Joan of Arc (extra credit)

There are many fascinating stories connected with the Hundred Years' War and, fortunately for us, some good translations of some of the best source material for this period.  We have, for instance this account of the trial of Joan of Arc.  Read through the selection and note what you find particularly interesting or important.

Machiavelli (extra credit)

Please read Chapters 15-19 of Machiavelli's The Prince (either pp. 84-104 of the Signet edition or at the link below).

Add a comment or two here giving your impressions of Machiavelli. Try to say something that would help another students trying to prepare on essay on Renaissance achievements.

http://www.fordham.edu/HALSALL/basis/machiavelli-prince.html

Pico della Mirandola (extra credit)

Renaissance humanists had a very positive view of mankind. They greatly appreciated past human achievements, and had an exceptionally high view of human potential . Read through some of Pico della Mirandola's Oration on the Dignity of Man. Cite a line or two that particular well illustrates Pico's "humanism," i.e., either his appreciation for the past or his optimism about human potential. As an alternative, just cite a line that you particularly like from this work and explain why you like it.

Boccaccio's Account of the Black Death (extra credit)

Read Boccaccio's account of the plague in Florence at the link below. What can you tell about Boccaccio's values and concerns from this account? In what ways might seeing the kinds of things he describes affect his writing and his general view of life?

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/decameronintro.html

Heloise and Abelard (extra credit)

Choose one or two of the letters of Heloise and Abelard at the link here. What did you find particularly interesting in these letters?  Does anything particularly surprise you?

Get Involved II

More opportunities to get involved with learning the fun way--through the arts.  It would be great to see students taking advantage of the following opportunities:

1.  Thursday night (3/19), Lawrence Diggs will be hosting a reception for an "Inner Inmate" display of prison art and poetry.  You can drop in anytime between 6:30-9 PM.  The reception will be in the Aberdeen Recreation and Cultural Center (Old Central High School), 225 SE Third Ave., Aberdeen, SD 57401.

2.  Also Thursday, NSU Jazz bands will be performing at the Civic Theater (also located at Old Central).  Wonderful music starting at 7:30 p.m.

3.  Saturday (3/21) at 7:30, Marla Fogderud will hold a recital in Krikac auditorium.  The theme is "Tales of Life and Love." 

4.  Sunday (3/22)  at 3:00, Nicole Merriman and Tina Aschenman will hold their senior recital in Krikac auditorium.

5.  Wednesday (4/15) at 3:00, Nicole Merriman will present her honors thesis in Krikac Auditorium

6.  Sunday (4/19) at 3:00, the NSU choir will be presenting spiritual and gospel songs at First Presbyterian Church.

7.  If you attended Dr. Wachs' presentation or Bach's Lunch (on Wednesday 3/18), you can get extra credit for either one of those. 

To claim your 1-2 extra credit points, click on the "comment" link below and note which event you went to and describe that event.  Did it do anything to provide you with ethical guidance and/or emotional fulfillment?

  

Trojan Women (extra credit)

Please read Euripides' Trojan Women either at the link here or (probably better) in Moses Hadas' Greek Drama (available at the bookstore).

The Greeks regarded the words of their great playwrights as "theopneutos," i.e., God-breathed. Do you agree?  Cite a line or two from the play that might show why the Greeks regarded writers like Euripides as almost equivalent to prophets and explain why you find this line/these lines inspired or inspiring. Do you see here a line worth committing to memory?

Get Involved!

I like to encourage my students to participate in extra-curricular events whenever they have time. I especially like to encourage to get involved with fine arts events on campus, and I occasionally give an extra credit point or two to students who participate in these events.

I'd like to particularly encourage you to participate in some of the events coming up in the next two weeks. 

• NSU/ACT play (Working).  Performances are Wednesday through Saturday (February 11-14) at 7:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Sunday.  All shows are in the Capitol Theater (downtown Aberdeen).  Shows are free with your NSU ID.
• Suchon Quintet.  One performance only on Wednesday, February 11.  Performance starts at 7:30 p.m. in Krickac Auditorium.  Free.
• Black History Month presentation: The Dangers of Repeating History.  Tuesday, February 17 2-4 p.m. in the Centennial Rooms (NSU Student Center).  Free.
• Shakespeare at the Symphony.  One performance only on Saturday, February 28 at the Aberdeen Civic (7:30 p.m.).

For extra credit, click on the "comment" link here.  Note which activity you went to and what you think the highlight of that particular activity was, i.e., the thing you found most memorable, most enjoyable, or most worthwhile.

 

Daniel (Extra Credit)

Please read Chapter 1-7 and Chapter 12 of Daniel. What do you see in the stories that might have helped Ancient Israel provide ethical guidance or emotional fulfillment?  What do you see here that show something about how Ancient Israel taught the world "new ways to dream"?

Relationships: Good, Bad, and Ugly

The social changes of the last 40 years have left young people (and many older people) with lots of questions about relationship issues, and often a considerable amount of hurt because of unhealthy interactions. In their "The Hook Up" presentation (Thursday at 7:30 in Krikak Auditorium), Catharsis Productions will offer some ideas on approaching relationships in a healthy way.

 Please attend the presentation and/or read one of my online messages on relationship issues:

• Men, Women, and Other Mythological Creatures
• Love, Sex, and the Fragile Egos of Men. 
• The Death of Love

Post here brief comments about the "Hook Up" presentation and/or the message you read.

The posted presentation transcripts are nearly 20 years old now. I prepared the original messages for students who would now be (probably) your parents' age.  I am old....
 

 

Cracker Barrels at NSU

The Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce's Government Affairs Committee will be hosting four Legislative Cracker Barrels in 2015.  The Cracker Barrels will run from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm in the Centennial Rooms on the NSU campus. The sessions run from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. The dates are:

• Saturday, January 24th
• Saturday, February 7th
• Saturday, February 21st
• Saturday, March 7th

I'd very much like all of my History 121 students to attend at least one of these sessions, and I'll give extra credit to any of you who do attend and add a comment or two here. What did you find most interesting at the Cracker Barrel session?  How would you tie the Cracker Barrel session to the Henry Parkes' "big three" essentials of civilization (physical security, ethical guidance, and emotional fulfillment)? 

State of the Union 2015

You should be able to listen live to the 2015 State of the Union Address on C-SPAN at 8:00 tonight (Tuesday, January 20). If that time is not convenient for you, you should be able to find the address in the C-Span library. Add a brief comment here summarizing your impressions.   How would you tie the State of the Union address to Henry Parkes' "big three" essentials of civilization (physical security, ethical guidance, and emotional fulfillment)? 

Newly-elected Iowa Senator Joni Ernst will be giving the Republican response.  Should be amusing if she includes zingers like those in her Make 'Em Squeal campaign ad.  If you prefer to comment on her response to the President's speech, feel free to do that.   How would you tie Senator Ernst's comments to Henry Parkes' "big three" essentials of civilization (physical security, ethical guidance, and emotional fulfillment)?

Welcome!

Welcome to Inherently Interesting Spring 2015, the most wonderful, most interesting, and most important blog at this particular URL. Your comments and questions on this blog will help make the class even more wonderful and interesting--and occasionally earn you a bit of extra credit!

To get started, here's a test of the History 121 extra credit system. Click the "comments" link below and give me your honest answer: what's the first thing that comes into your head when you here the word history?