Book Description
This is a practical guide to the historical study of international politics. The focus is on the nuts and bolts of historical research--that is, on how to use original sources, analyze and interpret historical works, and actually write a work of history. Two appendixes provide sources sure to be indispensable for anyone doing research in this area.
The book does not simply lay down precepts. It presents examples drawn from the author's more than forty years' experience as a working historian. One important chapter, dealing with America's road to war in 1941, shows in unprecedented detail how an interpretation of a major historical issue can be developed. The aim throughout is to throw open the doors of the workshop so that young scholars, both historians and political scientists, can see the sort of thought processes the historian goes through before he or she puts anything on paper. Filled with valuable examples, this is a book anyone serious about conducting historical research will want to have on the bookshelf.
Customer Reviews:
Fair, thorough, and easy to read.......2005-04-24
Books commonly do not live up to the hype they receive, so when I read comments about this one being, "the only definitive book on this notable Indian" and others to that effect, I was initially skeptical. Then I read the book and found myself agreeing with the praise heaped on it, for Debo did indeed write a balanced and readable account of both Geronimo and the Apache, not to mention various parties from the U.S.A. who dealt with them (such as those in the Department of the Interior or army figures such as General Crook or Britton Davis), all based on years of careful research, personal interviews and extensive correspondance. The result is a book that gives a little of everything pertaining to Apache life in general and Geronimo and his contemporaries in particular. She writes with interest about past Apache history, Apache customs (such as the Dance of the Mountain Spirits), geographical distribution of various factions within the tribe, and the lives of those associated with Geronimo such as Cochise, Mangas Coloradas, Victorio, his wives, his sisters, Naiche, Nana, or Loco, to name but a few. Moreover, she writes of the division of opinion and lifestyle within the Apache themselves with respect to living on reservations and raiding. The raiding and killing done by Geronimo and other Apache hostiles, coupled with the duplicity and injustice of the U.S. government, ultimately brought disaster on many of the peaceful, productive Apache. The years of imprisonment and exile following Geronimo's capture show the great forbearance of the Apache, along with the difficulties faced by all parties in trying to preserve the Apache way of life while at the same time trying to become incorporated into mainstream American society.
Geronimo himself is treated fairly and shown in all his complexities. The reader is neither given the hero worship type biography nor the spiteful villain approach, but rather a temperate account of a strong, courageous, independent, yet flawed human who both fought for his people and yet brought disaster to them as well. As such, the man's humanity is revealed: his kindness to children and relatives, his good work ethic (even in old age), his fidelity to justice as he saw it, his courage in battle, his deeply religious nature, and willingness to endure hardship are just as evident as are his hatred towards Mexicans, weakness for alcohol, and willingness to murder and steal. Photographs are liberally sprinkled throughout the text, providing excellent visual aids.
I found Debo's writing to be neither overly sentimental nor dry as dust. She obviously took great interest in her subject and from time to time placed personal comments in the text or footnotes which give the reader the feeling that they are receiving a STORY and not merely a dry academic treatise. This is definitely a five-star book and I read it with great interest.
A Quality Bio on a Fascinating Character.......2001-09-24
This biography truly reveals the man behind the myth. Geronimo has had a reputation as either a bloodthirsty, pitiless scalp hunter (the conservative view), or as a divinely-guided leader trying desperately to save his people from destruction (the romantic view). Both of these are partially correct, but neither gives any indication of Geronimo as a human being, and that's what Debo does ably in this book. Debo compiles all the information available to give an impressively detailed portrait of the man's life, and uncovers many aspects of his personality, both good and bad. So we get the predicted praise for his bravery and honesty; but the author is not afraid to criticize his ill temper, vindictiveness, and lack of eloquence.
While the focus remains on Geronimo himself, this book also serves as an informative history of the final days of Apache independence. Many interesting characters are covered in a good amount of detail when Geronimo is absent from the narrative, like Victorio, Loco, Chihuahua, Kaywaykla, Naiche (my personal favorite) and even the white generals Crook and Howard. There is ample coverage of the tribe's post-glory days when they were imprisoned on various disagreeable reservations, and the depressing consequences of the loss of their culture and the deaths of many tribe members from disease. The only flaws in this book are Debo's criticism of previous information sources as inaccurate (they were, but the author's criticism is often arrogant), and a rather sappy, overly sentimental writing style.
The most complete study of Geronimo that I have read.......1997-11-29
Ms. Debo has presented a complete analysis of the man Geronimo, from both sides of the Apache conflict. She deals with the prejedice of the day as well as the myths and legends of the time. I was well informed by her conclusions and believe the concepts she presented were both truthful and informative.
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Geronimo: The man, his time, his place (Civilization of the American Indian series)
Angie Debo
Manufacturer: University of Oklahoma Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0806113332 |
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- A MUST-HAVE for elementary through high school math teachers
- A useful guide for teachers of elementary algebra.
