Semester Reflection
Ethical Judgment
This semester, I completed an independent historical fiction novel study by reading “The Shortest History of War” by Gwynne Dyer, which was about the progression of human warfare from hunter-gatherers to continental conflicts. I practiced using concrete evidence from a text. One of the best pieces of evidence I used for this project were direct quotes from the book with quotations and no paraphrasing. “The Shortest History of War” remains significant and relevant to life in 2024 by providing historical context, insights into modern conflict, and a framework for understanding global challenges and the pursuit of peace and security.
Core Competency Reflection
- While completing my novel study assignment, I felt unsure of what to do at times due to the nature of my altered assignment, so I would ask for clarification and do some thinking to be able to progress.
- I remain open-minded as I explore viable options or alternative approaches, like when I was choosing topics for the “is violence necessary for a revolution” debate. I took an impartial stance and let my opponent choose their stance, pro or con, and picked the other myself.
- I gather and synthesize information to develop logical conclusions, such as when we had to determine whether John A. Macdonald was a good first prime minister or not. I looked over the movie and the readings to come to my conclusion, which I relayed in my final essay.