The Couric/Palin Interview and SNL
The Debate in Sunday Review
Debate in 1 minute
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Sunday Show Roundup (Elections)
This group (Talking Points Media) is generally a more leftist group, (meaning they lean towards the Democrats) but weekly they do a "Sunday Show Roundup" in which they pull clips from several political shows on Sunday and basically show what people are talking about.
What are people talking about?
What are people talking about?
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Sept McCain and Republican Ads (Elections)
"Crisis" Ads
"Enough is Enough" Ads
"Original Mavericks" Ad
"Foundation" Ad
"Disrespectful" Ad
"Enough is Enough" Ads
"Original Mavericks" Ad
"Foundation" Ad
"Disrespectful" Ad
Sept Obama and Democrat Advertisements (elections)
"Plan for Change" Ad
"Sold Us Out" Ad
"Fundamentals" Ad
"Honor" Ad
"The McCain Gamble"
"Sold Us Out" Ad
"Fundamentals" Ad
"Honor" Ad
"The McCain Gamble"
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
You Decide Issues (Elections)
This website features a devil's advocate to issues.
Pick one of the issues available, state your preference and learn about the arguments from the other side.
Soon we will watch the presidential and vice presidential debates where each side will argue about these same things in an attempt to convince the undecided voters that they have better policy positions. In the past presidential candidates have relied on many different types of arguments including appeals to people's emotions ("I'm one of you, " I grew up... or my parents struggled..." "I recently talked to this person who is in trouble" ) and informative arguments like the ones that this website makes.
Which is more convincing?
Do you think the voters agree?
Pick one of the issues available, state your preference and learn about the arguments from the other side.
Soon we will watch the presidential and vice presidential debates where each side will argue about these same things in an attempt to convince the undecided voters that they have better policy positions. In the past presidential candidates have relied on many different types of arguments including appeals to people's emotions ("I'm one of you, " I grew up... or my parents struggled..." "I recently talked to this person who is in trouble" ) and informative arguments like the ones that this website makes.
Which is more convincing?
Do you think the voters agree?
States by Electoral votes (Elections)
As we have already learned, in order to win a Presidential Election a candidate must have 270 of the 536 possible electoral votes.
A candidate receives those votes by winning a state. In some cases a state may split their electoral votes to distribute the votes more democratically.
Using this Poll Data
and the electoral map showing how many votes each state receives,
try to figure out a few winning combinations of states.
Using the Poll Data again, what are some common elements of Blue States(Democrat Leaning)? of Red States(Republican Leaning)?
(Where are they located? What do you know about those areas? Are they rich/poor? What kinds of industries/businesses do they have? Are they heavily populated or not?)
The 2000 election came down to Florida, the 2004 election came down to Ohio, Do you think that something like that could happen again? (Which states seem to be possible showdowns? Why?) -check out these links if you need help.
(This poll data comes from "battle ground" states, is it helpful?)
(These are some of the daily headlines concerning polling from one of the major organizations that collects this data)
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
World History
Instructions:
Go this website
1) Go through the time line to see when inventions, civilizations and events came to be.
2) Record at least 5 of the events in your notes and say why they are significant to you.
3) Do the geography exercises below.
Go this website
1) Go through the time line to see when inventions, civilizations and events came to be.
2) Record at least 5 of the events in your notes and say why they are significant to you.
3) Do the geography exercises below.
African Geography
Instructions:
GO to this site:
Look at the tutorial for either African "Countries", or African "Landscapes."
-continue trying the different landscape categories (rivers, oceans).
When you think you are ready for a challenge (in the countries category) try the third level.
If you are really awesome try the 6th level.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
PRIMARY DAY (Elections)
It is Primary Day in the state of MN
What is a primary?
From Wikipedia
"A primary election (nominating primary), also referred to simply as a primary, is an election in which voters in a jurisdiction select candidates for a subsequent election. In other words, primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the following general election. "Primaries" are common in the United States, where their origins are traced to the progressive movement. There, primary elections are conducted by government on behalf of the parties. Elsewhere in the world, the nomination of candidates is usually the responsibility of the political party organizations themselves and does not involve the general public."
Why does a primary matter?
Earlier this year representatives of each party had the opportunity to choose one candidate from a group of candidates during what is called a "caucus." A caucus is usually a long boring meeting in which people from the party discuss party politics such as: what will be the parties goals, what rules should we follow, who should we support, etc.
These meetings can last a whole day and sometimes longer, but by the end of the caucus there is usually a political nominee chosen by the party to represent it.
During a primary, the regular citizens (not at the party meeting) can choose whether they agree with the party or not.
What is a primary?
From Wikipedia
"A primary election (nominating primary), also referred to simply as a primary, is an election in which voters in a jurisdiction select candidates for a subsequent election. In other words, primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the following general election. "Primaries" are common in the United States, where their origins are traced to the progressive movement. There, primary elections are conducted by government on behalf of the parties. Elsewhere in the world, the nomination of candidates is usually the responsibility of the political party organizations themselves and does not involve the general public."
Why does a primary matter?
Earlier this year representatives of each party had the opportunity to choose one candidate from a group of candidates during what is called a "caucus." A caucus is usually a long boring meeting in which people from the party discuss party politics such as: what will be the parties goals, what rules should we follow, who should we support, etc.
These meetings can last a whole day and sometimes longer, but by the end of the caucus there is usually a political nominee chosen by the party to represent it.
During a primary, the regular citizens (not at the party meeting) can choose whether they agree with the party or not.
This is important because the caucus was held in spring and a lot could change by the time of the election. For example, if a nominee was chosen in spring who had a clean record, but during the summer they got into a drunk driving accident, the people could choose a new representative to run during the election.
How can I be involved? (this is the best question to ask yourself)
1) Go here to see where you vote.
2) Go here for more information on voting.
3) Go here to see a huge list of all the offices being voted on.
4) Look around the Secretary of State page.
1) Go here to see where you vote.
2) Go here for more information on voting.
3) Go here to see a huge list of all the offices being voted on.
4) Look around the Secretary of State page.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Choose a Candidate (Elections class)
This multiple choice test will help you determine which presidential
or senatorial candidate most closely matches your views.
Instructions:
1) Go to website, click on "U.S. President" or "U.S. Senator"
2) Read the descriptions of the issue, and find the opinion that matches yours (if any).
3) Make sure to rate how important the issue is to you.
4) When you have finished record the results in your notes including the percentage they matched with you, and some issues that stood out as having similar positions (green checks) or dissimilar (red x's).
5) Click on the candidate that most closely matched with you to read more about their positions.
6) Compare with someone else who has finished. We will discuss as a class.
Anything surprise you?
or senatorial candidate most closely matches your views.
Instructions:
1) Go to website, click on "U.S. President" or "U.S. Senator"
2) Read the descriptions of the issue, and find the opinion that matches yours (if any).
3) Make sure to rate how important the issue is to you.
4) When you have finished record the results in your notes including the percentage they matched with you, and some issues that stood out as having similar positions (green checks) or dissimilar (red x's).
5) Click on the candidate that most closely matched with you to read more about their positions.
6) Compare with someone else who has finished. We will discuss as a class.
Anything surprise you?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
