If you need to request a transcript for your college applications, you will need to know your U of M student id, which should be on the material you received from the U after you registered for the class. You can request this information online: onestop.umn.edu
I created a link to the site if you click on one stop on the right side of the blog.
Then, click on grades and transcripts. You can view or print your unofficial transcript from this site. If you need an official transcript, you can request that one is sent to you through this site. You probably will need a credit/debit card to pay for it online.
Let me know if you have any trouble with this process.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Comments on the Research Journal
Hi everyone. One last comment on the research journal: one part of this journal was to connect the research to the book (Please look at the handout I gave you). I don't know if many of you did that. If you have not completed this portion of the assignment, please post a comment on your own entry to create this as an addendum. I will grade this assignment when the others are due so you have until them to add this addendum. Please feel free to comment on each other's posts and ask questions, etc.
Ms. Peifer
Ms. Peifer
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Sikh Wars by Croix
The story begins in 1839 in the beautiful court if Lahore in India. It all started when Ranjit Singh died of a stroke during the warm, summer of 1839. When he died, the death of the great Sikh state quickly proceeded. The whole administration and court system was in chaos. Rather, Singh's army, the Khalsa army came into power and became the new law. The elected representatives managed the army but the army officers didn't like this system. The Punjabi officers were given the position of mere drill sergeants, which was way less of a powerful position than their old ones. Therefore, they went back to their homelands in Europe and America. Soon the army grew to be three times its original size but it lacked discipline and direction. Unfortunately civil war was lurking in the background because the majority of the solders were unpaid and starving. Successors to the throne were continuously murdered, finally leaving Singh's six-year- old son, Maharaja Dalip Singh to rule.
The Maharini's council consisted of Gulab Singh and two of the Brahmin generals of the Sikh army, and they planned to make negotiations with the British as they saw their state slowly deteriorating. The first Anglo-Sikh war took place on February 10, 1846 in Mudki. The Sikhs were defeated at Mudki because although they were initially gaining ground, their commanders held the reinforcements back. The betrayal of their commanders did not stop there. Loads of sand and grain were sent instead of gunpowder, leaving them at loss for weapons.
Many more battles were to come. The subsequent battle at Frozshah was a win for the Sikhs. They had killed 2,331 British troops by the first half of the day. The following battles didn't have such a positive outcome for the Sikh warriors. The Sikhs were beaten at Aliwal, Buddowal and at Sabraon. The Sikh generals kept withholding generals and eventually lead the British to victory. Finally, a treaty of surrender was signed on March 11,1846. By then, the British had taken over almost half of the Sikh kingdom. The British handsomely rewarded the unfaithful generals.
After all of this fighting, there was still more fighting to come. By now the British had taken over most of the Sikh kingdom and the Punjab lands. There arose a rebellion in a small Punjab province now know as the "Sikh rebellion." The British used this occurrence for their reason to annex the Punjab lands for the benefit of the British Empire. The first major battle after the rebellion was fought at Chillianwala on January 13,1849. Surprisingly, the British suffered from this battle. Although this was a win for the Sikhs, their future battles didn't look as victorious. The battles at Gujrat and Ramnugger were lost to the British and eventually on March 10, 1849 the Sikh army was defeated and accepted this defeat. Although the British had won, the Sikhs put up an incredible fight.
Bibliography
See B . .J. Hasrat. Anglo-Sikh Relations. 1799-1849 (1968).
"Sikh Wars." The Columbia Encyclopedia. Columbia University Prcss. Sixth Edition 2007.
"The Anglo Sikh Wars:' Search Sikhism. 2004. October 19,2007..
The Maharini's council consisted of Gulab Singh and two of the Brahmin generals of the Sikh army, and they planned to make negotiations with the British as they saw their state slowly deteriorating. The first Anglo-Sikh war took place on February 10, 1846 in Mudki. The Sikhs were defeated at Mudki because although they were initially gaining ground, their commanders held the reinforcements back. The betrayal of their commanders did not stop there. Loads of sand and grain were sent instead of gunpowder, leaving them at loss for weapons.
Many more battles were to come. The subsequent battle at Frozshah was a win for the Sikhs. They had killed 2,331 British troops by the first half of the day. The following battles didn't have such a positive outcome for the Sikh warriors. The Sikhs were beaten at Aliwal, Buddowal and at Sabraon. The Sikh generals kept withholding generals and eventually lead the British to victory. Finally, a treaty of surrender was signed on March 11,1846. By then, the British had taken over almost half of the Sikh kingdom. The British handsomely rewarded the unfaithful generals.
After all of this fighting, there was still more fighting to come. By now the British had taken over most of the Sikh kingdom and the Punjab lands. There arose a rebellion in a small Punjab province now know as the "Sikh rebellion." The British used this occurrence for their reason to annex the Punjab lands for the benefit of the British Empire. The first major battle after the rebellion was fought at Chillianwala on January 13,1849. Surprisingly, the British suffered from this battle. Although this was a win for the Sikhs, their future battles didn't look as victorious. The battles at Gujrat and Ramnugger were lost to the British and eventually on March 10, 1849 the Sikh army was defeated and accepted this defeat. Although the British had won, the Sikhs put up an incredible fight.
Bibliography
See B . .J. Hasrat. Anglo-Sikh Relations. 1799-1849 (1968).
"Sikh Wars." The Columbia Encyclopedia. Columbia University Prcss. Sixth Edition 2007.
"The Anglo Sikh Wars:' Search Sikhism. 2004. October 19,2007.
William Murray by Kao
William Murray was born on March 2, 1705 in a town in the former Scottish county of Perthshire. In 1742, he took the position of solicitor general for fourteen years and at the same time was a member of the House of Common Boroughbridge. In 1745 he was appointed attorney general and also became the leader of the House of Commons.
He concentrated his efforts and spends most of his time on law rather than politics. As a member of the Troy government, Murray was a strong supporter of moderation in his nation's foreign and domestic policies. His use his learning and understanding of law as the basis for his political beliefs. Using law as an approach to politics get him caught in numerous confrontations. One of them was with "Junius" or Sir Phillip Francis on the issues of political libel.
Even through these oppositions from other people, he was respected for his fairness, modesty and vast leanings. "A rationalist, he reduced costly delays in the legal system, renovated outdated property laws used by courts in the medieval times, and protected the right to freedom of conscience for Catholics" and other relating groups of the Church of England.
His major contributions to England were his development and creation of regulations for the British commercial law. Before the establishment of his rules, English common law was the only regulation that they used. When cases were brought to court regarding trades and other commercial matters, juries relied on their wits. Murray came along and developed clear and specific guidelines for courts to follow. He also established basic principles in governing business which brought English law into step with international countries.
Murray tried to contribute the same idea of guidelines in other English law but was often opposed by many people "who argued for more libel approaches to libel, warrants, and the roles of juries". Some thought that Murray's effort to changing the English law was corrupting the traditions of the legal system.
Overall, Murray developed rules that created equity in the British system of business, bills of exchange, promissory notes and bank check. This eventually became the foundation of British commercial law.
"William Murray." Biographies. Answers Corporation, 2006. Answers.com 21 Oct. http://www.answers.com/topic/william-murray
He concentrated his efforts and spends most of his time on law rather than politics. As a member of the Troy government, Murray was a strong supporter of moderation in his nation's foreign and domestic policies. His use his learning and understanding of law as the basis for his political beliefs. Using law as an approach to politics get him caught in numerous confrontations. One of them was with "Junius" or Sir Phillip Francis on the issues of political libel.
Even through these oppositions from other people, he was respected for his fairness, modesty and vast leanings. "A rationalist, he reduced costly delays in the legal system, renovated outdated property laws used by courts in the medieval times, and protected the right to freedom of conscience for Catholics" and other relating groups of the Church of England.
His major contributions to England were his development and creation of regulations for the British commercial law. Before the establishment of his rules, English common law was the only regulation that they used. When cases were brought to court regarding trades and other commercial matters, juries relied on their wits. Murray came along and developed clear and specific guidelines for courts to follow. He also established basic principles in governing business which brought English law into step with international countries.
Murray tried to contribute the same idea of guidelines in other English law but was often opposed by many people "who argued for more libel approaches to libel, warrants, and the roles of juries". Some thought that Murray's effort to changing the English law was corrupting the traditions of the legal system.
Overall, Murray developed rules that created equity in the British system of business, bills of exchange, promissory notes and bank check. This eventually became the foundation of British commercial law.
"William Murray." Biographies. Answers Corporation, 2006. Answers.com 21 Oct. http://www.answers.com/topic/william-murray
Johann Scheuchzer by Maggie
Johann Scheuchzer (1672-1733), a native of Switzerland, was a physician and math teacher. He was also one of the first people to explore fossils and where they come from.
Scheuchzer supported scientist John Woodward's idea that Fossils originated from the Great Flood. He made Woodward's theory well known by translating one of Woodward's essays into Latin. Johann also researched fossils and came to the conclusion that the Flood had changed the Earth's crust into a gel like material. This then hardened and trapped fish and other organisms.
Scheuchzer was also an important leader of the diluvialism movement. Supporters of this movement received the Bible as a factual book and claimed that human fossils were from lives lost during the Flood.
Overall Scheuchzer was well received by the general public even though some of his discoveries were controversial and later found to be incorrect. In 1811, Georges Cuvier concluded that what Scheuchzer once thought was a human skeleton, was actually the skeleton of a huge salamander. Although Scheuchzer was wrong, he was still very much respected for his innovative ideas, and Cuvier named the fossil "Andrias scheuchzeri" to honor Scheuchzer.
Johann Scheuchzer had a huge impact on discoveries made today. Although he wasn't accurate in all of his conclusions, he was a pioneer in fossil research and the correlation between fossils and living organisms.
Works Cited
Cohn, Norman. "Noah's Flood the Genesis Story in Western Thought." 21 Oct. 2007
BIfXuOC&pg=P A87 &lpg=P A87 &dq=johann+scheuchzer&source=web&ots=veT UyHUWS5&sig=5iedInjVODfQ8qNKI FYk2r4izTs#PP A90,MI>.
"Diluvialism." Answers.Com. 2007. 21 Oct. 2007 .
