Friday August 29th

Today we finished off our discussion on Michael Brown with a writing assignment. As we did with this story we will continue to analyze sources, put things in context, and try to determine how and why things happened in history. We also began to look at what the American Dream means today, and how it relates to those that originally came to the Americas and established this new nation. By Tuesday students  need to have a notebook.

Trying to define the American Dream

Thursday August 28

Today we continued looking at the shooting in Ferguson, MO and the two sides of the evidence. We compared the eyewitness accounts of what happened to look at how the evidence is inconclusive. Your perception of things, your personal bias, your views of society, law enforcement, race all could influence your opinion on an event we don't have the full truth of. In history things are similar as well. We can see history a certain way based off of what we want to see and how we want to see it. Often times it is a blurry line that we must analyze to find what happened in history and why. There was no homework.

Wed August 27th

We looked today at sources and how they can or can not be reliable. As historians in the classroom we need to try to determine if every source is a good one, and what the other side of the story may be. We also began to look at the situation taking place in Ferguson, MO and how Michael Brown's killing sparked national debate. Also how different accounts or "primary sources" may not always match up.

Ferguson

Tuesday August 26, 2014

In class we began by looking at a modified citizenship test used by America in allowing people to become citizens. Interestingly to become a citizen our nation puts a primary emphasis on not Math or Science but our History and Government. We also began looking at analyzing sources and what makes them more or less reliable. The homework was to finish the source document. The document is enclosed below.

Sourcing Document

Here is an attached Syllabus. They need to be signed by a parent or guardian and returned by Friday, August 29th. Feel free to print a copy if you need to. Thank you

SYLLABUS

Welcome to the 2014-2015 school year!!! This website will contain the material we will be covering in class. While not a substitute for the classroom it should be your first stop on any missed days. If you have anyone questions feel free to email me at the school address. kleduc@rusd.k12.ca.us