May 16th- LAST CLASS!

This is the homestretch! Time to finish up those essays and turn them in! I am available all week if you need some extra help.

For our last class, we will turn in our final essays and discuss what we've learned this year--you can give me feedback on how I can improve! Plus, we will have pizza and Dr. Hazell will come in and play guitar for us. Those of you thinking of college, prepare a couple questions for him. This will be Dr. Hazell's first experience in a homeschool classroom, so let's help him to feel welcome. You are all very bright and articulate. I think he will be impressed!

Great work this year!

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Class,

Last week we started analyzing Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and I think we can all agree that this text, while it certainly falls into the criteria of science fiction, could also easily be placed into philosophy. There are some very controversial statements made. We have spent the good part of the year learning to analyze the rhetoric and arguments of those around us so that we can respond. Our author certainly has some arguments. We noted he makes disparaging comments about religion, capitalism, eating meat, and even has a hopeless view of the human race. However, this text is written in a very humorous tone. What does such a tone do for these controversial topics? Does humor cause one to dismiss the weight of the argument? Should it? Not all of our attacks will come wrapped up in anger or a polished debate. Often humor is a great tool to both criticize and disarm. Why do you think that is?

I asked you to look very closely at the comments he is making for this week. Find an argument that is made in this week's reading. Bring it in and let's discuss it. How does this make you feel? What is your response? Is there validity to the argument? Is it logical? Emotional? Is there any credibility? Rhetoric makes great politicians and lawyers, but remember--it is everywhere. We are given messages through art, news, advertisements, and music just as much as the political debates. We must become absolutely aware of them, how they are effective, and how we should respond. Our first step is to dismantle the tools they are using, the implications of what is being said, and whether their argument is sound.

I know this last section is fairly controversial. Some of these debates are heavy. They ask us to defend our faith, our government, our art, and our way of life. Good writing responds to arguments with clarity, thoughtfulness, evidence, logic and ( I hope I've stressed this enough) kindness.

May 2nd

Hi Class,

We have finished our SAT prep for the year and we are down to our final three classes. Our focus in May will be literary analysis, which will be helpful for those moving on to college, those preparing for the American literature course, and those developing critical thinking skills. Most of our traditional writing will focus on finishing up the research papers, which are due May 16th. We may have some short writings in class, but these will be more reflective in nature.  Since we are finished with our vocabulary and other essays, spend some time really reading our text. Dig deep. I'd like you to read at least 1/3 to 1/2 of this text, or listen to it on Audible. (This will be the way I will enjoy this text!)

Also, as we work on our analysis, remember that music lyrics are wonderful tools for practice. Bring in the name and artist of a song that is meaningful to you, one that you think is really deep, or one that confuses you.  We will work on explicating (breaking it down for interpretation).

Dr. Hazell has confirmed that he will be there for our May 16th class, around 11 am. He will bring in his guitar and sing for us, which is a real treat. He's pretty darn talented. He can play you some old country songs or Nirvana and Pearl Jam. :) And he can talk to you about his college classes at CTC or the high school class this fall in European History. I will have my son, Ryan, bring in some pizzas for us and we can just enjoy that last day. You have worked so hard this year! I promise you, you have read more, written more, and learned more than most kids in a traditional classroom, and we only meet once a week! I love to look back at your early essays and compare them to the ones you are writing now. Be proud. You have all made great strides!

Also, our next class is the first week of the month, so the last tuition payment is due.


If you have any questions, let me know!

April 25th

Class today will be more practice for the SAT essay. We will also have our vocabulary quiz unless you have written the words into a short story or paragraph. :)

Just so that you are aware, our last day of class is May 16th. I do have a special treat for you this day. We will have my friend and mentor, Dr. Hazell come in and play guitar and sing the last half hour of class. Those of you interested in his European History class will have an opportunity to meet him. If your parents would like to visit with him or ask questions about that class, he will stay a half hour after class to meet them.

