2010-11-17

The American Dream



Artifact 1: The American Dream Travel Co.


Reflection

1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "the notion of the frontier" because the consulates represented geographical remoteness from Britain, which caused them to stand on the frontier and represent it.
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "communication and transportation revolution."
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
I chose the pictures that were most interesting to me, and it took me whole day to take the pictures, select them, and make a Prezi.
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
I got to see Taiwan from new perspective.
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
Yes, these pictures were chosen from more than 200 pictures that I took, and I believe that they are well selected.
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio 3
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment 4
c) Impact on your learning 1
d) Level of creativity and originality 2

Artifact 2: A Map of Railroads


A Map of Railroads in Ohio




The transport system within United States developed greatly in the 19th century.  There were many railroads connecting nearby cities and cities that were on the other sides of the continent.  In this map, I drew the major lines in color to distinguish from many other lines.  We can see that the railroad system was getting very complex, helping the industrialization by transporting materials and products.  I noticed that there were many Non-English sounding cities such as "Xenia" and "Cincinnati," and some names that were taken from other parts of the world such as "London," "Paris," and "Troy."


Reflection

1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "communication and transportation revolution" because the railroad system in the United States was growing rapidly, as yo can see from the map above.  There were this many railroads within a state, and so many more in the whole country.  They changed the way people, materials and products were transported.
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "Urbanization: construction of the modern city."
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
I made a map of railroads in Ohio since I want to go there someday and the railroad system this state had seemed complex.  It took me 30 minutes to draw the map, and some more time to analyze it.  It took me half an hour to draw the map.
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
I learned the importance of railroads to the United States, and gained some interesting aspects about the cities.
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
No, I could have added more information to the map, such as names and places of other cities, and could have done more research on the railroads in Ohio.
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio 0
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment 2
c) Impact on your learning 2
d) Level of creativity and originality -1

Artifact 3: Google Earth Tour - Lewis and Clark Expedition




Reflection

1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "the notion of the frontier" because the Lewis and Clark expedition were the first Americans to explore the Louisiana Territory, the central part of the North America, and further west.
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "human movement and migration" and race relations: abolition, segregation, and anti-semitism."
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
I chose to put pictures into the Google Earth tour since I thought they could tell more than just the satellite pictures of the earth.  I taped the video so that I could explain it both vocally and visually.  It took me two hours to prepare for taking the video and actually taking it.
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
I noticed how helpful Indians were to the Lewis and Clark expedition.  Without their aid, the expedition was probably unable to reach the Pacific Ocean and come back safely.
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
Yes, I believe so, since I explained the journey done by the expedition clearly and thoroughly using the Google Earth.
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio 4
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment 2
c) Impact on your learning 3
d) Level of creativity and originality 3



Artifact 4: Gapminder Analysis




Since the value of life expectancy stays constant until 1880, we can assume that they started recording the data in that year.  From 1880 to 1900, the life expectancy grew by almost 10 years, from below 40 to almost 50.  It is mainly due to the improvement made in the health conditions of the people.  In 1881, the American Red Cross was founded by Clara Barton.  It aided people in need of support for recovering from conditions such as wounds, like soldiers hurt in a battle.  It might have helped raising the life expectancy.   The income per person jumps back and forth from year to year, probably due to harvest conditions.  The income stays low for several years after the Civil War, and it might be due to the fact that the use of slaves was prohibited in the Southern states, which caused the amount of agricultural products made in the Southern states to decrease.




The number of children per woman decreases rapidly, which might be caused by urbanization in the American cities.  When the density of population in cities got higher, there was less room for each people to live in.  The amount of CO2 emissions increases after late 1860s, when the first transcontinental railroad was completed.  More and more railroads were being built for transportation of people and industrial products, and that is one cause of increase in the CO2 emission.


Reflection

1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "building the modern economy" because the quality of lives of Americans changed greatly, largely due to the change in the economy it had.
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "urbanization: construction of the modern city."
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
I chose these graphs since there were no other graphs with data from the 19th century.  It took me an hour to take the videos of the graphs and analyze them.
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
I learned that the living conditions of the Americans improved greatly in the 1800s, and I can tell that from the increase in their income and life expectancy.
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
No, I could have done more research to make connections to the events that have happened in the 19th century, to have a deeper understanding of the time period.
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio -1
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment 0
c) Impact on your learning 1
d) Level of creativity and originality 1




Artifact 5: Primary Source Evaluation

The California and Oregon Trail


"There are two methods commonly practiced, 'running' and 'approaching.' The chase on horseback, which goes by the name of 'running,' is the more violent and dashing mode of the two. Indeed, of all American wild sports, this is the wildest. Once among the buffalo, the hunter, unless long use has made him familiar with the situation, dashes forward in utter recklessness and self-abandonment. He thinks of nothing, cares for nothing but the game; his mind is stimulated to the highest pitch, yet intensely concentrated on one object. In the midst of the flying herd, where the uproar and the dust are thickest, it never wavers for a moment; he drops the rein and abandons his horse to his furious career; he levels his gun, the report sounds faint amid the thunder of the buffalo; and when his wounded enemy leaps in vain fury upon him, his heart thrills with a feeling like the fierce delight of the battlefield.

"A practiced and skillful hunter, well mounted, will sometimes kill five or six cows in a single chase, loading his gun again and again as his horse rushes through the tumult. An exploit like this is quite beyond the capacities of a novice. In attacking a small band of buffalo, or in separating a single animal from the herd and assailing it apart from the rest, there is less excitement and less danger. With a bold and well trained horse the hunter may ride so close to the buffalo that as they gallop side by side he may reach over and touch him with his hand; nor is there much danger in this as long as the buffalo's strength and breath continue unabated; but when he becomes tired and can no longer run at ease, when his tongue lolls out and foam flies from his jaws, then the hunter had better keep at a more respectful distance; the distressed brute may turn upon him at any instant; and especially at the moment when he fires his gun.

