The Academical Village All Things Political of Dr. David Garrison   

 Bonus Ops for Govt 2301(all sections)
These bonus opportunities are available to all Dr. Garrison's GOVT 2301 sections. A maximum of 50 bonus opportunity points is allowed for a semester. Please choose bonus ops throughout the semester. Please do not do all fifty points worth the last week of class.
For all bonus opportunities copy and paste the bonus op with point value, etc. at the top of your bonus paper. Be sure to include documentary proof such as movie ticket stub, copy of the meeting program, meeting agenda, movie rental receipt, etc.)  Items below are not available as bonus ops if they are chosen as Task assignments.
 

  LRC DVD: Life in the Balance: The Health Care Crisis in Texas (15 points, write three pages, due within one week)
     Watch the KERA13 production and statewide broadcast of Life in the Balance: The Health Care Crisis in Texas. Note the Texas local government role in particular. DVD copy in the SCC library.

  Animal Services of Local Government: Adopt a Pet (20 points, write three pages, due the last class day before the Final Exam) Adopt a pet from a local government animal shelter -- typically a city and/or county function.

  Web Site: The Trinity River Corridor Project (5 points, write one page, due by deadline)
     What is the Trinity River Corridor project of the City of Dallas?

  The Calatrava bridges (5 points, write one page, due by deadline)
     What are the Calatrava bridges for the city of Dallas?
 

  COGs (5 points,  write one page, due the last class day final)
            What is a COG and what do they do?  List the COGs in Texas.  Which COG do you live in? 
 

CCCCD Board of Trustees Meeting:  (15 points, due the last class day before the final; 5 additional points if you have a conversation with a board member or the college president.) 
     Attend the CCCCD Board of Trustees regular monthly meeting at the Courtyard Center (Park & Preston Blvd. in Plano). Take detailed notes and attach the Official Agenda of the meeting for credit. Have a board member or the college president  sign your agenda to document your attendance. Include your conversation in your notes if you choose the extra credit.

Arts of Collin County (5 points, write one page, due by semester deadline)
   Visit the DART Web Site (5 points, due last class day before the final exam NOT AVAILABLE IF YOU CHOOSE THE DART LIGHT RAIL BONUS ABOVE)
            What is DART? Is your city a member of DART? Does DART Light Rail serve your community? Write one page about DART.

    "The Air, the Air. The Air Is Everywhere" (5 points, due by last class day before final) 
Read Randy Lee Loftis, "EPAWidens North Texas Smog Net," Dallas Morning News, April 15, 2004 and write one page.

  Texas Political Culture as Seen by Molly Ivins (10 points, write two pages, due the last class day before the  final) 
Read Molly Ivins, "Is Texas America," The Nation, November 17, 2003

  "Texas Political Culture as Seen by the Economist"(10 points, write two pages, due the last class day before the final) 
     Read this view of the Texas political culture:  "The Future is Texas," The Economist,(economist.com), December 19, 2002
 

  Love Field, DFW, & the Wright Amendment ( 5 points, due by last class before final exam) 
     Read Dee Kelly, "Don't Ground Wright Amendment," Ft. Worth Star-Telegram (star-telegram.com), June 11, 2004 and write one page.
 

  Turmoil in Murphy, Texas City Government (5 points, due by the last class before the final)
     Read Tiara M. Ellis, "Murphy Officials Want Top Officials Out," Dallas Morning News, July 1, 2004 and write one page. 
 

  ISD School Board Meeting (15 points, due the last class day before the final; 5 additional points if you have a conversation with a board member.) 
     Attend you local Independent School District (ISD) regular board meeting. Take detailed notes and attach the Official Agenda of the meeting for credit. Have an official sign your agenda to document your attendance. Include your conversation in your notes if you choose the extra credit.

 

  County Commissioners Court Meeting (15 points, due the last class day before the final; 5 additional points if you have a conversation with a commissioner or the county judge.) 
     Attend your county's commissioners court regular meeting at the county courthouse. Take detailed notes and attach the Official Agenda of the meeting for credit. Have a board member or the college president  sign your agenda to document your attendance. Include your conversation in your notes if you choose the extra credit.

  Collin County Sheriff (5 points, write one page, due deadline)
                        Visit your county sheriff's department online.
  Your County Commissioner (5 points, write one page, due deadline)
                        What county commissioner's precinct do you live in? Who is your county commissioner? See the county online.
  The City of Austin, Texas (5 points, write one page, due deadline)
                        Visit Austin online. What plan of municipal government and what election system does the city use? What is its population?
  The City of Dallas, Texas (5 points, write one page, due deadline)
                         What plan of municipal government and what election system does the city use? What is its population?
  The City of Houston, Texas (5 points, write one page, due deadline)
                         What plan of municipal government and what election system does the city use? What is its population?

  The City of San Antonio, Texas (5 points, write one page, due deadline)
                          What plan of municipal government and what election system does the city use? What is its population?
  The City of Ft. Worth, Texas (5 points, write one page, due deadline)
                           What plan of municipal government and what election system does the city use? What is its population?
  The City of Los Angeles (5 points, write one page, due deadline)
                          What plan of municipal government and what election system does the city use? What is its population?
  New York City (5 points, write one page, due deadline)
                          What plan of municipal government and what election system does the city use? What is its population?

  Should the Collin County Airport Be Cleared for Take Off? (10 points, due by the last class before the final)
     Read "Should the Collin County Airport Be Cleared for Take Off?: Yes. No." Dallas Morning News, June 30, 2004 and write two pages. 

Newspaper story: Bruce Nichols, "Some Say Strong Mayor Gave Houston a Boost," Dallas Morning News, November 28,  2004. (5 bonus points, write one page, due by last due date)

  Love v. DFW (5 points, write one page, due by the last due date) 
Listen to "NPR : Battle Looms Between Two Dallas Airports."
 

   Television program: Subdivided: Isolation & Community in America airing on KERA  Ch. 13 Wednesday January 3, 2007 (10 points, write two pages, due by deadline)

  The Environment: The Ogallala Aquifer (5 points, write one page, due by the last due date) Visit the Ogallala Aquifer.
 

  Dallas Morning News Editorial: Vital Options: Region's Fortunes Hinge on More Mass Transportation (5 points, write one page including comment about the accompanying map, due by last class meeting before final exam)
  TV: North Texas & Out-of-County Health Care ( 5 points, due by the last class day before the  final exam)
     Read Sujata Dand, "North Texas Counties Contend with Issue of Out-of-County Health Care," KERA Public Newsroom (kera.org), June 25, 2004 and write one page

  Parkland Hospital & Collin County (5 points, due by the last class before the final exam)
     Read Sherry Jacobsen, "Parkland Growing Tired of Picking Up Neighbors' Tab," Dallas Morning News, June 24, 2004 and write one page.
 

