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In order to leave a comment you will have to select “view comments” and select “comment.” Type your name into the top slot (you do not need to type in your email), then type your comment into the text box. I suggest previewing your comment before posting because grammar and communication skills are being graded as well as the content of your writing. Finally, “post response” and then read and respond to at least two (2) other comments posted.
Positive Discussion Behaviors Negative Discussion Behaviors Giving your opinion 2 pts. Interrupting -2 pts. Making inferences 4 pts. Repeating -2 pts. Giving examples 3 pts. Introducing unrelated topic -2 pts. Referring to/Quoting the text 4 pts. Dominating -2 pts. Making Connections 3 pts. Personal Attack -5 pts. Recognizing contradictions 2 pts. Distracting others -5 pts. Asking thoughtful questions 3 pts. Never speaking 0 pts. Building on other’s ideas 3 pts. Involving others 4 pts. Affirming other’s viewpoints 3 pts. Asking clarifying questions 3 pts. Combining information (To come up w/ a new idea) 3 pts. Guidelines for Discussion *Refer to the text when you need to during the discussion. *Ask for clarifications; do not stay confused. *Stick to the point. *Don’t raise hands; take turns. *Use your “public” voice so that you can be heard by everyone. *Talk to each other, not just to me. Good discussion questions . . . *do not have obvious or “right” answers. *go beyond the text and make participants in the discussion connect to the text, predict what will happen next, and/or evaluate characters and events. *are general, not specific. Questions with specific answers do not create discussion. Good sentence starters . . . I see, but … I see things differently in that … My perspective is … I feel that … From my point of view … I believe … because … That’s how I feel too, considering … Okay, but what if … Granted, however, … Yes, but what about … Yes, I think so too … I totally agree, considering that … That makes sense to me because … That’s exactly what I think … I don’t think so, given that … In my opinion … Yes, but have you thought about …
- Deliberating the Issues - Defense
Following the Panel Discussion, students are to participate in class discussion on the political issue being discussed. Dueing this discussion you are to join the directly oral discussion taking place in calss and participate in the discussion on the blog. You need to share your personal opinion as well as respond to other students and/or discussion in the class.
- Deliberating the Issues - Education
Following the Panel Discussion, students are to participate in class discussion on the political issue being discussed. Dueing this discussion you are to join the directly oral discussion taking place in calss and participate in the discussion on the blog. You need to share your personal opinion as well as respond to other students and/or discussion in the class.
- Deliberating the Issues - Energy & Environment
Following the Panel Discussion, students are to participate in class discussion on the political issue being discussed. Dueing this discussion you are to join the directly oral discussion taking place in calss and participate in the discussion on the blog. You need to share your personal opinion as well as respond to other students and/or discussion in the class.
- Deliberating the Issues - Foreign Policy
Following the Panel Discussion, students are to participate in class discussion on the political issue being discussed. Dueing this discussion you are to join the directly oral discussion taking place in calss and participate in the discussion on the blog. You need to share your personal opinion as well as respond to other students and/or discussion in the class.
- Deliberating the Issues - Gay Rights/Marraige
Following the Panel Discussion, students are to participate in class discussion on the political issue being discussed. During this discussion you are to join the participate in the discussion on the blog. You need to share your personal opinion as well as respond to other students and/or discussion in the class.
- Deliberating the Issues - Immigration
Following the Panel Discussion, students are to participate in class discussion on the political issue being discussed. Dueing this discussion you are to join the directly oral discussion taking place in calss and participate in the discussion on the blog. You need to share your personal opinion as well as respond to other students and/or discussion in the class.
- Deliberation the Issues - Abortion
Following the Panel Discussion, students are to participate in class discussion on the political issue being discussed. Dueing this discussion you are to join the directly oral discussion taking place in calss and participate in the discussion on the blog. You need to share your personal opinion as well as respond to other students and/or discussion in the class.
- Here we go again?
As you read the chapter How Government Created the Housing Bubble from Thomas Woods' book Meltdown, contribute to the blog discussion to:
1. show your understanding of the business cycle
2. connect evidence from the chapter that shows the government's interaction with the economy
3. support your own argument defending or opposing the statement that the government created the housing bubble.
Directions:
1. You must have placed a minimum of 3-4 comments on the blog by Wednesday (based on the first 5 pages of the reading and notes from class;
2. You must have placed a minimum of 3-4 comments on the blog by Thursday (based on the last 5-6 pages of the reading and notes from class;
3. The discussion will continue in class on Monday (3/11).
ALWAYS BE SURE TO PLACE YOUR NAME ON EACH COMMENT USING YOUR FIRST INITIAL AND YOUR LAST NAME!!!