"The wounded buffalo springs at his enemy; the horse leaps violently aside; and then the hunter has need of a tenacious seat in the saddle, for if he is thrown to the ground there is no hope for him. When he sees his attack defeated the buffalo resumes his flight, but if the shot be well directed he soon stops; for a few moments he stands still, then totters and falls heavily upon the prairie.

"The chief difficulty in running buffalo, as it seems to me, is that of loading the gun or pistol at full gallop. Many hunters for convenience' sake carry three or four bullets in the, mouth; the powder is poured down the muzzle of the piece, the bullet dropped in after it, the stock struck hard upon the pommel of the saddle, and the work is done.

"The danger of this method is obvious. Should the blow on the pommel fail to send the bullet home, or should the latter, in the act of aiming, start from its place and roll toward the muzzle, the gun would probably burst in discharging. Many a shattered hand and worse casualties besides have been the result of such an accident. To obviate it, some hunters make use of a ramrod, usually hung by a string from the neck, but this materially increases the difficulty of loading. The bows and arrows which the Indians use in running buffalo have many advantages over firearms, and even white men occasionally employ them.

"The danger of the chase arises not so much from the onset of the wounded animal as from the nature of the ground which the hunter must ride over. The prairie does not always present a smooth, level, and uniform surface; very often it is broken with hills and hollows, intersected by ravines, and in the remoter parts studded by the stiff wild-sage bushes. The most formidable obstructions, however, are the burrows of wild animals wolves, badgers, and particularly prairie dogs, with whose holes the ground for a very great extent is frequently honey- combed. In the blindness of the chase the hunter rushes over it unconscious of danger; his horse, at full career, thrusts his leg deep into one of the burrows; the bone snaps, the rider is hurled forward to the ground and probably killed.

"The method of 'approaching,' being practiced on foot, has many advantages over that of 'running'; in the former, one neither breaks down his horse nor endangers his own life; instead of yielding to excitement he must be cool, collected, and watchful; he must understand the buffalo, observe the features of the country and the course of the wind, and be skilled, moreover, in using the rifle. The buffalo are strange animals; sometimes they are so stupid and infatuated that a man may walk up to them in full sight on the open prairie, and even shoot several of their number before the rest will think it necessary to retreat. Again at another moment they will be so shy and wary, that in order to approach them the utmost skill, experience, and judgment are necessary. Kit Carson, I believe, stands pre-eminent in running buffalo; in approaching, no man living can bear away the palm from Henry Chatillon."




Origin
The document was written by Francis Parkman in 1847, and it was published in 1849 in the United States.  Its physical copy was first published by him, and later it was published online at http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/buffalo.htm.  Francis Parkman was a historian born in Boston Massachusetts.  In 1846, he went on a hunting expedition during which he spent many weeks with the Sioux tribe.


Purpose
The document is presented online for students like us to learn from it.  The author wrote this document to tell the Americans living in the East about the unique experience he had in West.  He chose the format of a book so that he can be very descriptive about what he had seen and experienced.  The intended audience of this book is the people living in the eastern part of United States, who have never been to the West before.  The document describes the ways that the people living in the West catch buffalo in different ways.  From the tone of the document, I can tell that the author enjoys the sport of hunting buffalo, and has no negative impressions of it.


Value
I can tell that the author is well experienced in this sport of catching buffalo, and has much knowledge about it.  From this piece, I can tell that people did not have slightest idea about the consequences of their actions.  The piece was created when there were millions of buffalo walking around in the continent, and people did not have concerns about their extinction.  I can tell that from the fact that it is never mentioned in this piece.  There does not seem to be any controversies, since no one is arguing that the buffalo should not be hunted for sports, either to protect their rights or to keep them from going extinct.  The author enjoys hunting buffalo, and does not think about whether or not it should be stopped for protection of wild animals.  We can tell that even though the author has great knowledge and experience about hunting buffalo, he does not have much about protecting them.


Limitation
We cannot tell how other people were feeling about hunting buffalo, since this is just an explanation of different ways to hunt them.  We cannot tell whether there were people back then buffalo should not be hunted and should be protected.  This piece can be verified by comparing with other primary sources from this time period, and by looking at a graph of how the number of buffalo decreased in the United States.  There does not seem to be any inaccuracy in this text.  In this part, everything but about hunting buffalo is left out since the purpose of this was to explain the different techniques of hunting buffalo.  So anything besides that is not included in this part of the document.





Reflection

1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "human movement and migration" because in this time period, many people were leaving the East and moving to the western and central parts of the United States, and this was written by one of them, who had learned the ways of livings of the Indians.
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "the notion of the frontier."
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
I chose the text about the buffalo hunting because I have learned earlier that the number of buffalo in the United States had decreased greatly in the past several centuries, and was interested in knowing the cause of it.  It took me two hours to find a primary source and analyze it.
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
I learned that many Americans were hunting buffalo as a sport, not thinking about the consequences of their action.
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
No, I could have done more research about the background information of this text.
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio -1
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment 0
c) Impact on your learning 2
d) Level of creativity and originality -1





Artifact 6: Idea Page







Reflection

1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "race relations: abolition, segregation, and anti-semitism" because the Civil War was the war between Northern states that were against slavery, and still agricultural Southern states that were relying on slaves as the main source of labor.
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "urbanization: construction of the modern city."
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
I chose this page because I wanted to make the progress of the Civil War clear by listing what had happened.  It took me an hour.
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
I learned that different people had different opinions about slavery, and had different purposes for fighting the war.
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
Yes, I made the page easy to read by paying attention to the design, and by using maps and colors to make it look nicer.
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio 4
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment 2
c) Impact on your learning 2
d) Level of creativity and originality 2