Waggoner, Ben. "Medieval and Renaissance Concepts of Evolution and Paleontology."
UC Berkeley. 21 Oct. 2007.
Scheuchzer supported scientist John Woodward's idea that Fossils originated from the Great Flood. He made Woodward's theory well known by translating one of Woodward's essays into Latin. Johann also researched fossils and came to the conclusion that the Flood had changed the Earth's crust into a gel like material. This then hardened and trapped fish and other organisms.
Scheuchzer was also an important leader of the diluvialism movement. Supporters of this movement received the Bible as a factual book and claimed that human fossils were from lives lost during the Flood.
Overall Scheuchzer was well received by the general public even though some of his discoveries were controversial and later found to be incorrect. In 1811, Georges Cuvier concluded that what Scheuchzer once thought was a human skeleton, was actually the skeleton of a huge salamander. Although Scheuchzer was wrong, he was still very much respected for his innovative ideas, and Cuvier named the fossil "Andrias scheuchzeri" to honor Scheuchzer.
Johann Scheuchzer had a huge impact on discoveries made today. Although he wasn't accurate in all of his conclusions, he was a pioneer in fossil research and the correlation between fossils and living organisms.
Works Cited
Cohn, Norman. "Noah's Flood the Genesis Story in Western Thought." 21 Oct. 2007
BIfXuOC&pg=P A87 &lpg=P A87 &dq=johann+scheuchzer&source=web&ots=veT UyHUWS5&sig=5iedInjVODfQ8qNKI FYk2r4izTs#PP A90,MI>.
"Diluvialism." Answers.Com. 2007. 21 Oct. 2007
Waggoner, Ben. "Medieval and Renaissance Concepts of Evolution and Paleontology."
UC Berkeley. 21 Oct. 2007
William Maclure by Marit
William Maclure was a Scottish geologist with a fascination for the geology of the United States. He lived from 1763 to 1840 and at that time the only widely used geological map of the United States was one of just the Eastern United States. Maclure's goal was to make a color, geological map of the entire country. This is what gave Maclure the title "father of American geology".
Geology was not regarded as a science at this time so Maclure didn't get much respect for his research and work until the full map was published in 1809. It is rumored that Maclure crossed the Appalachian Mountains 5000 times while constructing the map, There were other maps of the United States but none of them were as widely available as Maclure's, After presenting his findings, Maclure and the science ofGeofogy gained a huge amount of respect from other scientists. He eventually became President of The Academy of Natural Sciences. Maclure also published a book along with the map titled "Observations on the Geology of the United States", which is regarded as a symbol of the beginning of American geology. Maclure used the Wernerian system for constructing his maps and he is widely criticized for it. Maclure used only four colors on his map which represent four classes of rock. This put many limitations on what was included and wasn't included in the map, for example no voleanic rocks were included and he paid little attention to fossils. Even with the criticism, Maclure's map was so widely used because it was the only one of its kind.
Maclure is known as the "father of American geology" bccause he was the first to bring geology into the public eye, not because he had groundbreaking discoveries. His ideas were tcn ycars behind Europe's concepts, but still they were the only ideas in the United States so he was very famous in the scientific world. ?vlaclure also studied the geological layout and madc maps of India, France and Spain in his lifetime.
Besides geology, Maclure also had a passion for education. He unsuccessfully attempted to create an agricultural school in Spain. He also partnered up with scientist Robert Owen and created thc utopian community of New Harmony, Indiana. As leaders of the community they focused on education and society reform. The project seemed like a good idea in rctrospect but it only lastcd for two years.
Works Cited:
Abel'. James S .. "William MacIure." Historv of Geologv -- MacIure. 2007.18 Oct 2007.
Wilson, James Grant. "William MacIure." Virtual American Biographies. 2001.
Viliualoiogy. 18 Oct 2007
Geology was not regarded as a science at this time so Maclure didn't get much respect for his research and work until the full map was published in 1809. It is rumored that Maclure crossed the Appalachian Mountains 5000 times while constructing the map, There were other maps of the United States but none of them were as widely available as Maclure's, After presenting his findings, Maclure and the science ofGeofogy gained a huge amount of respect from other scientists. He eventually became President of The Academy of Natural Sciences. Maclure also published a book along with the map titled "Observations on the Geology of the United States", which is regarded as a symbol of the beginning of American geology. Maclure used the Wernerian system for constructing his maps and he is widely criticized for it. Maclure used only four colors on his map which represent four classes of rock. This put many limitations on what was included and wasn't included in the map, for example no voleanic rocks were included and he paid little attention to fossils. Even with the criticism, Maclure's map was so widely used because it was the only one of its kind.
Maclure is known as the "father of American geology" bccause he was the first to bring geology into the public eye, not because he had groundbreaking discoveries. His ideas were tcn ycars behind Europe's concepts, but still they were the only ideas in the United States so he was very famous in the scientific world. ?vlaclure also studied the geological layout and madc maps of India, France and Spain in his lifetime.
Besides geology, Maclure also had a passion for education. He unsuccessfully attempted to create an agricultural school in Spain. He also partnered up with scientist Robert Owen and created thc utopian community of New Harmony, Indiana. As leaders of the community they focused on education and society reform. The project seemed like a good idea in rctrospect but it only lastcd for two years.
Works Cited:
Abel'. James S .. "William MacIure." Historv of Geologv -- MacIure. 2007.18 Oct 2007
Wilson, James Grant. "William MacIure." Virtual American Biographies. 2001.
Viliualoiogy. 18 Oct 2007
Charles-Alexandre Lesueur by Nora
In the year 1804, a pair of ships filled with weary French seamen sailed into their home port after a grueling trip. One of the men was Charles-Alexandre Lesueur, who would later go on to become renowned for his writings and sketches depicting aquatic life (works which earned him a mention in Servants of the Map). During the voyage, the men had observed the wildlife of Australia and Tasmania and attempted to chart those countries' coasts. The mission had spanned three and a half years and had been plagued by bad luck: arguments between crew members led to some of the sailors abandoning the mission. Others of the crew succumbed to stress and exertion, and the plan to map the coastlines was ultimately a failure. To top off these sailors' misfortunes, much of the French population was so concerned about the events of the Napoleonic Wars that the return of the expedition went relatively unnoticed. However, it would soon be discovered that the ships had brought back with them a great deal of valuable information.
Charles-Alexandre Lesueur, a young man of twenty-two, was an artist who had originally joined the crew as an assistant gunner, all the artists' posts having been taken. As deaths and dissent diminished the crew, though, Lesueur eventually ascended to the position he wanted. With the assistance of a naturalist named Francois Peron, Lesueur collected about 100,000 animal specimens, both living and dead. Using these specimens and his observations of animals in the wild, he created approximately 1,500 detailed sketches. These sketches were extremely valuable to Europeans because, at the time, no other such sketches existed. Europeans had heard descriptions of the kinds of animals that lived "Down Under," but these descriptions were sparse and often flawed. The specimens Lesueur captured allowed the people of Europe to see and understand what the animals of Australia and Tasmania really looked like, while his sketches (which he later reproduced in watercolor on vellum) allowed images of the animals to be put on record and to be distributed to those who did not have access to the specimens themselves. The expedition that had previously been discounted was now seen as a source of useful and interesting information.
Lesueur spent the next few years conducting research, together with Peron, on various sea animals-mollusks, jellyfish, and the like- that lived in the waters around France, and then writing papers on their findings. His next very significant endeavor was a trip to the United States in the company of eminent naturalist William Maclure. They and their companions traveled to the city of Philadelphia, where they remained for several years, and then to Mt. Vernon in Indiana and to New Orleans. During this trip, Lesueur conducted the studies for which he is perhaps best known: those of freshwater fish in North America. He performed some of the first ichthyological surveys of the Great Lakes and produced a great number of papers and sketches on fish and other underwater life. During this period, he also did some work that was not scientific in nature. He painted some portraits of people and was commissioned to paint a theatre curtain.
After his work in America, Lesueur returned to his native France. There, he spent a year as the curator of the Museum of Natural History in Havre and gave art lessons to aspiring sketchers. He also continued his studies of aquatic animals, branching out into research on tortoises and snakes as well.
After the initial period just after the return from his first expedition, when his work remained undiscovered, the scientific community welcomed and valued Lesueur's sketches and writings. Both are detailed, clear, and concise, making them easy to interpret and of great value to the researchers following in his footsteps. Although he is not well known by the general population, Charles-Alexandre Lesueur's efforts had a great influence on naturalists and continue to do so today.
Fuller, Errol. “Voyage of a Painter — Charles-Alexandre Lesueur.” Natural History April 1998.
Lesueur appears in the story "Two Rivers" as a minor character to whom Caleb is introduced at a party. When Lesueur learns that Caleb's father was the author of a book connecting fossils with the biblical flood braved by Noah, he is scornful of Caleb. This embarrasses Caleb greatly and shows how strong an impact his father's actions often have on Caleb's life
Kimberling, Clark. “Charles-Alexandre Lesueur.” Clark Kimberling. University of Evansville. 19 October 2007.
Charles-Alexandre Lesueur, a young man of twenty-two, was an artist who had originally joined the crew as an assistant gunner, all the artists' posts having been taken. As deaths and dissent diminished the crew, though, Lesueur eventually ascended to the position he wanted. With the assistance of a naturalist named Francois Peron, Lesueur collected about 100,000 animal specimens, both living and dead. Using these specimens and his observations of animals in the wild, he created approximately 1,500 detailed sketches. These sketches were extremely valuable to Europeans because, at the time, no other such sketches existed. Europeans had heard descriptions of the kinds of animals that lived "Down Under," but these descriptions were sparse and often flawed. The specimens Lesueur captured allowed the people of Europe to see and understand what the animals of Australia and Tasmania really looked like, while his sketches (which he later reproduced in watercolor on vellum) allowed images of the animals to be put on record and to be distributed to those who did not have access to the specimens themselves. The expedition that had previously been discounted was now seen as a source of useful and interesting information.
