... the same capability, and the same level of mastery? Even the teachers themselves do not adhere to these questions what more the learners! Textbook imposes a standard, unifies stock of language on all the learners who use it. This is especially demotivating for learners who may want to ... of class, material should reflect the outside world. In other words, they should have a degree of authenticity. Can this be found in the textbook? The answer is not much because the language used is too structured and does not reflect the real daily conversation they hear around them ( ... surroundings ...

• Word Count: 1142
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... passage to one of the broader historical themes that we have learned about in the course. Does this passage challenge or support some of the ideas about slavery or antebellum American society that we have discussed in class? For example, what does the passage tell us about antebellum ideas about life as a slave, citizenship, literacy, religious practice, etc.? Focus on one ... to be able to connect the passage that you have chosen to the broader themes in U.S. history and the history of slavery that you will have learned about through the textbook readings and through lectures. What mig...

• Word Count: 1035
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... one from the army and one from the navy toured the West Coast and carried a secret document entitled The Triple Alliance and the Japanese American War. A copy of these secret documents fell into the hands of an American. This textbook says much about Japan's "surprise fleet". This supposed surprise fleet could "strike the enemy fleet at a most opportune time and cut off communication ... a fisherman's truck. In Japanese home, agents found a searchlight suspiciously concealed in a chimney. Strange lights were seen flashing out to sea, possibly to pass on information to enemy submarines. A...

• Word Count: 1015
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

American Civil War Notes PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 1860 - Democratic party unable to agree on a platform for a candidate; Northern Democrats stood for popular sovereinty (authority rests with the people) and ... in 1861 they establisd the Confederate States of America with Jefferson Davis as president. Hasened military preparation in case nessesity to defend its independance FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE CHALLENGES OF SUCCESSION - Buchanan still in office until March 4, 1861 was cautious and ineffective- he stated states have no right to secede but added federal ... government had no right to us...

• Word Count: 954
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... States interest indicated that even while Spain held political authority over Cuba, economic power was driven by The United States creating friction between Spain and The United States. The Spanish Government regarded Cuba as a province rather a colony, and depended on it for economic stability, and training ground for Spain's army. Prime minister Cánovas del Castillo stated: "the Spanish ... stabilized Spanish politics. He was assassinated in 1897 by Michele Angiolillo, leaving the Spanish political system unstable and vulnerable to corruption. While tension increased between the Cuban...

• Word Count: 561
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

"Notes on the State of Virginia," by Thomas Jefferson is divided into two parts. The first covers the recently discovered woolly mammoths in North America and the ... to be no certain vestiges of the existence of this animal further south than the salines last mentioned." Naturalists in Europe claimed that the tusks and skeletons that American's said to belong to woolly mammoths actually belonged to elephants and the grinders belonged to the common hippopotamuses. To this, Jefferson mentioned that the bones which were ... elephant grinder has never been found in America, nor would one have ...

• Word Count: 792
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... advocates the expansion of NATO to include Iraq and Egypt. When an independent Iraqi government emerges it will be a fragile one in need of protection. As Michael Mandelbaum, the Johns Hopkins foreign affairs expert, notes, "Iraq needs an army that is big enough to deter Iran and yet not ... also include an Arab-Muslim component [i.e. Egypt]." The inclusion of Iraq in NATO would solve several problems and would facilitate a significant withdrawal of American forces from Iraq. This is a very workable solution, but not an immediately obvious one. It may take some time before NATO is ready ...

• Word Count: 880
• Approx Pages: 4

... same Protestant theology. Under such conditions, it is only natural for historians to find similarities, both qualitative and quantitative, between the two early American Colonies. Although the two colonies find themselves very similar at the later stages of their settlement, the reason for their colonization, the grounds from ... expertise necessary to survive, had a very difficult time during their initial stage of settlement and had to resort to the assistance local Native American. The Jamestown settlement had too many gentlemen and specialized craftsmen, one of which is a perfumer. ...

