Bill to Law Quiz
Take the quiz, turn them in!  If you finish early, work on  finishing page 2 of your climate change notebook.
 
GOP Debate
We’re going to watch at least the first hour of the GOP debate from last night in class (possibly more), then use that as the basis for Blog 7.  Specifically, I want you to apply the moral values and foundations to the positions and candidates.  See below for the video of the debate.
 
Blog 7
Analyze the GOP debate through the lens of the moral matrix/moral foundations.  You could choose a particular issue to focus on, a particular moral value to focus on, or a candidate to focus on. Remember, the five moral foundations are:  Harm/care, Fairness, In Group Loyalty, Authority, Purity/Sanctity.  If you’re stuck, think about these questions:

1. Which of the moral foundations is most important in this issue to you?  To the candidates?
2. Pick a specific moral foundation and track it throughout the debate.  When was it used?  In what contexts?  By who?  What does this tell us about the GOP candidates?
3. Choose a candidate and analyze their specific proposal for one of the issues discussed.  What moral foundation is the candidate emphasizing?  How can you tell (quote ‘em!)?
4. Do a little digging, and contrast a position taken by a candidate in this debate with a democratic candidate’s position.  Which moral foundations are they using to frame their positions?  Explain!
5. Other?  Check with me if you have another idea here!

 
HOMEWORK
1.Finish and Post Blog 7.  DUE:  Start of class, Monday.
2.Climate Change Notebook, Page 2.  DUE:  Start of class, Monday.  Use your senator’s official website, google, ontheissues.org, and votesmart.org as resources.

Starter 29:  Bill to Law Review!

1. Card Sort:  Get with a partner, card sort it!  Check your work, make a note of where you went wrong (to study).
   
2. Kinetic Nonsense:  Each person is assigned a step in the bill process (involved steps get two people) from lecture notes yesterday.  You must:  Develop a simple and LARGE motion, + a SHORT slogan for that step of the bill.  Do it, say it.  Whole class repeats.  Add step 2 (start at beginning).  Repeat until end, arranging physically across classroom.

 
Climate Change Brainstorm and Venn Diagram
Do the handouts!  Review as class!  See DOCS page for this handout.
 
Start Climate Change Packet:  Senator Research 
See DOCS page for this handout.

HOMEWORK:

• Study for Quiz:  Quiz on Bill to Law tomorrow!  Study up!

Starter 28

• Take the pre-quiz, assess in class.  No grade here, just an idea of where you're at.
  
• Give handout:  Bill to Law: What do I need to know?  (See docs page for this).

Taking the Hill (45 min)
Watch first 5 parts of the documentary (about 35 minutes).  For the following people, you should know their specific role, and what they do.  For terms, what is it?:

• .John Boehner
  
• Harry Reid
  
• Mitch McConnell
  
• Party Whip-
  
• Caucus- 
• What strikes you about the way congress works, based on this film?  List 3 observations.

 
Bill to Law Graphic (10 min)

• What’s your gut reaction?
  
• Questions?
  
• Discuss Q&A

 
Bill to Law Lecture and Notes (40 min)
See DOCS page of DP for Note graphic.  If you're gone, get notes from a classmate!

Review
Review Bill to Law what you need to know, mark anything you’re unsure of, try to find the answers using lecture notes, graphic, etc.
 
QUIZ on THURSDAY
1.We’ll do a few review activities on Wednesday, but you should also study!

HOMEWORK

• AM CLASS ONLY:  Watching first 5 sections of "Taking the Hill" (linked on DOCS page of DP), take notes as detailed above.  SORRY! 
• ALL:  Watch the news!  Study for quiz on Thursday!
  

Starter 27

1. Think of 2-3 political issues.  What are they, and what are the democratic and republican positions on those issues (broad brush strokes, here!).
2. Where do these differences come from?  WHY do you think the parties hold such different views?

Moral Matrix, Continued

1. Make poster for LEAST emphasized value on your chart.  Poster should include:
   1. Value name
   2. Benefits of value (bulleted list)
   3. Downsides of value (bulleted list)
   4. Symbol or illustration that represents the value
   5. Why you value this least—what about it DON’T you like?
2. Small Group Discussions
   1. Get in groups with different values
   2. Share posters
   3. Discussion questions

Political Parties
Fill out the chart on political parties and beliefs.  Use your own knowledge, the internet, and classmates.  HINT…you might want to look at the political party platforms!

