In this video report, NewsHour correspondents fan out and talk to Americans around the country to get reactions to President Obama's new Afghanistan strategy, announced just this week.
After a three-months long review, President Obama outlined his new plan for the U.S. war in Afghanistan, which will deploy an additional 30,000 U.S. soldiers to the war. In another 18 months, the president promised to begin scaling down the presence of American forces in the country.
The NewsHour spoke to Americans from Virginia, Texas, California and other parts of the country to gauge their reactions to the unveiling of President Obama's plans for the Afghan war.
Answer the following questions in your post:
1. Where is Afghanistan? What countries border Afghanistan?
2. What did you think of the assessments made by people in the video? Do you agree with any of them?
3. The U.S. has already been in Afghanistan for eight years and experts believe that the war will only get worse before or if it gets better. What do you think of this assessment? Do you think we should add more troops or pull out?
4. What kinds of factors do you think President Obama considered when he decided whether to send more troops into Afghanistan? Do you think some of those factors are solely political?
5. Many critics of a troop surge in Afghanistan are comparing the situation to Vietnam. What happened in Vietnam? In what ways are the two wars similar? In what ways are they different? Do you think its a fair comparison?
6. Do you know any families in your community who are personally affected by the wars in Afghanistan or Iraq? In what ways could you help them? What kind of support do they need?
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Current Event 12/7 - 12/11
Public broadcasting's nightly television news program, the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, is going through a transition that is happening in newsrooms across the country, as traditional forms of media adapt to new technologies, the Web and 24-hour-a-day access.
The program, which has been on the air for 35 years, is changing its name to the PBS NewsHour, and will continue to maintain the same journalism guidelines that have been integral to the program's success.
The first part of this video looks at the changes to the new show and in the second part of this video, NewsHour anchor Jim Lehrer discusses the principles that he believes are central to the integrity of the NewsHour as a news organization.
Answer the following questions in your post:
1. What is journalism?
2. How do you get your news?
3. What is the difference between journalism and entertainment?
4. What kinds of problems are news organizations facing in the 21st century? What are some solutions to those problems?
5. How has the internet changed the way people get news? In what ways has it changed things for the better or the worse?
6. What does journalism mean to you? What do you think makes good journalism?
7. What do you think of "MacNeil-Lehrer journalism" as described by Jim Lehrer at the end of the video? Do you agree or disagree with any of his points?
8. What is the difference between public and commercial media? What are the pressures on news programs that rely on commercial advertisers?
9. Jim Lehrer's final point is that he is "not in the entertainment business." What do you think he means? What do you think about this statement? Why do some news organizations believe that news is part of the entertainment business?
Current Event due Friday 12/11 @ midnight
The program, which has been on the air for 35 years, is changing its name to the PBS NewsHour, and will continue to maintain the same journalism guidelines that have been integral to the program's success.
The first part of this video looks at the changes to the new show and in the second part of this video, NewsHour anchor Jim Lehrer discusses the principles that he believes are central to the integrity of the NewsHour as a news organization.
Answer the following questions in your post:
1. What is journalism?
2. How do you get your news?
3. What is the difference between journalism and entertainment?
4. What kinds of problems are news organizations facing in the 21st century? What are some solutions to those problems?
5. How has the internet changed the way people get news? In what ways has it changed things for the better or the worse?
6. What does journalism mean to you? What do you think makes good journalism?
7. What do you think of "MacNeil-Lehrer journalism" as described by Jim Lehrer at the end of the video? Do you agree or disagree with any of his points?
8. What is the difference between public and commercial media? What are the pressures on news programs that rely on commercial advertisers?
9. Jim Lehrer's final point is that he is "not in the entertainment business." What do you think he means? What do you think about this statement? Why do some news organizations believe that news is part of the entertainment business?
Current Event due Friday 12/11 @ midnight
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Current Event 11/30- 12/4
Read the following article about an American born Muslim who works to dispel stereotypes about his religion.
Jihad Turk -- clean-shaven and youthful -- is telling an interfaith audience that the prophet Muhammad traces his lineage to Abraham, the biblical patriarch.
Turk explains to the crowd of mostly Christians and Jews that Muslims also revere Jesus and Moses as prophets, and that Islam cherishes life.
But some in the Pepperdine University audience are skeptical. One man wants to know why so many Muslims are "willing with perfect ease to kill," as he puts it, drawing brief applause.
A woman later needles Turk about what she views as Islam's suppression of women. "You guys really need a good PR firm," she tells him.
Without missing a beat, Turk responds: "If you know of one, let me know."
U.S. Muslims are struggling mightily these days to win over a wary public. In Los Angeles, part of that task falls to the 38-year-old Turk, director of religious affairs at the Islamic Center of Southern California, one of the region's most influential mosques.
Earnest and doggedly optimistic, Turk is an unflappable ambassador for an often embattled faith -- a man whose American upbringing gives him a foothold in two sometimes colliding worlds.
The son of an American Methodist mother and a Palestinian Muslim father, Turk was elected homecoming king at his Phoenix high school and took some time off from college to explore his Islamic roots in Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Now, as an emerging leader in local Muslim circles, he spends much of his time patiently trying to spread his message about Islam's peaceful intentions, the importance of tolerance and the ancient thread shared by three monotheistic religions.
Some who encounter Turk commend him for breaking down walls of suspicion. Others doubt that he represents mainstream Muslim belief. Turk acknowledges that it can be difficult to convince skeptics. The recent deadly rampage at Texas' Ft. Hood, allegedly by a Muslim Army major, has made the job even tougher.
"I've come to realize that there is a certain segment of the population that is impervious to what I have to say," Turk said. "But there is . . . usually a good number of people I will get through to."
Turk's childhood helped blend his dual identities.
He attended public schools and played on youth soccer teams (his teammates called him Jay), even as he learned Arabic in Sunday school and attended summer camps for young Muslims. In high school, he made the varsity football and track teams and spent his senior year reading books on Islam in his free time.
Although his parents came from different backgrounds, they reared their five children as Muslims. "It was my personal opinion to raise them in one faith rather than throw mixed signals at them," said his mother, Carol. "I had no objections to the Islamic religion."
