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2013 **Pitch:** [|Branson] Kickstarter

"The Pitch"

#|Groups: I. Sean, Jaleel, Adam, Keith, Brady

II. Ali, Micah, Geoff, Saqer, Brad, Chad

Journalism Unit 

**Week 3- Ye Journalists** <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**"The State of the News Media 2012"- Pew Research Center for Excellence in Journalism**

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**Week 2- Sequester** <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">SNL takes on sequester: <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">media type="youtube" key="4c1zZ9x7UJE" height="315" width="560"


 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">View the youtube clip from Peter Schiff on the Sequester:

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; url(http: //www.wikispaces.com/i/a.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; padding-right: 10px;">@http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arG62EJFlpg

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> **//__AND__//**

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**find and read an opposing view to the one expressed in this __#|video__. Find a reasonable source that defends a different point of view on the politics surrounding the sequester situation.**

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**Week 1- Term 4- Rulicious**

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; url(http: //www.wikispaces.com/i/a.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; padding-right: 10px;">Article 1 <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; url(http: //www.wikispaces.com/i/a.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; padding-right: 10px;">Article 2

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**Instant Outline:** <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**Jump Here: <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; url(http: //www.wikispaces.com/i/a.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; padding-right: 10px;">O **

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"> Sample Outline

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">In class outlines: <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">A. Pro
 * 1) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Thesis: Sugary drinks should be banned in the state of New York due to the fact they lead to health problems such as obesity and __#|coronary heart disease__.
 * 2) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">AA: "<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; line-height: 1.5;">At least 2.8 million adults die each year as a result of being overweight or obese." (who.int)
 * 3) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">SP: Beverages with high sugar content are major contributors to widespread health conditions.
 * 4) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Evidence: A (possibly shortened) version of the below. “soft drinks and other sugar-sweetened beverages have been linked to cavities and __#|weight gain__, among other negative health consequences... According to [a] study, published in the research journal //Circulation//, a publication of the American Heart Association, study participants who drank the most sugar-sweetened beverages daily had a 20 percent higher risk of coronary heart disease" (toyourhealth.com)

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">B. Con
 * 1) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Thesis:
 * 2) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">AA:
 * 3) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">SP:
 * 4) <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Evidence

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**Rules to Choose:**
 * = <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Saturday Testing ||= <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">saqer ___ ||
 * = <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">No Girls ||= <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">geoff ||
 * = <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Privacy/ locks on doors ||= <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">brady ||
 * = <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Lights Out ||= <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">micah ||
 * = <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Mandatory Study Hall ||= <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">brad ||
 * = <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Bathroom Policy ||= <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">sean ||
 * = <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Mandatory Sports ||= <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">jm ||
 * = <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Smoking Lounge ||= <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">ali ||
 * = <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Dress Code ||= <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">keith ||
 * = <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Mandatory Meal Time ||= <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">chad ||
 * = <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">#|Cell Phone Policy ||= <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">adam ||

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**Student Handbook:**

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**Part 1: ** <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**Part 2: **

<span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**Term 3/ Vacation Assignment: - post on the Senior Sem wiki** <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">** +guys this is good and will work, but we were hoping you would use the "discussion forum" which is accessed via some small dialogue bubble on the upper right corner of this page. ** <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">**2013**- use discussion icon in upper right of your screen <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Brady Agovino: 083193 <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">jaleel martin:85853 <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Keith Sweeny: 11856 <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Adam Neel: 21050 <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Brad Allen: 86018 <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Chad Galli: 951532

Where past years go:

2012 and 2011

Week 5 (March 19 - March 24)
Debates: Sahl Vs. Hayden- notes



Week 4 (March 12 - March 17)

 * Essay Prompts:**
 * Should religions have to __#|pay taxes__?
 * Is government's power too large or too small?
 * Are "slut walks" effective? is there hypocrisy in them?
 * What should happen to Rush Limbaugh?
 * Is paying for birth control women's responsibility?
 * Should the government pay for birth control?
 * Limbaugh represents a "sad slice" of America: "driven by fear of diversity, impatience with facts and an unwillingness to see things in anything but the starkest black and white terms" (Daum).


 * Should offensive language be censored from TV/Radio?
 * Should the government pay for contraception?
 * Is contraception a right?
 * Is universal healthcare a right?
 * Are Rush (and his ilk) detrimental to conservative causes?
 * Does media have any influence on the way we think?
 * Should influential figures be held to a higher standard?
 * Is media's influence problematic?
 * Is the media attack on Rush Limbaugh "necessary"?
 * Is the private media model broken?
 * Should women be required to __#|register__ with Selective Service?
 * Is feminism still necessary?