  News story: Collin County Water (5 points, write one page, due by DL)

Story: Water treatment plant may bring steep rate increases

  News story: Frisco Liquor Hours (5 points, write one page, due by DL)

Story: Here's to longer Frisco liquor hours

  News story: Frisco Population (5 points, write one page, due by DL)

Story: Frisco population tops 100,000

  DART Light Rail & Austin's Capital Metro (10 points, due the last class day before the
 final) 
     Read Ben Wear, "Talk Done, Dallas Walks the Rail Walk," Austin American-Statesman (statesman.com), July 4, 2004 and write two pages.

Love Field (5 points, due the last class day before the final)
    What is Love Field? Who owns Love Field? What is the Wright Amendment?  The Shelby Amendment?  Write one page.

  DFW Airport (5 points; due by last class before the final) 
     Visit the DFW Airport web site. Write one page.

  State & Local Property Taxes (5 points, due by last regular class day)
Find a list of the state and local governments' property taxes and note where Texas ranks.

  Collin County School Finance (5 points, due by exam 2)
Read Editorial, "Political Will," Dallas Morning News, March 20, 2004 and write one page.

Washington Week with Gwen Ifill and National Journal (5 points, write one page, due within one week of viewing)

Friday, November 20, 2009 8 - 8:30 pm EDT

"Washington Week," the longest-running news and public affairs program on public television, has forged an editorial partnership with "National Journal," the nonpartisan publication that for 36 years has been dedicated to providing comprehensive coverage of the politics and policy of the federal government. (CC, Stereo)

http://www.pbs.org/washingtonweek

 

NOW

Friday, November 20, 2009 8:30 - 9:00 pm EDT (5 points, write one page, due within one week of viewing)

Through documentary segments and interviews with original thinkers, "NOW" goes beyond the noisy churn of the news cycle and gives you the context to explore your relationship with the larger world. (CC, Stereo)

Learn about businesses with new bottom lines: helping humanity.

http://www.pbs.org/now

Bill Moyers Journal

Friday, November 20, 2009 9 - 10:00 pm EDT(10 points, write two pages, due within one week of viewing)

This weekly public affairs series features interviews and news analysis on a wide range of subjects, including politics, arts and culture, the media, the economy and issues facing democracy. (CC, Stereo)

Tell us what you think in our online blog; is the media sufficiently reporting the truth about the Iraq war on the ground?

http://www.pbs.org/moyers

 

  Wall Street Journal:  (5 points each)

WSJ.com - Opinion: Republicans and Our Enemies*( 5 points, write one page, due by DL)

1. Democrats and Our Enemies ( 5 points, write one page, due by DL) My party needs to relearn that we won't achieve peace by being inoffensive.     2. Pity Party  5 points, write one page, due by DL) By Peggy Noonan Declarations: "White House-itis" may prove terminal for Republicans.

 

State Sales Taxes (5 points, due by last class day before final) Dallas Morning News story: Joe Jaynes: Providing for rail (5 points, write one page, due by deadline)

Dallas Morning News story: Collin County arts hall project faces shortfall, uncertain future (5 points, write one page, due by deadline)

Dallas Morning News story: Rodger Jones: DART man deals with fear (5 points, write one page, due by deadline)

  Washington Week in Review (5 points, due within one week)
        Watch one program of Washington Week in Review7:30- 8 p.m. Fridays on KERA Channel 13 or view the program online. Write one page.

 Write a Letter to the Newspaper Editor  (15 points, due by last class day before final) 
     Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. Give your opinion on a local issue of concern to you. Submit your letter and a copy of the published letter to document your effort.
 

     Hardball (5 points, due within one week) 
     Watch this television program and write one page.  Hardball airs tonight on MSNBC at 7 pm ET, 11 pm ET & 4 am ET/4 pm PT, 8 pm PT & 1 am PT. Write two pages.

Child Political Party ID (5 points, write one page, due by Exam 2) Ask a child the political party ID question that major public opinion polls ask of respondents.

Current USA Political Party ID (5 points, write one page, due by Exam 2) What is the current political party ID distribution in the U.S.?

Current Texas Political Party ID (5 points, write one page, due by Exam 2) What is the current political party ID distribution in Texas?

  Television program: Stop the Presses (10 points, write two pages, due by Exam 2)

  Animated Political Cartoons:  Mark Fiore at The Village Voice (5 points, write one page, due within one week)
     Watch five Mark Fiore cartoons and write one page.

Texas Presidential Electors & "Faithless" Electors ( 10 points, due by Exam 2)
        Find the names, hometowns, and political party affiliations of the Texas presidential electors for the 2004 presidential election. Always indicate your sources. Also, find several examples of  'faithless' electors.  List their name, how they were faithless, and the situation or reason for being faithless. 

  Movie: "The Fog of War" (10 points, due within one week after seeing the film)
     See the movie  "The Fog of War" starring Robert S. McNamara. PG-13 (images and thematic ideas of war and destruction). Now available on DVD in the LRC, 106 minutes.  The lessons of the Vietnam War. Write two pages. Now available at movie rental stores.

 

     New York Times/CBS News Poll: Gay Marriage (5 points, due by exam 2)
     Read Katharine Q. Seelye and Janet Elder, "Strong Support Is Found for Ban on Gay Marriage," New York Times (nytimes.com), December 21, 2003 and write one page. Note the Multimedia graphics Views on Homosexuality and Gay Marriage accompanying the article.

  The NASCAR Dads' Vote (5 points, due by exam 2)
     Read Wiliam Schneider's "How to Woo NASCAR Fans," National Journal & The Atlantic Online, December 16, 2003 and write one page.

  McCain Feingold Campaign Finance Law and the Supreme Court (5 points, due by exam 2) Read Stuart Taylor, Jr's.,"December 10: A Worrisome Day for the Freedom of Speech," National Journal & The Atlantic Online, December 16, 2003 and write one page.

  PBS News Hour (10 points, due by last regular class period)
     Watch this one hour news program any evening. Write two pages.

  NPR, "All Things Considered" (10 points, good throughout the semester)
        Listen to one hour of  National Public Radio's "All Things Considered"  http://www.npr.org/programs/atc/index.html from 4-6:30 p.m. on KERA 90.1. Write two pages.

    NPR, "Morning Edition" (10 points due by Exam 2)
       Listen to one hour of  National Public Radio's "Morning Edition" http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/index.html  from 5-9a.m. on KERA 90.1. Write two pages.

  Crossfire (5 points, good throughout the semester)
        Watch one program of the tv show Crossfire. Write one page.   