Writing Prompt:
A free market capitalist economy adheres to a belief that the market is self-regulating. Thus, the business cycle displays the expansions and recessions of the forces (supply, demand, equilibrium, etc.) from within the market interacting with each other. Thus, when outside forces (government monetary/fiscal policies, speculative investing, over-consumption, etc.) interact with the market
How was the Housing Bubble of the 2000s an example of the business cycle being disrupted by outside forces upon the market?
Be sure to display:
1) Examples of government actions and an understanding of how they may have affected the market,
2) How the banking industry used access to capital (money/credit) in order to increase investments,
3) A description of the housing bubble,
4) The effects upon the consumers (people).
- Presidential Debate
Tonight is the 1st presidential debate! I want to hear what you think. How do your opinions match up with those of the candidates?
Remember, all inappropriate comments are not welcome!
- Protecting our Voting Rights
Voting Rights: Return of the Solid South?
Description: The U.S. Constitution established that the right to vote be granted to its citizens in order to fulfill its mandate that "Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." Throughout its development alterations to the Constitution have secured voting rights so that race or gender could not be used to disenfranchise citizens. In 1965, the Voting Rights Act was instituted in order to enforce voting rights. Since the 2010 elections, many states have attempted to pass laws that instituted further requirements that citizens must adhere to in order to practice their constitutionally granted voting rights. Requiring voter IDs, striking down early voting, purging voter registrations of possible non-registered voters, and declaring voting rights be negated by a conviction of a felony charge have been instituted in several states. These actions may threaten the democratic rights of United States citizens while influence elections in a partisan way. (For extra research you may wish to visit the sites listed on the webquest task sheet or visit the folder on the class website.)
Task:
You have been requested to represent the people in the Supreme Court case The People v. United States. Since the election year of 2010, states have begun proposing and passing more restrictive laws concerning the voting rights of its citizens. The Supreme Court has previously decided that the Voting Rights Act of 1965 has established that changes in voting laws issued by states must be precleared through the federal government. In order to defend the people properly you will need to prepare an argument that displays an understanding of both sides of the case. Thus, your task is to determine:
Are the new voting laws proposed by states, such as those ending early voting, disenfranchising convicted felons, purging voters from the registration records, and requiring voter IDs, a violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965; Is it a new Jim Crow; and is it a hidden agenda driven by partisan political parties?
To display your knowledge concerning the current obstruction toward the right to vote, participate in the online conversation. In your comments be sure to:
1. show your knowledge of the constitutional protections covering the right to vote,
2. show your knowledge of the Voting Rights Act of 1965,
3. show your knowledge of the actions being taken at the state level by Republican politicians to restrict voting,
4. make an argument on if these actions are a violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965,
5. make an argument on if these actions are a new version of Jim Crow discrimination,
6.make an argument on if these actions are a hidden agenda driven by partisan political parties
7. BE SURE TO USE EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT YOUR ARGUMENTS!!!
- The Human-Made Forces of Climate Change
After reading Bill Mckibben's "Global Warming's Terrifying New Math," students will discuss the affects of human-made climate forcings and the problems that are in need of solving. Students may also discuss the different aspects of the economy and society that are connected to the problem and solutions.
- Understanding CPI
The Bachchannel - To augment the learning experience, students are asked to participate in the online conversation as they listen and take notes from the lecture.
Expectations: Ask questions, comment on notes/lecture, argue a point.
**THIS IS NOT A CHANCE TO USE THIS AS "SOCIAL MEDIA"**
- Why are there no jobs?
Students are to join this discussion in order to find reasons why there are fewer jobs and further discuss ideas for increasing jobs in the United States.
- Scarcity: Is it the Key to Econonimcs Anymore?
Students are to read the article "The Scarcity Shortage" and using the questions to guide your discussion write about the ideas put forth by Seth Godin on scarcity. Remember you are trying to show your ability to comprehend aspects of our economy.
- Will the American Jobs Act Stimulate the Economy?
After watching the speech by President Obama introducing the American Jobs Act and reading the key points about the act below continue to the online discussion and post your thoughts/reactions and your reactions to at least 2 other classmates' posts.
Do you Think it will Stimulate our Economy in a beneficial way?
Here are a few important points about how the American Jobs Act works, and why Congress should act quickly:
• First, it provides a tax cut for small businesses, not big corporations, to help them hire and expand now and provides an additional tax cut to any business that increases wages.
• Second, it puts people back to work, including teachers, first responders and veterans coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan, and construction workers repairing crumbling bridges, roads and more than 35,000 public schools, with projects chosen by need and impact, not earmarks and politics.
