Elections 2010 Portfolio Artifact

Project Description:
We have reviewed this year's candidates and propositions, analyzed voting culture and party image, and deconstructed the system that employs government, big business, mass media, special interest groups, and finance.

     Now for a case study research task - a magazine expose portfolio artifact.  You will work as a team of reporters, hunting down data on a proposition or candidate from the 2010 mid-terms, analyzing their backgrounds, finances, & media coverage.  You will gather facts, but dig deeper into secrets and contradictions.

     You must question everything you read, see, and hear.  You must choose your team, set and meet your own deadlines, and adhere to your team contract at all times.

Unit Norms:
-ENGAGE: every single one of us
-Wrestle the angel     -Challenge everything  
-Consider: Everything you know is wrong
-Research with wild abandon (and research your research)
-Know your enemy     -Be scientific     -Trust outrage, but dig deeper

Research Prep: Reading
1. "For Governor, Vote None of the Above"
2. Ch. 11: Special Interest Groups 
    Notes: Special Interest Groups
3. Ch. 7: Mass Media
    Notes: Mass Media
4. CA Elections Cheat Sheet

Research Prep: Video Analyses
1. Don't Vote
2. Democrats are For the People (Paid For By Liberals)
3. The Tea Party is For the People (Paid For By Conservatives)
4. The Voting Trap

Artifact Materials
1. Artifact Assignment
2. Artifact Example

Teaming
1. Marshmallow Tower Video
2. Team Contract

Research Links

Alternative Constitution

In our efforts to imagine a better world, here is one well thought out alternative.  (Click on post title)

Field Trip This Sunday & Monday!

UPDATED:  Conservative Values, Rural Life, and the Tea Party Perspective.

Thank you to Sav & Lauren Bonty for hosting what will be a great time in Nicasio this weekend.  RSVP to Suzanne immediately if you are interested!

Permission Slip & Trip Details

Confirmed Guest List:

Kirsten, Sean, Gio, Merlin, Allie, Dalila, Edgar, Quinn

Parents & Students: if you can drive on Sunday, please meet me at 1:00 at Metro.  Some students may need to take public transportation if there are not enough cars.

Prepare for rain!  Bring BOOTS and a SLEEPING BAG, but don't worry about tents.

See you soon!

A Letter I Wrote To Your Teachers

Senior Teachers,

I wish you could have seen your students yesterday.  They latched on and warmed up to the speakers who were engaging, knowledgeable, and passionate about views that have been marginalized as "radical" such as:

-After all the changes I've seen in 47 years in Washington and 27 of them in the CIA, the most important for you to know is that there is no longer such thing as a free media in this country.

-(On his arrest) We can write all these intellectual papers and have deep conversations, but sometimes you have to put your body into it.

-Our troops used to be able to look their families in the face after having been to war, because they could know, "After all I've done, I've never tortured another man."  That has been taken from them.

-It is now an acceptable part of discourse within Congress to not answer the question, and then move on to the next question.

-This is a broken system. There are enough resources, and the CIA has enough information, to solve the world's woes, but this corrupt system that serves the few won't let it.

3rd period took a little longer to warm up than 4th,  Everyone in 4th period deserves props for digging in, sharing their beliefs and being honest about their misconceptions, grappling with abstract concepts, and taking advantage of the situation they were in.  Stamp.  Ready for college on that front.

There were many kids in 3rd period who are more introverted around strangers, especially experts, and would rather absorb and reflect than jump in and grapple, which is valid.  However, I wanted to highlight three individuals from that class who elegantly broke the formidable ice early on and made it easier for the rest of them to take some risks.  

Jack - He was intellectual and respectful, sometimes trying to answer the question the right way, but more often just openly seeking knowledge to add to his own, and humbly attempting connection-making between what he's heard and what he's hearing.  Philosopher.

Gio - After a few failed attempts to get them to vocalize how we'd prepared, I broke and said, "Oh, you guys are just nervous."  Giggles erupted and several admitted it was true.  Gio broke the wave of giggling with a three minute editorial: summary of the media we'd watched from WikiLeaks, the significance of the implications of the footage, and his emotional reaction and opinions on those matters.  Philosopher.

Maria - She was focused for 70 minutes, boldly stating her opinion when appropriate, and honestly admitting when she didn't understand certain implications, by respectfully interrupting the speakers and asking them for more information.  The presenters fell in love with her, and began to rely on her.  Philosopher.

