Hello Young Scholars!
Well, its getting to be that time in the semester when we start doing some real dirty work with our research papers. That means you will all have to do research. Quit your groaning! It's not that bad! You all have some good topics, we have talked about how they impact your life, and how we can apply them to American society- now we just have to find facts and information to back up your ideas (these are called sources). If you still arent sure exactly what kind of information you need to be looking for, that this exercise is just for you!
Read this article, and create a concept map (following the instructions). If you need help, just ask, but I think this will help you figure out what you will need to be looking for during our research time together. Remember, let's make the most of our time on Wednesday with Mrs. Matthews by being prepared! Have a good idea of what you are looking for BEFORE we go in the library.
Oh, and turn in your concept maps by Friday for your blog grade :)
http://www.lib.washington.edu/uwill/research101/topic03.htm
Friday, October 21, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Another poet you should read (but we won't have time IN class)
Hello Young Scholars!
Have I told you all lately how proud I am of all of your hard work? No, well I AM. You are all really stepping up when it comes to these blog posts.
This week, I want you to read a little about the most famous and wonderful woman, Phillis Wheatly. SHe was the first African American female poet, and she was a contemporary (that means she lived during the same time) of Jefferson, Franklin, and Henry. I don't just want to teach you the writing of dead white men, but we won't have time to cover her poetry in class. So go to the following link:
http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/phillis-wheatley-106.php
After reading her biography, find ANY poem of hers that you want to read, and read it. Then respond, answering the following questions. (IF EVERYONE DOES THE SAME POEM, YOU WILL ALL BE FLOGGED).
1) Poem name, and date it was written/ published
2) Summary of the poem
3) Tone of the poem (remember that tone means how the writer feels about the subject, an example is if I am a poet and I use the term "snot-nosed brat" to refer to a young man, the tone is disrespectful toward the young man, but if I use the term "well-mannered young gentleman" it shows that I like him, and believe him to be intelligent)
4) Mood (How do the words that the author uses make YOU FEEL inside)
5) Personal reaction. What does this poem make you think about, feel, or want to do? (If you skip this or give me the old "It doesn't make me want to do anything, and I don't feel anything because I don't understand it" You will get a zero. If you need help, select a different poem, or see me after school or during any lunch for help.
Peace!
Mrs. H
Have I told you all lately how proud I am of all of your hard work? No, well I AM. You are all really stepping up when it comes to these blog posts.
This week, I want you to read a little about the most famous and wonderful woman, Phillis Wheatly. SHe was the first African American female poet, and she was a contemporary (that means she lived during the same time) of Jefferson, Franklin, and Henry. I don't just want to teach you the writing of dead white men, but we won't have time to cover her poetry in class. So go to the following link:
http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/phillis-wheatley-106.php
After reading her biography, find ANY poem of hers that you want to read, and read it. Then respond, answering the following questions. (IF EVERYONE DOES THE SAME POEM, YOU WILL ALL BE FLOGGED).
1) Poem name, and date it was written/ published
2) Summary of the poem
3) Tone of the poem (remember that tone means how the writer feels about the subject, an example is if I am a poet and I use the term "snot-nosed brat" to refer to a young man, the tone is disrespectful toward the young man, but if I use the term "well-mannered young gentleman" it shows that I like him, and believe him to be intelligent)
4) Mood (How do the words that the author uses make YOU FEEL inside)
5) Personal reaction. What does this poem make you think about, feel, or want to do? (If you skip this or give me the old "It doesn't make me want to do anything, and I don't feel anything because I don't understand it" You will get a zero. If you need help, select a different poem, or see me after school or during any lunch for help.
Peace!
Mrs. H
Friday, September 23, 2011
Thomas Jefferson: Slave Owner and Abolitionist
Well, Young Scholars, we have gotten to one of the more "messy" issues in American history. Thomas Jefferson was an AMAZING American- he founded the University of Virginia, started the Library of Congress (in his will, he left his personal library to the government to start it), and even brought agricultural improvements like peas! That doesn't mean he was perfect. There has been debate going on for centuries (literally!) about his position on slavery. He worked publicly to have the institution of slavery ended, but privately held over 200 slaves, and DNA tests have proven recently that he fathered at least one of the seven children that a slave named Sally Hemmings gave birth to at Jefferson's home, Montecello. I want you to read the following article and ask thes following questions in your reply (all of them).