NEW!: DAILYBEAST Background info: follow story in snippets or here
 * Abandoned Rush**

Required Reading: First Article- "Rush Limbaugh's blind spot" Second Article- Rush Limbaugh's "slut" comment is a Red Herring


 * **Post a response to the discussion prompt in the above discussion forum. Look for the prompt Mr. Sahl and Mr. Hayden have titled "Week 4 Discussion Prompts".**



Week 3 (March 5 - March 10)
Essay Prompts:
 * Childhood susceptibility to learning
 * Beauty in the eye of the beholder
 * Is beauty necessary
 * Does modern life distract from beauty
 * The modern world highlights beauty
 * Advertising manipulation of beauty
 * Always moving towards a more beautiful thing

Hobo Violinist: Primary Article: "The Man with the Violin" media type="youtube" key="myq8upzJDJc" height="315" width="420"
 * Full Washington Post Article: here
 * Video of experiment:

Week 2 (February 26 - March 3)
- Front pages from Newseum: here - Googleaday

>> extraterrestrial life?
 * Essay prompts:
 * Should governments be honest about extraterrestrial life/alien encounters?
 * Should substantial amounts of money be spent on researching/contacting
 * How should we plan for an alien invasion?
 * How should we handle first contact?
 * Should the government fund space exploration?
 * Is the golden record on Voyager a good representation of humanity?
 * Should we try to make contact?
 * How should we contact them? (tone, content, and method)
 * Does intelligent extraterrestrial life exist?
 * Should we cooperate or compete with other nations with research?


 * Scale of things
 * This week's article- "What Do You Say to an Alien?"- here . Discussion post for your response should be in the above discussion area by Sunday afternoon.

> 1.) read the article > 2.) respond to **two** of the following three discussion prompts below > 3.) to comment on AT LEAST ONE of your peer’s responses. > > **Discussion Prompts:** >>> 3. Do you think there is extra-terrestrial life out there? Do you have any evidence to back up your thoughts?
 * Your assignment (written and posted on the Wiki **by 10am Monday**) is to:
 * 1) <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">What is Sam Roberts’ main idea (thesis statement) in this article?
 * 2) <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">What does Roberts suggest as being the //main goal// of trying to reach out to potential intelligent life?

Spring 2011 (+ bonus material from Winter 2012)
2012- senior sem trials

Week 2: Driving Safety
Main Article: "Driving While Distracted" from upfront magazine (not found online)

Summary: The government discourages cell phone use while driving. It is a frequent cause of accidents, injuring almost 600,000 people in 2010.

Starter Essay Prompts:
 * Should backseat passengers be forced to wear seat belts?
 * Should motor cyclists be forced to wear helmets?
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Do Electric cars hurt more than they help?
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Should people have to wear s eat belts?
 * Laws about tinted windows in cars.
 * Appropriate level of punishment for texting drivers?
 * Should the federal government pressure states to ban all cellphone use while driving?
 * Addiction to cellphones/connection is a part of this problem.

Articles: summarize briefly and provide link:
 * Nick:
 * I found Word to youth: texting, diving don't mix to be a little more interesting. The article focused more on what companies and kids are doing against text and driving. Mariah West was the first example who was told by her friends and school mates to stop texting.<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Unfortunately that didn't stop and she got into an accident, where her car clipped a bridge flipped and then fell off on to oncoming traffic. It also talks about what cell phone and insurance companies are doing to stop texting and driving. Then go on to describe the obsession that a phone creates.
 * link <span class="wiki_link_ext">[|here]
 * Harrison
 * . My [|article] is by a Seattle lawyer who founded "Teans Against Distracted Driving." He discusses a Washington State law that created a $124 ticket for texting and driving. However he believes that the law is flawed because it is so hard for cops to determine if someone is actually texting while driving and observes that it merely encourages people to hold their phone out of sight, which is more distracting.
 * Jacob:

==

Prep article 1: "National Opt Out Day" Rejects Standardized Tests"
article link: here Use discussion tab above to respond to the relevantly titled thread and existing discussion there:

related, local link: video from CEA

Possible essay topics:
 * Tracked or leveled classes OR mixed?
 * Eliminate tenure for teachers?
 * Change ST, eliminate or leave as is?
 * Value of peer teaching?
 * Should colleges use SAT's and ACT's?
 * A school that is engaging and academically effective?

