[identity profile] prof-methos.livejournal.com
Methos is deeply engrossed in a book that has no title on the cover, and looks handwritten. On the white board behind him is written:

FINAL EXAM
Essay Question: What have you learned in this course?
No set minimun/maximun length, but terse entries are unlikely to have the depth needed.
Leave your paper on the desk, and you're free.


[OOC: Wait for ocd threads... OCD up, go ahead!]
[identity profile] prof-methos.livejournal.com
Methos is sitting at his desk in front of the class, piles of books
surrounding him. "All right. Now is your chance to ask me any question
about any portion of what we have covered in this class that you like.
So, since I know all of you are quite talkative, have at it."

[[OOC: Methos-mun is stuck in hell a temp job, and will not be
around to answer questions until at least 6:30 PDT, and possibly not
then, depending on how much alcohol will be needed to numb the pain.
FYI, feel free to answer each other.]]

[[OOC: OCD threads are coming up!]]
[identity profile] prof-methos.livejournal.com
Right. So, when we last left England, baby Henry VI was on the throne.

Henry, Henry, Edward, Edward, Richard, Henry, Henry )

This is our last lecture. Thank you for being here. Your test is coming up.

[[OCD threads up. Go ahead.]]
[identity profile] prof-methos.livejournal.com
I freely admit this is because it's just bloody fun. The average person couldn't give a damn who was sitting on the throne and indeed, commerce and artistic endeavors continued without regard to who was king. But let's get into the soap opera aspects of this, shall we?

[[OOC: Now color-coded for your convenience!!!] Henry Who? )

[[Go ahead!]]
[identity profile] prof-methos.livejournal.com
So, one day in the 1340s, a rat jumped off a ship in Genoa harbor and started a plague.

Okay, it's not that simple.

The Black Death in England )

OOC: Wait ye for OCD threads. Go ahead.
[identity profile] prof-methos.livejournal.com
Methos is attempting to balance a pencil on his nose. Why? For science!


[[OCD threads a'comin'. OCD threads are up!]]
[identity profile] prof-methos.livejournal.com
Methos lectures on Edward III and his claim to the French throne through his mother (poetically known as the "She-Wolf of France"). The French claimed that French law dictated that inheritance couldn't be passed through the female line. Edward claimed that he had a lot of soliders who would be willing to kick their asses. This leads to warfare, broken up by interludes of devistating plague.
[identity profile] prof-methos.livejournal.com
On the door of Humanities #2 is pinned the following sign:

Your professor is still hung over indisposed. Please sign in and then go away to let me die in peace discuss Tuesday's lecture amongst yourselves. You keep doing it in class while I'm lecturing anyway, you can bloody well do it for credit now. Prof. Pierson will return when the mun returns from her long weekend of family obligations next Tuesday.

[[OOC: OCD threads are coming up!]]
[identity profile] prof-methos.livejournal.com
Welcome back from your break. Everyone who was in England, I hope you enjoyed yourself. You certainly never called on me for help, so I assume everything went swimmingly. Everyone who stayed here or went home for the break -- welcome back to learning.

Our lecture today is on the consolidation of power within the British Isles.

Edward I and an Island Empire )


[[OOC: OCD threads are coming up!!]]
[identity profile] prof-methos.livejournal.com
There is a TV in the front of the classroom, with a "Press Play" sign on the screen.

On the whiteboard behind, in neat capitals, Methos has written, "Since I rotted the brains of the Western Civ class, and since I'm in no way, shape or form packed for the England trip, I figured I would do the same to you.

"The movie is The Lion in Winter (1968 version). While some of the issues are very much the playwright's own, it is an interesting portrait of a powerful family. Also notice the level of luxury available to kings and princes in the Middle Ages... to wit, Henry kicking aside a chicken to go greet Philip, King of France.

"The trial will be held the Thursday after Spring Break. No, I haven't forgotten.

"Last note: Has anyone seen a bundle of photocopied papers and a spiral bound notebook?"

[[OOC: Please wait for OCD threads. Threads are up, watch away!]]
[identity profile] prof-methos.livejournal.com
Simon de Montfort and the Bare Beginnings of Representitive Government

Simon de Montfort was a thoroughly aristocratic nobleman. He married the daughter of King John -- which is either a romantic love story or a shockingly inappropriate alliance, depending on who you ask. And yet, somehow he managed to become the champion of the common people.

Crediting him with creating the modern representative government is a huge stretch; it never would have occurred to him that God did not place people in their appropriate status, and he firmly believed that the nobility existed to care for and rule over the lower classes. He did, however, also firmly believe that the lower classes deserved a voice in their governance. One might say, "No execution without representation."

