American Government 1/29/10

In Class - Discuss State of the Union (SOTU) Address.

Homework - Survey responses (100) due by Tuesday, February 2. Have these completed and bring these to class on Tuesday. QOW response (analysis of SOTU and Republican response is due on Monday, February 1 by 11:59 pm).

World History 1/29/10

In Class - Test: Chapter 11 - World War I. If you have completed your review sheet, then staple it to the back of your answer sheet.

Homework - Enjoy your weekend.

Extra Credit due by Tuesday, February 2 (See posting from 1/27).

American Government 1/28/10

In Class - Briefly discuss President Obama's State of the Union Address. For those that haven't seen it, go to yesterday's posting and watch this and the Republican response. I would like to discuss this in class tomorrow. Keep working on your survey results.

Homework - Watch Obama's speech via this blog. Continue to gather survey results.

Interesting articles to check out:

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/State_of_the_Union/state-union-2010-fact-check-president-obamas-address/story?id=9680549
http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/01/27/SOTU.reax/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/01/27/sotu.social.media/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/01/28/explainer.keythemes.sotu/index.html

World History 1/28/10

In Class - Briefly discuss the role of propaganda during World War I. Hand out review sheet. Work on this for the rest of the class period. Completion of this review sheet will add 30 EC points to your overall test score. However, it must be complete.

Homework - Review sheet and studying for Chapter 11 Test over World War I.

EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY - Tutoring available tomorrow morning for test review. Also, see the posting from 1/27.

American Government 1/27/10

In Class - Continue to work in groups on mini project (random sample/public opinion). 100 responses are due by Monday, February 1. Also, President Obama's State of the Union Address is tonight at 6:00 pm on any station (not really, but most).

Homework - QOW prediction of what Obama will cover in his speech is due before the speech actually begins (so by 6:00 pm). Watch President Obama's State of the Union Address. You might want to take down a few notes. Also, be sure to watch the Republican response to Obama's State of the Union. For the second part of the QOW, POST YOUR COMMENT ON THIS POSTING DATE (1/27). Be sure to follow the criteria listed from the posting on 1/26. The second part of the this week's QOW is due by Monday, February 1 by 11:59 pm.

In Case you missed it, here are the video links:
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6149436n&tag=cbsnewsMainColumnArea - SOTU
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6149168n&tag=related;photovideo - Republican response

World History 1/27/10

In Class - Hand back Chapter 11, Section 4 Quiz and Standard Check Questions. Discuss answers. Discuss the implications of the Treaty of Versailles and how it was a major cause of World War II.

Homework - Review Chapter 11 for test on Friday.

Extra Credit Opportunity - Using the following link, watch President Obama's State of the Union Address. First, write a 1/2 page summary of his speech. Focus on the main topics. Secondly, you are to write a 1/2 page reaction to his speech. Tell me what you think. What are your reactions? What are your opinions/thoughts. This is due by Tuesday, February 2. Quality work could receive up to 50 points of extra credit.

Video Link:
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6149436n&tag=cbsnewsMainColumnArea

American Government 1/26/10

In Class - Group work: Mini-Project on public opinion survey. Before you leave class today, you need to give me a list of your group member's names. All questions must be approved by me. I want these responses completed by Monday, February 1.

Homework - Start working on gathering your survey responses.

Question of the Week (2) - By 3:00 on Wednesday, January 27 post an intial comment predicting the topics President Obama will be addressing in his State of the Union Address.

On Wednesday night, watch the president's speech live including the Republican Party's response (immediately following the speech), or you may view it via a video link on this blog. In your comment, refer to the following questions: What specific topics did Mr. Obama address? What solutions to ongoing problems did he present? In essence, summarize his main points using specific details in your response and write a short response to his speech.

Also, I want you to comment on the response from the Republican Party: Identify the speaker and comment on his reactions to President Obama's address.

The first post is due by Wednesday, January 27 by 3:00 pm (post this on the 1/26 blog post). The second response is due by Monday, February 1 by 11:59 pm (post this on 1/27 blog post).

World History 1/26/10

In Class - Turn in homework (Chapter 11, Section 4 Quiz and Standard Check Questions). If you did not complete this at home, then use class time to finish. Video: Battle of Amiens. Focus on the involvement of the US as the finally become battle ready in 1918.

Homework - Review Chapter 11. Test over WWI on Friday.

American Government 1/25/10

In Class - Discuss the role of public opinion and the factors that shape it. Group mini project: As a group, you are to conduct a public opinion survey of 100 people regarding five questions that your group comes up with. The questions need to be open ended and may cover a broad range of political topics. Criteria: people you survey must be at least 17 years of age (or a senior in high school). When you ask the questions, have the person filling out the survey include their first name, age, gender, political affiliation, occupation, race/ethnicity, and religion. Some people may be reluctant to give you some of this information, but this is ok. Get as much information about the person as possible. Reassure them that none of this will be used only to analyze the responses of the people interviewed. I would like to have these responses completed by Friday, January 29. I will check with each group throughout the week regarding progress.

Homework - Read Chapter 8 regarding public opinion and the factors that influence it. Also, QOW reflection over Friday's class discussion is due by 11:59 tonight.

World History 1/25/10

In Class - Discuss answers to last week's Quest (Chapter 11, Section 1-3). If you have not taken this, then you have until the end of the week to complete this. Group work: Analyzing political cartoons.

Homework - Chapter 11, Section 4 Quiz (handout). On the back, complete the standard check questions for this section. Write the question and answer using complete sentences. This is due at the beginning of class tomorrow.