week 1 research, annotated APA style references, and the online message board group for the course

[snorko]

Week 1 researching reviews of Are we Rome? By Murphy, creating
annotated APA style references, using the online message board group
for the course, and discussing ideas with the class

Please work with a partner or two for this activity designed to assist
students in understanding Murphy's text and preparing of essay 1.

1) review pages 7 (or search online for the following phrase at
http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/catalog/titledetail.cfm?textType=excerpt&titleNumber=694012)
"Obviously, the emergence of America" to page 10, "erosion of public
spirit," Murphy's review of recent literature comparing Rome and the
USA;

2) search online for the following terms: book review Cullen Murphy
Are we Rome?

3) select one of the many reviews, reserve the review with the
instructor, read over the review and decide upon…

a) one point you like about the review or the book, by your analysis
of the review;

b) one point you don't like about the review or the book, by your
analysis of the review;

c) one point you like about the book that you don't understand from
the review and would like to check in the book;

4) check APA style for in-text citation and references page (of many
sites available, one is http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc/ ); see also
the following site on annotated references (http://
www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/skill28.htm)

5) open the word processor and prepare an APA style reference for the
review followed by your notes from 3a, b, and c above;

6) join this Google group—for nickname, please use first name and
first initial of last name, for example, Cullen M, George S, or
William S—and post your annotated reference as a reply to this message
(it would be good for everyone to join and use the board, but in class
this week, one person can join and post for the 2 or 3 classmates);

7) present your ideas to the class.

[Oliver A]

Oliver A, Rhonda A, Erin G

Book Review
Salon.com By Gary Kamiya


One thing we like about the book review, “Our ignorance of the
outside
world and our short-sighted attitude toward immigration and
assimilation” We felt it was very relevant as to our current
situation
as the rest of the world’s opinion about America.


One thing we dislike about the book review is “Both Romans and
Americans are extremely litigious, believe in private property, enjoy
ritually humiliating public figures, have a love-hate relation with
the nouveau riche, and see themselves as the chosen people.” It seems
like an extremely judgmental thing to say especially when Romans
lived
in such extravagance. It puts Americans in a category of being self
centered, materialistic and shallow. It feels as if he’s
categorizing
everyone else into this mold except himself.


The thing we didn't understand about this review was the fact that he
didn't have a strong viewpoint on one side or the other. He had a
lot
to say but never drew a strong conclusion about his opinion of
Murphy's work as a body of literature. It felt like he talked in
eloquent circles and spoken down to. And felt like he was showing
off
his brilliance and his amazing book reviewing skills.

[Young K.]

> 3. Pendle G. 2007. May 25. Are we Rome? The Fall of an Empire and the Fate of America. Financial Times
> (http://www.arewerome.com/wpcontent/uploads/2007/05/financial-
> times.pdf)
> a. We like that he gives support to Murphy’s comparisons between
> America and Rome, many that are about America and Rome’s military.
> b. We dislike that he seems to support the military too much and
> comments about it excessively, there are many things that the military
> are doing and might be doing wrong.
> c. We don’t understand all the points of Murphy’s plan from the
> reviews brief reference.

[Jaewoo Y]

Jaewoo Y, Priscilla G

Gwyn, R. (1996-2008) Is the U.S mirroring Rome’s Fall? The Star.Com.
http://www.thestar.com/article/231761

The author reviewed Murphy’s book Are we Rome?. One point that we
liked about his review is the way he compares military strength and
difficulties of maintaining it with Rome. There was enough description
to make us consent. One thing we didn’t liked about is that the author
states his overall review as too positively. His opinion should be
more critical. And one more thing that we didn’t understand was that
he noted about three horror features that Murphy suggested. There is
no description about it.