Artifact 7: Google Sketchup - Civil War Battleground








Download the skp file



Reflection

1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "the balance of power: empires rise and fall" because even though Lincoln stated that the North was fighting the Civil War to free all slaves, many people, especially in the South, thought that they were fighting for power to control the Southern states.
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "nationalism and liberalism: creation of the nation-state."
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
I I chose this map since I liked the contrast of the two sides located on the south and north of the river, facing each other.  It took me an hour to make this model.
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
I was able to see under what geographical conditions the two sides were fighting.
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
No, I could have made the terrain look more realistic, and to have more details about the armies on two sides.
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio 1
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment 3
c) Impact on your learning 1
d) Level of creativity and originality 1




Artifact 8: Animals Discovered by Lewis and Clark Expedition
Bighorn Sheep


Buffalo (American Bison)

Grey Wolf

Grizzly Bear

Prairie Dog


Reflection

1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "human expression through the arts" because just as I drew the sketches of animals that were discovered by the expedition, the expedition also sketched the animals and other new things that they discovered.
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "the notion of the frontier."
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
I chose to draw these pictures because I was interested in what kinds of animals the expedition discovered, and how they looked.  I spent two hours drawing the pictures.
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
I got to learn that there was great diversity in the kind of animals that the expedition discovered..
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
No, I could have drawn the pictures with more detail, and add more descriptions to them.
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio 3
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment 2
c) Impact on your learning -1
d) Level of creativity and originality 0



Artifact 9: Civil War - President Lincoln and General Lee Analysis





The Gettysburg Address
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

The Emancipation Proclamation
"That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom.
"That the Executive will, on the first day of January aforesaid, by proclamation, designate the States and parts of States, if any, in which the people thereof, respectively, shall then be in rebellion against the United States; and the fact that any State, or the people thereof, shall on that day be, in good faith, represented in the Congress of the United States by members chosen thereto at elections wherein a majority of the qualified voters of such State shall have participated, shall, in the absence of strong countervailing testimony, be deemed conclusive evidence that such State, and the people thereof, are not then in rebellion against the United States."
Now, therefore I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested as Commander-in-Chief, of the Army and Navy of the United States in time of actual armed rebellion against the authority and government of the United States, and as a fit and necessary war measure for suppressing said rebellion, do, on this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and in accordance with my purpose so to do publicly proclaimed for the full period of one hundred days, from the day first above mentioned, order and designate as the States and parts of States wherein the people thereof respectively, are this day in rebellion against the United States, the following, to wit:
Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, (except the Parishes of St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefferson, St. John, St. Charles, St. James Ascension, Assumption, Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. Mary, St. Martin, and Orleans, including the City of New Orleans) Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia, (except the forty-eight counties designated as West Virginia, and also the counties of Berkley, Accomac, Northampton, Elizabeth City, York, Princess Ann, and Norfolk, including the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth[)], and which excepted parts, are for the present, left precisely as if this proclamation were not issued.
And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free; and that the Executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons.
And I hereby enjoin upon the people so declared to be free to abstain from all violence, unless in necessary self-defence; and I recommend to them that, in all cases when allowed, they labor faithfully for reasonable wages.
And I further declare and make known, that such persons of suitable condition, will be received into the armed service of the United States to garrison forts, positions, stations, and other places, and to man vessels of all sorts in said service.
And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind, and the gracious favor of Almighty God.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the eighty-seventh.




Lincoln’s perspective
Lincoln thought that the purpose of the existence of the United States of America was to have a nation “dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”  Back then, many Americans, especially ones in the South, thought that slaves did not count as those “men,” but Lincoln had a different opinion.  He thought that everyone, including the slaves, should have equal rights, and that freeing slaves would bring “a new birth of freedom.”  He recognized freeing slaves as “the great task remaining before us.”  He first declared the freedom of slaves not in the North but in the South to show that it was one of the main purposes of the civil war, and to show care to the slaves in the South.  He also did not want to have any more states seceding to the South, so he waited for the war to be over before he freed the slaves in the North, but most of the Northern states had already prohibited slavery on their own.


God Bless Robert E. Lee
According to Johnny Cash, Robert E. Lee surrendered because if he were not to, there would have been 20,000 deaths on both sides, and he did not want any more men to die.  So he put men’s lives before the Confederate President’s order to not surrender.  From the lyrics of the song, we can assume that Johnny Cash admired General Lee, for he mentions “God bless Robert E. Lee” many times in the song, and for the reason, he gives “all those lives that were saved.”  Another perspective he presents in the song is a man on the Southern side, who is “on (his) way to join the fight” because “General Lee might need (his) help.”  He mentions the name “Dixie” many times throughout the song, which seems to be the name of the wife or the lover of the man.
I disagree to John Cash’s perspective because if General Lee really hated to lose lives of men, he would not have joined the Southern army in the first place.  He knew that there would be many casualties if he fought against the Union, so if he really considered lives precious, he would not have fought in the first place.



Reflection

1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "nationalism and liberalism: creation of the nation-state" because Lincoln was trying to create a new nation for the freedom of all men, and the South was trying to make another nation for a different purpose.
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "the balance of power: empires rise and fall."
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
I chose these documents and video since I could learn a lot about the perspectives of different sides.  I spent two hours analyzing them.
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
I understood the perspectives of two different sides, and the reasons why they thought that their side was doing the right thing.
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
Yes, I read the documents and saw the video thoroughly, and was able to comprehend it well.
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio 2
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment -1
c) Impact on your learning 3
d) Level of creativity and originality 0



Artifact 10: Trail of Tears Poem


Poem on the Trail of Tears, from America's perspective

We asked them nicely so many times
Explained how this would benefit both them and us,
And waited for two summers and two winters.

