American Government 1/31/11

In Class - WHIPS.  Discuss Friday's discussion on health care reform and showcase the MVP's for each class.  Discuss project on the SOTU address (due Friday, February 11).  New topic of discussion: 1st Amendment rights and the Mosque Controversy in New York City.

Homework - Continue to update your blog.  Also, your reflection on the health care discussion is due by Tuesday, February 1 by 11:59 pm.  This needs to be posted on your blog.

World History 1/31/11

In Class - Test (Multiple Choice) over World War I.  Turn in Packet (PC Analysis (2), classwork (Treaty of Versailles), and Content Area Reading Index). 

Homework - Study for short answer portion of the test tomorrow.  Complete review sheet for extra credit.

TEST REVIEW TOMORROW MORNING!

Wordle Problems

I have received some emails regarding some issues with Wordle.  It doesn't seem that you are able to save it as a picture file, but rather you save yours to a public gallery.  I will continue to troubleshoot some of these problems.  If you are already working on it, good, but until some of these problems are solved, you might want to hold back on this.  If you have any solutions to any problems, please post a comment and let everyone know.  Thanks.

SOTU Project

For this project, you must first watch or read President Obama's State of the Union Address.  While listening or reading, you are to write down 50 words or themes President Obama talks about in his address.  These words can be emotions (happy or sad) or themes (education or jobs).  You must arrange these words in terms of its significance and relevance to you.  For instance, you might feel that education is important, so it is displayed in large letters.  The most important terms should be easily read whereas some of the words will remain smaller.  For each word selected, you must write a short one to two sentence description of what that word means to you in relationship to the State of the Union Address.  Be creative in your visual representation and also in your writing. 

The purpose of this is to display your thoughts, ideas, arguments, emotions, or how the speech relates to you personally.  Every project will be unique.

Go to http://www.wordle.net/ and create your masterpiece.  You will then save this picture and post it on your blog along with your writing. 

This project is due on Friday, February 11.  Each person will present their project to the class (very short 1-2 minute presentation) highlighting the key components of their project.

This project is worth 100 points - 80 points for the display, 20 points for the presentation.  Don't be absent on this day, and if you are going to be absent, please let me know prior to your absence.  Also, I do accept late work on projects, but it will be two letter grades for every day late.

Click on the title for examples of this project.

Health Care Discussion Reflection

I must admit I am always a bit apprehensive as to how the first class discussion will always turn out.  How prepared are the students?  Do they understand the topic or at least the basics?  Will more than the same two or three people talk?  Will they think?  Will they participate and share their ideas, thoughts, and arguments?  What have they learned?  Overall, I believe the discussions turned out well.  Students from all three classes were engaged, interesting points and arguments were presented, and there seemed to be a constant discussion.  It was a positive experience, and I am excited to read the reflections in the coming days.  Although there were many excellent arguments and quality points, there were a few students in every class that were well prepared, participated in the conversation with excellent and original arguments, and it was evident that they had done some outside work (ie. blogging).  I will award those in class on Monday.

I know many of you were unfamiliar with this type of class setting.  It's not often that you have the chance to sit and talk about current issues with your peers.  I know some of you are shy and will have to really challenge yourself to make yourself be heard.  Talking in front of your peers is a necessary skill that you will all need to learn.  I guarantee you will use it at some point in your future.  The way I see it, your failure to share your ideas, thoughts, and arguments is cheating the entire class.  Who knows, your statement could be the most brilliant and original argument every made about the topic of discussion.  But we will never know because you decided to hold onto that gem of knowledge for yourself.  Have confidence in your abilities.  This confidence starts with being prepared.  Do your homework, read on your own, blog!!!, and come to these discussions with a sense of confidence that no matter what direction the discussion goes, you will have something to contribute. 

In lieu of the upcoming Super Bowl next weekend, I will leave you with a quote from the great Vince Lombardi:
    
"The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary."

Have a great weekend, carpe diem.

American Government 1/28/11

In Class - Class discussion over health care reform.  You must participate in order to receive points (see syllabus).  Turn in health care packet.

Homework - Reflection over class discussion (posted on your blog) is due by Tuesday, February 1.

World History 1/28/11

In Class - Discuss the significance of the Armenian Genocide of 1915.  Short video clip and discussion.  Hand out review sheet for the test on Monday.  Completion of this is worth extra credit towards your test score.

Homework - Study for your test.  Packet is due on Monday.

TEST REVIEW MONDAY MORNING!!!

American Government 1/27/11

In Class - In groups, work on the "Deal or No Deal" concerning health care reform in the United States.  Discuss the plans and answer the questions in groups (one paper per group) and this will be turned in tomorrow with your health care packet.

Homework - Complete Health Care packet (2 sets of video questions, group work "Deal or No Deal," Political Cartoon Analysis, and K-W-L chart).  Prepare for tomorrow's class discussion.

NOTE - If you are going to be absent tomorrow, then you must let me know before class either via email or post something on my blog.  If this is not done, then you will receive a zero for the discussion.

World History 1/27/11

In Class - Continue to discuss the Treaty of Versailles and the end of World War I.  In groups, discuss the two political cartoons concerning the League of Nations.

Homework - Packet on World War I is due on Tuesday, February 1.

NOTE - Test over World War I has been moved to Monday.  Test review tomorrow morning.

Republican Response to SOTU

Representative Paul Ryan (R) Wisconsin.  CBS News.  January 25, 2011.

Republican response to President Obama's State of the Union Address.