Lesueur spent the next few years conducting research, together with Peron, on various sea animals-mollusks, jellyfish, and the like- that lived in the waters around France, and then writing papers on their findings. His next very significant endeavor was a trip to the United States in the company of eminent naturalist William Maclure. They and their companions traveled to the city of Philadelphia, where they remained for several years, and then to Mt. Vernon in Indiana and to New Orleans. During this trip, Lesueur conducted the studies for which he is perhaps best known: those of freshwater fish in North America. He performed some of the first ichthyological surveys of the Great Lakes and produced a great number of papers and sketches on fish and other underwater life. During this period, he also did some work that was not scientific in nature. He painted some portraits of people and was commissioned to paint a theatre curtain.
After his work in America, Lesueur returned to his native France. There, he spent a year as the curator of the Museum of Natural History in Havre and gave art lessons to aspiring sketchers. He also continued his studies of aquatic animals, branching out into research on tortoises and snakes as well.
After the initial period just after the return from his first expedition, when his work remained undiscovered, the scientific community welcomed and valued Lesueur's sketches and writings. Both are detailed, clear, and concise, making them easy to interpret and of great value to the researchers following in his footsteps. Although he is not well known by the general population, Charles-Alexandre Lesueur's efforts had a great influence on naturalists and continue to do so today.
Fuller, Errol. “Voyage of a Painter — Charles-Alexandre Lesueur.” Natural History April 1998.
Lesueur appears in the story "Two Rivers" as a minor character to whom Caleb is introduced at a party. When Lesueur learns that Caleb's father was the author of a book connecting fossils with the biblical flood braved by Noah, he is scornful of Caleb. This embarrasses Caleb greatly and shows how strong an impact his father's actions often have on Caleb's life
Kimberling, Clark. “Charles-Alexandre Lesueur.” Clark Kimberling. University of Evansville. 19 October 2007.
Ubiquitin by Peder
Ubiquitin is a very small protein of only 76 amino acids. It is so named because it is ubiquitous; it can be found almost anywhere. This is true for in the human body and any other creature. It has remained one of the least changed proteins during evolution making it so abundant and so wide spread.
Ubiquitin is used in the degradation of other proteins. This process was discovered by Aaron Ciechanover, Avram Hershko, and Irwin Rose who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2004 for their fundamental discoveries in this process. Ubiquitin is used as a tag that, when attached to unwanted proteins, acts as a key to allow them into the proteasome. In the proteasome these proteins are broken down and the ubiquitin gets reused.
Ubuiquitin and the ubiquitin proteasome system described above are important in cell cycle division, different DNA processes, quality control, and other protein related processes in the cell. Problems in this system have been linked with cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and inflammatory diseases. Currently drugs are being created that could be used to modulate the ubiquitin proteasome system in an effort to cure some of these diseases.
Works Cited
"Definition of Ubiquitin." MedicineNet. 06 Oct. 2004. 22 Oct. 2007.
Reinstein, Eyal, and Aaron Ciechanover. "Narrative Review: Protein Degradation and Human Diseases: the Ubiquitin Connection." Annals of Internal Medicine. 07 Nov. 2006. American College of Physicians. 22 Oct. 2007
.
Thelander, Lars. "Ubiquitin-Mediated Proteolysis." www.kva.se. 06 Oct. 2004. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. 22 Oct. 2007
.
Ubiquitin is used in the degradation of other proteins. This process was discovered by Aaron Ciechanover, Avram Hershko, and Irwin Rose who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 2004 for their fundamental discoveries in this process. Ubiquitin is used as a tag that, when attached to unwanted proteins, acts as a key to allow them into the proteasome. In the proteasome these proteins are broken down and the ubiquitin gets reused.
Ubuiquitin and the ubiquitin proteasome system described above are important in cell cycle division, different DNA processes, quality control, and other protein related processes in the cell. Problems in this system have been linked with cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and inflammatory diseases. Currently drugs are being created that could be used to modulate the ubiquitin proteasome system in an effort to cure some of these diseases.
Works Cited
"Definition of Ubiquitin." MedicineNet. 06 Oct. 2004. 22 Oct. 2007
Reinstein, Eyal, and Aaron Ciechanover. "Narrative Review: Protein Degradation and Human Diseases: the Ubiquitin Connection." Annals of Internal Medicine. 07 Nov. 2006. American College of Physicians. 22 Oct. 2007
Thelander, Lars. "Ubiquitin-Mediated Proteolysis." www.kva.se. 06 Oct. 2004. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. 22 Oct. 2007
Asa Gray by Vathana
American Botanist, Asa Gray was born on November 18, 1810 in Sauquoit, New York. His interest in Botany began in the spring of 1827 when he started to collect and identify plants. He received his master's degree for doctor of medicine in the year 1831 at Fairfield College and later established a medical practice in Bridgewater, New York. His career continued on as a college professor of botany at University of Michigan and a professor of natural history at Harvard in the year 1842. Asa Gray was able to create the first herbarium and the first botanical library at Harvard University. He also rearranged and expanded the garden for botanical research purposes. The herbarium soon became the best in America and the entire botanical department of Harvard University became most valuable thanks to the contributions of Asa Gray. He retired from his teaching career in the year 1873. Asa Gray published many books on his botanical studies and essays on evolutionary theory. Some of his more recognized books include Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States, Flora of North America, and Darwiniana. A vast majority of Asa Gray's life was devoted to the studies of the Flora in North America. He often traveled around the United States and Europe to further advance his research. Asa Gray was one of the first supporters of Darwin's theory of natural selection. He played a major role in introducing Darwin's theory to the United States by using his studies of Botany to explore and support it. Asa Gray generally reviewed European Scientific works, becoming a small link between European and American botanical science studies.
Asa Gray passed away on January 30,1888. Yet all of his life's work still continued to contribute to the research and education in botanical science.
Bibliography
M., Alexis. "Asa Gray." Perry's Perennial Pages. 18 October 2007..
"Asa Gray." Love to Know 1911. 1 September 2006. 18 October 2007..
"Asa Gray (1810-1888) Papers." Harvard University Herbaria. 18 October 2007..
Asa Gray passed away on January 30,1888. Yet all of his life's work still continued to contribute to the research and education in botanical science.
Bibliography
M., Alexis. "Asa Gray." Perry's Perennial Pages. 18 October 2007.
"Asa Gray." Love to Know 1911. 1 September 2006. 18 October 2007.
"Asa Gray (1810-1888) Papers." Harvard University Herbaria. 18 October 2007.
Fossils Findings in the Late 1800s by Annie
During the second have of the nineteenth century, numerous fossil discoveries from all over the world contributed greatly to scientists' understanding of prehistoric life and the theory of evolution. Important fossils and artifacts discovered during this time were the dinosaur skeletons, an Archaeopteryx feather, and the Neanderthal man.
In 1855 the first skeleton of Archaeopteryx was discovered in Germany. Overtime more specimens were found including the London Specimen, Berlin Specimen, and the Haarlem specimen. What was remarkable about Archaeopteryx was that it had features of both dinosaurs and birds.
"By virtue of this fact Archaeopteryx represents an example of a group in transition - a representative which, although on the sidelines in the dinosaur to bird transition, an echo of the actual event, still allows a brief glimpse into the possible mechanism which brought about the evolution of the birds and by its very existence shows that such a transition is possible (Nedin)."
When found fossils weren't necessarily described to the world by the person who discovered them, for it was often accidental. Instead it was the scientists who studied them, drew conclusions about them, and finally after what could be years published their conclusions. Scientists famous for their study of Archaeopteryx were Herman von Meyer and Robert Owen.
In 1860, five years after the skeleton was unearthed, Herman von Meyer found a feather of Archaeopteryx. The age of the feather was not as significant as simply the amount of detail that was preserved with such a soft tissue.
Around this same time Hadrosaurus skeletons were being found in Haddonfield, New Jersey by the paleontologist Joseph Leidy. These discoveries gave both scientists a lot of notoriety and were the basis for modern paleontology in North America. "His Hadrosaurus foulkii studies would establish Leidy as the father of modern paleontology and make the Academy North America's preeminent institution in that field throughout the rest of the nineteenth century (Levins)."
Another famous American paleontologist was Othniel Charles Marsh who discovered among many other remains, the first pterosaur fossils in 1871. As professor of vertebrate paleontology at Yale University he established the Peabody Museum of Natural History and the Marsh Botanical Garden at Yale University, both of which contributed to furthering the world's understanding of evolution.
Around the same time Archaeopteryx was discovered, the first Neanderthal man was discovered in the Neander valley by quarry workers. It was debated whether the skeleton was actually a different-but-close species of human or merely a deformed example of a human being. However, the prior proved correct when gradually more Neanderthal fossils were found over a region stretching from Britain and Spain all the way to Iran. Not only had Neanderthals existed over such a vast area, but also for a very long period of time. The bones dated from 35 to 230 thousand years old.
Nowadays, although they are still researching and making discoveries, scientists are much more aware of evolution and how it works. They all have a lot to thank fossils and the scientists who studied them in the late 1800s.
Bibliography
Gascoigne, Bamber. HistoryWorld.
http://www.historyworld.netlwrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?groupid =604&Histor yID=.2007. October 21,2007.
Levins, Hoag. "From the Shores of a Bucolic Pond to World Fame: Haddonfield's Dinosaur" http://www.levins.com/bones.shtml. 1995-2004. October 21,2007.
Nedin, Chris. "Talk Origins Archive" www.talkorigins.org/fags.archaeoptcryx/inf().htmI. 1999. October 21, 2007.
In 1855 the first skeleton of Archaeopteryx was discovered in Germany. Overtime more specimens were found including the London Specimen, Berlin Specimen, and the Haarlem specimen. What was remarkable about Archaeopteryx was that it had features of both dinosaurs and birds.
"By virtue of this fact Archaeopteryx represents an example of a group in transition - a representative which, although on the sidelines in the dinosaur to bird transition, an echo of the actual event, still allows a brief glimpse into the possible mechanism which brought about the evolution of the birds and by its very existence shows that such a transition is possible (Nedin)."
When found fossils weren't necessarily described to the world by the person who discovered them, for it was often accidental. Instead it was the scientists who studied them, drew conclusions about them, and finally after what could be years published their conclusions. Scientists famous for their study of Archaeopteryx were Herman von Meyer and Robert Owen.