Model Senate Roles
Take a look at your senator assignments (see document on my DP!)

HOMEWORK
Finish political party issue grid if you didn't finish it in class.  DUE:  Start of class, Tuesday

Questions of the Day

1. How do our moral values shape our political views?  
2. How can we use this to better understand people with different political views than ours?

Starter 26

1. How similar or different do you think liberals and conservatives are in terms of their morality?  Where are the key differences?  Where do they overlap?
2. Think of an issue you feel really strongly about.  What do you think of people who take the opposite position?

Moral Foundation Statement Quiz

1. Moral Foundation Statement Quiz
2. Take the first quiz here (you’ll need to register here to be able to take the quiz).
3. When you’re done, copy the graph you get into a word document or google doc.  You’ll need these results later!
4. Okay, now let’s find out what these results mean.

Haidt:  Moral Matrix Setup

1. This guy is speaking to an audience of liberals, so you’ll notice that his rhetoric is pitched to them, and can be really alienating (and sometimes a little offensive) if you are more conservative.
2. HOWEVER…don’t let that fool you.  His underlying point is actually criticizing the group he's talking to for being so monolithic.  Remember, he’s playing to an audience here.  That doesn’t mean his underlying points are invalid.  His ultimate goal is to REDUCE division between liberals and conservatives.

Haidt:  Moral Matrix TED Talk

1. Watch TED Talk (linked above and on the Docs page of my DP)
2. Take notes on the 3 most interesting points he makes
3. What is the Moral Matrix?  Sum it up with the class.
4. What is he saying about moral values?  How does this connect to politics?
   1. Harm/care and Fairness/Reciprocity are shared.  Slight differences, but liberals and conservatives all value these things.
   2. Other 3 are where real differences exist (In group loyalty, Purity, Authority/respect).
   3. We ALL use all of them, but for liberals, the first two tend to carry much higher weight.
5. Class Analysis of Issues.  What are the moral values used by liberals and conservatives to reach judgments on the following issues?
   1. Abortion
   2. Flag Burning
   3. Gay Marriage

​Moral Values Poster
Now go back to the chart you got after you took the moral values quiz.  Use that chart to make a poster for LEAST emphasized value on your chart.  The poster should include:

1. 1. Value Name
   2. Symbol or illustration that represents this value
   3. Benefits of value (bulleted list)
   4. Downsides of value (bulleted list)
   5. Why you value this least—what about it DON’T you like?  3-4 sentences

Model Senate Roles

1. Take a look at the different roles for Model Senate, and the senators available.  There are documents linked on the Docs page that will help with this.
2. Honors Model Senate Survey
3. Model Senate Survey

HOMEWORK:
NONE!  Have a great weekend.

No Starter

In Class Essay
You have two hours to write an essay on the question, "Is Congress Broken?"  Remember, you don't have to address this question in its totality--you can craft your thesis in such a way that it narrows the focus of your paper to one of the sub-topics we discussed in seminar yesterday.

See my Docs page for the Timed Writing Rubric that I'll be using to assess your essays.

Follow an outline, proofread carefully, and when you're done, share digitally with Lori.

HOMEWORK
None!  Enjoy the night off.  :)

Starter 25

1. What are three questions that either…
   1. You would like us to address in our seminar today
   2. That you think would spark interesting discussion in our seminar today?
2. Write them on your seminar prewrite!

 
Socratic Questioning

• What role does money play in our political system?  In your view, is this a problem?  Why or why not? 

1. What problems are created by money in politics?  Why do you think it is this way? 

•  What can campaign finance tell us about the challenges our elected officials face in their professional lives?

1. 1. Citizens United = Corporate Personhood + Campaign money as free speech.
   2. To what extent should campaign contributions be considered free speech? 
   3. What are the dangers of commercial speech?
   4. What are the dangers of restricting commercial speech?
   5. If we begin restricting certain kinds of speech over others, to what extent will we be endangering all of our freedoms? 

• Can our political system function without lobbyists?  Why or why not?

1. 1. What positive functions do lobbyists engage in?
   2. Without lobbyists, what would get done?
   3. Can we expect our legislators to be experts at EVERYTHING?  What are the strengths and weaknesses of this model?

• If you could fix one thing in Congress right now, what would it be?  What would be the potential consequences of making this change?  
  1. What is your change and why, specifically, would you make it?
  2. What are the potential negative aspects of making this change? 