But their ears were elsewhere
They just shook their heads to our proposal
And sat where they were, silently

Dear friend, do not blame this on us.
Just as you are forced to move today,
We have no choice, but to do this.

Do you cry?  Do you cry for the land, the water
The world that will be lost today?
But you are not the only oens that cry
Deep within, in parts you cannot see, our heart is crying
For we can see your souls, spirits dying.


Reflection

1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "race relations: abolition, segregation, and anti-semitism" because in this incident, the Americans were chasing Indians out of their land.
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "human movement and migration."
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
I chose a poem because I thought that it was the best way to express how people would be feeling within their heart.
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
I was able to think about how the Indians and Americans were feeling about the incident.  It took me 30 minutes to write this poem
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
No, I could have paid more attention to more detail such as word choice..
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio 0
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment 0
c) Impact on your learning 2
d) Level of creativity and originality 3



Artifact 11: SketchUp Model of a U.S. Navy Telescope









Download the skp file


U.S. Navy


Single Draw Telescope


Time period: 1840s


Materials: Copper, glass


Field of view: 7°


Length: 49 cm (unextended), 86 cm (extended)


Weight: 850g






Reflection

1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "the universe through a telescope" because this is a 3 dimensional model of a telescope used in the US Navy during the 19th century.
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "globalization through imperialism."
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
I chose to make a 3 dimensional model to understand how the telescopes looked like back then.  I spent an hour on it
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
I noticed that they were very large and heavy, and had not been well developed.
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
Yes, the model shows clearly how the telescopes used by Navy looked like in the 19th century.
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio 3
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment 3
c) Impact on your learning 1
d) Level of creativity and originality 2



Artifact 12: Idea Page

Reflection

1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "the notion of the frontier" because the consulates represented geographical remoteness from Britain, which caused them to stand on the frontier and represent it.
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "communication and transportation revolution."
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
I chose the pictures that were most interesting to me, and it took me whole day to take the pictures, select them, and make a Prezi.
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
I got to see Taiwan from new perspective.
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
Yes, these pictures were chosen from more than 200 pictures that I took, and I believe that they are well selected.
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio 3
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment 4
c) Impact on your learning 1
d) Level of creativity and originality 2



Artifact 13: Prezi - Captains of Industry/Robber Barons

Reflection

1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "the notion of the frontier" because the consulates represented geographical remoteness from Britain, which caused them to stand on the frontier and represent it.
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "communication and transportation revolution."
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
I chose the pictures that were most interesting to me, and it took me whole day to take the pictures, select them, and make a Prezi.
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
I got to see Taiwan from new perspective.
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
Yes, these pictures were chosen from more than 200 pictures that I took, and I believe that they are well selected.
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio 3
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment 4
c) Impact on your learning 1
d) Level of creativity and originality 2




Artifact 14: Constitutional Cartoons


Reflection

1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "the notion of the frontier" because the consulates represented geographical remoteness from Britain, which caused them to stand on the frontier and represent it.
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "communication and transportation revolution."
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
I chose the pictures that were most interesting to me, and it took me whole day to take the pictures, select them, and make a Prezi.
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
I got to see Taiwan from new perspective.
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
Yes, these pictures were chosen from more than 200 pictures that I took, and I believe that they are well selected.
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio 3
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment 4
c) Impact on your learning 1
d) Level of creativity and originality 2



Artifact 15: Checks and Balances

Reflection

1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "the notion of the frontier" because the consulates represented geographical remoteness from Britain, which caused them to stand on the frontier and represent it.
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "communication and transportation revolution."
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
I chose the pictures that were most interesting to me, and it took me whole day to take the pictures, select them, and make a Prezi.
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
I got to see Taiwan from new perspective.
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
Yes, these pictures were chosen from more than 200 pictures that I took, and I believe that they are well selected.
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio 3
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment 4
c) Impact on your learning 1
d) Level of creativity and originality 2



Artifact 16: Constitutional Timeline

Reflection

1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "the notion of the frontier" because the consulates represented geographical remoteness from Britain, which caused them to stand on the frontier and represent it.
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "communication and transportation revolution."
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
I chose the pictures that were most interesting to me, and it took me whole day to take the pictures, select them, and make a Prezi.
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
I got to see Taiwan from new perspective.
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
Yes, these pictures were chosen from more than 200 pictures that I took, and I believe that they are well selected.
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio 3
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment 4
c) Impact on your learning 1
d) Level of creativity and originality 2



Artifact 17: The American Dream Game
Game (undone)


Reflection

1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "the notion of the frontier" because the consulates represented geographical remoteness from Britain, which caused them to stand on the frontier and represent it.
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "communication and transportation revolution."
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
I chose the pictures that were most interesting to me, and it took me whole day to take the pictures, select them, and make a Prezi.
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
I got to see Taiwan from new perspective.
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
Yes, these pictures were chosen from more than 200 pictures that I took, and I believe that they are well selected.
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio 3
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment 4
c) Impact on your learning 1
d) Level of creativity and originality 2
Posted by Takumi at 6:13 AM 0 comments

2010-10-06

Britain and the Building of a Global Empire


Case Study Rubric















Child Labour in Cotton Factories (Artifact 1)



Primary Source: http://www.historyhome.co.uk/peel/factmine/southey.htm


Evaluation

Origin

• Who created it?

Robert Southey did.

• Who is the author?

Robert Southey is.

• When was it created?