In 1860, five years after the skeleton was unearthed, Herman von Meyer found a feather of Archaeopteryx. The age of the feather was not as significant as simply the amount of detail that was preserved with such a soft tissue.
Around this same time Hadrosaurus skeletons were being found in Haddonfield, New Jersey by the paleontologist Joseph Leidy. These discoveries gave both scientists a lot of notoriety and were the basis for modern paleontology in North America. "His Hadrosaurus foulkii studies would establish Leidy as the father of modern paleontology and make the Academy North America's preeminent institution in that field throughout the rest of the nineteenth century (Levins)."
Another famous American paleontologist was Othniel Charles Marsh who discovered among many other remains, the first pterosaur fossils in 1871. As professor of vertebrate paleontology at Yale University he established the Peabody Museum of Natural History and the Marsh Botanical Garden at Yale University, both of which contributed to furthering the world's understanding of evolution.
Around the same time Archaeopteryx was discovered, the first Neanderthal man was discovered in the Neander valley by quarry workers. It was debated whether the skeleton was actually a different-but-close species of human or merely a deformed example of a human being. However, the prior proved correct when gradually more Neanderthal fossils were found over a region stretching from Britain and Spain all the way to Iran. Not only had Neanderthals existed over such a vast area, but also for a very long period of time. The bones dated from 35 to 230 thousand years old.
Nowadays, although they are still researching and making discoveries, scientists are much more aware of evolution and how it works. They all have a lot to thank fossils and the scientists who studied them in the late 1800s.
Bibliography
Gascoigne, Bamber. HistoryWorld.
http://www.historyworld.netlwrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?groupid =604&Histor yID=.2007. October 21,2007.
Levins, Hoag. "From the Shores of a Bucolic Pond to World Fame: Haddonfield's Dinosaur" http://www.levins.com/bones.shtml. 1995-2004. October 21,2007.
Nedin, Chris. "Talk Origins Archive" www.talkorigins.org/fags.archaeoptcryx/inf().htmI. 1999. October 21, 2007.
Sir William Hooker by Caroline
Sir William Hooker was one of the most significant English botanists of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Through his extensive study and countless published works on plants he made many forward strides in raising awareness and interest in botany, most notably of which being his expansion of the British Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew.
Born in Norwich, England on July 6th 1785, Hooker learned the study of plants from his father, Joseph Hooker. He received his early education at the grammar school in Norwich and then later went on to Starston Hall, where he studied estate management. When his godfather, William Jackson, died and left him a large inheritance, Hooker abandoned his budding career as an estate manager and put all his new wealth into his true passion, botany.
In 1806, at the age of twenty-one, he discovered a new type of moss called "Buxbaumia
Aphylia" which launched his career and sparked the interest of Sir Joseph Banks, a renowned naturalist. Banks sponsored Hooker in his fist botanical expedition, a full-expense paid trip to
Iceland in which Hooker made many notes and collected numerous plant samples. On the journey back, however, all his meticulous research was destroyed in a shipboard fire which nearly cost him his life. Once safe at home, Hooker wrote his first book, Tour of Iceland, (published in 1809) from memory, which collected much acclaim among the botanist elite.
In 1814, he spend nine months studying indigenous plant life in Switzerland and northern
Italy and, in 1815, Hooker married Maria Turner, the daughter of the botanist Dawson Turner.
Shortly thereafter, in 1820, he was appointed Regius Professor of Botany at the University of
Glasgow where he was a huge hit. He started the University's first Botanical Magazine in 1826, but eventually found that the job, although satisfying, was not making him enough money to support his new family.
When the Director of the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, W.T. Aiton, resigned, Hooker was appointed as Kew's new director. Under his management, the gardens were expanded from 11 to 75 acres, a museum of botany was established, and a 270 acre arboretum was built. In 1836, these remarkable advances in his field generated royal interest, and Hooker was knighted. He maintained his position as director of Kew until his dying day. In 1865, after a struggle with a throat disease now thought to be cancer, Hooker died, and his son Joseph Hooker was selected to take his place.
Throughout his life, Sir William Hooker devoted himself to the study and teaching of botany. Through his hard work he inspired many young people of the time to pursue their passions, and also made sure that the Botanical Gardens at Kew remain a fascination for generations to come.
Bibliography
"Hooker, William Jackson (1785-1865)." Australian National Botanical Gardens. Australian Government Department of the Environment and Water Resources. 10/19/07
"Sir William Jackson Hooker (1785-1865)." Kew, History & Heritage. The Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. 10/]9/07
"Sir William Jackson Hooker (1785-1865)." The Explorers. PlantExplorers.com™ 10/19/07
"William Jackson Hooker" NNDB: Tracking the Entire World. Soy lent Communications. 10/19/07
Born in Norwich, England on July 6th 1785, Hooker learned the study of plants from his father, Joseph Hooker. He received his early education at the grammar school in Norwich and then later went on to Starston Hall, where he studied estate management. When his godfather, William Jackson, died and left him a large inheritance, Hooker abandoned his budding career as an estate manager and put all his new wealth into his true passion, botany.
In 1806, at the age of twenty-one, he discovered a new type of moss called "Buxbaumia
Aphylia" which launched his career and sparked the interest of Sir Joseph Banks, a renowned naturalist. Banks sponsored Hooker in his fist botanical expedition, a full-expense paid trip to
Iceland in which Hooker made many notes and collected numerous plant samples. On the journey back, however, all his meticulous research was destroyed in a shipboard fire which nearly cost him his life. Once safe at home, Hooker wrote his first book, Tour of Iceland, (published in 1809) from memory, which collected much acclaim among the botanist elite.
In 1814, he spend nine months studying indigenous plant life in Switzerland and northern
Italy and, in 1815, Hooker married Maria Turner, the daughter of the botanist Dawson Turner.
Shortly thereafter, in 1820, he was appointed Regius Professor of Botany at the University of
Glasgow where he was a huge hit. He started the University's first Botanical Magazine in 1826, but eventually found that the job, although satisfying, was not making him enough money to support his new family.
When the Director of the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, W.T. Aiton, resigned, Hooker was appointed as Kew's new director. Under his management, the gardens were expanded from 11 to 75 acres, a museum of botany was established, and a 270 acre arboretum was built. In 1836, these remarkable advances in his field generated royal interest, and Hooker was knighted. He maintained his position as director of Kew until his dying day. In 1865, after a struggle with a throat disease now thought to be cancer, Hooker died, and his son Joseph Hooker was selected to take his place.
Throughout his life, Sir William Hooker devoted himself to the study and teaching of botany. Through his hard work he inspired many young people of the time to pursue their passions, and also made sure that the Botanical Gardens at Kew remain a fascination for generations to come.
Bibliography
"Hooker, William Jackson (1785-1865)." Australian National Botanical Gardens. Australian Government Department of the Environment and Water Resources. 10/19/07
"Sir William Jackson Hooker (1785-1865)." Kew, History & Heritage. The Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. 10/]9/07
"Sir William Jackson Hooker (1785-1865)." The Explorers. PlantExplorers.com™ 10/19/07
"William Jackson Hooker" NNDB: Tracking the Entire World. Soy lent Communications. 10/19/07
East India Company by Eric
The Fast India Company was started 011 the very last of the year 1600. [[s original name was the Governor and Company of Merchants of London Trading into the East Indies. The East India Company's was made up of entrepreneurs from London who wanted to make money on importing spices from Southern Asia. As navigation technologies increased the Europeans had easier time shipping spices and made a greater amount of money.
Like many businesses today they had stocks however the East India Socks were by each voyage. Each voyage had its own "subscribers" or what we would call stockholders. This lasted until the year 1612 when they switched to temporary joint stocks and finally to permanent joint stocks in 1657.
The East India Company had many encounters that were not always the most friendly. This required the Company to gather and create it's own military. In the late eighteenth century the British government began to intervene with the company and in 1813 the British government took away the Company's monopoly. The East India Company was completely out of existence in 1873.
The East India Trading Company was very significant in the trade and transportation business. They established convenient trade routes throughout Asia and the Middle East.· Singapore was one example of the East India Company conquering colonies. Before The Company Singapore was a very small island with very few people living on it. In 1819 The East India Company purchased Singapore from the Sultan of Johor and created one of the greatest ports for ships.
www.victorianweb.org/history/empire/ei4george_p_landon.
Like many businesses today they had stocks however the East India Socks were by each voyage. Each voyage had its own "subscribers" or what we would call stockholders. This lasted until the year 1612 when they switched to temporary joint stocks and finally to permanent joint stocks in 1657.
The East India Company had many encounters that were not always the most friendly. This required the Company to gather and create it's own military. In the late eighteenth century the British government began to intervene with the company and in 1813 the British government took away the Company's monopoly. The East India Company was completely out of existence in 1873.
The East India Trading Company was very significant in the trade and transportation business. They established convenient trade routes throughout Asia and the Middle East.· Singapore was one example of the East India Company conquering colonies. Before The Company Singapore was a very small island with very few people living on it. In 1819 The East India Company purchased Singapore from the Sultan of Johor and created one of the greatest ports for ships.
www.victorianweb.org/history/empire/ei4george_p_landon.
Godfrey Vigne by Conor
Godfrey Vigne was a peculiar traveler who spent much of his time traveling the world especially in and around India. Vigne was born in England in 1801 and was a lawyer by profession however that took second place to his love of traveling and writing volumes on these travels. The travels ranged from all over Europe and Asia to the different world of America. Vigne lived a mid ranged and fruitful life with his travels and writing opportunities.
Having been born in 1801 Godfrey Vigne began his professional career as a lawyer however that soon became of less interest as his travels and writings became more important. Vigne wrote two volumes of notes and articles on the beautiful and majestic lands of in and around southern Asia. He wrote these on the seemingly different land and drew maps as to help give insight to others of his experiences in the area. As well as writing these volumes Vigne also collected plants to which someone wrote about at the end of his voiumes.
The character of Max Vigne in Servants of the Map by Andrea Barret is almost a direct influence from the man Godfrey Vigne from real life. They both were doing the same work and were interested in the same things during the same time period. Vigne also traveled elsewhere such as America for his exploration experiences. He also wrote about this travel in volumes of his own called Six Months in America. He left in 1831 and came back with plenty of experience in the lives of average Americans. Vigne reflected that America should be more like London and that manners and the like need to be worked on to better their image. Godfrey Vigne died in 1863 with many travels and experiences on his belt. He helped many learn about the different worlds of places such as India to the other side of the world in America.
