Strongverb - Mr Buchanan's Site for Hastings HS ***If you have not taken previous tests or quizzes or completed missing assignments before Fr 1/23, they will automatically convert to zero! I will not accept ANY work after Fr 1/23.***
Unit Test - Fr 1/23
- 25 questions
- Analysis of the Inaugural Speech
- 5-paragraph essay
- > 1st paragraph: formulate a thesis about the speech. Hint: create a "why" question and answer it.
- > 2nd-4th paragraphs: each has a topic sentence that addresses the answer to your "why" question. Each paragraph contains at least two examples with an explanation of the examples.
- > 5th paragraph: reword your thesis and restate the topic sentences briefly.
- 5-paragraph essay
- Letter to the editor: Your hope for the new administration.
- Must include ONE policy issue that we discussed in the semester.
- Must show that you understand the issue by laying out the problems.
- Must include one suggestion for fixing the problem.
Reminder: each assignment is worth 5 points. If you post late, the most you can get is 4.3 points.
Note: If you are having problems accessing strongverb interactive, you need to tell me via e-mail right away. If you can't post, then e-mail me your text and I will post on your behalf.
Political Humor: Analyzing and Creating Political Cartoons (Mo 1/12, We 1/14)
- In-class analysis of class-drawn political cartoons (SB file here).
- In the same pairs as last time, write a summary about any article you choose and create a political cartoon to go along with it.
- Alternate tasks: if you wrote the summary last time, this time you'll draw the cartoon (and vice versa).
- Draw cartoon on printer paper available on my desk.
- Due by the end of the period: the substitute teacher is instructed to collect all materials.
- Pairs:
- > Josh, Alby
- > Ian, Peter
- > Lake, Dan A
- > Emily, Jason
- > Greg, Alex
- > Jay, Brian
- > Nick, Molly
- > Vanessa, Taylor
- > Michael, Anthony
- > Andrew, Luca
- > Mo-Young, John
- > Savi, Anthony
- Pairs:
Political Humor: Analyzing and Creating Political Cartoons (Th 1/8)
- In-class: analysis of the artistic devices employed in political cartoons.
- Pair work: one student writes a summary of an an assigned article; the other creates a political cartoon on one aspect of the article.
Bowling for Columbine / Senior Breakfast (Tu 1/6)
- Seniors attend Senior Breakfast
- Remainder of class watches the rest of Bowling for Columbine.
Test (Tu 12/23)
Snow Day (Fr 12/19)
Bowling for Columbine (We 12/17)
- In-class: watch Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine.
- Record your thoughts on the Learning Log at the end of the period.
Revamping the New York Times (Mo 12/15)
- In groups of 3 work to re-edit the front page of the New York Times. Rubric here.
- Each person has a different role: Editor-in-Chief, Layout Editor, and Copywriter.
- Present your revamped paper to the class.
Conversation and Written Assignment (due Mo 12/15)
- Using the form distributed in class, discuss the mortgage-backed security crisis with a family member or friend. [The person must have already have graduated from high school.]
- Click here if you need an additional "conversation form."
- In your conversation, explain that you had to do a project based on listenting to a report on "This American Life."
- Ask the questions on the sheet, then...
- ask the person if you may run your explanation of the crisis by him/her.
- When you have finished, ask the person the "debrief interview" questions.
- To get credit for this assignment, the person must sign the sheet.
- Because we will discuss your experiences with this assignment in class, it must be completed before the beginning of 3rd period, Monday 12/15.
Presentation of Projects...continued (Th 12/11)
- What's up now: Blagojevich, Auto bailout.
- Remaining presentations
Written Assignment: The Auto Bailout (due Th 12/11)
- Read in NYT from 12/9/2008 David Sanger's article "Taking Risks With Bailout" (A1, A24) AND David Herszenhorn's "Deal to Rescue US Automakers Is Moving Ahead" (A1, A24)
- Post your response (click here) to the following questions in the discussion forum:
- Argue BOTH sides: the merits and the disadvantages to the bailout plan.
- To get better than 4.5 out of 5, discuss the role of the "Car Czar" in your answer.
- After you explain both sides, argue which side you think is the right one.
Presentation of Projects on Global Pool of Money (Tu 12/9)
- Introduction: NPR All Things Considered
- Presentations...
Project: Formula for a Disaster (We 12/3, Fr 12/5, Tu 12/9)
- Project value: 30 points [20 points end product; 10 points presentation]
- Introduction to project: We 12/3 (MS Word doc here)
- In-class development day: Fr 12/5.