- A Vision-ary Book on Math
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Vision in Elementary Mathematics
W. W. Sawyer
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
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Binding: Paperback
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Similar Items:
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Prelude to Mathematics
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What Is Calculus About? (New Mathematical Library)
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Mathematician's Delight
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Algebra
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Trigonometry
ASIN: 048642555X |
Book Description
As the title suggests, this technique employs visual elements in its exploration of the most graphic and least "forbidding" aspects of mathematics. The author observes that most people possess a direct vision that permits them to "see" only the smaller numbers. In addressing this difficulty, both for those who like recreational mathematics and for those who teach, he suggests a variety of methods: techniques of visualizing, dramatizing, and analyzing numbers that attract and retain the attention and understanding. Topics range from basic multiplication and division to algebra, encompassing word problems, graphs, negative numbers, fractions, and many other practical applications of elementary mathematics. 1964 ed. Answers to Problems.
Customer Reviews:
A MUST-HAVE for elementary through high school math teachers.......2007-08-01
Clear instruction on guiding students through the the most frequently stumbled upon topics in elementary math and algebra: fractions, negatives, combining vs. multiplying terms, distributing negative signs, and a wonderful introduction to simultaneous equations.
His methods leave the "rules" out letting students SEE why a rule may be made. Sawyer is wonderful. I recommend this along with all of his other books. Anyone struggling with Abstract Algebra should find an old copy of his concrete approach book, it's simply the best.
IF YOU TEACH MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH OR HIGH SCHOOL- YOU HAVE TO READ THIS!!!!!
A useful guide for teachers of elementary algebra........2006-08-22
Sawyer's text describes visual methods for making concepts from elementary algebra and those areas of arithmetic that tend to pose difficulties for students, including manipulating negative numbers and fractions, understandable. This text was written in response to Sawyer's experiences teaching algebra to a class of mathematically advanced elementary school students, but the methods he discusses here are more widely applicable. Teachers of pre-algebra and elementary algebra will benefit from reading this text.
Sawyer discusses concepts from arithmetic and algebra, including even and odd numbers, divisibility tests, negative numbers, fractions, operations on polynomials, graphs, and the Pythagorean Theorem. As Sawyer discusses each topic, he introduces visual models that help students understand the concept that they are learning. Throughout the text, Sawyer warns the reader about the type of mistakes students are prone to make, why they make them, and how to address them.
Sawyer objects to the practice of teaching algebra by having the students learn a series of skills that allow them to solve increasingly complicated problems without first placing what they are learning in context. He feels that method of teaching discourages students from wanting to learn algebra. Instead, he advocates posing problems that can be represented visually so that students can see what is happening rather than memorizing a rule. Sawyer has his students explore variations on a problem, including their own versions, and search for patterns. This process, which mimics what mathematicians do, helps students understand the concept, which is preferable to having them memorize a rule without understanding the reason for it. He also stresses the importance of having the students master a concept before building to the next concept, arguing that teaching new concepts to students with a poor foundation does them a disservice since they won't be able to understand the new concept until they have that foundation.
The text includes exercises, most of which are routine calculations. However, there are some more interesting problems in which you are asked to search for a pattern. Answers to all of the exercises are provided in the back of the text.
I have some caveats. American readers should be warned that this is a British text, so there are differences in terminology and notation. As Sawyer notes, Americans refer to indices as exponents. Also, the roles of the dot used as a decimal point and the dot used for multiplication are interchanged. Readers outside the United States should be aware that the text is old enough to refer to old English units rather than the metric system. It is also old enough to refer to sixpences, half crowns, and shillings, coins that the British have replaced.
Sawyer's writing is clear, but it is also dry and pedantic. Consequently, I found the text to be a slow read. Therefore, while I can recommend it to teachers of algebra, I do not recommend it to lay readers.
A Vision-ary Book on Math.......2003-07-25
For those not familiar with Sawyer's other books (*Prelude to Mathematics* -- also by Dover Press, and *Mathematician's Delight* -- by Penguin, but out-of-print), W. W. Sawyer was a Brit who excelled in making even the most opaque topic in mathematics understandable and clear to his many students and readers.
Sawyer's *Vision in Elementary Mathematics* adds to his sterling reputation. On the surface, *Vision* focuses on various topics in 'elementary' mathematics including: algebra, arithmetic, and geometry. A deeper look at this book reveals, however, that Sawyer's book goes well beyond rehashing basic concepts in math.
The focus in this book -- as the title *Vision* suggests -- is on helping both students and teachers have a stronger inuitive grasp of basic concepts of mathematics that many teachers tend to gloss over. As many people have experienced in their own education, mathematics is often treated as a mysterious, 'black box'-like subject. That kind of mindless and unthinking approach to mathematics teaching and learning tend to turn many people off to the subject. This ongoing tragedy in American education has been well researched by another excellent book, *Knowing and Teaching Elementary Mathematics* by Liping Ma.
Sawyer wrote this book in order to combat the unthinking approach to math education. The remedy he offers to that kind of approach is to encourage a deeper understanding of mathematics from relatively simple concepts like fractions, arithmetic, and number properties all the way up to polynomial equations. My favorite quote from this book, which is repeated in different forms, is: "We first try to make sure that we can see what the problem means - for if we do not understand the question, we have no hope of finding the answer." As this quote suggests, *Vision* focuses on helping people to truly UNDERSTAND what mathematical problems really mean.
