Current Event Follow Up

My current event was on the reviving of the Wampanoag language. The language of the Wampanoag tribe out of New England was lost in the late 1600's due to gender imbalances. These imbalances were caused because the Wampanoag tribe was in a war with the Pilgrims, so the women went on and married different in different tribes, which over time causes the language to slowly vanish. The Wampanoag lost the war with the Pilgrims and that was the last that was heard of them. In 1993, Jessie Baird from Mashpee Mass, created the Wampanoag Language Reclamation, because she knew her ancestors spoke the language and she was inspired to do so. Baird and a group of others studied at MIT for years, working on the now finished 10,00 word dictionary they created for the Wampanoag language. Jessie Baird received a $500,000 dollar grant from the MacAuthor Fellows. She plans on using this money towards the Wampanoag language department, buying audio equipment, hiring a illustrator for her children's books, and developing a Wampanoag language school.

During my presentation, fellow classmates had asked me questions I want to clarify. One question was "Where is the school going to be built?" The Wampanoag school that they want to build has not started its progress yet, but they believe to build it in the Mashpee area, where her organization runs out of. Another question was "Did the Wampanoag win the battle against the pilgrims?" As I said earlier, the Wampanoag did not win the war against them, which caused the language to slowoly dissapear.

What is it about a language that can bring people together?

Follow Up on Current Event.

In class today I was asked some questions that had to with the cuurent event that I had just shared with the class.
One was that, "Why are they allowed to make casinos on the reservations?" They are allowed to make them because they are not going by state laws but by federal laws. In the state of New York it is illegal to gamble but under federal laws they are able to go by federal laws not state laws. Another question asked was, "Where will they make this casino?". They would make the casino on there reservation in North Hampton. The thing is that the state of New York does not want them too because it will cause more traffic in the Hamptons. New York wants them to make it in the suburb of New York City but then they would have to go through a hearing, federal laws, and government backing. That would be no problem because Governer David Patterson already is backing them.
My current event was that the Shinnecock tribe of New York was federally recgonzied after a 32 year struggle to be federally recgonize. They now can build a casino on there reservation because they can go under federal laws not state laws because the state of New York does not permit gambling. They want to make it on Long Island in the Hamptons because that is where they live but the state of New York doesn't want them to make it because traffic in the Hamptons is already so bad. They want it to be made in a suburb of New York City.
Do you think that that by making a casino the reservation will prosper and become rich?

Tax on cigarettes for native americans

Gov. David Paterson of Albany New York plans to start a new tax law on reservations. The law requires Native American's cigarettes to be taxed only to non-tribe members. The tax is ONLY on cigarettes however. None of the tax money goes to the Indian tribes on the reservation.
Tribes affected by this new taxation in New York are Cayuga, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Seneca and Tuscarora tribes. Indians are angry about this law because they have treaties and other legal documents stating that they do not have to pay tax on their land. The documents say that it is their land and they are free to do and sell what they want how they want on their land.

PROBING QUESTION: How is this new law going to affect the tribes both emotionally and economically?

Native American Artifact Discovery

Today we had the opportunity to observe various artifacts related to Native American culture and history. Along the way, you took notes making observations and asking questions. We want you to share some of that thinking here. Identify one artifact that had a significant impact on your thinking and explain why. Include the questions that were raised in examining the content. Feel free to elaborate on your experience explaining anything that was particularly surprising and/or reaffirming.

Some Big Questions to follow up our "What is an American?" Discussion

Today in class, we spent a lot of time looking at texts and data, trying to figure out some big questions. We're talking about our American identity, so the question of "Who is an American?" is a big consideration for us. You might have noticed that we looked at a census and a personal narrative/observation from each time period--the end of the 18th century (the American Farmer Crevecouer and the census from both 1790 and 1890), and the beginning of the 21st century (then-state-senator Barack Obama and the 2000 census). Both the narratives and the census data gave us a snapshot of the time period--just from different perspectives.

We found that the 1790 census challenged a lot of our American farmer's assumptions and observations about what an American is. Does that mean the American farmer was lying about his experience? When we looked at the 2000 census, then listened to Barack Obama speak about American identity, we might have seen some connections and some contradictions.

Here are some questions to think about. These questions are big...they might even prompt more questions that we'll need to consider. Review your texts and if you'd like, revisit Obama's speech included here on the blog. Then, please post your reflection as a comment on this post.

