This week we will continue our study of ancient Greece. The assignment will take us away from ancient history, however, and cover current events in Greece, giving us the opportunity to become familiar with modern news sources. You should remember that the media, while providing our primary source of information about the world around us, is made up of people just like any of the rest of us - usually having beliefs and causes we'd like others to follow as well. You should read every article with the question in mind: "What is the author's argument (point) and should I agree?" For instance, research has shown that members of the modern US media tend to be somewhat more liberal than the rest of the US population, and often those liberal beliefs are subtly reflected in their writing. Rember, there is no law against having an opinion, and the media is under no obligation to refrain from trying to influence you. It is up to you to read carefully and apply the lessons of critical thinking before you form your own opinions.
Go to the link http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1987368,00.html and read the recent Time Magazine article dealing with current events in Greece. After reading the article search the web for other quality news sources that discuss these events. In your essay, summarize the events of the article and state your opinion as to why these events are happening. Answer the question: Could this happen in the US? Why or why not?
Some of you have fallen behind in your homework. Remember that this will have a detrimental impact on your grade! For those of you who have stayed on top of your assignments, congratulations on your efforts and learning to manage your time successfully. Have a good week!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Homework 5, Due September 17, 2010
After reading your essays this past week I am proud of the work you all are doing. Your comments have been good also, especially considering that the subject matter has not been controversial (which would be easier to generate differing opinions about the issues). So, keep up the good work!
This week's assignment will focus on Egypt and the Middle East in the modern era. Here are a list of significant events, people, and issues from the last 100 years. Choose ONE to research and report for your essay. Remember that your essay need only be 200 words (no less), and your responses must total at least 150 words.
Six-Day War
Intifada
First Gulf War
Anwar El Sadat
Yitzhak Rabin
Yasser Arafat
Golda Meir
Camp David Accords
Oslo Accords
Research your topic and then report your findings. Answer the question "Why is this person/event/issue significant to world history?" Remember to cite your sources (you may use the web sites we've explored in previous assignments or search for information elsewhere, but be careful about websites you visit! I look forward to reading your work!
This week's assignment will focus on Egypt and the Middle East in the modern era. Here are a list of significant events, people, and issues from the last 100 years. Choose ONE to research and report for your essay. Remember that your essay need only be 200 words (no less), and your responses must total at least 150 words.
Six-Day War
Intifada
First Gulf War
Anwar El Sadat
Yitzhak Rabin
Yasser Arafat
Golda Meir
Camp David Accords
Oslo Accords
Research your topic and then report your findings. Answer the question "Why is this person/event/issue significant to world history?" Remember to cite your sources (you may use the web sites we've explored in previous assignments or search for information elsewhere, but be careful about websites you visit! I look forward to reading your work!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Homework 4, Due September 10, 2010
For this week’s assignment we are going to get more practice doing basic research. Go to www.worldbookonline.com and sign in. Your log in id is “scs” (no quotes, no punctuation) and the password is “cougars”. Enter the World Book Student site and search for articles related to the history of Egypt. There are few requirements as to the topic – find something that interests you. You will need to reference an article and a related table, map, or special report in your essay. Be sure to fully cite your references (don’t just name the website, but list the website, article name and author, and date you read it).
Some of you have been writing essays that are nearly a thousand words long. Congratulations overachievers! However, you are overworking me – so stop. The minimum is 200 words and your essay should be at least that long if you want credit. However, feel free to put a sock in it after getting your point across. That will be greatly appreciated!
Some of you have been writing essays that are nearly a thousand words long. Congratulations overachievers! However, you are overworking me – so stop. The minimum is 200 words and your essay should be at least that long if you want credit. However, feel free to put a sock in it after getting your point across. That will be greatly appreciated!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Homework 3, Due September 3, 2010
This week’s assignment offers you a choice of topics to research. We are going to use the website livius.org, which is similar to Wikipedia.org in that it is a free resource with many contributors, but different in that the contributors are all college history professors whose work is thoroughly checked for accuracy and quality.