I will have parent conferences the following week. If your parents are interested in coming in, please let me know and we can arrange a time for them to come in. Parents who prefer to meet another time or even have a phone conference are welcome to do that also. I know it can be tough juggling small kids and other homeschooling responsibilities. I'm flexible here.

For April 18th

Please continue working on your research papers. Many of you are finishing up this project, but a few of you still have some work to do. No sweat! We still have time! If you have less than six pages, please write three paragraphs this week. Those of you over six pages, write two. If you have finished your writing, begin working on your works cited page. These papers are almost over!

If you would like some feedback on your SAT prompt, bring it to me Tuesday (for those of you that missed class) and I will be happy look it over. Those that took this in class with me last Tuesday will have their feedback this week.  I know a few of you are looking at taking the TSI or SAT soon. I will be offering a workshop for six students to come prep for that essay early May. This will be a three-day workshop that will have you writing an essay each day. It will be intense, but hopefully profitable. Your scores can certainly improve! This workshop will be free, but I will have this workshop in Harker Heights, at my home. Jennifer Juliano will also be on hand to provide help with the math portion. If this is something you are interested in, please let me know.

Please continue reading The Hobbit. We will finish this book by the end of the month. Pay attention to the political structures. What do you think Tolkien is saying? Do you see Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey?

SAT PROMPT

https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/sat-practice-test-3-essay.pdf



Use this link and follow the directions for the SAT essay prompt.

April 11th- Bad Weather!

Folks,

If you live in flood prone areas, please stay tuned for our assignment to post later today on the blog. Do not drive on unsafe roads! Today's class is optional. I will try to make it in today from Harker Heights, but if I run into flooding, I will turn around. Please be safe!

Kindly,
Heather

Fake News list

I came across this great list today. If you have Facebook, you will probably recognize a lot these. Scroll past the definitions to the long list of confirmed biased, fake, or unreliable news sources.

In Class Essay

Class,

Tomorrow we will work on an in-class essay for TSI and SAT preparation. I will give you some pointers on how to raise your score, what you really want to include, and how to do your best on these evaluations. I know a few of you are preparing for dual enrollment, SAT and ACT exams, and college. I will spend about half an hour giving you my best tips for success. You will then have 50 minutes to respond to the essay prompt I will hand out. Please bring paper and something to write with.

Kindly,
Heather


P.S. The good news is, after this month, you will have little writing left to do! However, we sure have covered quite a bit! Be proud of all the work you have done this year. I assure you, it is much more work than you would have in a public school classroom. And if you have managed to keep up with me this far, you will likely do just fine in a Freshman Composition class in college.  If you know you are planning on dual credit this fall for English composition, come chat with me. I have a good friend that teaches English at CTC on Fort Hood and he'd be happy to have you in class. I've sent my own son to him and even took classes with him myself. He's a fantastic teacher!

May's Reading Selection

April Vocabulary Words

Here are April's vocabulary words--your final month of vocabulary!

1. Nullify--to make of no use

2. Labyrinth--a complicated, irregular work of passages or paths

3. Reprehensible--deserving censure or condemnation

4. Blatant--completely lacking in subtlety

5. Plausible--seeming reasonable or probable

6.Reprieve--cancellation or delay of a punishment

7. Enshroud--to cover completely

8. Tedium--the state of being slow, long, or dull

9. Plethora--a large number of something, almost to excess

10. Blithe--showing a casual or cheerful indifference

11. Lackluster--lacking in vitality, force, or conviction

12. Temper--to strengthen by heating and then cooling

13. Hedonism--the pursuit of pleasure

14. Bolster--support or prop up

15. Lament--to express one's deep grief

April Tuition

Class,

Just a reminder that April tuition is due tomorrow.