• Word Count: 1236
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... put down. Even though his rebellion failed he was an inspiration to many. More importantly he instilled the idea of "bad government" and that "people could take direct action against corrupt or disruptive authorities" (Walker, pg. 39). Amaru at first never had the idea of rebelling. He did not want to overthrow the Spaniards but to create a balance ... . Alberdi says "without large populations there is no flowering of culture, there is no substantial progress, everything is wretched and small" (Alberdi, pg. 96). Alberdi advocates to the government of South America that it is their respon...

• Word Count: 1142
• Approx Pages: 5

... debates, the substance of the first report was adopted. Shortly thereafter Hamilton released three more reports which proposed a tax on liquor, recommended a national bank and mint, and proposed an extensive government program that would encourage the development of manufacturing enterprises. The third economic challenge was the development of the national bank. Having established public credit and revenue, Hamilton had built up ... he saw as the next measure of national greatness, a national bank. The national bank by issuance of bank notes, or paper money, would provide the United Sta...

• Word Count: 711
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... We learn how to understand their feelings, and that makes us more tolerant. For example, before, you could rarely find a family of African-American people living in the same neighborhood with white people, or using the same public service, as well as going to the same restaurant. Diversity has ... But diversity did not just stop at the level of neighborhood, it has gone far and beyond to the larger scale of the nation. As Rodriguez notes in his essay, "Many Mexican Americans now live in cities or regions where they are the majority, changing the very idea of what it means ... same were f...

• Word Count: 837
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... Pearl Harbor) and also because of the sugar. In this case, they made a revolution, overthrew the Queen and took control of Hawaii. The U.S. government and military were glad to have Hawaii and also the Sugar planters wanted to annex Hawaii to the U.S. to don't have to pay the tax. ... justified because it allowed the United States to take over other countries without their will. For example, some of the people who opposed this were: The American Anti-Imperialist League that stated: "It's aggression ", "No man is good enough to govern another man without that other's consent." " And Senat...

• Word Count: 1042
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... in the POLS 432 class. I chose this course because it was major required. As an international student, I felt a little scared at the beginning of the semester since I know nothing about American policy and I don't have any friends in this class. It took me a while to adapt into the class style. First, we started from Shambaugh/Weinstein book, and the West Wing ... a free country; the public policy is made by residents' vote. After these 16 weeks study of public policy, I have more deeply thought about public policy. I think public policy is the government helps residents solve economic,...

• Word Count: 1058
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... Germans sank 1.2 million tons of British shipping. -In June 1941, Roosevelt ordered the US Navy to protect lend-lease shipments as far East as Iceland. He also gave permission to American warships to attack German U-Boats in self-defense. Planning For War -August 1941- isolationists voiced opposition to a bill to extend the draft for another 18 months. -Congress passed the extension ... pledged to both the U.S. and Great Britain 1) Seek no territorial expansion 2) Pursue no territorial changes without the consent of the inhabitants. 3) Respect the right of people to choose their own gov...

• Word Count: 899
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This search for freedom and happiness actually goes back to the very beginning of American civilisation, to the time of the first settlers. The first settlers were all religious refugees who were driven to the New World by persecution ... looking forward beyond the immediate present, this belief in the future, has become a national characteristic that may partly explain the speed of American advancement in so many areas of activities. The democratic system, first voiced in Jefferson's Declaration of Independence in 1776, may be trace...

• Word Count: 798
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... -11 inches for the quinto, 11-12 inches for the conga, and 12-13 inches for the tumbadora. The three basic conga sounds in Latin American music are the open tone or "gung", closed, muffled or flesh tone, and the slap or "pop". Originally made from hollowed out wooden bowls ... hollow gourd filled with seeds or beans. They produce a "chick-chick" sound when shaken. Maracas are very important in keeping a steady time in Latin American music. The instrument that interests me most is the jawbone or quijada. First used in African folk music, the jawbone was originally made from the jawbone .....