In Class Essay Exam:  IS CONGRESS BROKEN?

1. NO MLA Citations.  Just make sure to mention the author or title of the piece you are pulling the evidence from.
2. Be Formulaic.  5 paragraphs, thesis at the end of the intro.  You know the drill.  This is not the time to be fancy or creative!
3. NO Internet Access.  If you want access to an article or text, have it printed out.  Or better yet, have the evidence already pulled out of it.  In a real essay exam, you won't even have this- you'll have to memorize the main points made by the different authors.
4. Outline First.  Seriously.  Do an outline.  I've linked two formats on the Docs page of my DP that could work for you.
5. Plan Your Time.  Stick to a schedule.  15 min for intro, 10-15 min per body paragraph, 15 min for conclusion, 15 min for proofreading/editing.  If you stick to this, you'll get done early!  If you were doing the full essay in one class period, you'd also need to block out some time to develop an outline and thesis.
6. Other Things...
   1. ​I can't help you with thesis development or outlining, nor can I give feedback to your writing during the process.  I can clarify the assignment, but that's it.
   2. No revisions for this.  It's a one and done piece.

HOMEWORK

• In Class Essay Outline:  If you want one, get it done and bring it to class.  See docs page for possible formats.

No Starter (I know, I know...try to hold back your tears)

Evidence Gathering
Spending 20 minutes with your partner putting together a document that outlines the evidence for your assigned position.  Make sure you're thinking about who is going to say what, and what evidence should be introduced in your opening argument, and what should be saved for open debate.

Done early?  Figure out some of the main points of the opposing side and counter them!

SAC Debate
Debate, then find consensus!

Seminar Prewrite
Choose one of the questions listed below, and write at least a paragraph on it.  Now is the time to do a little independent research as well.  Any additional information you can bring to our seminar tomorrow will only make our discussion richer!  Feel free to add to you paragraph with a list, bullet points, copy and pasted quotes, whatever will help you in seminar.

1. What role does money play in our political system? In your view, is this a problem? Why or why not?  Challenge:  Bring in Citizens United ruling!
2. Can our political system function without lobbyists? Why or why not?
3. What do you think is the biggest problem with congress right now?  Why?
4. If you could fix one thing in Congress right now, what would it be? What would be the potential consequences of making this change?

HOMEWORK

1. Seminar Prewrite:  See questions and instructions above.  DUE:  Start of class Wednesday.
2. Tocqueville Revisions:  Make sure that if you're doing these optional revisions that you check when they're due, and that you look at the instructions for resubmitting written work on the DOCS page of my DP.

Starter 24:  
Is congress broken?  Answer this question to the best of your ability!  It's okay to come down somewhere in the middle- just make sure you explain why.

SAC Overview and Docs
See the DOCS page of my DP for all relevant handouts, reading questions, and texts.

FOR TODAY...

1. Read and annotate the article for your assigned position (see below for your position).
2. Answer the Reading Questions for that article (can be handwritten or typed, as long as they're done by the start of class tomorrow).

HOMEWORK

1. SAC Prep:  Annotate and answer the reading questions for your assigned position and article.  See below for your assigned position, and the DOCS page for all other documents.  DUE:  Start of class Tuesday.
2. Tocqueville Revisions:  ​Check the DOCS page for when your revision is due, and how to resubmit written work!

Starter 23:
What do you need to do in the next month for your senior project?  How will you go about it?  Be as specific as possible?

Senior Project Conferences
Conference with Lori- let's figure out where you are and where you need to go!

During Conferences, you should...

1. Work on your Senior Project PLP
2. Dig around in the internet for inspiration, or freewrite, draw, whatever you need to do to figure out what you love and what you want to spend a month doing.
3. If you're super solid on your PLP and where your senior project is headed, then you can work on your Writing Reflection and DP Update

HOMEWORK:

1. Tocqueville Revisions:  Rolling deadlines.  See Tocqueville Revision Due Dates for your revision due date.  Remember to submit using the guidelines in "A Guide to Test Corrections and Resubmitting Written Work" (on docs page).  Revisions that are late or do not follow directions will not be considered.  All revisions are due in the box on my desk at the start of class- not at break, at lunch, or the end of class.
2. Writing Reflection and DP Update:  DUE Friday at midnight.  Do not email me your reflection--just post it to your DP.