Grammar Matters-Especially on Your Tattoos

Class Update for April 4th

Class,

Please add three more paragraphs to your essay. At this point, you will need to start typing up your drafts. This is easier for revisions and readability, plus all final papers need to be typed. Remember to save your progress! This will save you time! You should be well beyond the halfway point this week. In fact, 9 paragraphs in total should have you through five pages!

This next week, you will look for an image to include in your research paper. Remember, visual rhetoric can be very powerful, so choose a picture, a graph, or chart to help back up your information. This image cannot exceed half a page, so size accordingly.

Also, we will have our vocabulary quiz over March's words. Those are all posted on the blog. And your reading is the first 30-40 pages of The Hobbit. Remember, pay close attention to the political environment in this novel. Things aren't always what they seem. There are larger messages for us if we choose to pay attention. :)

Tuesday's class begins a new month, so please remember to bring your tuition.

Kindly,
Heather

What to Expect March 28th

Class,

Hopefully, you have been working on your research paper. This week, you should have written four more paragraphs to add to the other two you've already written. You also should have finished reading F451. We will continue working on our research papers this week, but you will write three paragraphs for this following week, and make any necessary revisions on your previous writings. Writing is re-writing. I suggest you type up your work at this time, if you haven't already. It will be much easier to work on your drafts this way. It will also be reassuring to see how much you are accomplishing. Six well-developed paragraphs should have you into your third page of composition. By the end of this week, you should have half of this research paper written. Next month, we will finish this paper. That leaves us a couple of weeks to make our final revisions. You are almost done! Hang in there!

We will be spending most of our time discussing the book in class, so be prepared for discussion. Bring in any questions, comments, confusions, etc. We will also work on our new vocabulary words and review the past lists. We will have our vocabulary quiz the beginning of April.

Our next book is The Hobbit! If you need to order it, go ahead and do so now.

Kindly,
Heather

The Power of Punctuation

Vocabulary Words- March

Class,

Since there are either absences or lost vocabulary handouts, I'm going to place them online from now on. We will still go over them in class, but hopefully, this will help all of you to keep track of our words.

Here are the words for March:

Lesson 1: 
brusque (adj.) Slightly rude in speech or manner (My grandfather can be brusque and impatient.)

hone (v.) to make more pointed (My appetite was honed by fresh air and exercise.)

espouse (v.) to support (The politician espoused the president's opinions and worked to help get the bill passed.)

odious (adj.) extremely unpleasant (Charles was assigned the odious task of laying off the entire division.)

posterity (n.) all future generations (At Ground Zero in New York, victims names are read aloud each year for the sake of posterity.)

Lesson 2: 
transgress (v.) to break a rule of boundary (There are legal consequences for companies that transgress labor laws.)

lithe (adj.) having a long or flexible quality (The ballerina's lithe body seemed to defy the laws of physics.)

saccharin (adj.) artificially sweet (My mother-in-law's saccharin smile convinced me that she was lying.)

aloof (adj.) emotionally uninvolved (The co-workers at my new job were polite, but somewhat aloof.)

traverse (v.)to travel across or through (I traversed the tangle of picnic tables as I made my way through the food festival.)

Lesson 3: 
sacrosanct (adj.) regarded as too important to be changed/interfered with (An individual's freedom of speech is held as sacrosanct in the U.S.

livid (adj.) extremely angry (The Hollywood starlet was livid at being left off the guest list.)

opaque (adj.) not able to be seen through; not transparent (The opaque glass used in the bathroom ensured people's privacy.

trite (adj.) lacking originality or flair (A good writer works to avoid trite ideas.)

opulent (adj.) showing great wealth and luxury (The prom couples enjoyed the opulent comfort of their limousine.)


Tomorrow, we will go over these in class and have a little fun with them. Also, remember to be through the second part of F451. My book says that's page 107. There was no writing assignment due for tomorrow, but you will be writing four academic paragraphs this week towards your research paper. That's less than a paragraph a day, but it will knock out about 1/4 of your research paper due mid-May. If you are struggling, I am happy to help! Don't suffer alone. Tell me where you are needing more assistance. You can email me, leave messages on this blog, or see me after class for extra time. I will allow the last fifteen minutes of each class time to answer questions about the research paper, so feel free to ask questions. If you need some extra help, chances are your classmates do too. I will also bring in my computer to answer any formatting questions. It's easier for me to show you than to explain some steps on Word or Pages. 