Bibliography
Author Info. 21 October 2007.
History Guide. 28 September 2007. 21 October 2007 < letter="V">.
I
Having been born in 1801 Godfrey Vigne began his professional career as a lawyer however that soon became of less interest as his travels and writings became more important. Vigne wrote two volumes of notes and articles on the beautiful and majestic lands of in and around southern Asia. He wrote these on the seemingly different land and drew maps as to help give insight to others of his experiences in the area. As well as writing these volumes Vigne also collected plants to which someone wrote about at the end of his voiumes.
The character of Max Vigne in Servants of the Map by Andrea Barret is almost a direct influence from the man Godfrey Vigne from real life. They both were doing the same work and were interested in the same things during the same time period. Vigne also traveled elsewhere such as America for his exploration experiences. He also wrote about this travel in volumes of his own called Six Months in America. He left in 1831 and came back with plenty of experience in the lives of average Americans. Vigne reflected that America should be more like London and that manners and the like need to be worked on to better their image. Godfrey Vigne died in 1863 with many travels and experiences on his belt. He helped many learn about the different worlds of places such as India to the other side of the world in America.
Bibliography
Author Info. 21 October 2007
History Guide. 28 September 2007. 21 October 2007 < letter="V">.
I
The Adirondacks and health by Jessica
The Adirondack mountain range is located in northeastern New York. The mountains are surrounded by the Canadian border to the north, the Mohawk River valley to the south, the Lake Champlain area to the east, and the Saint Lawrence River valley and Black River valley to the west. Many people mistakenly think that it belongs with the Appalachian Mountains but in reality it is a part of the Canadian Shield. The mountains lie within the Grenville Providence, geologically speaking, and are almost entirely made up of metamorphic rock from the Middle Proterozoic time period. The shape and formation of the mountains has changed dramatically throughout the range's lifetime as erosion has had a great impact.
Despite the natural erosion to the mountain range, great measures have been taken to ensure that people keep the land how it has always appeared. The land is protected under New York's constitution in the New York Forest Preserve. This amendment came forth in 1892 and led to the creation of the Adirondack Park. The Adirondack Park contains an astounding 6 million acres, approximately half of the mountain range. Now, people are beginning to find and use multiple levels of land use, allowing for greater number of residence within the area of the park.
Due to the large area of forest and high mountain ranges, the effect on the health and fitness of people in the Adirondacks was touched upon years ago and continues to be to this present day. We can see this today with the wide variety of resorts, trails, and activities offered. People enjoy the hiking, kayaking, and camping opportunities and have even formed a group called the 46er's. These are all the people who have climbed all 46 peaks in the mountain range. In order to see the benefit of the Adirondacks on health many years ago, we can turn to the medical book The Adirondacks as a Health Resort by Joseph W. Stickler. The book was published in 1886 and covers various aliments affecting people. Many testimonies are included in the book about how they had these terrible issues and within weeks of staying in the Adirondacks they were greatly improved, even better than normal. This book mostly dealt with respiratory issues but also covers the influence of the area on people with other issues. The main points contributing to the improved health is good air, good food, and good society. Essentially, he describes how the people enjoy their surroundings and they are more active, increasing their physical shape and appetite. The air in the area is clean and fresh and thus helpful, especially to those with lung issues. It is also noted that the area is helpful for people who have become extremely stressed out. The combination of taking a break, beautiful surroundings, and fun activities make the end result of happier, healthier people quite logical, and it is quite obvious that the Adirondacks offer a route to better health.
Bibliography
"Adirondack Journal." 4 Dec. 2006. Masterpiece Productions of the Adirondacks. 20 Oct. 2007 http://\Vww.masterpieces.com.
"Adirondack Mountains." Encarta 97. CD-ROM. Microsoft Encarta 97 Encyclopedia, 1997.
"The Adirondacks." Adirondack Research Consortium. 13 June 2007. Adirondack Research Consortium. 20 Oct. 2007.
http://ww\v .adkresearch. or}!,! ad i rondacks.html.
"The Adirondack Mountains: New MountainsFrom Old Rocks." The Geology of New York: A Simplified Account. NYS Geological Survey. 20 Oct. 2007
http:// l!retchen.l!eo. rpi. ed uI roeker/nysl ad i r txt. h tml.
Stickler, Joseph W. The Adirondacks as a Health Resort. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons The Knickerboxer Press, 1886.
------
Despite the natural erosion to the mountain range, great measures have been taken to ensure that people keep the land how it has always appeared. The land is protected under New York's constitution in the New York Forest Preserve. This amendment came forth in 1892 and led to the creation of the Adirondack Park. The Adirondack Park contains an astounding 6 million acres, approximately half of the mountain range. Now, people are beginning to find and use multiple levels of land use, allowing for greater number of residence within the area of the park.
Due to the large area of forest and high mountain ranges, the effect on the health and fitness of people in the Adirondacks was touched upon years ago and continues to be to this present day. We can see this today with the wide variety of resorts, trails, and activities offered. People enjoy the hiking, kayaking, and camping opportunities and have even formed a group called the 46er's. These are all the people who have climbed all 46 peaks in the mountain range. In order to see the benefit of the Adirondacks on health many years ago, we can turn to the medical book The Adirondacks as a Health Resort by Joseph W. Stickler. The book was published in 1886 and covers various aliments affecting people. Many testimonies are included in the book about how they had these terrible issues and within weeks of staying in the Adirondacks they were greatly improved, even better than normal. This book mostly dealt with respiratory issues but also covers the influence of the area on people with other issues. The main points contributing to the improved health is good air, good food, and good society. Essentially, he describes how the people enjoy their surroundings and they are more active, increasing their physical shape and appetite. The air in the area is clean and fresh and thus helpful, especially to those with lung issues. It is also noted that the area is helpful for people who have become extremely stressed out. The combination of taking a break, beautiful surroundings, and fun activities make the end result of happier, healthier people quite logical, and it is quite obvious that the Adirondacks offer a route to better health.
Bibliography
"Adirondack Journal." 4 Dec. 2006. Masterpiece Productions of the Adirondacks. 20 Oct. 2007 http://\Vww.masterpieces.com.
"Adirondack Mountains." Encarta 97. CD-ROM. Microsoft Encarta 97 Encyclopedia, 1997.
"The Adirondacks." Adirondack Research Consortium. 13 June 2007. Adirondack Research Consortium. 20 Oct. 2007.
http://ww\v .adkresearch. or}!,! ad i rondacks.html.
"The Adirondack Mountains: New MountainsFrom Old Rocks." The Geology of New York: A Simplified Account. NYS Geological Survey. 20 Oct. 2007
http:// l!retchen.l!eo. rpi. ed uI roeker/nysl ad i r txt. h tml.
Stickler, Joseph W. The Adirondacks as a Health Resort. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons The Knickerboxer Press, 1886.
------
Charles Darwin by Andre
Andre Borka
Ms. Peifer
CIS Modern Fiction 10/22/07
Charles Darwin (born 1809, died 1882) was a scientist and naturalist. Although most people credit him with the theory of evolution, he did not actually come up with evolution.
Scientists like Erasmus Darwin, Charles' grandfather, and the French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamark had previously constructed theories about evolution. What Charles Darwin discovered was survival of the fittest and the long-term change in populations due to natural selection. His theory was that due to the environment that a population inhabited, the individuals with characteristics that where most beneficial survived longer and thus mated more. Over many generations these characteristics would manifest themselves in exaggerated form throughout the entire population, thus creating a new species.
Theories before his time had stated that evolution occurred in the individual changing itself to adapt to the environment. At the time nothing was known of genetics but Darwin saw how characteristics where passed on from parent to child and used this as the basis for his theory. He used three criteria to explain this: variation, selection, and heredity. To further his studies Darwin began to do breeding experiments with pets and plants to see the effects of evolution first hand. Darwin was not the only person working on such problems at the time. One of his colleges was J.D. Hooker who appears in the story Servants of the Map.
Darwin ran into a lot of controversy over his book Origin of Species in which he laid out his theories of natural selection. The Christian majority felt it was blasphemous and that it went against the creation story in Genesis. Darwin himself was a religious man and believed that God had laid the plans and rules for this magnificent process. In all of his studies Darwin was just trying to figure out God's rules for how the world should work.
Works Cited
Wyhe, John van. "Charles Darwin: Gentleman Naturalist." The Complete Works of Charles
Darwin online. 10 Oct. 2007. University of Cambridge. 21 Oct. 2007.
http//Darwin-online.org.uk/Darwin.html
Ms. Peifer
CIS Modern Fiction 10/22/07
Charles Darwin (born 1809, died 1882) was a scientist and naturalist. Although most people credit him with the theory of evolution, he did not actually come up with evolution.
Scientists like Erasmus Darwin, Charles' grandfather, and the French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamark had previously constructed theories about evolution. What Charles Darwin discovered was survival of the fittest and the long-term change in populations due to natural selection. His theory was that due to the environment that a population inhabited, the individuals with characteristics that where most beneficial survived longer and thus mated more. Over many generations these characteristics would manifest themselves in exaggerated form throughout the entire population, thus creating a new species.
Theories before his time had stated that evolution occurred in the individual changing itself to adapt to the environment. At the time nothing was known of genetics but Darwin saw how characteristics where passed on from parent to child and used this as the basis for his theory. He used three criteria to explain this: variation, selection, and heredity. To further his studies Darwin began to do breeding experiments with pets and plants to see the effects of evolution first hand. Darwin was not the only person working on such problems at the time. One of his colleges was J.D. Hooker who appears in the story Servants of the Map.
Darwin ran into a lot of controversy over his book Origin of Species in which he laid out his theories of natural selection. The Christian majority felt it was blasphemous and that it went against the creation story in Genesis. Darwin himself was a religious man and believed that God had laid the plans and rules for this magnificent process. In all of his studies Darwin was just trying to figure out God's rules for how the world should work.
