History of the Mockingbird

Before we begin reading Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" we must be able to put the events of the novel in their historical context. You and your group will research one of the following topics and write as a comment to this post about the event, focusing on:

a) What happened?
b) What was the lesson to be learned from the event?
c) Have we learned that lesson? (Remember, discrimination is not only white against black)

Topics:
A. Scottsboro Boys Trial
B. Montgomery Bus Boycott
C. The Great Depression
D. Jim Crow Laws
E. MLK's "I Have A Dream" speech
F. School Desegregation Governor George Wallace
G. The march on Selma

Remember! Each member of your group needs to have his or her name at the top of your comment in the following format: dconlay p#.

Lessons We have Learned

History is littered with events that when seen from our vantage point of the future could be taken as lessons, sometimes even warnings, of our own pride, weaknesses, and ability to make the same mistakes over and over again. It would seem that, given such a great classroom as history, we would be able to progress and grow as a society. The only problem is, sometimes we forget; and as the man said, "Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it."

You and your group will research one of the following topics and present the information that you find in a comment to this post. Your comment will do three things:

1. Report on the original historic event (what happened) in 50 to 100 words.
2. State the lesson that should have been learned from that event in 20 to 40 words.
3. State whether or not we have learned the lessons from this event that we should have. Give examples to support your position. Be sure to add quotes and citations to your comment from each of the online resources that you use.The following links will help you to format your quotes and citations:
Online! Citation Styles
MLA Citation Style
Citing/Documenting Research Resources
Citing an Online Professional or Personal Web Site

A. Fall of the Roman Empire
B. Fall of the British Empire
C. Civil War
D. Slavery
E. Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's
F. World War I
G. World War II
H. Vietnam
I. The Holocaust

Unfortunately, it might be as the other man said, "We learn from history that we learn nothing from history."

"By the Waters of Babylon"

Post a comment in which you answer (three to four sentences each) the following questions. Remember to use the following format when you type your name: dconlay p#.

1. John, the narrator of By the Waters of Babylon, is witness to a ruined civilization. What do you think happened to this civilization? What evidence (use a quote) do you have to support your opinion?

2. What lesson might John learn from the destruction of this once great civilization?

3. On page 509, when John says, "We must rebuild again," does he sound like he has learned this lesson. Why, or why not?

4. In what ways is our society like John's in how we deal with history and the lessons of the past?

"The Contents of the Dead Man's Pocket"

Post a comment in which you journal (50 to 100 words) on the following topic:

In what ways is the short story "The Contents of the Dead Man's Pocket" an example of what the class has been discussing regarding the concept of the "good life"? Does The main character seem to follow the "good life" as described by Socrates or by Philebus?

see handout "Inquiry on the Good Life"

How do you know?