= LAST YEAR =

Week 4:
Essay Feedback:


 * Make use of Mrs. Lusk here and librarian at next institution.
 * Importance of using precise language.
 * Pleased with argument design.
 * Holes with evidence and revisions (Not enough time is being put into revisions)

Essay Prompts:

Prompts:
 * Does a place like Hampsterdam (a drug free zone) work?
 * Harm Reduction
 * Legalize Drugs
 * I the war on drugs worth fighting?
 * Wire-tapping I constitutional (Patriot Act)
 * Does the gov't have the right to ban drugs?
 * Are the cities worth fighting for?
 * Effect/Impact of Drugs on TV.
 * Politician's willingness to ignore the issues that are affecting inner cities.

today's discussion in notes:


 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> watch each and write a summary and response on the wiki
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11pt;"> post possible essay prompts (2-3) with thesis in response to issues from the episodes for tomorrow’s class (Tuesday).
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Essay this week:
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11pt;">You have the option of constructing an argument in a different format this week (not just the 5 paragraph essay)
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Alternative ideas discussed: a recorded speech, an editorial or “op-ed” piece, a short story, a recorded “radio show”, a powerpoint.
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11pt;">This ARGUMENT still has to be thesis driven argument that convinces the audience on an issue inspired by “the wire”. It should still have evidence and follow the citation rules of MLA format.
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11pt;">We discussed the importance of using more expert support and evidence and making sure it develops your thesis (and making sure it is integrated into your essay with analysis and signal phrases) in class today. This idea still applies to the alternative argument ideas above.
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Keep in mind, you can still write a traditional 5 paragraph essay if you choose.
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Outlines will still be due on Wednesday and if you choose something other than a 5 paragraph essay you need to include a MODEL for your alternative argument (this just means that you should find an example of an “argument” in the medium you have chosen and include that with your outline. It should be something that will help you create your own argument in that format (ie: if you choose “speech” you could look at lincoln’s “gettsyburg address” as your model.
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11pt;">Rd due on Thursday as usual.
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11pt;">If you have questions about this week’s changes please email Mr. cartier or me ( I expect you might have some questions).
 * <span style="font-family: Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial; font-size: 11pt;">This is a new twist for the class and if you have any other ideas about an alternative argument then run them by us.

Supplemental articles
>>> __[]__ >>> >>> A nice write up from the American Prospect. This is an opinion piece. >>> __[]__
 * http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/organgrinder/2009/oct/13/wire-drugs-season-3-episode-9
 * http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/10/22/071022fa_fact_talbot?printable=true
 * http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/01/the-angriest-man-in-television/6581/
 * http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/04172009/profile.html
 * This is a great interview from Slate. Although it touches on the fourth season, most of the interview pertains to Hampsterdam

__Week 3- 2011__
__<span style="color: #1616a3; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px;">Prompts __ <span style="color: #1616a3; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px;">Are Athletes Role Models? <span style="color: #1616a3; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px;">Celebrity- Why do we care? <span style="color: #1616a3; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px;">Prison's Impact on the Incarcerated. Rehabilitation or Punishment <span style="color: #1616a3; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px;">Animal Rights- Should animals be protected by law? <span style="color: #1616a3; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px;">Double Standard for Celebrities <span style="color: #1616a3; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px;">Should crime dictate whether you get a second chance? <span style="color: #1616a3; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px;">Role of $/Talent- Do celebrities get too many second chances? <span style="color: #1616a3; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px;">Athletic code of conduct/ Behavior Clauses <span style="color: #1616a3; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px;">Celebrities- Can they handle the spot light?
 * main article from SI: here
 * have article read and response posted by class (in "discussion forum" subpage)

Feedback from last week's essays:

 * Build off of previous week.
 * Emails – Be on time!!!!!
 * Make sure to hand in final draft, rough draft, and peer review.
 * Titles – Peer reviewers help with them.
 * Using Sources – Answers.com is not the most reliable. Look for where answer came from.
 * Thesis – Make sure they are debatable. Peer Reviews should give feedback.
 * Works Cited Page – Do not need URLs
 * Peer Review – Impressed with them, but step up your game more. Use a critical eye.
 * Articles from class – Use in your essay.
 * Do not use 1st or 2nd person.
 * Know when to use quotations.

==

==

Week 2- 2011
the Newseum "frontpages" resource is here
 * ====**Thursday homework**: (Remember to read assigned pages in __A Writer's Reference__) Submit links in the discussion forum or print our your articles.====

====**Articles for this week:** here (Christian Science Monitor piece) and here (The Atlantic piece).==== -Responses should be posted in the discussion tab of the "discussion forum" before class on Monday.

**- Essay Prompts:**

 * Morality and Free Speech.
 * “Mainstreaming of Extremism” Upside to this?
 * Is this more of a “right wing” problem? Impact of Extremism in the Republican/Democratic Parties.
 * Does Canada have it right?
 * Involve an actual case involving Free Speech (Harold Turner, etc.)
 * Political divide in the U.S. (Red States vs. Blue.)
 * Hate Speech and Sports.
 * First Amendment - Does it need to be amended?
 * Role of Cable TV in H.S. -Entertainment vs. Journalism.
 * Role of Internet: Instant Speech -does it lead to less thoughtful speech?

