President Trump and Foreign Policy

Choose an article using a foreign news source on United States' foreign policy including the President's actions.  The article should have been written within the last two months.  Write  two paragraphs, one summary and one reaction (15 pts.).  Also skim your classmates' entries and react to one that should be on a different topic. (5 pts.).

The Imperial Presidency?

Has the power of the Presidency become excessive?  Are the Article I powers to check the president become compromised over the course of recent administrations?  What has caused this shift of power over time?  Is it harmful or necessary for United States' international strength in the 21st Century?  Explore one or more of these questions by finding an article / (analysis or editorial okay), posting the link and title, writing a paragraph summary and a paragraph reaction.  15 pts.   React to a classmates post as well (evidence of having read it and reaction both necessary) 5 pts.   Both due by class on Friday 12/6.

Law Making Process

Click HERE to select a bill to follow:

WEEK 1

Scroll through the more than 400 bills that have a chance of being enacted until you find one that looks interesting (and that someone else hasn't already chosen).  Your post should include the following:

1. Bill #:  Name (and subject, if not obvious)
2. What would the bill would do?
3. Who is this bill likely to impact?
4. Explain why you selected this bill - this should include why you favor it or why you oppose it at this point.

10 pt.s

WEEK 2:  Due Friday by class

Explore your bill and complete the following:

     1.  Who authored it?  Are there cosponsors, and if so how many?  Look into the author and specualte or share why this person sponsored this bill.

     2.  What are people saying about it (not the author).  What is it's prognosis?  (Chance of passing).  Speculate as to why it has a high / or low chance of passing.

     3.  What is the bill's current status?

10 pts.

Explore your classmate's list of  bills.  Pick one that you might "co-sponsor", or activity seek to defeat.  Comment on it expressing reasons for your support or opposition.

5 pts.

The Money Race

After watching TED Talk in class about the Lesters, find an article that further informs you about campaign finance.  The size of the problem, the source, the implications....    After reading, share link and one paragraph summary and one reaction.  Skim classmates' posts and comment on a minimum of one classmates' post prior to class Monday.   (25 pts.)

To Impeach, or Not to Impeach?

Video: Impeachment is Broken

Watch the video linked above.  In the first of your 2 paragraph reaction, provide a personal reaction.  What are you left curious about, what more do you want to know,  do you agree or disagree with the opinion found within it?   In your second paragraph, summarize the opinion of impeachment from someone you respect.  Cite the source of that opinion with a link that others could follow.

The Immigration Debate

Students with a last name that begins with B-K, read the following article:

The U.S. Immigration Debate - Council on Foreign Relations

Students with a last name that begins with M-W, read the following article:

Key facts about U.S. immigration policies and proposed changes  -  Pew Research Center

This is to prepare all students for a debate - supporting or opposing President Trump Era immigration policies.  You do not know which side you will be directed to debate, so prepare for both. 

Your post must include 2 - 1 paragraph reactions to some content in your article.  Each paragraph must reference and include information from live links found within your assigned article.  There is no required comment this time, but the debate in class will be scored.  The blog will become a crowd sourced set of notes to dig through, with live links to follow to learn more about what a classmate posted.

Election 2020 - Who Do You Side With?

Visit the web site isidewith.com and take the quiz.  Take your time to be as accurate as possible.  In your post below discuss your results in the following way:
1.  Write one paragraph reacting to the results.  Were you suprised, dismayed, puzzled by some questions, or do you question its validity for some reason?  Explain.
2.  Visit the web site / and or search news about one or two of the candidates you were ranked closest to.  Write a second paragraph.  From what you found, share some information you liked about this candidate as well as some information you did not like.
3.  Skim classmates' posts and select one who sided with a candidate you thought you liked or are just curious about.  React to that classmate's second paragraph.

Our President and the Environment

This article (click on title box) addresses 15 President Trump administration effects on the environment.  Skim any posts already made to this blog, and then select one that hasn't already been blogged on by this class (after the first 15 students have posted, there can be a second post on any one of the 15 topics).  Read your section, then search for and read an article that you believe is a quality source (remember IAMVAIN criteria).   Do NOT use National Geographic as your source.  Your post to this blog should do the following:

1.  List number and heading (from the National Geographic post, ie. 1. U.S. pulls out of Paris Climate Agreement) so your classmates know which one you are addressing.