• Word Count: 772
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... . Once Derek is released he tries to right himself from all the bullshit that he thought was right by getting out the gang and moving his family away from it. American History X is an unparalleled film involving the fight between races, ethnics, and family. The film reflects social justice as the idea for people to uphold moral, legal, and humanistic principles ... are not the enemy. They are being used as an escape goat to ease the sense of hate. Danny, himself notes, (Edward Furlong) "Hate is baggage. Life is too short to be pissed off all the time, it just isn't worth it."(American ) ...

• Word Count: 940
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Trobrian Island Society & American Society: A Comparison & Contrast of Cultural Universals and Cultural Particulars Trobrian Islanders and Americans are similar and different in many ways. From taking notes and watching videos, I am prepared to share with you the some of the ways they are alike and different concerning topics like jobs, food, clothing, family, and other important areas ... practice, and if caught you get in serious trouble. Most people earn their money by working a job such as McDonalds or in an office building. Another distinctive factor is that American women almost always...

• Word Count: 439
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

... likely being a truck driver. Most lived this way when the Great Depression was happening because it was taking a lot out of everyone and money was hard to get. Though the government was supposed to uphold the law and justice, it wasn't happening, causing Chicago to be a major city of crime. Then, the Chicago ... government tried to illegalize alcohol, which worked for awhile but after a few years the consumption rose again and they made it legal again. However, that caused an uproar with the people ... ...

• Word Count: 1116
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

The book Sergeant York: An American Hero was written by David D. Lee. It was copyrighted in 1985 by the University Press of Kentucky. The book covers the life of Alvin York from 1887 to 1964. This ... in the Army in Europe. The author's thesis is telling the story of an unlikely hero. I believe this book is to inform people of how a poor Tennessee family produced an American Hero even through many struggles, one such struggle was to even sign up for the mandatory draft. He went from being a son in a large family that had to take over ... made him President and Business Manager of York Insti...

• Word Count: 773
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

... . Battles of ethnic power at Sal's transpire as they do in a boxing ring, literally. Throughout the course I've ask myself the famous question 'what it means to be an American?' and after thinking about this for a while, I truly believe it means opportunity. In America people have the opportunity to do whatever they want, and in the film Do The Right ... Thing Spike Lee shows what it means to be an American, but he also shows why opportunity changed his view on oppression in the city of Brooklyn, New York. I also believe Spike Lee throws in a little side ... notes on how Americans ...

• Word Count: 955
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

In the film "The 39 Steps," Hannay, the protagonist, goes on the run from the police, who suspect him of committing murder. On his way to the Scottish Highlands, he chose a remote crofter's cottage to ... ...

• Word Count: 900
• Approx Pages: 4

... comprehensive skills while reading. I have always struggled with reading. I never understood anything I was given to read. By having annotating readings assigned for homework it really helped me. Taking little side notes on the margins help me remember what I had previously read. Circling and highlighting words gives me the opportunity to go back after I'm done reading and look up what that word ... by being in this class it has really helped me improve my reading and writing skills and that I have progressed a lot. I finally understand the things that I read. I am continuously taking n...

• Word Count: 1099
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Hazzan, Margaret & Robert. The Music Men. Washington D.C., London: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1987. List of Illustrations, Preface, Notes, Index. Pp. 1-225. In American towns across the nation during the nineteenth century were introduced to the pleasures of band music. Whether marching in a parade for the Fourth of July, welcoming dignitaries and officials into ... orchestra in prominence and popularity, bands where the primary source if instrumental entertainment heard outside the home. Bands became social well as musical institutions and made them figures on the American cultural land...

• Word Count: 1000
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

... an interesting documentary that chronicles and demonstrates the different varieties of spoken English in the United States. It portrays some of the regional, social, and ethnic differences in American speech and presents various attitudes that people have about these differences. Attitudes towards dialects and accents that are not one's own are typically negative and seen as sub-standard forms ... THING AS ONE STANDARD ENGLISH ACCENT THAT IS BETTER THAN ALL OTHERS, but there is a type of English favored by actors, TV and radio announcers (American Tongues)." The woman who provides the ...

• Word Count: 838
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School