• Third, it helps out-of-work Americans by extending unemployment benefits to help them support their families while looking for work and reforming the system with training programs that build real skills, connect to real jobs and help the long-term unemployed.
• Fourth, it puts more money in the pockets of working and middle class Americans by cutting in half the payroll tax that comes out of every worker's paycheck, saving families an average of $1,500 a year. And it removes the barriers that exist in the current federal refinancing program (HARP) to help more Americans refinance their mortgages at historically low rates, save money and stay in their homes.
The American Jobs Act is based on ideas supported by both Democrats and Republicans, and is fully paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes and by asking the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share. It would have an immediate impact on job and economic growth, but Congress has to act now.
You can learn more about the American Jobs Act on Whitehouse.gov.
- Is Plastic a Pollution and What Sshould We Do About It?
Disposable plastics are the greatest source of plastic pollution. Designed to be discarded, straws, plastic bottles, plastic utensils, lids, plastic bottles and so many others offer a small convenience but remain forever. REFUSE disposable plastics! Follow the “4 Rs” of sustainable living: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. ou may want to visit this website to find out more: http://plasticpollutioncoalition.org/.
What was the most significant thing you learned abuot this topic?
What will you personally pledge to do to deal with this problem?
- Babe Ruth: Pitcher or Outfielder?
The Yankees had to make a decision; use the Babe as a pitcher or as an everyday outfielder? The law of Comparative Advantage allows the organization to make an economically sound decision.
- What is in Obama's Stimulus Plan?
Students are to read the speech given by President Obama in Virginia titled "With the Stroke of a Pen" from February 11th at the following link (http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/remarks_president_springfield_va/) (If this url does not work simply go to www.whitehouse.gov and search using the title of the speech. You may then have to click on "full presidential remarks.";
and listen to his first press conference from Monday February 9th (http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog_post/first_presser/) and respond to the blog topic.
Topic: Discuss the different parts of the stimulus plan proposed by President Obama adn your thoughts on its merits.
- Making Credit Cards Simpler
After wathing the speech from Alan Siegel defend whether you believed this type of simplicity could make things easier and more understandable to the common person. You may check out a sample of the credit card statement shown in the video here as well.
Also, do you think this type of simplicity would help in other ways with other things, like what?
- Cutthroat Capitalism: Why Pirates Steal
After you read the article attempting to explain why the Somalian pirates are able to be successful, participate in the online discussion (blog).
- Energy Crisis: Nuclear v. Renewables
This blog is a scheduled CLASS-TIME blog. That is, all students are to be blogging at the same time scheduled for 1:00-2:00 on Wednesday, December 3rd. You may logon from any location but must enter comments in the specific allotted time period.
Students are to use the link on the Economics webpage to prepare for the online debate. Be sure to reference these materials to support your ideas.
Is nuclear power the best way to meet the ever-increasing energy needs of the planet, or do alternative energy sources provide a viable alternative?
- Adjusting Your Spending Plan?
Due: 11/18/08: All levels of government are currently readjusting their spending plans, in fact Governor Patterson is holding a special meeting with the legislature next week to make more cuts so that our government does not have a deficit.
How are You and Your Family adjusting your spending plan in reaction to the current economic situation?
- To Take a Risk or Not to Take a Risk, that is the Question.
(DUE 11/29/08) The Financial Risk Pyramid displays an understanding of the amount of risk that goes into the different types of investment. Are you a safe investor or a risky investor? What is the impact of these types of investments upon our country?
- Knowing Thy Credit?
(Due 1/6/08): Students are to discuss the issues of establishing and using credit.
- Which Financial Institution fits your needs?
(Due 12/5/080: In this blog, students will share their knowledge of the advantages adn disadvantages of the different types of financial institutions that exist as well as matching the one that best fits your situation.
- Consumer Spending Down
Due: 11/03/08. Students will read two articles by opposing editorialists of the NY Times adn post comments concerning the effect of the Economic crisis upon everyday citizens.
Read the attached editorials from the NY Times and discuss the pending issue of declined consumer spending. (The editorials are located on the Economics Homepage.)
- What to do with the American Car Industry?
Due 11/7/08: Car manufacturers of America's big three companies (Ford, GM , Chrysler) have met to discuss what the next step in saving the car industry should be. Read the article titled "Surviving the Crash" (http://www.economist.com/business/displayStory.cfm?story_id=12582588&source=features_box_main) and respond by commenting on this blog.
- Tiger Softball
This blog was set up to discuss softball, but has become a place to keep track of the many fundamentals and game play that has been experienced throughout the year. Players may feel free to post comments for discussion or ask questions about what to do or a better way to do it. i hope that this blog will allow those interested in softball to continue their love for the sport.
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