Simon's crusade was helped along by the fact that his king, Henry III, was indecisive and given to petty rages. Henry resented that his sister had married so far below herself, and that he'd been manipulated into allowing it. Accordingly, for the next twenty years, he alternately depended on Simon and reviled him. The final blow to Simon's loyalty to the king was when Henry put Simon on trial for failing to subdue a rebellious Brittany -- which was outside of Simon's control entirely.

Simon and various nobles who remembered the provisions of the currently-defunct Magna Carta, fought back. But they also enlisted the common people. Among them, well-educated and wealthy London businessmen, who wanted a voice in the taxes and laws that governed them.

At his height, Simon held the king captive and made him a figurehead, and summoned the first proto-Parliament in English history. But at his worst, in 1265 at the Battle of Evesham, Simon lost to a brilliant battle commander -- his teenage nephew, Prince Edward, the heir to the throne. Simon was killed in battle, his body desecrated, and, after it had been buried in holy ground, Edward caused it to be dug up and thrown away.

But, much as with the Magna Carta, something had been brought up that the people of England weren't going to forget. Representative government was centuries away, but the idea of limiting the king's power remained in the collective consciousness.

[[OOC: OCD threads are coming up!!]]
[identity profile] prof-methos.livejournal.com
Methos is reading a frighteningly thick book. Be afraid. He looks up as people come in and sets it aside, ready to launch into discussion.



[[OOC: OCD threads are coming are up. Go postal. Homework this week is prepping for the trial.]]
[identity profile] prof-methos.livejournal.com
Now we reach a portion of the class that actually lives up to the hype. So on, Henry II dies, so forth, Richard the Lionhearted and Stupidheaded goes on Crusade, and leaves his kid brother John at home minding the country.

Despite what every Robin Hood legend has told you, John was not evil. Or, at least, not any more evil than any monarch with power in the Middle Ages. )


And don't forget to sign up for your role in the mock trial If you haven't already. I'm looking at you, Adama and Evans.

[[OOC: OCD threads are coming up!!]]
[identity profile] prof-methos.livejournal.com
Professor Pierson stands at the front of the class and launches right into the discussion...

[[OOC: OCD threads are coming up!!]]

Don't forget to sign up for your part in the trial.
[identity profile] prof-methos.livejournal.com
Methos greets the students that come in. "Welcome, all. So proud of you that you made it into class on Valentine's Day. Because, really, what's more romantic than an elderly celibate priest?

"I have your tests. The less said, the better. Actually, Ms. Mal Doran, please see me after 7th period. The rest of you got the grade you assigned yourself, or an A if you did not can pick up your tests after class.

"And so we begin our next section: Family Infighting, and Why We Care."

Lecture behind cut )

[[OCD threads are up. Class is open.]]
[identity profile] prof-methos.livejournal.com
Once again, Professor Pierson has catered (literally) to his students by having a layout of culinary delights from Jeff, God of Biscuits on a table in the front of the room. Everything from doughnuts to bagels to muffins to croissants. Coffee and soda provide much-needed caffiene.

Methos himself is sitting at his desk, working on what looks like a photocopy of an ancient manuscript. He's got a modern spiral-bound notebook beside it, but he doesn't appear to be writing in it. Instead, he's flipping ahead in the ancient text, frowning as he reads.

On the board is written:

EXAM 1

Pick three topics and write or handwave 100 words (at least) on each:

- Pre-Roman Britain
- Roman Britain
- Anglo-Saxon Britain
- The Battle of Hastings
- The reign of William the Conqueror

When finished, you may turn in your papers and leave.

NO TALKING.
[identity profile] prof-methos.livejournal.com
All right, class. First exam on Thursday. The exam will consist of three one hundred word sections on what we have discussed so far in this class.

If you have any questions, please address them now, or forever hold your peace.

[[OOC: OCD threads are coming up!!]]
[identity profile] prof-methos.livejournal.com
Methos has considered changing the course to "The History of Beer" in mid-stream, but has decided against it.

Instead, he's set out Paper dolls of the Bayeux Tapestry. "Next Thursday is our first exam. Next Tuesday we'll have a formal review session. Today? Play with dolls. No homework, either."

[Site linked uses Flash.]

[[OCD threads are up.]]
[identity profile] prof-methos.livejournal.com
"Last week we discussed the Battle of Hastings. This week, we're going to discuss the aftermath of the battle... the fact that England was politically and culturally taken over by another country."

Trying something new: short lecture )

"While there is absolutely nothing wrong in the abstract with a Queen Regent -- to wit, Elizabeth, Victoria, etc. -- to try to enforce one's will beyond the grave on a bunch of fractious nobles was not the smartest thing. Plus, Henry might have considered that Matilda wasn't exactly a pleasant personality to begin with; she wouldn't lead by devotion. Which basically set England up for a generation of really nasty civil war, which we will get into after our exam next Thursday."