    "Capital Report" (5 points, a bonus op due by Exam 2)
      Join Gloria Borger and Allan Murray for "Capital Report," tonight at 9 eastern and pacific on CNBC TV. Watch one program and write one page. 

   Frontline (10 points, due within one week)
     Watch this PBS television program and write two pages. http://www.pbs.org/frontline/

  Film: The new Robert Redford film Lions for Lambs: (15 points, write three pages, due b deadline)

proceed through the voting site. Write one page about your voting experience and what you learned about voting rights.   
 

  Radio segment/video: Family Values 2008 - The Moses Family of Plano (5 points, write one page, due by exam 2)

  Television program/Streaming Video:  Election Day? (15 points, write three pages, due by deadline)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

* Election Day Premieres on Tuesday, July 1 at 10 PM *

“We set out to depict portraits of real people who make our democracy
work, whose actions are not the kind of thing that would make the evening news."
— Katy Chevigny, filmmaker
 
Forget the pie charts, color-coded maps and hyperventilating pundits.
What's the street-level experience of voters in today's America? In a triumph of
documentary storytelling, Election Day combines 11 stories — shot simultaneously
on November 2, 2004, from dawn until long past midnight — into one. Factory workers,
ex-felons, harried moms, Native American activists and diligent poll watchers, from
South Dakota to Florida, take the process of democracy into their own hands.
The result: an entertaining, inspiring and sometimes unsettling tapestry of citizens
determined on one fateful day to make their votes count. A co-production of
Independent Television Service (ITVS).

“Chevigny’s well-established vérité style reveals the profound stake that citizens
across the country have in the voting process.” — Pat Aufderheide, In These Times
 
"You don’t need to be told that we need serious election reform in this country.
What you might need, though, is a refresher on how badly our voting system is
damaged. For that, turn to Election Day, a documentary made for the P.O.V. series
on PBS." — Marc Allen, Orlando Weekly
 

The Election Day companion website offers a video trailer of the film, an interview
with filmmaker Katy Chevigny (video, podcast and text), a list of related websites,
organizations and books, a downloadable discussion guide, a classroom activity
and the following special features:
 
Additional Video
Follow the story of a disabled voter and find out more about what frustrated Jim Fuchs,
the Republican poll watcher in Chicago, on Election day. Watch two clips not shown
in the broadcast version of the film.

Making Elections Better
We ask a roundtable of election experts: What's the one thing you would tell people to
do to make the American election system better?  They weigh in with what you can do
to improve thing at the polls.

Election FAQ
Why are voting laws so different from state to state?  What's a poll watcher, and how
can you become one?  We answer frequently asked questions about the election system.
If you have a related question, ask it in the comments.  An expert will answer select viewer
questions on the P.O.V. Blog during the week after Election Day is broadcast on P.O.V.
 
Ask the filmmaker: Katy Chevigny will respond to viewer questions on the Blog for a
few days after the broadcast this week.

Interact with all these features and check your local listings at
http://www.pbs.org/pov/electionday

TIP: Days and times for P.O.V. broadcasts do vary, so be
sure to check local listings for dates and airtimes on your
PBS station on our website.
 
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* Watch Election Day Online During the Month of July *

For the first time ever, P.O.V. is offering a streaming version of the entire
broadcast of Election Day on our website during the month of July.
If you miss the broadcast, or want to tell a friend to watch the film, visit
the P.O.V. website after the premiere on Tuesday night.
 
http://www.pbs.org/pov/electionday

  LRC VIDEO Television program & Reserve Video: Politics, Texas Style (15 points, due by Exam 2 exam)
Watch the PBS P. O. V. "Last Man Standing: Politics Texas Style" Sunday, October 31, 2004 4:30-6:00 pm CT KERA Channel 13 and write two pages.

     The White Male Vote in 2004 (5 points, due by exam 2)
     Read Ron Brownstein, "For 2004, Bush Has Strength in the White Male Numbers," Los Angeles Times (latimes.com), December 28, 2003 and write one page.

     God & Politics (5 points, due by exam 2)
     Read Jim Wallis, "Putting God Back in Politics," New York Times (nytimes.com), December 28, 2003 and write one page.

     Media Bias: Fact or Opinion? (5 points, due by exam 2)
     Read Tim Rutten, "Fact or Opinion? Yes, It Really Does Matter," Los Angeles Times (laytimes.com), December 27, 2003 and write one page.

  Texas Media Bias (10 points, due the last class day before the final exam)
Visit www.texasmediawatch.com and write two pages.

   Television news segment: Tuesday, June 24, 2008 (5 points, write one page, due by exam 2)

   Vote by Issue Quiz (5 points, due by Exam 2)
       Choose the 2004 Democratic presidential primary candidate with whom you agree on the issues. Write one page reporting the results.

Pundits & Voters (5 points, due by Exam 2)
     Read David Shaw's "Pundits' Prophesies May Transform Voters' Reality," Los Angeles Times, February 1, 2004.  Write one page.

     Pick a Poll (5 points, due by Exam 2)
     Pick a Washington Post poll to explore and write one page.

     About Public Opinion Polling (5 points, due by Exam 2)
     Read Claudia Deane, "About Washington Post Polls," Washington Post (washingtonpost.com), July 7, 2003 and write one page.

    Texas Democratic Party (10 points, due by Exam 2)
     Visit the Texas Democratic Party web site and write two pages.

    Texas Republican Party (10 points, due by Exam 2)
     Visit the Texas Republican Party web site and write two pages.



    Texas Partisan Politics (10 points, due by last class day before the final)
Read Paul Burka, "A Giant Void," Texas Monthly (txmonthly.com), January 2004 and write two pages.

  "Can College Students Vote at School? (5 points, due by exam 2) 
     Read Dave McNeeley, "Issue of Student Voting at School Raised Again," Austin American-Statesman (statesman.com), January 1, 2004 and write one page.
 

  Party Platforms (10 points per platform, write two pages per platform, due by exam 2)
               Texas GOP platform;Texas Democratic Party platform

    Book excerpt: Kevin Phillips, "How the GOP became god's party," Washington Post, April 3, 2005. Also at LRC EReserves. (10 points, write two pages, due by exam 2)

  What's the Matter with Kansas? (5 points, write one page, due by the second exam )
What's the matter with Kansas?

 "Texas & Race Discrimination: Hernandez v. Texas (5 points, write one page, due by second exam)
     Read Ian Haney Lopez, "Hernandez v. Brown," New York Times, May 22, 2004 and write one page of comment.

