Hello! Because so many students will be travelling this week and next week is spring break, please enjoy a two-week hiatus from history homework! I will, however, offer an extra-credit assignment for those of you who have a desire to improve your grade. For 5 bonus points added to your test grade write an essay about Joan of Arc and post it as a comment (remember to cite your sources). You may do a second essay for the same amount of credit; research the wife of any American president and share your findings in an essay. These must be posted before midnight, April 10, for any credit.
A word of caution - after two weeks with no history homework over the Christmas vacation some of you had a hard time getting back into the habit of keeping up with your assignments. Don't let it happen this time!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Homework 3, Due March 25, 2011
In American history classrooms not too long ago one might have been convinced that all the important contributions to human history were made by wealthy white men. In the documentary we watched (partially) earlier this year by Dr Jarred Diamond entitled "Guns, Germs, and Steel" we learned why white Europeans, who as recently as five or six centuries ago were woefully primitive in comparison to their middle-eastern and Asian contemporaries, would become the dominant culture through the age of imperialism and colonization. And, because of western social structure (much of which comes from the Bible) and physiology (men tend to be physically stronger than women), men have usually occupied the positions of leadership in society.
The modern study of history emphasizes the contributions of all parts of society. Indeed, rather than "great individuals" moving history, the opposite was often the case - doors of opportunity were opened to those in leadership because of the collective actions and decisions of ordinary people - regardless of race or gender. In an effort to remind us that history is about everybody, not just the powerful and wealthy few, historians now celebrate the history of previously underreported segments of society by dedicating a month to their story. Just as February was Black History Month, March is Women's History Month.
Your assignment this week is to visit the link http://womenshistorymonth.gov/ which is hosted by the US Library of Congress and follow the link entitled "Exhibits & Collections". There you will choose an article to read and report back to the class. Share what you learn and comment on what knowledge we would lose if we focused solely on the "great men" of history while neglecting everyone else.
Remember to meet all the requirements for this assignment and to post your essay on time for full credit. Have a good week!
The modern study of history emphasizes the contributions of all parts of society. Indeed, rather than "great individuals" moving history, the opposite was often the case - doors of opportunity were opened to those in leadership because of the collective actions and decisions of ordinary people - regardless of race or gender. In an effort to remind us that history is about everybody, not just the powerful and wealthy few, historians now celebrate the history of previously underreported segments of society by dedicating a month to their story. Just as February was Black History Month, March is Women's History Month.
Your assignment this week is to visit the link http://womenshistorymonth.gov/ which is hosted by the US Library of Congress and follow the link entitled "Exhibits & Collections". There you will choose an article to read and report back to the class. Share what you learn and comment on what knowledge we would lose if we focused solely on the "great men" of history while neglecting everyone else.
Remember to meet all the requirements for this assignment and to post your essay on time for full credit. Have a good week!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Homework 2, Due March 18, 2011
I'm sure you have been as saddened as I have been to witness the terrible effects of the earthquake and resulting tsunami in Japan. It will take years to fully comprehend the extent of the damages and how it will affect Japan and the rest of the world. We already know that thousands have died and many more have lost everything they owned; it is possible that multiple nuclear reactors have suffered melt-downs, which potentially could be worse than than the natural disaster itself.
Natural disasters remind us of just how small we humans are in comparison to the earth we inhabit. Follow the link http://www.livescience.com/4927-worst-natural-disasters.html to Live Science's list of some of the largest natural disasters in history. Choose one to research and find accurate sources to give you more information.
After reporting on the natural disaster, answer these questions: what should countries do to prepare for such events? What natural disasters do you feel threaten our region the most?
Remember to post the assignment on time and to fulfill all the requirements for these assignments.
Natural disasters remind us of just how small we humans are in comparison to the earth we inhabit. Follow the link http://www.livescience.com/4927-worst-natural-disasters.html to Live Science's list of some of the largest natural disasters in history. Choose one to research and find accurate sources to give you more information.
After reporting on the natural disaster, answer these questions: what should countries do to prepare for such events? What natural disasters do you feel threaten our region the most?
Remember to post the assignment on time and to fulfill all the requirements for these assignments.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Homework 1, Due March 11, 2011
Because the comments part of this assignment is not due until Sunday, March 13, and I hope to have my grades posted before that, this assignment will be the first of the fourth quarter. That reminds us that the end of the year is is sight!
In honor of the Industrial Revolution, which is the topic of our upcoming lectures, this assignment will focus on the modern technological revolution, which shares many characteristics with the era we are studying. Every day you observe developing technologies and their results, and it hardly surprises anyone when some new invention or website appears that seems to change everything.
Your assignment will focus on some current inventions and changes that perhaps aren't as visible but still hold great importance. Follow the link
http://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1307/MR1307.sum.html
to see a report by the RAND Corporation dealing with observations and predictions for the year 2015. RAND (Research and Devlopment) has been around for decades (same people that make the RAND/McNally maps) as a non-profit "think-tank", providing information to the government, researchers, and businesses in order to help them make better decisions.
Go to the RAND report and read and report on one of the following sections: THE REVOLUTION OF LIVING THINGS; THE REVOLUTION OF MATERIALS, DEVICES, AND MANUFACTURING; or META-TRENDS AND IMPLICATIONS. (Feel free to read the complete report, but it's rather lengthy). In your report answer the following questions: Are the changes, as a whole, an improvement for humanity? Of the concerns mentioned, which seems most important to you, and why? And finally, if you were asked to make a single prediction in the area upon which you are reporting for the year 2050, what would it be?
Be sure to follow the requirements for these assignments. They have a great impact on your grade!
In honor of the Industrial Revolution, which is the topic of our upcoming lectures, this assignment will focus on the modern technological revolution, which shares many characteristics with the era we are studying. Every day you observe developing technologies and their results, and it hardly surprises anyone when some new invention or website appears that seems to change everything.
Your assignment will focus on some current inventions and changes that perhaps aren't as visible but still hold great importance. Follow the link
http://www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1307/MR1307.sum.html
to see a report by the RAND Corporation dealing with observations and predictions for the year 2015. RAND (Research and Devlopment) has been around for decades (same people that make the RAND/McNally maps) as a non-profit "think-tank", providing information to the government, researchers, and businesses in order to help them make better decisions.
Go to the RAND report and read and report on one of the following sections: THE REVOLUTION OF LIVING THINGS; THE REVOLUTION OF MATERIALS, DEVICES, AND MANUFACTURING; or META-TRENDS AND IMPLICATIONS. (Feel free to read the complete report, but it's rather lengthy). In your report answer the following questions: Are the changes, as a whole, an improvement for humanity? Of the concerns mentioned, which seems most important to you, and why? And finally, if you were asked to make a single prediction in the area upon which you are reporting for the year 2050, what would it be?
Be sure to follow the requirements for these assignments. They have a great impact on your grade!
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