Hafez Turk chose what he believed would be a noble name for his son -- Jihad -- long before the word entered the U.S. lexicon as an expression for "holy war," a meaning that Islamic scholars say has been distorted by extremists and the media.
"We do jihad every day in our life -- the struggle to do good," said the father, a refrain frequently repeated by his son.
Turk's parents divorced when he was 17, driven apart to some degree by cultural differences, including disagreements about his mother's work and activities outside the home, she and Turk recalled. The split had a lasting effect on Turk.
"I would listen and feel the pain and hear the point of view of each of my parents," he said. "That experience highlighted to me the importance for cultures to communicate."
The divorce also prompted Turk to explore his faith more deeply. An imam at a Phoenix mosque encouraged the young man to study Arabic and Islam at the Islamic University of Medina in Saudi Arabia.
Soon, Turk left Arizona State University for the ancestral land of Muhammad -- a place that he said felt wholly foreign to him, with its ideological fervor, literal interpretation of the Koran and segregation of men and women.
"It was a complete culture shock," Turk said of his two years in the country, recalling how a professor at one point offered him a free plane ticket to Afghanistan to train with mujahedin fighters (he declined).
Turk also spent six months in Iran studying Farsi and Shiite Islam before returning to the U.S. to finish his bachelor's degree in Arabic at UC Berkeley, followed by a master's degree in Islamic law and Arabic at the University of Texas. He started on a doctorate in Islamic studies at UCLA and four years ago began working at the Islamic center on Vermont Avenue. At the mosque, he runs youth programs, leads prayers, delivers sermons and officiates at weddings and funerals.
Leaders at the center said they hired Turk because he embodied their commitments to openness and integrating disparate identities.
"He fit our model," said Maher Hathout, the center's spokesman and one of its elders. "We coined the term, 'Home is not where my grandparents are buried. Home is where my grandchildren are brought up.' "
Other prominent community members see Turk as representative of a new generation of American-born Muslims who can break down stereotypes and more easily explain the Muslim experience to those beyond the walls of their mosques.
"The presence of young Muslims who project a homegrown experience and understanding helps undo the psychological barrier of 'us versus them,' " said Hussam Ayloush, the Southern California executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Turk is good-natured and quick-witted, often sprinkling humor through his crash-course presentations on Islam. During a recent visit to a world religions class at Hollywood's Immaculate Heart High School, he read passages from the Koran about Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden to demonstrate that Muslims and Christians share the same creation narrative.
Then he tried to teach the roomful of seniors how to deliver the traditional Arabic greeting: "as-salaamu alay-kum" -- peace be upon you. The students stumbled over the words.
"A-salami-and-bacon?" he joked, drawing giggles. "Muslims don't eat bacon."
Turk is a relative newcomer to Muslim leadership circles in Los Angeles. Those interviewed said they welcome his interfaith work, but some objected to his use of the title "imam," a designation they said should be reserved for the most learned Islamic scholars.
Turk is "not qualified to issue legal opinions or give legal advice," said Khaled Abou El Fadl, a UCLA law school professor and Islamic law scholar who was once Turk's graduate school advisor.
Turk said he gives advice on Islamic law or personal matters when asked to do so by members of the Islamic center. As for the title, he said he goes by "imam" only when outside audiences introduce him that way and never uses it in the mosque.
Turk is continually in motion. When he's not at the center, teaching Arabic at UCLA or coaching soccer (he has three young children), he can be found engaged in one of his many interfaith endeavors.
In March, he will help lead a mission to Israel and the West Bank with Jewish, Muslim and Christian representatives, his fourth such trip. The group will visit sites holy to all three faiths. And early next year, another group he co-founded, the Christian-Muslim Consultative Group of Southern California, will begin pairing local churches and mosques in a relationship-building exercise.
Turk's co-leader, the Rev. Gwynne Guibord, an Episcopal priest, said Turk's dual background is a useful tool in his efforts to establish trust.
"Because he was born and reared in this country, I think it's easier for people who are not Muslim to understand him," Guibord said. "He is deeply American and yet he is Muslim."
Yet bridging the two worlds remains a challenge.
The day after the Ft. Hood shootings, Turk hosted at the Islamic center a group of seventh-graders from New West Charter Middle School in West Los Angeles. The students observed midday prayers inside the mosque. Then Turk gave them his abbreviated course on Islam, explaining that Muslims observe five pillars of faith that include daily prayer, fasting during the Ramadan holiday and making the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, which he has done twice.
"Muslims believe in the Torah, the New Testament, the Old Testament and the Koran," Turk told the students.
Then he asked: "My name is Jihad. What does jihad mean?"
One boy answered: "It means to fight."
Turk, responding with the firm but friendly tone of a teacher, offered an alternative. "It means the inner struggle to do the right thing," he said.
duke.helfand@latimes.com
Copyright © 2009, The Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-jihad29-2009nov29,0,7265377,full.story
Answer the following questions in your post.
1. How do people react to Jihad's message? Why do you think this is?
2. How does Turk's background make him a good person to break down stereotypes about Muslims? What has he done to break down stereotypes? How could these actions be helpful in his mission?
3. Imagine you could write Jihad an email about what you have learned about Islam, from his message, or any questions you have. Write a one paragraph email commenting on the article, what you have learned about Islam, your questions about Islam, and asking Jihad about his message.
4. What could Jihad and other Muslims do to break down stereotypes about Islam? What could we as Christians AND Americans do to break down stereotypes about Islam.
Due Friday 12/4 @ midnight
Jihad Turk -- clean-shaven and youthful -- is telling an interfaith audience that the prophet Muhammad traces his lineage to Abraham, the biblical patriarch.
Turk explains to the crowd of mostly Christians and Jews that Muslims also revere Jesus and Moses as prophets, and that Islam cherishes life.
But some in the Pepperdine University audience are skeptical. One man wants to know why so many Muslims are "willing with perfect ease to kill," as he puts it, drawing brief applause.
A woman later needles Turk about what she views as Islam's suppression of women. "You guys really need a good PR firm," she tells him.
Without missing a beat, Turk responds: "If you know of one, let me know."
U.S. Muslims are struggling mightily these days to win over a wary public. In Los Angeles, part of that task falls to the 38-year-old Turk, director of religious affairs at the Islamic Center of Southern California, one of the region's most influential mosques.