The Rise & Fall of Jim Crow:  Voting Then & Now (5 points,write one page,  due by Exam 2)
       Go to http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/tools.html and click on Voting Then, Voting Now.  Click on Try to Vote and

  Blog: Texas Monthly editor Paul Burka on Texas Politics at Burkablog (5 points, write one page, due by second exam)

    Streaming Video: Bias at PBS (5 points, watch, read, listen, write one page, due by last due date)
"Public  Broadcasting Under Fire," PBS Online Newshour, June 21, 2005

   Newspaper article: Bias at PBS (5 points, watch, read, listen, write one page, due by last due date)
Cal Thomas, "Bias Runs Deep at PBS," Townhall.com, June 22, 2005
  Documentary Political Film: The War Room (15 points, write three pages, due by Exam 2)
     A Behind-The-Scenes Documentary Of Bill Clinton's Presidential Campaign Featuring James Carville, George Stephanopoulos, Mary Matalin And Mickey Kantor. Filmed by the veteran documentarian D.A. Pennebaker and his wife, Chris Hegedus, the movie follows key members of Bill Clinton's campaign team from the snows of New Hampshire in January, 1992, to the victory celebration in Little Rock in November of that year. Running Time: 96 Minutes Rating: PG

    Documentary Political Films: Fahrenheit 9/11 & Fahrenhype 9/11
  (30 points, write three pages, due by Exam 2)


   "All the King's Men" (15 points, due by last class day before the final)
     Watch the movie "All the King's Men," Columbia Classics, 1949 based on Robert Penn Warren's Pulitzer Prize winning novel of the same title. Write three pages of your impressions so specifically that there is no doubt that you watched the movie.

   "All the President's Men" (15 points, due by last class day before the final)
     Watch the movie "All the President's Men," based on the nonfiction book about the Watergate scandal. Write three pages of your impressions so specifically that there is no doubt that you watched the movie.
   Radio Story: Religion & Politics: The Tale of Two Churches (5 points, due by Exam 2)
     Listen to the NPR Morning Edition October 4, 2004 news story and  write one page.

   Radio Story : Politics & the Prayer Group (5 points, due by Exam 2)
     Listen to the NPR All Things Considered October 4, 2004 news story and  write one page.

   Radio Story : The LA Times Electoral Vote Tracker (5 points, due by Exam 2)
     Listen to the NPR All Things Considered October 8, 2004 news story on the Los Angeles Times Electoral Vote Tracker and write one page. For another five points visit the Tracker, play with it, and write one page.


  Newspaper columnist: Political Polling & Cell Phones (5 points, due within one week)
     Read Jimmy Breslin, "Making Call on Sham of Political Polling," Newsday (Newsday.com), September 16. 2004 and write one page.

 
  Movie: "Silver City" (10 points, due within one week of viewing)
     See the new movie "Silver City" and write two pages so specifically that there is no doubt you saw the movie.  Attach your ticket stub to the paper.


   Documentary Film: Bush's Brain (10 points, due within one week)
     See the documentary film "Bush's Brain" based on the book of the same name. Now available on DVD in the LRC. Write two pages.
 

  American Aristocracies: The Mind Elite vs. the Money Elite (5 points, due by second exam)
     Read David Brooks, "Bitter at the Top," New York Times (nytimes.com), June 15, 2004 and write one page.

  The Texas Ten Percent Rule for College Admissions: UT & A&M ( 5 points, due by the last class day before the final) 
     Read Jonathan D. Glader, "Diversity Plan Shaped in Texas Under Attack," New York Times (nytimes.com), June 13, 2004 and write one page.

  Public Radio, Culture, & Politics (10 points, due by second exam)
     Read Andrew Ferguson, "Radio Silence," The Weekly Standard, June 14, 2004 and write two pages.

 Media Impact: Frontline "The Dark Side,"  KERA  Ch. 13 9  p.m.January 2, 2007 (15 points, write three pages, due by exam 2)

On September 11, 2001, Vice President Dick Cheney was ordering U.S. fighter planes to shoot down any commercial airliner still in the air above America. At that moment, CIA Director George Tenet was meeting with his counter-terrorism team. Both leaders acted fast, but soon a debate would grow over the goals of the war on terror and the decision to go to war in Iraq. Tune in for our investigation of the ensuing conflict. (CC, Stereo, DVI)

Log on to the companion Web site to read extended interviews with former members of the U.S. intelligence community, journalists, and White House and Congressional officials involved in intelligence oversight. . http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/darkside

 

   Current Events: Texas/USA Politics in the News ( 5 points, due throughout the semester)
     Go to www.quorumreport.com and click on news clips. Pick a Texas or USA politics/government new story or opinion column from the news clips list and go to that newspaper or magazine web site and read the news story or opinion column. and write two pages. Or you may go directly to the web site of the Dallas Morning News, Ft. Worth Star Telegram, Austin American Statesman, Houston Chronicle, San Antonio News Express, the El Paso Times, etc. for the stories or columns. You may choose more than one article/column over time. Each counts five points.

   Gay Marriage (5 points, due in one week)
     Read this article and write one page: William R. Rubenstein, "Hiding Behind the Constitution," New York Times (nytimes.com), March 20, 2004.

   C-SPAN + 25 (5 points, due by Exam 2) 
     Read Ed Bark, "After 25 Years, the Frill Still Gone for C-SPAN," Dallas Morning News, March 20, 2004 and write one page.


   How the Founding Fathers Would Have Handled Gay Marriage (5 points, due by bonus deadline)
     Read this article and write one page: Jonathan Rauch, "A More Perfect Union," The Atlantic Monthly (The Atlantic Online, April 2004. 

     
 Financing Texas Public Schools (5 points, due by last due date)
     Read Terence Stutz, "Report Lays Down School Tax Options," Dallas Morning News, March 9, 2004 and write one page.

    The Texas School Finance Project (10 points, due by last class day before the final)
     Examine the Texas School Finance Project web site and write two pages about the so-called "Robin Hood" law and Texas public school finance.

     The Swing Voter: 18-24 Year Olds (10 points, due by exam 2)
Read Chuck Todd, "In Search of the Swing Voter," New York Times (nytimes.com), December 29, 2003 and write two pages.



    The Texas Poll & School Finance (5 points, due by exam 2)
Read Terrence Stutz, "Cigarette Tax Favored to Help Schools," Dallas Morning News (dallasnews.com, December 21, 2003 and write one page.

     The Internet & '04 Presidential Politics (5 points, due by exam 2)
     Read Frank Rich, "Napster Runs for President in '04," New York Times (nytimes.com), December 21, 2003 and write one page.
  The Meatrix (5 points, due by last class day)
     For animal lovers in particular...watch this advocacy video and write one page. What political issue does the video illustrate? What political interest group sponsored this video? What interest opposes the video?

  Electoral College Calculator (10 points, due by second exam day)
   Calculate the winners and losers of the 2004 election with the NARA Federal Register Electoral College Calculator. Print out the results and write one page of comment.

