Module 8

Week 8            The 20^thCentury, Light week to catch up and slow down.

(Jun 29-Jul 3)  Due:    Module 8, RP check-in & WW Intro to Part 6, Ch 19 (Empires in Collision)

Congratulations you all – you’re in the home stretch! Those of you taking Summer term 1 classes have wrapped those up, so hopefully some of you are experiencing some much-needed reduction in your workload. In some cases, I know you’re also moving right on to new classes for Summer term 2 so relief is not quite yet here. But it’s close. We only have 3 more weeks for our Summer 2020 journey through the history of the human world.

1) This week, we look forward to celebrating July 4 and all it represents. For your first blog post, please write a historically-informed reflection on the state of the nation as we get ready to celebrate the 4^thof July.“Historically-informed” means you should not simply state your opinions, but rather make a statement that is grounded in the historical record as it has been presented to you so far this semester. Your reflection should include at least one thing you’ve learned from your textbook so far.

2) Let’s also take an opportunity to look back. The coronavirus pandemic is not the only one humanity has suffered. Spend some time learning about any other historical pandemic by doing a little self-guided research either via internet or in your textbook. What other pandemic can you find that has plagued humanity? Where did it strike? Why were people so vulnerable to it? How long did it last? Did the people who experienced it learn anything from the experience or do anything differently afterwards? What were the long-term effects of it on human populations or the planet? These questions are just to get you started. You do not need to answer them all… just use them if they are helpful. Write a blog post summarizing what you’ve learned about pandemics and what it has been like for you personally to live through this present historical event, the pandemic of 2020.

3) Read the intro to Part 6, and chapter 19 in your textbook. You do not need to make a blog entry about the reading this week.

4) Remember, the DRAFT of your letter is due by July 1, 11pm. You’ll email this to me.

Thanks for all your hard work so far. Have a good week!

Patti Andrews