Earnest and doggedly optimistic, Turk is an unflappable ambassador for an often embattled faith -- a man whose American upbringing gives him a foothold in two sometimes colliding worlds.
The son of an American Methodist mother and a Palestinian Muslim father, Turk was elected homecoming king at his Phoenix high school and took some time off from college to explore his Islamic roots in Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Now, as an emerging leader in local Muslim circles, he spends much of his time patiently trying to spread his message about Islam's peaceful intentions, the importance of tolerance and the ancient thread shared by three monotheistic religions.
Some who encounter Turk commend him for breaking down walls of suspicion. Others doubt that he represents mainstream Muslim belief. Turk acknowledges that it can be difficult to convince skeptics. The recent deadly rampage at Texas' Ft. Hood, allegedly by a Muslim Army major, has made the job even tougher.
"I've come to realize that there is a certain segment of the population that is impervious to what I have to say," Turk said. "But there is . . . usually a good number of people I will get through to."
Turk's childhood helped blend his dual identities.
He attended public schools and played on youth soccer teams (his teammates called him Jay), even as he learned Arabic in Sunday school and attended summer camps for young Muslims. In high school, he made the varsity football and track teams and spent his senior year reading books on Islam in his free time.
Although his parents came from different backgrounds, they reared their five children as Muslims. "It was my personal opinion to raise them in one faith rather than throw mixed signals at them," said his mother, Carol. "I had no objections to the Islamic religion."
Hafez Turk chose what he believed would be a noble name for his son -- Jihad -- long before the word entered the U.S. lexicon as an expression for "holy war," a meaning that Islamic scholars say has been distorted by extremists and the media.
"We do jihad every day in our life -- the struggle to do good," said the father, a refrain frequently repeated by his son.
Turk's parents divorced when he was 17, driven apart to some degree by cultural differences, including disagreements about his mother's work and activities outside the home, she and Turk recalled. The split had a lasting effect on Turk.
"I would listen and feel the pain and hear the point of view of each of my parents," he said. "That experience highlighted to me the importance for cultures to communicate."
The divorce also prompted Turk to explore his faith more deeply. An imam at a Phoenix mosque encouraged the young man to study Arabic and Islam at the Islamic University of Medina in Saudi Arabia.
Soon, Turk left Arizona State University for the ancestral land of Muhammad -- a place that he said felt wholly foreign to him, with its ideological fervor, literal interpretation of the Koran and segregation of men and women.
"It was a complete culture shock," Turk said of his two years in the country, recalling how a professor at one point offered him a free plane ticket to Afghanistan to train with mujahedin fighters (he declined).
Turk also spent six months in Iran studying Farsi and Shiite Islam before returning to the U.S. to finish his bachelor's degree in Arabic at UC Berkeley, followed by a master's degree in Islamic law and Arabic at the University of Texas. He started on a doctorate in Islamic studies at UCLA and four years ago began working at the Islamic center on Vermont Avenue. At the mosque, he runs youth programs, leads prayers, delivers sermons and officiates at weddings and funerals.
Leaders at the center said they hired Turk because he embodied their commitments to openness and integrating disparate identities.
"He fit our model," said Maher Hathout, the center's spokesman and one of its elders. "We coined the term, 'Home is not where my grandparents are buried. Home is where my grandchildren are brought up.' "
Other prominent community members see Turk as representative of a new generation of American-born Muslims who can break down stereotypes and more easily explain the Muslim experience to those beyond the walls of their mosques.
"The presence of young Muslims who project a homegrown experience and understanding helps undo the psychological barrier of 'us versus them,' " said Hussam Ayloush, the Southern California executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Turk is good-natured and quick-witted, often sprinkling humor through his crash-course presentations on Islam. During a recent visit to a world religions class at Hollywood's Immaculate Heart High School, he read passages from the Koran about Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden to demonstrate that Muslims and Christians share the same creation narrative.
Then he tried to teach the roomful of seniors how to deliver the traditional Arabic greeting: "as-salaamu alay-kum" -- peace be upon you. The students stumbled over the words.
"A-salami-and-bacon?" he joked, drawing giggles. "Muslims don't eat bacon."
Turk is a relative newcomer to Muslim leadership circles in Los Angeles. Those interviewed said they welcome his interfaith work, but some objected to his use of the title "imam," a designation they said should be reserved for the most learned Islamic scholars.
Turk is "not qualified to issue legal opinions or give legal advice," said Khaled Abou El Fadl, a UCLA law school professor and Islamic law scholar who was once Turk's graduate school advisor.
Turk said he gives advice on Islamic law or personal matters when asked to do so by members of the Islamic center. As for the title, he said he goes by "imam" only when outside audiences introduce him that way and never uses it in the mosque.
Turk is continually in motion. When he's not at the center, teaching Arabic at UCLA or coaching soccer (he has three young children), he can be found engaged in one of his many interfaith endeavors.
In March, he will help lead a mission to Israel and the West Bank with Jewish, Muslim and Christian representatives, his fourth such trip. The group will visit sites holy to all three faiths. And early next year, another group he co-founded, the Christian-Muslim Consultative Group of Southern California, will begin pairing local churches and mosques in a relationship-building exercise.
Turk's co-leader, the Rev. Gwynne Guibord, an Episcopal priest, said Turk's dual background is a useful tool in his efforts to establish trust.
"Because he was born and reared in this country, I think it's easier for people who are not Muslim to understand him," Guibord said. "He is deeply American and yet he is Muslim."
Yet bridging the two worlds remains a challenge.
The day after the Ft. Hood shootings, Turk hosted at the Islamic center a group of seventh-graders from New West Charter Middle School in West Los Angeles. The students observed midday prayers inside the mosque. Then Turk gave them his abbreviated course on Islam, explaining that Muslims observe five pillars of faith that include daily prayer, fasting during the Ramadan holiday and making the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, which he has done twice.
"Muslims believe in the Torah, the New Testament, the Old Testament and the Koran," Turk told the students.
Then he asked: "My name is Jihad. What does jihad mean?"
One boy answered: "It means to fight."
Turk, responding with the firm but friendly tone of a teacher, offered an alternative. "It means the inner struggle to do the right thing," he said.
duke.helfand@latimes.com
Copyright © 2009, The Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-jihad29-2009nov29,0,7265377,full.story
Answer the following questions in your post.