  "Values & the Press (10 points, due by exam 2)
     Read "Values & the Press" from the latest Pew Research Center report and write at least one full page of comment about the findings.

Meet the Press (10 points, due within one week)
        Watch one program of Meet the Press 9-10 a.m. Sundays on KXAS NBC Channel 5.  Write two pages. 

  Research paper: Cell Phones & Polling (10 points, write two pages, due by Exam 2)

  Newspaper article: Texas & M. D. s (5 points, write one page, due by DL)

WSJ.com - Opinion: Why Doctors Are Heading for Texas*

  Newspaper article: She as President (10 points, write two pages, due by exam 2)

Excerpt from New York Times Article:
She Just Might Be President Someday
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/18/weekinreview/18zernike.html

If not her, who?
 

  Newspaper article: DFW Population Growth (10 points, write two pages, due by DL)

  Newspaper article: Texas Voter Fraud? (5 points, write one page, due by Exam 2)

  Newspaper book review (5 points, write one page, due by the DL)

  Newspaper opinion column: Millennials (5 points, write one page, due by Exam 2)
OPINION   | May 13, 2008
Op-Ed Columnist:  Here Come the Millennials
By BOB HERBERT
Senator Barack Obama has tapped into a generation that is in danger of being left out of the American dream.

  Newspaper opinion column: Evangelicals (5 points, due by the second exam)

  "How the USA Is Perceived in the Islamic World" (10 points, write two pages, due by last due date)
 How is the U. S. perceived in the Islamic world according to public opinion analyst Andrew Kohut?

 

The legendary Ben Bradlee -- retired executive editor of the Washington Post -- joins the "NewsHour's" Jim Lehrer for a candid and often witty look at the current state of journalism. (CC, Stereo)

See if you have what it takes to be an editor; take our online editing quiz. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bradlee

   Media Impact: Song Lyrics: (5 points, write one page, due by exam 2) Choose one of the following:
Song Lyrics: What are the lyrics to any of the political songs on Neil Young's new album?
Song Lyrics: What are the lyrics to any of the political songs on Bruce Springsteen albums?
Song Lyrics: Explain the incident that caused country radio stations to ban the Dixie Chicks from air time. Do the Chicks have any lyrics that are political protest songs? What song lyrics on their new album is related to the incident?

 

Television program: News War: Stories from a Small Planet (10 points, write two pages, due within one week of viewing)

  The News Media Today

American Conservatism: Reaganism (5 points, write one page, due by first exam)
     Read John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge, "Reaganism," Wall Street Journal, June 8, 2004

Ronald Reagan by His Speechwriter (5 points, write one page, due by second exam)
Read Peggy Noonan, "Thanks From a Grateful Nation," Wall Street Journal, June 7, 2004

Ronald Reagan In His Own Words (5 points, write one page, due by last due date)
     Listen to some of Ronald Reagan's most famous speeches from National Public Radio and write one page about Reagan particularly as the "Great Communicator."

 Web site: Feminist Politics (5 bonus points, write one page, due by exam 2)
Visit feminist.org.

 Political Advertisement: "Mas Que un Partido" (5 bonus points, write one page, due by exam 2)
 

Streaming Video Television program:  PBS, Frontline: "The Jesus Factor" (10 points, write two pages, due by Exam 2)

Frontline: "The Jesus Factor"
Tuesday, January 4, 2005
9 - 10:00 pm
As an evangelical Christian, President Bush has something in common with the 46 percent of Americans who describe themselves as being "born again" or having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Often has the president recounted praying about major decisions facing the nation. Tune in for this exploration of the rudiments of George Bush's faith. 

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/jesus

 The New York Times & Los Angeles Times Editors Op-Ed, Dean Baquet & Bill Keller, "When Do We Publish A Secret," New York Times, July 1, 2006  (5 points, write one page, due the last class day before the Final Exam)

 Newspaper Commentary: Christopher Hitchens, "The Flag Fetish," Wall Street Journal, July 3, 2006 (5 points, write one page, due the last class day before the Final Exam)

 Newspaper commentary: Roger Kimball, "The Forgotten Founder," Wall Street Journal, July 3, 2006 (10 points, write two pages, due the last class day before the Final Exam)

 Newspaper commentary: David B. Rivkin, Jr. & Lee A. Casey, "Hamdan," Wall Street Journal, July 3, 2006 (5 points, write one page,  due the last class day before the Final Exam)

 Newspaper commentary: James Carville & Mark Penn, "The Power of Hillary," Washington Post, July 3, 2006 (5 points, write one page,  due the last class day before the Final Exam)

 Television program/streaming video: BookTV.org  (10 points, write two pages, due by deadline)
     Watch one hour conversation with a political book writer.

 Television program/Streaming Video & Web Site: Frontline  (10 points, write two pages, due within one week of tv airing)

  Documentary Film: "Rated R:" Republicans in Hollywood. (10 points, write two pages, due by  Exam 2)
                  A DVD of "Rated R" is available in the LRC.
 

 Greenwald, "Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism," (2004)  (15 points, write three pages, due by exam 2) a Robert Greenwald Film and the Robert S. Boynton, New York Times review and other reputable sources available at the LRC and in video rental stores. Read and include Charles Krauthammer, "Maybe Osama's in Hollywood," Dallas Morning News, March 3, 2006. Also available at LRC EReserves.


 Newspaper Op-Ed: Wall Street Journal: "Line in the Sand," (5 points, write one page, due within one week)
James Q. Wilson & Peter Skerry, "Line in the Sand," Wall Street Journal, May 18, 2006.
 

 Movie: The Confederate States of America (10 points, write two pages, due by last due date)
 

   Movie: THANK YOU FOR SMOKING (10 points, write two pages, due by last due date)

“This film will make you laugh til it hurts!” – Peter Travers, Rolling Stone  “Amusing and clever!” – The Hollywood Reporter

Jason Reitman's brilliantly satirical comedy follows the machinations of Big Tobacco's chief spokesman, Nick Naylor (played by Aaron Eckhart), who manages "spin" on behalf of cigarettes while trying to remain a role model for his twelve-year-old son. This hilarious film, already generating major buzz on the festival circuit, also stars Maria Bello, Sam Elliott, Katie Holmes, Rob Lowe, William H. Macy and Robert Duvall. (Rated R; 92 min.)
Greetings from the Angelika, the centerpiece of foreign, independent and art film exhibition in Plano. Advance tickets at www.moviefone.com or 972-444-FILM Express Code #012 Please visit us at www.AngelikaFilmCenter.com  Fri 3/31 - Thurs 4/6: 11:00am, 12:00pm, 1:10pm, 2:10pm, 3:20pm, 4:20pm, 5:30pm, 6:30pm, 7:40pm, 8:40pm, 9:50pm, 10:40pm
 

