11. Questions for thoughtful letters

Read all the letters. Choose a thoughtful one and provide the author with thoughtful questions.

10. Iraq document based question

In class we will be learning about US foreign policy during the oughts of the 20th century. For the web log you shall study US foreign policy during the oughts of the 21th century.

In the packet I have given you, read the excerpts from the statement by President Bush and some of the supporters and critics of U.S. policy. President Bush makes a number of assertions in this speech that have been questioned by critics. As you read the speech, underline points that might be disputed and discuss them with classmates and your family. Then, working individually, answer the questions that follow each quote, and complete the activity that follows all of the quotes.

Based on these quotes, your responses to the questions, and your knowledge about the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq, write a letter to either your congressional representative or one of your U.S. senators explaining your view on what is taking place there and what the United States should do now and in the future. Your letter should be a minimum of two hundred and fifty words. Post it onto the web log, as it will be questioned by your classmates; print a hard copy, as it will be discussed in class. It will be your decision whether you want to send it to your representatives.

9. Should "illegals" be able to become citizens? Due Wednesday

Read all of the previous comments. Choose one which you think is particularly thoughtful. Summarize the comment and then ask several questions about the author's position. The questions should trouble the writers thinking and lead to more questions.

8. Both Rola and Luis ask: Should undocumented immigrants have 'a shot at the American Dream'? Due Fri. Nov. 16

In March and April, 2006, illegal immigration, mostly Hispanic, became a major national issue as Congress debated immigration legislation and well over 1 million demonstrators took to the streets of American cities seeking a path toward citizenship for undocumented migrants.

The first reading in your packet deals with undocumented immigrants and the debate about what should be done about and/or for them. After reading it answer the following questions


1. The presence of undocumented migrants pose societal, economic, security and political issues. In each case, why?

2. Why do you suppose Senator Cornyn and others in the Senate and the House oppose "an easier path to citizenship" for undocumented migrants?

3. What do you think of such a path and why?

7. Answers Lead to More Questions. Due: Fri. Oct 19th

You know the drill: Read. Summarize. Question.

Be a Muckraker DUE Oct 12th

In last week's assignment Sidra wrote:
"If a person values their freedom but takes advantage of his freedom, what can you do about it? How should they be punished?"
Our new unit will look at how indiviguals and institutions abused their freedoms during the Gilded Age.
1. Define: What is a muckraker?

2. What is a problem in contemporary America which you believe needs to be exposed? Why? Muckrake.

5. Questions about Freedom Due Friday Sep 28th

Step 1- Read all the comments from the assignment "What is Freedom?"

Step 2- Choose one comment which is thoughtful.

Step 3-

First, paraphrase the comment you are responding to: For example: “Ms. Maloney thinks that…”

Then, write a question about the chosen comment. The question must be: clear, sincere, useful and be the sort of question which leads to more questions. The question you write must complicate the comment’s argument, make the reader of the comment you are questioning think deeper. Stir up some intellectual trouble.