1. How do people react to Jihad's message? Why do you think this is?
2. How does Turk's background make him a good person to break down stereotypes about Muslims? What has he done to break down stereotypes? How could these actions be helpful in his mission?
3. Imagine you could write Jihad an email about what you have learned about Islam, from his message, or any questions you have. Write a one paragraph email commenting on the article, what you have learned about Islam, your questions about Islam, and asking Jihad about his message.
4. What could Jihad and other Muslims do to break down stereotypes about Islam? What could we as Christians AND Americans do to break down stereotypes about Islam.
Due Friday 12/4 @ midnight
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Current Event 11/16 - 11/20
Over the past three years, nearly 32,000 Iraqi refugees have arrived in the U.S. to escape persecution back home, but many find a whole new host of challenges here in America where jobs and resources are becoming scarce.
Government-funded resettlement agencies that provide medical care and cash assistance to arriving Iraqis are overwhelmed by the large number of refugees, and there are fewer entry-level jobs because of the recession.
Answer the following questions in your post:
1. What is a refugee? What kinds of challenges might refugees face trying to create a new life in America?
DUE FRIDAY @ MIDNIGHT
2. What would it be like to be a refugee from Iraq, where America is currently fighting a war?
3. What did you learn from this video?
3. What kinds of challenges do you think refugee families face besides finding money and jobs?
4. In the video, Jeffrey Kaye talks to a 17-year-old Iraqi who is worried her parents will make her go back to Iraq. How would you feel in her situation? What would you want your family to do?
5. In a time of budget cuts and economic hardship, should the government spend more money to help these refugees? Why or why not?
6. How has the Catholic Church attempted to resolve these issues?
Government-funded resettlement agencies that provide medical care and cash assistance to arriving Iraqis are overwhelmed by the large number of refugees, and there are fewer entry-level jobs because of the recession.
Answer the following questions in your post:
1. What is a refugee? What kinds of challenges might refugees face trying to create a new life in America?
DUE FRIDAY @ MIDNIGHT
2. What would it be like to be a refugee from Iraq, where America is currently fighting a war?
3. What did you learn from this video?
3. What kinds of challenges do you think refugee families face besides finding money and jobs?
4. In the video, Jeffrey Kaye talks to a 17-year-old Iraqi who is worried her parents will make her go back to Iraq. How would you feel in her situation? What would you want your family to do?
5. In a time of budget cuts and economic hardship, should the government spend more money to help these refugees? Why or why not?
6. How has the Catholic Church attempted to resolve these issues?
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Minersville School District v. Gobitis
Facts of the Case:
Lillian and William Gobitis were expelled from the public schools of Minersville, Pennsylvania, for refusing to salute the flag as part of a daily school exercise. The Gobitis children were Jehovah's Witnesses; they believed that such a gesture of respect for the flag was forbidden by Biblical commands.
Question:
Did the mandatory flag salute infringe upon liberties protected by the First and Fourteenth Amendments?
Conclusion:
No. In an 8-to-1 decision, the Court declined to make itself "the school board for the country" and upheld the mandatory flag salute. The Court held that the state's interest in "national cohesion" was "inferior to none in the hierarchy of legal values" and that national unity was "the basis of national security." The flag, the Court found, was an important symbol of national unity and could be a part of legislative initiatives designed "to promote in the minds of children who attend the common schools an attachment to the institutions of their country."
Source: http://www.oyez.org/cases/1901-1939/1939/1939_690
In your post, answer the following questions:
Should Billy have the right not to say the Pledge because of his religion?
Aren't we all Americans no matter what our religion?
Everybody else has to say the Pledge! Is that fair?
What are the arguments on either side of this case?
Do you agree with the Supreme Court? Why or why not?
DUE FRIDAY @ MIDNIGHT
Facts of the Case:
Lillian and William Gobitis were expelled from the public schools of Minersville, Pennsylvania, for refusing to salute the flag as part of a daily school exercise. The Gobitis children were Jehovah's Witnesses; they believed that such a gesture of respect for the flag was forbidden by Biblical commands.
Question:
Did the mandatory flag salute infringe upon liberties protected by the First and Fourteenth Amendments?
Conclusion:
No. In an 8-to-1 decision, the Court declined to make itself "the school board for the country" and upheld the mandatory flag salute. The Court held that the state's interest in "national cohesion" was "inferior to none in the hierarchy of legal values" and that national unity was "the basis of national security." The flag, the Court found, was an important symbol of national unity and could be a part of legislative initiatives designed "to promote in the minds of children who attend the common schools an attachment to the institutions of their country."
Source: http://www.oyez.org/cases/1901-1939/1939/1939_690
In your post, answer the following questions:
Should Billy have the right not to say the Pledge because of his religion?
Aren't we all Americans no matter what our religion?
Everybody else has to say the Pledge! Is that fair?
What are the arguments on either side of this case?
Do you agree with the Supreme Court? Why or why not?
DUE FRIDAY @ MIDNIGHT
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Roman Art & Architecture
View the Roman art below:
http://www.getty.edu/art/gettyguide/artObjectDetails?artobj=42506
1. What is the title and name of the artwork you have chosen to analyze? Who is the artist
(if available)?
2. What type of art form is it (painting, coinage, mosaic, etc.)? Why do you think so?
3. What materials were used in creating this artwork (paint, tiles, plaster, concrete, etc.)?
4. Think like a Roman: Do you think this art was made to be seen by the public or by a private citizen of Rome? Explain.
5. Think like an art historian: What do you think the purpose of making this work of art was (i.e., for beauty, decoration, to honor someone, propaganda, etc.)?
6. Think like a historian: What type of clues does this work of art give us about how ancient Romans lived?
7. Think like a historian: Think about what you learned in this unit about how the styles of different societies have influenced Roman art. How has the art of other cultures affected the style of this Roman art piece (i.e., Greece, Egypt, etc.)?
DUE MONDAY 1026 @ MIDNIGHT
http://www.getty.edu/art/gettyguide/artObjectDetails?artobj=42506
1. What is the title and name of the artwork you have chosen to analyze? Who is the artist
(if available)?