- Presentations: Tu 12/9
The Global Pool of Money (We 12/3)
- Listen to "The Global Pool of Money" episode of This American Life.
- Record notes on major events and concepts (notes sheet here)
Written Assignment: Brief for Indian Counter-terrorism Authorities (due We 12/3)
Post here. Write a brief [short report] focusing on one of the possible responses to the terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Address it to Indian counterterrorism authorities. Discuss in depth one response important for Indian authorities to enact upon in response to the attacks. For better than a 4.5 out of 5 refer to the NYT article “Terrorism in India” Times Topics page.
Attacks on Mumbai (Mo 12/1)
- In-class pair activity (SB file here). Activity description here.
- Interactive audio slide show here.
- Interactive map here.
- Article in NYT "India Faces Reckoning as Terror Toll Eclipses 170" by Somini Sengupta and Keith Bradsher, from November 30, 2008.
- Reuters article from Friday, November 28, 2008 " Timeline: Flashpoints and flare-ups in India-Pakistan ties."
Written Assignment: Economic slump impacts environmental policy (due Mo 12/1)
- Read in the NY Times from Tuesday, November 25, "Economic Slump May Limit Moves on Clean Energy" by Elisabeth Rosenthal (A1, A14)
- Post the following online in a forum discussion (click here): What implication does the world-wide recession have for changes in environmental policy world-wide? For better than 4.5 out of 5, argue both positions why or why not a recession may be good for environmental policy.
Written Assignment: Change Comes to Washington (due Tu 11/25)
- Read in the NY Times "Democrats Oust Longtime leader of House Panel" by John M. Broder (A1, A23).
- Read also "Change in Congress (Both Voluntary and In-) Proves to Be More Than a Slogan" by Carl Hulse (A23)
- Post the following online in a forum discussion (click here) : How does Waxman's replacement as chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee speak to the "change" in Washington sentiment promoted by the Obama campaign?
- For better than a 4.5 out of 5, respond to another colleague's posting.
Policy Priorities Activity (Fr 11/21, Tu 11/26)
- In groups, brainstorm policies you'd like to see implemented on the Federal level.
- Throughout the activity, you will prioritize the policies you and others have come up with by compromising and allocating "dollars" to their implementation.
Assignment (Due Fr 11/21)
- Read "Detroit Chiefs Plead for Aid, To Little Avail," NY Times (A1, A26) by Bill Vlasic and David Herszenhorn.
- Also read Mitt Romney's opinion essay "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt" in the Op-Ed section (A35).
- Post to the forum here: Is Mitt Romney right? Explain your answer. For better than 4.5 out of 5, incorporate the reasons given by the heads of the big 3 in your response.
We 11/19 - Senate issues
- On Monday 3 seats were still undecided. What it means for the parties.
Assignment (Due We 11/19)
- What are the problems with the US health care system? Post your thoughts here.
- To get better than 4.5 out of 5, explain what needs to be changed in the system to make it better.
Mo 11/17 - Health Care Systems around the World
- Watch PBS Sick around the World
- Transcript here.
- As you watch documentary, record the advantages and disadvantages to the system in the notes grid provided.
- [The test on issues and policy will draw from this documentary.]
Th 11/14 - Setting Policy on Health Care
- NPR, 11/10/2008, All Things Considered, "Health Care Reform Looms Over Obama Presidency" by Julie Rovner. Report here.
- In groups evaluate Obama's plan against the plan systems and types from around the world.
- Create a poster that compares Obama's plan with the system or country plan your group has been assigned.
- Present poster.
- Watch PBS documentary Sick around the World.
Mo 11/10 - Health Care in America
- Finish Sicko.
- Gather in groups for Policy Project
Online Lecture: The Electoral College in US Presidential Elections: Logical Foundations, Mathematics, and Politics
- Lecture here.
- Scholar Alexander Belenky examines the presidential election process and the institution of the Electoral College and the possible imbalances and stalemates that can result in elections due to this institution. He also suggests changes in the system that might guard against stalemates and imbalances.
Th 11/6 - Health Care in America
- Watch video Sicko.
- Fill out learning log.
Mo 11/3 - Election!