It was created in 1807.

• When was it published?

It was first published in 1807(http://www.historyhome.co.uk/peel/factmine/southey.htm) or 1808 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Southey).  The website was last modified on April 13th, 2010.

• Where was it published?

It was published in England.

• Who is publishing it?

It was first published by Robert Southey.  The website was published by Dr. Marjorie Bloy.

• Is there anything we know about the author that is pertinent to our evaluation?

The author wrote this under a pseudonym Don Manuel Alvarez Espriella.



Purpose

• Why does this document exist?

It was published online so that a large amount of people could learn about the child labor.

• Why did the author create this piece of work? What is the intent?

It was created to tell people about the problems that the child labor has.

• Why did the author choose this particular format?

He used this format to make the document more realistic and credible.

• Who is the intended audience? Who was the author thinking would receive this?

The author wanted factory owners to read this.

• What does the document “say”?

It says that child labor is awful.

• Can it tell you more than is on the surface?

No, we can only tell the information that can be seen from the author's perspective.



Value

• What can we tell about the author from the piece?

He was against the child labor.

• What can we tell about the time period from the piece?

There were people that thought that child labor was right.

• Under what circumstances was the piece created and how does the piece reflect those circumstances?

There were many children working in factories

• What can we tell about any controversies from the piece?

We can tell that people’s opinion on child labor varied depending on who they were or whether they benefited from it.

• Does the author represent a particular ‘side’ of a controversy or event?

Yes, he does.  He was against child labor.

• What can we tell about the author’s perspectives from the piece?

The author thought that the conditions in which the children were working in factories were not as good as the factory owners thought.

• What was going on in history at the time the piece was created and how does this piece accurately reflect it?

The Industrial Revolution was going on in the England, and labor of children and women under harsh condition and cheap payment was starting to be a problem.  This piece shows how unaware the factory owners were about those problems, and author’s concerns about that.



Limitation

• What part of the story can we NOT tell from this document?

It only talks about one factory and its owner, so we cannot tell what it was like in other factories.

• How could we verify the content of the piece?

We can see if other documents from this time period have the similar information as this one, and no contradicting information.

• Does this piece inaccurately reflect anything about the time period?

No, since it is a non-fiction, there does not seem to be any inaccuracy in it.

• What does the author leave out and why does he/she leave it out (if you know)?

The name of the factory owner is not given, to protect his privacy. 

• What is purposely not addressed?
The positive parts of child labor are stated not as the facts that the author saw, but as the quotations of the factory owner.  He does not state whether those positive parts are true.


Reflection


1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "building of the modern economy" because industrialization which was supported by labor by children and women caused the growth of economy.
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "invention, ingenuity and entrepreneurs."
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
This was the only option, and it took me 2 hours.
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
I learned that there were people who thought that there should not be child labor back then, but it was still going on, since factory owners did not think that way.
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
No, because it might have been easier to read if I made it in a paragraph form instead of listing all the questions and answers.
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio 0
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment 1
c) Impact on your learning 2
d) Level of creativity and originality -1

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Idea Page (Artifact 2)



Reflection

1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "communication and transportation revolution" because it talks about roads and coals which were essential to the transportation back then.
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "invention, ingenuity and entrepreneurs" and "urbanization: construction of the modern city."
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
I thought that the content of this page was an important part in the Industrial Revolution.  It took me 30 minutes.
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
I learned that there were many elements that caused the Industrial Revolution in Britain, such as the improvement in transportation and invention of productive machines.
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
No, because it looks like a "note," so I could have made it look more interesting by using color, charts, pictures, etc.
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio 2
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment 0
c) Impact on your learning 3
d) Level of creativity and originality -1

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Luddites (Artifact 3)


Accidents, Inquests, Etc.

   Murder at Marsden—On Tuesday, the 28th ult., on his way home, William Horsfall, the owner of Ottiwell's Mill, residing in the townland of Marsden, was fired at and shot in the thigh, from the effects of which he died late that day. A witness had seen four persons hiding from where smoke arose. Luddites are thought to be the culprits of this outrage, as a popular legend stated that he “would ride up to his saddle girths in Luddite blood.” Mr Houghton, surgeon who watched over his death, found a large musket ball in his left thigh, which is thought to have killed him.
Sources: http://gayandmike.co.uk/murder.htm
             http://newspapers.bl.uk

Reflection

1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "invention, ingenuity and entrepreneurs" because The owners of factories who were attacked by the Luddites are entrepreneurs who started factories.
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "building the modern economy."
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
This was the only option, and it took me one hour.
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
I learned that during this time period, many factories were attacked and many factory owners were murdered by Luddites.
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
No because I could have gathered more information and made it longer and descriptive.
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio 1
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment 3
c) Impact on your learning 2
d) Level of creativity and originality 1





















(May 24, 1819 – January 22, 1901)


She was the Queen regnant of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the first Empress of India of the British Raj. Her reign as the Queen is the longest of any female monarch in history. She ascended the throne at the age of 18, when the UK was already an established constitutional monarchy, in which the king or queen did not have much political power, but she became the iconic symbol of the nation and the empire. She had 42 grandchildren who married into royal families across the continent, earning her the nickname “the grandmother of Europe.”


She was the only child of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, and Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. She was the granddaughter of the reigning King, George III. The king's three eldest sons had no surviving legitimate children, so Victoria was fifth in the line of succession.  Her grandfather, her father, the Duke of York, and her uncle George IV were all dead by 1830, which made her heiress presumptive to her surviving uncle, William IV.


In 1837, William IV died at the age of 71, and Victoria became the Queen of the United Kingdom. Back then, the Prime Minister was Lord Melbourne. He at once became a powerful influence on Victoria. However, he did not stay in power for long.