2.  Paste title of your article and a link to that article.

3.  Write a paragraph summary and a paragraph personal reaction to this move.  (I consider a paragraph a minimum of 5 sentences.)  

4.  Comment (2-3 sentences) on at least 1 classmate's post.  Your comment should identify content from classmate's post and your opinion, with an explanation for that opinion.

DEMOCRACY DIES IN DARKNESS?

Facebook Removed Nearly 3.4 Billion Fake Accounts In 

6 Months

Your blog assignment this week - due Friday before class (the 30th):

Analyze these charts and read this short article and react.  A paragraph reaction should include some observations and what you think about them.  You must also interact 1 time.  2 -3 sentence comment on another classmate's post which proves you read their paragraph and reflected respectfully.

Torn From the Headlines

Select an article from a quality source about a hot political topic, like those pictured from headlines above.   Skim those above you to ensure you do not read the exact same article as another student has already posted.  Write a paragraph summary and paragraph reaction.  This is due to be posted no later than Monday May 20th.  Comment / react to 2 classmates' posts prior to class on Friday.  

The President's Cabinet - In the News

For your selected department, look up general information about what your department or agency does, as well as a current event that involves your cabinet specifically.  Follow the directions for your post.

Title your comment by your department title in all CAPS... ie.  DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Write a paragraph about your cabinet - who the head appointed official is, their background / expertise in the subject area, and then a few sentences about what your cabinet or agency does for the government.

Next post the link to your article, and the title of your article.  The paragraph that follows should include a summary of the topic in the news and your reaction to the topic.

This is due by class time FRIDAY APRIL 12th.

Department Assignments:

Is Congress Broken?

Find a quality recent article that evaluates the effectiveness of Congress in some way.  Read it and decide your opinion.  Yes, Congress is broken or No.   Post the following:

YOUR ANSWER, IN ALL CAPS - YES OR NO.
The title of your article and link where you found it.

1 paragraph summary and 1 paragraph reaction.  20 points

Skim classmate's posts then select one classmate's post you disagree with and react to it.  You must select something from the substance of their reaction to counter.  10 points

BOTH ARE DUE PRIOR TO CLASS FRIDAY.

Trade Wars

Read this: Trade Wars and How They Effect You

Read the article.  List 5 items (number them).  Questions you have, facts in the article that stand out, or you think may need to be fact checked / corroborated.    You will earn 10 points for thoughtful / intellectual submissions.  Skim classmates posts above - I don't want to see you mimic eachother's points.  Explore site enough to show unique evidence.This is due by Friday's class.

The Race is On!!

Find an article about the Presidential race for 2020.  Post a link to your article, a paragraph summary (highlight information about issues candidates focus on / not just horse race coverage) and a paragraph reaction (include explicit connections to content of this course so far).    15 points

Read and react to two classmate's comments by class time for an additional 10 points.  BOTH are due by Friday's class time (March 8th).

State of the Union Speech

Watch the video found at:  The Key Moments: President Trump's 2019 State of the Union Speech | NYT News, and find a quality article on President Trump's State of the Union Address, 2019. 

Post a link to your article, a paragraph summary and a paragraph reaction.  This is Due Tuesday February 12 for 15 points.

React to two classmate's comments by class time Friday February 15th for an additional 10 points.

Fighting Fake News With Facts - AP Gov. Blog

Choose one of the sources known for factual reporting with little partisan bias.  Search for the "political" section at this site and select one article of interest for you to read.  Post as a comment below a 2 paragraph reflection.  Start your post with the title of the article and a link to it.  Then write the first paragraph as a summary and the second paragraph should be your reaction to the content.

My definition of a paragraph is never shorter than 5 sentences.

Before you post, skim classmate's posts.  If someone has already posted on something similar to your subject, you should post as a comment to their post, so we keep a thread of similar content together.  You should not post about the same exact article / source.  Due Friday - 1/25 This is worth 15 points.

COMMENT ON 2 CLASSMATE'S DIFFERENT SUBJECTS by the following Tuesday - 1/29.  A comment only has to be a few sentences long, just evidencing that you read their summary / reaction and thought about it.  This will be worth an additional 10 points.