America and the World - Is it True?

http://www.worldandischool.com/subscribers/searchdetail_headlines.asp?num=14623

Read the Article and please Respond to the prompts in COMPLETE sentences

Elite Respondents = Experts = CFR membersPublic = the general population that was surveyed about an issue  

1. What is the CFR and who are some of the people that make up this organization?
2. Define this statement - strong public ambivalence - what is it saying about America?
3. What time period is the current attitude being compared to? And - What is the attitude about American involvement in foreign affairs? 
4. Define - unilateralism - is this GOOD or BAD for America?
5. What are the TWO top Priorities for our Foreign Policy? According to the CFR
6. What are TWO examples of  where the "experts" think an issue is less important than the American "public"?
7. What does the "public" think of our involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq? Is there a difference between these numbers and the "experts"?
8. How do the "experts" feel about President Obama's foreign policy performance? What does the "public" say about the same issue?
9. What is the president's best rated Foreign Policy area    
10. (According to the "expert respondents") How did the president's handling of the Syrian situation change our world status? - be specific with your details
11. What are the THREE reasons (according to the "elite respondents") the "public" is disenchanted with the U.S. role in world affairs?
12. What is - war fatigue?
13. Is it a good thing that (according to the "elite respondents") that the U.S. is the world's leading military power and that China is now the world's leading economy?  Your opinion - please use facts and details to support your answer

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/10/business/they-loved-your-gpa-then-they-saw-your-tweets.html?ref=education

Please read the article and respond to the following prompts
Use facts and information from the article to support any OPINION prompt

1. After reading the opening to this article - what was the perspective student's mistake?
2. Should a college be able to "monitor" tweets with their name mentioned in the tweet? Why or why not?
3. What percentage of admissions officials visit social media sites - which sites do they visit?
4. What is the percentage of information found on these sites that could stop an admission to a college?
5. Define - Digital Footprint - list ALL the ways you think you can leave a DIGITAL FOOTPRINT -
NOT IN THE ARTICLE - THINK AND ALSO RESEARCH IT
6. Who else is LOOKING at your social media posts? What could this mean for you?
7. What seems to be the standard for notification when negative social media affects an admission?
8. Define - erroneously - then What are some of the mistakes that can be made by admissions officers?
9. What information in the article - sort of - contradicts the previous information about admissions and social media searches?  Should you believe this - why or why not?
10. How have students utilized social media or other digital sources to their advantage? Has this really helped students? 
GO TO NEXT PAGE
11. Where are other places admissions officers look for potential problems? 
12. How did Facebook keep a student out of Pitzer College?
13. What do you think of the Colgate policy? How did they follow up on a social media post and what was the outcome?
14. What is  Brookline High School doing to help students get admitted to college? Do you think this is ethical? Why or why not?
15. While you were reading this article? Did you think that you might have said or posted something on social media that could come back to get you later? Also Will having this knowledge change the way you interact on social media - why or why not?

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/08/opinion/nocera-why-the-debt-ceiling-matters.html?_r=0

Read this Article and respond to following prompts using facts and information from the article. If there is an OPINION prompt - please support your opinion with facts from the article or other sources.

WRITE IN COMPLETE SENTENCES

1. Who is "rooting" for the debt ceiling to be crossed?
2. Search the web - Who are the - Tea Party - what is their agenda?
3. According to the article - what is one of America's greatest assets and if it fails - what could happen?
4. How is the constitution - NOT supposed to let this type of financial crisis to occur?
5. What are TWO very important points about THE US GOVERNMENT DEBT?
6. What are TWO possible effects of the default on the American Debt?
7. What is "ironic" about the situation?
8. What are TWO ways the Banking System would be affected by allowing the US to default?
9. If the default does happen - Does the American Treasury Dept. have the authority to choose who gets paid? - Who would get paid and who might possibly not get paid?
10. How will all of this effect consumer confidence (DEFINE THIS- use the web) - what could happen?

