Guns, Germs, and Steel
TEXTBOOK:
Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies
By Jared Diamond
INTRODUCTION:
First and foremost, I would like to make clear that much of the information presented in this book is theory. Our purpose in reading it is to provide a framework for world history and to analyze the presented thesis and evidence. In Diamond’s own words:
"While this book is ultimately about history and prehistory, its subject is not just academic interest but also of overwhelming…importance. The history of interactions
among disparate peoples is what shaped the modern world through conquest, epidemics, and genocide. Those collisions created reverberations that have still not died
after many centuries, and that are actively continuing in some of the world’s most troubled areas today." (16).
We will deliberate the thesis and each will come to his or her own conclusions. There will be a few chapters in the book that will not be required reading. They are highly debatable and do not contribute to our purposes for this course. What is wonderful about this book is that it teaches what a good argument looks like—not because it is ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ but because it is clear about its biases, moves clearly from point to point, and supports those points with evidence—just as I expect you to do by the end of this course.
The central claim (thesis) of this book is that “history followed different courses for different peoples because of differences among peoples’ environments, not because of biological differences among peoples themselves” (25). How Diamond makes the claim is his argument; how he supports the claim is his evidence. Your job is to discover the reasons why Diamond makes this claim, i.e., you will need to follow his argument and evaluate his evidence. Additionally, you will agree/disagree with him and suppy your own ideas/evidence.
Diamond does repeat some parts of his argument several times, so if you think you’ve got a particular point, you may be tempted to skip the repeated portion of the paragraph or chapter. However, I recommend not skipping because by seeing the main points of a work in different contexts, you understand and remember them
better. Be prepared to take whatever time it takes to read and understand this book, and please take notes as you read, whether on paper or in the margins of the book.
You will notice that Diamond usually gives us the questions he is working on, so you can look for the answer. The Prologue begins with Yali’s question (14). You might try marking your book with a Q next to each question he asks. Reviewing a chapter by trying to answer each of the questions that you marked is a wonderful way of checking your understanding (or studying for a test!). Though the questions in the Prologue may take the whole book to answer, many of the questions in each chapter are answered in that chapter and add a piece to answers for the big questions.
Diamond states his argument briefly for the first time in the Prologue. You might note its main features then watch how Diamond expands on each of them. Pages 28-32 outline the structure of the book, so read them carefully in order to see the overall picture of his argument.
TEACHER HINTS:
(1) Make notes in the margins
(2) Highlight - Color code
(3) Look up unknown words
(4) Email me at Rauschp@citrusschools.net if you are having trouble understanding something
(5) PBS did a miniseries about this book. You may find helpful information at http://www.pbs.org/gunsgermssteel/
ASSIGNED READING:
Prologue
Chapters 2-6
Chapter 8
Chapters 10-14
Epilogue
CHOICE READING:
Choose 1 chapter to read from Part Four or the selection on Japan (select an area you are more interested in)
ASSIGNMENT-PROCEDURES
(1) For each chapter, you will have discussion questions to answer, which can be found on the website at LHSAPWORLD.com These are not simple answers that you just find in the reading. You must analyze, infer, think for yourself, and complete additional research to formulate an answer. In most cases, there isn’t
simply a right and a wrong answer. It is about formulating a discussion and provoking thought. You are analyzing Diamond’s argument. Feel free to challenge him!
Support any new ideas with examples and provide citation for sources used. You also must cite the book with page numbers in your answers.
(2) Each week a chapter questions will posted on Class Blog, you will be expected to post your answers to the blog on the
(3) Read your peers’ initial analysis. You will be required to post a response to at least 5 of your peers’ initial responses from any of the chapter over the course of the book, but feel free to respond as much as you want! The purpose of this part of the assignment is to help one another develop more concise arguments. Tell your classmate’s when they make a good argument. Help them tie up loose ends in their arguments. Point out ideas they may not have thought of. Do not simply say, “Great job!” You will not receive credit for that.
(4) Finally, you must post a response to anyone who responds to you, answering their questions, challenging their response, or elaborating. This includes responding to me!
(5) I would suggest that you type in Word first and save it to your class jump drive, and then copy them into the blog on the website. This will provide proof
of completing an assignment should there be a technological issue. It will also allow you to use spell check and edit before posting.
Grading:
Each answer (post) will be worth 5 points.
There are 25 questions That totals 25 answers (25 x 4 = 100 points).
This assignment will count in the Writings category as a double grade and remember writings are worth 30% of your grade.
In addition, there will be a multiple choice assessment the first week of school on the text. This assignment will count as a major test score.
Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies
By Jared Diamond
INTRODUCTION:
First and foremost, I would like to make clear that much of the information presented in this book is theory. Our purpose in reading it is to provide a framework for world history and to analyze the presented thesis and evidence. In Diamond’s own words:
"While this book is ultimately about history and prehistory, its subject is not just academic interest but also of overwhelming…importance. The history of interactions
among disparate peoples is what shaped the modern world through conquest, epidemics, and genocide. Those collisions created reverberations that have still not died
after many centuries, and that are actively continuing in some of the world’s most troubled areas today." (16).
We will deliberate the thesis and each will come to his or her own conclusions. There will be a few chapters in the book that will not be required reading. They are highly debatable and do not contribute to our purposes for this course. What is wonderful about this book is that it teaches what a good argument looks like—not because it is ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ but because it is clear about its biases, moves clearly from point to point, and supports those points with evidence—just as I expect you to do by the end of this course.
The central claim (thesis) of this book is that “history followed different courses for different peoples because of differences among peoples’ environments, not because of biological differences among peoples themselves” (25). How Diamond makes the claim is his argument; how he supports the claim is his evidence. Your job is to discover the reasons why Diamond makes this claim, i.e., you will need to follow his argument and evaluate his evidence. Additionally, you will agree/disagree with him and suppy your own ideas/evidence.
Diamond does repeat some parts of his argument several times, so if you think you’ve got a particular point, you may be tempted to skip the repeated portion of the paragraph or chapter. However, I recommend not skipping because by seeing the main points of a work in different contexts, you understand and remember them
better. Be prepared to take whatever time it takes to read and understand this book, and please take notes as you read, whether on paper or in the margins of the book.
You will notice that Diamond usually gives us the questions he is working on, so you can look for the answer. The Prologue begins with Yali’s question (14). You might try marking your book with a Q next to each question he asks. Reviewing a chapter by trying to answer each of the questions that you marked is a wonderful way of checking your understanding (or studying for a test!). Though the questions in the Prologue may take the whole book to answer, many of the questions in each chapter are answered in that chapter and add a piece to answers for the big questions.
Diamond states his argument briefly for the first time in the Prologue. You might note its main features then watch how Diamond expands on each of them. Pages 28-32 outline the structure of the book, so read them carefully in order to see the overall picture of his argument.
TEACHER HINTS:
(1) Make notes in the margins
(2) Highlight - Color code
(3) Look up unknown words
(4) Email me at Rauschp@citrusschools.net if you are having trouble understanding something
(5) PBS did a miniseries about this book. You may find helpful information at http://www.pbs.org/gunsgermssteel/
ASSIGNED READING:
Prologue
Chapters 2-6
Chapter 8
Chapters 10-14
Epilogue
CHOICE READING:
Choose 1 chapter to read from Part Four or the selection on Japan (select an area you are more interested in)
ASSIGNMENT-PROCEDURES
(1) For each chapter, you will have discussion questions to answer, which can be found on the website at LHSAPWORLD.com These are not simple answers that you just find in the reading. You must analyze, infer, think for yourself, and complete additional research to formulate an answer. In most cases, there isn’t
simply a right and a wrong answer. It is about formulating a discussion and provoking thought. You are analyzing Diamond’s argument. Feel free to challenge him!
Support any new ideas with examples and provide citation for sources used. You also must cite the book with page numbers in your answers.
(2) Each week a chapter questions will posted on Class Blog, you will be expected to post your answers to the blog on the
(3) Read your peers’ initial analysis. You will be required to post a response to at least 5 of your peers’ initial responses from any of the chapter over the course of the book, but feel free to respond as much as you want! The purpose of this part of the assignment is to help one another develop more concise arguments. Tell your classmate’s when they make a good argument. Help them tie up loose ends in their arguments. Point out ideas they may not have thought of. Do not simply say, “Great job!” You will not receive credit for that.
(4) Finally, you must post a response to anyone who responds to you, answering their questions, challenging their response, or elaborating. This includes responding to me!
(5) I would suggest that you type in Word first and save it to your class jump drive, and then copy them into the blog on the website. This will provide proof
of completing an assignment should there be a technological issue. It will also allow you to use spell check and edit before posting.
Grading:
Each answer (post) will be worth 5 points.
There are 25 questions That totals 25 answers (25 x 4 = 100 points).
This assignment will count in the Writings category as a double grade and remember writings are worth 30% of your grade.
In addition, there will be a multiple choice assessment the first week of school on the text. This assignment will count as a major test score.