- School needs
We 10/22, Fr 10/24, Tu 10/28, Th 10/30 School-wide Election: Research and Development
- The School-Wide Election - overview
- The groups:
- A - Election Registration and Vote Tallying: Ian, Luca, Dan A
- B - Audio Advertisement: Mo-Young, Jason, Alex W
- C - Video Advertisement: Vanessa, Michael, Kenny
- D - Video-recorded Team Debate: Savi, Taylor, Emily
- E - Campaign Literature and paraphernalia - Anthony C, Anthony V, Alby
- F - Polling and Exit Polling - Molly, Jay, Greg
- G - Video-recorded Presentation on Electoral College - Josh, John, Peter
- Tech: Brian, Nick, Andrew
Assignment (due We 10/22)
- Read in the NYT for Monday October 20, 2008:
- Forum Discussion: What are the implications of Powell's endorsement of Obama? (click here to post.) For better than 4.5, reference specific remarks from both authors in your posting.
Mo 10/20 The School-Wide Election: Organization and Choosing Sides
- Debrief the third debate.
- Set up organization of the school-wide election.
- Living Room Candidate
Assignment (due Mo 10/20)
- Read through the New York Times for Thursday 10/16.
- Explain in your forum discussion discuss what NYT journalists say about who won the debate.
- To get better than 4.5, you must identify at least 2 authors and the titles of their articles in the NYT of Thursday, 10/16. You may NOT use any other periodicals except that day's NYT.
- Post your assignment here.
Th 10/16 The 3rd Presidential Debate
- Watch the 3rd debate in class. MSNBC DEBATE - click here.
- As you watch the debate, fill out the form provided. Record 5 questions posed by the moderator and the answers given by Obama and McCain on the following topics:
- The Federal Bailout
- Taxes
- Character of Candidates
- Conduct of the Campaign
- Health Care
- This sheet will be collected by the end of the period. It is worth 5 points and must be completely filled out for full credit.
Viral Video: AFL-CIO Secretary Trumka on Obama campaign
- This video is making the rounds on the internet. Trumka first gave this speech in July.
- Since this is posted on YouTube, you will only be able to watch it outside of school.
Assignment (due Th 10/16)
- In advance of the 3rd Presidential Debate (that is, BEFORE 9 PM EDT on Wednesday, October 15), come up with 3 questions for each candidate (a total of six questions).
- Post your questions on strongverb interactive. Click here to post.
- In addition, choose one question posed by another student. Answer that question as if YOU were running for president.
Fr 10/10 The 2nd Presidential Debate
- Review your responses to "Attack Mode."
- Watch the 2nd Presidential Debate in class. Click here to access the debate online.
- While you watch, list facts that need to be checked (3 for each candidate).
In-class assignment here.
- Participation grade: 6 points.
Assignment (due Fr 10/10)
- Read Adam Nagourney, "Campaigns Shift To Attack Mode on Eve of Debate" (A1, A21).
- Also read Jim Rutenberg, "Obama's Personal Ties Are Subject of Program on Fox News Channel" (A21) AND Netwatch: "An Online Shadow from the '80s."
- Post a response to the forum question: should the candidates "go negative" or at the very least "attack" one another on their positions?
- For better than 4.5 out of 5: address Rutenberg's article and the Netwatch piece on Obama's ad in your answer.
Essay Questions: Choose one of the two
- You will write about one of the two following essay topics:
- Essay Question 1: Does the way a candidate runs his campaign ultimately show what kind of leader he will be as president?
- Essay Question 2: Does it matter who the presidential candidate picks as his running mate?
- The essay is 15 points (out of 50 points).
- It must be in the 5-paragraph essay format. Specifically, your essay should have the following:
- Introduction (paragraph 1): it must contain a thesis that addresses the question. (A really well written introduction has a "hook"--an interesting attention-grabing statement AND a thesis.)
- Paragraphs 2-3: each paragraph contains a topic sentence that explains a group of evidence in support of your thesis; a specific piece of evidence; an explanation of that evidence.
- Your evidence should address any of the events that occurred between the end of the Democratic National Convention and last week's Vice-Presidential debate including the economic crisis brought on by sub-prime loans, the "failed" then passed bailout by Congress, the response by the candidates to economic issues, and the strategies employed by each campaign to portray its candidate positively and the opponent negatively.
- Paragraph 4: this paragraph's topic sentence addresses why alternative points of view are not correct. It presents the evidence of the "other side." It explains an alternative intepretation of that evidence or it shows how the "other side's" interpretation is incorrect.
- Conclusion (paragraph 5): Re-word your thesis; briefly summarize the points you made in paragraphs 2-4.
Review Terms and Concepts for test
There will will be 35 multiple choice questions on the following topics:
- National Conventions: Democratic and Republican
- Locations
- Choosing of VPs
- Peculiar circumstances: Obama's acceptance speech in sports stadium; McCain's surprise pick for VP; hurricaine bearing down on first day of Republican convention
- Impact of Palin on McCain's campaign:
- Broder on how she could help
- Dionne on her lack of readiness
- Brooks...
