Many observers argue that income inequality has grown dramatically in the US over the past thirty years. Who has gained? Who has lost? Why has the upper 5% of American households made out so well? How much of the national income and wealth now goes to the top 1%? How does Richard Wolff explain the decline in Working class wages? Why do Hacker and Pierson […]

Portfolio Project Selection/DeclarationThe Portfolio Project will be a scholarly essay or digital exhibit written in academic standard 3rd person. You should review the Portfolio Project instructions for Options 1 and 2 and choose the option you wish to complete.Your topic posting should include the following:·         A title·         A fully developed thesis statement·         A brief (2-3 sentences) topic summary·         Possible primary sources. Show more

For this assignment, find a recent news article from the current week relating to a present-day issue that, in some form or another, existed as an issue in America during the period covered in this course. (This article should be from an on-line newspaper — e.g., the New York Times or Washington Post — or news magazine — e.g., Newsweek or Time).    Open your commentary […]

For your second Synthesis assignment, write a 1,000-word Synthesis based on an article from the Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion. See the attached document for complete instructions. Writing Guides:Online Writing Resources: Follow the “Writing Resources” link on the left to access online resources on writing and research.Handouts: Attending to Grammar ; Attending to Style ; How to Write a Thesis Statement.https://owl.purdue.eduGuidelinesLength: 1000 wordsFormat: Follow correct MLA Style and include all required components. Show more

This discussion question comes from the handout on Midrash. Remember that midrash is not the Bible – it is a form of rabbinic literature that goes back centuries, in which rabbis puzzle over gaps, inconsistencies, or puzzles in the Torah. What differences do you note between the 6th century midrash of Ben Sira and the modern midrash by Judith Plaskow?Why might midrash revisions be a helpful […]

Write this Unit’s Journal based on the readings from Women and Religious Traditions and the video clip assigned in this unit. (Do not do this assignment based upon THINK World Religions.)These are the four required elements for your journal: Give at least one quote from the readings (cite author and page number) – if there are multiple sources for readings it is fine to choose a quote from each.Ask […]

For this question, we are once again asking you to assume the role of a traveler.  It is the late-1700s and you are a student at Professor Pangloss’ Academy of Interesting Observations in Westphalia (in what will someday be Germany).  Professor Pangloss is fascinated by the new ideas emerging from the Enlightenment and he is interested in knowing how those ideas are being put into […]

Review the events from 1754 (the French and Indian War) to 1775 (the Battles at Lexington and Concord). Seeing how the colonists reacted so strongly to the Stamp Act, at what point from 1754 to 1776 was the “point of no return?”  What event — the Boston Massacre, Tea Party, or the Stamp Act — caused the colonists to firmly resolve to fight rather than […]

1. How did the expansion of slavery impact the U.S. government’s relationship with Native Americans? 2. How did the cotton, tobacco, rice and sugar serve as cash crops and influence how slavery varied from region to region? 3. What is meant by “term slavery” or hiring out and how did this practice increase a slaves’ likelihood of gaining their freedom from bondage? 4. What prompted […]

ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANSAssignment OverviewA few years ago, Israel and the Palestinian Authority appeared to be very close to a final peace agreement. That never happened and now the two sides appear to be in a permanent state of war. In fact, a wall has been built by the Israelis to divide the two peoples.Try to understand the relationship between Israel and the Palestinians. Any […]