The link:
http://shs.westport.k12.ct.us/schager/Hon%20US/2008/thomas_jefferson.htm
Questions:
1) Can a person fight for one thing publicly and then do the oppposite privately? Is that American?
2) Can we really judge Thomas Jefferson? That was over 200 years ago, and he was just as much a part of his society, where slavery was normal (I know it's weird to think it), he never knew the great African American thinkers we do.
Good luck, and good reading!
Mrs. H
The link:
http://shs.westport.k12.ct.us/schager/Hon%20US/2008/thomas_jefferson.htm
Questions:
1) Can a person fight for one thing publicly and then do the oppposite privately? Is that American?
2) Can we really judge Thomas Jefferson? That was over 200 years ago, and he was just as much a part of his society, where slavery was normal (I know it's weird to think it), he never knew the great African American thinkers we do.
Good luck, and good reading!
Mrs. H
Monday, September 12, 2011
Chrisitanity and the Founding of Our Country
Happy Monday young scholars!
This week's article is meant to show you exactly how not "Puritan" our Founding Fathers were (I know, last week I was telling you how Puritan Americans ARE, and today, I'm telling you we're not). This article is meant to demonstrate the varied Christian influences on our country's founding. Read it. DIgest it. Then write a GOOD paragraph about whether or not our country is still living according to Christian values (please don't give me the boring answer of "no, because we are a meltng pot". Give me real answers that examine how our American society works, from the government to the small things people do each day.
http://congressionalcompass.org/content/rod-gragg
This week's article is meant to show you exactly how not "Puritan" our Founding Fathers were (I know, last week I was telling you how Puritan Americans ARE, and today, I'm telling you we're not). This article is meant to demonstrate the varied Christian influences on our country's founding. Read it. DIgest it. Then write a GOOD paragraph about whether or not our country is still living according to Christian values (please don't give me the boring answer of "no, because we are a meltng pot". Give me real answers that examine how our American society works, from the government to the small things people do each day.
http://congressionalcompass.org/content/rod-gragg
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Brandons..the first blog
I do agree with the authers statement that recognizes the God given right to each man and woman to the pursuit of happiness, because as Americans we do have that right to be able to say what we want.
Puritan Culture
Hello Youg Scholars,
Hopefully you enjoyed youe Labor Day weekend without much labor! This week's article is from a HISTORY textbook (you can stop cheering now). I know that most of the time reading a textbook article is boring, but the information in this article is really interesting. We have been talking about how Puritans resemble contamporary Americans, and now we learn some surprising things about how Puritans really behaved. So read the article and discuss with me things you find surprising, shocking, or funny. How are the Puritans different than what you originally believed? Remember, we are developing our writing skills, so be thoughtful and go beyond the "I like this because". Remember, I don't cre if you like it, I just care thast you know it :)
Love y'all!
Mrs. H
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=674
Hopefully you enjoyed youe Labor Day weekend without much labor! This week's article is from a HISTORY textbook (you can stop cheering now). I know that most of the time reading a textbook article is boring, but the information in this article is really interesting. We have been talking about how Puritans resemble contamporary Americans, and now we learn some surprising things about how Puritans really behaved. So read the article and discuss with me things you find surprising, shocking, or funny. How are the Puritans different than what you originally believed? Remember, we are developing our writing skills, so be thoughtful and go beyond the "I like this because". Remember, I don't cre if you like it, I just care thast you know it :)
Love y'all!
Mrs. H
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=674
Thursday, September 1, 2011
To an extent I think that ethnic lables matter. People born in the United States are all Americans, but ethnicity is not the same. We are all humans but our backgrounds and ancestors are different.We continue to label ourselves because of what someone has or doesn't have. We label based upon the outward appearance and not the real person. Lables can cause bad feelings between people. I believe they should be called what they choose. If the Indians don't like the term Native then they should decide what they want to be called. I feel like the terms American Indian and Native American sound like two different things. I agree with the majority of the Indians who don't want to be called American Indians because they are Americans.
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