ISIS may have been vanquished on the battlefield and driven from power (though murderous regional affiliates like Isis-K remain). Nonetheless, the following news article is sadly one of many to detail the malicious and atavistic campaign ISIS conducted against ancient sites and museums collections in the Middle East: Mosul, Nimrud, Ninevah, Palmyra. One could make a parallel claim (and perhaps we should) for damage done to Baghdad and the Babylon site during the Iraq invasion and occupation -- in particular the capital's celebrated museum, tragically abandoned to looters during the Fall of Baghdad in 2003. Read the Kareem Shaheen article in Module 2 and then discuss the value of ancient art as humanity’s collective cultural heritage, and museums as storehouses of such culture. Link to the article:https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/06/isis... BELOW IS THE PROMPT OF THE DISCUSSION PLEASE READ IT TO HAVE AN IDEA ABOUT THE DISCUSSION BUT DISCARD THE OTHER OPTIONS AND PLEASE ANSWER OPTION E WHICH I PROVIDED THE LINK TO ABOVE. (YOU ARE ONLY REQUIRED TO WRITE 200 WORDS ABOUT THE TOPIC ABOVE).Protocol: The board is a chance for you to express your own opinions and personalities, so you can go off in different directions, as long as you’re clearly responding to the topic.You must choose one topic from each module listed (there are always two). For this week, therefore, if your main response is from Module 2, your second (short) response must be from Module 1 (or vice versa). You will lose credit if you don't follow this policy, no matter how well-written your posts are. Do NOT attach a separate document with your typed comments. Instead, write/reply directly in the thread.Always title your post with the name of the article or a brief summary of its content, so people know at a glance your focus (e.g., "World's oldest calendar," "My reaction to ISIS," etc.). See Module 1 or 2 for the original articles/videos.Feel free to post articles, images, etc. I might award extra points to clever and relevant links, and I’ve given a couple of examples in the slides that follow Stonehenge in the slideshow. But please – no tired memes or tweets, and absolutely nothing cruel or off-color. Grading: Before you start writing, you're expected to read all topics, which are testable on the exam.You get an initial 5 points for writing a post on-topic (as opposed to chatting about your love life, your favorite bands, etc.). You get a further 10 points for writing a coherent and reflective consideration of that chosen topic. Take it seriously; think of it as a mini-essay. This initial post must be at least 200 words and must include a word count at the end. Once posted, it will allow the board to open and connect you with your peers.Then you get 5 points each for a response to a topic from the other module, and one response to a student post on any topic (you're welcome to talk to multiple students too, of course). That way you're always discussing at least two different topics from two different modules. These second and third posts must be at least 50 words each.If there's no second topic yet under discussion, be the first and start a new thread!You should be sympathetic to and interested in what your peers have to say, and it should be clear from your response that you've read the article(s) in question. Frivolous, dishonest, or obviously undeveloped responses will earn No Credit.I want everyone to feel their opinions are respected and equally valid (whether you consider yourself a “good” writer or not), so as long as you do this to my satisfaction, you’ll usually get full credit. However, you'll lose points for any missing, off-topic, or poorly developed elements (initial post/second post/peer response). Therefore, follow the directions and you'll get the points: it's Either/Or!Let's review: Using the questions below as a jump-off point, respond to one of these assigned readings (200 words minimum). Once you've done that, the board will open up and you can see what everyone else has written, including initial comments from me.Take your time to absorb what other people have to say, which may help you choose a second topic or focus your thoughts.When you're ready, comment on a second topic, chosen from the other module. This can be a new thread that you start or in response to another student's comment on that second topic. Then you must comment on at least one other student post (topic/module open).At least 300 words total are expected (be sure to add word count).Refer back to the particular module (1 or 2, in this case) for the relevant material.REMINDER: all readings are assigned and testable on the exam, whether or not you write on them as your D-Board response.Module 1 options (choose one):Option A: How We Grew So Big: What impression does the Lemonick & Walsh article give of the lives of our hunter-gatherer ancestors? How has our technology superseded (outdistanced) our biology in the modern world? (Links to an external site.)Option B: Composer's Neanderthal Recreation: What do we learn about the Neanderthals from the BBC article? Cite two key details, at least. What’s your reaction to Simon Thorne’s creation? Is it music to you, and what makes it so -- or not? Is there some kind of story being performed, and what do you think it's conveying? You must also refer to Patrick Burke's follow-up commentary "What Is Music?" (on people having different musical tastes) as part of your discussion as well.Option C: World’s Oldest Calendar: What exactly is this invention/discovery in question? What circumstances does Vince Gaffney suggest in the interview clips that might have prompted or encouraged the development of such early technology and cooperation? Does it seem plausible to you, and why (or why not)? Explain.Module 2 options (choose one):Option D: Mesopotamian Deep Impact! The Kofels site has long mystified geologists and historians alike. Referring to at least two details from either the Nic Fleming or Lester Haines articles, describe what the event was, and which book helped bring it into the public consciousness. State who Mark Hempsell is and what the new explanation is. Then decide whether you find it plausible or implausible, after considering Blue Collar Scientist's rebuttal.Option E: ISIS may have been vanquished on the battlefield and driven from power (though murderous regional affiliates like Isis-K remain). Nonetheless, the following news article is sadly one of many to detail the malicious and atavistic campaign ISIS conducted against ancient sites and museums collections in the Middle East: Mosul, Nimrud, Ninevah, Palmyra. One could make a parallel claim (and perhaps we should) for damage done to Baghdad and the Babylon site during the Iraq invasion and occupation -- in particular the capital's celebrated museum, tragically abandoned to looters during the Fall of Baghdad in 2003. Read the Kareem Shaheen article in Module 2 and then discuss the value of ancient art as humanity’s collective cultural heritage, and museums as storehouses of such culture.

Enter into the critical conversation about the effects of the internet on learning, knowledge, memory, concentration, and thinking. To do so, write an argumentative essay, between about 1,000 and 1,500 words, that answers the question posed by Nicholas Carr: Is Google making us stupid? Your essay should make your own position clear, and drawing on your own experiences, your analysis of Carr's argument, our class discussions, and your research into outside sources in order to make an argument that answers Carr's question.One of your goals in this assignment should be to establish a sense of ethos, or character and credibility. Do so by indicating that you share your audience's values, by showing your own experiences with the internet, and by demonstrating that you have done your homework about the subject matter by looking into what others have said about Carr's claims. Also, remember this unit's readings and mini-lectures on locating, analyzing, and framing sources. Challenge yourself to use the techniques you read about in order to make the best argument you can.As always, you may use any of the material from your Writer's Journal or our class discussions as a starting point for this writing assignment. COVER LETTER: When you submit this assignment, include a brief cover letter (no more than 300 words) that answers the following questions:What is your purpose? What is it you are trying to do or say in this assignment?What are you proud of about this piece of writing?What challenges did you face while completing this assignment?What sorts of feedback do you want from your instructor on this assignment?Include your cover letter as a comment on your upload -- not as a separate document. Your cover letter will not count for or against your grade, but will help your instructor respond best to your writing.LENGTH, DESIGN, & FORMATTING: Your assignment should be between 1,000 and 1,500 words (this word count does not include your Works Cited pages). More important than length is quality. Make sure to fully argue your position, using development strategies that help you support, clarify, and extend your argument.Use MLA guidelines for document design. This includes using 1-inch margins, double-spaced type, a page number in the upper right corner, and a Works Cited page.Give your work a unique title -- not "Is Google Making Us Stupid?"