The first option is to research and report on the war between Jews and Romans at the time of the fall of Jerusalem and other Jewish strongholds. Read the article found at the link http://www.livius.org/ja-jn/jewish_wars/jwar05.html and write an essay describing your findings. State and defend your opinion about whether the Jews should have rebelled against the Roman Empire, given what you know of the subject.
The second option is to further research the Babylonian Empire. While we have discussed the Old Babylonian Empire, the Assyrian Empire, and the New (Neo) Babylonian Empire, there are several other empires that arose in the area known as Mesopotamia that we did not discuss in class lecture. Follow the link http://www.livius.org/ba-bd/babylon/babylonian_empire.html and read the article there then report your findings on one of the empires that we did not discuss in class. Offer and defend your opinion as to why this region so often saw powerful empires arise only to fall quickly after a few generations.
The third option is to research the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World as discussed in the article found at http://www.livius.org/se-sg/7wonders/seven_wonders.html . Which was most impressive? Which was, in your estimation, the least? Defend your opinions by offering critical analysis of both.
As always, be sure to cite your sources. In citing an internet source, be sure to mention the author, the title and URL of the page, and -this is important- the date on which you saw the page. After all, webpages are bound to change. Also, check the website www.akers-scs.blogspot.com for important information regarding lesson plans. Thanks and keep up the good work!
The first option is to research and report on the war between Jews and Romans at the time of the fall of Jerusalem and other Jewish strongholds. Read the article found at the link http://www.livius.org/ja-jn/jewish_wars/jwar05.html and write an essay describing your findings. State and defend your opinion about whether the Jews should have rebelled against the Roman Empire, given what you know of the subject.
The second option is to further research the Babylonian Empire. While we have discussed the Old Babylonian Empire, the Assyrian Empire, and the New (Neo) Babylonian Empire, there are several other empires that arose in the area known as Mesopotamia that we did not discuss in class lecture. Follow the link http://www.livius.org/ba-bd/babylon/babylonian_empire.html and read the article there then report your findings on one of the empires that we did not discuss in class. Offer and defend your opinion as to why this region so often saw powerful empires arise only to fall quickly after a few generations.
The third option is to research the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World as discussed in the article found at http://www.livius.org/se-sg/7wonders/seven_wonders.html . Which was most impressive? Which was, in your estimation, the least? Defend your opinions by offering critical analysis of both.
As always, be sure to cite your sources. In citing an internet source, be sure to mention the author, the title and URL of the page, and -this is important- the date on which you saw the page. After all, webpages are bound to change. Also, check the website www.akers-scs.blogspot.com for important information regarding lesson plans. Thanks and keep up the good work!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Homework 2, Due August 27, 2010
This week we will be studying some of the most important ancient empires of the western world, including the Old Babylonian Empire and the Jewish Empire. Your assignment is to research one of the following great leaders: Hammurabi, Cyrus the Great, Darius I, or Solomon. Here are some questions to consider as you read the articles and write your essay:
What were the great accomplishments of the leader's reign?
What were the obstacles he faced?
How do you think the commoners he ruled felt about him? Why?
If it were possible for your selected leader to be a modern president, would he be good at the job? Why do you think he would/wouldn't?
Incorporate your answers to these questions in an essay format. You should start at www.worldbookonline.com but you may have to do some additional reading to find all you are looking for. The requirements for this assignment are exactly as those of Homework 1; you must submit a 200 word essay (don't forget to cite your sources!) and you must respond to at least two essays by other students (responses are due Sunday, August 29, and must total at least 150 words). Keep up the good work!
What were the great accomplishments of the leader's reign?
What were the obstacles he faced?
How do you think the commoners he ruled felt about him? Why?
If it were possible for your selected leader to be a modern president, would he be good at the job? Why do you think he would/wouldn't?
Incorporate your answers to these questions in an essay format. You should start at www.worldbookonline.com but you may have to do some additional reading to find all you are looking for. The requirements for this assignment are exactly as those of Homework 1; you must submit a 200 word essay (don't forget to cite your sources!) and you must respond to at least two essays by other students (responses are due Sunday, August 29, and must total at least 150 words). Keep up the good work!