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/30/us/politics/time-short-but-gop-leaders-say-shutdown-can-be-avoided.html?ref=us&_r=0

Read the article and respond to the following Prompts - Pleas e use evidence from the article to support your answers

1. What is the Senate probably going to Reject and why would this make other Republicans angry?
2. What happens at midnight tonight (for the government)?
3. What could happen if a spending Bill is not passed? - What does furlough mean?
4. What - Blame game - is happening in the Congress - who is the Protagonist in the senate? How is he trying to use "time" to effect an outcome?
5. Who are the democrats going to blame for a possible shutdown - why can they do this?
6. What do the republicans hope to GAIN from these threat of a possible shut down - what do they want?  There is NOT a direct answer for this prompt - read the article and write your response using at t\least TWO facts from the article or other sources to support your answer

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/30/us/politics/justice-department-poised-to-file-lawsuit-over-voter-id-law-in-north-carolina.html?ref=us

Read the following Article
Answer the prompts - some may be opinion questions - Please use facts to support your opinion
1. What is the constitutional issue at question here?
2. What will the Federal government address in their lawsuit against N.C.?
3. What is "pre clearance" - which amendment in the Bill of Rights would this idea seem to violate and WHY? _ you will have to read the amendments in the Bill of Rights in your text or on-line
4. What is the Republican stance on this issue and what is the Democratic stance on the issue?
5. What are SIX of the NEW N.C. restrictions on voting?
6. Why will the Justice department have a difficult time proving their case? - cite specific examples.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/09/15/school-district-monitors-social-media/2817299/

Read the article and respond to the following prompts
1. What is the issue at stake in this article?
2. What are the major issues being tracked by the school district?
3. What does the company do with the information it tracks from student's phones?
4. What are the major Apps being tracked?
5.What is the reason the district says it is tracking social media?
6. "deductive reasoning" Research this in the context of Social Media Monitoring - what does it mean?
7. What is the procedure for alerting the school of issues found in the social media?
8. What do you think of this policy? Please explain your answer and be thoughtful with your explanation/opinion?  

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/11/world/asia/china-cracks-down-on-online-opinion-makers.html?ref=world

Read this Article and then reply to the following prompts

1. Why are Chinese official so afraid of the Big V?
2. What are the Chinese doing to silence the voices of the internet?
3.Who is Charles Xue and why do the Chinese care who he is?  - Why was he "really arrested"?
4. "Officials have described their campaign as urgent surgery to drain toxic lies from the Internet".  
How are the officials in China trying to achieve this  (bizarre) goal?
5. Who is or are - Big V?
6. Who are the people that are using the Sina Weibo blog and why are many using it?
7. What are some ways Microbloggers have created "headaches for officials?
8. How have microblogs been used in a negative way? Not just politically?
9. What are some of the "guidelines" for bloggers - that could get them arrested?
10. What events inspired the government crackdown and WHY do you think this occurred?
11. Will this intimidation work? Your opinion and that of others

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/no-contact-for-german-labor-ministry-employees-after-work-new-guidelines-a-919463.html#spRedirectedFrom=www&referrrer=https://m.facebook.com

Please read this article and respond to the prompts using the reading and your thoughts on the issues or concepts discussed.

1. Is 'hyperconnectivity" a good thing or a bad thing? Support your opinion
2. Research the following - How much time does an average person spend on their digital device daily?
3. After reading this article - What do you think about the "principle of minimum intervention in leisure time." Do you think it will work - why or why not?
4. Do you think America companies should adopt similar rules - could they be enforced and who should enforce them?

http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestory/2013/08/20138237010745744.html

Please read this Article and then
WRITE - FIVE QUESTIONS OR PROMPTS THAT WILL ELICIT A RESPONSE BASED ON THE INFORMATION GATHERED FROM THE READING

ONE QUESTION OR PROMPT CAN ALSO BE AN OPINION QUESTION - BUT THE OPINION MUST BE SUBSTANTIATED

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/05/2013581576471212.html


Please read this article and answer the following prompts - IN COMPLETE SENTENCES WITH FACTS FROM THE ARTICLE TO SUPPORT YOUR ANSWERS