  Newspaper editorial: Turning illegal immigrants into felons (5 points, write one page, due asap)
 

  Houston Chronicle news story: Mexican Flag Fuels Immigration Debate  (5 points, write one page, due asap)
 

 Newspaper article: The Eminent Domain Power (5 points, write one page, due within one week) NATIONAL | February 21, 2006 States Curbing Right to Seize Private Homes By JOHN M. BRODER  In direct response to the Supreme Court, states are advancing bills to limit the government's power of eminent domain. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/21/national/21domain.html?ex=1141189200&en=8e1c2648a19faa7b&ei=5070&emc=eta1

   Television program: FOX News Channel: The Wall Street Journal Editorial Report (5 points, write one page, due within one week of airing)

Teen Court  (5 points, write one page, due by exam one)
Teens face justice in court of peers
Dallas Morning News - Sunday February 5, 2006
At a Plano Teen Court trial last month, J.J. Pearce High senior David Bashover was a defense attorney representing a teen who skipped class to have sex in a car with her boyfriend. (read more)

  Collin College Republicans (5 points, write one page, due within one week)
Amy Morenz, "The Next Generation Emerges: Teens, College Students Take Active Role, " Plano Star Courier, February 3, 2005

  Streaming Video Television program: "Kinky's Run for Governor of Texas," CBS Sixty Minutes, January 22, 2006 (10 points, write one page, due last week of semester) 
 

 OPINION | January 5, 2006 (5 points, write one page, due at DL)

Op-Ed Contributor: No More Second-Term Blues

By JAMES MacGREGOR BURNS and SUSAN DUNN, Help voters by repealing the 22nd Amendment. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/05/opinion/05burns.html?emc=eta1

Texas Indian Tribes & Texas Politics (5 points, due the last class day before the final) 
Read Janet Elliott, "Tribe Hopes for Revival of Gambling, Prosperity," Houston Chronicle, July 12, 2004 and write one page.

 

 Movie: "Shattered Glass" (10 points, due by exam 2)
See this movie http://www.shatteredglassmovie.com/index_flash.html currently playing in theatres. Write two pages of your impressions so specifically that there is no doubt that you watched the movie. Now available at movie rental stores.
 

Newspaper story: Dave McLemore, "Did Bush Win Hispanic Vote," Dallas Morning News, November 25,  2004. (5 bonus points, write one page, due by last due date)

Newspaper story: Dave McLemore, "The Forgotten Carnage Between Hispanics, Rangers," Dallas Morning News, November 27,  2004. (5 bonus points, write one page, due by last due date)

 Newspaper story: Eric Torbenson, "Local Fliers Are Crucial in Airport Equation," Dallas Morning News, November 28, 2004 (5 bonus points, write one page, due last due date)

 Opinon column: William Safire, "The 28th Amendment," New York Times, November 22, 2004 (5 bonus points, write one page, due by last due date)

 Web Site report: Pharmaceutical Industry Political Contributions, The Center for Responsive Politics, Open Secrets.org (5 bonus points, write one page, due by last due date)

Streaming VideoTelevision program: PBS Frontline: The Storm (10 bonus points, write two pages, due within one week)FRONTLINE http:http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/storm///www.pbs.org/frontline/  - This Week: "The Storm" (60min.),
Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 9pm on PBS (check local listings)http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/
- Inside FRONTLINE: Reporting the Katrina story
- Live Discussion: Chat with producer Martin Smith this Wed. at 11 am ET

Every so often an event begs to be deconstructed by both FRONTLINE and
our colleagues at NOVA. Hurricane Katrina was such an event.

While NOVA decided to look at the science of the story -- what made the
storm so deadly and what happened to the levees -- FRONTLINE set about
investigating a political question: Why did federal and local officials
fail to protect thousands of Americans from a widely predicted natural
disaster? Both special reports will be broadcast back to back this
Tuesday starting at 8:00 pm ET on PBS.

To investigate the political storm, FRONTLINE asked veteran producers
Martin Smith and Marcela Gaviria to find out what happened to FEMA, the
Federal Emergency Management Agency, and also to look into who should be
held accountable for the 900 mostly elderly people who lost their lives.

Some of you might recall that Smith and Gaviria's recent FRONTLINE
reports involved the difficulties and dangers of moving around Iraq. In
New Orleans they encountered a whole set of different challenges. Here
is Gaviria's sketch of what it was like --

"... Two weeks after Katrina hit we found ourselves headed for New
Orleans. We were very late in coming -- some 3,000 journalists as well
as scores of contractors and emergency workers were already there. There
was not a rental car, motor-home or hotel room to be found within many
miles of New Orleans. Finding a bed to spend the night proved to be one
of many endless hurdles. The simplest tasks -- where to find a meal, how
to charge batteries, where to find fuel, how to place a phone call,
check email, locate an official -- consumed our days.

We operated in a void. For the most part, the text message capacity of
our wireless handhelds was our only means of communication. But it
didn't always work. It was not uncommon for us to drive two hours to
Baton Rouge to find out that a previously scheduled interview had been
cancelled. If someone had called to reschedule, they might have never
gotten through.

 

Newspaper article: Kinky as Governor?  (5 bonus points, write one page, due within one week) Story: Could Kinky Friedman really be our next governor?

Streaming Video Television program: Frontline: The Last Abortion Clinic (10 bonus points, write two pages, due within one week)
FRONTLINE htthhttp://www.pbs.org/frontline/clinic/   - This Week: "The Last Abortion Clinic" (60min.),
Tuesday, Nov. 08 at 9pm on PBS (check local listings)
- Inside FRONTLINE: Venturing into the abortion thicket
- Live Discussion: Chat with producer Raney Aronson this Wed. at 11 am ET

With the nomination of Samuel Alito to replace Sandra Day O'Connor, the
long anticipated battle to determine the direction of the Supreme Court
for the next generation appears to be underway. One of the litmus test
issues for interest groups is abortion. While some believe Alito might
vote to overturn Roe v. Wade if given the opportunity, most think it is
more likely that Alito will join others on the court in upholding state
regulations designed to restrict access to abortion. The success of such
state regulations in many parts of the country is the story FRONTLINE
tells this week in "The Last Abortion Clinic." In Mississippi, for
example, only one abortion clinic remains in operation.

In venturing into the abortion thicket, producer Raney Aronson faced an
interesting challenge as a journalist and a filmmaker. It is easy to
articulate FRONTLINE's standard practice: fairness to both sides of a
controversial issue while letting the weight of the story be determined
by the facts on the ground. With a subject in which even vocabulary is
used as a weapon by both sides, however, the task of doing careful
reporting and editing was a difficult one.

