Thursday, January 31, 2013

Gun Rights and Gun Control

 One side of the issue...

Another side of the issue...


To Another side of the issue...


Looking a little closer at Gun Rights/Gun Control History: A Timeline

Group #1: Universal Background Checks: Should every person who wants a gun in this country be required to have a background check completed on them? (currently, about 60% of people who buy guns are required to have a background check)

Read First!
Pretty Objective background reading on the issue. Why some are in favor, while others oppose this idea.

Step 2, look at what one state is doing:
What the State of California has for a background check system that some point to as a model for a Federal Universal Background Check.

Step 3, look at the reaction of the NRA on states tightening rules on background checks:
Perspective from National Rifle Association about a Universal Background Check law being debated in the State of Washington this week. Gets at the NRA's view on why background checks, in their opinion, are not effective.

Group #2: You are tasked with learning about what President Obama's reaction has been about gun control and the need for the country to act to reduce gun violence.

Article 1: What are President Obama's proposals for addressing gun violence in this country?
Article 2: What has been the reaction and what are the chances that his ideas will be successful?

Group #3:  What do the people of this country think? And whose voices are more often heard?

Group #4:  What are the major positions of the Pro Gun Rights groups? Looking at the National Rifle Association.

history of NRA -- brief history of the organization
NRA position on issues -- you can move around this site if you want, but this is a direct link to their positions on the issues.

Group #5: What are the positions of the Pro Gun Control groups? Looking at the Brady Campaign.

History of Brady Campaign, there are several tabs that can help fill in the creation of this group.
Brady Campaign position on issues, you can move around this site if you want, but this is a direct link to their positions on the issues.


Thursday, January 24, 2013

End of Semester Reflections

Please take your time answering these 8 questions regarding this class.  I thank you in advance for your thoughts, reflections, and suggestions. It's been a pleasure having you as my student.

For those who I don't have as a History student, "It was nice to meet you and good luck"!
For those who I do teach, "see you later"!!

SURVEY LINK

Friday, January 11, 2013

Reaction to The Great Global Warming Swindle...

There are 5 documents for you to choose from, and read/react to. These are mostly critiques of the documentary, including 2 from a scientist quoted extensively in the movie. Also, there is an article from the Boston Globe that was published this week about the record temperatures of 2012...

Your task:

1. Choose the first article you'd like to read. Choose based on your own personal interest. As you read, mark it up...what do you agree with, what questions do you have, what is confusing, what do you have problems with in the critique...

2. If you have time, you can choose a second document.


Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Some additional resources regarding our viewing of Inconvenient Truth and The Great Global Warming Swindle

Critique of the The Great Global Warming Swindle from a variety of sources.

http://www.swindonclimate.org.uk/200703ggws

http://climatedenial.org/2007/05/01/why-was-the-great-global-warming-swindle-so-persuasive/ 

Reaction from one of the scientists quoted in the documentary, Carl Wunsch
http://ocean.mit.edu/%7Ecwunsch/papersonline/channel4response 

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Today's class

Goals for Today's Class:

1. Each group identifies who is taking what role/order of debate (need to update the shared document)
2. Openers/Closers -- need to draft out opening/closing statement
3. Each member must build out their argument, making sure you are identifying specific evidence (statistics, facts, quotes) for both your position and to counter (oppose) what you know the other side is going to bring up.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Period 5 Day 1 Debate Research



Core question: Should the Electoral College be abolished?


Jessica, Sam, Jordan, Max, Erik, Benny
Core background reading. These 3sites give both sides of the argument, and provide statistics, quotes, and other very valuable resources.

You must focus on these three websites exclusively on Day 1 of research:

it’s not flashy, but a pretty basic and clear explanation of both sides of the issue.
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/electoralcoll.htm

This is a website that shows a debate that unfolded about this very issue. It has a solid collection of points for both sides AND importantly, can point to specific evidence/proof of their position.
http://idebate.org/debatabase/debates/politics/house-would-abolish-us-electoral-college





Core question: Should the death penalty be allowed?
Grace, Shahen, Jeffrey, Kaylie, Tommy, Kyle

Core background reading. These 2 sites give both sides of the argument, and provide statistics, quotes, and other very valuable resources.

You must focus on these two website exclusively on Day 1 of research:
ProCon.org. This website is intended to give both sides of the issue, provide facts and lots of evidence for why some people support and others oppose this issue.
http://deathpenalty.procon.org/  

Pew Forum. This website does a nice job of showing both sides of the issue, with an emphasis on some of the recent Supreme Court cases that have involved the death penalty.
http://www.pewforum.org/topics/issues/Death-Penalty/


Core question: Should adults have the right to carry a concealed handgun?
Catherine, Toby, Jamie, Clay, Sabrina, Blake
Core background reading. This sites gives a voice to both sides of the argument, and provides statistics, quotes, and other very valuable resources.
You must focus on these two website exclusively on Day 1 of research:
ProCon.org. This website is intended to give both sides of the issue, provide facts and lots of evidence for why some people support and others oppose this issue.
http://concealedguns.procon.org/