2. What type of art form is it (painting, coinage, mosaic, etc.)? Why do you think so?
3. What materials were used in creating this artwork (paint, tiles, plaster, concrete, etc.)?
4. Think like a Roman: Do you think this art was made to be seen by the public or by a private citizen of Rome? Explain.
5. Think like an art historian: What do you think the purpose of making this work of art was (i.e., for beauty, decoration, to honor someone, propaganda, etc.)?
6. Think like a historian: What type of clues does this work of art give us about how ancient Romans lived?
7. Think like a historian: Think about what you learned in this unit about how the styles of different societies have influenced Roman art. How has the art of other cultures affected the style of this Roman art piece (i.e., Greece, Egypt, etc.)?
DUE MONDAY 1026 @ MIDNIGHT
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Current Event Week of 10/19 - 10/23
Answer the following questions in your post:
Media Literacy Question of the Day
1.What are some ways that you can think of to publicize nutrition guidelines for school meals?
Pakistan Blast
2. What information is known about recent bombings at a university in Pakistan?
3.Why do you think that terrorists would want to target a university?
Afghanistan Election
4. What events have led to Afghanistan's November 7th presidential runoff election?
5. How has the international community responded to the announced runoff?
6.What challenges do you think that Afghanistan might face in holding this runoff election?
Nutrition Guidelines
7.According to the program, what are some of the nutritional recommendations for school meals that are outlined in a new report? What is your opinion of these guidelines?
8.What do you think might be the potential impact, if any, of the new guidelines on student health? Explain.
9.When you choose what foods to eat, is nutrition a factor? If so, how? If not, why not?
Meatless Mondays
10. According to the report: What reasons have Baltimore school officials given for adopting "Meatless Mondays"? How has the meat industry responded to this program?
11.How do you think that students might respond if the Meatless Mondays program was instituted in your school?
DUE FRIDAY 10/23 @ MIDNIGHT
Monday, October 12, 2009
Current Event 10/12 - 10/16
CNN Student News 10/12
Answer the following questions in your post:
Media Literacy Question of the Day
1. In your opinion: What are some reasons why a lawmaker would choose to appear on a political news program? What impact, if any, might a lawmaker's appearance on this type of program have on supporters and opponents of the issues that he or she may discuss?
Attack in Pakistan
2.What details are known about a 22-hour hostage standoff at a military base in Pakistan?
3.Why do you think that the Taliban would want to attack a Pakistani military facility?
Peace Prize Awarded
4.What is your opinion of the Nobel Peace Prize being awarded to President Barack Obama?
5. What criteria would you use for selecting a Nobel Peace Prize recipient? Would you give more weight to a nominee's past accomplishments, or to his or her potential for future achievement? Explain your rationale.
Space Station's Future
6.According to the program: How much has the international space station program cost the United States? What are some of the beneficial outcomes of the program?
7.In your opinion, are the ISS program's benefits worth the costs? Why or why not?
8.Can you think of an experiment that might benefit from being conducted in a weightless environment?
DUE FRIDAY NIGHT @ MIDNIGHT 10/16
Answer the following questions in your post:
Media Literacy Question of the Day
1. In your opinion: What are some reasons why a lawmaker would choose to appear on a political news program? What impact, if any, might a lawmaker's appearance on this type of program have on supporters and opponents of the issues that he or she may discuss?
Attack in Pakistan
2.What details are known about a 22-hour hostage standoff at a military base in Pakistan?
3.Why do you think that the Taliban would want to attack a Pakistani military facility?
Peace Prize Awarded
4.What is your opinion of the Nobel Peace Prize being awarded to President Barack Obama?
5. What criteria would you use for selecting a Nobel Peace Prize recipient? Would you give more weight to a nominee's past accomplishments, or to his or her potential for future achievement? Explain your rationale.
Space Station's Future
6.According to the program: How much has the international space station program cost the United States? What are some of the beneficial outcomes of the program?
7.In your opinion, are the ISS program's benefits worth the costs? Why or why not?
8.Can you think of an experiment that might benefit from being conducted in a weightless environment?
DUE FRIDAY NIGHT @ MIDNIGHT 10/16
Monday, October 5, 2009
Current Event for week of 10/5 - 10/9
I received this video from Cassidy Mendoza, and though it was a great item for a current event, especially for teens.
This week is National Bullying Prevention Week. To acknowledge this, I have included a video and article.
DIRECTIONS:
1. Read the article "Parents Often Unaware of Cyber-Bullying" and answer the following questions in your post:
a. How do you, and the article define bullying?
b. According to the article, why do teens not inform their parents about cyber-bullying? What other reasons do you think they do not?
2. Read the second article, "More Teens Victimized by Cyber-Bullying"
a. According to the article, what are the effects of cyber-bullying?
b. How do cyber-bullies harass their victims?
DUE FRIDAY 10/9 @ midnight
This week is National Bullying Prevention Week. To acknowledge this, I have included a video and article.
DIRECTIONS:
1. Read the article "Parents Often Unaware of Cyber-Bullying" and answer the following questions in your post:
a. How do you, and the article define bullying?
b. According to the article, why do teens not inform their parents about cyber-bullying? What other reasons do you think they do not?
2. Read the second article, "More Teens Victimized by Cyber-Bullying"
a. According to the article, what are the effects of cyber-bullying?
b. How do cyber-bullies harass their victims?
DUE FRIDAY 10/9 @ midnight
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
JUST FOR FUN!
If God created everything in the world, did he create evil? Are human beings at heart evil? Watch the video and learn :)
"God is in no way, directly or indirectly, the cause of moral evil. He
permits it, however, because he respects the freedom ...of his creatures
and, mysteriously, knows how to derive good from it." CCC Para.#311.
"God is in no way, directly or indirectly, the cause of moral evil. He
permits it, however, because he respects the freedom ...of his creatures
and, mysteriously, knows how to derive good from it." CCC Para.#311.
What have you learned about Rome?
What have you learned so far about Rome? Is Rome as great as it claims to be? Why or why not?
Write one paragraph critiquing the empire, and sharing your impressions of it.
Write one paragraph critiquing the empire, and sharing your impressions of it.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
JUST FOR FUN!!
