Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Blog # 2 Reformation Due 10/10

The Protestant Reformation” was primarily an economic event.”
Defend or refute this statement by describing and determining the relative importance of the economic, political, and religious causes of the Protestant Reformation. After answering the question completely please respond to two of your classmates once they have posted. When writing your responses please refer (bold or underline) to the screenname of the student that you are responding too. Do not write elementary responses to your classmates. (Video is below you only have to watch about the firts 14-15 minutes)


http://eh.net/encyclopedia/article/frey.protestant.ethic (Max Weber's Thesis on Protestant Ethics)




Friday, September 12, 2008

Blog # 1 Personal Thesis (Due Sun. 9/21)

Blog #1 Personal Thesis

Please write a thesis and post it in the comment section. Please write it before you look at everyone else's thesis.Create the thesis for the following question:To what extent, and in what ways has being a student at Roosevelt High School affected you? (Yes, some of you are new but focus on your high school career in general)

Many questions can be answered by considering the political, economic, religious, social, intellectual, and artistic factors related to the question.

Political - In most areas of life, there is some sort of leadership/government entity that allows things to function effectively. Imagine class without me there???? When you examine your question, consider the political effects. For example, does Renaissance humanism have a political effect. I think you could argue that it does when you consider the concept of civic humanism/purpose of education.

Economic - $$$ is a huge motivator, and is often a necessity. Are jobs effected, whole nation's economies, are people in specialized fields affected??? For example does Renaissance humanism have an economic effect. I think you could argue that it does because an emphasis on studying antiquities and copying the past leads to artists who create works of art, and it changes the role of the artist in society.

Religious - Religious beliefs are a large part of life for many people. People turn to religion to understand the world in which they live. Religious beliefs permeate through society and have an effect on laws, education....etc.. For example, does Renaissance humanism have an effect on religious thought? you bet. From the sacred to the secular.

Social - How do people form themselves into groups. How do we organize ourselves. Look at the groups that hang out at lunch? Was there a social effect of Renaissance humanism?

Intellectual - Intellectuals spend their time thinking about the big picture. Are there new ideas? are there justifications for certain actions? Do intellectuals inspire leaders? Usually intellectual ideas are a bridge between the political, religious, economic, and social.

Artistic - How do we express ourselves? What does that say about society?

My point is that many of your thesis statements can discuss these different areas of human life. I think you could add technological, but it does not fit the acronym so just put technological under intellectual.

: )Hope this helps.

Politics of the Prince


http://www.btinternet.com/~glynhughes/squashed/machiavelli.htm (Modified version of the Prince: Important parts)

http://www.constitution.org/mac/prince00.htm (Complete copy of the Prince in PDF)

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/10391 (Essay on various intepretations of Machiavelli)


Do you agree with the politics of the Prince? Why or why not? (5 sentences) - Thesis statement and then reasons why/why not



REMEMBER YOU ONLY HAVE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION ABOVE THE VIDEO SCREEN. DO NOT USE THE NORMAL BLOG DIRECTIONS YET. I WILL BEGIN THAT PROCESS NEXT WEEK. GOOD LUCK!