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Homework 1, Due August 20, 2010
Welcome to the new school year! I am excited about this class and look forward to getting to know all of you better as we study history. This week's history assignment is a "warm-up" exercise. I would like you to answer the following question: If you could choose to visit any culture in history, which would it be? Why are you especially interested in that time period and culture? Visit www.worldbookonline.com and log in (your ID is scs; the passwork is cougars) and find an article about your chosen culture. Report back on your findings, and be sure to cite the article correctly in your essay.
Remember, your essay must be at least 200 words in length (which isn't very long, after all) and you must read the essays of others and respond to at least two of them (a total of 150 words in response). See me before or after school if you need help setting up a Google ID to leave comments on the blog!
Remember, your essay must be at least 200 words in length (which isn't very long, after all) and you must read the essays of others and respond to at least two of them (a total of 150 words in response). See me before or after school if you need help setting up a Google ID to leave comments on the blog!
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Homework 5, Due Friday, May 7
In honor of our theatrical production this week I'd like to turn your attention to the topic of culture and arts. While eating lunch at a restaurant today, I was struck by the complete silliness of it all: a crowd of people paying for food and service…and something else – the pleasure of eating tasty food. If we were strictly governed by logic we would choose our meals based on nutritional value and cost effectiveness. Mealtime would be similar to recharging a cell phone – plug in, fill up, and go on. But that’s not what we do because, while our needs would be met, another need – the need for enjoyment – would go unfulfilled. So we are motivated much more than we are usually ready to admit by the joy of creative art. One could apply the same standard to the clothes we wear, houses we live in, and many other things we do.
Society is usually defined by culture. When you think of the ancient Egyptians you probably think of their art and architecture (flat people and pyramids). When we talk about the past decades (think 1980s day) we picture the clothes people wore and the music they made. It seems that we are defined by a completely superfluous segment of our lives. (When I first arrived in Britain the TV shows Melrose Place and 90210 were big hits; I was asked several times if those shows were realistic portrayals of life in the US. Because Forrest Gump was in theaters, everyone wanted me to tell them the words to “Sweet Home Alabama”). Look around you…isn’t that just a little unsettling?
For millennia the stage has been a prominent part of human culture. It’s another illogical way that we find enjoyment - and accomplish complex tasks through storytelling. In America the heart of the stage can be found on a New York City street that dates back to the days of New Amsterdam; that street is, of course, Broadway. Every year millions of tickets are sold to the numerous theaters as crowds from around the world travel to see the very best in show business. This week our homework assignment will focus on the history of Broadway since 1900.
Follow the link http://www.talkinbroadway.com/bway101/ and choose an e
ssay about a decade of your choice (1900-1950) and report on your findings. Also comment on your favorite stage production (if you have one). The parameters of this assignment are exactly as every other assignment that has preceded it. Hope you enjoy it!
Society is usually defined by culture. When you think of the ancient Egyptians you probably think of their art and architecture (flat people and pyramids). When we talk about the past decades (think 1980s day) we picture the clothes people wore and the music they made. It seems that we are defined by a completely superfluous segment of our lives. (When I first arrived in Britain the TV shows Melrose Place and 90210 were big hits; I was asked several times if those shows were realistic portrayals of life in the US. Because Forrest Gump was in theaters, everyone wanted me to tell them the words to “Sweet Home Alabama”). Look around you…isn’t that just a little unsettling?
For millennia the stage has been a prominent part of human culture. It’s another illogical way that we find enjoyment - and accomplish complex tasks through storytelling. In America the heart of the stage can be found on a New York City street that dates back to the days of New Amsterdam; that street is, of course, Broadway. Every year millions of tickets are sold to the numerous theaters as crowds from around the world travel to see the very best in show business. This week our homework assignment will focus on the history of Broadway since 1900.
Follow the link http://www.talkinbroadway.com/bway101/ and choose an e
ssay about a decade of your choice (1900-1950) and report on your findings. Also comment on your favorite stage production (if you have one). The parameters of this assignment are exactly as every other assignment that has preceded it. Hope you enjoy it!
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