Objective
- Develop a definition of terrorism
- Evaluate the "War on Terrorism"
Agenda
- In The News:
- Discussion
- What is Terrorism?
- Small Groups
- Develop a definition
- Share with the class
- Develop a list - examples of terrorism (history/present)
- Share with the class
- Notes
- Definition
- A Brief History of Terrorism
- Forms of Terrorism
- Intelligence Squared
Objective
- Evaluate the effects of the Citizens United vs. FEC decision
- Analyze the strategies used in crafting political advertisements
Agenda
- On The Interwebs:
- In The News
- Terrorism & Human Rights Unit
- We start with Human Rights (terrorism after break)
- What are Human Rights?
- Make your own list
- Confer with group
- Discussion
- Human Rights Video Clips / Discussion
- Reading the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Objective
- Evaluate the effects of the Citizens United vs. FEC decision
- Analyze the strategies used in crafting political advertisements
Agenda
- In The News:
- Campaign Finance Reform Quiz
- Terrorism
- News: NY Bomb Plot 11/20
- What is Terrorism?
- Definition / Problems with defining it
- A Brief History of Terrorism
Objective
- Evaluate the effects of the Citizens United vs. FEC decision
- Analyze the strategies used in crafting political advertisements
Agenda
- News - Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) Controversy
- Political Advertisements
- Campaign Finance Reform - Key Debates
- Review Citizens United - 5 to 4 Decision
- Arguments For
- Arguments Against
- Discuss Proposals
- "Voting With Dollars" ($100 / Anonymous)
- "Matching Funds For Small Donations"
- "Clean Elections"
- Constitutional Amendment
- Revisit Categorical vs. Consequentialist
- Key questions
- Are corporations people?
- Is money speech?
- Research Project
- Topic
- Any "global" topic that extends beyond the traditional "domestic issues" of the United States. Think foreign policy. Includes issues, events, people, or places that dominate the news.
- Good examples: North Korea, Nuclear Weapons, the United Nations, Debt Crisis in Europe, Microloans, Al Qaeda, Iran, Free/Fair Trade, Human Trafficking, etc
- Bad examples: Heathcare Policy, Tax Policy, Death Penalty, Illegal Immigration, Legalization of Marijuana, Education Policy, etc...
- Option #1 - Presentation (Partners)
- Create a 10-15 minute presentation to teach a subject in an effective, concise, and interesting manner.
- Must include: visuals, audience participation, and a "one page" handout, works cited
- Option #2 - Paper (Individual)
- Write a four page paper (double spaced) that describes the subject in a concise, accurate, and detailed manner.
- Works Cited
Objective
- Evaluate the effects of the Citizens United vs. FEC decision
- Analyze the strategies used in crafting political advertisements
Agenda
- News - US To Establish Permanent Base in Australia
- Political Advertisements
- Campaign Finance Reform - Key Debates
- Review Citizens United - 5 to 4 Decision
- Arguments For
- Arguments Against
- Discuss Proposals
- "Voting With Dollars" ($100 / Anonymous)
- "Matching Funds For Small Donations"
- "Clean Elections"
- Constitutional Amendment
- Revisit Categorical vs. Consequentialist
- Key questions
- Are corporations people?
- Is money speech?
Objective
- Evaluate the effects of the Citizens United vs. FEC decision
- Analyze the strategies used in crafting political advertisements
Agenda
Objective
- Explain the difference between a PAC and a SuperPAC
- Evaluate the effects of the Citizens United vs. FEC decision
Agenda
- News - Newt Surges Ahead In The Polls
- Questions To Consider:
- Are the distinctions between a PAC and SuperPAC reasonable?
- What are the appropriate distinctions to be made for media personalities promoting and covering their own PACs?
- Ought there be any restrictions placed upon SuperPAC money?
- Amounts?
- What it is spent on?
- Are campaign contributions just "legalized bribery?"
- Creating the Colbert SuperPAC (~46 min)
- Using the Colbert SuperPAC (~44 min)
Objective
- Explain key terms associated with campaign finance reform
- Analyze the arguments associated with campaign finance reform
Agenda
- News - Iran, Nukes, and Republican Primary Debate
- Small group-based discussion. We'll follow each topic up with a class discussion; take them one issue at a time. For each of the following questions, try and reach a consensus. Failing that, establish a "majority opinion." Write a response to each one in Word.
- Impact of Money on Politics
- In what ways specific does money affect politics?
- Does this have a substantial effect?
- Free Speech
- Are political donations a form of free speech?
- If so, should this right be granted to both individuals and corporations?
- Restrictions
- Should there be a limit on how much individuals, corporations, or other organizations can contribute to political campaigns?
- Should these contributions be made public?
- Issue Ads
- What about limits on an "issue ad" that doesn't promote a specific candidate?
- How do you distinguish an issue ad from a campaign ad?
