Book Review on "Lies My Teacher Told Me by James"
Book Review 4 pages (1376 words) Sources: 1+
[EXCERPT] . . . .
Lies My Teacher Told Me by James W. LoewenThe ignorance of American students is often bemoaned in the public discourse and attributed to student or teacher laziness. But according to James W. Loewen in Lies My Teacher Told Me, the ways in which American history is taught to students as much as work ethic of students must come under scrutiny. The ways in which the teaching process takes place is inherently problematic -- riddled with misstatements and outright lies. History textbooks reduce American history to sound bites and to an easy trajectory of positive 'progress' in which history is shown as ever-advancing in a beneficial direction.
James Loewen is uniquely qualified to write a book critiquing how American elementary, middle, and high school students learn their history. Not only is he a professor of history but according to his official website, "Loewen spent two years at the Smithsonian Institute surveying twelve leading high school textbooks of American History. What he found was an embarrassing amalgam of bland optimism, blind patriotism, and misinformation pure and simple, weighing in at an average of four-and-a-half pounds and 888 pages." Loewen thus has an in-depth knowledge of how history is presented in both more 'liberal' and 'conservative textbooks; textbooks designed for both old and young; textbooks intended to be used for AP classes and for lower-level students. He finds all of them lacking, albeit sometimes in different ways.
An excellent example of how history is taught in American schools is manifested in the example of Helen Keller. Keller is often championed as a disabled person who bravely overcame being blind and deaf. Howeve
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Likewise, entire historical movements are likewise denuded of their original significance. Consider the Pilgrims, who are portrayed as pioneers starting with nothing -- ignoring the fact they actually lived in Indian villages that had been decimated by European colonialism and the plague (Loewen 90). History becomes the selective enforcement of particular ideologies. Even the colonization of the Americans Spanish is not included in the history of the early Americas, because this might cloud the narrative of people 'making good' upon the promise of a new, unsullied world empty of anyone but White, Anglo-Saxon Protestants (Loewen 70). Some relatively good history books characterize native… READ MORE
Quoted Instructions for "Lies My Teacher Told Me by James" Assignment:
English 122 Online
Outside Reading Assignment - Written Report
This paper will count as two major essays. Therefore, it will be of extended length: at least 1200 words. It will consist of several parts (percentages given indicate the amount of the paper which should be given to each section.):
Introduction: A BRIEF summary of the book, covering the main points discussed, its seeming purpose, and one or two ideas you see as most significant. (10%)
Author Information: Present information about the author which shows his/her credibility regarding the topic. This will require a little research. (10%)
Connections (60%): With the text: Present ideas you find in the book which coincide with, or contradict, ideas we have read in class this semester.
With Current Events: Present ideas, experiences, etc., which are realities in today's world, or current events. Search newspapers, magazine sources, etc.
With other readings: Describe connections (ideas and experiences) you find between this book and other readings you have done for this class or others.
Criticism and Recommendations: Try to find some published criticism about the book made by professional book reviewers (not by casual readers on the internet or at Amazon.com, for example). You should go to the library to find this. By the way, criticism does not just mean negative things someone says, but anything a reviewer says. What does the criticism say about the validity, style, or interest level of the book? Then discuss your own critical feelings about the book (same criteria as above), and tell whether you recommend the book, to whom, and why or why not. (10%)
Conclusion: Discuss your feelings/ideas about having to read this book for the class, and anything else you wish to say about the book, its topic, or the experience of reading it. (10%)
Final Draft Due: Midnight, Thursday, May 16th.
No late papers will be accepted!
General Requirements: Send pasted into an email. Must have a title (not the title of the book itself!). Must be double spaced. Remember to use italics for book titles and quotation marks around titles of essays, stories, and poems. Do not use topic headings. Instead, use topic sentences that clearly indicate the topics of the sections. When quoting, use quotation marks correctly, according to the handout on citation. Try to avoid having too many quotes; paraphrase instead, as much as possible, using direct quotes only to make a point about the language used by an author. Use present tense when discussing what an article says. Refer to essays, stories, and poems with the titles and authors. Do not cite page numbers or use footnotes. Make citations within the body of the essay. Follow the instructions in the assignment carefully! Since this is a course in college level reading, being able to do this is required!
The Book is "Lies My Teacher Told Me"
How to Reference "Lies My Teacher Told Me by James" Book Review in a Bibliography
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