Student Narratives and... We're on YouTube!

Please see Janet for the 2-page packet that is your self-narrative. Fill it out and return to me or my mailbox in the hallway.

I'm typing this in the common room as we watch the election results come in...........!!!............

I really enjoyed our trip to Portland today, walking around with Katie & Dina of the League of Young Voters. The videos we took with them are online - click here!

I've also really enjoyed this class. Thanks for making it what's it been!
peace and fair elections,
flora

Top Hits of the YouTube Election

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/us_elections_2008/7699509.stm

Letter to the Editor

When you've finished your letter to the editor, please give me copy and we will email it to the Portland Press Herald.

We met Chellie Pingree and Charlie Summers!

Coming soon..... our picture with Charlie Summers.

Assignment for Monday, 10/27

On Friday you will watch the 50-minute film, "Unprecedented." Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election is the riveting story about the battle for the presidency in Florida and the undermining of democracy in America. Filmmakers Richard Ray Perez and Joan Sekler examine modern America’s most controversial political contest: the 2000 election of George W. Bush. What emerges is a disturbing picture of an election marred by suspicious irregularities, electoral injustices, and sinister voter purges in a state governed by the winning candidate’s brother. (from amazon.com)

Please write a blog post that reflects your reaction to this film and the events of the 2000 election that it reveals. Focus on answering these questions: Can this happen again? Has anything been done to prevent this from happening again?

Assignment for Friday

Two things to do for Friday, plus an extra credit opportunity.

1) Come up with 2-3 questions for our trip to the Susan Collins/John McCain campaign headquarters in Portland. This visit will be similar to our visit to the K'Bunk Democrats office, and ideally, you will have a chance to ask at least one of your questions of the staffers in the Collins/McCain office.

2) You have now watched all three debates between McCain and Obama. Thinking of yourself as a potential voter, which of these debates was the most informative? The most interesting to watch? The most difficult to sit through? Which debate, in your opinion, offered voters the most accurate portrayal of the two major candidates? (BLOG)
Third debate on NYTimes

3) EXTRA CREDIT: Read the article "The Kitchen Sink Debate" and comment on it. Do you agree with Andrew Romano's assessment of the last debate? (BLOG)

Assignment for Tuesday

1. Re: our visit to the Democrats of the Kennebunks campaign office today, create a blog post which includes
a) the question(s) you asked
b) the answer(s) you received
c) your reaction to this information..... did it make you surprised, unimpressed, smarter, or...? Why?


2. If you have not already, read the article from last Friday's Boston Globe and answer the three questions on the handout. Read the article here.

links to check out

PolitiFact - Truth-o-meter!

McCain camp turns to Maine's Second District - Boston Globe, 10/3/08

The vice-presidential debate - on NYTimes.com

SNL spoof

Check it out! Saturday Night Live spoof of the debates (9/28/08)
What do you think?

Assignment for Tuesday

Choose two of the criteria on your handout (e.g. demeanor, speaking voice, body language, sidestepping, etc.) and for each, compare & contrast Obama and McCain's performance during the Friday election.

A SILLY, MADE-UP EXAMPLE: (If I were looking at the use of their feet during the debate) Obama and McCain both stood on their two feet, using them to support the weight of their bodies. They were both wearing lace-up dress shoes as well as socks. I noticed that Obama tended to tap his right foot gently while he was listening to McCain speak; whereas when Obama was speaking, McCain's feet stayed absolutely still. Another difference was that McCain stood with his feet about eight inches apart, while the distance between Obama's feet fluctuated, between about two and ten inches apart at any given time.


YOU CAN WATCH THE DEBATE HERE:
http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/president/debates/first-presidential-debate.html

News News News! For Friday

1. Find and read an article relating to the Presidential election.
2. Choose at least two words to define as vocab.
3. Summarize the article in your own words.
4. Imagine three possible scenarios of what could happen next...?
5. Questions that you have after reading and understanding the article...

Homework for Thursday

1. Watch and/or read the speech given by your vice-presidential hopeful (i.e. the running mate of the presidential candidate) at their party's convention.
Tip: You can find the videos of speeches on Youtube or the official website of your candidate. Look for the written text of speeches by googling something like "full text" "speech" "convention" and "[candidate's name"].

2. Choose one line from the speech that strikes you as particularly meaningful. Write this quote into a new blog post. The line you choose should be at least one sentence, and at the most one paragraph, long.

3. In the same post, write your analysis of this quote: What does it mean? How is it representative of the campaign that your Presidential candidate is running?? What is the message this vice-presidential candidate is trying to send to voters?

Assignment for Thursday

Visit two (or more) blogs from our class.
Make a comment for each one; include two questions.

Assignment for Tuesday

Don't forget to post a biographical sketch or list of your candidate. Add any other information that you find interesting or want to comment on.

Waji for President!