- Your group should provide a definition and describe the significance the following ideas, laws, or events:
- Buckley vs. Valeo
- 527
- PAC
- Super PAC
- Push Polls
- Hard Money
- Soft Money
- McCain Feingold Act
- Citizens United vs. FEC
- Print Answers, Review Terms as Class
- The West Wing on Campaign Finance
Objective
- Explain key terms associated with campaign finance reform
- Analyze the arguments associated with campaign finance reform
Agenda
- News: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15677595
- Can Perry's campaign recover from this?
- Small group-based discussion. We'll follow each topic up with a class discussion; take them one issue at a time. For each of the following questions, try and reach a consensus. Failing that, establish a "majority opinion." Write a response to each one in Word.
- Impact of Money on Politics
- In what ways specific does money affect politics?
- Does this have a substantial effect?
- Free Speech
- Are political donations a form of free speech?
- If so, should this right be granted to both individuals and corporations?
- Restrictions
- Should there be a limit on how much individuals, corporations, or other organizations can contribute to political campaigns?
- Should these contributions be made public?
- Issue Ads
- What about limits on an "issue ad" that doesn't promote a specific candidate?
- How do you distinguish an issue ad from a campaign ad?
- Your group should provide a definition and describe the significance the following ideas, laws, or events:
- Buckley vs. Valeo
- 527
- PAC
- Super PAC
- Push Polls
- Hard Money
- Soft Money
- McCain Feingold Act
- Citizens United vs. FEC
- TED Friday
Objective
- Describe the impact of capital gains taxes on the wealth gap in the USA
Agenda
- Warm-Up Reading - Wealth Gap Affected By Age
- PowerPoint
- Warren Buffet
- Millionaires For Higher Taxes
- Daily Show Clip
- Debate
- Tomorrow: Review
- Thursday: Test
- Whole Class
- Final Debate Project
- PowerPoint Notes: Income Gap
- Seniors Only (8:30-9:05)
Objectives
Agenda
- Losing senior for first half of class
- Warm-Up Reading: Occupy Oakland Shuts Down Port
- Occupy News For Juniors
- Yesterday: The General Strike
- Today: Financial Transaction Tax Protest
- The Fifth: Leave Your Bank Day
- Colbert Report - Coopting The Movement
- Remaining Debates!
Objective
- Debate a variety of domestic issues
Agenda
Objective
- Analyze the impact of poverty in the United States
Agenda
- For Your Information
- More about Scott Olson, a marine and war vet injured in the Oakland Protests
- A case against the Occupy Wall Street Movement
- Warm-Up #14 - Is the fact that 1 in 6 Americans live below the poverty line (22k per year for a family of four) a problem? If not, explain why not. If it is, explain what actions ought to be taken to resolve the issue.
- Are The Poor Really Poor?
- Heritage Foundation Analysis (PDF)
- "World of Class Warfare" (Daily Show)
- Background - Fox analyst argues 700 billion in tax revenue is insignificant.
- Discussion / Analysis
- Economic Growth - Where'd It Go?
- Rachel Maddow
- Discussion / Analysis
- TED Friday - How economic inequality affects societies
- Richard Wilkins
- Discussion / Analysis
- Debate Preparation
Objective
- Explain the role of the super committee in the Debt Crisis
- Analyze the degree of poverty & inequality in the USA
Agenda
- Warm-Up #13 - Read the article linked below. Do you support the Democrats mixed plan recently proposed by the super committee, or agree with the Republican rejection of this offer? Explain why. (Feel free to present a third view, if you find neither to be ideal).
- News Update
- Occupy Oakland Police Response - Maddow Coverage
- Scott Olson
- NYC Solidarity March & Oakland March
- Anonymous Attack on Fox News?
- The Super Committee
- Conclude the "Debt Crisis Timeline"
- Poverty / Inequality in the USA
- Stats
- News Reports
- Are The Poor Really Poor? (Heritage Foundation)
- World of Class Warfare (Daily Show)
- Economic Growth - Rachel Maddow Analysis
Objective
- Analyze the size and causes of the national debt
Agenda
- Warm-Up #12 - How big is the national debt? Guess without looking it up.
- National Debt PowerPoint
- Debate Projects
Objective
- Evaluate the Occupy Wall Street Movement
- Analyze the most recent Republican Debate
Agenda
- Know Your Meme: Handwritten Notes
- Occupy Views
- Stephen Colbert
- Jon Stewart
- Republican Debate
Objective
- Explain the Occupy Wall Street Movement
- Evaluate media coverage of the event and effectiveness of the protest
Agenda
- Warm-Up #11: Briefly describe what you know about Occupy Wall Street.
- PowerPoint & Discussion
- What Happened So Far?
- Who Are They?
- What Do They Want?
- How Does It Work?
- Media Responses
Objective
- Explain what caused the financial system to collapse
Agenda
- On The News...
- Inside Job
