The Right Stuff Film assignment!

Student Learning Objective-  While watching the film 3/26 and 3/27 and also after class discussion, students will identify facts by listing them and by writing down important quotes and what they mean (also identifying facts)

After class discussion on 3/28, turn in your facts and quotes notes on google classroom.  Make sure facts and quote explanations are in your own words.  Plagiarism detection software is used and plagiarism results in a score of zero.

The assignment is very simple.  While you watch, record facts and quotes from the film.  Facts should be things that happened (usually historical or political).  Quotes that we record are spoken words that are so insightful that indicate facts, but are so interesting or powerful that we do not paraphrase.  Record the quote and then next to it, explain what it means or why it is important.  Here is how I would do it.

FACTS                                                                              QUOTES

"For What it's worth" reflection

“For What its worth” by Buffalo Springfield

Directions: Listen to the song, read the lyrics and discuss.  

Student learning objective- Students will evaluate the Vietnam War protest movements.

There’s something happening here
What it is ain’t exactly clear
There’s a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware
I think it’s time we stop, children, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going down
There’s battle lines being drawn
Nobody’s right if everybody’s wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind
I think it’s time we stop, hey, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going down
What a field-day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say, hooray for our side
It’s time we stop, hey, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going down
Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you’re always afraid
You step out of line, the man come and take you away
We better stop, hey, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going down
Stop, hey, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going down
Stop, now, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going down
Stop, children, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going down

Student learning objective- Students will evaluate the Vietnam War protest movements.

What is said in the song that helps evaluate the Vietnam War protest movement?

"Uncommon Valor" Reflection

Disclaimer- There is offensive content in this song.  We are not accepting opinions or perspectives by listening to it or viewing the video.  Even the artist recognizes a change in belief and attitude based on a soldier's experience in the Vietnam War.  You can see this change in the second person's story.  These were common perspectives, so we are hearing them and learning from them.

Student learning objective: Students will analyze the battle in the Vietnam War!

Uncommon Valor by Jedi Mind Tricks

[Verse 1 - Vinnie Paz]
Yeah..

I don't know why I'm over here this job is evil
They send me here to Vietnam to kill innocent people
My mother wrote me said the President he doesn't care
We trying to leave the footprints of America here
They say we're trying to stop Chinese expansion
But I ain't seen no Chinese since we landed
Sent my whole entire unit thinking we can win
Against the Viet-Cong guerillas there in Gia Dinh
I didn't sign up to kill women or any children
For every enemy soldier, we killing six civilians
Yeah, and that ain't right to me
I ain't got enough of * fight in me
It frightens me and I just want to see my son and moms
But over here they dropping seven million tons of bombs
I spend my days dodging all these booby traps and mines
And at night, praying to God that I get back alive
And I'm forced to sit back and wonder
Why I was a part of 'Operation Rolling Thunder'
In a fox hole with nine months left here
Jungle like the * harbinger of death here

[Interlude]
(soldier speaking)
I don't want to be here. I'm scared, I just want to go home.
(officer speaking)
You *kidding me? Don't be a *. Don't you love your country?
(soldier speaking)
I like being here. I'm ready.

