2010 Mid Term Exam (Essay Choices) Pick 1

You are going to be asked to answer one of following essay questions for your 20th Century mid-term. Similar to the last essay, you will be permitted to research and frame out (using the graphic organizer) an argument before you sit down to write (the writing will take place during your scheduled exam period).



I am interested in the theme of "history informs" for this midterm. In other words, history should be analyzed because it has the potential to inform and help us make meaning out of the 21st Century rather than understood as a collection of empty facts only to be forgotten. To that end, my questions are designed to make you think about how history helps shape and define two critical issues Americans (and 1 Swede) are grappling with in the 21st Century. Considering we have been studying the ideas for reform in a democratic society, the changing role of our federal government, and the dynamics of American diplomacy in the first half of the 20th Century, the modern debates on war and health care seem to me appropriate topics.

In order to formulate a thesis, analyze and ultimately draw a few conclusions, you are going to be required to read, listen, or both, the opinions of prominent political players from both sides of the aisle. As you will witness, these modern political voices clearly use history in order to buttress their claims and political positions. In general terms, your role will be to analyze how they do this in the 21st Century. You will assess-was it effective? Was it historical in an academic sense? Were they being historically selective? If so, what were they leaving out? How does our 2010 Zeitgeist shape or influence the way they look at history? What are the consequences of historical illiteracy in contemplating these matters? These questions should not be understood as the only questions you could analyze. Clearly, how you respond to these voices might invoke other "analysis" type questions or areas of historical thought. What I don't want out of this assignment is a political rant that is unsubstantiated, anti-intellectual, uninformed, or all of these.

Yes, this is way up there in terms of "higher order thinking". And yes, I have high expectations. However, you have demonstrated to me many times the capacity to think well beyond the pages of Nash and "know it or don't know it facts". I especially enjoyed our 1st semester discussions when it revealed independent thinking based on notions of evidence and the application of effective language. Now is the time to put these abilities together in an essay. An important essay that will constitute 50% of the mid-term grade.

Feel free to join this blog as a means to ask questions or clarify ideas. I will check it everyday and give responses as soon as I can. There is no requirement to do this. Work will be individual, but there is no doubt in my mind that a question you ask might be similar to someone else's.

Finally, I will give you a copy of the rubric and graphic organizer in class. Both items will be used while you take the essay during the exam period Tuesday afternoon. This will be stapled to the essay submitted for review.

War on Terror: Barack Obama and George W. Bush

EQ Choice 1. Analyze the uses of 20th Century history by both George W. Bush and Barack Obama as it relates to American foreign policy /War on Terror in the 21st Century.

Bush's 2003 State of the Union Address ( 15 months after US engagement in Afghanistan, a few weeks before Iraq commenced) http://www.presidentialrhetoric.com/speeches/01.28.03.html



Obama's 2009 Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/12/10/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5961370.shtml

Heathcare Debate: Barack Obama and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

EQ choice #2: Analyze the uses of 20th Century history by both Mitch McConnell and Barack Obama as it relates to the challenges of accessible / affordable health care in the 21st Century.

Obama's 2009 Prime Time Speech on Health Care

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/us/politics/10obama.text.html

Mitch McConnell's (Republican Leader in the US Senate) Speech on Health Care

http://mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=HealthCarePlan&ContentRecord_id=e3616b8f-14f3-47c9-9018-da92efcfcbe0&ContentType_id=f4c2c223-b5bb-41cf-9cab-3f5928c0c550&c19bc7a5-2bb9-4a73-b2ab-3c1b5191a72b&Group_id=c24be2ca-e186-424d-8cdf-1ba1284c0781