Success!

This week was our last week together as we prepared for final exams.  While the rain never seemed to end, at least our room stayed cool and we could focus on what we needed to know instead of wishing we were at the beach. 

This year we have strengthened our analytical skills as we discussed a wide range of issues.  Your point of view will change over time as you experience more of life.  The classroom is a safe place to practice developing points of view and sharing them with fellow students.  Don’t ever be afraid to speak your mind, but always take time to gather information and think about your point of view.  Argue and debate out of knowledge.

We have had an exciting year as we travelled the globe via our current events and study of Contemporary World Issues. We had our second Naval War College International Speaker Series with officers from around the world.  You may be interested to know that the Dean of International Students was so pleased with the series that the College has committed to doing it again next year.  You are most welcome to join us…just stop by room 246 for a pass. You will soon find out that the world is really very small...we can see and be in contact with people from all over the globe in a matter of seconds....we can fly to, buy from and sell to any part of the world...and our actions as individuals and a nation affect all.  You are truly COTW: Citizens of the World!

In addition to our international studies we have spent much time thinking and talking about the major internal changes our country is experiencing. We have talked about domestic issues, including the upcoming presidential election and the economic challenges we are facing.  We have seen that issues are never as simple as they appear, and people with good intentions can differ sharply in interpreting what they observe.

Oral Histories

Congratulations again for doing such a good job on your oral history interviews.  This month-long project allowed you to experience history as events that affect everyone in their daily lives.  The stories told by family and friends make the events of the past come alive.  The last of the thank-you notes were mailed yesterday…a nice touch to what I hope you found to be a very meaningful project.

Study Guide

You have a study guide to help you review for the exam.  I would also urge you to use your portfolio and of course read over each blog entry.  By reading the weekly entry, you will have a review of all the classes since our midterm exam.  When doing the study guide, don’t just use the glossary for definitions as that does not put the event, person or term into context.  By using the text to read about the events, you will get a better understanding of the reason why the term is on the study guide.  Be sure to explain the significance of each term, person or event – why we need to know about it.

The study guide also has a description of the exam.  Take time to read it over and make sure to bring the study guide the day of the final…you will get extra points for a study guide that shows you took the time to think about the topics. As always, I am available for extra help before and after school…all you need to do is ask.

Status of Assignment Sheet

This week you also handed in your sheet of assignments.  This is a very useful tool for you to monitor your grades.  All the assignments are posted in the class, all your graded work goes in your folder and since we run on a point system, all you have to do is add up your points and divide by the total number of points offered.  These are your grades and you should take the time to monitor your progress.  As students about to entire your Senior year, you should have a system in place to track your progress.  So at the end of the quarter there should be no surprises…  

A Final Farewell to our Seniors

Congratulations on your graduation!  Walk the stage with pride…and go forth to do good things for one and all!

Last Entry

So it is now time to say good-by and wish all of you a happy and safe summer.  I want to thank my blog editor for keeping my thinking and writing clear, crisp and accurate.  I want to thank my many readers for their comments which always led to a better entry.  But most of all, I want to thank all of my students for a great year.  Your interest, enthusiasm, and questioning have led us to a deeper understanding of our world and how we can contribute to a better tomorrow.

Like Money In The Bank

Oral History Interview

This week we did an additional reading on Watergate and we asked what type of person would hire former CIA operatives to break into the opposition candidate’s office.  We read about the dirty tricks employed by the Nixon campaign and asked questions about what type of dirty tricks are being used in the election of 2012.  This type of campaigning puts an added burden on the voter to do independent reading and research before deciding whom to vote for.  Do not rely on the ads that will be inundating our airways this fall!

We also did a reading about the Obama election.  This was a turning point in history and the new textbooks highlight the unique campaign that included a former first lady, Hillary Clinton, and our first African American candidate, Barack Obama.  Obama entered office at one of the most demanding times in history as our economy was on the brink of a meltdown.  Obama had to make numerous decisions under enormous pressure that would stall the economic collapse and put the country on the road to improved health.  This has been an uphill battle as the partisanship on Capitol Hill has caused initiative after initiative to fail.  In the current campaign, we are seeing two conflicting approaches to government just as we saw in Hoover versus FDR in 1932.  Should government stay out of the world of business and let capitalism work through the market, or does government step in and attempt to provide a safety net and spend money to put people back to work?  While individual families must tighten the belt during difficult economic times, many economists would argue that government must spend money to stimulate the economy.  So now you must decide as future voters, which approach do you think is more effective?

Oral History Interviews

This week I have been reading, hearing and watching your oral history projects.  Many of you took the time to produce impressive oral histories.  You did the research, so you asked good questions and you selected people who were knowledgeable about the events.  I was especially impressed with the ability of many of you to ask follow up questions as you acquired new information.  You may have had a list of pre-formulated questions, but you were able to react and adjust to new data.  Many of you also discovered that where people were living during an event can influence how they viewed it.  People who lived in Newport during the Kennedy Era feel a special bond with a man they saw as one of their own.

You should also be complimented on your heartfelt thank-you notes.  Writing a thank-you note tells the person you spoke with that you cared enough to take the time and effort to say thank you.  As you go out into the world of work, manners can be an important factor in how successful you are in working with others.

Study Guide

You have a three page study guide to help you prepare for the final exam.  I have given you a description of the test, including topics covered and the types of questions.  You have all of your work saved in your portfolio so you have samples of possible questions.  And finally you have the blog…it takes about 3 minutes to read each entry and you can use the links to inform yourself about topics on which you may need more information.

The study guide is like money in the bank…you can only get out of it what you put into it…take the time to complete the guide…think about how events flow, and you will be ready for the exam.  As always, I am available for extra assistance.  Just let me know what works for you.