[Verse 2 - R.A. The Rugged Man]
True story...
Call me Thorburn, John H. Staff Sergeant, Marksman
Skilling, killing, illing
I'm able and willing
Kill a village elephant, rapin' and pillage your village
Illegitimate killers, US Military guerillas
This ain't no real war, Vietnam *
World War II, that's a war, this is just a military conflict
Soothing, drug-abusing, Vietnamese women screwing
Sex, gambling and boozin', all the *is amusing
* and guns, this is every man's dream
I don't want to go home, where I'm just a ordinary human being
Special OP, Huey chopper gun ship, run *
Gook run when the mini-gun spit, won't miss, kill *
Spit four-thousand bullets a minute
Victor Charlie, hit trigger, hit it
I'm in it to win it, get it
The lieutenant hinted the villain, I've ended up killing
I did it, cripple, did it, pictures I painted is vivid, live it
A wizard with weapons, a secret mission we about to begin it
Government funded, behind enemy lines bullets is spraying
It's heating up, a hundred degrees
The enemies the North-Vietnamese, *please
Ain't no sweat, I'm told be at ease.
Until I see the pilot got hit, and we about to hit some trees
till the rotor broke, crash land, American man
Cambodia, right in the enemy hand
Take a swig of the whiskey to calm us
Them yellow men wearing black pajamas
They want to harm us
They all up on us
Bang, bang, bullet hit my chest, feel no pain
To my left, the captain caught a bullet right in his brain
Body parts flying, loss of limbs, explosions
Bad intentions, I see my best friend's intestins
Pray to the one above, It's raining and I'm covered in mud
I think I'm dying, I feel dizzy, I'm losing blood
I see my childhood, I'm back in the arms of my mother
I see my whole life, I see Christ, I see bright lights
I see Israelites, Muslims and Christians at peace, no fights
Blacks, Whites, Asians, people of all types
I must have died, then I woke up, surprised I'm alive
I'm in a hospital bed, they rescued me, I survived
I escaped the war, came back
But ain't escape Agent Orange, two of my kids born handicapped
Spastic, quadriplegia, micro cephalic
Cerebral palsy, cortical blindness, name it they had it
My son died he ain't live, but I still try to think positive
Cause in life, God take, God give

Student learning objective: Students will analyze the battle in the Vietnam War!

Directions: What facts and perspectives about the Vietnam War were revealed by the song?

“Vietnam Talkin’ Blues” Reflection

Student Learning Objective- Students analyze (examine methodically) battle in the Vietnam War.

“Vietnam Talkin’ Blues”

Written by John R Cash.
( Song of Cash Music/Bughouse.)
From "A Man In Black", 1971, Columbia Records.

One mornin' at breakfast, I said to my wife,
We been everywhere once and some places twice,
As I had another helping of country ham,
She said "We ain't never been to Vietnam,
"And there's a bunch of our boys over there."
So we went to the Orient: Saigon.

Well we got a big welcome when we drove in,
Through the gates of a place that they call Long Vinh.
We checked in and everything got kinda quiet,
But a soldier boy said: "Just wait 'til tonight,
"Things get noisy. Things start happenin'.
"Big bad firecrackers."

Well that night we did about four shows for the boys,
And they were livin' it up with a whole lot of noise.
We did our last song for the night,
And we crawled into bed for some peace and quiet,
But things weren't peaceful. And things weren't quiet.
Things were scary.

Well for a few minutes June never said one word,
And I thought at first that she hadn't heard.
Then a shell exploded not two miles away,
She sat up in bed and I heard her say: "What was that?"
I said: "That was a shell, or a bomb."
She said: "I'm scared." I said "Me too."

Well all night long that noise kept on,
And the sound would chill you right to the bone.
The bullets and the bombs, and the mortar shells,
Shook our bed every time one fell,
And it never let up; it was gonna get worse,
Before it got any better.

Well when the sun came up, the noise died down,
We got a few minutes sleep, an' we were sleepin' sound,
When a soldier knocked on our door and said:
"Last night they brought in seven dead, and 14 wounded."
And would we come down to the base hospital, and see the boys.
"Yes!"

So we went to the hospital ward by day,
And every night we were singin' away.
Then the shells and the bombs was goin' again.
And the helicopters brought in the wounded men.
Night after night; day after day.
Comin' and a goin'.

So we sadly sang for them our last song,
And reluctantly we said: "So long."
We did our best to let 'em know that we care,
For every last one of 'em that's over there.
Whether we belong over there or not.
Somebody over here love's 'em, and needs 'em

Well now that's about all that there is to tell,
About that little trip into livin' hell.
And if I ever go back over there any more,
I hope there's none of our boys there for me to sing for;
I hope that war is over with,
And they all come back home,
To stay.

In peace.

Analysis- What lyrics from the song revealed important facts about the war in Vietnam?

