True, true

Rachel is so funny.

Over at her blog, she posted about a book she's been reading. It's a compilation of amusing sentences, and her favorite is "During the Dark Ages it was mostly dark."

So true!

Charles and I have a running joke that started when I was seeking an example of how to construct a thesis statement. Our model started with an exam question asked by a European historian for whom I was a TA years ago. She asked, "Why was the medieval era known as the Dark Ages?" The statement we made up goes like this:

The medieval era is known as the Dark Ages because it was partly cloudy most of the time, there were no lamps, and the moon eclipsed the sun repeatedly.

Using this model, I demonstrate to students that a thesis statement emerges from a research question (ie, "Why was the medieval era..."). I can also show them how to come up with evidence-based answers and how to break out those answers with examples.

The examples are ridiculous. Obviously. But they work. Students get it.

See, Rachel? During the Dark Ages it was mostly dark.

And, as you say, Ignorance is Blitz.