DAVID CUTLER · 2021–2022 ARCHIVE
Public reading edition · October 12, 2026. Read the daily classwork and homework here; no school login is required. These dates and directions belong to the archived course. Available daily plans from September 2021 through April 2022. Original dates and deadlines are retained, including occasional inconsistencies and rescheduled entries. Unit headings are clarified to match the readings; the Evita sequence is presented as its own unit.
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September 8, 2021
Introductions. What are misconceptions about Latin America and Latin American history?
For Monday, please read and be prepared to discuss chapter 1 of James W. Loewen’s “1493, the True Importance of Christopher Columbus,” posted on Canvas. Also, listen to Mr. Cutler’s interview with Prof. Loewen, posted on Canvas.
September 14, 2021
Discuss James W. Loewen’s “1493, the True Importance of Christopher Columbus.”
For Tuesday, please read The New Yorker article, “Plymouth Rocked: Of Pilgrims, Puritans, and Professors,” by Jill Lepore, also posted on Canvas.
September 15, 2021
Debate: Should we honor Columbus with celebrating Columbus Day? What about Indigenous People’s Day? Graded debate.
September 16, 2021
September 17, 2021
Introduce biweekly current events discussion protocol. Every other Thursday, each of you will give a short (2-4 minutes) presentation on a current event in Latin America. Afterward, the class will decide which story or stories to focus on for deeper discussion, research, and analysis for the rest of class.
For Thursday, complete your first current event.
September 20, 2021
Watch “Mexico and Peru: The Black Grandma in the Closet,” with Prof. Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
For next Tuesday, please read and be prepared to discuss The Atlantic article, “1491,” by Charles C. Mann, posted on Canvas.
September 21, 2021
Discuss The New Yorker article, “Plymouth Rocked: Of Pilgrims, Puritans, and Professors,” by Jill Lepore. Graded seminar.
September 23, 2021
Present current events.
No additional homework.
September 24, 2021
Watch “1491: Origins,” based on Charles C. Mann’s book.
No additional homework.
September 27, 2021
Reading period.
For Thursday, please read pages 1-29 in Born in Blood and Fire.
September 28, 2021
Discuss The Atlantic article, “1491,” by Charles C. Mann. Graded seminar.
No additional homework.
September 30, 2021
Discuss pages 1-29 in Born in Blood and Fire. Examine primary sources. Graded seminar.
For Monday, please read pages 30-48 in Born in Blood and Fire, finishing the chapter
October 1, 2021
Watch, “Engineering an Empire: The Aztecs.”
No additional homework
October 4, 2021
Discuss pages 30-48 in Born in Blood and Fire. Graded seminar.
For Friday, please read pages vii-49 in The Broken Spears: The Aztec Conquest of Mexico.
October 4, 2021
Reading period.
No additional homework
October 7, 2021
Current events presentations.
No additional homework.
October 8, 2021
Discuss pages vii-50 in The Broken Spears: The Aztec Conquest of Mexico. Graded seminar.
For Tuesday, please read pages 50-82 in The Broken Spears: The Aztec Conquest of Mexico.
October 11, 2021
October 12, 2021
Discuss pages 50-82 in The Broken Spears: The Aztec Conquest of Mexico. Graded seminar.
For Friday, please read pages 83-126 in The Broken Spears: The Aztec Conquest of Mexico.
October 14, 2021
Reading period.
For Tuesday, please read pages 55-75 in Born in Blood and Fire.
October 15, 2021
Discuss pages 83-126 in The Broken Spears: The Aztec Conquest of Mexico. Graded seminar.
For Monday, please read pages 127-149, where we will end.
October 18, 2021
Discuss pages 127-149, where we will end.
No additional homework.
October 19, 2021
Introduce new unit. Discuss pages 55-75 in Born in Blood and Fire.
For Friday, please read pages 76-89 in Born in Blood and Fire, finishing the chapter.
October 21, 2021
Continue discussing pages 55-75 in Born in Blood and Fire.
No additional homework.
October 22, 2021
Discuss pages 76-89 in Born in Blood and Fire.
For Monday, please read pages 76-89 in Born in Blood and Fire.
October 25, 2021
Watch "The Land," a terrific movie about Mexico under the Viceroyalty of Spain.