*Vision* utilizes various techniques to help readers to have a deeper level of understanding of mathematics. Sawyer encourages people to develop some geometrical heuristics to help them grasp a problem. A great example of this is how Sawyer explains how to easily multiply and divide anything from numbers all the way up to polynomial algebraic equations using 'matrix'-like geometric concepts -- no mean feat!
Another great thing about *Vision* is that Sawyer encourages experimentation by students in this book. As many math-lovers know, you can't really learn mathematics without doing it. Sawyer not only encourages people to 'do' math but to experiment with it. By encouraging students to think about math problems in creative and novel ways -- and to not be afraid of making mistakes and, hopefully, learning from them -- *Vision* will help many math students to get a greater appreciation for the subject and will encourage them to be much more creative about the subject. Furthermore, by encouraging student to find out for themselves the whys and hows of a correct solution, *Vision* will encourage the kind of mentality one has to have to become a good mathematician or scientist.
In this regard, it should also be noted that Sawyer includes several exercises at the end of each chapter and includes ANSWERS at the end of the book for each and every question (very helpful for self-learning).
A surprising -- given its focus on 'elementary' mathematics -- benefit of this book is that it provides solid foundations for more advance topics in mathematics. *Vision* provides excellent foundations for number theory, linear algebra, calculus, trigonometry, and combinatorics. Another plus for this book is that Sawyer deliberately tries to emphasize the fact that mathematics -- at any level -- can be useful to real-life problems because mathematics underlies so much of what we see in the natural world.
Who should read this book? The obvious audiences are teachers and students of mathematics in anywhere from elementary school up to high school. This book would be especially helpful to home-schoolers who are interested in providing their kids with a solid grounding in mathematics that can be built upon when they attend university.
But those aren't the only people who should read this book. This book should be read by people who feel that they had an 'incomplete' education. People, like myself, who felt a bit cheated by the poor state of the educational system should definitely read this book no matter how confident (or un-confident) about their mathematical abilities.
This book can and should be read by advance students and teachers of mathematics in fields ranging from engineers to scientists (including professional mathematicians). Those advanced users of mathematics can use this book both for review and to get some additional insights into their chosen subject. I have no doubt that Sawyer has insights and creative approaches in *Vision* that will prove valuable to mathematicians at any level.
Finally, ANYONE interested in getting a 'profound understanding of fundamental mathematics' (often abbreviated PUFM in educational policy circles) for whatever reason MUST read this wonderful book. *Vision* perfectly fulfills Sawyer's vision of writing a book that helps people to look at mathematics in a novel way that will help them to have a deeper understanding and appreciation for mathematics.
Book Description
This practical guidebook demonstrates how you can carry the vision of the Standards - for teaching, professional development, assessment, content, program, and system - into the real world of the classroom and school. Pathways is also a tool for you to use in collaborating with administrators, school boards, and other stakeholders in science education. Filled with specific suggestions and clear examples that guide teachers in implementing each of the Standards, Pathways is a valuable resource for everyone involved in science education.
Book Description
This practical guidebook demonstrates how you can carry the vision of the Standards - for teaching, professional development, assessment, content, program, and system - into the real world of the classroom and school. Pathways is also a tool for you to use in collaborating with administrators, school boards, and other stakeholders in science education. Filled with specific suggestions and clear examples that guide teachers in implementing each of the Standards, Pathways is a valuable resource for everyone involved in science education.
Book Description
This digital document is an article from School Science and Mathematics, published by School Science and Mathematics Association, Inc. on April 1, 2000. The length of the article is 8946 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Achieving the Reforms Vision: The Effectiveness of a Specialists-Led Elementary Science Program.
Author: Renee S. Schwartz
Publication:
School Science and Mathematics (Refereed)
Date: April 1, 2000
Publisher: School Science and Mathematics Association, Inc.
Volume: 100
Issue: 4
Page: 181
Distributed by Thomson Gale
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Operation Physics. Color and Vision
Manufacturer: American Institute of Physics
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ASIN: 0883189984 |
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Plant Pheno-Morphological Studies in Mediterranean Type Ecosystems (Geobotany)
Manufacturer: Springer
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ASIN: 906193656X |
Books:
- The Debate on the Constitution : Federalist and Antifederalist Speeches, Articles and Letters During the Struggle over Ratification, Part Two: January to August 1788 (Library of America)
- The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody: Great Figures of History Hilariously Humbled
- The Decline and Fall of the Lettered City: Latin America in the Cold War (Convergences: Inventories of the Present)
- The Devil's Dominion: Magic and Religion in Early New England
- The Digital Hand: How Computers Changed the Work of American Manufacturing, Transportation, and Retail Industries
- The Duke of Alba
- The Encyclopedia of New Jersey
- The Fall of Constantinople 1453 (Canto)
- The Federalist Era 1789-1801
- The French Revolution: Conflicting Interpretations
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