Assignment link for Week Nine is now active.

As always, write with any questions.

At the end of the week, you will have written your learning reflection for the first half of the semester, thought about any errata in your performance or learning, and learned from your committee members.  Using these as a basis for your thinking, make an informed decision about staying in the class or withdrawing from it.  You know about how much work is involved each week, and you should know if you have been--by and large--able to keep up, learn, and produce material which will make a find portfolio at the end of the semester.  You should also know by now that I don't expect perfection, either in terms of keeping up or in terms of your learning; my basic expectation and the basis of any decision I make about your grade is that you are growing and learning.  Base your decision about staying in the course or withdrawing accordingly.  Remember, the last take to withdraw with a grade of "W" is 25 March.

This week, you'll also continue to read one of the founders.  This time Jefferson.  As you read Jefferson and Franklin, try to forget that they are larger than life.  Try to forget that they are part of the background noise of our society.  Remember, they were people, just like you.  People who grew, thought, changed their minds, and made mistakes.  Just like you, they worked to correct and profit from any mistakes they had made; indeed, they built a society which three goals in mind: 1) build the ability to change into the fabric of society; 2) build in opportunity to grow; and, 3) maximize individual liberty, reason, and education.  The education link might surprise you, but look at the achievements of both founders.  Both established schools; in fact, when Jefferson wrote the epitaph which appears on his grave at Monticello, he listed three things as accomplishments in his life:  1) having authored the Virgina "Statue for Religious Freedom;  2) having established the Virgina university; and, 3) I'll let you look this one up.  Allowing for public education helped maximize the contributions which individuals could make to society; it allowed individuals to make the most of being free to pursue opportunity and happiness; and, it created an opportunity to train each citizen in the use of reason and debate to guide this growth.  

Keep up the good work.  We're half way through, and most of you are doing a blessed good job.  It's been a pleasure to watch your thinking, reading, and discourse skills grow throughout the semester.  In the process, you've gotten a better handle on American literature, history, and society, and--I hope--a better handle on your best self and your ability to make a difference as a citizen and person.

Take care,

Steve