For Friday, please read pages 95-107 in Born in Blood and Fire.
October 26, 2021
Continue watching "The Land," a terrific movie about Mexico under the Viceroyalty of Spain..
No additional homework,
October 28, 2021
Discuss "The Land." Introduce Unit 4, "Independence."
No additional homework.
October 29, 2021
Discuss pages 95-107 in Born in Blood and Fire.
For Monday, please read pages 108-120 in Born in Blood and Fire.
November 1, 2021
Discuss pages 108-120 in Born in Blood and Fire.
For Friday, please read The Mirror of Public Opinion Bolívar, Republicanism and the United States Press, 1821-1831, by David Sowell. This is available under the extra help resources in "Modules."
November 2, 2021
Continue discussing pages 108-120 in Born in Blood and Fire.
No additional homework.
November 4, 2021
Reading day.
No additional homework.
November 5, 2021
The Mirror of Public Opinion Bolívar, Republicanism and the United States Press, 1821-1831, by David Sowell.
Take the weekend off!
November 8, 2021
Introduce semester essay project.
No additional homework.
November 9, 2021
Discuss resource materials for essay project.
Begin thinking of essay topic.
November 11, 2021
November 12, 2021
November 15, 2021
Discuss resource/materials for 3-4 page essay. Examine anatomy of an essay. Your first version due Dec. 6.
For Friday, please read pages 161-178, stopping right before "Models of Progress."
November 29, 2021
Introduce new unit
For tomorrow, please read pages 127-143, stopping right before "Continuities in Daily Life."
November 30, 2021
Review pages 127-143, stopping right before "Continuities in Daily Life." Begin video about Mexican-American War.
For Friday, please read pages 143-158, finishing the chapter.
December 2, 2021
Complete and discuss video of Mexican-American War..
No additional homework.
December 3, 2021
Discuss pages 143-158, finishing the chapter.
Work on research paper until break.
January 3, 2022
Discussing where we left off. The new social hierarchy.
Work on paper revisions, due Friday, Jan. 14.
January 4, 2022
Texas and the Mexican-American War.
Work on paper revisions, due Friday, Jan. 14.
January 6, 2022
Watch Episode 3 of "The Men Who Built America: Frontiersmen."
For Monday, please read pages 161-178 in Born in Blood and Fire, stopping right before "Models of Progress."
January 7, 2022
Finish Episode 3 of "The Men Who Built America: Frontiersmen." Discuss.
For Monday, please read pages 161-178 in Born in Blood and Fire, stopping right before "Models of Progress."
January 10, 2022
Discuss pages 161-178 in Born in Blood and Fire, stopping right before "Models of Progress."
For Thursday, please read pages 178-187, finishing the chapter.
January 11, 2022
Activity: Cinco de Mayo simulation.
No additional homework.
January 13, 2022
Discuss pages 178-187, finishing the chapter.
For Wednesday, please read Chapter 1 in "The True Flag"
January 14, 2022
January 17, 2022
January 18, 2022
Introduce Spanish-American War.
No additional homework.
January 19, 2022
Discuss Chapter 1 in "The True Flag."
For Monday, please read Chapter 2 in "The True Flag."
January 21, 2022
Continue discussing Chapter 1 in "The True Flag." Reading period.
For Monday, please read Chapter 2 in "The True Flag."
January 24, 2022
Discuss Chapter 2 in "The True Flag."
For Thursday, please read pages 233-249 in Born in Blood and Fire, stopping right before "The 1930s."
January 25, 2022
Activity: Yellow Journalism Gallery Walk.
For Friday, please read pages 233-249 in Born in Blood and Fire, stopping right before "The 1930s."
January 27, 2022
Discuss pages 233-249 in Born in Blood and Fire, stopping right before "The 1930s." Introduce author Mariano Azuela's "The Underdogs: A Novel of the Mexican Revolution."
For tomorrow, please read pages 233-249 in Born in Blood and Fire, stopping right before "The 1930s."
January 28, 2022
Discuss pages 233-249 in Born in Blood and Fire, stopping right before "The 1930s."
For Monday, please read the foreword, introduction, and up to page 20 in Azuela's "The Underdogs: A Novel of the Mexican Revolution."
