World History Notes: What is History?

World History Notes: What is History?


Wednesday, Sept. 2

History: What is it, and is it true?

Main Ideas:

   1. To understand if history is true, we must look for bias.

   2.  Each of us changes and influences history.

Vocab

• History--anything that happened in the past.
• Bias--when a writer inserts his/her own prejudices or ideas into reporting an event.
• Fact--something that can be proven.
• Opinion--something that states a personal feeling that cannot be proven
• Source--a place where one gets information (news, internet, books, other people)
• Propaganda--twisting an idea or fact to trick others into believing it.
• Snopes.com--a fairly reliable place to fact-check things to see if they are true.
• Epitaph---a short saying that goes on a person's tombstone.
• Obituary-- a short life-sketch that tells a reader about someone's life, usually in the newspaper after he/she dies   It contains:

                     where, when died
                     when, where born
                     parents, siblings
                     education/training/military
                     marriage
                     children
                     career
                     interests and contributions
                     location of funeral services and suggested gifts or memorials

Assignment:  Write an obituary about yourself after you have lived your ideal life.  Include all of the above elements.  Due Tuesday.  

Here is an example:

• Nathaniel Mencow, 89

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• Posted May. 28, 2007 at 6:00 AM 
  
  WORCESTER
  

  Nathaniel Mencow, also known as "Babe, Nate or Gus" Mencow 89 years young, of Worcester passed away on Sunday, May 27th.

  His wife of 54 years, Anna (Shapiro) Mencow died in 2001. He is survived by his three children and their spouses, Ruth and Gershon Hundert, Barbara and Paul Neustadt and William Mencow and Amy Mates; his nine grandchildren, Daniel, Dena, Rachel, Rena, Joseph, Naomi, Deena, Noah and Jesse and by his cousin, Ireene Ozer. He was predeceased by his four brothers Harry, Abraham, Samuel and William Mencow and by his sister, Dorothy "Daisy" Hoffman. He was born in Worcester, the 5th of 6 children of David and Ida (Sugarman) Mencow, both of whom immigrated from Borisov, Byelorus.

  He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1941. He moved through the ranks of the Eighth Air Force from 570th Squadron Navigator to 390th Bomb Group Navigator and was promoted to 13th Combat Wing Navigator. He completed 25 daylight bombing missions in 1943-44 and returned to the European Theater of operations for a second tour of duty. His missions included what became known as "The Big Three" to Regensburg, Munster, and Schweinfurt, as well as air support for the allied landing on D-Day. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, 2 Presidential Unit Citations, and numerous campaign medals for his heroism during WWII. He served as Deputy Commander of the 9226th Air Reserve Squadron and retired from the Air Force Reserves in 1963 with the rank of Lietenant Colonel. In 1991, a documentary based on his B-17 plane, "Betty Boop - The Pistol Packin’ Mama", was released and continues to be shown widely throughout the country.

  After WWII, he ran his own wholesale furniture business until his "retirement" in 1982. In those years, he won so many prizes on WTAG’s "college of useless knowledge" that he was asked to stop calling.

  At age 70, he received his B.A. in Media and Communications, cum laude, from Worcester State College and began a new career as a teacher, settling in as the "building substitute" at Sullivan Middle School, where he created, coordinated, and curated a WWII Museum, which was dedicated in his name in 1995. Mencow brought his wit, life experiences, and the joy of living to the Worcester School Department and touched thousands of lives.

  He also oversaw a thriving program which brought Clark University’s Holocaust Center doctoral students into Worcester high school classrooms.

  In 1999, he was selected as the Thomas Jefferson Recipient for Sullivan Middle School.

  In 2002, he received the Thomas S. Green Public Service Award in recognition of his outstanding service to the City of Worcester.

  He also was awarded two keys to the City of Worcester.

  At the 2003 WSC commencement, he received the College’s Community Service Award.

  He lectured frequently about the Armenian Genocide and, in 2004, organized the first Assyrian and Armenian Genocide Workshop at Clark.

  In 2006, he was inducted into the Worcester Public Schools’ Administrator’s Hall of Fame.

  At age 88, received his M.A. from WSC, became the college’s eldest degree recipient, and was hired as an Adjunct Professor of History.

  The family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to the extraordinary staff at the Jewish Healthcare Center.

  Funeral services will be held at 4 PM TODAY, MONDAYY 28TH in BETH ISRAEL SYNAGOGUE on JAMESBURY DRIVE. Burial will be in B’Nai Brith Cemetery.

  Memorial Observance will be held through Monday Evening at Beth Israel Synagogue on Jamesbury Drive and 2 to 4 PM and 7 PM to 9 PM on Tuesday, May 29th through Thursday, May 31st at his residence, 5 Suburban Rd.

  The family requests that flowers be omitted and suggests that memorial contributions may be made to the Nate Mencow U.S. History Scholarship Fund at Worcester State College, 486 Chandler St., Worcester 01602 or to the Jewish Healthcare Center, 629 Salisbury St., Worcester 01609.