1. Why did the Syrian government cut internet services - according to activists in Syria?
2. Why is the internet so critical to the Syrian conflict?
3. Think - how has the internet changed warfare and global conflict? Please elaborate on your answers.
4. Who was blamed for the Blackout of the internet?
5. What do the activists claim to be the motivation to shut down phone and Internet services in Syria?
6. How does this article demonstrate digital vulnerability and the power of government- ANYWHERE?
7. Opinion - Should the US Government have the power to manipulate internet access during times of war and emergencies? Explain your answer

http://blog.simplyhired.com/2013/04/what-you-need-to-know-about-a-career-in-digital-marketing.html

Read the article and answer the following prompts

1. How has advertising changed in our recent history?
2. What are FIVE careers generated by these changes?
3. Click on the "search Digital marketing jobs" link and list TWO careers or jobs that look interesting or intriguing to you.
4. What are the aspects of "street smarts" that you already do? List them and any other "street smarts" digital tool you use on a regular basis
5. According to the article -   How can you become better at the things you already do? - How can you prove your abilities
6. What is a "shoestring thought-leader"?  - Which skill do you think is the most important and why?
7. What is a word used in this article that can not be taught or learned in school?
8. Why should you not be a  DIGITAL GENERALIST?
9. Look at the list of possible careers - Select the one that intrigues you the most - click on it - What types of jobs are available in this category? TWO EXAMPLES PLEASE
10 . What are the differences between - In- House and agency work in digital marketing?
11. No matter what path you choose in digital, there’s a common thread: “Working smart is the most important thing.  What does this statement mean?  

http://www.ehow.com/list_6770975_top-employers-look-job-seekers.html

http://www.kavaliro.com/top-10-skills-employers-are-looking-for

http://internships.about.com/od/internshipsuccess/a/workvalues.htm
There are TWO pages to this article

http://www.helium.com/items/543149-top-10-qualities-and-skills-employers-seek

Please respond to the following prompts based on the FOUR articles above

1. After reading through ALL four articles - LIST THREE attributes that are common to all FOUR

2. Of the THREE you just listed -
Which applies to you the MOST and WHY?
Which applies to you the LEAST and WHY?

3. After reading through ALL FOUR articles
Make a list of the TEN attributes that most apply to you from 1 to 10
1 is the attribute THAT IS YOU NEED TO PRACTICE OR BECOME BETTER AT DOING
10 IS THE ATTRIBUTE THAT YOU KNOW APPLIES TO YOU AND WILL NEED VERY LITTLE IF ANY WORK

http://www.forbes.com/sites/meghancasserly/2012/12/10/the-10-skills-that-will-get-you-a-job-in-2013/

After Reading this Forbes List -
1. List the TOP THREE THAT DESCRIBE YOU
2. Which of these attributes scares you the most and why?

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/15/us/missouri-school-trains-teachers-to-carry-guns.html?ref=us

Read the article - Answer the following prompts
THERE ARE TWO PAGES TO THE ARTICLE - PLEASE READ BOTH - THEN RESPOND TO THE PROMPTS

1. What do you think of this Missouri school district's policy?
2. What is the justification used by this district to allow this policy to move forward?
3. What are some alternatives to the idea of arming teachers in schools?
4. The article mentions - liability insurance - what do you think this means in this context?
5. What was THE most important part of the training for the teachers? - in your opinion  - EXPLAIN WHY YOU SELECTED YOUR ANSWER
6. Why were some parents upset over this new policy?
7. Opinion time - DO YOU THINK THIS IS A GOOD IDEA - WHY OR WHY NOT - PLEASE USE RATIONAL ARGUMENTS TO MAKE YOUR POINT

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/16/world/asia/afghanistan-opium-production-increases-for-3rd-year.html?ref=world

