Some cautions: this is a class in the history of the English language and therefore dates--at least approximations--do make a difference. When formulating answers, always consider the significance of the question in the context of the history of the English language and its relevance to that context.
Indo-European
Grimm's Law
Verner's Law
Grammatical Gender
Alfred the Great
Vikings/Old Norse
You should be able to provide a summary of those features that differentiate Germanic from Indo-European (i.e., pp. 84-86). You should be able to recognize (given the infinitive, preterite [past tense], and past participial forms) Old English weak verbs, strong verbs, and anomalous (a.k,a, suppletive) verbs. I will give you a short passage of Old English (with word-for-word PDE gloss); using that passage, you should be prepared (based on the small-group-work exercise) to comment on the relationship of OE to PDE. You should be able to provide a plausible date for the beginnings of (Old) English and to provide a justification for it.