Blog 16: Final Brain Storming

To prepare for the final, brainstorm on 3 things we could do to make the U.S. a better place. You may research your ideas online. By the end of the hour, turn in 3 problems in the U.S., 3 ideas you have to correct them, & how an individual would participate in correcting them. Write them down on a sheet of paper and turn them in before you leave.

Blog 15: FDR & the Second Bill of Rights

Write your answers on a sheet of paper & turn it in at the end of the hour.

Go to the following link & read Franklin D. Roosevelt's 2nd Bill of Rights:  

http://www.fdrheritage.org/bill_of_rights.htm

After reading the speech, answer the following questions:

1. Describe FDR's 2nd Bill of Rights Speech.

2. Do you agree or disagree with the ideas in the speech? Why or why not? Explain you answer.

3. How do you think he would have implemented these ideas? How would he have done it? Paid for it? Got support for it? etc.

Recent History Final

The final in Recent History will be a 5 paragraph essay. Students will create 3 ideas that the U.S. could do to make the country better.  Each body paragraph should include a different idea and explanation of how to do it. Each should include how an individual person could be a part of the change.

Example:

Problem= Poverty
Solution= Education

Free College for students with 3.5 or higher, and free preschool for all kids payed through higher taxes on annual incomes over 250,000

Explanation: Students who couldn't afford college would be given the opportunity to go based on their effort in high school. Also, if students started school earlier, they could learn to read & count earlier and be on grade level by elementary school.

An individual could call & write to their congressman. Pay attention to what representatives vote for education and vote for them. Also run for congress and get the issue discussed at a national level.

Due: December 19th, 2011

World Conflict: U.S. Intervention

Get into groups of 2 and develop a 12 font typed, single spaced, half page explanation of when the United States should intervene in issues or problems facing another nation. Who should decide if and who the U.S. helps? What should be the protocol for sending financial, diplomatic, or military aid? What kind of aid should we send? When should we send it? How should it be distributed? How should the U.S. pay for it? etc. Explain your reasoning. If you need help, look up arguments online for and against U.S. intervention. Email it to me in an attachment titled, U.S. Intervention in the World, with both of your names on it. We will discuss our thoughts towards the end of the hour.

Blog 14: World Conflict: Genocide

Choose a historical conflict which became acknowledged as genocide. You may go to wikipedia for a list of genocides at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_genocides

After reading, write a 12 sentence paragraph describing the event and answering the following questions: Who was involved, When did it occur? Where did it occur? Could something have been done to stop it? Should the U.S. do anything when events like this occur?

Blog 13: Current Event # 2

Find a current news article from either http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/    or    cnn.com and write 1, 12 sentence paragraph over the article. Remember to include a introduction sentence, 5 details (10 sentences) and a conclusion sentence for the paragraph. The paragraph should explain the event and provide your reaction to it and what impact you think it will have on the world or history. After you finish, you must work on any missing blogs.

Blog 12: The Environment: Keystone Pipeline

Using the internet, find and read two articles about the proposed Keystone Pipeline. Describe the project. What is it? Where is it located (all states)? Why do people support it? Why are people against it? How could it help the U.S.? How could it possibly hurt the U.S.? What is President Obama's opinion? In the end, do you think it is a good idea, or a bad idea? Explain.

Provide the URL links to the articles you read at the bottom.

The Environment: Frontline Hot Politics

Watch the documentary titled "Hot Politics" at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/hotpolitics/view/
and write down 10 notes, 4 questions, and a 1/2 page summary reaction answering the question, what is stopping policy to deal with global warming? What is in the way?

Afterwards, research and write an explanation of  what Obama has done to try to deal with global warming.

Blog 11: The Environment: Global Warming

Write at least a 12 sentence paragraph about the following: What is global warming? What is causing it? What are the dangers of it? Do you believe it is true? Explain.

Healthcare Research Essay 400 Points

Students must write a 5 paragraph essay examining the U.S. Healthcare system and one of the following countries health care systems: Denmark, France, Canada, or Britain. It must include and introduction paragraph (minimum 8 sentences), at least 3 body paragraphs (minimum  of 12 sentences for each paragraph), conclusion paragraph (minimum 8 sentences) and a works cited page in MLA format with at least 6 sources.