Works Cited
Wyhe, John van. "Charles Darwin: Gentleman Naturalist." The Complete Works of Charles
Darwin online. 10 Oct. 2007. University of Cambridge. 21 Oct. 2007.
http//Darwin-online.org.uk/Darwin.html
Rembrandt Peale by Evan
Evan Vicic
Peifer
Mod Fic
October 21, 2007
Rembrandt Peale
Rembrandt Peale was a well known portrait painter in the late 1700s-mid 1800s. He became very successful and renowned because of his portraits, which were very accurate and detailed. His most famous portrait is one of the 79 drafts of George Washington, which sold to congress for $82,000. He is still remembered for his excellent work.
Rembrandt Peale was born in 1778 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He was the second son of Charles Willson Peale, who was a painter himself In Rembrandt's early life, his lather taught him how to paint because of skill showed in the art. By the time he was 17 years old, he was already very good and had painted a portrait of George Washington.
In 1796 he went to work in South Carolina. He was employed there until 1801 when he went to be taught in England by a man named Benjamin West. Rembrandt only remained there for two years, and then he found employment in the United States. In 1807 and 1809 he went to Paris to paint portraits of two of the French, and to look at the art there.
When he got back to the United States in 1910, he opened a studio in Philadelphia, and opened similar studios around the states until 1929. During that year he went to France, and then to Italy for over a year. Less then 2 years later, he went to work in London. England, and a year after that, he put his works in an exhibit at the Royal Academy. Sadly, his son died, and this forced him to return to the U.S.
After that tragedy, he stayed in the states establishing himself as the president of the American Academy, and one of the first members of the National Academy of Design. For the rest of his life he continued to paint. He also gave a few lectures and taught those interested in the craft of painting portraits. His portraits are still on exhibit today, including the one of George Washington in the White House.
Citations
Strong, Daniel. "Rembrandt Peale." Virtual Museum of Art.
Clos, Stanley, L. "Rembrandt Peale." 2006,
“Rembrandt Peale.” Maryland ArtSource.
“Rembrandt Peale.” HistoryofPaitners.com.
Peifer
Mod Fic
October 21, 2007
Rembrandt Peale
Rembrandt Peale was a well known portrait painter in the late 1700s-mid 1800s. He became very successful and renowned because of his portraits, which were very accurate and detailed. His most famous portrait is one of the 79 drafts of George Washington, which sold to congress for $82,000. He is still remembered for his excellent work.
Rembrandt Peale was born in 1778 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He was the second son of Charles Willson Peale, who was a painter himself In Rembrandt's early life, his lather taught him how to paint because of skill showed in the art. By the time he was 17 years old, he was already very good and had painted a portrait of George Washington.
In 1796 he went to work in South Carolina. He was employed there until 1801 when he went to be taught in England by a man named Benjamin West. Rembrandt only remained there for two years, and then he found employment in the United States. In 1807 and 1809 he went to Paris to paint portraits of two of the French, and to look at the art there.
When he got back to the United States in 1910, he opened a studio in Philadelphia, and opened similar studios around the states until 1929. During that year he went to France, and then to Italy for over a year. Less then 2 years later, he went to work in London. England, and a year after that, he put his works in an exhibit at the Royal Academy. Sadly, his son died, and this forced him to return to the U.S.
After that tragedy, he stayed in the states establishing himself as the president of the American Academy, and one of the first members of the National Academy of Design. For the rest of his life he continued to paint. He also gave a few lectures and taught those interested in the craft of painting portraits. His portraits are still on exhibit today, including the one of George Washington in the White House.
Citations
Strong, Daniel. "Rembrandt Peale." Virtual Museum of Art.
Clos, Stanley, L. "Rembrandt Peale." 2006,
“Rembrandt Peale.” Maryland ArtSource.
“Rembrandt Peale.” HistoryofPaitners.com.
James Hutton by Alex
James Hutton is known today as the founder of modern geology. Born in a time before geology, his obsession with the origin of the earth led to the discovery of a new science. Hutton looked past the biblical story of how the earth was made and was able to separate science from religion at a time when it was unheard of. Though he began studying medicine he later realized that his true passion was in that of the earth's surface and from there changed the world of science forever.
James Hutton was born June 3. 1726 in Edinburgh. Scotland. While growing up he gained a love for science inquiry in school and later decided to study medicine. He began his studies in Edinburgh and then later finished his degree in Paris. After getting his degree he decided to move to Leiden but then discovered there were no openings in that field. So he then decided to move to Berwichshire where he had inherited land from his father and began working \\ith agriculture. Hutton soon became very interested in the surface of the earth and began investigating its origin. He then later died in 1797 after writing many significant books and papers on his findings.
When Hutton realized he had an interest in the earth's surface and the science of it, there wasn’t yet a study to establish and define it which is why be is seen as one of the first geologists. Hutton wasn't content with staying in between the lines, such as studying and solve the unanswered questions of how the earth was formed.
Hutton later on created his own theory of how the earth worked. He believed that the rocks presents on earth were formed from waste of older rocks. He believed that all materials on earth started in the sea under a lot of pressure and then ultimately were thirsted and forced in to the cracks and openings in the strata. He then theorized that once these materials, land, hit the atmosphere it begins decaying until all the materials have decayed and they are back at the bottom of the sea, and from there on the cycle continues as if the earth is recycling itself. Hutton ended up writing Theory of Earth, which today is a very well known and highly esteemed book.
Hutton also wrote a book called Theory of Rain, which covered his second interest, the atmosphere. He believed that the amount of moisture the air could hold increased with the change in temperature and that when two different air masses with two different temperatures met, the water would then condense and become visible, forming rain. Hutton also studied nature of matter, fluidity, cohesion, light, heat, electricity, and metaphysics.
Since geology had not been established as a credited science. Hutton lacked a lot of deserved attention. During his life time there was a popular scientist named Abraham Gottlob Werner who created the Neptunist theory that all rocks had been precipitated from one huge flood in which Hutton did not agree. Hutton also disagreed with the Biblical reasoning behind the creation of the earth which was another element added to his unpopularity.
Though James Hutton was not credited with the discovery of a new science in his time, today he is respected as one of the first people to confront issues of geology. Hutton spent his life researching and documenting his theories which have sparked many more discoveries and given much more insight on our present world. Though he is no longer alive, his work continues to this day.
James Hutton was born June 3. 1726 in Edinburgh. Scotland. While growing up he gained a love for science inquiry in school and later decided to study medicine. He began his studies in Edinburgh and then later finished his degree in Paris. After getting his degree he decided to move to Leiden but then discovered there were no openings in that field. So he then decided to move to Berwichshire where he had inherited land from his father and began working \\ith agriculture. Hutton soon became very interested in the surface of the earth and began investigating its origin. He then later died in 1797 after writing many significant books and papers on his findings.
When Hutton realized he had an interest in the earth's surface and the science of it, there wasn’t yet a study to establish and define it which is why be is seen as one of the first geologists. Hutton wasn't content with staying in between the lines, such as studying and solve the unanswered questions of how the earth was formed.
Hutton later on created his own theory of how the earth worked. He believed that the rocks presents on earth were formed from waste of older rocks. He believed that all materials on earth started in the sea under a lot of pressure and then ultimately were thirsted and forced in to the cracks and openings in the strata. He then theorized that once these materials, land, hit the atmosphere it begins decaying until all the materials have decayed and they are back at the bottom of the sea, and from there on the cycle continues as if the earth is recycling itself. Hutton ended up writing Theory of Earth, which today is a very well known and highly esteemed book.
Hutton also wrote a book called Theory of Rain, which covered his second interest, the atmosphere. He believed that the amount of moisture the air could hold increased with the change in temperature and that when two different air masses with two different temperatures met, the water would then condense and become visible, forming rain. Hutton also studied nature of matter, fluidity, cohesion, light, heat, electricity, and metaphysics.
Since geology had not been established as a credited science. Hutton lacked a lot of deserved attention. During his life time there was a popular scientist named Abraham Gottlob Werner who created the Neptunist theory that all rocks had been precipitated from one huge flood in which Hutton did not agree. Hutton also disagreed with the Biblical reasoning behind the creation of the earth which was another element added to his unpopularity.
Though James Hutton was not credited with the discovery of a new science in his time, today he is respected as one of the first people to confront issues of geology. Hutton spent his life researching and documenting his theories which have sparked many more discoveries and given much more insight on our present world. Though he is no longer alive, his work continues to this day.
Robert Owen by Becky
Robert Owen was born on May 14, 1771 in Newtown, Montgomeryshire, Wales. Being the 6th child out of 7 in the 1700 Robert was lucky to have any education at all, let alone the luxury to learn how to read. At the age of ten Robert was shipped off to London to live with his older brother, seeking a chance to further his education. It didn't take Robert long to find an apprenticeship in a large drapery business in Stamford (Lincolnshire). This was the first look Robert got inside factories of that time.
Because of his passion towards the working world Owen became a manufacturer in no time. Even though Robert wanted to give the people what they wanted, he wasn't willing to sacrifice his workers for it. A major contribution to the working world of this time came from Robert Owen, when he started working for New Lanark. New Lanark was a revelation in the industry of factory work. It was a cotton-spinning mill near Lenark, which took advantage of nearby water sources for power. "New Lanark made Owen's reputation as a philanthropist" (Kreis 1). New Lenark gave children (and other workers) the opportunity to work, learn, and live in a clean, safe environment. "In the preparatory classes all the children learned to read, write and cipher" (Donnachie 1). When Robert was first appointed to the job he was in charge of the "overall management and general policy. His employees did not at first enjoy his attempts to regulate and improve their lives and his paternalism was more rigorous" (Kreis 1) than previous management.
Once people got used to Owen's ways of running New Lenark, things fell into place. The workers were grateful for his help in the factory. Thing got out of hand when Owen's religion came into play. "Owen's explicit denunciation of religion evoked a mounting campaign against him which in later years damaged his public reputation and the work associated with his name" (1). Unfortunately after all his work to help the people, many of them couldn't look past his beliefs and tried to tear him down.
In his later year, Robert's ambitions grew larger than himself. His beliefs developed into much larger things, things that one man couldn't control by himself.