Fake News, Research, and Spring Break

I think our examination of the different articles went really well today. You can see how easily it is to be duped into believing false news. You also can see how even our credible sources might not always be so credible. Who would have thought the New York Times and Washington Post's credibility might be questioned? Hopefully, we all see how dangerous memes can be and that we can recognize them as a modern example of propaganda. If you have a strong emotional response to something, double check the source and its claims. Also, many news sources are upfront with their bias, so this helps you to see that their news likely isn't going to be balanced. If your website is in the field of ConservativesRuleDemocratsDrool.com or IhateTrump.org, you can be pretty sure you are getting a biased report with a very clear agenda and muddled facts. Don't fall for it! Just like our discussion earlier this year on the Muslim ban, go to the source! Pull the actual document off the government website and read it yourself. These documents are primary sources and are welcome for use in research.

So what kind of sources can you use? Where can you search for credible sources? There are several great resources available to you. Check out Google Scholar, for starters. If you type in Google Scholar in your search engine, it will take you to another page full of scholarly articles. These are generally good articles to use. You will bypass blogs, unverified sources, and a whole lot of mess. Another great tool is to visit Wikipedia and scroll to the bottom of the page. Wikis have a reference section that is often compiled from legitimate sources. If you have access to Academic Search engines, like JSTOR, one of my favorites, you have hit the jackpot. Usually, you have to pay for access, be a student of the university, or visit the local library for this access. You can also visit the Texas A&M University-Central Texas library and ask to use their computers. They have access to all of these wonderful databases and the librarians are huge advocates of credible research. Outside of the internet, you can use reference sections of the library or books written by scholars or experts in their field. If you are unsure about a source, send me the info and I will help you verify its credibility.

So next week, we have an optional class. If you want extra help on your research or any topic we have covered so far, come on in. I will be there. If you would like to take a spring break or have plans with your family, enjoy! I will not assign homework for next week. I only ask that you keep reading F451. When we meet again in two weeks, on March 21st, be through the second part. We will finish this book by the end of the month and start The Hobbit in April. (I can't wait!)

Good work today in class! I hope you all learned to be more discerning and skeptical with news from the Internet. Have high standards for your information and you will be far less likely to be duped into believing Kim Jong-Un was the "Sexiest Man Alive for 2012."

Spring Break: Optional Attendance

Class,

March 14th falls during KISD's spring break. In order to provide students with an opportunity for a break, I am making that class optional. This means that I will not assign vocabulary or work for this week. However, I will come in during regular class hours to help students working on their research papers. If you need some extra help, discussion, or planning, I am happy to work with you. If you feel very comfortable with your progress, use this time to relax or gather more information.

Kindly,
Heather

Fake News?

There is a lot of chatter in social media, news outlets, and even presidential addresses about "Fake News," but what exactly is it? Is this the satire we commonly see on sites like The Onion? Or is this different? What is the difference between fake news and satire? These are some of the questions we are going to be discussing this month. Current events often provide context and examples for English Composition :) In this case, since we are beginning our research, we need to learn a little discernment. You can google "Is Soy Healthy?" and receive several thousand hits arguing either side. Who's right? This is where research skills are coming into play. When we have to sort out someone's blog from peer-reviewed research, information can feel overwhelming. This is why we need to be selective of the sources we choose for research. Information is a commodity. This means folks make money (usually) by distributing it. We need to be wise consumers.

Here's a video C-SPAN put out on fake news. Do you agree with this? What are some problems with the research? What are some really good or logical points? Can you see ethos, pathos, and logos in use here?

