We are starting a new unit today focusing on 9/11, terrorism, and current developments regarding the U.S.'s war on terrorism. In some ways it seems cliche to start off by talking about the events of 9/11 but given its huge impact on American foreign and domestic policy I feel that it is important for students who were born shortly before or shortly after the 9/11 attacks to understand the changes in how state and non-state actors influence each other in the modern world.
It should be noted that this unit will focus heavily on radical Islamic terrorism because too often citizens in the U.S. conflate all Muslims with being terrorists. Terrorism is not unique to Islam and violence has/is engaged by Hindu Nationalists, fundamentalist Christians, ultra-orthodox Jews, and Buddhists particularly in SE Asia. Between this unit on terrorism and our upcoming unit on religions of the world, it is my goal that students begin to make aware of the distinction between individuals who are Muslims through faith and Islamic organizations with whom the U.S. government is wagging its "war on terrorism."
We will begin this week by practicing writing summaries of news stories about the Islamic State, or as it is formerly known, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (or Syria). Monday and Tuesday we will read:
BBC: Syria Iraq: The Islamic State militant group
Wall Street Journal: Brutal Efficiency: The Secret to Islamic State's Success
We will then dispel misunderstandings about modern terrorism by reading:
The Washington Post: Eight Facts About Terrorism in the United States
Finally, this week students will conduct a short research project on an international terrorist organization using The Evolution of Islamic Terrorism by John Moore, PBS to provide further context about the various Islamic agents engaged in terrorism since 1968.
Writing Skills: Improve summarizing skills, critical reading, identifying sources.
It should be noted that this unit will focus heavily on radical Islamic terrorism because too often citizens in the U.S. conflate all Muslims with being terrorists. Terrorism is not unique to Islam and violence has/is engaged by Hindu Nationalists, fundamentalist Christians, ultra-orthodox Jews, and Buddhists particularly in SE Asia. Between this unit on terrorism and our upcoming unit on religions of the world, it is my goal that students begin to make aware of the distinction between individuals who are Muslims through faith and Islamic organizations with whom the U.S. government is wagging its "war on terrorism."
We will begin this week by practicing writing summaries of news stories about the Islamic State, or as it is formerly known, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (or Syria). Monday and Tuesday we will read:
BBC: Syria Iraq: The Islamic State militant group
Wall Street Journal: Brutal Efficiency: The Secret to Islamic State's Success
We will then dispel misunderstandings about modern terrorism by reading:
The Washington Post: Eight Facts About Terrorism in the United States
Finally, this week students will conduct a short research project on an international terrorist organization using The Evolution of Islamic Terrorism by John Moore, PBS to provide further context about the various Islamic agents engaged in terrorism since 1968.
Writing Skills: Improve summarizing skills, critical reading, identifying sources.