• Having seen and discussed four different texts on who is an American, what is your thinking now? How do we decide who is an American? Who gets to decide?

• What do the personal narratives tell us that the data doesn't? What does the data tell us that the personal narratives don't? And...what's the truth?

And...go!

Obama Keynote Address 2004 DNC

Today in class, we'll look at this clip from a speech Barack Obama gave at the Democratic National Convention in 2004. Specifically, we'll be talking about his characterization of America, Americans, and the idea of the American Dream, in the context of our recent class discussions. We'll examine and question the vision he presents in the speech.

ASSIGNMENT: Follow-up on Summer Reading Discussion

We had a good chat today about your summer reading books. Thank you for participating!
If you recall, I made a bold statement at the end of our discussion. I said:

All of the following texts: Dave Eggers' Zeitoun, Jonathan Safran Foer's Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and even, for those of you out in the hallway, Richard Rodriguez's "Does America Still Exist" explore the American Dream.

Using the text of your choice, defend or dispute the statement with evidence from your reading. Root yourself in the text, be specific, and think deeply about your author's purpose as you build your case.

Please post a comment below by Friday, September 24th.

ASSIGNMENT: American Soundtrack

We asked you to find a song that you think captures the notion of the American Dream. What did you find? Add your song in a comment below, and together we'll build our class soundtrack.

DON'T FORGET!!!

Monday is Independent Reading Day! Yay books! Bring your new reading selections to class and be prepared to dig in. And by the way...we'll have our Summer Reading discussions on Tuesday, so get yourselves psyched up for that too. Enjoy your weekend. Go pick some apples or something autumn-ish!

ASSIGNMENT: HUGE POTENTIAL in "Death by Landscape"

Read back through the story again. Find a phrase or sentence that has HUGE POTENTIAL.
Some things to look for in a "quote with potential" are:

• vivid, specific and specialized language (Remember how we explored the words "molting" and "carnivorous" that Atwood used to describe the moose? Remember to ask yourself, "why would an author SAY it THIS way?")

• images that repeat (remember the "pinky" stones that reappear in several places?)

Cite the quote with page number and then explore the possibilities in a comment on this post. Look up the definitions of the words (remember denotation and connotation). Include your ideas about the quote's significance and relationship to the larger meaning of the story.

Evan Markopoulos

Currently the state of Connecticut is in a heated race for the states senate seat. One of the key runners in the election is Linda McMahon. The following article talks about her views on Connecticut tax rates.

http://www.ctmirror.org/story/7701/mcmahon-backs-mcconnells-all-or-nothing-stand-tax-cuts

This is an example of federalism. Although we have President Obama, we also have representatives for each governing state, such as candidate McMahon. This shows that although we have a federal government, we also have state governments that have their own laws and standards.

Current Event Dates

9/21 Jon
9/23 Alex W.
9/28 Amber
9/30 Jacob
10/5 Marissa
10/7 Christina
10/12 Brian
10/14 Christian
10/19 Jessica
10/21 Alisha
10/26 Evan
10/28 Cassia
11/3 Kirby
11/4 Zack
11/9 Justin
11/12 Ryan
11/16 Mitch
11/18 Chris
11/23 Brian
11/30 Garrett
12/2 Alex D.
12/7 Kathryn
12/9 Janelle
12/14 Caitlin
12/16 Emily
12/21 Adam
12/23 Jackie
1/4 Kayla
1/6 Terry
1/11 Andrea

Jake Wardwell

In an article I found today there was something that had to do with Congress and passing a bill. They have already passed this but they need President Obama to sign it for it to go through. It was passed by the Democrats and Obama is a Democrat. This would allow for a 30 billion dollar plan for small firms. This will help people with small businesses get loans and be able to start more shops or do what they want to with the money they need. This bill would give 10 billion to encourage small business lending then 12 million for both small and large buisnesses.


http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/09/14/senate-set-vote-b-credit-small-firms/

I think this has to do with equal power because this shows that the House can make laws but thye still need to go through the president who needs to sign off on it to be passed. If he does not then it goes back to the house where it will then need a 66% vote to be passed then and be signed no matter what by the President. It shows equal power because they need to have it passed then get it passed by the President.