Fake News Video  (this is only about four minutes long, so fix something to drink and relax and learn)

We will be discussing one of the first and most interesting sources of fake news this week in class, demonstrating how harmful misinformation can be. How much responsibility does journalism have when producing news? How much responsibility does the consumer have? Some questions to think about this week...

Assignment for March 7

Class,

Remember this week is fairly light, which gives you some extra time to begin your research. Just read the first 30-40 pages of F451 and write two paragraphs towards your research paper. With these two paragraphs, you are establishing credibility. These paragraphs need to include information by experts.  For example, you could say something like, "British historian Paul Johnson has an interesting view of the American Revolution and argues...." Or "Astrophysicist and cosmologist Neil DeGrasse Tyson says the atoms in our bodies can be traced back to particles of the stars." I think you get the idea here. Whatever topic you are writing on, follow the general academic paragraph. Make a claim about your topic, define your terms, use credible evidence and quotes, explain how this supports your claim, conclude. If you have any other questions, let me know.

Also, March tuition is due Tuesday. Prompt payment helps me to pay the Cove Art Lab on time. Thank you!

See you Tuesday!

The Harlem Renaissance

                                                          



After World War I, large numbers of African-Americans, who had been living in the rural South, began moving north to urban centers, such as New York, Washington, D.C., and Chicago. Most of the people had witnessed discrimination firsthand. They were intent on finding better work and a more prosperous lifestyle, minus the social injustice.

Out of this migration, a period of much literary and artistic creativity followed. What began as a literary discussion between African-American writers eventually extended to other areas, such as music, theater, art, and science. This activity or movement became known as the Harlem Renaissance. It gets its name from a section of New York City's West Side called Harlem, where the largest urban African-American community at the time had taken root. African-American poets, writers, artists, and musicians flocked to Harlem because it was a showcase for their talents.

While literature was the first and major focus of this renaissance, the most fascinating aspect, to white Americans, was the music that came out of this movement. Jazz became the most popular style of music during this period. White people flocked to the Harlem nightclubs to hear the African-American artists perform.

One of the most famous jazz musicians was a trumpet player bu the name of Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong. We listened to his song "It's a Wonderful World" in class. Originally from New Orleans, he began playing a little tin horn while still a small child. Eventually, he learned to play the trumpet and brought his talent to cities in the North, such as Chicago and New York's Harlem.

Tomorrow, our class will look at some literature and music from this era. We will also have our vocabulary quiz, turn in our rhetorical analysis, and outlines. See you then!

English Major Struggles

Assignment for Feb. 28

Class,

Just a reminder to complete your essay examining the rhetorical devices used by MLK in his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail." You should have a paragraph on logos, another on ethos, and a third on pathos. Give examples from the text rather than just stating they are present. Add in an introductory paragraph, where you introduce the text and your main claim. Add a concluding paragraph summarizing your argument.

We will also have our vocabulary quiz on lists 14-17, so study up! :)

Finally, you need to come with a rough outline of your research topic and three sources you plan on using. Remember, I am primarily looking to see if you have set up a game plan for your research and to help you begin to organize your ideas. We will look at this more in-depth in class. Most of our writing from here on out will be focused on your research paper.

Also, finish reading The Watson's Go To Birmingham. We will talk a little about this in class.

Next up for March is Fahrenheit 451! I had planned in our syllabus to discuss "fake news" so I'm a little excited to see all the Providential discussions surrounding this topic recently. I had this picked out last summer! This just means we have lots of recent articles to examine and discuss.

Grammar Matters

Chronology of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Chronology of Martin Luther King, Jr

This site is very helpful putting together the timeline of the letter and major events of the Civil Rights movement. See if you can find his letter. What connections can you make to our literature study? What events led up to this?

The Letter that Prompted "A Letter from a Birmingham Jail"

Ever wonder who MLK was writing to? Here is the fateful letter sent by the clergymen that inspired one of the best responses ever written.

