Gaddis, John L. Strategies of Containment. New York: Oxford University Press, 1982.
Background information about the war and analytical commentary from a leading historian. Also good quotes from soldiers to reference and compare.
Gaius, Shaver R., and Canadell Josep. "The Vietnam War." Public Broadcasting System. PBS.org. Web. 15 Sept. 2010.
A detailed overall view of the Vietnam war, which includes multiple perspectives and many quotes and interviews of soldiers and politicians in the war. This will be my main source of quotation and information to examine in relation to the soldiers in the film.
Kellog, Ray. The Green Berets. Hollywood California:Paramount Pictures, 1968.
A 1968 film portrayal of the Vietnam War. This is the primary source basis for analysis in my paper. I will use quotes from characters in the movie to display their feelings towards the war.
McNamara, Robert, S. In Retrospect: Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam. New York: Vintage Books Random House Inc, 1996
Background information about the war and primary reflection from the U.S. military leader of the war in Vietnam. Will be used for background information, commentary about popularity of the war amongst the military,, as well as comparative insight of the nature of this person in relation to the general in the film.
Smith, T. E., E. A. Polloway, J. R. Patton, and C. A. Dowdy. "The Green Berets." Internet Movie Database. Web. 14 Sept. 2010.
A movie database website that gives background about the film and its creation. Also has links to articles and reviews that may be useful when looking at the validity of the movie, but mostly will be used for background information.
Zinn, Howard. A People’s History of the United States. New York: HarperCollins, 1999.
I will use chapter 18, “The Impossible Victory: Vietnam.” For use in the analysis, this book provides soldiers quotes and secondary analysis by the author that can be cross-referenced with ideas and soldiers views in the movie.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Project Blog post 5 – Research question and plan of investigation (formal introduction)
My research question:
To extent do the opinions, feelings and actions of the portrayed U.S. soldiers in the movie "The Green Berets" reflect the true opinions, feelings and actions of U.S. soldiers in the Vietnam War?
Part A: Plan of the Investigation
Cinema has often been used to depict historical events, and in particular, the atrocities and emotions of war. This practice has been conducted with varying degrees of purpose and intention. The film, "The Green Berets" (1968) is one such polemic film. There are many controversial topics surrounding this movie such as its manipulation by the Pentagon to drum up pro-war support, and the portrayal of the media as naive and uninformed. Despite these ideas, I have chosen to research the question: To extent do the opinions, feelings and actions of the portrayed soldiers in the movie "The Green Berets" reflect the true opinions, feelings and actions of soldiers in the Vietnam War? By gaining background information about the movie and its possible intentions via secondary sources such as the Internet Movie Database, and movie reviews in general and looking at the overall feelings conjured up during the war, I will produce some background insight into the movie and place it in context of the war. The I plan on looking at the views of soldiers and their feelings and responses in the movie in relation to primary source interviews and accounts of actual soldiers in the event. My hope is to examine the overall purpose and effect of cinematic manipulation by viewing "The Green Berets" as a case study within the overall picture of this issue.
+++NOTICE:
for those of you that read this, I'd like to specifically point out the components of this plan of investigation. For FULL POINTS, please see that the research question, context and scope of the investigation, types of sources to consult, and possible outcomes are all present!
Good Luck with your first official section!
To extent do the opinions, feelings and actions of the portrayed U.S. soldiers in the movie "The Green Berets" reflect the true opinions, feelings and actions of U.S. soldiers in the Vietnam War?
Part A: Plan of the Investigation
Cinema has often been used to depict historical events, and in particular, the atrocities and emotions of war. This practice has been conducted with varying degrees of purpose and intention. The film, "The Green Berets" (1968) is one such polemic film. There are many controversial topics surrounding this movie such as its manipulation by the Pentagon to drum up pro-war support, and the portrayal of the media as naive and uninformed. Despite these ideas, I have chosen to research the question: To extent do the opinions, feelings and actions of the portrayed soldiers in the movie "The Green Berets" reflect the true opinions, feelings and actions of soldiers in the Vietnam War? By gaining background information about the movie and its possible intentions via secondary sources such as the Internet Movie Database, and movie reviews in general and looking at the overall feelings conjured up during the war, I will produce some background insight into the movie and place it in context of the war. The I plan on looking at the views of soldiers and their feelings and responses in the movie in relation to primary source interviews and accounts of actual soldiers in the event. My hope is to examine the overall purpose and effect of cinematic manipulation by viewing "The Green Berets" as a case study within the overall picture of this issue.
+++NOTICE:
for those of you that read this, I'd like to specifically point out the components of this plan of investigation. For FULL POINTS, please see that the research question, context and scope of the investigation, types of sources to consult, and possible outcomes are all present!
