So far, what has been the most important thing you’ve learned in class?
What has been the most difficult historical trend or reading that you’ve encountered?
What important questions remain unanswered for you?
What classroom activities or assignments have been the most effective in helping you learn this semester? Why?
Anthony Tannous Akkawi
ReplyDeleteProfessor Zappia
American History Until 1865
October 29, 2010
Self Evaluation
1. So far, what has been the most important thing you’ve learned in class?
The most important thing that I have learned in class so far was how the nations of Europe, Holland, England, France and Spain contended in their abilities to seize upon the resources and territories of the New World. It interested me how the different ideologies of these nations compared in their ability to conquer and profit from foreign lands. Early on, the Spanish, arguably the most devoutly Catholic nation in Europe, proved to be the most successful colonial power in Europe and became one of the world’s richest nations. However, their missionary system eventually became obsolete and could not compete with the more secular and profit driven strategies of the British. The British, who enjoyed a decentralized Parliamentary government, managed to emerge from the reactionary policies of the Middle Ages that the French Ancien Regime was still mired in. The secular and progressive features of the British government allowed more people to pursue artisan crafts and speeded the advancement of technology, giving them a major advantage of the downtrodden French in the global market. The French, in accordance with religious law, divided their lands amongst their children, passing on increasing levels of poverty to subsequent generations and retarding technological speculation or thought amongst the masses. The Colonization of the New World allowed me to compare how varying features of varying nations contended with one another, such as conservatism in comparison to progressivism, and secularism in comparison to theistic ideology.
2. What has been the most difficult historical trend or reading that you’ve encountered?
I had trouble comprehending why exactly the Spanish managed to dominate the New World so long before the British and French had sense to allocate more resources towards their own projects in the new world. My best bet is that the French and British were mired by their historical competitiveness against one another, and were deterred from going to the New World.
3. What important questions remain unanswered for you?
Is circumstance the determinant of history, or are the people the determinant of history. The popularized “great man” theory claimed that persons of superb quality or skill were the major causes of historical changes, but it must be kept in mind that these “great men” were only the product of their circumstance, of the events that had occurred as a result of the actions of previous “great men.”
4. What classroom activities or assignments have been the most effective in helping you learn this semester? Why?
The most effective assignments in helping me learn were essays. Class discussion is to loose and simple to encourage intensive thought about historical events. Its only when information is placed onto paper and critical thinking is required can I manage to truly learn the material. I will concede that class discussions to maintain interest in the material at hand, but they do not succeed in inducing critical thinking.
Self-Evaluation – Meghan Wolf
ReplyDeleteI have definitely learned a lot of new things about United States history so far. When thinking about the most important thing I have learned, I think I would have to choose learning about westward expansion, the West, and the Frontier. Often times people use these terms and ideas and simply assume that there is common consensus as to what they are. Rarely have I ever heard or read anything attempting to explain these concepts. Actually discussing and reading about the ideas behind these words has been very informative.
The most difficult historical trend and reading I have encountered is probably the shift in ideology from being a colony and having a colonial identity to declaring independence from Great Britain and creating a distinctly American identity. I think it is difficult to grasp the motivation behind this shift and very interesting to look at how, throughout the years leading up to the Declaration of Independence, colonial identity changed and shifted.
I think one major and important question that remains unanswered for me until now is how the United States of America came from being a colony to a global superpower. I am interested in finding out what historical events contributed to the “rise” of America and how American identity played a role in creating such a powerful nation.
I think the most productive activities and assignments this semester have been group work activities. Starting off class with group work (such as group quizzes or the museum curator exercise) is incredibly helpful since you get to formulate the information given through the documents in your own words and are encouraged to think further. Another thing I like about the group work activities has been that you get to hear information from others as well as get different insight into the readings and concepts. When listening to what others in your group have to say you are also introduced to other opinions and ideas which can help you further think about your own ideas and thoughts about United States history.