For the last part of the Taking Sides Forum, listen and watch the 9 minute clip (7 minutes audio, 2 minutes video) of Kenneth Davis and Jay Leno.  You have heard the first minute and a half of the Kenneth Davis audio in class.

I believe Davis' comments are wrong when he speaks about "out of date" textbooks.  Our textbook clearly has a balanced approach that may not have been the case in his own youth.  Davis blames both parents and students for lack of or inaccurate (historical) knowledge. The Jay Leno clip certainly provides some proof of that claim.

Davis makes at least three other points in his (audio) book introduction.
1. Struggle for power is the essence of history (our textbook is entitled Liberty, Equality, and Power)
2. Strong personalities influence on history
3. Rating the American story is no simple task (cynacism and disgust or pride and admiration)
4. History as a continuum or pendulum

Focus your first post on just one of these issues.  Take a position and support it using any historical example(s) we've covered in this entire HST201 course.  You may then respond to the posts of your classmates, either agreeing or disagreeing with their positions.

NOTE:  Sometimes a picture IS worth a thousand words and can be very helpful in making or supporting your case.  On the class Moodle site, I've turned on two "help" videos that show you how to add a picture (photo, chart, cartoon, etc.) to your post, if you've never done that before.