This will be your last chapter to read and no doubt a dense one. Arguably, the most important chapter when we consider the influence Tosh might have on the way we think and write about history. The "limits" of historical knowledge...what does he mean by that? How have some historians both past and contemporary dealt with these limits? You will need to link these attempts to a few critical philosophical stances (see below).
Key terms you should understand: Positivism, Idealism, Postmodernism
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Good Morning!!!
Hope everyone is doing well. If you like hot summer weather, your ship has come in. Maybe during those hot summer afternoons some of you are reaching for your John Tosh text. In that event you need more prompts; here we go for chapter 6!
On page 140 Tosh posited, "Historical writing is essential to historical understanding, and those who shrink from undertaking it are something less than historians." After reading this chapter, how does Tosh qualify this statement? In other words, what does he mean by this, and how does he support this claim? Again, a "for example" or two will help your answer.
Again, very important matters discussed here that have tremendous relevance to what we do in AP Euro. An important choice we make in history is how to write and interpret history.
MZ
Hope everyone is doing well. If you like hot summer weather, your ship has come in. Maybe during those hot summer afternoons some of you are reaching for your John Tosh text. In that event you need more prompts; here we go for chapter 6!
On page 140 Tosh posited, "Historical writing is essential to historical understanding, and those who shrink from undertaking it are something less than historians." After reading this chapter, how does Tosh qualify this statement? In other words, what does he mean by this, and how does he support this claim? Again, a "for example" or two will help your answer.
Again, very important matters discussed here that have tremendous relevance to what we do in AP Euro. An important choice we make in history is how to write and interpret history.
MZ
Monday, August 3, 2009
Chapter 5---The Themes of Mainstream History
Good Morning Everyone. We have arrived at chapter 5. We will complete chapters 6 and 7, before the summer is over. I will integrate chapters 8-10 into my lessons when we start. We will skip chapter 11.
Now a little bird indicated to me that some of you have not done too much. Let's get up to speed if you are not finished with chapter 4.
I just finished doing a workshop at Palmyra High School and had the opportunity to mix with some fine teachers in that area. This week my oldest son turns 7 and we are having a birthday party at Ski Roundtop. They have this giant ball you get into that rolls down the side of the mountain! My stomach could never take that but Harrison is looking forward to it.
Finally, did anyone catch some of the performances at the 50th Newport Folk Festival (it was on last night on PBS). Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, the Nightwatchmen, Billy Bragg, Springsteen...it was very cool). If you like folk music, this is a must. And of course much of this music speaks to themes of social justice both historical and present. For example, Seeger sang all of the versus to "This Land is you Land".
Here we go. "Time to read all of your words, swallow your pride, open your eyes". -R.O.
Questions on chapter 5.
Chapter 5 gives an overview of the main themes in mainstream history.
1. What are the main themes?
2. What is a biography? How do historians differ on their opinions of biographies?
3. How did L.B. Namier's approach to doing history differ from the "great man" approach?
4. How did the Annales school approach historical inquiry by the early 20th Century? Was this a breakthrough? Explain.
5. Using an example, how do economic and political historians differ in their approach to constructing the past?
6. Why is the theme of "social history" a difficult one to define? Consider the various subtopics and resources in "social history" when weighing this question.
I will check back in next week. Have a good one. It feels like summer. Have fun at Band Camp for those of you attending.
MZ
Now a little bird indicated to me that some of you have not done too much. Let's get up to speed if you are not finished with chapter 4.
I just finished doing a workshop at Palmyra High School and had the opportunity to mix with some fine teachers in that area. This week my oldest son turns 7 and we are having a birthday party at Ski Roundtop. They have this giant ball you get into that rolls down the side of the mountain! My stomach could never take that but Harrison is looking forward to it.
Finally, did anyone catch some of the performances at the 50th Newport Folk Festival (it was on last night on PBS). Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, the Nightwatchmen, Billy Bragg, Springsteen...it was very cool). If you like folk music, this is a must. And of course much of this music speaks to themes of social justice both historical and present. For example, Seeger sang all of the versus to "This Land is you Land".
Here we go. "Time to read all of your words, swallow your pride, open your eyes". -R.O.
Questions on chapter 5.
Chapter 5 gives an overview of the main themes in mainstream history.
1. What are the main themes?
2. What is a biography? How do historians differ on their opinions of biographies?
3. How did L.B. Namier's approach to doing history differ from the "great man" approach?
4. How did the Annales school approach historical inquiry by the early 20th Century? Was this a breakthrough? Explain.
5. Using an example, how do economic and political historians differ in their approach to constructing the past?
6. Why is the theme of "social history" a difficult one to define? Consider the various subtopics and resources in "social history" when weighing this question.
I will check back in next week. Have a good one. It feels like summer. Have fun at Band Camp for those of you attending.
MZ
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