Mid Term Considerations

We will debate and discuss, defend and present issues, concepts and arguments on the resolved statement below. Each half of the class, as previously divided, will in turn defend the statement and defend against the other side which will question, argue against, attack individual statements in presentations. Then both sides will completely switch, pro becoming con and presentation of the Renaissance turns to presentation of the Reformation.

Resolved: Given that 'revolution' is a major change in society resulting in a widespread social/political environment, and/or new worldview (paradigm shift) -- then, the most revolutionary "moment" we have seen in this class was Luther's Reformation, more revolutionary than any other movement of the Renaissance or of the Reformation.

Mid Term Evaluation Techniques

         Of course, you wonder how is this graded. My view is that we should do historical explorations in this class, and this one. It is of a higher quality than most because, like a term paper, the thesis is on the table for some time; background prep is a must; lectures, primary sources, historiography and discussion of elements have been ongoing since August.

          So I'm looking for historical technique:

• primary-source evidence presented and explained as to how it relates to the issues at hand as an inductive process
• issues that relate are understood, brought out, argued, and, again, related to the point at hand (elements of the 'resolved')
• context surrounds the evidence, issues, major figures, ideas, events, arguments
• contemporary secondary sources are applied to the issues at hand -- not a full-blown lit review -- but some 'experts' appear to show that this important element was not neglected
• major controversies come out, in clear and laconic explanation, as appropriate
• important distinctions in method appear, e.g., when arguing deductively that Luther's "priesthood of all believers" implies social equality and that issue trumps the elite social direction of the Renaissance, that a counter of Luther's ideas leading to the Peasants' Revolt (a la the social equality in the 12 Articles) -- that is either explained or countered with that fact that the 12 Articles show no direct usage of Luther's idea here, but that influence probably exists. (will explain this in detail in our last class before the mid-term begins)
• that the History 301 thesis of 'horizons' comes into play in a natural way, not forced
• courtesy in attack and defense is always the defining atmosphere -- lose that and risk losing higher education