He was convinced that man's character was made for him, rather than by him and that social change would only come from calm reasoning with the leaders of society. He never believed in the independent power of the working classes and he could never conceive that within capitalist society there might be more than one rationally agreed interest.
Robert Owen passed away in1858, at the age of 87.
Bibliographv
Donnachie, I. (2003) 'Education in Robert Owen's New Society: The New Lanark Institute and Schools', the encyclopedia of informal education, www.infed.org/thinkers/et-owen.htm. Last updated: 21 October 2007. 10/21/07.
Kreis, S. (2000) 'The History Guide: Lectures on Modem Eurpoean Intellectual History, Robert Owen.' http://www.historyguide.org/intellect/owen.html. Last updated: May 13, 2004. 10/21/07.
Because of his passion towards the working world Owen became a manufacturer in no time. Even though Robert wanted to give the people what they wanted, he wasn't willing to sacrifice his workers for it. A major contribution to the working world of this time came from Robert Owen, when he started working for New Lanark. New Lanark was a revelation in the industry of factory work. It was a cotton-spinning mill near Lenark, which took advantage of nearby water sources for power. "New Lanark made Owen's reputation as a philanthropist" (Kreis 1). New Lenark gave children (and other workers) the opportunity to work, learn, and live in a clean, safe environment. "In the preparatory classes all the children learned to read, write and cipher" (Donnachie 1). When Robert was first appointed to the job he was in charge of the "overall management and general policy. His employees did not at first enjoy his attempts to regulate and improve their lives and his paternalism was more rigorous" (Kreis 1) than previous management.
Once people got used to Owen's ways of running New Lenark, things fell into place. The workers were grateful for his help in the factory. Thing got out of hand when Owen's religion came into play. "Owen's explicit denunciation of religion evoked a mounting campaign against him which in later years damaged his public reputation and the work associated with his name" (1). Unfortunately after all his work to help the people, many of them couldn't look past his beliefs and tried to tear him down.
In his later year, Robert's ambitions grew larger than himself. His beliefs developed into much larger things, things that one man couldn't control by himself.
He was convinced that man's character was made for him, rather than by him and that social change would only come from calm reasoning with the leaders of society. He never believed in the independent power of the working classes and he could never conceive that within capitalist society there might be more than one rationally agreed interest.
Robert Owen passed away in1858, at the age of 87.
Bibliographv
Donnachie, I. (2003) 'Education in Robert Owen's New Society: The New Lanark Institute and Schools', the encyclopedia of informal education, www.infed.org/thinkers/et-owen.htm. Last updated: 21 October 2007. 10/21/07.
Kreis, S. (2000) 'The History Guide: Lectures on Modem Eurpoean Intellectual History, Robert Owen.' http://www.historyguide.org/intellect/owen.html. Last updated: May 13, 2004. 10/21/07.
Thomas Say by Sophie
Thomas Say is known as one of the first entomologists in the United States, a Quaker born in the late 18th century. Many credit him with founding the study of entomology, which Webster’s dictionary defines as “a branch of zoology that deals with insects”. Say wrote the first book to be published on insects, titled American Entomology, along with American Conchology, which follows the study of shells. Say took several trips out west to the Rocky Mountains, as well as Georgia, Florida, and along many American rivers to collect information on insects, shells, and their scientific features. He began these explorations as a zoologist, studying birds and mammals, but developed a particular interest in insects. Stephen H. Long accompanied Say on many of his expeditions. As a renowned explorer and engineer, he was able to aid Say in his explorations of the western United States. Say also worked with Robert Owen, a Socialist American who had formed his own society that Say lived in for eight years.
In between his explorations, he taught natural history at the University of Pennsylvania and founded the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. Today the Entomological Society of America presents Thomas Say Awards to individuals making breakthroughs in the research of insects.
Works Cited:
Scarab Workers World Directory. 19 January 2007
In between his explorations, he taught natural history at the University of Pennsylvania and founded the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. Today the Entomological Society of America presents Thomas Say Awards to individuals making breakthroughs in the research of insects.
Works Cited:
Scarab Workers World Directory. 19 January 2007
Henry Godwin-Austen by Bob
Henry Godwin-Austen was born on July 6, 1834 in Tiegnmouth, England. Tiegnmouth is a small town on the southern most part of the main island (Columbia Encyclopedia). His father Robert Alfred Cloynes Godwin-Austen was a geographer who received the Wollaston medal in 1862 by the Geographical society of London, which was the highest award for geography at that time. Later in his life Henry went to the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, England. As a result Henry entered the army in 1851. While in the army Godwin-Austen attained the rank of lieutenant-colonel serving for many years on the Trigonometrical Survey of India.
The Trigonometrical Survey of India was a project of the British to survey and measure the peaks of the mountains in the Himalayas while also assigning territories (The Great Arc). While serving in the Trigonometrical Survey of India he became one of the first men to survey the mountain that is now called Mt Godwin-Austen. Originally Mt Godwin-Austen was named as K2 because it was the second Peak that Godwin-Austen had surveyed. However, to this day many people still call the peak K2 rather than Mt Godwin Austen (The Unabridged Hutchinson Encyclopedia). The reason K is in the name for the peak K2 is because it is in the Karakorum mountain range which is between China, Pakistan, and India.
Citations:
Godwin-Austen,Henry."Columbia. 6th. 2001.
The Great Arc. Department of science and technology, survey of india. 21 Oct 2007.
"Godwin Austen." The Unabridged Hutchinson Encyclopedia. 2004. Research Machines plc 21 Oct. 2007
The Trigonometrical Survey of India was a project of the British to survey and measure the peaks of the mountains in the Himalayas while also assigning territories (The Great Arc). While serving in the Trigonometrical Survey of India he became one of the first men to survey the mountain that is now called Mt Godwin-Austen. Originally Mt Godwin-Austen was named as K2 because it was the second Peak that Godwin-Austen had surveyed. However, to this day many people still call the peak K2 rather than Mt Godwin Austen (The Unabridged Hutchinson Encyclopedia). The reason K is in the name for the peak K2 is because it is in the Karakorum mountain range which is between China, Pakistan, and India.
Citations:
Godwin-Austen,Henry."Columbia. 6th. 2001.
The Great Arc. Department of science and technology, survey of india. 21 Oct 2007
"Godwin Austen." The Unabridged Hutchinson Encyclopedia. 2004. Research Machines plc 21 Oct. 2007
"Quarantine" by Eavan Boland
This is one of my favorite poems and it happens to be written by an Irish author. I thought about this poem and the imagery it uses when I was re-reading "The Cure" so I thought that I would share it with you. Feel free to comment on it--or share your own favorite poem(s).
"Quarantine" by Eavan Boland
In the worst hour of the worst season
of the worst year of a whole people
a man set out from the workhouse with his wife.
He was walking--they were both walking--north.
She was sick with famine fever and could not keep up.
He lifted her and put her on his back.
He walked like that west and west and north.
Until at nightfall under freezing stars they arrived.
In the morning they were both found dead.
Of cold. Of hunger. Of the toxins of a whole history.
But her feet were held against his breastbone.
The last heat of his flesh was his last gift to her.
Let no love poem ever come to this threshold.
There is no place here for the inexact
praise of the easy graces and sensuality of the body.
There is only time for this merciless inventory:
Their death together in the winter of 1847.
Also what they suffered. How they lived.
And what there is between a man and woman.
And in which darkness it can best be proved.
Boland, Eavan. "Quarantine." Against Love Poetry. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2001.
"Quarantine" by Eavan Boland
In the worst hour of the worst season
of the worst year of a whole people
a man set out from the workhouse with his wife.
He was walking--they were both walking--north.
She was sick with famine fever and could not keep up.
He lifted her and put her on his back.
He walked like that west and west and north.
Until at nightfall under freezing stars they arrived.
In the morning they were both found dead.
Of cold. Of hunger. Of the toxins of a whole history.
But her feet were held against his breastbone.
The last heat of his flesh was his last gift to her.
Let no love poem ever come to this threshold.
There is no place here for the inexact
praise of the easy graces and sensuality of the body.
There is only time for this merciless inventory:
Their death together in the winter of 1847.
Also what they suffered. How they lived.
And what there is between a man and woman.
And in which darkness it can best be proved.
Boland, Eavan. "Quarantine." Against Love Poetry. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2001.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
"Servants of the Map" Discussion
Here are the major points that I have from the discussion from the title story (feel free to comment if I miss anything):
- The natural order of the organic world "is the world of organized beings. These consist of orans; of parts which go to make up an individual, a being..." (25)...plants surviving where he is struggling, "geographical botany...what grows where?...why do rhododendrons grow in Sikkim and not here? He might spend his life in the search for an answer" (46) VERSUS politics and the order of man...constant quarrels, "he is never alone. he has never felt lonelier" (32), "the Sikh Wars and the annexation of the Punjab..."(46), the two almost mutineers who were lashed to the muzzles of the cannons (47) and the idea of Max being a cartographer--and the role of maps in politics
- Change within Max versus(?) change within Clara...concept of self changing, concept of each other changing--letters from the Clara of the past and the letters from the Clara of the not as distant past which means the relationship is never in the present--discovery of self and passion supported by ideas of evolution, fasting and discovery a different phase of reality and all of this being reflected in the change in tone of the letters
- Distance created by physical separation, creating or supporting an emotional divide--is there a place for honesty in this relationship? "What doesn't he tell Clara? So much, so much...he won't reveal the things that would worry her. He restrains himself, a constant battle; the battle itself another thing he doesn't write about..." (22-23) and the idea that Clara's only honest letter allows Max to postpone his return home, to pursue what is next.
- Is Max scared of going home, afraid of change? Is this why he does not return to Clara?
- Dima and Gideon?
- Imagery of the story: the body found in the "ice inside the crevasse, warmed by the heat it stole from Bancroft's body" (38), Max digging himself out of th crevasse "shaped like a smile" that he falls into (40), the children's feet left in the shoes...(48)
- Geography and plant life and how it reflects Max's growing sense of self: "Around me is a confused mass of rock and glacier and mist..."(35), "through all these transformations one can still discern the original morphology; the original character is altered yet not lost. In our separation our lives are changing, our bond to each other is changing yet still we are essentially the same" (32).