January 31, 2022
Discuss the foreword, introduction, and up to page 20 in Azuela's "The Underdogs: A Novel of the Mexican Revolution."
After the discussion, please write and submit a 5-6 sentence self-evaluation and submit it to Canvas here. Out of 10 points, what do you think you earned? Why? Also, for Thursday, please read through page 69 in "The Underdogs," finishing Part 1.
February 1, 2022
Reading day.
No additional homework.
February 3, 2022
Discuss through page 69 in "The Underdogs," finishing Part 1.
After the discussion, please write and submit a 5-6 sentence self-evaluation and submit it to Canvas here. Out of 10 points, what do you think you earned? Why? Also, for Thursday, please read to page 103 in "The Underdogs," reading through Chapter X.
February 4, 2022
Watch first part of "Viva Zapata!"
No additional homework.
February 7, 2022
Watch second part of "Viva Zapata!"
No additional homework.
February 8, 2022
Discuss through page 69 in "The Underdogs," finishing Part 1. Start "Viva Zapata!"
No additional homework.
February 10, 2022
Continue "Viva Zapata!"
For Monday, please read the rest of the "The Underdogs," ending on page 134. Also, after the discussion, please write and submit a 5-6 sentence self-evaluation and submit it to Canvas here. Out of 10 points, what do you think you earned? Why?
February 11, 2022
Finish "Viva Zapata!"
For Tuesday, please read the rest of the "The Underdogs," ending on page 134. Also, after the discussion, please write and submit a 5-6 sentence self-evaluation and submit it to Canvas here. Out of 10 points, what do you think you earned? Why?
February 14, 2022
Finish "Viva Zapata!" Discuss.
After the discussion, please write and submit a 5-6 sentence self-evaluation and submit it to Canvas here. Out of 10 points, what do you think you earned? Why?
February 15, 2022
Part I: Discuss "The Underdogs," ending on page 134.
No additional homework.
February 17, 2022
Current events.
No additional homework.
February 18, 2022
Work on paper, due Wednesday.
Work on "Underdogs" project, due next Friday. Also, for Tuesday, please read pages 233-249 in "Born in Blood and Fire," stopping right before "ISI and Activist Governments of the 1930s."
February 21, 2022
February 22, 2022
Discuss pages 233-249 in "Born in Blood and Fire," stopping right before "ISI and Activist Governments of the 1930s."
For Thursday, please read pages 249-261, finishing the chapter.
February 24, 2022
Discuss pages 249-261, finishing the chapter.
Work on completing final touches for "Underdogs" project for tomorrow.
February 25, 2022
Current events.
For Monday, please read pages 267-275 in "Born in Blood and Fire," stopping right before "Onset of the Cold War."
February 28, 2022
Discuss pages 267-275 in "Born in Blood and Fire," stopping right before "Onset of the Cold War."
March 28, 2022
Finish "Evita" film. Begin/continue reading for Wednesday.
For Thursday, please read pages 1-27 in "Evita."
March 29, 2022
Introduce "Evita" project. Reading period. Be prepared for reading quizzes.
For Friday, please read pages 28-48 in "Evita."
March 30, 2022
Discuss pages 1-27 in "Evita."
No additional homework.
April 1, 2022
Discuss pages 28-48 in "Evita."
For Monday, please read pages 49-68 in "Evita."
April 4, 2022
Discuss pages 49-68 in "Evita". Second half, reading period.
For tomorrow, please read pages 69-87 in "Evita."
April 5, 2022
Discuss pages 69-87 in "Evita." Second half, reading period.
For Monday, please read pages 88-133 in "Evita."
April 7, 2022
Reading period.
No additional homework.
April 8, 2022
April 11, 2022
Part 1 of discussing pages 88-133 in "Evita."
For Friday, please read pages 134-167 in "Evita."
April 12, 2022
Part 2 of Discussing pages 88-133 in "Evita."
No additional homework.
April 14, 2022
Reading period.
No additional homework.
April 15, 2022
Discuss pages 134-167 in "Evita."
For Tuesday, please complete the book, "Evita."
April 18, 2022
April 19, 2022
Finish discussing "Evita."
You have the next two weeks to work on your final Latin American History project.