Good and Bad about the essays:

> Sam Fifer posted this.
 * Titles were creative and thoughtful (Use subtitle to explain)
 * Audience Attractor – ties in nicely with title.
 * Name mentioning – do not use just last name right off. Do not assume audience knows it.
 * Sources – be careful about assessing the quality of sources before using them.
 * Structure: Body Paragraphs – Opening and closing sentences. Keep reader on track. Do not just state background information.
 * Are body paragraphs advancing thesis?
 * Revision – proofread.
 * Quotes – Don't drop quotes. Elaborate and explain how it advances your point.
 * Do not use contractions.

Week 1- 2011

 * Class 1 will be at 2:00pm on Tuesday February 22nd in the Brainerd Room**.
 * For that class you should have the article read (see below for link to article if you have lost your hard copy) and annotated.
 * Post one comment to the "discussion forum" (link on left) about the article before class on Tuesday. This can be in the form of a thoughtful response to another comment.
 * Bring a notebook, __A Writer's Reference__, writing utensils, the article and the "Purpose" sheet you have been given for the course.
 * If you have read the article ahead of time, please review it before class and come prepared with things to say.
 * Article link: here

- Essay Prompts:

 * Is Gladwell wrong? Examine unrest in North Africa and the Middle East.
 * “Anti-Social” Media – Examine weak ties that the Internet creates.
 * Can Social Media be used as a tool for international diplomacy (by the U.S.)?
 * “Twitter Revolution” –Iran.
 * Social Media/Internet as a tool for change.
 * Gladwell’s Bias –Techniphobe?

**Resources:**
 * media type="custom" key="8455396"
 * opposing article: http://gigaom.com/2011/02/03/gladwell-still-missing-the-point-about-social-media-and-activism/
 * Gladwell's follow up article: here

=Spring 2010=

=Week 5- Portfolios and Debates=
 * go
 * go
 * go

= = =**Week 4- May 10, 2010**=

[|Article: here]
Essay Prompts:
 * Remember to develop an arguable and engaging thesis. Check with a teacher if you are unsure of your teacher's merits.**
 * Society's obsession with athletes
 * Athletes as role models
 * Entitlement of Athletes
 * Privacy rights of athletes and celebrities and their public personage
 * Refusal to Serve
 * Behavior Clause in athlete's contracts
 * Athletes attending college before going pro.
 * Real consequences for athlete's ethical lapses
 * Celebrity status and the law
 * Journalists protecting athletes/celebrities
 * Journalists preying on celebrities/athletes [paparazzi]
 * Violent sports and their impact on the individual who plays them

= =

=**Week3- May 2, 2010**= >>>> ed] = = = =
 * ===Possible Essay Prompts:===
 * The internet's proliferation of information: god or bad?
 * Personal and public information online.
 * Embedded journalists
 * Whistleblower laws
 * Responsibility of journalists to protect government and people's interests?
 * How much freedom should journalists be allowed?
 * Should journalists ever be held legally responsible for not revealing sources?
 * Online downloading's economic and/or cultural impact.
 * Increasing reliance on the internet?
 * Is targeted advertising too invasive?
 * Acceleration of the evolution of technology and changing of trends.
 * Internet as a marketing tool.
 * Could Google be a more forceful influence on China's policy than the U.S. government?
 * Effectiveness of internet advertising in terms of selling products?
 * interesting article on "factchecking" and politico.com: [|here]
 * ===The Journalism-Technology interface and how media is evolving. (w/ a side dish of Bias and Media Criticism).===
 * __Gizmodo and iPhone case:__ [|here]
 * Other links on the iPhone topic:
 * http://gizmodo.com/5525388/the-investigation-into-that-missing-iphone-[updat
 * http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-april-28-2010/appholes
 * ======Good spin on the story: [|here]======
 * ====__NB article on Online Media and Polarization:__ [|here]====
 * ====Other links on the media study:====
 * ====The study: [|here]====
 * David Brooks Op-Ed on the same study: [|here]

=**Week 2- April 26, 2010**=
 * __Thursday Homework__: Find an example of bias in mainstream media reporting (nightly news, newspaper, Newsweek, Time, etc...). Write 1-2 paragraphs on how this is bias and bring in article and write-up. **For Extra Credit compare two takes on the same story and explain how they are biased writing.**
 * **Use this link for front page news from all over the country: [|Newseum frontpages]**