[NatanAviel]

Ashley S. Natan F. Khadijah W.
Article by Kamiya, G. 2007, Jun. 7. Are we (U.S.) like rome. Vermont
Commons
Http://www.VTcommons.org

After reading through the book review by Gary Kamiya, Are We
(U.S.) Like Rome (2007, Jun. 7), our group has decided upon the points
we would like to mention here.
a.The part about the article which we liked was the fact that the
author goes into great detail about what he enjoyed and agreed with in
the book.

b.The part which we did not like about the article was the fact that
the author was in no way objective; he was obviously heavily biased in
favor of the opinions in the book.

c.One part of Kamiya’s article which we did not fully understand was
the point he mentioned Americans’ “America may lack one supreme Roman
quality: "the stubborn urge, the absolute need, to persevere -- to
prevail at all costs in any undertaking, whatever the moral and human
price might be." But Americans possess something the Romans didn't: a
deep belief that we can and should make things better, a willingness
to change.”, this statement would make me want to read further into
the book so I may better understand what Murphy meant.

[Louie T.]

Isaacson, W. 2007, May 13. The empire in the mirror. The New York
Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/13/books/review/Isaacson-t.html?pagewa...
A review of Are we Rome? that begins with a brief review of literature
on historical analysis of Rome.


Louie T, Reinhard A.


One thing we like about the book review is: “America has begun
contracting out many security functions to private companies, much as
Rome farmed out its security to barbarian mercenaries. The problems
that result are exacerbated when America tries to impose its values
and institutions in distant lands. Drawing on the great reporting of
others, most notably Rajiv Chandrasekaran in “Imperial Life in the
Emerald City,” Murphy shows the absurdities that occur in places like
Baghdad when the proconsuls and legions and contractors we send have
no clue about the people they are dealing with.”

This is one of the biggest points Murphy brings up which does require
immediate attention by our government.


One thing we did not like about the book is: “The most salient
comparison between modern America and classical Rome, as Murphy
notes, is that both have been blessed, and afflicted, with a sense of
exceptionalism. In America this begins with John Winthrop exhorting
his Puritan flock, who were about to settle the Massachusetts Bay
Colony, “that we shall be as a city upon a hill.” Since then various
presidents have described the United States in words that echo
Cicero’s description of the Romans and their shining city upon seven
hills: “Spaniards had the advantage over them in point of numbers,
Gauls in physical strength, Carthaginians in sharpness, Greeks in
culture, native Latins and Italians in shrewd common sense; yet Rome
had conquered them all and acquired her vast empire because in piety,
religion and appreciation of the omnipotence of the gods she was
without equal.”

We vehemently disagree with the way this reviewer attacked Murphy
insinuating that he is basically “a rich elitist making opinions
about things he does not have first hand experience with.


One thing we didn’t understand is the fact that for most of the
review he flip flops from pointing out good points and bad points yet
he
doesn’t hold a firm view of the book. In fact it seems eerily similar
to the way Hanson ended his opinion of the Murphy book, “Are We
Rome?”

[Seung J. Kim]

Joseph L, Seung K

Tolson, J. 2007, Apr. 29. Lesson From the Fall. U.S. News.
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/070429/7qa.htm

A. We like the review of the book in the news article because the
review is done by author Cullen Murphy himself of his book Are We
Rome?. Reporter Jay Tolson asks Murphy a list of questions regarding
the main points of the book and the questions are answered by Murphy.
The responses given are completely agreeable to the readers in our
opinion. In many ways the article as a whole is very convincing to the
audience that it makes you want to read the book.

B. One point I don't like about the review is that it consists of
Murphy reviewing his own book in the article. As the audience as a
whole, many may agree and find it as an advantage getting the general
idea of the book itself. However, for those who read the review more
in details, may find it biased. The questions are asked by Tolson
himself, but the questions are answered by Murphy. By doing this, it
seems as though the article may be inclined towards one side in
promoting his book.

C. We loved the way Murphy expresses his claims clearly with point by
point break downs. The only confusing part from Tolson’s review was
when he mentions about how the United States lacks Arabic speakers and
compares this to an attack that Rome had lost three entire legions. We
would like to read further in order to understand how these are
connected.