Early Cold War Test studying

The Early Cold War Test (1945-1960) is Wednesday, 3/13 during class.  The class will have a chance to study during class time Tuesday, 3/12, and then take the test while the info is fresh in your mind! All Tests are 100% based on class notes and discussions.  The notes are based on the book "The Americans" Chapter 26 and 27 and other sources.  Text links given each day.

For the 20 multiple choice, choose the best answer!  If you need to, eliminate wrong answers to find the best answer!  For the 3 short answer/open responses, write a logical response to the question following the below rubric. For the Test essay, formulate your response following the below test essay rubric. Do not forget there are good examples to use from the multiple choice if you understand them!

Cheating in any form is prohibited.  This test judges what you know on test day.  Retakes will be allowed after grading is complete, so no need to cheat or plagiarize anyway!  Also, the availability of retakes should decrease the test anxiety!  Once the test is graded, Mr. Cook will "release the grade and comments", and you will be sent an email (from google forms which gives feedback on manually entered point deductions).  Mr. Cook will also tell the students that the email has been sent in class once they are all done.  To prepare for a potential retake, at that point students should study the released test and see Mr. Cook at an appropriate time for studying help also as Multiple Choice questions do not offer feedback.  Contact Mr. Cook at a later time when ready for a retake.  He will have to send you one via email.  Multiple choice and open response questions are based on notes but also on the course essential questions below! When studying on your own, try to come up with everything they know for each essential question pertaining to our recently studied Early Cold War unit. 

Also study the learning objectives from all Ch 26-27 lessons.  The Open responses are based upon those!

The Essential Questions are below- How are they relevant to the current unit?

1. How have various groups attempted to Access Their Rights and how have they been Opposed?

2. How has the rise of Mass Media influenced and transformed Culture?

3. How does the drive to acquire Wealth influence America?

4. Where does the drive for Expansion come from and what is its impact on America and the rest of the world?

5. How has the rise and fall of the Industry / Labor and the Labor Movement shaped the American work environment and Economy?

6. How have the Political Parties established and transformed their platforms to adapt to changing values in society to appeal to the masses and how have citizens affected the growth and change of political parties and government?

7. How have advances in Technology impacted the development of the country and the American people?
8. How is Power acquired and what measures does it take to Protect Itself?
9. How have the cost and spoils of war affected the development of America?
10. How has the idea of the American Dream influenced the lives of Americans and how does it evolve over time?
11. How does [the content] change or reinforce how you see your values and decisions in your role in society (Civic identity)

27.1/1950's

27.1

Student Learning Objective - Students will examine the post war boom after WWII as if they were alive back in the 50s

Students will answer the following questions as if they were a returning soldier from WWII. They will use the textbook and facts learned from the discussion. Make sure to explain why you would choose a certain option.

Returning Soldier

Set 1

1. Would you use the GI Bill post war or would you seek other opportunities? (841)

2. Post war you have had trouble finding stable housing, you are offered to buy a house in the suburbs(Levittown), do you choose to live there? Why/why not? (841)

3. Coming back from war, your wife wants to keep working/ making important family decisions, what do you do? (841)

4. The amount of stable jobs has been cut off since the war and you have struggled with finding work, what do you do? (841)

Set 2

1. What are 4 indicators that the economy is doing well in the 1950's? (graphs 842)

2. As the economy starts to recover, you find that you have some expendable income, what do you choose to spend it on? (842)

3. Tensions continue to rise about communism in the United States, what do you do to prove you support the United States?

4. Truman continues to push for civil rights with the integration of the military and working with African American leaders, do you support this? Why/why not?(843)

Set 3

1. What is Truman's presidency called? Why did he choose that name? How do you evaluate the name? (845)

2. You suspect your neighbor may be a communist, what do you do about him and his kids?

3. There have been many accusations that communists have infiltrated the government, do you think Truman has done enough to negate the issue? (845)

4. Who was Eisenhower's Vice President? (845)

5. Eisenhower, now in the presidency, seems to not want to take a side on controversial issues, do you think he is doing enough with them and civil rights issues? (846)