Wednesday, December 2nd, 2015

Announcements:
-If you haven't, go into Google Classroom and explain your status at the TOP of the Post-Job Shadow assignment.
-Check your portal.
-If you are failing (or have a failing standard), please plan on staying after next Thursday so we can help you get caught up.
-If you haven't, please return your Ernie's Ark book.

Circle
The book "The Things They Carried" explains what it is that soldiers carry -- things both concrete and abstract.  What do you carry and how much do you think it weighs?

Self-Assess Vocab Quiz:

imperialism
interdependence
perspective
ethnocentrism

globalization
colonization
macro view
micro view

Reading Quiz

Video: Vietnam CBS Battle footage (to support Things They Carried)

The Things They Carried
One of the thing we want you to get good at is noticing things while you read.  Here are some categories for things to notice:
1 CONTRASTS & CONTRADICTIONS
When a character does something that contrasts with what you’d expect or contradicts his earlier acts or statements, STOP and ask, “Why is the character doing that?” The answer will help you make predictions and draw inferences about the plot and conflict.
2 WORDS OF THE WISER
When a character (probably older and wiser) takes the main character aside and offers serious advice, STOP and ask, “What’s the life lesson and how might if affect the character?” This lesson is probably the theme of the story.
3 AHA MOMENT
When a character realizes, understands, or finally figures out something, STOP and ask yourself, “How might this change things?”
If it is about a problem, it tells you something about the conflict; if it is a life lesson, it tells you something about the theme.
4 AGAIN & AGAIN
When you notice a word, phrase, or situation mentioned over and over, STOP and ask your- self, “Why does this keep happening again and again?” The answer will tell you about the theme and conflict, or will foreshadow what might happen later in the story.
5 MEMORY MOMENT
When the author interrupts the action to tell you about a memory, STOP and ask yourself, “Why might this memory be important?” The answer will tell you about the theme and con- flict, or will foreshadow what might happen later in the story.
6 TOUGH QUESTIONS
When a character asks himself a very difficult question, STOP and ask yourself, “What does this question make me wonder about?” The answer will tell you about the conflict, and help you think about what might happen later in the story.

Directions: In assigned reading, find things that fit any of the categories.  If you can't find anything, then find anything you think is cool/interesting/disturbing/funny etc. You will spend time looking on your own, then sharing at your table, then sharing out.  TAKE NOTES.

Silent Reading: Finish "On The Rainy River" by next class.

Unit: Should we go to war with ISIS?
Essential Question: What should we understand before we go to war?
Learning Target: By the end of the unit, you will be able use various print and media sources to form an opinion on a complex issue in order to make a reasoned decision.
Description: This unit will be broken down into a series of sub-units with their own questions. With your group, you will be researching and answering questions that will help you decide whether going to war with ISIS is the right thing to do.
Sub-units & Questions

TODAY:
Geography
Question: What is the history of the geography of the Middle East that might help explain the current conflicts?
Resources: 
-This video of the history of its borders, then take notes afterwards.
-Watch this Daily Show Video making fun of the British Empire and how it is the root of all the problems.

Polling
Question: What do people in the world, the United States and the World think we should do?
Resources: 
-As a group, spend some time discovering reliable polling data on public opinion in the world and the United States
-As a group, interview 3 staff members about their opinions about what we should do.

OTHER PARTS OF THIS UNIT
Vocab

imperialism
interdependence
perspective
ethnocentrism

globalization
colonization
macro view
micro view

Questions Questions Question
-Before beginning, generate a list of questions: What would you want to know before making this decisions.

Our History with Middle East Interventions.
Questions: 
-What is our history in the region in terms of military action?
-How can that history help us to decide what to do?
Resources: 
-Read this article from NPR describing what's has been happening in the Middle East in the last few years.  Each person in your group take one country -- and keep it simple.
-Use this site's listing of interventions to count and describe what we have done in each Middle East country. Use a Google map to identify which countries are in the region.
--Daily Show Video about the history of our Middle East Interventions.
-Read this article explaining the view of a former military general on our war with Iraq and Afghanistan as well on his critique on current military strategy.

Geography
Question: What is the history of the geography of the Middle East that might help explain the current conflicts?
Resources: 
-This video of the history of its borders, then take notes afterwards.
-Watch this Daily Show Video making fun of the British Empire and how it is the root of all the problems.

Polling
Question: What do people in the world, the United States and the World think we should do?
Resources: 
-As a group, spend some time discovering reliable polling data on public opinion in the world and the United States
-As a group, interview 3 staff members about their opinions about what we should do.

Islam
Question: TBA
Resources: TBA 

ISIS
Question: TBA
Resources: TBA

Terrorism
Question: What are the goals and motivations of terrorists?  How do they think?
Resources: 
-This article on the paris attacks.

What is it like for the soldiers
Question: How does was impact those who have to do the actual fighting?
Resources: 
-Literature: The Things They Carried
-Documentary: Restrepo
-Video Games -- Call of Duty
-ISIS in Afghanistan