Short Answer Questions

On Ferguson's War of the World Reading
( homework 20)

Note:

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hussein_sa_20.doc

THIS IS ASSIGNMENT 20

 

The goal of this assignment is to grasp ideas that you will be applying in the upcoming paper. The concepts are understandable – but it might take a little time and work to get there. You may not understand the author’s argument on your first pass through the reading—but if you look up words you don’t know, read slowly, re-read, and look closely at my “translations” of Ferguson's text (see here), you will eventually get his arguments. Remember, it’s only 13 pages.

Don’t skip over material you don’t understand. Since this is the introduction of his book, the ideas have been compressed. And than means nearly every sentence is important.

Contact us if you don’t understand certain phrasing in the reading. And look at the “translations” of Ferguson's text (see here) as you read.

ASSUMING YOU’VE ALREADY READ THE CHAPTER CAREFULLY, EACH QUESTION SHOULD TAKE 7 TO 15 MINUTES TO ANSWER CLEARLY.

 

1) Explain why was it ironic that the twentieth century was, without question, the bloodiest century in history. Provide at least three reasons for that irony. Be sure to read up to xxxvi before coming to a conclusion and also be sure to put your answer in your own words. Answers that repeat the words of the author will not persuade us that you know what you are talking about (and may not win you credit for your answer).

2) The author offers three commonly-given explanations for the violence of the 20th century and then provides reasons why these explanations actually fall short in their explanatory power. Describe both these common explanations and their inadequacies (in the author’s view). Put your answer in your own words.

(Be careful not to confuse the author’s summary of OTHER peoples’ view with his own arguments—look for clues at the start of the paragraph that indicate that the upcoming passage gives voice to others’ opinions that Ferguson plans to critique.)

EXTRA-CREDIT POSSIBILITY: If you identify and copy the various sentences that indicate the author is about to present an analysis with which he disagrees, you can win up to five extra-credit points on this assignment. All you need to do is copy the phrases.

3) Using your own words--AND NOT THOSE of the author--provide a clear description of what the author thinks are the three reasons for the violence of the twentieth century. Be sure it’s clear to me (and you) that you know what each of the reasons is AND how it produced violence. (BE CAREFUL: THE REASONS FERGUSON THINKS ARE THE CAUSE OF VIOLENCE ARE NOT THE THREE EXPLANATIONS HE CRITIQUES EARLIER IN THE CHAPTER AND THAT I ASK ABOUT IN QUESTION 2--hence the reason the extra-credit option asks you to identify the phrases/sentences that indicate Ferguson is no longer describing his own opinion.)

4) Why, according to the author, is the social role of “race” so at odds with the scientific basis for “race”? Be sure to be specific and use your own words.

5) The author says identities in the ancient and medieval worlds were not “wholly indelible.”
Two questions (A) What does the author mean by this idea and (B) in what ways did this form of thinking change?

Be sure to read up to lii before coming to a conclusion.

To be clear, there is no one place in these pages that provides a single sentence or two you could copy—or rephrase—in order to answer the question. The answer is spread across several passages. You will have to read the material, understand it, and then think about it as a whole in order to answer the question.

6) The author describes a process of change during the 18th and 19th century that transformed what people believed could be inherited from parent to child.

Three questions, then: (A) What was it that people had often thought to be inheritable at the start of this transformation? And (B) what was believed to be inheritable at the end of transformation? (C) What caused this transformation and WHY? Be sure to read through to page liii before coming to you conclusion. As always, be sure to use your own words and not the authors'. And keep in mind specifics will make your argument stronger.

7) According to the author, why did empires fragmenting into nations cause so much violence? Be sure to use your own words. Your answer will have to explain why ethnic diversity had NOT produced violence in the past when most groups lived in large, multi-ethnic Empires (hint: think about what the author says had often been the basis for personal identity in such multi-ethnic empires, discussed just below the graph on page lvi). Be sure to read up to lix before coming to your conclusion.

8) Using your own words, describe (A) what economic volatility is; (B) how it differs from merely economic cycles or downturns; and (C) how and why volatility can cause ethnic conflict. Be sure to use specifics in your answer Be sure to read until the end of the excerpt (where I’ve written “end”)