DUE BEFORE YOU LEAVE FOR SPRING BREAK

Below is the minimum of blog posts that must be completed before you leave for break.

• 1 Welcome Post


• 2 Summarize and comment posts


• 2 Link and comment posts


• 1 Opinion Post


• 2 Comments on your classmates' blogs.

If you are having difficulty, please come meet with me at lunch. Look for comments from me on your blogs with suggestions.

Good Luck!

Creating your blog

A Few Announcements:

You need to have your blog created with the opening explanation post completed by this Thursday. Completing this assignment will count as your quiz. You may work on it at home as well.

Some reminders:

1. Make sure the name of your blog relates to the topic that you will be discussing in your blog. If you decide to change the name or topic. You should probably just start a brand new blog. Ask me if you are having trouble.


2. Once your blog has been created, comment on this post and copy and paste the address of your blog.


3. The explanation post: Welcome people to your site. Let them know what you are trying to do. Why are you interested in this topic and why should others become more aware? What type of articles and information can I find on this blog? (2-3 Paragraphs please----- SPELLCHECK)


4. All done????? Get Creative! Add pictures to your blog and explore the different functions that are available on blogger. start searching for articles

Due Thursday March 26 2009. * Use your time effectively.

Brainstorming for your BLOG

This semester you will become a political activist! This will be a semester-long blogging assignment. Your first step is to think of a blog topic that you will write about for the following semester. The more specific the issue is, the more interesting your blog will be. In order to figure out what you want your blog to be about you have to research ideas and make sure there is enough information out there for you to have interesting posts. You will have to find current articles to post on your blog. Use your chart to record some of your ideas.


Below are a few websites that may help you decide on your topic.

http://www.accd.edu/PAC/LRC/issues.htm
A list of controversial topics in alphabetical order.


http://www.saveourenvironment.org/
Interested in saving the environment? Check this out.

http://www.amnesty.org/
Amnesty international campaigns for human rights for all people. If you are interested in whats going on in other countries or want to know more about poverty? Check here.

What do you care about?

Figure it out.

What did we do this week?

Interpreting Amendments to the Constitution (1^st and 14^th)

Quiz 1.4

Please pick one quote to address and then answer the following questions in a cohesive essay.

Paragraph 1: What does this quote mean? ( 5- 6 sentences)_

- BASICALLY= WHATS THIS ABOUT- ( If I never read the quote, what could you tell me about it)

- Break each phrase down if you need to.

Paragraph 2: How does it relate to the either the 1^st Amendment or 14^th Amendment ( 5-6 sentences)

-start by telling me what the amendment guarantees.

-Then tell me how it relates to either the Skokie trial or to Gay Marriage.

Paragraph 3: Give me your opinion on the issue ( 6-8 sentences)

Support it with at least 2 valid reasons.

Choose your quote:

“By prohibiting gays to wed, the government is not merely discriminating against them on a cultural level. Rather, they argue, the United States has no less than 1,100 federal laws in which marital status is a factor. By denying gays the ability to legally marry, they argue, the government denies them many of the rights and benefits associated with marriage. “– Gay/ Lesbian Activist

Or

"It is better to allow those who preach racial hatred to expend their venom in rhetoric rather than to be panicked into embarking on the dangerous course of permitting the government to decide what its citizens may say and hear .... The ability of American society to tolerate the advocacy of even hateful doctrines ... is perhaps the best protection we have against the establishment of any Nazi-type regime in this country." – Federal Judge Bernard striking down an ordinance.

Please type your response on a word document and then copy and paste it into the comment box. If the comment box is not working, you may email it to kevynklein@gmail.com. ( make sure you fill in your profile as google/ gmail)