>> -Impacts of Immigration on U.S. >> -Racial Profiling >> -Challenges Created by Clashing Cultures >> -What should be done with bike lane in Wburg >> -Sensitivity vs. Freedom of Expression >> -Religion infringing on other rights >> -Effective deterrents to illegal immigration >> -States Taking the lead on illegal Immigration Policy
 * ===Bearded Ones, Bikes and a Sect.===
 * Main Article from New York Magazine: [|here.]
 * Possible prompts for your essay:
 * **Prompts:**
 * **Prompts:**

= = = =
 * //**Argument Video Links** should be inserted in a discussion thread above with the link and your name in the comment box. Maybe explain the link with a 1-2 sentences of why you think it make a good argument.//

=**Week 1- April 19, 2010**=
 * ===The Tea Party, The Presidency, and Race and other Demographic Considerations.===
 * -Article from Frank Rich: [|Welcome to Confederate History Month]
 * The revised proclamation: [|here]
 * A discussion of some of McDonnel's view at Pat Robertson's University: [|here]
 * - [| Poll Finds Tea Party Backers Wealthier and More Educated] - By [|KATE ZERNIKE] and [|MEGAN THEE-BRENAN]


 * ===Essay Prompts for Week 1:===
 * 1) Celebrating the confederacy: right or wrong?
 * 2) Tea Party.
 * 3) Has Obama's election help or hurt race relations?
 * 4) Has "'too much' been made of the problems of balck people"?
 * 5) Volunteer militia
 * 6) Oklahoma Militia- connection with Timothy Mcveigh.
 * 7) Another topic you had approved by Mr. Hayden or Mr. Cartier

=__**Fall 2009:**__=

Week 4- Taxing your Coke

 * **Article for this week:** link to the __Upfront__ article: [|here]
 * Have article read for class on Tuesday (December 1, 2009)
 * Choose partners and debate topics for Wednesday. Debate topics[[file:DEBATETOPICSc.doc]]

Essay topics:
 * Are "junk food" taxes the logical next step from current sin taxes?
 * Is this an example of big government overstepping its bounds?
 * Why stop with food? Tax cable, video games, the internet and other factors that contribute to our obese, sedantary society.
 * Are we using this tax in the right way? Is their a better way to do it (examine other countrie's approaches)?
 * Do sin taxes unfairly punish the poor?
 * Personal fitness/ obesity- diet versus exercise.
 * Do schools have the right to control the students diet?
 * Are taxes an acceptable responsibility of community members or a waste of money?
 * Is government legislation an effective way to improve American's health?

Week 3: "What's a Big City Without a Newspaper?"
article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/09/magazine/09Newspaper-t.html?pagewanted=all

//Possible essay topics://
 * Who cares? (why does the decline of print journalism [newpapers] matter?)
 * What's the face of new media going to look like?
 * Has this country become too divided? (by race, wealth, politics, etc...)
 * Bias in the media
 * "Journalism __by__ the public, for the public". Is this trend a good or bad thing?
 * Is online advertising effective (as effective as other mediums)?
 * Compare a news story in different outlets to identify bias and compare quality of reporting (regional differences, online versus print, Big J versus little j, etc...)
 * Politicians and the press. Is this relationship changing, getting worse/better?
 * Community funded reporting and picking of the news stories (Spot.us)- Is it appropriate for citizens to decide which stories should be investigated?
 * Wikipedia
 * Internet news sources deliver more meaningful and relevant news.
 * Foundation financed journalism versus a for-profit, market driven journalism.
 * Using Criagslist is a security risk
 * Craigslist is bad for the economy
 * other approved topic


 * Thursday-Sweet and Savory-**
 * Sweet: - Donut Activity-
 * Savory: - Onion

**__ W eek 2__**
Article for this week from GQ: http://www.gq.com/news-politics/big-issues/200907/wisconsin-high-school-sex-scandal-online-facebook?currentPage=1


 * Patrick and Dan**- submit article summaries (180-250 words) in the discussion section (Tab above)


 * Essay ideas so far:**
 * How should "sex ed." be handled in the U.S.?
 * Parental oversight and involvement in online activity
 * Technology's role in the future of education
 * Impact of internet/technology on privacy rights
 * Damage control- sometimes trying to clean up or end a situation makes it worse.
 * Differing reactions of the parents vs. students regarding Tony Stancl
 * Technology in the school (what is the right role for technology in schools in general?)
 * Digital I.D.s and online monitoring (would it make a safer, better world?)
 * approved other topic??