- Rubin...
- Prevalency of buzz words during conventions
- Early strategy adopted by McCain campaign
- Criticism of Obama's approach to campaign
- Lipstick on a Pig controversy (?!)
- McCain-Palin "maverick" strategy
- Ownership of women's issues
- McCain attempt to pick up Clinton supporters
- Palin interviews: Gibson, Couric...
- Where's Biden?
- Democrat approaches to defeating McCain-Palin ticket
- Economic crisis and its impact on the campaign: changes in strategy by McCain and Obama
- McCain distancing himself from the Bush administration, as Obama tries to tie him to it.
- Obama trying to show he has leadership qualities, as McCain tries to paint him as inexperienced.
- McCain suspends campaign; debate possibly canceled.
- First presidential debate: issues addressed
- Candidates' approaches to the bailout package votes
- Vice-presidential debates: responses
- Tool for verifying accuracy: FactCheck.org
- Tool for verifying money spent in campaign: OpenSecrets.org
- Tool for finding recent results of polls: RealClearPolitics.org; NYTimes.com/politics
- Voting qualifications over time
- Terms: plurality, majority, winner-take-all, electoral college, primary election, caucus, general election, party base, town-hall meeting
- Steps in preparing a campaign:
- Form an exploratory committee: Gather a group of
advisers to evaluate chances for election. Test the waters
to determine the level of public support. - Join the race: Self-announce candidacy or wait to be
drafted into the race by supporters. - Set up a campaign organization: Recruit volunteers and
hire well-paid campaign professionals. Set up staff, consisting
of a campaign manager, public opinion pollster,
media consultant, fundraising specialist, accountants,
lawyers, and press secretary. Set up offices in every state. - Raise funds: Dial for dollars and hold fundraisers. Set up
direct mailings and Web site for fundraising. - Develop a campaign strategy: Develop a strategy for
the primaries and caucuses that includes tone, theme,
and targeting. - Campaign: Take part in parades, dinners, and other local
events to meet voters. Appear as a leader who is in touch
with ordinary people. Develop direct-mail campaigns
to ask voters for support. Use the media, including the
Internet, to reach out to millions of voters. - Run in primaries and caucuses: Run in primaries and
caucuses in every state. - Attend the national convention: Choose vice presidential
running mate. Work with party leaders to develop party
platform. Attend convention and help unite party.
- Form an exploratory committee: Gather a group of
Fr 10/3 Vice-Presidential Debate debrief
- Discuss the vice-presidential debate.
- Fact Check!
- Look over review sheet
Assignment (due Fr 10/3)
- Read Patrick Healy, "On Bailout, Candidates Were Surely Themselves" (A16).
- Post a response to the forum question: how does the author distinguish the candidates' approaches to the bailout? (I'm sorry, I mean "rescue plan")
- For better than 4.5 out of 5: explain which position you more closely agree with and why? Incorporate in your answer why the "other" position is not tenable.
Mo 9/29 The First Presidential Debate
- Introduce homework: the Bailout and the Candidates (5 min.)
- The debate:
- Debate coverage here.
- In pairs, follow with Fact Check sheet. Determine as a pair what the truth is on varying points raised during the debate. (60 min.)
- On deck: Palin and Biden debate on Th 10/2.
- Palin interview with Katie Couric here.
- What questions would you pose for the vice-presidential candidates?
Bill Clinton on the Daily Show
- Former President Bill Clinton discusses the bailout and the Presidential campaign.
Assignment (due Mo 9/29)
Read the following:
- Bumiller and Zeleny, "McCain for Delay" (A1, A25)
- "In Their Own Words: The Debate Dispute" (A25)
- Respond to the question: Argue both sides of the issue: the Presidential debate should go on; the debate should not go on. Present reasons for both sides. Identify which candidate subscribes to which issue. Finally, take a side, explaining why you agree with that position.
- Click here to post the forum discussion.
- For better than 4.5 out of 5, incorporate direct quotations for "In Their Own Words" into your remarks.
Th 9/26 Comprehensive Plan - Needs Assessment
- Small groups discuss questions posed by Hastings-on-Hudson community plan committee.
- EC for recorder and presenter (5 points averaged in)
Assignment (due Th 9/25)
Read the following:
- Broder, "Obama Faces Vulnerability" (A1, A25) and Seelye, "McCain's Style: A Fierce Rival" (A1, A25)
Compare and contrast the candidates' relative strengths and weaknesses in debate. Address the following in your comparison:- who likely has a better command of the issues?
