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!