I was sent this video by Mrs. Sarrazolla and thought I would share. It's really awesome! Comment with your thoughts/ideas/cool quotes about life/anything!!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Who are you voting for?
Unlike the citizens of Rome, you have a chance to vote for your emperor!
Now that the candidates have been presented, you must now make an important decision. Remeber, this person rules for life!
In your post, write a paragraph answering the following points:
Now that the candidates have been presented, you must now make an important decision. Remeber, this person rules for life!
In your post, write a paragraph answering the following points:
- Who you are voting for
- Why you are voting for them (what have they done to deserve to be in power?)
- How this emperor could benefit the classroom
- Which would you prefer? Voting for a leader, or using hereditary rule? Why or why not?
- Hereditary rule: a system of government in which the rulers come from a royal bloodline (family)
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Current Event Week of 9/28
COOL STUFF: Check out Mrs. Sarrazolla's comment below, and here is her link she posted. Parents blogging....awesome! http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17256
Another link: Learn more about Twitter!! This section on Twitter explains symbols, how to use it, etc. http://help.twitter.com/portal
According to the Neilsen Company, Twitter is the fastest-growing Web brand having grown 1400 percent in the past year. The three-year-old social networking site is used by everyone from teenagers to political figures.
News organizations have also begun to take Twitter seriously, with the Web site playing a huge role in gathering information on major news events like the recent protests in Iran or the death of pop star Michael Jackson.
In this video, NewsHour correspondent Jeffrey Brown takes a closer look at the communications phenomenon.
In your post, answer the following questions:
1. What types of social networking Web sites do you use? Name as many as you can.
2. What is Twitter?
3. Do you use Twitter? Why or why not? What do you like or dislike about it?
4. Many public figures use Twitter - from politicians like Sarah Palin to celebrities like Ashton Kutcher. Does that make you feel more engaged in their lives? Why or why not?
5. What are the reasons for using Twitter according to the news report?
6. How do some people criticize Twitter? What are its downsides or negative aspects?
7. How can Twitter be used in education, in the classroom, or improve learning?
Due Friday 10/2 @ midnight
Another link: Learn more about Twitter!! This section on Twitter explains symbols, how to use it, etc. http://help.twitter.com/portal
According to the Neilsen Company, Twitter is the fastest-growing Web brand having grown 1400 percent in the past year. The three-year-old social networking site is used by everyone from teenagers to political figures.
News organizations have also begun to take Twitter seriously, with the Web site playing a huge role in gathering information on major news events like the recent protests in Iran or the death of pop star Michael Jackson.
In this video, NewsHour correspondent Jeffrey Brown takes a closer look at the communications phenomenon.
In your post, answer the following questions:
1. What types of social networking Web sites do you use? Name as many as you can.
2. What is Twitter?
3. Do you use Twitter? Why or why not? What do you like or dislike about it?
4. Many public figures use Twitter - from politicians like Sarah Palin to celebrities like Ashton Kutcher. Does that make you feel more engaged in their lives? Why or why not?
5. What are the reasons for using Twitter according to the news report?
6. How do some people criticize Twitter? What are its downsides or negative aspects?
7. How can Twitter be used in education, in the classroom, or improve learning?
Due Friday 10/2 @ midnight
Friday, September 25, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Current Event for week of 9/21
Tanzania has a brain drain problem; not enough doctors to treat its more than 40 million people.
To combat this, the Tanzanian Government now trains clinical workers to treat most of the common conditions and infectious diseases and deputizes them assistant medical officers, or AMOs. Using a system they call "task-shifting" most hospitals are almost entirely staffed by the equivalent of physician assistants.
Answer the questions in your post:
Discussion Questions
1. Does watching this report change your view on healthcare in this country (think hospitals, doctors, health insurance, etc)?
2. What is a "brain drain"? Why do doctors leave Tanzania?
2. What do you think about AMOs? Do you think they could work in the United States?
3. List all of the reasons that you think Tanzania cannot staff all of its hospitals. What could change these conditions?
DUE: FRIDAY 9/25 @ MIDNIGHT 15 points
To combat this, the Tanzanian Government now trains clinical workers to treat most of the common conditions and infectious diseases and deputizes them assistant medical officers, or AMOs. Using a system they call "task-shifting" most hospitals are almost entirely staffed by the equivalent of physician assistants.
Answer the questions in your post:
Discussion Questions
1. Does watching this report change your view on healthcare in this country (think hospitals, doctors, health insurance, etc)?
2. What is a "brain drain"? Why do doctors leave Tanzania?
2. What do you think about AMOs? Do you think they could work in the United States?
3. List all of the reasons that you think Tanzania cannot staff all of its hospitals. What could change these conditions?
DUE: FRIDAY 9/25 @ MIDNIGHT 15 points
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Anticipation Guide Paragraph
Using your anticipation guide from class, and thinking about the discussion we had, you will write a post stating your opinion, explaining your reasons, and justifying your opinion with an example (real or made up).
Your post should be in this order:
1. Write the statement (choose one of the four) and say whether you agreed or disagreed with it.
2. Explain your reason for your opinion.
3. Give an example from history or made up, and explain how it supports your opinion (What does it show? Why is it important? Why did you include it?)
DUE: Wednesday 9/23 10 points.
Your post should be in this order:
1. Write the statement (choose one of the four) and say whether you agreed or disagreed with it.
2. Explain your reason for your opinion.
3. Give an example from history or made up, and explain how it supports your opinion (What does it show? Why is it important? Why did you include it?)
DUE: Wednesday 9/23 10 points.
Monday, September 14, 2009
CURRENT EVENT for week of 9/14
President Obama spoke at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Virginia, outside Washington, D.C., as part of an administration back-to-school event.
The speech, which was broadcast live to school districts across the country on whitehouse.gov, attracted controversy when some critics of the administration worried that the president's message to young people might have a partisan agenda.
In the speech Obama stayed largely away from politics and told students to "at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, the best schools in the world - and none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities."
Discussion Questions (answer all these in your post)
1. What surprised you in the president's speech? Why?
2. If you could speak to all of the students in the United States, what would you say?
3. Why do you think that students are important to the president?
DUE 9/18, midnight) 15 points
The speech, which was broadcast live to school districts across the country on whitehouse.gov, attracted controversy when some critics of the administration worried that the president's message to young people might have a partisan agenda.