Letter from the Clergymen

"Letter from a Birmingham Jail"

Letter From a Birmingham Jail



Class,
You can find the full text of this letter through the above link. Make sure you when you prepare your three paragraphs this week that you are using evidence in each of those paragraphs from this letter. Your three paragraphs will be written in the standard academic paragraph style: 1)Make a claim. This should somehow link together with your rhetorical analysis. Is this paragraph illustrating his use of logic? His credibility? Or making an emotional appeal? 2)Second, define what you mean. 3)Third, provide an example using the text as evidence. Do you see how King does this himself? 4)Fourth, explain how that supports your claim. 5)Finally, conclude your paragraph by restating or reaffirming your claim. Those of you that are more sophisticated or experienced writers might want to try expanding these paragraphs by presenting more than one example. You would just repeat the third and fourth steps to further prove your point. However, if writing is challenging for you, or you are just starting out with these essays, make sure you meet the minimum five sentences in each paragraph.

Research Paper? Where do I begin?

Many of you have not written a long research paper before and you may be feeling a little anxious over the eight-page requirement. Yes, it looks daunting. Yes, it is a lot of work. But it is not impossible. We are going to break this down into manageable chunks. Essentially, most papers are made up of the same models, just some expand on the ideas a little more. For example, when we worked on a simple five paragraph essay, you learned to have an introduction, three main points, and a conclusion. Your research paper will be very similar in structure but it will need more space for those points. So if you are writing an eight-page paper, it will be easy to imagine that your introduction will comprise at least one page, your main points will need two pages each, and your conclusion will be one page. So do not worry about the total limit. Just focus on each section.

In order to fill those main points, you are going to need to gather data. This is where the research in the research paper comes from :). I use a formula I learned about fifteen years ago that has served me well in all of my research. It's called RENNSQQ. I'll break it down but learn it. I will beat this formula into your head a million times over the remainder of the semester. I have probably taught this formula to more than a hundred students at the university in the Writing Center.

R-Reasons
E-Examples
N-Names
N-Numbers
S-Sensory Words
Q-Questions
Q-Quotations


When you are beginning your research, let this formula guide you. Look for reasons and examples to use in your paper. Look for credible experts (names) to build your ethos. Look for numbers--dates, statistics, percentages. This is the evidence, the logos, needed to build your case. Sensory words include the language necessary for your field, great expressive language, and the pathos. Sometimes a thesaurus nearby is helpful here. Questions guide your research. What are you hoping to prove? What are you trying to understand? And finally, quotations that stand out to you in your research, pull them aside and note the source and page number. These will be great to build your paragraphs and argument. Remember, we need textual evidence.

Simple Outline

The Conquest of Mt. Everest

1. Introduction
2. Background Information 
   1. Location of Mt. Everest 
   2. Geography of the Surrounding Area 
   3. Facts about Mt. Everest 
      1. Height of the mountain 
      2. How the mountain was named 
         1. Peak XV 
         2. Joloungma (Tibetan name) 
         3. Sagarmatha (Nepalese name) 
      3. The number of people who have climbed Everest to date 
3. Major Explorers Covered in this Paper 
   1. Sir Edmund Hillary 
      1. First to reach the summit (1953) 
      2. Led a team of experienced mountain climbers who worked together 
   2. Tenzing Norgay and the Sherpas 
      1. Norgay was an experienced climber and guide who accompanied Hillary 
      2. Sherpas still used to guide expeditions 
   3. Rob Hall 
      1. Leader of the failed 1996 expedition 
      2. Led group of (mainly) tourists with little mountain climbing experience 
4. The Impact Expeditions have had on Mt. Everest and Local Community
   1. Ecological Effects 
      1. Loss of trees due to high demand for wood for cooking and heating for tourists. 
      2. Piles of trash left by climbing expeditions 
   2. Economic Effects 
      1. Expedition fees provide income for the country 
      2. Expeditions provide work for the Sherpas, contributing to the local economy. 
   3. Cultural Effects 
      1. Introduction of motor vehicles 
      2. Introduction of electricity 
5. Conclusion

