April 30:
1. What is the current information on the trial in Shenandoah?
2. What is the information about the US Gov't taking over majority control of GM?
3. What is the WHO saying about the Swine Flu as of this morning?
April 29:
1. Arlen Spector changing to the democratic party.
a. what does that mean for the demorats in the Senate?
b. what was his reason for the change?
c. what are republicans reaction to this?
2. If and when the democrats get 60 Senate seats - what does that number mean for the party? What power does the number 60 have in the Senate? Is this good or bad?
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April 27:
1. Swine Flu:
a. What is the Swine Flu?
b. How is it caught?
c. What are the symptoms?
d. What states are being affected by this in the US?
e. What countries are being affected by the Swine Flu?
f. What has been the reaction to this by US and Mexico? Give me examples of what each government is doing.
g. What are some of the things that you can do in order to protect yourself?
PLEASE CHECK THE CDC SITE BELOW!!!
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April 22nd:
1. Read the article about releasing the memos from the Bush administration that contains information about torture techniques against members of al-quaeda.
a. what are the 2 views of releasing the memos (dem. and rep.)
b. What was the main torture technique that was in question?
c. describe that technique
d. BLOG ON THIS TOPIC!!
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April 20th:
1. What is the advantage of GM going into bankruptcy and what is the problem of them entering bankruptcy? (article)
2. Ten Years Ago today - what major US incident happened in Littleton, Colorado?
3. What are the critics saying about the spending of the stimulus money so far? (article)
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April 14th and 15th:
Research the following topics and be ready to discuss tomorrow:
1. Phil Spector
2. Story on Capt. Richard Phillips and the rescue
3. Read the article on Cuba and oil drilling - summarize the article and answer the following questions:
a. How does the US Embargo on Cuba help or hurt the US oil interest in Cuban oil? Why does the US have an embargo on Cuba and when did it start?
b. What is the possible thinking on the Cuban embargo with the news of possible of "major oil discoveries" in Cuban waters?
c. What are some of the othere countries that are getting into the mix with Cuba as far as helping them or investing in their drilling.
d. What is Cubapetroleo?
e. Who is the "key" ally for Cuba?
f. What is the goal of Cuban foreign policy?
4. Sandar Cantu
5. Pirates strike again!! What is the reason for Piracy in Somalia? Where is Somalia and why is this able to happen? Why do they do what they do?
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March 24th:
Project: The Economic Crisis
1. Find a story that trully illustrates the downturn this economy is taking.
2. Find a story that illustrates that this economy may be turning around.
Requirements:
a. The story cannot be something that is a main story but something that we might not have heard of through the main stream media.
b. Project must have visual aspects to it (powerpoint, iMovie, podcast)
c. no more than 2 people in a group/ you can work by yourself if you choose
d. must have a daily log of what you did in your group
e. MUST BE COMPLETED BY APRIL 3rd
March 23rd:
1. What is a toxic asset?
2. How do they hurt banks?
3. What is the new part of the bailout plan being unveiled today?
4. How will this ultimately help banks and the overall?
5. Summarize what Timothy Geithner is saying about his plan. What does it entail and ideally how will this work?
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March 20th: QUIZ QUESTIONS
1. Why is the tent city in existence in Sacramento, CA?
2. What is the main scandal with AIG and what are the 2 points of view to take on this issue (for and against the bonuses)?
3. What is inflation and how can it be good and bad?
4. Looking at the current exchange rates, would it be good or bad to travel overseas for American's? Explain!
March 19:
1. What is inflation?
2. How do you measure inflation?
3. What are some causes of inflation?
4. What is the current exchange rate for the US dollar against some of the world;s most popular currencies?
QUIZ TOMORROW!!!
March 17 - 18:
1. What is the center of controversy for AIG?
2. What is the Obama Administration saying about the problem?
3. view the AIG link at the bottom of the page and view the videos and discuss the bonuses with AIG.
March 16th:
1. Look at the NY Times article on the tent city in Sacramento.
2. After you are done with the article, please look at the pics and there is also a video on the link as well. You may have to change your display to view the numbers at the bottom of the pics to change them if you are doing this on a PC.
Assignment: read the article, look at the pics and blog about this on the blog site. Be prepared to discuss this tomorrow!
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March 9th:
1. Read the article on stem cell research and the Obama Administration. Answer the following questions:
a. Why is Eric Cantor upset at the idea of federal funding for stem cell research at the Obama Administration?
b. What was the Bush Policy on stem cell research?
c. What will be the Obama policy on stem cell funding with federal money?
d. Look at the explainer with the article - what are 6 benefits of stem cell research and how would it help each example?