As part of setting a high journalistic bar, there was another question
that presented itself. What would Aronson say if she were asked about
her personal opinions on the subject? In today's climate some take the
view that all journalism is biased, and there is no such thing as
neutral reporting. With so much opinion and advocacy in the air, can
there be honest brokers of information? FRONTLINE thinks so, and we ask
all our producers to try and keep personal bias and opinion from
influencing the pursuit of a story. This means that a producer should
approach stories with an open and skeptical mind, conduct extensive
research, and acquaint themselves with a wide range of viewpoints. They
should fairly represent the words and actions of the people portrayed
and interviewed. And when they are done, they should be prepared to
discuss what they have reported and not what they personally think.

FRONTLINE believes that Aronson succeeded in threading a tough
journalistic needle. In the end, we believe pro-life advocates will find
"The Last Abortion Clinic" an accurate portrayal of their success, and
they may take some satisfaction from the reporting of their
achievements, while pro-choice advocates may find that same picture of
success to be alarming.

But we invite you to judge our report for yourself this Tuesday. And
after, explore more at our web site: the facts on the ground state by
state, interviews with key strategists in the legal battleground and the
significance of a case that the new Roberts court will hear this month.
And, take the opportunity to express your opinion at
http://www.pbs.org/frontline/clinic/
 
 

Television program: The McLaughlin Group: Any weekly show (5 bonus points, write one page, due within one week)

Television program: Texas Monthly Talks  (5 bonus points, write one page, due within one week)
All Texas Monthly Talks programs that are politically relevant count as Bonus Ops.

  Streaming VideoTelevision program: Frontline: "The Torture Question" (15 bonus points, write three pages, due within one week)FRONTLINE http://www.pbs.org/frontline/  - This Week: "The Torture Question " (90min.),  Tuesday, Oct. 18 at 9pm on PBS (check local listings)
Some time ago, FRONTLINE asked one of its veteran producers, Michael Kirk, to take another look at what happened at Abu Ghraib. In the course of investigating the story, he found that Abu Ghraib may be just the tip of an iceberg.
In Kirk's report this Tuesday, "The Torture Question," American soldiers give first-hand accounts of their involvement in the harsh treatment of prisoners. Moreover, one former Army interrogator and member of a special intelligence team insists that the use of torture was happening all over Iraq. Other military sources, some of whom had to be disguised, confirm that prisoner abuse is a more widespread problem than previously reported.
Even as late as this August, the official story was that of a few bad apples on the night shift at Abu Ghraib. But as one soldier who requested anonymity told FRONTLINE, "most of the abuses around Iraq are not photographed --".... in the back of a Humvee or in a shipping container, there's no camera. And there's no one looking over your shoulder, so you can do anything you want."

  Streaming Video Television program: PBS NOW, 7 P.M., Friday (5 bonus pts., write one page, due within one week of broadcast) See email below:

   Blog report: The Texas Lege: Wit & Wisdom" (5 points, write one page, due by the last due date) 
Blog: Facing South
Post: Wit and Wisdom of the Texas Legislature
Link: http://southernstudies.org/facingsouth/2005/06/wit-and-wisdom-of-texas-legislature.asp

   Opinion column: Molly Ivins, Texas Liberal (5 points, write one page, due by the last due date) 
Read one of her opinion pieces at Shortcut to: http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/columnists/molly_ivins/

  Newspaper Editorial: The Christian Science Monitor: Politics & Bias in College Classes (5 points, watch, write one page, due by last due date)
Click here to read this story online: http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0701/p08s01-comv.html 
Headline: Political Bias in College Classes
Byline: The Monitor's View

Date: 07/01/2005

  Newspaper opinion column: The Iroquois & the Constitution (5 points, read, write one page, due by last due date)
OPINION | July 4, 2005 Op-Ed Contributor: The Founding Sachems By CHARLES C. MANN
The Iroquois confederation's Great Law of Peace inspired the framers of the American Constitution.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/04/opinion/04mann.html?ex=1121140800&en=baffee966d0b67f5&ei=5070&emc=eta1

  Newspaper opinion column: Justice O'Connor (5 points, read, write one page, due by last due date)
WASHINGTON / WASHINGTON SPECIAL | July 2, 2005  News Analysis: O'Connor Held Balance of Power By LINDA GREENHOUSE
It is because Justice O'Connor has played a pivotal role on the court that her unexpected retirement is such a galvanizing event.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/02/politics/politicsspecial1/02oconnor.html?ex=1120968000&en=82248608035419b6&ei=5070&emc=eta1

  Political Science Research: Genetics Shapes Political Attitudes & Ideologies (10 points, read the article, write two pages, due by last due date) or Benedict Cary, "Some Politics May Be Etched in the Genes," New York Times, June 22, 2005.
Washington, D.C.--Genetics plays an important role in shaping political attitudes and ideologies--including those of liberal and conservative--according to an intriguing study conducted by political scientists John Alford, Carolyn Funk, and John Hibbing. Their research appears in the May issue of American Political Science Review, a journal of the American Political Science Association.

"Researchers in other disciplines--notably behavioral genetics--have uncovered a substantial heritable component for many social attitudes," state the authors, "and it seems unlikely that political attitudes and behaviors are completely immune from such forces." Their study combines the results from other disciplines with their own analysis of data derived from large-scale studies of twins in Virginia and Australia and is available online at www.apsanet.org/imgtest/GeneticsAPSR0505.pdf.

After finding significant statistical variations from the responses of thousands of twins surveyed in Virginia about their political attitudes, the authors assert that "It would appear that affect toward the major parties is largely a matter of genetic predisposition but that party identification itself is primarily the result of parental socialization." Notably, genetic influences were also determined to be roughly twice as influential as environmental influences. A comparative analysis using data generated from an Australian study of twins produced remarkably similar results.

  Television program: P.O.V. Premieres with "The Education of Shelby Knox" (10 points, write two pages, due by the last due date) 
* P.O.V. Premieres with "The Education of Shelby Knox"
Tuesday, June 21, 2005 at 10 PM

What's it like to be a Christian teenage girl today? "The Education
of Shelby Knox" profiles a young native of Lubbock, Texas, on the
Rocky road through high school. At 15, Shelby pledges celibacy until
marriage, but because Lubbock has one of the highest teen pregnancy
and STD rates in the state, she also spearheads a campaign for
comprehensive sex education in the high schools, opposing the
established "abstinence-only" curriculum. When the campaign broadens
with a fight for a gay-straight alliance club in the high school,
Shelby confronts her parents and her faith as she begins to
understand how deeply personal beliefs can inform political action.
A co-presentation with the Independent Television Service (ITVS).