A Formal Outline

Class,

We will be looking at writing outlines and I want to show you a few examples that can be used. Often in traditional English classrooms, professors would require a formal outline for research papers. I am including a sample of one below. Fortunately, recent scholarship in composition pedagogy has shifted from this very formal and archaic form to a much more simplified version. However, for those of you interested in learning this formal outline, I am including this sample. Feel free to use this model for your outline assignment or you are free to use a more simplified version, which I will also include in another post. I will keep this blog up for future reference for those of you heading off to College Composition after this--but most of you will not need it. I have a Bachelor's in English and only wrote one of these. I have also only written one for my Master's degree. Like I said, these are largely falling to the wayside as composition teachers learn what helps our writing process and what seems like useless work.

So if formal outlines are useless, why am I teaching them? While I do agree the standard outline is too involved, a short and simple outline is a wonderful tool for both research and organization. And these insanely involved outlines almost write your paper for you. I certainly will not require this much work for your outline, but I want you familiar with this model.

FORMAL OUTLINE:

For a thousand years during the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church united the people of Europe.  But during the Renaissance period, dissatisfaction with the Church began to grow.  More and more people became alarmed at certain church practices.  One concerned person was Martin Luther.  After careful thought, he decided in 1517 to post the Ninety-Five Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.  These theses, or statements, criticized clergymen for selling “indulgences,” pardons for sins.  Luther later attacked the Church for what he felt were other wrongdoings.  Many people rallied around Martin Luther and supported his stand against the Catholic Church.  Thus began the “Reformation,” a movement which caused thousands of Roman Catholics to become Protestants.  People were called Protestants because they “protested” against certain Church practices.

1.     Causes of the Reformation

a.     Political Causes

                                          i.         Kings increased their power and challenged the authority of the pope and the Catholic Church.

1.     Strong nation-states were developing in England, France, and Spain.

2.     Some rulers objected to the influence that popes had in their countries.  King Philip IV of France kidnapped the pope after the pope ordered the French clergy not to pay taxes.  The papacy was moved to Avignon, France.  For the next 69 years, popes remained under the control of French kings.  This period from 1309 to 1378, was known as the “Babylonian Captivity.”  Then, in 1378, a second pope began to rule from Rome.  Both the French pope and Italian pope claimed to be the supreme spiritual authority.  This split within the Church, called the “Great Schism,” caused widespread confusion and was an embarrassment to the Church.

                                         ii.         Some Catholics believed that the Church was too involved in world affairs.  The suggestion was made that a council, instead of a pope, should hold power.

b.     Religious Causes

                                          i.         Serious abuses and wasteful spending hurt the image of the Catholic Church.

1.     Money was raised by selling important positions in the Church.

2.     Other monies were collected from the sale of indulgences.  An “indulgence” reduced or eliminated the punishment for sins.

3.     Popes and higher clergy in Italy built beautiful palaces and enjoyed a rich lifestyle.

4.     Money was spent on a series of long and costly wars to defend the Papal States.

                                         ii.         Church officials gave too little attention to spiritual leadership at a time when interest in religion was growing among the common people of Europe.

                                       iii.         Desiderius Erasmus and other Christian scholars urged the Church to make reforms.

c.     Economic Causes

                                          i.         During the Middle Ages, when most people lived in farm villages, local clergy exerted considerable influence over people’s lives.

                                         ii.         But as trade increased and cities grew in size and wealth, people looked more to kings for protection.

2.     Major Events of the Reformation

a.     In 1517, Martin Luther, a monk and professor of theology, posted his Ninety-Five Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.

                                          i.         Luther was angered by the sale of indulgences by a Wittenberg monk named Johann Tetzel.