I think I will give Fearless Philosopher Awards at the next CM.

Have a good weekend,
--
Suzanne Malek-Carter
Global Studies & AP U.S. Government
Metropolitan Arts and Tech HS
(415) 550-5920 ext. 123

Guest Speakers Friday

What responsibilities come with knowledge?

This week we will work on Constitution Live, and next week we will be shifting our focus in class to the mid-term elections and the election process.  BUT BEFORE WE DO...  we are fortunate enough have two guest speakers in our classes on Friday, who have a lot of direct experience with The System.  Look below and get infected with some of my enthusiasm; get ready to ask some questions and get some answers.

Ray McGovern: 27 years as a CIA analyst. Worked closely with Reagan Admin as an advisor and gave morning briefings to first Bush Admin...and then became something of a "whistle blower'"on use of intelligence to justify war in Iraq. Comes at it with a Catholic morality/peace worker perspective. Frequently published on alternet.org and consortium news, he has been active recently taking a stand in defense of Bradley Manning, the service member who supposedly leaked videos of U.S. crimes in Afghanistan to WikiLeaks and is facing serious charges.

McGovern Confronting Rumsfeld

Bradley Manning Background

WikiLeaks

McGovern on the 4th Amendment

Larry Everest: Author of Oil, Power, and Empire: Iraq and the U.S. Global Agenda (which Oliver Stone drew on for his movie W) and Behind the Poison Cloud: Union Carbide’s Bhopal Massacre (based on his reporting of India's gas disaster in the 80's). Writer for Revolution Newspaper, articles have appeared in Boston Globe, SF Chronicle, LA Times, etc.  Been reporting on Middle East for 30 years - on the scene at first intifada and during Iranian Revolution - and comes with a Revolutionary perspective.

Everest on Guatanamo Bay & Khadr Footage

Omar Khadr Background

Omar Khadr Footage

Everest on War in Iran 

Everest's Website

Constitution Live

As a foundation for diving deeper into the inner workings of U.S. politics and government, it is imperative to understand the Constitution, as well as the evolution of its philosophical origins. Students demonstrate knowledge of the purposes and provisions of the preamble, articles, bill of rights, federalist position v. anti-federalist, and federalist paper #51. They have deepened understanding of the perspectives of Montesquieu, Hobbes, and Locke on power, and have challenged current and past political polarizations, Western Enlightenment theories on human nature, and American Cultural Ideals (such as individual liberty and equality), in the context of the Constitution. They have looked at the founding of the U.S. both through the lens of "Elite & Social Class Theory" and the Constitution as an outdated contract to protect the property rights of the wealthy, and through the lens of "Pluralism," presenting the separation of powers and the amendments as a guarantee for balance and prosperity.

Constitution Online
Federalist Paper #51 In Modern English
Download Audio of Fed Paper #51

The assessment is a dramatic expression of understanding through an opinionated presentation: either through mock reporting, song, or monologue.

Constitution Live Performance

Any notes or materials you missed or no longer have can be found in the class binder in the back of our room.

Reminder: Office Hours & Study Sessions

Suzanne will always be available in her room on Thursdays from 3:10-4:30. Plan to consult, receive one-on-one feedback or help on projects or assignments, learn study strategies, cram for a vocab quiz, or make up quizzes and presentations missed due to excused absences during this time, or by appointment.

Make sure you are taking responsibility for your education & your grade by using all of your resources!

SF Apocalypse

A basis of terminology must be built in order to participate in the discourse of political theory. We focus on the question, "Is it possible to be both safe & free?" through the study of Enlightenment theory, contemporary democratic theory, American cultural ideals, systems of representation, types of policy and policy making institutions, and the concerns of the Founding Fathers in the process of ratifying the Constitution. Our simulation project was "San Francisco Apocalypse," where students had to grapple with the balance between freedom and safety, as policy makers in a role playing game.

San Francisco Apocalypse Premise

The assessment is an essay which shows knowledge of class content and application of that knowledge to the events of the simulation. This is also a diagnostic assessment of use of evidence in a an argument, and an opportunity for students to be metacognitive, and to further develop their own philosophies.

San Francisco Apocalypse Report & Reflection

Any notes or materials you missed or no longer have can be found in the class binder in the back of our room.