No Homework This Year

In order to get caught up on all my pressing concerns, I am not assigning any homework this year.  Feel free to research any history topic you would like and post it here.  Remember to site your sources.  Essays must be at least 250 words.  Respond to the work of others.  Cheers.

Homework 7, Due May 3, 2013

This will be the final history assignment of the year (congratulations, especially to you juniors, for whom this will be the last of your high school career!). I would like to end this year much the same as we did last year, with an opportunity to reflect on what we've learned. In your essay I would like you to choose a) an era other than the present that you think would have been the most interesting/exciting to have lived in and explain why; b) a non-biblical person we have studied that you think has had the most positive influence on the world and explain why; and c) an event that we have studied that you would have loved to have taken part in, and explain why.

Please make sure to post your homework on time, to comment on the posts of your classmates, and to follow the guidelines for these assignments. Only a two more weeks until we wrap things up! God bless!

This week's assignment...

There IS no assignment this week - it's TeraNova time!  Now, back to watching Hunger Games on Netflix...

Homework 6, Due April 19,2013

I hope you had a wonderful weekend and are well-relaxed. We have only a short sprint to go before the end of the school year! Take every advantage of opportunities to get your grades in good shape between now and then!

150 years ago this week the US Civil War was in full roar. While slavery was the main issue, as we learned last year in US history (and will next year, for you sophomores) there were a great deal of issues that divided the North and the South. Take, for instance, the name of the war itself. In the North it was called a civil war (which means that different parts of the same country are fighting each other). In the South it was (is) referred to as "The War Between the States." To southerners the word "state" had always meant the same thing as "country" (look it up in a dictionary). Some have said, then, that the war was fought over a verb! The North liked to say "The United States is..." while the South said "The United States are...". And you thought verb conjugation brought trouble to YOUR life!

Can you actually imagine things getting so bad in our country today that an internal war would break out? How much tension and anger would have to build up before you were willing to take up arms and fight your neighbors...or your brother? For your assignment this week I want you to research a topic of the Civil War in Kentucky. You might consider the Breckinridge family - two brothers (one would be a US vice president) were generals on opposite sides of the war! President Lincoln's wife Mary Todd Lincoln was from Lexington, KY, and her brother was a Confederate general - which had to make the holidays a tad strained, wouldn't you think? You might consider a battle (there were many in Kentucky) or a community's involvement in the war.

In the light of the scope of world history, the US Civil War plays a fairly small role. However, it's implications would affect history on a global scale (for one thing, hundreds of Confederates fled the country after the war - there's a huge Rebel celebration held every year in Brazil for Portuguese-speaking descendants of southern soldiers!). It would also mark the end of western countries' holding onto the notion that slavery was acceptable. Everything happens for a reason!

Please remember to meet the requirements of these assignments. Good luck and happy hunting - be sure to cite your sources!

Homework 5, Due April 12, 2013

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.  Because of the way the school schedule worked out I wasn't able to get a Womens' History assignment in last month, but...better late than never, right?

Your assignment this week is to visit the link Womens' History Month 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!

No Homework over Spring Break!

Homework 4, Due March 29, 2013

An article published this weekend by CNN noted that Ellis Island, long a symbol of our nation's heritage of immigration, has been closed since Hurricane Sandy last November and will not reopen any time soon.  And I'm sure most of you remember the terrible effects of the earthquake and resulting tsunami in Japan which occurred two years ago this week.  It takes years to fully comprehend the extent of the damages from such natural disasters and to understand how they will affect us. Within hours of the tsunami in Japan we knew that thousands had died and many more lost everything they owned, but it will take generations to understand the damage from the multiple nuclear reactors that suffered melt-downs (which potentially could be worse than than the natural disaster itself).  Japanese cell phone manufacturers are including a Geiger counter app that allows users to test food, linens, and walls for radio-active material.  Those tools weren't available twenty-five years ago when the Soviet reactor at Chernobyl melted down; the people living in that area continue to suffer from numerous related illnesses to this day. 

Natural disasters remind us of just how small we humans are in comparison to the earth we inhabit. Visit the  Live Science website to view a 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.

