Update Jan. 21

Writing Portfolio
We worked on revising sentences and paragraphs taken from students' letters to the editor. We focused on removing redundancy and wordiness. The paragraphs we worked on are at the bottom of this post.

Core
Bellwrite: At AHS we 4R to learn. What does it mean to you to REASON? What does it mean to RELATE?

We discussed the bellwrite, researching the definitions of REASON and RELATE in the 1828 Webster's dictionary. We then considered how we might change our approach to studying our history readings so that we can reason and relate more meaningfully.

For the next few history readings, we are going to take a different approach. Rather than answer the printed questions from your reading packet, we will read and discuss together. Afterwards, we will together decide upon two questions: one that will be on the history test and another that students will respond to in writing to extend their thinking about the topic.  The history test question is not required, but answering it will help students prepare for the test.

We tried out this new approach by revisiting Montesquieu (American Founding Topic 4).

Test Question: According to Montesquieu, what are the weaknesses of democracy and how does a republican government compensate for them?
Reason Question: If the majority of the people are not virtuous, what form of government will work for them?

Homework

• First Vision Memorization
• Pride and Prejudice p. 149
• Finish revising paragraphs 1-4 from the letters to the editor.

Revision Exercises

1. It may be true the amendment process is difficult to complete; however the Founders deliberately wanted much thought and energy going into changes instead of swift careless adjustments.
2. Is the U.S. Constitution exceptional? The U.S. Constitution was written in 1787. When it was written, it was exceptional, but it is no longer exceptional today. When the U.S. Constitution was written it was the only document of its kind in the world. It is also the first document of its kind. The U.S. Constitution has a unique history, making it exceptional, but all constitutions have a different history making them all exceptional, making none of them exceptional.
3. Another argument is that the amendment process takes too much time, however it safeguards the Constitution’s fundamental principles from hasty and unnecessary change. People today have many different opinions and points of view and not all of them wholly agree with the principles that were fundamental at the time that the Constitution was written.
4. The amendment process “updates” the constitution. It is unusually difficult to amend, but possible. The process to amend the constitution benefits all; a consensus has to be reached by 2/3 of the people to change the foundation of the United States. This process is beneficiary because the United States constitution can be updated to fit modern times, but not amended easily for the purpose of protecting the people’s rights.
5. The slow amendment process makes it so only very serious topics are subject to amending. For example, the Egyptian Constitution was rewritten in 2011, 2012, and is currently suspended because of instability in the government and nation. This stability in our government brings the U.S. government much success and shows that our Constitution is indeed exceptional.
6. If one were to constantly destroy and rebuild the foundation of a house, the building would become unsteady and one would risk a collapse. Stability of a country depends on steadfastness; it cannot accommodate frequent changes to the base of the structure. If the government were given more power to amend the Constitution, our foundation, they could transform it in ways that could prove disastrous to the welfare of our nation’s rights and liberty.