2. Go to Receovery.gov and look at the PA recovery site to see how much money is going to be alloted for PA and where the money is proposed to go. We will discuss as well this week.
3. Read the article on unemployment
4. What is the numbers of unemployment in the US right now?
5. What are some of the groups that were hit the hardest and/or not as much?
6. At the bottom of the article - what are some of the different outlooks of the "American Dream"?
7. Online research - What are some of the jobs that have a good job security - even though we are in a recession?
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March 4th:
Look at the 2 new articles below. What are the opinions on the idea of nationalized health care. Come up with pros and cons of the system and an overall idea if you think that it will work.
We will review at the end of the class. Work together in groups.
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March 2:
1. What is the amount of money set aside in the stimulus package for healthcare?
2. What are the main goals of the stimulus package regarding healthcare in the US?
3. Read the article below from Newt Gingrich on US Healthcare - offer your opinions on the article and summarize what he is trying to say about the healthcare system in the US as it relates to the present ideology of the federal government as to where to take healthcare in the US.
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Feb 5 - 13:
Presentation
Pick a news story to work on a presentation due on Feb 13th. I must have the story approved by Feb 6th.
When approved, start working on your podcast, imovie, keynote, or powerpoint presentation.
There will be another blog to respond to within this time frame as well. Make sure you respond by Feb 12th.
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Feb 2:
review information on the stimulus package and review for test tomorrow (Feb 3rd)
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January 22:
1. Why is Caroline Kennedy dropping out of the bid for the NY Senate seat?
2. What was the basis of the comment of Rush Limbaugh?
3. Will government takeover of private sector businesses be successful? Will big government be the answer or will this be something that will not be successful in the long run?
4. How does Obama's plan compare to The New Deal? Let's look at the information on the link below.
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January 21st: First Day in Office
1. What are the expectations for this administration?
2. Why is there a snag in confirming Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State?
3. What do you think will be the biggest transition for Obama?
4. In one of his first official, President Obama signed a document asking for the delay/halt for Guantanamo prosecutions. Based on the below article, is this a good move? Also, is closing the prison camp at Guantanamo a good idea for Obama - especially in the wake of the September 11 tragedies?
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January 20th: Inaguration Day
I.S. Test:
1.Which two areas of the Middle East have been in conflict recently since Dec. 27?
2.Overall based on your research, what has this conflict been about?
3.When did this conflict begin?
4.Describe Hamas.
5.What was Britain’s role in this conflict and incorporate in your answer how did the British White Paper and the Balfour Declaration played a huge role?
6.What role should the US play in this conflict?
7.What so you believe a viable solution to this conflict will be?
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January 12 - 16
Monday:
* check CNN.com and find the latest video/news information on CRISIS IN GAZA
Here is a list of players in the Arab/Israeli conflict:
Ehud Barak
Yasser Arafat
Mahmoud Abbas
Ariel Sharon
Ehud Olmert
(1) Find some information on each as it pertains to their leadership and relationship to this ongoing conflict
(2) Who was/is the leader of Israel/PLO?
(3) What did each bring to the peace process (positive or negative)
(4) Which one hurt/helped the most?
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January 5-9 '09
Monday Questions for today:
1. What is Hamas?
2. Where is Gaza, West Bank, Israel? (print out a map or have a rough drawing of the area and overall location)
3. Describe the British White Paper of 1939 and The Balfour Declaration. How has this document created major problems in the middle east?
4. How long has the Arab-Israeli conflict taken place? (the overall conflict - not the recent one)
5. What was the British Mandate over Palestine?
6. How many Arab-Israeli wars were there?
7. What is the PLO?
8. Who is Mahmoud Abbas?
9. How does the Six Days War of 1967 play a role in this and other conflicts after that particular war?
Tuesday
1. When did the Arab-Israeli crisis begin?
2. What is at the core of the ongoing conflict between the Arabs and Israelis?
3. Which areas of land are in dispute?
4. Based on your research, whom do you view as the rightful owners of the land in question?
Explain.
5. What are the basic arguments each group has regarding resolving the conflict?
6. What concessions does each side expect of the other?
7. Why have efforts to resolve the conflict and establish peace failed?
8. In your opinion, particularly based on recent acts of violence in the Middle East, do you feel the
conflict can be resolved?
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
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December 8-12
Monday: review of mumbai questions and Obama video
Tuesday: test on weekly information - mumbai and the bailout
Wedensday: article to read (substitute - I am at Student Forum)
Thrusday: TBA
Friday: TBA
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December 1-5
Monday: no school
Tuesday:
1. Where is Mumbai?
2. Did the US warn India about the attacks? Watch the video on the web page.
3. Click on the interactive map and look at some of the targets that were hit. Were there any Americans that were killed in the attacks? Where?