- who carries himself better when thinking on his feet?
- Click here to read the discussion topic and to post a reply.
- NYT video on Presidential Candidates' debating styles.
Tu 9/24 Political Campaigns and Elections...
- Continuation of the activity.
Assignment (due Tu 9/23)
Read the following:
- Jackie Calmes & Jeff Zeleny, "For Rivals, Finance Crisis is Posing on-the-Fly Tests" (A15)
- All "political" letters-to-the-editor under the category "The Financial Crisis: A Range of Voices" (A18)
Post a topic of your choosing, addressing the following:- what the candidates are doing to address the financial crisis
- what some people have observed about the financial crisis and candidates' positions.
- Be sure to cite the authors of the letters by name.
- Click here to read the discussion topic and to post a reply.
Fr 9/19 Political Campaigns and Elections...
- Continuation of the activity started on Wednesday
Assignment (due Fr 9/19)
- Read the following two articles in the New York Times from 9/17/2008:
- Michael Cooper, "McCain Laboring to Hit Right Note on the Economy" (A1, A21)
- Jeff Zeleny, "Obama Looks to Shift Focus of Campaign to Economy" (A21)
- Write a reply to the posted question in the forum [click here].
- Compare and contrast the two candidates' positions on the economy. Who will make use of the economy best in this campaign and why?
We 9/17 Political Campaigns and Elections - Introduction
- Definitions
- Running a Campaign
- Activity: Primary
Assignment (due We 9/17)
- Read in NYT 9/15: Kate Zernike, "Both Sides Seeking to Be What Women Want" (A22)
- Also read Frank Rich's op-ed piece "The Palin-Whatshisname Ticket"
- Optionally: Tod Lindberg, "The Bonfire of the Hypocrisies"
- Optionally: Charley James' "Alaskans Speak (in a Frightened Whisper)"
- Write a reply to the posted question in the forum [click here].
- If the Republicans are running Palin against Obama, how do the Democrats defeat her?
Mo 9/15 Campaign Discussion
- Discussion: Is it sexism to ask about Palin's credentials?
- Introduction to project
Th 9/11 Political Campaigns and Elections
- Discussion:
Is Obama's Strategy Right?
- Obama's appearance on "This Week with George Stephanopolous," Sunday, September 7, 2008.
- Richard Cohen's criticism of Obama's appearance on Stephanopolous.
- New McCain-Palin ads: what's THEIR strategy?
- And what about lipstick on a pig?
DUE DATE REVISED: Assignment (due Mo 9/15)
- Write a reply to the posted question in the forum. Click here. Read my posting, then click reply.
- Read the following in the New York Times of 9/9/2008: David Brooks, "Surprise Me Most" on the Op-Ed page (A27)
- Read online also "How Palin Has Shaken Up the Race," Jennifer Rubin, Pajamas Media.
- Write one reply to the forum discussion on the question of the day: "What campaign strategy will likely win on November 4 and why?"
Tu 9/9 Political Campaigns and Elections
- Go over the assignment due 9/11.
- Debrief the assignment due today.
- McCain accepts the nomination
- As of today
- Begin unit on Political Campaigns and Elections
Link Tip: "Hate Party" by Douglas Rushkoff
- Thanks to Anthony for the link to Douglas Rushkoff's blog entry on rhetorical devices used by the Republicans at the convention last week. It's an interesting opinion piece.
- It speaks, by the way, to "The Words They Used" chart in the NYT on 9/5/2008.
Assignment (due Tu 9/9)
- Read one of the three articles in the NYT from today 9/5/2008:
- "The Party in Power, Running as if it weren't" (A1, A22)
- "The Words They Used" [Chart] (A1, A24)
- "The Real John McCain" NYT editorial (A26)
- Write a blog entry on one of the following questions:
- What strategy has the Republican party adopted in order to win the election?
- What are the most important buzz words used by both parties ? Why are those the most important words?
- What opinion do the editors of the NYT have about John McCain?
Fr 9/5 The RNC nominates Palin for VP and McCain for Prez
- Computer lab: login, set up interactive, check grade.
- Small group discussion: Palin for VP: A smart choice?
- McCain speech
Assignment (due Fr 9/5)
- Read the following two editorials:
- Optionally: watch the nomination of Sarah Palin for vice president on C-Span.org (scheduled for Wednesday night)
- Be prepared to discuss the usefulness of Palin to McCain's campaign.
We 9/3 First Day Stuff
- Introduction
- Go over syllabus.
- Biographical profile
- Obama's Acceptance Speech to the DNC