Homework 3, Due March 22, 2013

I hope you enjoyed last week's assignment - the response was much better than usual.  Hopefully that foreshadows good things for the final assignments of the year!  As we discuss World War II in which tens of millions of people died, one of the most memorable (and world-changing) events was the Holocaust.  For your assignment this week I want you to visit the web site of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.  You'll find some excellent articles at the page for Student Research .  Please choose one and read it thoroughly then report back with your findings.  Make sure that your essay fully shares the details of the events and includes your personal feelings in response to what you've read.

The requirements for this assignment are exactly the same as all those that preceded it.

Homework 2, Due March 15, 2013

Every once in awhile I come across stories that seem especially fitting based on the topics we are discussing in history class.  CNN has published an excellent story I'd like you to read and give your reaction.  What do you think about the events and the effect on the two men?  You also must research one of the other similar events referenced in the story and share what you find (make sure you cite your sources!).

I hope you find interesting history to report!  Make sure you follow all the requirements for these assignments.

Homework 1, Due March 8, 2013

It's hard to believe that this assignment initiates the fourth quarter, which reminds us that the end of the year is is sight!

In honor of the Industrial Revolution, which was the topic of several lectures, this assignment will focus on the modern technological revolution, which shares many characteristics with the era we studied. 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. Please visit the RAND Corporation website to see a report about 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!

Homework 7, Due March 1, 2013

Let's turn our attention this week to current US politics and what the budget negotiations in Washington, D.C. mean for us. If the Republicans in the House of Representatives and the Democrats in the Senate (and President Obama) fail to agree on a budget for the second half of this year, automatic spending cuts and tax increases will go into effect. This process is known as "sequestration" and is very new.  Previously in such situations the government would "shut down."  This has actually happended several times, one of which was very politically important. To read about the last time this happened I'd like you to read an article from the Christian Science Monitor .

Looking back to 1995, the Republican Party had just won massive victories in the midterm elections, taking control of the House of Representatives and the Senate while the Democrats controlled the White House(sounds familiar, right?). Like today, the two sides immediately clashed over spending. The Republicans wanted to cut spending by reducing government programs in order to reduce the deficit (government debt) and lower taxes. Democrats argued that the government spending was necessary and that people would suffer if the programs were eliminated. The Republicans were led by Newt Gingrich who was Speaker of the House of Representatives and Bob Dole, the minority leader of the Senate. Of course, Bill Clinton was President

A very short, clear summary of the events can be found  here while a transcript of a PBS newscast during the dramatic negotiations cab be found here . The newscast is rather long, but if you read some of it you'll get a sense of the tension surrounding the political fight in Washington.

Answer the following questions: How important is compromise in the political system? If we send elected officials to Washington to represent our beliefs and values, when is it appropriate for them to concede some of those beliefs in order to meet the other side in the middle? What is your opinion of the current budget battle? Are there differences between now and 1995? (Need I remind you that rude or disrespectful posts will be deleted, meaning that you will receive no credit for the assignment?).

The requirements for this assignment are exactly the same as all those that preceded it. Have a good week!

Homework 6, Due February 22, 2013

As we’ve been studying the French Revolution and the individuals who played key roles in its beginning and its outcome, it is important to remember that it is ideas which are the great force that moves the course of history. God’s Word sets forth truth, yet humanity seems bent on finding its own way. For generations an idea proclaimed to be truth will create a political, social, and economic status quo, only to have another idea, usually its opposite, sweep it away.

Take recent theories on parenting, for instance. The generation that survived the Great Depression raised their children strictly, insisting on hard work, stern discipline, and thrift. The children came through World War II and experienced a fantastic economy in their early adulthood. The result is that they raised their children in a manner that was completely opposite to their own Spartan childhoods – they raised the Baby Boomer generation, which gave us the hippie movement and Jerry Garcia.

In like manner, the Enlightenment was a rejection of the conservatism and religious effects of the Reformation. Your assignment this week is to read about the Enlightenment and its chief pupil, Napoleon Bonaparte. Read an essay about the Enlightenment then read an essay about the life of Napoleon . After reading them both and answer these questions: How did the Enlightenment gain such popularity with Europeans? How did the ideas of the Enlightenment shape Napoleon? How much impact does the Enlightenment have on today’s society? (Give examples).

Remember the requirements of these assignments and make every effort to complete your work on time.