                                         ii.         The Ninety-Five Theses criticized the selling of indulgences, saying that they did not pardon a person for their sins.

b.     Luther’s call for reform was based on certain fundamental beliefs. 

                                          i.         He felt that a person could achieve salvation only through faith in God’s mercy.  This idea contradicted the Church’s teaching of good works as a way to salvation.  Luther said that man does not get closer to God by attending church, going on pilgrimages, or aiding the poor.

                                         ii.         The pope, he declared, was not the one to judge matters relating to God’s word and faith.  Only the individual man could make such judgments.

                                       iii.         Luther also believed that the Bible was the only guide for Christians. People did not need to participate in Church ceremonies or accept the authority of the pope, since the Bible said nothing about either. People should read the Bible themselves and not rely on priests for interpretation

c.     Luther continued to criticize the Church during the months following his posting of the Ninety-Five Theses.

                                          i.         The invention of movable type made it easy to print and distribute Luther’s ideas throughout Europe.

                                         ii.         In 1520, Pope Leo X excommunicated Luther, declaring him a heretic.

                                       iii.         In 1521, Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, ordered Luther to appear before the Imperial Diet, which was meeting in Worms, Germany. 

1.     The Diet demanded that he take back what he had said and written.  Luther said, “I am bound by the scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God.  I cannot and I will not retract anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience.”

2.     Charles V, in the “Edict of Worms,” declared Luther to be an outlaw.

d.     Luther led the Protestant movement until his death in 1546.

                                          i.         Lutherans presented the “Augsburg Confession” to the Diet at Augsburg, Germany.  It summarized the religious teachings of Martin Luther.

                                         ii.         At the time of Luther’s death, about half of the prices in the Holy Roman Empire had become Lutherans.  Many townspeople and peasants in Germany also joined the new Protestant faith.

e.     Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, declared war on the Lutheran princes, trying to force them to rejoin the Catholic Church.  Neither side was able to win the war.  In the “Peace of Augsburg,” Charles agreed to let each prince to decide whether he wanted his territory to be Catholic or Lutheran.

f.      Other reformers won followers across Europe as Protestant ideas spread from Germany to other countries.

                                          i.         Ulrich Zwingli made reforms in Switzerland.

1.     He ended the Catholic Mass, confessions, and indulgences.

2.     Services were held in undecorated buildings with sermons based on the Bible.

3.     Priests were permitted to marry.

                                         ii.         John Calvin organized a second Protestant movement in Switzerland.

1.     Calvin agreed with martin Luther that good works would not guarantee salvation.

2.     But Calvin disagreed with Luther’s contention that an individual could work toward salvation through faith in God.  Instead, he believed in “predestination,” the idea that God had already chosen those individuals who would eventually gain salvation. 

3.     Calvinists followed the strict morality of the Old Testament.

4.     The ideas of the Calvinists spread to The Netherlands, France, Scotland, and England.

                                       iii.         Henry VIII of England broke away from the Catholic Church.

1.     Henry wanted to divorce his wife, Catherine of Aragon because she had not provided him with a son to inherit the throne.  He planned to marry Anne Boleyn hoping for a son.

2.     When the pope refused to annul (cancel) his marriage to Catherine, Henry took control of the English church, then married Anne Boleyn.

3.     Parliament passed the Act of Supremacy, confirming that the king was the head of the Church of England, or Anglican Church.

3.     Results of the Reformation

a.     Europe was divided between Catholic countries in the south and Protestant countries in the north.

b.     The variety of religious beliefs in Europe helped promote “religious toleration,” or respect for an individual’s right to worship in his own way.

c.     The Protestant movement led to the “Counter Reformation,” a period of reform that strengthened the Church

d.     The “Protestant Ethic,” an attitude that encouraged hard work and careful management of money and material things, contributed to the growth of business and industry in Europe.

e.     Nationalism grew in countries that established state churches, like the Church of England.  “Nationalism” is a feeling of pride in one’s country.