Good Luck with your first official section!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Post 3; Choosing A Topic - Narrowing my ideas
So i've mulled over things for a day or two on topics and what i had brainstormed previously. I'm still a little stuck. at the moment, my main problems seem to stem from worrying about the language barrier, and not knowing much about the library and possible resources. In my google playing today (i messed around for about 30 more minutes) i did consider looking at one of the really hokey history movies i've seen in the past (Titanic, Pearl Harbor...etc) and, as an argumentative essay, discuss why it is and isnt in line with the actual history. I like the idea, but i'd want to pick a movie that hasn't been overdone (there was A LOT out there about how badly innacurate Pearl Harbor was). Just a thought. Hmmm...I think I'll watch a movie now instead of grading your work!!!
In total, i've probably spent about 2 hours of my life thinking about this project and I dont have a clue yet. I'm going to have to get focused and make a clear decision soon so that you guys dont start getting ahead of me.
In total, i've probably spent about 2 hours of my life thinking about this project and I dont have a clue yet. I'm going to have to get focused and make a clear decision soon so that you guys dont start getting ahead of me.
Post 2: Day 1 - Brainstorming a topic
Ok, so no we're starting off with what is the most important part of the process...choosing a topic.
I know that it seems like the easiest, but thats just not true. It is CRITICAL that you consider possible topics and choose something that is right for you and for the task. Many students in the past have simply chosen either a basic research project (without considering available sources or the argumentative nature of the topic) or something they just plain like and think will be easy (which, in my experience never is...usually these topics are too ambiguous and therefore unanswerable through research). The important thing here is to take the time to branstorm possible interests and then narrow them down based on three main concepts...1) is it argumantative and original? 2) are there resources at my disposal which make me able to conduct proper research? and 3) do i like it (but not too much) or am i going to lose interest?
***Lets look at these three ideas separately and then i will walk you through my own thoughts on my own personal research project.
1) This is, in my opinion, the most important of the three...basically...can my topic be examined through a process of either research, interview, or experimentation. AND has someone already done this to the point where it is useless (i.e. have multiple books/entire volumes of research been done on the subject therefore making a 2000 word paper on the subject a bit broad and futile?)
2) When i look around the library/environment...etc. am i sure i will be able to find answers to my ideas? this is somewhat less important now with the advancement of technology, but still, if my topic requires samples of cured lamb meat from Mongolia, or interviews from an aboriginal tribe in Vanuatu, i may want to reconsider. You cannot rely heavily on background knowledge. Encyclopedias and wikipedia are for background knowledge at best (if at all). But, more on this later.
3) This is a slippery slope. I do, i swear, want you to enjoy your topic. music, however, is not a topic, it is an entire world. you must be very specific and understand the implications of your topic. to conduct a research or experimental based task, you must have the right idea of what you are doing, without letting too much personal interest could your ideas. sure it would be fun to listen to Mariah Carey (or whatever you teenie-boppers listen to at the sock-hop) all day, but thats not going to write your paper. You will most likely have to do something related to physics or tone to make that happen!
*****
OK...so now im going to think about what i like, where i am, and how i can make a plan of action for the ideas that come up. My mind always leans towards the historical side of things, but this should NOT stop you from choosing papers and projects on literary analysis, scientific experiment or social issues such as the impact of ipods upon the traditional family unit. Look at topics from the angle that suits you best!
• I love food (can you tell?) so for me, cuisine and history is always a topic of interest. specific dishes, culturally related techniques and utencils or known restaurants make for easy and well developed essays. But i dont speak Greek so this may be difficult.
• I like futbol...i could do the history of a stadium, club, fan club, impact of a player or specific moment in the history of futbol. this could work out even better if i have access to either interviews or archives. Espeically if i choose something here in Cyprus, but again, there's the Greek language barrier.
• I like history but since I am teaching 3 sections of it this year, and since i have done many history papers in my life, i'd prefer to try something new, y'know, to break the monotony a little. We'll see...however, Cyprus is very new to me having only been here for 6 months (most of which i've spent in this building we call school with these things we call students), so that is an option. I'm not much for ancient history, so if i do this i would prefer a modern paper such as NGO work being done on the island or something in relation to the UN or US Embassy. This could also complement my inability to speek Greek.
• I like film too, so maybe something related to cinema would be nice, but I'm not sure about resources and access to necessary interviews/documents...etc here on the island. hmmm, may be difficult.
• OR...i could combine these, the history of film or the history of a futbol something. Im gonna spend a few minutes on google. just basics (searching for Cyprus and film for example) and see what i come up with.Allright, 30 minutes later and im a bit stuck. I'm gonna work on something else for a while, put it all on the back of my mind and come back to it later when im fresh, maybe after dinner...mmm dinner!
I know that it seems like the easiest, but thats just not true. It is CRITICAL that you consider possible topics and choose something that is right for you and for the task. Many students in the past have simply chosen either a basic research project (without considering available sources or the argumentative nature of the topic) or something they just plain like and think will be easy (which, in my experience never is...usually these topics are too ambiguous and therefore unanswerable through research). The important thing here is to take the time to branstorm possible interests and then narrow them down based on three main concepts...1) is it argumantative and original? 2) are there resources at my disposal which make me able to conduct proper research? and 3) do i like it (but not too much) or am i going to lose interest?
