Cole's US History Blog

I think I am making progress in U.S. History, in the beginning of the year I did not know much about it. Now I know a lot more, I know all about Lincoln's presidency and what went on their. I now know the 13th - 15th amendments in the Constitution. I also know a lot more about the confederacy and what the flag means or represents. I anticipate that I will learn a lot more about U.S. History and will progress in my skills with researching, writing, and when to use paraphrasing and quoting. 

           I have learned that paraphrasing is wording a paragraph or quote in your own words to make the paragraph make sense to you. Quoting on the other hand is making it clear that you understand what the quote is saying, but not explaining it in your own words. Paraphrasing is only okay if you give the person the credit for writing it. Quoting is okay if you give the source from where it is from and to not drop a quote in. You must state that you understand what it is saying, but not explain it in your own words then place the quote. Only use this when you want the authors authentic style of writing to be placed in your work. This is what I learned today: - Only use a direct quote when it adds power and style to my writing. - Always make it clear, from context, that I understand the full meaning of the quote. - Whether I quote or paraphrase, I must always be transparent about the source and how I'm using it. - If I use another author's exact word...

Quote: " by enough important facial hair to make the young  beard farmers  of 21st-century Brooklyn weep tears of envy."  Paragraph: The movie "Lincoln" has incorporated great actors, costumes, and has presented this time period in an incredibly realistic way, even including the big beards of men in that time. A. O. Scott explains this cleary in his article when he says, " by enough important facial hair to make the young  beard farmers  of 21st-century Brooklyn weep tears of envy." 

A New York Times article states, " After a brutal, kinetic beginning — a scene of muddy, hand-to-hand combat that evokes the opening of  “Saving Private Ryan” — “Lincoln” settles down into what looks like the familiar pageantry and speechifying of costume drama. A flock of first-rate character actors parades by in the heavy woolen plumage of the past. The smaller, plainer America of the mid-19th century is evoked by the brownish chiaroscuro of Janusz Kaminski’s cinematography, by the mud, brick and wood of Rick Carter’s production design and by enough important facial hair to make the young  beard farmers  of 21st-century Brooklyn weep tears of envy." Revised Paraphrase: In the very beginning of the movie "Lincoln" it opens up with the scene of characters fighting one-on-one physical combat in the mud showing the harsh cruelties of war, the scene goes from this intense war scene to a classic period piece that is usually shown in movies. A group of the best actors i...

Civil War Letters Theme: Soldiers Soldiers writing to their loved ones: 1st Letter: Sender: W. Adams  Recipient: Family Date: September 30th, 1862 Context: Some of W. Adams' soldiers are missing and they suppose that they are at camp and taken by the Yankees. Many African-American soldiers were taken by the Yankees, so they burned the Yankees to death and did not shoot one gun. Adams wished he was there to witness this fight. All of W. Adams' things are slowly being destroyed and is running out of paper and is in need of new shoes.  2nd Letter: Sender: Alexander Hunter Recipient: Folks  Date: September 21st, 1862  Context: Alexander was one of the soldiers that refrained "Maryland, My Maryland." He only ate apples and corn for six days and many soldiers became sick. Their clothing was almost all destroyed and people barely had enough strength to go and find food. So many were sick that all the ambul...