Homework 5, Due February 15, 2013

This month has been designated "Black History Month" and in this week's assignment we will investigate some of the interesting facts about African-Americans in US history. When I was in school (not too long ago, I'd like to point out), especially in younger grades, the history of black Americans was largely overlooked in many textbooks. For instance, slavery was hardly mentioned in chapters dealing with life in the early years of the US. Today historians are quick to point out that in order to understand the past we must learn about the lives of all parts of historical society - the rich and poor, the notable individuals as well as those who lived in obscurity. This assignment is meant to give you an opportunity to research some of the important contributions made by African-Americans and help you better understand the complicated history of the US.

Start by going to the link African-American History Month . Under the tab labelled "National Archives" choose a lesson to read and review. Summarize your findings IN YOUR OWN WORDS and explain what can be understood about the history of the US from those documents.

I hope you enjoy this assignment. The documents are made available by the US government's Library of Congress. Remember to meet the requirements of all history assignments.

Homework 4, Due February 8, 2013

As I sit here watching the refs decide the outcome of the Super Bowl, it occurs to me that it might be fun for you to do some research about the history of sports franchises in the US. So here's your assignment: research and report the history of a current day professional sports team of your choice. When was the team founded? What major changes have taken place since the team's inception? What have been the highlights of the franchise's history, and who stands out as the biggest star/stars? Hmm, and two bonus points on the next test if you let me know privately which major league baseball team used to take spring training in Kentucky!

Some of today's teams have been around for more than one hundred years but have seen notable changes. For instance, did you know that the Atlanta Braves were once called the Boston Beaneaters? Or that the New York Yankees were once known as the Baltimore Orioles? Or that the LA Dodgers were originally known as the Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers? (That name actually makes sense, though, unlike another name they used for nearly a decade - the Brooklyn Bridegrooms, which I guess you could think of as "the unsuccessful dodgers"...).

A good place to start researching Major Leage Baseball teams would be Baseball Almanac . If you aren't interested in baseball, how about football? Did you know that the oldest professional football team is the Arizona Cardinals - who began in 1898 as the Racine Street Cardinals? They also won the first National Football League championship in 1925 - against the Pottsville Maroons. You can start looking for information at the link NFL Team History . Professional basketball hasn't been around as long but you can start looking for information at NBA History .

In addition to discussing the team's history, please share your opinion about why people are such sports fans. Are you a sports fan? Why or why not? Happy hunting! Remember that you must meet all homework requirements - and that NO POINTS WILL BE AWARDED FOR PLAGIARIZED WORK!

Homework 3, Due February 1, 2013

Here's hoping for a complete week of school! I apologize for the missed assignment last week - tough luck, I know.  I wanted to have our discussion about the death penalty before posting it and we didn't get there until later in the week than I'd anticipated.  Thanks for all the distressed messages at the last minute!  Although this is Spirit Week (go Cougars!) please be prepared for an energetic and rigorous work week!

In light of the amazing uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt over the past two years and the recent news from that region I feel that it is appropriate to step away from our focus period and take a look at world events. You might be surprised that the US is so involved in events that seem so far removed from our domestic issues.  However, the US has many important interests which must be carefully protected in the Middle East.

Of all the countries to experience significant upheaval in the last two years Egypt is by far the most important to US interests.  After extensive protests and riots the Egyptian people unseated a government that had been in control for decades.  The regime of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was a close supporter of America over the last 30 years and kept peace with Israel (Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a peace agreement with Israel during the 1980s). Unfortunately there is ample evidence to suggest that President Mubarak limited the rights of Egyptians (hundreds were arrested and tortured on a weekly basis, accused of minor crimes) and allowed an economy to develop that has made a very small minority extremely wealthy (think billionaires) while many live in terrible poverty (less than $2 a day).

The new government of Egypt was freely elected - a first in the nation's history.  Unfortunately, the Muslim Brotherhood, a political party that advocates radical Islamic policies, took power.  The US provides Egypt with about $2.5 billion a year, much of it in military aid (if you've been watching the events on the news, you've heard the debate about the US giving fighter jets to Egypt - all of which were produced in the US and paid for by US tax money...yours!). Why would the US government provide such support? Because Egypt is a loyal ally that a) has great influence in the area; b) controls the Suez Canal (through which comes much of the oil that Americans use); and c) is NOT a radical Muslim regime that threatens to attack Israel.