Week 1: 11/02-11/07- **__The Story of a Snitch__**- Jeremy Kahn. Link to article: http://www.theatlantic.com/ doc/200704/stop-snitching

Essay Prompts:
 * American Dream- Alive or Dead?
 * Witness Protection- Changes?
 * Can America's inner cities be fixed?
 * Working with cooperating criminals- an effective crime fighting strategy?
 * Was racism involved with media's coverage of snitching?
 * Self preservation versus civic responsibility
 * Is the government capable of solving problems of inner cities? Can solutions come from somewhere else?
 * Witnesses who don't report crimes- should there be consequences?

Related links:

Links__:__


 * __Criticism of Anderson Cooper's depiction of the "stop snitching movement" and his 60 minutes story featuring rapper Cameron Giles: [|here]__
 * __The 60 Minutes story plus Cameron’s apology with viewer feedback (click on the video to watch original piece):[|here]__
 * __the "Stop F#$**&# Snitching" video, and two other related videos: http://podcasts.theatlantic.com/2007/04/snitching.php**__

=Spring 2009=

__**Week 4 (May 18- May 25):**__
Soldiers and Iraq

__Essay prompts:__ __**1. Should psychological counseling be mandatory for all soldiers with combat experience?**__ __**2. Does U.S. military training get soldiers ready for modern warfare?**__ __**3. Should the U.S. military limit the number of tours of duty for a soldier to one?**__ __**4. Do mental health issues receive sufficient attention, regard in the U.S.?**__ __**5. Consider the role of masculinity in the military**__ __**6. Women in the Military**__ __**7. Topic of your choice, be sure to get approval from Hayden or Cartier.**__

__**Week 3 (May 11- May 18):**__
Energy, the environment and globalization :


 * __The main article by can be found[| here]__**

__Essay prompts:__ __**1. Does our dependence on "middle eastern oil" threaten our national security?**__ __**2. Should China be held accountable for valuing economic development over environmental impact?**__ __**3. Does the "greening" of our energy infrastructure damage our economy?**__ __**4. Review the last sentence of the article and support or refute it.**__ __**5. Are hybrid cars more environmentally hazardous than helpful?**__ __**6. Do hybrid cars provide an effective way to lessen our dependence on foreign oil?**__ __**7. Is China destroying itself for economic profit?**__ __**8. Is the U.S. destroying itself for economic profit?**__ __**9. Evaluate U.S. dependence on a foreign nation.**__ __**10**. Could the next world war be fought because of the environment?__ __**11. Can going green help the economy of a nation?**__

__**Week 2 (May 3- May 9):**__
The "Swine Flu" and the U.S.-Mexico Border:


 * __The main article by Tony Dolz can be found [|here]__**

__Essay prompts:__ __**1. Assess the American response to the swine flu.**__ __**2. Is building a fence on the border an effective measure for border control?**__ __**3. Should illegal immigrants be deported?**__ __**4. Has racism been a factor in hyping the swine flu story?**__ __**5. Do we need illegal immigrants for a functional economy?**__ __**6. What is the media’s responsibility to be objective?**__ __**7. Assess Obama’s plan for immigration control**__

__**Week 1 (April 27- May 2):**__
Somalia and Modern Piracy:
 * __The two articles to have read by Tuesday are the BBC article: "Piracy symptom of bigger problem" by Roger Middleton (found [|here]__**


 * __and the Time article by Christopher Caldwell: "No Surrender to Somali Pirate Thugs" (found [|here]__**

__There are several other articles on this topic:__ __**-"The Truth about the Somali Pirates"- Atlantic article: ([|here])**__ __**-"Italian Cruise ship thwarts pirate attack" [|(here)]**__ __**-"The Pirate King of Somalia"- ([|here])**__ __**-Pirate prisoner child in U.S.- [|(here])**__ __**...and much more about piracy and Somalia in general.**__

__Essay Prompts for week 1:__

 * 1) __**//Are the Somali pirates capitalists or terrorists?//**__
 * 2) __**//Caldwell discusses 3-4 proposed solutions for the Somali piracy problem in his article in//**__ **//Time__. What is the best possible solution?__//**
 * 3) **__//Respond to the two closing sentences of Caldwell's article in//__ //Time__.__//**
 * 4) **__//Should we be focusing on the root (famine, drought, poverty, etc...) or the symptoms (piracy) of the problem in Somalia?//__**
 * 5) **__//Middleton claims that the piracy issue is just the "visible tip" of a "web of challenges... that reaches across... the world". Agree or disagree?//__**
 * 6) **__//"Dealing with symptoms" (Middleton) is the major flaw in the last twenty years of U.S. foreign policy.//__**
 * 7) **__//It is international commerce (through toxic dumping, tuna poaching, etc..) that is causing Somali piracy.//__**
 * 8) **__//The U.S. should not have backed the 2006 Ethiopian invasion of Somalia.//__**
 * 9) **__//The two viewpoints from the reading are representative of their nation's (England and the U.S.) foreign policy.//__**
 * 10) **__//Roger Middleton works with the think tank, Chatham House. Are think tanks valuable sources of journalism? Are think tanks valuable sources of policy?//__**