Guided Analysis-"Death by Landscape"

Ok folks. You’ve had some time to read Margaret Atwood’s “Death by Landscape.” It’s a cool story, eh? There are a lot of layers to this little text, and our job is to peel them away like a big onion. We are going to embark on the first steps toward the analytical writing process that we will be learning together this year.
So, you should have marked up your story as you followed the steps on the Guided Reading sheet. You should also have a nice list of at least 10 observations. Now what?
Your job is to now consider how all of these pieces relate. What’s the big idea here? How does Atwood use all of these pieces to create the larger MEANING of the story? It’s time to ask the most important question of all: SO WHAT?

Here’s your task:
1. Choose one of the elements from the “During Reading” section of the Guided Reading sheet (character, plot, setting, point of view etc.) and write about what you see and what you notice about that element. Use your notes and use the text. Incorporate lots of evidence from the story. Be specific. Language matters.

2. Next, explain why your element matters. How would the story be different if your element was altered? For example, if you are writing about setting, what would be lost if the story were to take place in another location? If you are writing about point of view, what would be lost (or gained) if the story were told from another perspective?

Chris Frias

I chose a picture of a few people in the military. I chose this because when you go into the army you aren't sure who will be in your squad, or who you will be living with. The picture shows male, female, black, and white soldiers. They all have to get along together in order to fulfill their duty of protecting the U.S.A

I chose this picture because it isn't hard to tell how different the people in the crowd of baseball fans are. As seen in the picture, there are many different types of people. There are Blacks, Whites, Latinos, Asians, Old people, Young people, Fat people, and skinny people. My point is that although there are many different types of people seen in this photograph, they are all their in support of their hometown baseball team. They all share the liking for the same baseball team, which in the end brings them together no matter how different they are.

Janelle Curtis

I chose this picture of a United Nations meeting. In my essay I discussed that one of the reasons that different people with diverse values could live in the same world was because of the United Nations. Their goal is to instill peace between countries. Every country has representatives that speak for them in the meetings, so every country is involved. The different people work together towards a common goal: peace.

My Picture: Garrett Elder

I made the picture of the earth, with different colored hands holding the earth. With this picture, I tried to show that the world is not only full with one kind of person. There are all different kinds of people out there in the world, and one way or another, we all find how to deal with one another in this one same world. We may have wars or hatred, but we still all have the same quality; being a human being. If we never banded together and helped one another, we would never be able to survive. And with all of us living in the same world, through competition and just plain helping each other, we have survived for thousands of years. That is how we all can live in the same world.

Jake Wardwell

I choose this image because it show that we can live in the world and be peacful at most times even though we have many different religion which have different norms and beliefs.

Alex DiBuono

I chose this image because it shows a few different races traveling together on a subway. It seems as though in other parts of the world they are anything but tolerant when it comes to multi-cultural living. I like this specific picture because it shows how America has, for the most part, accepted all of these other races and cultures into our society.

ASSIGNMENT: Foundations Wrap-Up

We have spent the last two days analyzing six democratic principles established in our founding documents and how they are relevant to a present day issue. To reflect on and use what you have learned, please consider other current issues or challenges that our country is facing and discuss how one of the six democratic principles (limited government, popular sovereignty, checks and balances, separation of powers, equal protection, federalism) can be applied to that issue.

In responding to this post, you must:

1. Explain a present day issue in our country.
2. Reference a specific current event article that you have used to better understand the issue you have chosen (provide a link to your article so others can read it if they want to learn more).
3. Show how one or more of the democratic principles is demonstrated in the example you have chosen (please pick a principle that is DIFFERENT than the one you focused on in class).

This blog response will be worth 10 points for history and will be assessed based upon your effort, application of concept to current event, and depth of analysis.

I chose this picture of an amateur video taken of the police brutality that occurred on March 3, 1991. On that day, Rodney King, an African-American citizen of Los Angeles, was brutally beaten to a near-death state by several Caucasian police officers. This pictures shows the detrimental state that society falls into when conflicting groups can not coexist. Violent acts toward the minority, and even the majority, causing larger problems, such as riots (which happened post-Rodney King beating).

Andrea Beland

I chose this image of the people holding hands around the world. I thought this is a good example of representing how different people can co-exist in the same place. This picture is a clear illustration of a few different variations of race all around the world. Although there are many different people in this world, we all learn to get along with each other. This picture expresses that thought in the way they are holding hands all with smiles on their faces.

