While the President and Congress wrangled over tax cuts, and the world looked on as WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was jailed, and the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the imprisoned dissident Liu Xiaobo, your efforts were focused on the “It’s My World” task. You had nine days to think about the prompt and to collect and analyze 3 articles on an international topic of your choosing. We went over the rubric twice and explained each requirement in an effort to prepare you for the assignment. Many of you came into the computer lab ready to write...congratulations for good time management skills! Those who were ready to write completed the task within the two-day allotment, while those who were still collecting articles had difficulty meeting the deadline. This was a very manageable task as it was just what you have been doing with your regular current events assignments only in an expanded form. One student even entitled the essay “Just a Big Current Event”... that made me laugh! The task was also your major project for second quarter.
South Asia
This week we also continued with our study of South Asia. You have completed your map and have taken notes from “The World Today.” You were able to use your map and notes for the quiz, so many high grades were earned. Many of you also started the worksheet for Chapter 25 which focuses on India. Some classes will complete the quiz next week.
As you could see from the photos we looked at in class, this is a complex region. We have the mountain kingdoms of Nepal and Bhutan, the largest democracy in the world, India, and Pakistan, which has been described “as the most dangerous country in the world.” President Obama recently returned from a trip to this region and spent several days in India in an effort to boost our trade with a country that can help keep the balance of power in a region that is being encroached upon by China. It is crucial that India continue to be closely aligned with the US. A year ago, President Obama signaled to the world that our relationship with India was unique by holding his first state dinner honoring Prime Minister Singh. A White House State Dinner is an elegant and unique function reserved for the most important alliances. The President spoke eloquently about our relationship with India and Gandhi’s impact on our own Martin Luther King. Our contemporary culture honors India with the popularity of many Indian films including “Monsoon Wedding,” “Slum Dog Millionaire,” and “The Namesake.” A former Rhode Islander, Jhumpa Lahiri, winner of the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, bases much of her writing on her experiences growing up in a household with parents who were from India. If you are looking for quality short story fiction, I highly recommend any of her books.
The current event for South Asia is due next week (12/13 for periods A, B, D, and E; 12/14 for period C). By now you should be earning high grades for this assignment. You have clear expectations and ample time to find and analyze an article. Make sure your current event is from a country in this region...some students type “South Asia” into Google and get different results...you must have an event from a country in the region as designated by our map work.
Guest Speakers
On December 17 we will be having an in-school field trip in room 212 during advisory to hear from the Naval War College International Officers from India and Senegal. This is a unique opportunity to hear about far off countries from a leading military officer of the country. Let me remind you that you are expected to arrive on time and to listen to our guests. This is the time when your best manners are on display. Time will be allotted for a question and answer period. We will be doing some background reading to prepare for the event. An in-class writing assignment will be assigned after the talk.
Check out the Newport Daily News student column for today...E.H. wrote a great article entitled “Students Go Global.”
Intraterms
Intraterms are due next week so we will take class time to update our status of assignment sheet and figure out your score as of December 15. Your task will count for the second half of the quarter.
When You’re Absent
While we have gone over the expectations and they are outlined in your room management plan, I want to remind you that when you are absent, you must arrange time (before or after school or during advisory) to come by and make up the work. You have 5 days to complete the work. If you do not make arrangements then you will receive no credit for the assignments. It is up to you!
South Asia
This week we also continued with our study of South Asia. You have completed your map and have taken notes from “The World Today.” You were able to use your map and notes for the quiz, so many high grades were earned. Many of you also started the worksheet for Chapter 25 which focuses on India. Some classes will complete the quiz next week.
As you could see from the photos we looked at in class, this is a complex region. We have the mountain kingdoms of Nepal and Bhutan, the largest democracy in the world, India, and Pakistan, which has been described “as the most dangerous country in the world.” President Obama recently returned from a trip to this region and spent several days in India in an effort to boost our trade with a country that can help keep the balance of power in a region that is being encroached upon by China. It is crucial that India continue to be closely aligned with the US. A year ago, President Obama signaled to the world that our relationship with India was unique by holding his first state dinner honoring Prime Minister Singh. A White House State Dinner is an elegant and unique function reserved for the most important alliances. The President spoke eloquently about our relationship with India and Gandhi’s impact on our own Martin Luther King. Our contemporary culture honors India with the popularity of many Indian films including “Monsoon Wedding,” “Slum Dog Millionaire,” and “The Namesake.” A former Rhode Islander, Jhumpa Lahiri, winner of the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, bases much of her writing on her experiences growing up in a household with parents who were from India. If you are looking for quality short story fiction, I highly recommend any of her books.
The current event for South Asia is due next week (12/13 for periods A, B, D, and E; 12/14 for period C). By now you should be earning high grades for this assignment. You have clear expectations and ample time to find and analyze an article. Make sure your current event is from a country in this region...some students type “South Asia” into Google and get different results...you must have an event from a country in the region as designated by our map work.
Guest Speakers
On December 17 we will be having an in-school field trip in room 212 during advisory to hear from the Naval War College International Officers from India and Senegal. This is a unique opportunity to hear about far off countries from a leading military officer of the country. Let me remind you that you are expected to arrive on time and to listen to our guests. This is the time when your best manners are on display. Time will be allotted for a question and answer period. We will be doing some background reading to prepare for the event. An in-class writing assignment will be assigned after the talk.
Check out the Newport Daily News student column for today...E.H. wrote a great article entitled “Students Go Global.”
Intraterms
Intraterms are due next week so we will take class time to update our status of assignment sheet and figure out your score as of December 15. Your task will count for the second half of the quarter.
When You’re Absent
While we have gone over the expectations and they are outlined in your room management plan, I want to remind you that when you are absent, you must arrange time (before or after school or during advisory) to come by and make up the work. You have 5 days to complete the work. If you do not make arrangements then you will receive no credit for the assignments. It is up to you!
1 comment:
Didn't someone say that to rebel is one of the most democratic things you can do? I tried googling it but couldn't find the quote. Anywho - questioning authority is a right...right? But at what point does it endanger others. Wikileaks is someone practicing a right, though not American, isn't this freedom of speech? When does the line get drawn? Listening to the debate on NPR gives me perspective from many sides...and really makes me think about the issue. Great post!
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