She married Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1840. He became an important political advisor for her, replacing Prime Minister Melbourne. Their first child was born that year. They had nine children in total. There were several assassination attempts made on her life from 1840 to 1842. Prince Albert, Victoria's husband, and her mother died in 1961. She entered a state of mourning and wore black for the rest of her life. She made few public appearances and rarely set foot in London in the following years.


  She passed away from a cerebral haemorrhage in 1901. she had reigned for a total of 63 years. Her death brought an end to the rule of the House of Hanover in the United Kingdom. Her son Edward  VII became the new King. Victoria outlived three of her children and 11 of her grandchildren.






1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "The balance of power: empires rise and fall" because this is about the queen of an empire which had great power over the world back then.
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "Globalization through imperialism."
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
I chose Queen Victoria since she is a famous queen, but I knew little about her.  It took me two hours.
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
I learned that even though she was the queen of the empire, she actually had very little power.  I also learned that there were many deaths of her family and relatives that affected her.
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
No, I could have used more resources.
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio 2
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment 3
c) Impact on your learning 4
d) Level of creativity and originality -1

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Google Earth Tour - Queen Victoria (Artifact 5)
http://www.mediafire.com/?4im10iv2u50ixhv
1. Kensington Palace - Victoria was born at 4.15 a.m. on 24 May 1819 at Kensington Palace in London.
2. Buckingham Palace - On 20 June 1837, Victoria became Queen of the United Kingdom. She became the first monarch to take up the Buckingham Palace.
3. St. James's Palace - The Queen and Prince Albert were married on 10 February 1840, in the Chapel Royal of St. James's Palace, London. 
4. St. James's Park - There were many assassination attempts made on her life. On 29 May at St. James's Park, John Francis fired a pistol at the Queen while she was in a carriage. Francis was convicted of high treason, and was sent to Australia.
5. Windsor Castle - The Prince Consort, diagnosed with typhoid fever, died on 14 December 1861, believed to be due to the primitive sanitary conditions at Windsor Castle. 
6. Osborne House - She died there from a cerebral haemorrhage on Tuesday 22 January 1901 at half past six in the evening, at the age of 81.


Reflection

1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "Gender roles and the liberation of women" because The queen was the person who had the most power as a woman.
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "The balance of power: empires rise and fall"
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
I chose to make a tour about Queen Victoria since I learned about her life in the previous artifact and found her life interesting.
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
I noticed that the locations in which important events in her life occurred were very close, which might be because of the small landmass England has.
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
No, I could have added an audio to it.
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio 0
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment 3
c) Impact on your learning 1
d) Level of creativity and originality 1

Leviathan of Parsonstown
This is a reflecting telescope with 1.8m aperture, which was the largest telescope from its construction in 1845 until 1917.





A ship transporting convicts to Australia

Resource: http://www.sydneyr.det.nsw.edu.au/support/curriculum/ict/dulwich07/index.htm


Reflection

1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "the universe through a telescope" because the top picture is about the largest telescope in the latter half of the 19th century.
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "Communication and transportation revolution" and "the notion of the frontier"
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
I drew these pictures because I was interested in how data about stars were collected back then and how convicts traveled a very long distance from Britain to Australia.  I spent 3 hours drawing these pictures and coloring them.
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
Telescopes were gigantic back then, just as they are now.  The ships were large and built strong to bear the long trip across the oceans.
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
No, I could have added more detail to the pictures.
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio 2
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment 3
c) Impact on your learning 0
d) Level of creativity and originality 0


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William Blake - Newton(Artifact 7)




image from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Newton-WilliamBlake.jpg

William Blake was born on November 28, 1757, in London.  He obtained basic reading and writing skills at school, and attended a drawing school for short time.  At 14, his talent showed up so clearly that he was apprenticed to James Basire, an engraver.  He was the apprentice until he was 21 years old.  On most of art pieces, he worked with Catherine, who he married at 25.  They published Songs of Innocence, a book of poems and drawings, together in 1794.  He engraved words and pictures on copper plates, which Catherine colored.  The published Milton in 1808, which was later set to music and became an unofficial Christian anthem of English nationalism in the 20th century.  He gained a patron in William Hayley in 1800.  Hayley commissioned him to draw illustrations for his book, Life of Cowper, and create bust statues of famous poets for him.  From 1810 to 1817, he was in a deep depression which was caused by not enough public recognition.  He was close to poverty for most part of his life.  He published a book called Jerusalem in 1820.  he produced exact and detailed engravings which were small compared to works by other artists.

Resource: http://www.britainexpress.com/History/bio/blake.htm


Reflection

1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "human expression through the arts" because it is about an artist who produced many valuable artworks in the 19th century.
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "invention, ingenuity and entrepreneurs."
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
I did not know anything about him, so I thought that this is a good opportunity to learn about him.  It took me one hour.
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
I learned that even though he is respected as an artist now, he was not famous before his death, and some people even thought him crazy.
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
No, I could have done more research on his artworks.
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio -1
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment 0
c) Impact on your learning 1
d) Level of creativity and originality -1

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A Microscope (Artifact 8)
   


This is a model of a microscope made in Britain in the 19th century.
I made it out of origami papers and cardboard.
Source: http://golubcollection.berkeley.edu/19th/93.html



I made its three dimensional model using Google SketchUp.
You can download the model here.  It is a SKP file, so you need     to have SketchUp installed to your computer.



Then, made a papercraft out of it using Pepakura Designer.