My picture

I chose this photo because it represents high school norms. At high schools you will always find a variety of kids all coming together for the same reason...to get an education. No matter how different each child is they all focus on one main thing and that is to further their education so they can succeed in life. At school people are usually classified by the way they are. There is the popular kids, the weirdos, the band people, the smart kids, football players, cheerleaders etc. These cliques of people allow everyone to find a place to fit in amongst themselves. People group off according to their interests and comfort levels. Even though different groups of people make up the school, we all end up in the same place and for the same reason.

Christina Vara

I chose this picture from "Dances With Wolves" because it holds significance to the topic of coexisting groups. This movie shows that American soldiers once thought that Native Americans were savages, but one of the soldiers decided that he could live with them and learn their ways, and as he continued to live with them longer, he found that they were normal people just like everyone else. It is true that we fought with the Native Americans over their land, and this proves that we also can't coexist all the time, but the one alliance that they shared does prove that we can put all differences aside and learn to share the same space.

Alex Wood

I chose this image of Jackie Robinson and one of his new white teammates because this is when Jackie Robinson broke the MLB's baseball color barrier, allowing the blacks and whites to play together in the same league. Robinson was the first one to do this all by himself and opened the gates for other colored players to play. I think this pictures shows how some whites welcomed the black players, making their experience in the MLB a good one, and showing how the MLB players today came together as one to play.

Jess Peznola

I chose this image of three firemen at ground zero not only because 9/11 just past, but because it was a time when all of America came together. These three men could have completely different values, but that didn't matter because they shared the common goal of saving lives. In a time of crisis we put aside our opinions and do what needs to be done. If your biggest enemy was hurt and in need, I'm sure you'd help them out. Because we are all human and can't do everything on our own.

Marissa Vara

The image i chose is a lion and a zebra from the travlers insurance commercial. in the commercial there is a song in the background saying "when we get along..." and it shows all these animals in the African outback that normally dont get along but now they do. It shows you that in all ways of life they can cooperate! Its a funny commercial because when i saw it it just made me think of the paper we just wrote, it fit the prompt perfectly because these animals normally live in fear of one another and can never get this close to each other.

Independent Reading Mondays!

So, most of us dread Mondays. We're tired. We're cranky. We're sad that the weekend is over. It's hard getting back into the swing of things. But, rest assured. You now have a reason to LOVE Mondays! Why? Because we have Independent Reading time! Yes, folks. It's time to find yourself a great book and a cozy nook and dig in.

There are a few parameters. Your choice should be:
1. A book you haven't read before.
2. A book that has a storyline.
2. A book that is appropriate for your reading level.
3. A book that is in some way connected to American Studies (this could mean that your book is written by an American writer, or it takes place in America).

Simple, right? Take a look around your house this weekend and see if anything catches your eye. If so, bring it with you on Monday. If not, fear not. We'll make a trip to the library during class on Monday and I'll be able to help you.

ASSIGNMENT! Find or Create an Image

So, yesterday in class we heard from everyone regarding their thoughts on the question:

How can groups with different values and norms exist in the same space?

We heard a lot of ideas and opinions. Thank you all for sharing. Please keep in mind that this converstaion was an initial opportunity for sharing. We'll look forward this year to continuing our discussion, fine-tuning our ideas and our understanding.

To help focus our conversation and add another dimension to our learning, please complete the following assignment:

On Monday the 13th, please bring in an image that helps represent the complicated nature of this question/discussion. Please write a quick paragraph as a comment on this post, explaining why you chose the image you did. We'll use the images to propel our discussion forward over the course of the year.

Summer Reading Reminder

Don't forget, our summer reading discussions are scheduled for next Friday September 17, 2010. Please bring in your projects AND your books. In order to be prepared to discuss the texts, you might need to revisit each as a refresher.

Technology Workshop Reminder

So, we signed up for a lot of stuff online Tuesday. We'll use these programs all year long for class, so thanks for all of your patience as we got ourselves organized.

Here's the quick run-down of what we did:

1. Signed up for TurnItIn.com
You should submit all of your written assignments through this program.

2. Signed up for blogger/Google account
These accounts are the same--if you have a Google account, you have a Blogger account. And, if you're reading this blog, then you already have an account. Yay, you!

3. Set up a Google Sites website of your very own
Some of you set up a site today and already shared it with us. Great job! If you have not done that yet, please do asap. Make sure you create a new page that is a file cabinet so you can save all of your hard work! Check in with us if you need help!

4. Set up an Engrade account and added our class codes

Again, if you have any questions, please check in with us...you can stick around after school for a few minutes if that would help.