Mrs. Eakin’s Honors Class

OK honors people, now it is your turn to get into the material and teach the rest of us history students about what matters to you.  No you can’t go on and on about your belly button, this important information must be related to the Civil War.  Your newest assingment out here in cyberspace is for you to teach about a person or group that you find facinating from the Civil War.  This can be as simple as looking at a particular politician or general, or it can be as specialized as an artist or medical doctor that made an impact during the war.  So look to your own personal interests, then go out and do the research, and finaly come back here and tell the rest of us what you have learned.

Special note here:  You may NOT do a repeat.  For example if someone has already tackled Lincoln, he is off bounds for the rest of you.  Sorry if you had already done the research then found out your subject was taken, unfortunately “that’s life”.  My recomendation is for you to do this assignment early. 

 Have fun and be creative!

NEW Blog, this time it is for exercising your political voice.  For those of you who don’t really follow politics or who claim ”I don’t care”, now you must figure things out so you too can participate in this great civic debate, or at least get a good grade.

There are a few candidates left in the race for the two major party nominations.  So the question is either (1) Who would you vote for if you were voting Republican/Democratic? or (2) Who do you think is going to win each of the party’s nominations?  Think this through, look up each of the candidates and where they stand on the issues that are important to you.  Just stating someone and their stand on an issue or two is not going to get you the coveted “A+”, for that grade you will need to elaborate on your arguments.  Draw from real life situations, give past experiences, etc…

To assist you in your grading, I will be posting grades for this almost daily.  You should watch power school once you have posted, and if you see a grade you believe you can improve upon, go back and blog again, taking in mind the requirements.  But you must be quick to act on this, as this whole assignment must be completed by MIDNIGHT on FRIDAY FEBUARY 15th.  You will not be able to change any grades from the 15th so blog early and blog often!

OK folks, this is for ‘fun’ rather then a grade.  Now that you have studied the set up of our government - if you were in charge, what would you change about our government?  Don’t forget to explain to us why your idea is so desperately needed!

You guys love to debate so here is one that is going to take us into the new year.  Since we are heating up for the presidential primaries I am thinking this debate is going to sound like the current advertisements for various candidates.  You have till January 16,2008 to leave a reply. 

Which historical figure had better ideas for the new nation, Hamilton or Jefferson?  Don’t forget to explain why you think so, include why the other guy is not your choice if you would like.

New picture is of John Hanson (for my 5th period) 

 We now start on our class Weblog.  Here you will get a chance to express yourself without following the formula for formal essay writing.  Simply read the following and then post your own answer.  You should play off the question as well as the other comments that have come before yours.  Your rules:  1 - you must sign with your first name and last initial.  2 - you must be respectful ,this is still school.  3 - this is still school so keep comments ‘clean’ thank you.  4 - aim for a ‘paragraph’ of writing.  5 - ask questions if you have any.  Feel free to stop by and post more then once if you wish.

 You are a teenager living in the new state of New Jersey immediately after the American Revolutionary War.  Did you back the patriots’ cry for freedom and liberty?  Did you seek a way to support your King only to have your future hopes dashed?  Or perhaps you were merely living day-to-day and praying fervently for this war to end regardless of who the victors would be.  Describe what life is now like for you in this new nation, your daily life as well as your vision for the future.

Blogging has become a modern way for people to express their opinions and concerns for a world wide audience.  This effective way of communication also opens up a different avenue for our history classes to enlarge a discussion beyond the time constraints put on us in school. Here I have set up pages corresponding to the honors classes that I teach. 

Please remember to use good logic while answering, and please do not forget your manners either!