Homework is due here and the mun sincerely apologizes for the suckiness of the initial website.

[Poll #663890]

[[OOC: OCD threads are up!!]]
[identity profile] prof-methos.livejournal.com
All right, everyone. I spent an hour on Tuesday talking about the Battle of Hastings and 1066. Now we're going to discuss it. It completely changed the government and culture of England in a violent and abrupt manner

For your homework, I'd like you to pick a section of the Bayeux Tapestry and tell me what's happening in it, in terms of what was going on in England and Normandy at the time. At least one hundred words or handwave, please. Please feel free to expound on social or cultural matters portrayed in the tapestry, if you like.

OOC Note: The linked website is a bit overdesigned in my opinion, but it is quite good. ETA: Here is another site with less bells and whistles. http://rubens.anu.edu.au/htdocs/bytype/textiles/bayeux/
And here's a scrolling Shockwave version: http://www.essentialnormanconquest.com/osehnctapestry.html


[[OCD threads are up! Go for it!]]
[identity profile] prof-methos.livejournal.com
[[OOC: Sorry for such a long lecture. But I think you'll find it entertaining.]]

All right, everyone. I hope that you haven't been abusing your writing hands too much, because I am going to do so today. Without further adieu...

This lecture is called 'And Why 1066 Was Actually Such a Bloody Big Deal' )

Methos surveys the class, smirking at anyone whose eyes were glazing over.

Homework is due here.

[[OCD threads are up, comment away!!!]]
[identity profile] prof-methos.livejournal.com
All right. So we touched briefly on King Arthur of gloriously fake memory, Alfred the Great who actually lived, and Anglo-Saxon Britain. Now it's time to talk.

Your homework, which should sound familiar already is to select a topic from your readings and cut and paste give me at least 100 words. Ready, steady, go.

[[OOC: OCD threads are up, go ahead.]]
[identity profile] prof-methos.livejournal.com
Lecture on post-Roman and Anglo-Saxon Britain )

Your homework is not officially assigned until Thursday, but it will be drawn from readings here. Please make sure you have turned in last week's homework here.

[[OCD threads up! Post away!]]
[identity profile] prof-methos.livejournal.com
Good afternoon, class. Now I get to torture you all by making you all stand up and introduce yourselves to your classmates. This is because I'm sadistic want to get you used to the concept of talking during our discussion sessions. Please give your name and what one thing you'd like to find out in this class.

Your homework, due next Tuesday but to be posted in this post is to pick a topic from the once-optional-now-mandatory reading list I gave you on Prehistoric Britain and Roman Britain and give me ETA a minimum of one hundred Wikipedia words on it. Got it? Good.

[[OOC comment threads are done!]]

[[ETA: OOC: At some point I stopped receiving comment notifications for this post. I'm scanning and trying to jump into discussions. But since I'm trying to foster discussion *amongst* all of you, I try not to jump in everywhere.]]
[identity profile] prof-methos.livejournal.com
Methos stood in front of the class, dressed in jeans and a sweater, leaning back against his desk. "Right, folks. This is Medieval English History. On your desks you should have a syllabus and course information sheet. You will be responsible for knowing all the information on that sheet. I'd like you to meet your TA, Elizabeth Weir, who I totally did not steal from CJ. Any questions? Good.

Lecture 1 )

"I think that's enough information for now. Thursday is our discussion session, where you get to ask me questions and discuss amongst yourselves the implications of what I've said today. Readings of interest can be found here and here. ETA:These are purely for your own interest. You will get assigned reading and homework on Thursday.

"One last thing: You have a term paper due at the end of this semester. I would like you all to pick topics before the second exam. You must clear your topics with me. Please see me if you are having trouble thinking of a topic, and I'll help you."

[[OCD Comment threads are up. Comment away!]]

Fandom High RPG



About the Game

---       Master Game Index
---       IC Community Tags
---       Thinking of Joining?
---       Application Information
---       Existing Character Directory

In-Character Comms

School and Grounds
---       Fandom High School
---       Staff Lounge
---       TA Lounge
---       Student Dorms

Around the Island
---       Fandom Town
---       Fandom Clinic

Communications
---       Radio News Recaps
---       Student Newspaper
---       IC Social Media Posts

Off-Island Travel
---       FH Trips

Once Upon a Time...
---       FH Wishverse AU


Out-of-Character Comms

---       Main OOC Comm
---       Plot Development
---       OOC-but-IC Fun





Disclaimer

Fandom High is a not-for-profit text-based game/group writing exercise, featuring fictional characters and settings from a variety of creators, used without permission but for entertainment purposes only.

Tags

OSZAR »