Read this article
Answer the following prompts

1. Why is there a possibility for Afghanistan to become the world's first "narco-state"?
2. How much of the world's heroin comes from Afghanistan - what is the projected amount in the years to come?
3.Why is there a connection between the "surge" of American troops into certain provinces and the rise of opium production?
4.What are at least THREE reasons for the expected rise in opium production?
5. What percentage of the GDP will opium make up in Afghanistan's economy?
6. If you were a farmer in Afghanistan - why would you be more likely to grow opium than other crops?
7. After reading this article - Research and answer - How many US soldiers have been killed and wounded in Afghanistan? How much money has been spent in Afghanistan?  Should we leave Afghanistan - why or why not? What do you think will happen to this country after we leave?
PLEASE USE FACTS TO SUPPORT YOUR OPINION

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/03/201331221118103218.html

read this article and answer the following prompts

1. Read the entire article FIRST - What is your immediate impression of the events described in the article?
2. Describe your feelings - Do you think the punishment fit the crimes? Why or why not?
3. Your opinion - If the US had this type of punishment - do you think people would think twice about committing crimes like - armed robbery?
4. What were at least THREE rights (that Americans have) that were violated during the arrest and prosecution of these people?
5. What is it about this article that makes you angry? - EXPLAIN
6. What is it about this article that you agree with? - EXPLAIN
7. Should the US government get involved in situations like this - why or why not?
8. Define - Humane executions - is there such a concept? Explain

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/14/science/earth/monarch-migration-plunges-to-lowest-level-in-decades.html?ref=world

Read this article answer the following prompts
1. What are the main reasons for the decline of the amount of Butterflies migrating?
2. What statistic shows the drastic decline of the butterfly population?
3. How has science and the need for the  increase of food security led to a sharp decline in the food source of the butterflies?
4. Explain the negative cause and effect cycle created by the loss of the butterflies - what is the evidence to support this cycle?
5. How have the governments tried to slow the loss of habitat of the butterflies?
6. What are the BIGGER issues (TWO) at work in this article? Think about this - use your knowledge from previous articles to answer this prompt.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/06/world/middleeast/gaza-marathon-canceled-after-women-are-barred-from-participating.html?ref=world

Read this article
Answer the following prompts

1. you will have to research a map for this - Where is Gaza? - be as specific as possible
2. What is historically significant about Gaza?  - You will have to research this as well
3. Why were women banned from running in this marathon?
4. Do you agree with the decision - canceling the race? Why or why not - please explain your answer
5. What is the "bigger" issue raised in this article?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/24/sequestration-cuts_n_2754957.html?ref=topbar

1. What is - sequestration?
2. What do the Democrats say will happen?
3. What is the Republican counter claim?
4. What are TWO ways the President thinks this problem could be solved?
5. List - with details - who will be directly affected by the cuts on Friday?
6. Who do the Republicans say are the cause of this LOOMING problem?
7. - You will have to research this - What is the biggest difference between the democrats and republicans on this issue?

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/06/opinion/the-global-farmland-rush.html?src=recg


This is a very disturbing article about Food, Land and Wealthy countries v. Poor countries

Read it carefully
1. Explain what is happening in this article - Who is being taken advantage of and why is this happening?
2. What is one promise made during these land deals that usually fails to materialize? WHY do you think this promise is not kept?
3. Who is the biggest loser in these deals and what do they lose?
4. Why is it so easy for foreign investors to acquire land so easily in these deals?
5. How do these land sales create REPRESSION? (what does this mean?) Who is being repressed?
6. What is driving this land grab? How or CAN it be stopped?

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/01/world/europe/in-iceland-court-says-a-girl-can-finally-use-her-name.html?ref=world

Read this short article
1. What is your first impression of what is discussed - how did it make you feel?
2. Should a country have the right to institute laws such as this? - Explain your answer - please write a well thought out response.
3. Why do you think the Icelandic government created and enforced this law?
4. Was the same law applied to boys?  You will have to search the web for this answer

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/06/science/earth/in-fields-and-markets-guatemalans-feels-squeeze-of-biofuel-demand.html?_r=0

Read this Article and answer the following prompts on the Blog so you and your classmates can react to and comment on the answers given.

How has Globalization created hunger and poverty in developing nations?
How has the developed world's desire for Biofuel increased chronic malnutrition?

How do you feel about this article's ideas?  - Its okay to state your opinion, BUT base it on facts?