In the speech Obama stayed largely away from politics and told students to "at the end of the day, we can have the most dedicated teachers, the most supportive parents, the best schools in the world - and none of it will matter unless all of you fulfill your responsibilities."
Discussion Questions (answer all these in your post)
1. What surprised you in the president's speech? Why?
2. If you could speak to all of the students in the United States, what would you say?
3. Why do you think that students are important to the president?
DUE 9/18, midnight) 15 points
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Learning Styles - First HW Assignment
Middle School can be a difficult transition, especially if you are not in tune to your learning style. Identifying your learning style can help you learn how to pay attention in class, prepare for projects, and study for tests.
Directions:
1) Read the article http://www.scholastic.com/familymatters/parentguides/middleschool/quiz_learningstyles/index.htm
2) Take the quiz at the end of the article
In your post, answer the following questions in complete sentences:
1) According to the author, what are the benefits of identifying your learning style?
2) After the quiz, read your results. In you answer, identify what learning style you are, two suggested study strategies, and one created by you or your parents.
WHEN SIGNING YOUR POST, CLICK "ANONYMOUS", SIGN WITH CLASS # AND LETTER, AND YOUR STUDENT # (EXAMPLE: 8A01, OR 7B23) AT THE END OF THE POST. NO SIGNATURE = NO POINTS
Assignment: 10 points, due Monday 9/14
If this interesting to you or you want to learn more, watch the following video:
Directions:
1) Read the article http://www.scholastic.com/familymatters/parentguides/middleschool/quiz_learningstyles/index.htm
2) Take the quiz at the end of the article
In your post, answer the following questions in complete sentences:
1) According to the author, what are the benefits of identifying your learning style?
2) After the quiz, read your results. In you answer, identify what learning style you are, two suggested study strategies, and one created by you or your parents.
WHEN SIGNING YOUR POST, CLICK "ANONYMOUS", SIGN WITH CLASS # AND LETTER, AND YOUR STUDENT # (EXAMPLE: 8A01, OR 7B23) AT THE END OF THE POST. NO SIGNATURE = NO POINTS
Assignment: 10 points, due Monday 9/14
If this interesting to you or you want to learn more, watch the following video:
Monday, March 16, 2009
Talking to the Taliban?
Obama has made some great changes from what we were used to a year ago under the Bush administration. Currently, Obama is speculating about opening communication with the Taliban. Of course some Americans are opposed to this, but even people in Afghanistan are skeptical about talking with dangerous groups.
Watch the video below, and answer the following questions in your post:
1. There are a lot of opinions about whether or not the U.S. military should open talks with the Taliban, what do you think? What are the benefits? What are the draw backs?
2. Do you think that U.S. officials talking to militants is a good idea in general? Why or why not? Research where and when it has happened before and to what result.
Watch the video below, and answer the following questions in your post:
1. There are a lot of opinions about whether or not the U.S. military should open talks with the Taliban, what do you think? What are the benefits? What are the draw backs?
2. Do you think that U.S. officials talking to militants is a good idea in general? Why or why not? Research where and when it has happened before and to what result.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
In God We Trust
NBC is presently taking a poll on "In God We Trust"
to stay on our American currency.
Please send this to every Christian you know so they
can vote on this important subject.
Please do it right away, before NBC takes this off
their web page. Poll is still open so you can vote:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10103521/
to stay on our American currency.
Please send this to every Christian you know so they
can vote on this important subject.
Please do it right away, before NBC takes this off
their web page. Poll is still open so you can vote:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10103521/
Friday, March 6, 2009
3/9 - 3/13
In the past weeks, I have not been able to avoid the rumors and tales of Rhianna's horrible interaction with her boyfriend, Chris Brown. What frustrated me about the situation was how teenagers would be confused by Chris Brown's actions, as well as Rhianna's actions as well. While I want to respect their privacy and do not want to speculate about their thoughts and words, I also have to bear in mind that they are public figures.
Read the article below, and answer the following questions in your response:
http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/06/rihanna-role-model/
1. What are the author's two perspectives of the situation?
2. Copy one of the rhetorical questions, and answer it.
3. What is your opinion of the situation?
Read the article below, and answer the following questions in your response:
http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/06/rihanna-role-model/
1. What are the author's two perspectives of the situation?
2. Copy one of the rhetorical questions, and answer it.
3. What is your opinion of the situation?
Thursday, February 12, 2009
2/19 - 2/23 : Parents letting kids drink alcohol?
The teenage years can be a difficult and confusing time for kids and parents. In high school, teens and parents are forced to make decision regarding things like friends, drugs, and alcohol. Hopefully, parents and teens will make smart decisions that keep the teen safe, and ensure they have all the opportunities for their future.
In this CNN article, a mother has been charged in the death of a young high school football star. He had been drinking at a friend's house where the mother of his friend allowed him to consume alcohol. Read the following article and answer the questions in your response:
Teen Drinking Leads to Death
1. Should the mother be held responsible for Garret Reed's death?
2. Who else should be responsible for Garret Reed's death?
3. Should police crack down on parents supplying alcohol to their teens and their friends?
4. What is your opinion on this topic? Why do you believe this?
In this CNN article, a mother has been charged in the death of a young high school football star. He had been drinking at a friend's house where the mother of his friend allowed him to consume alcohol. Read the following article and answer the questions in your response:
Teen Drinking Leads to Death
1. Should the mother be held responsible for Garret Reed's death?
2. Who else should be responsible for Garret Reed's death?
3. Should police crack down on parents supplying alcohol to their teens and their friends?
4. What is your opinion on this topic? Why do you believe this?
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
It's a beautiful day...
Get inspired by Mr. Rogers!
I ran into this article while posting about the article below. I too was an avid Mr. Rogers fan, and credit it with giving me a positive outlook and instilling in me the values of love and compassion. Revisiting Mr. Roger's philosophies and his life in general makes me totally enthusiastic about how to take on life!
As a gentle reminder on how to treat others, as well as yourself, read the article here.
I ran into this article while posting about the article below. I too was an avid Mr. Rogers fan, and credit it with giving me a positive outlook and instilling in me the values of love and compassion. Revisiting Mr. Roger's philosophies and his life in general makes me totally enthusiastic about how to take on life!