- being a servant of the map--noble idea? (55)
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Servants of the Map--Things to Think About and Discuss
1. The idea of controlling space. Many of these stories address the issue of making order out of disorder, of trying to control the environment and the lives of the characters. Why is this important in the context of these stories?
2. Rose in “The Forest” speaks of the “legacy of the past”. How is this concept important throughout the book? What different decisions do characters make about the presence of the past in their lives?
3. There are many things “missing” in these stories--children, husbands, lovers, information. How does this serve as a connecting theme? Does it related to any other thematic elements of the book?
4. As a related issue, there is lots of “travel” in this book--both physically and mentally. Look at whom “goes” and who “stays”. What makes them different? Can the reader draw some conclusions from this about the way Barrett looks at the world?
5. Character development. Many of these characters are quite different from those we have read about before. Are they extraordinary people or people who find themselves in extraordinary situations? What are the implications of this for the main themes of the stories?
6. Questions—everyone asks a lot of questions in these stories. What kinds of questions do they ask? Can you relate the questions to the “questioner”? Is this a technique of plot development, character development, or both?
7. The role of letters. Lots of letter writers here too. Look at the role the letters pay in each story—both the senders and the receivers. What do they reveal about both? What does this technique allow the author to do that is different than other literary means?
2. Rose in “The Forest” speaks of the “legacy of the past”. How is this concept important throughout the book? What different decisions do characters make about the presence of the past in their lives?
3. There are many things “missing” in these stories--children, husbands, lovers, information. How does this serve as a connecting theme? Does it related to any other thematic elements of the book?
4. As a related issue, there is lots of “travel” in this book--both physically and mentally. Look at whom “goes” and who “stays”. What makes them different? Can the reader draw some conclusions from this about the way Barrett looks at the world?
5. Character development. Many of these characters are quite different from those we have read about before. Are they extraordinary people or people who find themselves in extraordinary situations? What are the implications of this for the main themes of the stories?
6. Questions—everyone asks a lot of questions in these stories. What kinds of questions do they ask? Can you relate the questions to the “questioner”? Is this a technique of plot development, character development, or both?
7. The role of letters. Lots of letter writers here too. Look at the role the letters pay in each story—both the senders and the receivers. What do they reveal about both? What does this technique allow the author to do that is different than other literary means?
Servants of the Map--Possible Journal Topics
Possible Journal Topics
• In “ The Mysteries of Ubiquitin” one of the characters connects two elements that break large dead things into smaller bits so new things can be made. Look at this idea in the context of the rest of the book. Where else does the concept appear? How does Barrett use this idea in exploring the relationship of the past to the present?
• In an interview, Andrea Barrett addressed the disparities and similarities between fiction and science. Scientific questions are very precise and very directed. A scientist poses problems that can be answered if one works hard enough. In contrast, writers pose question after question and none of them get answered…in both areas [science and fiction] there is that sense of pushing at boundaries, of trying to discover new ways of looking at things. What are some of the question that Barrett poses in these stories? What new ways does she look at things?
• In “ The Mysteries of Ubiquitin” one of the characters connects two elements that break large dead things into smaller bits so new things can be made. Look at this idea in the context of the rest of the book. Where else does the concept appear? How does Barrett use this idea in exploring the relationship of the past to the present?
• In an interview, Andrea Barrett addressed the disparities and similarities between fiction and science. Scientific questions are very precise and very directed. A scientist poses problems that can be answered if one works hard enough. In contrast, writers pose question after question and none of them get answered…in both areas [science and fiction] there is that sense of pushing at boundaries, of trying to discover new ways of looking at things. What are some of the question that Barrett poses in these stories? What new ways does she look at things?
Servants of the Map--Mandatory journals
Mandatory Journal 1:
Select a topic related to the book (several of them are historical people mentioned in the novel) and find about them. For the historical people consider who they were, what their ideas were, and how they were received by the general public.
Topic
1. William Bartram--Chee Kue
2. Charles Darwin--Andre
3. Henry Godwin-Austen--Bob
4. Asa Gray--Vathana
5. Joseph Hooker--Caroline
6. James Hutton--Alex
7. Charles Alexandre Lesueur--Nora
8. William Maclure--Marit
9. William Murray--Kao
10. Robert Owen--Becky
11. Rembrandt Peale--Evan
12. Thomas Say--Sophie
13. Johann Scheuchzer--Maggie
14. John Cleves Symmes
15. Godfrey Vigne--Connor
16. William Wells
17. Sikh wars--Croix
18. East India Company--Eric
19. Rappites--Emily
20. Adirondacks and health--Jessica
21. Tuberculosis and historical cures--Sarah
22. Fossils in the late 1800s--Annie
23. Surveying, triangulation, theodolite, heliotrope
24. Ubiquitin--Peder
25. Sign languages in the late 1800s
26. Taxonomy and classification
Mandatory Journal 2:
Servants of the Map: Creative Project
In his novel Angle of Repose, Wallace Stegner uses the title engineering term as an overarching concept for the book. The angle of repose is the lowest slope that a pile of granular material forms when it is at rest—the lowest slope at which the material will begin to slide and the steepest slope at which it will not slide. The author considers this as he applies the term to a largest concept:
‘…Remember the one who wanted to know where you learned to handle so casually a technical term like ‘angle of repose’?’ I suppose you replied, ‘By living with an engineer.’ But you were too alert to the figurative possibilities of words not to see the phrase as descriptive of human as well as detrital rest. As you said it was too good for mere dirt; you tried to apply it to your own wandering and uneasy life. It is the angle I am aiming for myself, and I don’t mean the rigid angle at which I rest in this chair. I wonder if you ever reached it. There was a time up there in Idaho when everything was wrong; your husband’s career, your marriage, your sense of yourself, your confidence, all came unglued together. Did you come down out of that into some restful 30 degree angle and live happily ever after?...Was the quiet I always felt in you really repose?
Project:
In much of her work, Andrea Barrett also takes concepts from science/the natural world and applies them to the larger world of her characters and human interaction
Select a concept from the natural world that Barrett uses in one of the stories from Servants of the Map and explore how she uses the concept as a lens through which to view human interaction. In an interview with Robert Birnbaum, she states:
It’s like watching a little clump of DNA split and recombine. It’s not entirely accidental that some of these people’s traits are related but with variation to people in their past. You see certain traits pop up with mutations, if you will. Part of it is about that, the way that we are made by our families both biologically and emotionally. What is inherited? What is made? What is biology and what is culture? How much is predetermined in us?...How do women separated by such a wide stretch of time and maybe bearing some resemblance to each other but in a very different culture, how do those traits play out?
Examine how the concept is connected with at least two of the stories in the book and how we view human interaction in our world. Present your thoughts in a creative project. I do not want to put limitations on what your final project will look like, except to say that it cannot be written. We spend much of our time writing our thoughts/analysis in this class; use this opportunity to utilize a different method of expression and tap into your creative energy.
This project will take the place of one of the journals for this book.
Select a topic related to the book (several of them are historical people mentioned in the novel) and find about them. For the historical people consider who they were, what their ideas were, and how they were received by the general public.
Topic
1. William Bartram--Chee Kue
2. Charles Darwin--Andre
3. Henry Godwin-Austen--Bob
4. Asa Gray--Vathana
5. Joseph Hooker--Caroline
6. James Hutton--Alex
7. Charles Alexandre Lesueur--Nora
8. William Maclure--Marit
9. William Murray--Kao
10. Robert Owen--Becky
11. Rembrandt Peale--Evan
12. Thomas Say--Sophie
13. Johann Scheuchzer--Maggie
14. John Cleves Symmes
15. Godfrey Vigne--Connor
16. William Wells
17. Sikh wars--Croix
18. East India Company--Eric
19. Rappites--Emily
20. Adirondacks and health--Jessica
21. Tuberculosis and historical cures--Sarah
22. Fossils in the late 1800s--Annie
23. Surveying, triangulation, theodolite, heliotrope
24. Ubiquitin--Peder
25. Sign languages in the late 1800s
26. Taxonomy and classification
Mandatory Journal 2:
Servants of the Map: Creative Project
In his novel Angle of Repose, Wallace Stegner uses the title engineering term as an overarching concept for the book. The angle of repose is the lowest slope that a pile of granular material forms when it is at rest—the lowest slope at which the material will begin to slide and the steepest slope at which it will not slide. The author considers this as he applies the term to a largest concept:
‘…Remember the one who wanted to know where you learned to handle so casually a technical term like ‘angle of repose’?’ I suppose you replied, ‘By living with an engineer.’ But you were too alert to the figurative possibilities of words not to see the phrase as descriptive of human as well as detrital rest. As you said it was too good for mere dirt; you tried to apply it to your own wandering and uneasy life. It is the angle I am aiming for myself, and I don’t mean the rigid angle at which I rest in this chair. I wonder if you ever reached it. There was a time up there in Idaho when everything was wrong; your husband’s career, your marriage, your sense of yourself, your confidence, all came unglued together. Did you come down out of that into some restful 30 degree angle and live happily ever after?...Was the quiet I always felt in you really repose?
Project:
In much of her work, Andrea Barrett also takes concepts from science/the natural world and applies them to the larger world of her characters and human interaction
Select a concept from the natural world that Barrett uses in one of the stories from Servants of the Map and explore how she uses the concept as a lens through which to view human interaction. In an interview with Robert Birnbaum, she states:
It’s like watching a little clump of DNA split and recombine. It’s not entirely accidental that some of these people’s traits are related but with variation to people in their past. You see certain traits pop up with mutations, if you will. Part of it is about that, the way that we are made by our families both biologically and emotionally. What is inherited? What is made? What is biology and what is culture? How much is predetermined in us?...How do women separated by such a wide stretch of time and maybe bearing some resemblance to each other but in a very different culture, how do those traits play out?
Examine how the concept is connected with at least two of the stories in the book and how we view human interaction in our world. Present your thoughts in a creative project. I do not want to put limitations on what your final project will look like, except to say that it cannot be written. We spend much of our time writing our thoughts/analysis in this class; use this opportunity to utilize a different method of expression and tap into your creative energy.
This project will take the place of one of the journals for this book.
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