Violence in response to Ayodhya Verdict

Following up on our reading on Ayodhya:

http://www.hindustantimes.com/One-killed-many-injured-in-Varanasi-bomb-blast/Article1-635578.aspx

Related article

• We respect the Ayodhya verdict: Digvijay Singh (ibnlive.in.com)

Homework for Tuesday

Introduction: This past summer, heavy monsoon rains in northwest Pakistan caused rivers to burst their banks. At least 1,600 people are believed to have been killed and entire villages have been swept away. Some 20 million people have been affected and 6 million are in urgent need of food aid.

Task: How and why was Pakistan so heavily hit by the flooding? What obstacles to providing aid for flood victims remain? What are the lasting and long term effects of this disaster for the region and the world (including, potentially, the US)?

Process: Examine the articles, images, and videos on the BBC's Special Report on these floods. You should spend 25-20 minutes at the site, exploring these links. You should read at least 3 articles and consider a minimum of 5 sources. Collect data, make observations and analyze (think critically) to help you answer the above questions. In Tuesday's class, we will be discussing your findings; you may be asked to "present" your own brief or part of it.

Resources: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special_reports/pakistan_floods/

Evaluation: You should produce a one to two-page brief (short, informal paper) on your analysis of the above questions. Include a meaningful introduction and conclusion. You may utilize up to two images from the site in your brief.

Think carefully about how you will cite the sources you either quote or reference. Clearly distinguish your own ideas from those of someone else. The balance between these two should be in favor of YOUR analysis.

The True Size of Africa

The True Size of Africa: "

Africa is the world’s second-largest continent (Asia is #1), but gauging the actual size of something that seems so far away can be difficult. Fortunately, Greg Ousuri has created this incredible visual aid to help put the mind-boggling size of the land mass into perspective. It is fascinating to see that the U.S., all of Europe, China and Japan still don’t fill up the entire surface area of the continent. Personally, I was shocked to see that Madagascar is around the same size as the entire U.K.

It would be interesting to see a few different models that contain other countries, such as Russia, Canada and Mexico.

"

Tuesday, Wednesday, Next Monday **Be Sure to Bring Things Fall Apart**

I will not be in school on either Tuesday or Wednesday of this week. Please make the most of the periods with the substitute to review the material you have read on the scramble for Africa, as well as the effects of and response to the scramble among the native peoples of Africa. The activities I have provided for the subs are exactly the same as those I had planned to teach myself-- these are not simply time-fillers.


***Be sure to bring the book Things Fall Apart to class on Wednesday***

See handout #26 for information on Monday's Africa Test. This test WILL COUNT for the 1st quarter, so it provides a chance for some of you to boost your grade significantly.

As always, you can contact me via email or by commenting on this blog. Comments will go directly to my email but have the added benefit of being available to everyone in the class-- any questions you have are probably questions someone else has, too.

Things Fall Apart

Begin reading "Things Fall Apart" and answering questions for Thursday. Remember, this first sheet is a two-night assignment that should be completed by Friday's class. You have two days to do this reading, however, it is significant work-- don't put it off until Thursday night!

Remember, as always, you can see the homework that will be due for the next few days by clicking on the "Calendar" link above.

Political Cartoons and Tests

Political Cartoons and tests are graded and will be handed out on Wednesday. Overall the cartoons were good-- no one did poorly-- however, there were few that qualify as "excellent." Be sure to put full effort into your homework and think outside the box.

Extra Day and After Retreat

Our class has an extra day, due to the retreats on Monday and Tuesday.

In Friday's class, we will talk about the NWO some more, but also cover political cartoons. For today's class you should prep by reading carefully over pages 111-112 in your packet.

For Wednesday of next week, your original political cartoon is due. Do this on Friday or Saturday so you can relax Monday and Tuesday on the retreat. You should also prepare and look over notes this weekend for next week's test.

On Thursday of next week we have our first test. See handout #11.

Summer Reading and 3rd World Essays

I am currently grading your latest essays.

IF I HAVE NOT RECEIVED YOUR ESSAY, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO TURN IT IN TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Welcome to World Civilizations!

Welcome to World Civ and to the upper school at USM! 
This blog will hopefully help keep you on track-- or even ahead of the game-- in Mr. Eason's World Civ class this year.

Notice the -Course Calendar- link at the top of the page. There you will find a course calendar that should be about a cycle ahead of where we are in class.

This page will also have other documents and updated class information. Save it in your web browser's favorites, subscribe to it, whatever- just find a way to keep track of this and keep an eye on any updates.

You can also use this as a way of communicating with me so your classmates can benefit, as well. If you have a question that you think others might benefit from, just leave a comment to any post. I will respond to you comment. You can also email me personally at jeason@usmk12.org or jeason@gmail.com. Make sure and identify yourself if who you are is not obvious from your email address.

Have a great year-- I'm looking forward to working with you all!

Mr. Eason