distractors will be juggled up so that it is very unlikely that
one presentation of a test will be identical to another.  It is
possible that a teacher may wish to have (eg.) five forms of the
same test.  This program will print the five separate forms.  It
will not, however, select questions from different States (yet).
A maximum of 26 different forms may be printed at one time.

     The tests have not been pre-tested with an item analysis as
my student population is inadequate for valid results.  You may
wish to revise them.  If you do so be sure you follow the same
formate as the other questions.  Each lead or question line must
start with a `\'.  You are limited to a maximum of five lines in
the lead.  The last line of the lead must end with a `\'.  The
first answer must be the correct answer.  You then must have
three distractors - a total of 4 choices.  If you increase or
decrease the number of questions change the number at the top of
the test from eg. 20 to the number that now exists.  [I advise
that you experiment with a backup copy if you attempt this.]  The
test MUST be saved back to disk in ASCii form.

Sample test:
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║Alabama,20,4  (state, #Qestions, #Choices)                ║
║\Alabama was admitted to the Union as the ... State?\     ║
║22 <--- correct choice 1st                                ║
║20                                                        ║
║18                                                        ║
║25                                                        ║
║\In which geographic region is Alabama located?\          ║
║Southeast                                                 ║
║Southwest          (marks end and start of lead)          ║
║Appalachian                                 |             ║
║Great Lakes                                 |             ║
║\What is the capital city of Alabama?\ <----              ║
║Montgomery                                                ║
║Huntsville                                                ║
║Mobile                                                    ║
║Little Rock                                               ║
║                                                          ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

HISTORY of program development.

     The TEST program was originally written on a mainframe by
the author [1979] and then modified to BASIC for a TRS80 Model
III [1982].  The remainder of QUIZSTAT was written in 1982-3 for
the Model III and for Presidential Histories in 1984-5.  All the
programs were then modified for the MSDOS system [1986] and Turbo
Basic(c) [1987 - for speed and convenience.  Quick Basic(c) was
tried but, in this case, found wanting.]  The State histories
were added in 1988-9.  It was first offered to the public as
SHAREWARE in March 1989.

Bibliography:

     Letters were written to each State Board of Education, Board
of Tourism, and State Library asking for brief State Histories in
the public domain.  About 15 States responded with useful materials.
These are the longer ones.  The others ignored the request, sent copy-
righted material or were in some other way unhelpful.  This was
discouraging.  Using a variety of sources I composed the remaining
histories.  (If any user of this program knows of histories that I
could freely incorporate to replace what I have, I would be happy to
make that change.  I am personally not satisfied with many of these
histories and would appreciate better material.)

Primary Source:
     Encyclopedia Americana (1985)

Secondary Sources:
     The Columbia Encyclopedia (3rd edition)
     The World Almanac (1988)
     & many American History texts

DISCLAIMER.  The American States programs and manual are provided
"as is", without any warranty of any kind, either expressed or
implied.

DISTRIBUTION:  The American States is NOT public domain software,
it is a copyrighted program distributed by the author.  It is
offered as "SHAREWARE".  You may use, copy, and share it, and
place on BBS as long as no fee or other exchange takes place
other than those associated with "expenses" to copy and mail.

     The author would greatly appreciate a contribution of $10
from those individuals or institutions who find the program of
use.  Those who make the contribution will be notified of any
later revisions when they occur, an update will be offered at
cost, and additional topics.

     Programs of a similar nature will be available.  At the
moment the following subjects are being developed or in the
planning (wish) stage:

     The American Presidents (Completed)

     The American States (Completed)

     Early American Explorers (current development)

     The War Between the States (& other wars)

     The American Minorities



     The author would be glad to hear from correspondents who
wish to respond to this offering with suggestions, constructive
criticisms, and the fellowship of a common interest.  For
example, if the reader has material that would lend itself to
this approach, I would be happy to investigate the possibility of
modifying this driver to that use.  I am having difficulty
finding source material that is not copyrighted that can be used.
Each State history and accompanying test took on the average of
one week each to write.  The program, on the other hand being
largely already written for The Presidents, took only two weeks
or so to revise.  The same will be true for the other
'histories'.

     I am not on any BBS so the post office will have to suffice.

         Ordering Information:

Your Name and Address:

Name of Program: ________________________________

Version #:________

Where Obtained:__________________________________

Computer: _______________;   Monitor: _______________

Drives (floppy, HD): _______________

Comments & etc. ________________________________________

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

 (Send to the address given above)