2008- Old Stuff __Week 4- Human cloning, dolly the sheep and designer babies.__ __**Reading for the week: From the Sepet-Oct 2006 issue of**__ **The Futurist__. "Designer babies and the 21st century cures: Ian Wilmut, the geneticist who cloned Dolly the sheep, plunges headfirst into the cloning debate in //After Dolly//".__** __The article is [|here].__

__**There are a lot of good articles on this topic:**__


 * April 2007 article about the science and ethics involved with the idea of designer babies: [|here]
 * Current NYT article about breakthrough with human embryo: [|here]
 * A closer look at the ethics from a NYT article from last fall: [|here]
 * Trusted and concise breakdown of cloning techniques and technologies: [|here]
 * Detailed discussion between a journalist and experts on debateable aspects of this issue: ethical, medical, religious. [|here]
 * Broad strokes of the cloning issue and the science behind it from howstuffworks.com:[|here]

Essay Prompts:


 * What should be the limit of stem cell therapy?
 * Should the United States worry about government regulation leading to scientists and scientific knowledge being lost to other countries?
 * Abortion rights: when does an embryo become human?
 * In what situations should cloning be allowed?
 * Should government regulate gentic engineeering/science:
 * Limitatins on stem cell research
 * Genetically modified food
 * Will genetic engineering create more problems (overpopulation, ethical dilemmas, etc..) than it will solve?
 * Should religion impact government decisions?
 * Seperation of church and state

__Week 3- "Conspiracy Theory"**- Small Town and big-time lawyers take on Oil and Energy Companies.**__


 * __**The article this week is from**__ **The Atlantic __magazine. It is found online now at: [|here] and in the current issue (the June 2008 issue) of The Atlantic on pg. 32.__**

__Topics and possible Essay Prompts discussed:__

 * __**Is it cost-prohibitive for an individual to "go green"?**__
 * __**Is it fair to blame corporations for the environmental problems we have all helped create?**__
 * __**Is current American society too litigious?**__
 * __**Impact of rising gas prices.**__
 * __**Greenhouse gases- sole contributor to global warming?**__
 * __**Global warmings impact on the animal kingdom**__
 * __**Role of lobbying in U.S. Government.**__
 * __**Global warming- a myth?**__
 * __**Other causes of global warming besides human use of fossil fuels.**__
 * __**Can companies make money by going green?**__
 * __**Role of technology in "combating" climate change.**__
 * __**When will climate change and its implications be a priority for American citizens?**__
 * __**Actual damage of global warming**__
 * __**Kyoto Treaty**__
 * __**other approved topic.**__

__//-Extra credit: find a scientific article (published in a peer-reviewed publication) that disproves the theory that human consumption of fossil fuels is contributing significantly to global warming.//__ __*__

Week 2- The U.S. Military, Enlistment and the War in Iraq. __**May 5- May 10**__ __**Relevant Articles: (just a few, there are a limitless amount of articles related to this subject,.. a lot of online video too)**__ __Original two articles:__


 * __**Steven Green: [|here]**__
 * __**Military Waivers: [|here]**__

__**//Essay Prompts and ideas for Week 2://**__


 * __**Should the draft be reinstated?**__
 * __**Recruiter responsibilities**__
 * __**How should torture be used by the U.S. military and what should our policy be?**__
 * __**Should the U.S. have mandatory military service?**__
 * __**Have we adequately prepared our soldiers for this war?**__
 * __**Is increasing the granting of military waivers undermining "our military readiness" (waxman qtd. in "Bad Conduct")?**__
 * __**The army's policy of deferment for high-profile candidates.**__
 * __**When is civil disobedience called for?**__
 * __**What is the U.S. military's responsibility to injured war veterans?**__


 * __**A thorough discussion of our men in uniform and how they stack up to previous incarnations of the U.S. Army: [|The Army We Have]**__
 * __**Pat Tilman as a hero-soldier and the controversy surrounding his death:**__
 * __**Newsweek article (May 2008): [|here]**__
 * __**NPR article (includes link to the Defense Department's Investigation of his death): [|here]**__
 * __**Check out part of the ASVAB test (a test the army uses to judge qualifications and specialty areas of recruits):**__
 * __**[|here]<span class="wiki_link_ext"> and [|here]**__
 * __**An online process from the U.S. Army steers you towards specific jobs in the army: [|here]**__
 * __**Interesting discussion of people with AD/HD's potential to enlist and serve in the military: [|here]**__
 * __**Another article describing Steven Green's crime and other's involvement at Mahmudiya: [|here]**__
 * __**Waiver discussions (first is not well cited, but informative): [|here] and [|here]**__