Reflection

1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "the universe through a microscope" because I made a model of a microscope which was created in the 19th century.
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "invention, ingenuity and entrepreneurs."
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
When I found a picture of a microscope online, I thought that its shape was artistic and beautiful, so I decided to make one myself.  I spent 3 hours making this.
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
It was difficult to make a small model out of paper, and took me hours.  It must have been even harder back then to make a microscope out of metal which would actually work as a microscope.
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
Yes, I do think this is close to my best work, because I am satisfied with how it looks, and I enjoyed making it.
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio 4
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment 3
c) Impact on your learning 2
d) Level of creativity and originality 2


Post a comment




Slavery Abolition Timeline (Artifact 9)

Reflection

1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "race relations: abolition, segregation, and anti-semitism" because the timeline includes many events that were important to the abolition of slavery in Britain.
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "human movement and migration."
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
I was interested in abolition of slavery in Britain because Britain was one of the earliest to abolish slavery throughout the world.  It took me one hour.
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
I learned that sometimes, even though an abolition act had been passed, slaves were still used as "apprentices."
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
No, I could have gathered more information to make the timeline more detailed.
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio 0
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment 0
c) Impact on your learning 2
d) Level of creativity and originality -1


Cause and Effect Analytical Writing (Artifact 10)


        Urbanization began in Britain in the 19th century when the Industrial Revolution occurred.  What was the cause of the urbanization, and how did it affect people's lives?  The Industrial Revolution took a great part in it, and its consequences continue until now.
Industrial Revolution began when the sophisticated machines were invented.  Those machines would collect cotton, weave it, and make textile way faster than the humans would.  The machines also required few people to operate.  The great improvement in the productivity of cotton products led to a huge change in the economy.
The improvement of productivity caused the supply of the products to soar high, resulting in the decrease of their cost.  That dropped the income of the home-workers, causing them to work in factories instead.  The conditions in the factories were harsh.  Children and women were working in the factories as if they were parts of the machines.  Their working condition was not clean, and they worked up to 15 hours every day with very little payment.
Since people were starting to work at the factories, they moved into cities were the factories were located.  As the population got bigger and denser, some problems were occurring in the cities.  One of them was the sanitary problem.  Since there were so many people in one place, their waste became a big problem.  Waste was piled up in the streets and courtyards, polluting the water in the wells they drank from, causing cholera and other deathly diseases.
Thanks to the past generations, those problems seem to be solved by now.  We do not see piles of waste when we walk in the city, we do not get sick and die when we drink water, and children and women are not in harsh working conditions anymore – at least in our side of the world.  These problems are still unsolved in parts of world such as Africa and Southeast Asia.  Also, there is one another problem that was caused by the construction of the city.  That is, the pollution caused by factories and transportations that are included in it.  The problem is still unsolved.


Reflection

1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "human movement and migration" because as the Industrial Revolution started, people began to move into cities from countryside to work at factories.  Sudden growth of population in cities caused some problems such as cholera epidemic and pollution.
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "urbanization: construction of the modern city."
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
We were given the topic to talk about, and I wanted to include how the urbanization that occurred in Britain in 19th century are related to our lives today.
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
I learned that even though most problems caused by urbanization back then were solved, but there are problems such as pollution that remain unsolved.
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
No, I could have gone into more details and given more examples of events showing the problems of urbanization caused by Industrial Revolution.
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio -1
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment 0
c) Impact on your learning 3
d) Level of creativity and originality 1


Primary Source Evaluation (Artifact 11)

http://www.historyhome.co.uk/peel/factmine/deterior.htm



Origin
This document was created by P. Gaskell, and was first published in 1833 in London. Then, it was published online by Marjorie Bloy in 2010.

Purpose
This document exists to tell people about the physical condition of textile workers. The author created this piece of work because he wanted people to know the effect that the labor was having on the workers. He chose the format of a third person because this way, he could be descriptive. The author intends factory owners to read this, so that they would rethink about the working condition of their employees. The document says that the labor at cotton-mills have negative effect on the workers' physical conditions, especially on the children. This piece has a negative tone, which tells that the author is not supportive of factory labors.

Value
The author describes the bodies of the workers very descriptively using scientific terms. That suggests that the author possessed much knowledge about anatomy. From this document, I can tell that Industrial Revolution was going on, and there were many factory workers. So this piece talks about their physical condition. We can tell from this piece that some people, such as the author, disapproved factory labor, but factory owners kept on employing people for their own good, and poor workers had to get a job at a factory in order to live. The author represents the side of people who were against factory labor.

Limitation
From this piece, we cannot tell the physical conditions of people other than factory workers, which keeps us from comparing their physical conditions with others. The content of this piece can be verified by comparing it with other primary sources from this time period. There does not seem to be any inaccuracy in this piece. The author seems to be experienced in this sort of science, so his descriptions can be trusted. This piece only talks about the negative effects factory labor has on the workers, and does not talk about benefits it causes to them. It also does not give us the solution to this situation.


Reflection

1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "class consciousness" because the primary source is about physical effects that works had on working-class people, and the author is disapproving it.
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "building the modern economy," "human health" and "urbanization: construction of the modern city."
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
I chose this document because I was interested in what had happened to the workers after they quit working at their home and came to cities to work at factories.  It took me 2 hours to find a primary source and evaluate it.
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
I learned that the condition was very harsh for them, and their health was ruined by their labor.
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
No, I could have read the document more thoroughly and compared it with other primary sources.
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio 1
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment -1
c) Impact on your learning 2
d) Level of creativity and originality 0


Idea Page (Artifact 12)


Reflection

1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "urbanization: construction of the modern city" because it talks about causes of urbanization in Britain..
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "building the modern economy."
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
I chose this page because I found how the economy we have, with mass consumption, affects our life very interesting.  This kind of economy was caused by Industrial Revolution.
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
I understood that the economy we have will lead us to destruction, if we do not change now.  We must change the kind of development to a sustainable development.
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
Yes, because I used drawings, charts and color to make the page easier to understand and interesting.
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio 2
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment 0
c) Impact on your learning 3
d) Level of creativity and originality 1






