GKT1: The Four Themes

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GKT1 The Four Themes

• And Some Examples
• Mike Dungar
• Course Mentor, Gen. Ed Social Science - History

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The Themes

• Geography and the Development/Diffusion of Human
  Societies
• Individuals and Institutions as Mechanisms of
  Social/Governmental Change
• Historical Systems of Power, Governance, and
  Authority
• Science and Technology as Mechanisms of Economic
  Growth and Development

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The Task

• Define the theme, identify your example (and
  whether it is US or world), and in 1-2 sentences,
  explain the broad connection of theme to example.
• Provide background details for your example
  contextualize your example in time and space.
• Using those details/facts/names/etc., explain
  more fully how your example demonstrates its
  associated theme.
• So what?

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Geography
Physical Features
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Geography
Natural Resources
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Geography

• An important part of the Geography theme is that
  your examples are closely tied to the natural
  world.
• The natural world can serve as a motivation for
  development it can pull people to an area, or
  push them away.
• Development and diffusion are two separate
  activities, so consider selecting one or the
  other in your example.

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Individuals and Institutions
Individuals
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Individuals and Institutions
Institutions
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Individuals and Institutions

• Agency in social change what they did matters
• Sometimes, people or institutions can have an
  indirect, or symbolic influence.
• Individuals and institutions could have more than
  one kind of influence as well.
• Social change isnt just politics or legislation
  innovations to music, art, etc. can be avenues of
  social change.

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Power, Governance, and Authority
Governmental authority
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Power, Governance, and Authority
Other systems of power
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Power, Governance, and Authority

• Power, Governance and Authority are not synonyms,
  but unless its important to your example and
  argument, you dont need to distinguish whether
  your example is one or the other.
• If you want to speak broadly about a system (like
  monarchy), its especially important to have a
  concrete example (the British monarchy)
• You can also narrow your chronological scope

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Technology
Historical technology
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Technology
Contemporary technology
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Technology

• Technology can take a lot of forms, including
  (but not limited to) communication, manufacture,
  transportation, and agriculture
• Examples for the technology theme do not need to
  be inventions, they could also be implementation
  of technology, or innovations on extant ideas.
• Economic growth and development can do alongside
  social developments, but new markets, techniques,
  connections, etc need to be there