Of course we had hoped that what came out of the protests would be  a "peaceful transition" to democratic government with greater freedom and economic opportunity for its citizens. However, in 1979 we witnessed a very similar chain of events in Iran. It might surprise you to know that Iran was a very close ally of the US during the time it was ruled by the "Shah", but many people, especially young radical Muslims, were unhappy with his rule and forced the Shah to flee the country. It happened so quickly that many American embassy workers were unable to get out of the country. Most of those US citizens spent the next 15 months as hostages while President Jimmy Carter unsuccessfully tried to free them. The hostages were finally released on the very day the President Ronald Reagan took office, but I'll comment on that in a moment.

Your homework this week is to research the Iran Hostage Crisis on the link http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/04/middle_east_iran_hostage_crisis/html/1.stm . As you examine the photos and read the summary I want you to consider the possibility that a similar situation could occur in Egypt and answer the following questions: How should the US react to these events? If you were speaking for the President, what would you tell the Egyptian citizens? Considering Iran, what should the US have done to free the hostages? Should the US military have invaded, given the dangers of starting an all-out war and maybe causing the execution of the hostages?

I will make a couple of observations: first, there are those that suspect that Reagan and his team had a secret deal with the Iranians to keep the hostages in captivity until he became president. There is absolutely no evidence to prove this but after Carter worked for their release for more than a year it's embarrassing to some that Reagan gets the credit. Of course, during the election Reagan had hinted that he would do whatever it took to get the hostages out, and it's likely the Iranians feared an immediate attack.

Second, of special significance to us is that one of the hostages, Terry Waite, is now a professor at UK in the department of Diplomacy and Foreign Affairs. He is a recognized expert in world politics and is on major news networks nearly every week informing Americans about current events.

The requirements of this assignment are exactly the same as those that preceded it. Have a good week!

Homework 2, Due Friday, January 18, 2013

Although this week we will be finishing our coverage of the great reformers who ushered in the age of Protestantism we will turn our attention a little closer to the modern day for this assignment.  In honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I want to pause to reflect on the Civil Rights movement as it transpired in the state of Kentucky. While we spend a great deal more time discussing the topic in US History it is important to note that the issues of civil rights are very central to the human story of world history. It is in fact one of the great forces behind the development of western civilizations - that notion that "all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights".

The Kentucky Historical Society has constructed a wonderful website dealing with the Civil Rights movement in Kentucky. It can be accessed at the link http://205.204.134.47/civil_rights_mvt/ . The stories that are told are available in print and oral (and sometimes video) format. Browse the topics available and report back on two interviews (include identifying information such as name, location if given, etc.) You can download the free software that will allow you to hear the actual interviews or simply read the transcripts. What do these interviews teach you about life in Kentucky during the era? How different are things today? Is racial inequality still an issue that must be addressed? If so, how? If not, why? Please be respectful in your comments.

For full credit please follow the directions of these assignments completely:  a 250 word essay is due on Friday evening.  By Sunday evening you will need to have responded to at least two other essays (a total of 150 words in your responses).

Homework 1, Due January 11, 2013

Welcome back from Christmas break!  I hope our class discussions of critical thinking and academic writing have been useful.  Learning to write well and make compelling, logical arguments are central goals of any modern education and are skills that will serve you well in the future as you pursue your career.  Do your best on this assignment and commit to staying faithful to your homework in the upcoming semester.  Your grade depends on it!

As we continue to study the Reformation, this week's homework will give you an opportunity to do some meaningful research. We'll return to www.worldbookonline.com and use the school's subcription: the user id is "scs"; the password is "cougars". Chose the student version (not children) and search for "Reformation". This should provide you with more than 130 articles, several pictures, and a recommended web site.

Your assignment is to research an aspect of the Reformation with which you are unfamiliar and report your findings. Were you living in that era, would you act as the reformers did? Would you be willing to face the powerful resistance for the promotion of what you see as truth? Include the answers to those questions in your response.

As before, your essay must be at least 250 words in length and must be posted by midnight on Friday evening. You must respond to at least two other essays (a total of 150 words in response, due by midnight Sunday evening). Please be respectful and thoughtful with your comments. Have a great week!