4. What are some of the world leaders saying about the attacks?
5. Was this just a recent development or has this been more of a systematic attack over a period of time? Check the timeline.
6. What country is blamed for the attacks?
7. Read the article and it discusses the relationship between India and Pakistan. What is the relationship between the two countries?
8. How does Kashmir play into this conflict? Explain!
9. Was Al-Queda behind the attacks?
We will go over the answers tomorrow. Make sure that you have the answers completed and ready to go for class tomorrow!!!
Wednesday:
Read the article below in the Indian Mujahdeen.
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November 24 - 28
Monday:
1. What is the situation with Citigroup?
2. What has happened to the value of the citigroup stock in the past month?
3. What is the involvement with the government in terms of the bailout package?
4. If the government had to make a decision on whether to save the BIG THREE AUTOMAKERS or CITIGROUP - which one should they save? Explain using research you find.
- I would look for information like ".. if citigroup crashed then what would be the implications - or if the Big Three crashed what would be the implications?
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November 17 - 21
Monday: read the link below about FDR's 100 days and summarize. Then take what he dealt with and compare it with what Obama might encounter in his first 100 days. Draw comparison and contrast from FDR to Obama. Be ready to discuss this tomorrow.
Tuesday - Thursday: FDR/OBAMA comparison
Friday:
Test: see the link below for the quiz. Good Luck!
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November 10 - 14
1. Who is Rahm Emanuel?
2. Name members of Barack Obama's transition team?
3. What will be the biggest challenges that he will face during his first 100 days in office?
4. Why are the republicans a little afraid of this administration?
5. Will the Clinton's have any role to play in this administration?
6. Do you think that it is important for the president elect to have full access to presidential information 2 months before he takes office - like security briefings and the highest confidential intelligence information on the planet? Explain
7. Check the Valerie Jarrett link below - watch the video and according to her what is some of the biggest priorities for the Obama Administration?
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October 20-24
Project start: Here is the project guidelines:
Political Ads:
1. Where have the candidates spent most of their money in this campaign?
a. TV?
b. Internet?
c. Advertising on other means – radio?
2. What is the amount of money that both of the candidates have spent during this presidential campaign?
3. How have the political ads help or hurt each candidate – what are people saying? What is your opinion? Find ads to back up your claim.
4. Which candidate has been the most positive or most negative based on their ads?
5. What is the message based on the ads that Obama is trying to get across?
6. What is the message based on the ads that McCain is trying to get across?
7. Overall which political ad from each candidate will be seen as the most influential for them to turn voters to their side?
8. Overall which political ad from each candidate will be seen as the most hurtful for them to turn voters against their campaign?
Process:
1. Must be a keynote or PowerPoint in order to get to links you need to have to show your political ads. If you can do this using a podcast – go ahead.
2. Entire presentation must be at least 6-10 minutes long.
3. Presentation must include ALL of the questions from above.
4. ALL questions must be answered within the presentation – not necessarily in order.
5. Grading will be based on completeness of project and political ad content.
6. Rubric will be provided for grading.
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October 13 - 17
13 - no school
14 - review Obama and Bill Ayers connection - information on Bill Ayers and weather underground; also class discussion on impact on the Obama candidacy
15 - McCain and the Keating 5 scandal; information on the scandal and class discussion on impact on the McCain candidacy
16 - TEST
17 - current events game
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October 6 - 10
Presenations of editorials.
Articles on Palin and Biden - October 4-5 (sub work)
_______________________________________________________
Sept 29 - Oct 3
1. Develop an editorial on your opinion about the 2 articles.
2. Create a visual on your opinion - can be any length but must have content to back up your opinion. You can use the article to help you form your opinion or any other sources.
3. Worth 20 points
4. DUE THURSDAY - NO EXCEPTIONS!!!
- if any of the groups have 2 people that have different opinions then please do your own opinion but add it together for the presentation.
_____________________________________________________________
Sept 22-23
2nd period:
1. What are some of the main problems on Wall Street?
2. Describe the governments bail out plan.
3. Look at the following link below and answer the following questions:
a. Who is Henry Paulson and Ben Bernake?
b. What is the amount of the bailout?
c. What is a bank holding company? (other source to find answer)
d. Who are the two major companies that are the newest ones?
e. What does this do to the federal deficit?
4. What is a mutual fund?
5. What is the government doing to protect money market mutual funds?
6. Read the sept 23 article below - summarize
7. Please look at the video - "Will the Bail Out Work" - summarize what was sstated in the video.
We will review all of this information tomorrow and then test on Thursday!
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