The essay must throroughly explain how the healthcare system in the U.S. and the other country works and explain which system is preferable and why.

Body 1: Explain the U.S. Healthcare System
Body 2: Explain the healthcare system of either France, Britain, or Canada.
Body 3: Explain which healthcare system is better and why.

You must have at least 3 sources on the U.S. system and 3 sources on the other.

Due: Wednesday, October 26th.

Blog 10: Wall Street Protest

Get online and find at least 3 articles on the Wall Street Protests. Read them, then write 2, 12 sentence paragraphs. The first should explain the protest: who is involved, what is happening, when it started, where it is happening, and why it is happening. Provide key events. The second paragraph should state your opinion of it and explain why. Relate it to other topics you have studied. Attach 3 links to the articles you read.

Blog 9: Current Event

Find a current news article from either http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/    or    cnn.com and write 2, 12 sentence paragraphs over the article. Remember to include a introduction sentence, 5 details (10 sentences) and a conclusion sentence for each paragraph. The first paragraph should explain the event and the second should provide your reaction to it and what impact you think it will have on the world or history. After you finish, you must work on any missing blogs.

Blog 8: Healthcare in the U.S.

After viewing the film, go to the link below and read the BBC article on the U.S. health care system. Using info from the film and article, describe what the current issues in the U.S. healthcare system. What do you think about this? Is this system good or bad? Do you think it could be fixed? Why or why not? If so, how could it be fixed?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8160058.stm

Blog 7: Higher Education

Describe what you viewed in College Inc. What was your reaction? After reading the articles at the below links, explain your thoughts. What is your opinion? Should everyone go to college? What would be the benifits? What could be the drawbacks? Explain using information from the articles and video.

Are you going to college? Why or why not? What are you doing after high school.

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/blogs/thenextgreatgeneration/2011/09/student_debt_what_they_dont_te.html

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106636657

Blog 6: The American Justice System: The New Asylum

Describe what is happening to many Americans with severe mental illness who break the law. Detail at least 2 of the individuals in the film. What illnesses seemed predominant among prisoners with mental illness. What happened to mental institutions in the U.S.? Explain with detail, what you think we should do in this country to help individuals with mental illness.

Here is the page to view the film:http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/asylums/

Blog 5: Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Read the article at the link below on the repeal of the military's policy regarding homosexuality. After you have read it, post a blog detailing what the article was about and what your opinion is of it and explain. Do you think this will hurt or help the military.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14981082

Blog 4: Terrorism: The Man Who Knew

Describe the terrorist events that led up to September 11, 2001. What did the FBI know? Were there any warnings? Do you believe the attack on the Twin Towers could have been prevented? How should the U.S. use this information for the future?

Check Out the Troy Davis Case

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=140504571

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy_Davis_case

Post a Comment about what you think about the case.

Blog 3, Part 2: American Justice System: Todd Willingham

Using information from the film, Death by Fire, describe the evidence, trial, conviction and new evidence concerning Todd Willingham. Which evidence is more accurate? Do you think the state had enough evidence to convict him? Should the U.S. government be able to use the death penalty as punishment? Explain.

View Film:    http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/death-by-fire/

Blog 3: The American Justice System: Capital Punishment

Part A: Read the 2 different articles over the issue of Capital Punishment located in the schoolloop locker. Afterwards, write about the 3 most convincing arguments for capital punishment, and the 3 most convincing arguments against capital punishment. Provide which side you agree with most and describe why.
Part B....TO COME

Blog 2: The American Justice System: Leonard Peltier

Describe the crime, evidence, case and verdict from the Incident at Oglala documentary. What evidence was used to convict Leonard Peltier? What problems were there with the evidence? What was the verdict and what was Peltier's punishment? What is currently happening with Peltier's case? What does this say about the American Justice System?

Blog 1: The American Justice System: WM3

Describe the crime, cases and convictions of the West Memphis 3. What evidence was used to convict them? Do you think justice was served? Explain and justify your answer. Explain what the new evidence is and what it means for the case. Finally, give your final thoughts over the case and what it says about the U.S. Justice System.

Welcome!

Welcome to Current Events! I am excited about our class. I am sure you will teach me every bit as much as I teach you!