***Lets look at these three ideas separately and then i will walk you through my own thoughts on my own personal research project.
1) This is, in my opinion, the most important of the three...basically...can my topic be examined through a process of either research, interview, or experimentation. AND has someone already done this to the point where it is useless (i.e. have multiple books/entire volumes of research been done on the subject therefore making a 2000 word paper on the subject a bit broad and futile?)
2) When i look around the library/environment...etc. am i sure i will be able to find answers to my ideas? this is somewhat less important now with the advancement of technology, but still, if my topic requires samples of cured lamb meat from Mongolia, or interviews from an aboriginal tribe in Vanuatu, i may want to reconsider. You cannot rely heavily on background knowledge. Encyclopedias and wikipedia are for background knowledge at best (if at all). But, more on this later.
3) This is a slippery slope. I do, i swear, want you to enjoy your topic. music, however, is not a topic, it is an entire world. you must be very specific and understand the implications of your topic. to conduct a research or experimental based task, you must have the right idea of what you are doing, without letting too much personal interest could your ideas. sure it would be fun to listen to Mariah Carey (or whatever you teenie-boppers listen to at the sock-hop) all day, but thats not going to write your paper. You will most likely have to do something related to physics or tone to make that happen!
*****
OK...so now im going to think about what i like, where i am, and how i can make a plan of action for the ideas that come up. My mind always leans towards the historical side of things, but this should NOT stop you from choosing papers and projects on literary analysis, scientific experiment or social issues such as the impact of ipods upon the traditional family unit. Look at topics from the angle that suits you best!
• I love food (can you tell?) so for me, cuisine and history is always a topic of interest. specific dishes, culturally related techniques and utencils or known restaurants make for easy and well developed essays. But i dont speak Greek so this may be difficult.
• I like futbol...i could do the history of a stadium, club, fan club, impact of a player or specific moment in the history of futbol. this could work out even better if i have access to either interviews or archives. Espeically if i choose something here in Cyprus, but again, there's the Greek language barrier.
• I like history but since I am teaching 3 sections of it this year, and since i have done many history papers in my life, i'd prefer to try something new, y'know, to break the monotony a little. We'll see...however, Cyprus is very new to me having only been here for 6 months (most of which i've spent in this building we call school with these things we call students), so that is an option. I'm not much for ancient history, so if i do this i would prefer a modern paper such as NGO work being done on the island or something in relation to the UN or US Embassy. This could also complement my inability to speek Greek.
• I like film too, so maybe something related to cinema would be nice, but I'm not sure about resources and access to necessary interviews/documents...etc here on the island. hmmm, may be difficult.
• OR...i could combine these, the history of film or the history of a futbol something. Im gonna spend a few minutes on google. just basics (searching for Cyprus and film for example) and see what i come up with.Allright, 30 minutes later and im a bit stuck. I'm gonna work on something else for a while, put it all on the back of my mind and come back to it later when im fresh, maybe after dinner...mmm dinner!
Post 1: Hello, howdy and good luck
Here is a brief summary of our course as discussed in class, I will attempt to work through the 10th grade research project with you by following the process myself. This way, we can figure out how to make this exercise useful and rational by navigating the rough waters together. My plan is to be as transparent as possible in my blog by discussing my topic choice, research questions, posting my works cited and final essay, as well as discussing any problems i foresee or tackle along the way. I will try to stay a week or two ahead of you so that you can see my thoughts process and actions taken towards constructing the essay portion of your project. I will also attempt to let you know the amount of time i spent on each task in order to give you a solid idea of time as well.
Your job will be to follow my posts and ask any questions via the comments section of each post (or in person if you wish). You can look here for any ideas or questions related to your own topic and i will respond here as well. These will range from choice of topic to possible places to research/interview/experiment...etc.
Also, you will be able to look at Essay format, Works Cited format and other concepts and ideas that you may not be familiar with.
This blog will be linked to the course wiki, so we will also be making sure your parents are aware of the blog; thus allowing them access to our progress and conversation! When you are on track, all will know...and when you are behind, well, there is a downside to transparency as well, isn't there?
Your job will be to follow my posts and ask any questions via the comments section of each post (or in person if you wish). You can look here for any ideas or questions related to your own topic and i will respond here as well. These will range from choice of topic to possible places to research/interview/experiment...etc.
Also, you will be able to look at Essay format, Works Cited format and other concepts and ideas that you may not be familiar with.
This blog will be linked to the course wiki, so we will also be making sure your parents are aware of the blog; thus allowing them access to our progress and conversation! When you are on track, all will know...and when you are behind, well, there is a downside to transparency as well, isn't there?
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