Journal Text Assignments for World Civilization since 1500, History 1031

Dr. Kenneth Wilburn
Department of History
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC, USA 27858
E-Mail: wilburnk@mail.ecu.edu
Academic Home Page: http://core.ecu.edu/hist/wilburnk/


Section A (Benjamin):

Summarize and react to Benjamin's book in about 100 words, then restate and respond to the questions that follow. Each question response should be no longer than a paragraph. See http://core.ecu.edu/hist/wilburnk/JournalExamples/J- Benjamin.htm for sample entries.

1. What is a philosophy of history?

2. What is historiography?

3. What are the two forms of historical evidence and methods of testing?

4. Discuss the use of computer technology in historical research.

5. What can you do with the knowledge you will gain from this history course?

6. How should you read our survey text?

7. Describe the best way to take notes in class.

8. How should you give a formal class talk?

9. Our final exam is in essay format. What should you do to make an "A" on the final exam?

10. How do you write with clarity and craft quality essays?

11. What is plagiarism?

12. How can you apply Chapter 5, "How to Write a Research Paper," to writing journal summaries and reactions?


Section B (Downs):

Summarize and react to each Downs Chapter in no more than one page. Limit your Question response to one page.

Chapter 16 ("First of a New Genus--Mary Wollstonecraft: Vindication of the Rights of Woman")
Question: How did Mary Wollstonecraft advance women's rights?

Chapter 18 ("Too Many Mouths--Thomas Malthus: Essay on the Principle of Population")
Question: Discuss the Malthusian thesis and apply it to the present.

Chapter 21 ("Survival of the Fittest--Charles Darwin: Origin of Species")
Question: Discuss the relationship between the ideas of Thomas Malthus, Alfred Russel Wallace, and Charles Darwin, then explain what Darwin meant by natural selection.

Chapter 22 ("Prophet of the Proletariat--Karl Marx: Das Kapital")
Question: In your discussion of dialectical materialism consider class struggle, surplus value, the ultimate demise of capitalism, and the triumph of the proletariat.

Chapter 27 ("Upsetting the Balance of Nature--Rachel Carson: Silent Spring")
Question: As you discuss Rachel Carson's views of pesticides, consider what she meant by "all life is one life" and alternatives to pesticides.


Section C, R. Buillet et al, The Earth and Its Peoples:

Quickly identify each chapter's sub-titles, then select the sub-title that interests you most. Craft a journal entry that has the following structure: (1) a title (the chapter number and name, and your sub-title's heading); (2) date; (3) a summary of your sub-title section with an introduction, body, and conclusion; and (4) a reaction. Total length of your entry using Times New Roman #10 font must not be more than a page and a half.


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First Online Edition: 29 June 1997
Last Revised: 29 June 2009