Gapminder Analysis (Artifact 13)


Graph 1-Children per Woman V.S. CO2 Emissions Per Person
In 1820 in the UK the carbon emissions per person are around approximately 2 tons. By the end of the nineteenth century they have nearly quintupled. The average fertility rate has also decreased from about 5.6 to approximately 3.5. In Ireland the carbon emissions are a constant of zero according to the graph. The fertility rate drops from approximately 4.25 in 1850 to 3 at the end. But during the 1870s it began to rise again, after that is fell once more. Compare to other countries, the UK emits the most carbon per person by far. This shows that in the UK the industrial revolution had begun, whereas in Ireland it hadn’t even started.






Graph 2-Income Per Person V.S. Life Expectancy
In the beginning of the nineteenth century, Ireland is far behind the UK in both aspects. Ireland’s life expectancy also takes a toll during the potato famine. However, Ireland comes back from behind and at the end of the nineteenth century has a slight advantage life expectancy wise over the UK. However, Ireland’s income per person never surpassed the UK in the nineteenth century. The UK had a bit of a dodgy ride, but they generally stayed within the same income and life expectancy bracket. By the end of the nineteenth century both countries’ life expectancies are nearing fifty. The average income in the UK is 6,000 per person and in Ireland it is around 3,000.






Graph 3-Life Expectancy V.S. Children Per Woman
The fertility rate decreases in general whereas the life expectancy increases. Ireland’s graph is in a zigzag formations when it comes to the fertility rate, the UK’s rapidly varies from year to year. The increase in life expectancy is also less stable.









Reflection

1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "human health" because these graphs show how life expectancy changed as the environment in which the people lived got cleaner.
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "human movement and migration."
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
We chose these graphs because these were the only elements that were recorded from 19th century.  So we can tell that these were important enough for the people back them to record.  It took me 1 hour.
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
I learned that people's lives can be easily affected by their environment, so it is important to improve it.
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
Yes, there is detailed descriptions of the graph, and YouTube videos that enables people to gain information visibly.
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio 2
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment 1
c) Impact on your learning 1
d) Level of creativity and originality -1
6. Any additional comments.
I worked with Samantha.


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Video Presentation (Artifact 14)





Reflection

1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "evolution: science and religion" because it is about Darwin's theory of evolution, which caused a great debate back in the 19th century.
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "the notion of the frontier."
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
We chose Darwin because we found a 2008 article which talked about the Church of England apologizing to Darwin for their poor reaction, almost 200 years after his birth.  I spent 5 hours.
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
I understood that the relationship between science and religion is complicated, and we must be thoughtful when dealing with them.
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
Yes, because I used Prezi in which I included many pictures which would make it easy to understand the topic.
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio 3
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment -2
c) Impact on your learning 2
d) Level of creativity and originality 2
6. Any additional comments.
I worked with Kitty, Austin, and Celine.


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Britain and Growing Empire Timeline (Artifact 15)




Britain Timeline on Prezi



Reflection

1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "globalization through imperialism" because you can tell from this timeline that Britain conquered so many places around the world either through fighting a war with the country or receiving other countries' colonies after a war..
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "the balance of power: empires rise and fall."
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
I chose events that were important to the creation of modern Britain.  I also chose some that are related to my other artifacts.  It took me 2 hours.
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
I learned that most of the colonies that Britain obtained were gained through war, and I doubt it was a good decision for them to do so.
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
No, more details and descriptions can be added..
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio 0
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment -1
c) Impact on your learning 2
d) Level of creativity and originality 1
6. Any additional comments.

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Photograph Prezi (Artifact 16)




Pictures prezi on Prezi


Reflection

1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "the notion of the frontier" because the consulates represented geographical remoteness from Britain, which caused them to stand on the frontier and represent it.
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "communication and transportation revolution."
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
I chose the pictures that were most interesting to me, and it took me whole day to take the pictures, select them, and make a Prezi.
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
I got to see Taiwan from new perspective.
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
Yes, these pictures were chosen from more than 200 pictures that I took, and I believe that they are well selected.
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio 3
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment 4
c) Impact on your learning 1
d) Level of creativity and originality 2



Comparing and Contrasting of Key Figures (Artifact 17)










Reflection

1. a) Which main topic does the artifact relate to? In what ways?
It relates to "nationalism and liberalism: creation of the nation-state" because people in Parliament were trying to make Britain a better place to live by arguing and voting.
b) Which other main topics does it also relate to?
It also relates to "globalization through imperiailsm."
2. Why did you choose this artifact, and how much time did you spend creating and/or processing it?
I chose the event about General Gordon's death because it was the cause of the fall of Gladstone's cabinet.  He used to be called GOM, the Grand Old Man, but after the incident, he was called MOG, the Murderer Of Gordon.
3. What insights and understanding have you gained from the creation and/or processing of this artifact?
I understood that sometimes, doing nothing is worse than doing the wrong thing.  In this case, Gladstone was worried about the consequence of sending troops, which made him hesitate and bring an end to his rule.
4. Does this artifact reflect your best work and/or ideas?  Why, or why not?
No, I should have tried to use the vocabulary of the 19th century to make the speech sound more realistic.
5. Rate this artifact on a scale of -5 to 5 (0 is neutral) for the following 4 criterion:
a) Impact on the quality of your Portfolio -1
b) Impact on your level of happiness/enjoyment -1
c) Impact on your learning 2
d) Level of creativity and originality 0

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Posted by Takumi at 5:20 PM 0 comments
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