Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Blog #15—10/21/08

Describe the 2008 Presidential and Vice Presidential Debates in their historical context.

Blog #14—10/16/08

How has the Internet affected the way that Americans approach democracy? How does the Internet and it's effects fit into the historical context of technology and democracy in America?

Blog #13—10/14/08


Free Choice! Find an article that relates to the most interesting thing we have discussed, read or done in class so far this year!

Hey Photographers! Post pictures that:
1. demonstrate a good sense of composition, such as use of rule of thirds (and/or breaking the rule, in a good way)
2. deliberate use of depth of field
3. Eyes, Color, Fill the Frame
4. Interesting use of light
5. Shooting at eye-level (of a subject that is not eye-level with you)
6. Macro photography
7. Anything else you like!

Be sure to label and explain each pic...and of course, give credit where credit is due.

Monday, September 29, 2008

Blog #12—10/9/08


Everyone, please do both of the following:

1. Describe your specific debate between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas in the context of the Lincoln-Douglas debates. Be sure to include relevant quotes and historical and/or biographical information.

Check out the following resources:
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates (the google-book)
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates (helpful website from the National Park Service)
USNews article on the L-D Debates
Lincoln-Douglas.org (a very helpful site)

2. Describe your initial thoughts regarding the 2008 Presidential and Vice Presidential Debates, given their historic context.

Blog #11—10/7/08


Everyone—Describe questions you have regarding demographics

Step 2—Choose one of the following:
1. Explain how a particular demographic may be impacted by—or could impact—the election of one of the candidates for President.

or....

2. Describe current applications for GIS in the present day or near future.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Wait for me!

Okay, thanks, I'm here. I know many of the people visiting at this are required to do so... probably by me. So, here it is... here is where you can find topics to write about on your own blog, suggested articles and other media, and so on.

Don't forget to stay current with my digital portfolio and the "blogging to learn" page—this page is only a part of your experience in the blogosphere.

Without any further ado, here are the previous topics. All new ones will be listed as posts right here.

Search the news for current events that relate to the following topics…What can you find? Be sure to check here often to find out what’s next!

The first two blog entries must be posted by 11:59:59 pm Thursday night. I know that you can change the dates on blogger.com. Please be honest with all blog entry dates. For blog entries #3 and on, the due date is posted next to the assignment.

Blog topics:

1. Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Happiness (the concept from the Declaration of Independence!)

2. A specific concept from the Enlightenment that you see as relevant in American culture, recent history, social affairs, etc.

3. The conflict between the Federalists and anti-Federalists. Challenge: use direct evidence from one or more of The Federalist Papers and/or the Anti-Federalist Papers. Due before 11:59:59 pm on Tuesday 9/9.

4. A free one!!! Choose a specific article that relates what you feel is the most interesting thing we have studied this year!

5. Your choice: Give advice to the Federal Government on how to solve the current financial issues with Lehman & Merrill Lynch & the Stock Market (keep your advice grounded in Federalist or Anti-Federalist philosophies) OR Select the most significant passage from the Declaration of Independence and write about a current event that is connected to this document.

6. Your Choice: Select the most interesting item on Factcheck.org and write about this and a related current event; OR Write about a "Constitutional Crisis" in the recent past--Have American politicians been following the rules laid out in the US Constitution?

7. Blog Reflection: Answer THREE of the following questions in depth with examples:

a. What are you most proud of on your blog? Why?
b. What would you like to improve on your blog? Why? How?
c. How can we better connect our class' blogs?
d. How has blogging impacted your understanding of the US? the Media? Current Events? "Old" news (like the Constitution, Federalist Papers, etc.)

8. Revise an old blog entry for ALL of the following:

a. Factual accuracy
b. Quality of Evidence
c. Rhetoric (structure, logic, sequence and clarity of your writing

9. Your choice: reflect on the impact of Marbury vs. Madison OR Post your new Federal Privacy Law and explain what you think would happen during the possible process of judicial review OR Describe a an important Supreme Court case that took place before 1865 in it's historical context--what precedents were set, whatimpact did they have and what is the case's relevance today?

10. This blog entry is due at 11:59:59 pm on 10/2 and should be answered in the form of a polished piece of writing no longer than 500 words:
Table’s choice! Tables must choose the same question. Hint, hint(!): Share resources, read each other’s blogs regularly. As a group, choose one of the following questions or create your own (and let your teacher approve it):

a. Choose a landmark Supreme Court case. How is this case relevant to American society? How is this case relevant today?
b. How do the current political parties compare to their original versions? How might various Founders feel about the current state of the political parties in the U.S?
c. Give advice to the future President. If the future President has the opportunity to appoint a new Supreme Court justice, who should be chosen? Why?
d. Describe a current social issue that could be related to the Supreme Court. What is the historical context for this issue? What might happen in the future?
e. Describe the relevance of an issue embedded in the Civil War to modern America