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A. You have recently been given coins of unknown origin.
Although you are aware of world cultures until 1500, all
knowledge of the time period 1500 to 2200 AD. (your present)
has been lost. Your task is to study each coin and record a
CUMULATIVE TOTAL of fifteen observations related to the
social, economic, political, geographic, technological,
historical and cultural attributes of the creators.
This is not to be stressful--the assignment is a
combination of learning how to use the system, imagination,
historical perspective and revisiting a common object you have
been familiar with for your entire life .
Remember, you are in the future, you have found these
different coins from an unknown culture.
You
may complete this assignment in list format including
all items listed below:
Specific Observation from Coin
Cultural Area
(Architecture/Technology/Religion/etc.)
Hypothesis
(LIST and EXPLAIN your hypothesis including pre-1500
historical foundations and, if appropriate, subjective
observations from your present (2200 AD.)
USE THE FORMAT BELOW
Actual Student Sample:
Specific Observation #1 Coin Manufacture/Definition
Cultural Area Technological
Hypothesis
Again through comparison it appears as though the coin
stamping technology has increased in the time between the two
coins. The definition of the 1995 coin is far greater than
that of the older coin and the design more intricate. Both
obviously made by machines with intricate die stamping
technology.
Indian Head Penny Obverse
Indian Head Penny Reverse
Lincoln Head Penny Obverse
Lincoln Head Penny Wheat Reverse
Lincoln Head Penny Memorial Reverse
FOR YOUR INTEREST--Before
you begin the PART B assignment you may enjoy some
interesting You Tube Video related to the Dollar Bill.
Warning--do not believe everything you hear and remember
that it is often to find facts to substantiate a specific
hypothesis
I love a
good conspiracy!--and there many in United States
History!!
http://skepdic.com/illuminati.html
One of my
students gave us an excellent video link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HgSz6EHb-g (Do
not believe everything that is stated)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMgGC9W-ks8&feature=related
B.
PART B ASSIGNMENT (note video clips above for fun)
In the prologue of the book
After The
Fact: The Art of Historical Detection, Davidson and Lytle provide a warning to all who report and study history.
"History is what happened in the past." That is the
everyday day view of the matter. It supposes that historians
must return to the past through the surviving records and
bring it back to the present to display as "what really
happened." The everyday view recognizes that this task is
often difficult. But historians are said to succeed if they
bring back the facts without distorting them or forcing a new
perspective on them. In effect, historians are seen as
couriers between the past and the present. Like all good
couriers, they are expected simply to deliver messages without
adding to them. (Davidson and Lytle, xvii)
"Know The Facts, But Seek The Truth"
Visit the
following web pages and complete the analytical or
observational tasks required. WRITE/TYPE YOUR ANSWERS RELATED
TO THE FOUR QUESTIONS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE:
A. QUESTION #1
ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS RELATED TO EACH OF THE
IMAGES (LINKS BELOW) AND THE 14TH AMENDMENT
B. COMPLETE THE
THREE REMAINING
QUESTIONS AT THE END OF THE PAGE
ALSO BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS YOUR PERSPECTIVES IN
CLASS. YOU MAY ANSWER EACH QUESTION/SECTION INDIVIDUALLY
(EASIEST AND RECOMMENDED) OR WEAVE
THEM INTO A SINGULAR RESPONSE.
Slave Culture
Review the interpretation of this painting. Consider these
questions in your response: Does this historical "enhancement"
impact your assessment of the topic and the canvas--is a
picture worth a thousand words. How does a painting differ as
an historical source from other documents such as letters and
speeches.
Images of the Civil War
Complete the analysis of the photograph on the right side
of the page and address this issue in your discussion:
In his memoirs, U.S. Grant commented that "Wars produce
many stories of fiction, some of which are told until they are
believed to be true." How might photographs, most of which
were not contrived in the way that Gardner's Home of a Rebel
Sharpshooter was, have shaped the stories told about the war?
A Cartoon From Reconstruction
Follow the same process as above to scrutinize the
cartoon--any surprises? Consider this question in your
response: Political cartoons such as Nast's employ a different
visual rhetoric from photographs or paintings. What makes
cartoons effective as pieces of social commentary?
What did this portion of the Fourteenth Amendment mean in
1868 and what does it mean now? (To whom does it apply and
consider specific examples of how it is utilized in the 21st
century.)
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and
subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the
United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State
shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the
privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor
shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or
property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person
within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
1. Present and Discuss your most interesting or
significant observations for each of the required tasks
above including a general or specific answer to the
questions I have posed under each source item.
2. How can primary sources--even "eyewitness" accounts--be
misleading or misinterpreted?
3. What should be our perspective as we analyze the
information in the textbook and various primary sources?
4. Explain an occurrence in your lifetime when you (or
someone close to you) suffered from the interpretations of
everyday history--eyewitness accounts or an explanation of
what really happened
Assignment should
be a total of 1-2 TYPED Pages (may be longer)
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