Friday, October 31, 2008
Research and Planning - Friday, October 31
Today you worked on your research as assigned. On Monday, I will discuss with you some aspects of essay writing and also talk to you about the specific requirements for your presidential election studies.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
A Little Interruption... Wednesday, October 29
Today we were supposed to be working on the research for our papers as assigned. However, as on occasion happens, we get a bit sidetracked.
We discussed some of the latest happenings as we near the November 4 election day. In particular, we talked about biases and fairness...
If Sara Palin is being criticized for the cost of her wardrobe, why are the men of the campaign not questioned about their costs?
We discussed whether or not there is a different standard for women than for men in the media and the latest issue which has received so much attention -- the hanging in effigy of Sara Palin and whether or not the reaction to having Barack Obama pictured the same way would be also protected as free speech or not.
Below are a couple of links addressing this matter:
http://www.reuters.com/article/sarahPalin/idUSTRE49Q79N20081027
http://www.sundriesshack.com/2008/10/27/sarah-palin-hung-in-effigy-and-the-ap-has-no-opinion/
If we can assume that there will be people who will vote against John McCain because he is older or against Sara Palin because she is a woman or against Barack Obama because of his race, or if we can assume hanging one candidate in effigy is somehow more acceptable than hanging another in effigy, it is clear that (at least sometimes) fairness and impartiality has little to do with election results or the choices people make.
Much the same way as historical neutrality is a sham, so is an unbiased electorate. It is human nature to be subjective. Perhaps that helps to explain why many of the "news" stories of the campaign have less to do with public policy matters and issues and more to do with personality and choices made in private lives. The general populace claims to be opposed to such coverage, yet they consistently pay attention to these things. Voters generally criticize politicians for not talking about the issues... The fact of the matter is politicians want to get elected -- and it may be that to do so, they are simply giving the public what they demonstrate they respond to.
Consider this an issue that may be part of the next blog test.
We discussed some of the latest happenings as we near the November 4 election day. In particular, we talked about biases and fairness...
If Sara Palin is being criticized for the cost of her wardrobe, why are the men of the campaign not questioned about their costs?
We discussed whether or not there is a different standard for women than for men in the media and the latest issue which has received so much attention -- the hanging in effigy of Sara Palin and whether or not the reaction to having Barack Obama pictured the same way would be also protected as free speech or not.
Below are a couple of links addressing this matter:
http://www.reuters.com/article/sarahPalin/idUSTRE49Q79N20081027
http://www.sundriesshack.com/2008/10/27/sarah-palin-hung-in-effigy-and-the-ap-has-no-opinion/
If we can assume that there will be people who will vote against John McCain because he is older or against Sara Palin because she is a woman or against Barack Obama because of his race, or if we can assume hanging one candidate in effigy is somehow more acceptable than hanging another in effigy, it is clear that (at least sometimes) fairness and impartiality has little to do with election results or the choices people make.
Much the same way as historical neutrality is a sham, so is an unbiased electorate. It is human nature to be subjective. Perhaps that helps to explain why many of the "news" stories of the campaign have less to do with public policy matters and issues and more to do with personality and choices made in private lives. The general populace claims to be opposed to such coverage, yet they consistently pay attention to these things. Voters generally criticize politicians for not talking about the issues... The fact of the matter is politicians want to get elected -- and it may be that to do so, they are simply giving the public what they demonstrate they respond to.
Consider this an issue that may be part of the next blog test.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
After the Revolution and Before the Civil War - Tuesday, October 28
Today, you were given your readings which will serve as a point of departure in your study of the time period for which you are responsible after the American Revolution and prior to the Civil War.
In the next days, I will lay out specifically the parameters of this assignment. For now, know that you are going to write a three page essay which looks at the significance of the time period for which you are responsible.
This assignment serves as the culmination of our work to date. You will be practicing your skills in historical criticism and analysis. That is to say that you will be examining, with a critical historical eye, the specified time period for the purposes of determining the following:
If the colonial period represented the "incubation period" and the War of Independence represented the "birth" of the United States, then what role did your specific time period have in its development? And in support of your analysis, what specific events and people led the way in that development?
Also, just a reminder about the presidential election study... it will be due November 18, two weeks after the election is over. Remember, you can find the required structure for the study on the Thursday, September 16th edition of the blog.
In the next days, I will lay out specifically the parameters of this assignment. For now, know that you are going to write a three page essay which looks at the significance of the time period for which you are responsible.
This assignment serves as the culmination of our work to date. You will be practicing your skills in historical criticism and analysis. That is to say that you will be examining, with a critical historical eye, the specified time period for the purposes of determining the following:
If the colonial period represented the "incubation period" and the War of Independence represented the "birth" of the United States, then what role did your specific time period have in its development? And in support of your analysis, what specific events and people led the way in that development?
Also, just a reminder about the presidential election study... it will be due November 18, two weeks after the election is over. Remember, you can find the required structure for the study on the Thursday, September 16th edition of the blog.
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