For next time

In the group meetings and in the blog following the lecture/seminars on Wednesdays of Wk4 and Wk 5, we will study NOTES ON THE STATE OF VIRGINIA by Thomas Jefferson (1782)
Notes on the State of Virginia was written by Thomas Jefferson (a Founding Father and second President of the United States) in response to questions posed by Francois Barbes-Marbois, the French representative to the newly independent USA. There is an electronic version here (with page numbers): http://etext.virginia.edu/toc/modeng/public/JefVirg.html.
The queries made and Jefferson’s answers are revealing of what Europeans found curious about North America and what Americans knew of the new country after a century or so of settlement. Some of the answers are largely descriptive of climate or terrain, others are more interpretative about the inhabitants of America – settlers, natives and slaves – and their way of life. They give us a fascinating snapshot of the new nation.
For the small group:This week and next, each of you will make short non-assessed presentation (5-7mins) to the rest of the group about one of the following Queries from the Notes (page numbers refer to the online edition.) This will be the springboard to our general discussions.
Your presentation should briefly summarise the general points made by Jefferson, but the core of your presentation should be a critical evaluation of what Jefferson writes – how would you account for the views he holds, how do those views speak to the emerging identity of being an American, especially as the “new man” declared by De Crevecoeur? What comparisons can you see to America and Americans today?
1) Query VI (section on animals pp165-72)
2) Query VIII Population (section pp210-5)
3) Query XI Indians section (pp220-28)
4) Query XIII Constitution (section on rebellion and republics pp249-54)
5) Query XIII Laws (section on slaves pp 264-70)
6) Query XVII Religion
plus, if needed 7) Query XXII Public Revenue
PLEASE PRINT AND BRING THE RELEVANT SECTIONS FOR THAT WEEK’S SMALL GROUP.
For the Blog:First week on Notes: The lead poster will locate and post a website concerning some aspect of the life of Thomas Jefferson, analysing the source website, its opinions and how it presents its materials; other members of the group should comment both on the website and on the post, agreeing, disagreeing and elaborating on the original post. The post and the comments should be at least 150-200 words.
Second week on Notes: The lead poster will locate and post a website concerning [a topic to be decided]; other members of the group should comment both on the website and on the post, agreeing, disagreeing and elaborating on the original post. The post and the comments should be at least 150-200 words.