As a gentle reminder on how to treat others, as well as yourself, read the article here.
Sesame Street
Did you ever watch Sesame Street or the Muppet Babies?? Well, my family did not get cable until I was in high school, so I was blessed with the opportunity to fall into the Muppet world. I loved all the characters, especially Kermit (for which my dad nicknamed me). Here is a fun article about the history behind each muppet. I actually had to google image a couple of them because I forgot what they looked like! Enjoy!
Muppet article
What's your favorite muppet?
Muppet article
What's your favorite muppet?
2/9 - 2/12 2009
More than three years after the devastating Hurricane Katrina the New Orleans public schools are still hurting. Truancy has become a major problem and even the majority of students who come to school are woefully behind national standards.
On an average day in New Orleans' Recovery School District, about 20 percent of the students miss high school. More than half of all high school students are now chronically truant by state standards.
As a teacher in Los Angeles, truancy was a problem there as well. It can be frustrating and disheartening for teachers and consistent students who make the effort to get to school on time. However, as an educator, our goal is to give opportunities to all students, even those who make the choice to not take it.
Truancy reveals a deeper problem, either for the child or the parent. Sometimes families are so destroyed and problematic that school is simply not a priority.
Watch the video at this link, and answer the following questions in your post.
1. Why do you think there is such a huge truancy problem? Is there a truancy problem in your school?
2. In your opinion what is the best way to combat truancy?
On an average day in New Orleans' Recovery School District, about 20 percent of the students miss high school. More than half of all high school students are now chronically truant by state standards.
As a teacher in Los Angeles, truancy was a problem there as well. It can be frustrating and disheartening for teachers and consistent students who make the effort to get to school on time. However, as an educator, our goal is to give opportunities to all students, even those who make the choice to not take it.
Truancy reveals a deeper problem, either for the child or the parent. Sometimes families are so destroyed and problematic that school is simply not a priority.
Watch the video at this link, and answer the following questions in your post.
1. Why do you think there is such a huge truancy problem? Is there a truancy problem in your school?
2. In your opinion what is the best way to combat truancy?
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
WATCH THIS!!!! 2/2 - 2/6 2009
So it seems Newsweek and the Obama Administration have joined forces to create a remake of the "The City" with Whitney Port. The idea is the same: a new person, in a new city, with friends and enemies, with new challenges to face. It is very fun and educational!!
Watch the video below and answer the following questions in your post:
1. Why do you think Newsweek decided to make a spoof of "The City"?
2. How does this affect your view of President Obama?
3. How does this affect youth (teens and twenty year olds), who typically do not take an interest in politics?
Watch the video below and answer the following questions in your post:
1. Why do you think Newsweek decided to make a spoof of "The City"?
2. How does this affect your view of President Obama?
3. How does this affect youth (teens and twenty year olds), who typically do not take an interest in politics?
2/2 - 2/6 2009
Recently, President Obama admitted to making a mistake in supporting Tom Daschle as the nominee for his health and human services secretary. Daschle admitted to not disclosing monetary gifts and services, and therefore had to pay more on his taxes. He explained it was a mistake, but this implies there is a double standard for the "average" American, and the "powerful" American. President Obama emphasized during the campaign that he wanted to rid America of corrupt politics and double standards, but this was a clear violation of that rule he set for himself and his administration.
Watch the video below, and answer the following questions in your post.
1. Is there a double standard in America?
2. Is it wise for a President to admit mistakes? Why or why not?
3. Which President does President Obama reference? Why does he reference him?
Watch the video below, and answer the following questions in your post.
1. Is there a double standard in America?
2. Is it wise for a President to admit mistakes? Why or why not?
3. Which President does President Obama reference? Why does he reference him?
Monday, February 2, 2009
2/2/ - 2/6 2009
Now that companies have received bailout money, we are seeing how they are using their money. Obviously this money was needed in order to save jobs and keep businesses running, but are some spending habits too outrageous? President Barack Obama and other members of Congress believe bailout money should be used carefully and with respect to the tax payers who are funding this bailout.
Watch the video below, and answer the following questions in your post:
Video
1. What do you think of President Obama's statements?
2. Some bankers argue that if their employees are not paid a lot, the good ones will go work for another organization that will pay them more. What do you think of this argument?
3. How do you think this recession will affect how much different professions (like bankers, teachers, doctors, nurses, etc) are paid and what lines of work are most popular?
Watch the video below, and answer the following questions in your post:
Video
1. What do you think of President Obama's statements?
2. Some bankers argue that if their employees are not paid a lot, the good ones will go work for another organization that will pay them more. What do you think of this argument?
3. How do you think this recession will affect how much different professions (like bankers, teachers, doctors, nurses, etc) are paid and what lines of work are most popular?
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
1/12 - 1/16
There are variety of ways to document a society. Currently, we have video, photos, music, text messaging, and other ways to keep track of what's popular in our culture. However, we take these methods for granted. During the mid 20th century, photography was the main method to document a culture. There were many advances that allowed photographers to paint an accurate picture of America in the mid 1900s. Take a look at the pictures and read the captions at the link below, and answer the following questions in your post.
http://www.openmyeyeslord.net/ALookBackInHistory.htm
1. What picture struck you as interesting? Why?
2. What did you learn about America by viewing the photos and reading the captions?
3. How can you summarize American culture in the mid 1900s?
http://www.openmyeyeslord.net/ALookBackInHistory.htm
1. What picture struck you as interesting? Why?
2. What did you learn about America by viewing the photos and reading the captions?
3. How can you summarize American culture in the mid 1900s?
Monday, January 12, 2009
1/12 - 1/16
With Obama's Inauguration quickly approaching, many Americans are wondering how Obama will tackle the problems of America. While Obama made great proposals during his campaign, some of the realities of America's problems are disrupting his plans. Watch the video and answer the questions below:
Watch CBS Videos Online
What issues is Obama facing when he takes office?
How is he planning on dealing with these problems?
Why are people worried about how he is going to tackle these problems?
Watch CBS Videos Online
What issues is Obama facing when he takes office?
How is he planning on dealing with these problems?
Why are people worried about how he is going to tackle these problems?
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