__**Topics discussed as of Tuesday:**__


 * __**Desensitized soldiers are coping or putting on a show**__
 * __**Who are these soldiers and what kind of representatives of the U.S. are they?**__
 * __**What psychological criteria need to be met to join the armed forces?**__
 * __**Debatable pointlessness of the war in Iraq.**__
 * __**Military service as a part of rehabilitation.**__

Week 1- Obama, Clinton and the politics of 2008. **__April 28-May 3__**


 * __Essay prompts:__**


 * **__Negative campaigning__**
 * **__Bias in the media__**
 * **__Do we deserve nuanced debate? Do we want nuanced debate?__**
 * **__What is the role of media in shaping political campaigns/ candidates images?__**
 * **__Have there always been "high-priced political operatives" as part of U.S. presidential campaigns?__**
 * **__Our presidential electoral process needs to be more like__ 's?**
 * **What responsibility does the U.S. have as Israel's ally?**

2007- Old Stuff
Week 4: Rags to Riches
 * Article link [|(click here)]**
 * (to view the full article, login after following this link. Use the following:** username-zhayden, password-seniorsem**)**
 * -Related article in U.S. News and World Report ([|here])**
 * -An article on "economic mobility" ([|here])**
 * -A page with** 4 good articles **related to this week's topic ([|here])**

Essay Prompts:


 * In American society, "Inequality serves a purpose." __React.__
 * Should the Estate Tax be use as a tool to redistribute wealth?
 * Analyze the American Dream from WWII to today. What influenced these changes and where are we headed?
 * "[We are] a society of rigid economic order, maintained by inheritors, blessed by elites, and impotently endured by its underclass." __React.__

Week 3: Morality & its source.
 * Article 1-Discover Magazine(in the library)**
 * Article 2- American Scientist online [|(click here)]**

Essay Prompts**:**


 * **Were the protestors in Pinellas Park motivated by a moral response?**
 * **In the Schiavo case was moral response at odds with social institutions, such as law?**
 * **Is there a universal moral grammar?**
 * **Does the media manipulate people by provoking moral responses?**
 * **"In extraordinary circumstances like this, it is wise to always err on the side of life."- President Bush** React
 * **Do government's laws and punishments impede/hinder the development of our sense of morality?**
 * **"There are no moral phenomena at all, only a moral interpretation of phenomena"- Nietzsche** React
 * **"The essence of civilization is that the strong have a duty to protect the weak"- Jeb Bush** React
 * **"Religion, particularly Christianity, subjects individuals to a coercive and unauthentic morality"- Nietzsche** React
 * **The notion of //reciprocity// (otherwise known as "the golden rule") was discussed by Hauser. Is this a moral concept that is diminishing in modern society?**
 * **Other approved topics-**


 * Week 2:** Omerta **[|Article link]**
 * (to view the full article, login after following this link. Use the following:** username-zhayden, password-seniorsem**)**

Essay Prompts:


 * Should there be consequences for people who are knowledgeable of a crime but do not report it?
 * In the community discussed in this article, who is the ultimate authority? And who should be?
 * Is self-preservation more important than civic responsibility or a "moral code"?
 * Is giving leniency to cooperating criminals an acceptable crime fighting strategy?
 * By individauals not comming forward, are they giving power to the criminals?
 * Other approved topic.


 * __Links__:**


 * Criticism of Anderson Cooper's depiction of the "stop snitching movement" and his 60 minutes story featuring rapper Cameron Giles: [|here]
 * The 60 Minutes story plus Cameron’s apology with viewer feedback (click on the video to watch original piece):[|here]
 * [|www.iConn.org] - a search engine where all results will be legitimate sources (use infotrac file one when the results of your search appear)

Week 1: "Who can say what?"- Don Imus** //(to view the article online, click [|here] )//

Essay Prompts:

 * "Making jokes about difference- race, gender, sexual orientation, the whole list- is ultimately about power. You need to purchase the right to do it through some form of vulnerability, especially if you happen to be a rich, famous white man." React
 * Should the first amendment be changed to allow penalties for hateful speech?
 * Power Dynamic: Do people of power and influence need to be held more responsible for what they say?
 * Does a corporation have the right to fire people for what they say on the job?
 * Satire vs. Hate
 * Why was Imus fired: sponsors, outrage, money, politics??? why??
 * Why do such words have power over society? Do they?