This timely film took the Excellence in Cinematography Award at this
year's Sundance Film Festival and the Audience Award at South by Southwest.

The Hollywood Reporter called the film "an amazing documentary"
and the Dallas Morning News says, "in an age of frequently hostile
red state-blue state divisions, the Knoxes could teach us all a
thing or two about family values."

Visit the companion website for trailers, a film synopsis, interviews
with the filmmakers, background on the issues and more:

http://www.pbs.org/pov/shelbyknox/
Tip: Days and times for P.O.V. broadcasts do vary, so be sure to
check local listings for dates and airtimes on your PBS station.

 

  Streaming VideoTelevision program: Frontline,  "Private Warriors" (10 points, write two pages, due within one week)

  Public opinion poll, June 17, 2005:  "Bush's Support Tumbles" (5 points, write one page, due within one week)
WASHINGTON | June 17, 2005
Bush's Support on Major Issues Tumbles in Poll
By ROBIN TONER and MARJORIE CONNELLY
Pessimistic about Iraq and skeptical about Social Security reform, Americans are in a season of political discontent.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/17/politics/17poll.html?ex=1119672000&en=dd4224deccf2a9f4&ei=5070&emc=eta1

  New York Times Op-Ed, June 17, 2005:  "Onward, Moderate Christian Soldiers" (5 points, write one page, due within one week)
OPINION | June 17, 2005
Op-Ed Contributor: Onward, Moderate Christian Soldiers
By JOHN C. DANFORTH
It is important for those of us who are considered moderates to make the case that we have strongly held Christian convictions.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/17/opinion/17danforth.html?ex=1119672000&en=c14d5622af0320cf&ei=5070&emc=eta1

  New York Times Op-Ed, June 17, 2005:  "As Toyota Goes..." (5 points, write one page, due within one week)
OPINION | June 17, 2005
Op-Ed Columnist: As Toyota Goes ...
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Having Toyota take over General Motors would not only be in America's economic interest, it would also be in America's geopolitical interest.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/17/opinion/17friedman.html?ex=1119672000&en=b21f7c70aa5eec21&ei=5070&emc=eta1
 

  Television program: Sixty Minutes, Sunday, June 19, 2005: Grand Theft Auto & Texas 10% Law (10 points, write two pages, due within one week)

  Religion & Politics: Left, Right, Middle(5 points, write one page, due by second exam)
Religious Right, Left Meet in Middle - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W5RT04CF0A37C79F1C57F3C8E51D60
After a year in which religion played a polarizing role in U.S. politics, many religious leaders
are eager to demonstrate that faith can be a uniter, not just a divider.

  What's a Blog? ( 5 points, write one page, due by the second exam) 
What's a Blog? Read one of the Texas blogs listed below from the San Antonio Express-News. Listed below are other San Antonio and Texas blogs. MySanAntonio.com is not responsible for content on their sites, but we do appreciate your feedback. If you'd like to suggest a blog for this list, please let us know at news@mysanantonio.com.
The Jeffersonian
B and B
The Main Point by Michael Main
LoneStarTimes.com
Newshog
Dos Centavos
Grits for Breakfast
Off the Kuff
In the Pink Texas
Pinkdome.com
Burnt Orange Report
Rick Perry vs. the World
FrontBurner
All Things Conservative
The Agonist
RealLivePreacher.com
Rhetoric & Rhythm
The Red State
Alan Weinkrantz PR Web Log

    Washington Week in Review (5 points, due within one week)
        Watch one program of Washington Week in Review7:30- 8 p.m. Fridays on KERA Channel 13 or view the program online. Write one page.

  Newspaper column: Molly Ivins, Texas Liberal Journalist, (5 points, write one page, due by second exam)
     Read a newspaper column of Texas' most well-known journalist.

    Newspaper essay: Incivility (5 points, write one page, due by second exam)
     Read Edwin Feulner, "Civility Breakdown in the Marketplace of Ideas," Dallas Morning News, May 22, 2005.

    Television program: NOW Friday May 20 7 p.m., KERA Ch. 13 (5 points, write one page, due by the second exam )
NOW
===================================================================
MOLLY IVINS

Molly Ivins has compared the Republican maneuvers going on in the US
Congress with what has been happening in Texas, where Republicans also
control the executive and legislative branches of government. "This
peculiar combination of theocracy and plutocracy, which has been
governing Texas for some time now, appears to be spreading nationwide,"
says Ivins. David Brancaccio talks to the Texas native and popular
syndicated columnist about what the Texas experience can tell us about
the current battle over judicial nominees in Congress, where the
Republican leadership is considering altering rules to prevent Democrats
from filibustering. "When you jiggle the rules so you can win," says
Ivins. "It's going to come back to bite you." Ivins is also known for
her essays on National Public Radio as well as six best-selling books,
the most recent being, BUSHWHACKED: LIFE IN GEORGE W. BUSH'S AMERICA, in
2003 and WHO LET THE DOGS IN? INCREDIBLE POLITICAL ANIMALS I HAVE KNOWN,
in 2004.

  DFW Air Pollution

  Newspaper article: The Texas 10% Law  (5 points, write one page, due by last class day)

 

  Film: Downfall( 10 points, write two pages, due by last due date)
     See the film Downfall, write two pages.

 

  Collin County & Parkland Hospital  (5 points, due by last class day before final) 
     Read Ron J. Anderson, "A Regional Safety Net," Dallas Morning News, July 22, 2004 and write one page. NOT AVAIABLE AS A BONUS  OP

 

  Newspaper article: (5 points, write one page, deadline date)
     Emily Ramshaw, "Miller Backs Strong-Mayor Change," Dallas Morning News, December 8, 2004.

  Newspaper article: (5 points, write one page, deadline date)
Ed Housewright, "Changing the Station: Smaller Towns Taking Big-City Approach to Fire Departments," Dallas Morning News, December 6, 2004, 1B, 4B.

  Newspaper article: (5 points, write one page, deadline date)
Jim Getz, "Pipeline Debate Flowing," Dallas Morning News, December 6, 2004, 1B, 11B.

  Newspaper article: (5 points, write one page, deadline date)
 Vikas Bajaj, "Southwest Creeping Onto D.C. Radar," Dallas Morning News, December 5, 2004.

  Newspaper article: (5 points, write one page, deadline date)
 Editorial, "Judge Backs Up Beef from Affluent Districts Like Plano," Dallas Morning News (Collin County edition), December 5, 2004.

  Newspaper article: (5 points, write one page, deadline date)
 Kern Wildenthal, "Protecting Parkland's Partnership," Dallas Morning News, December 5, 2004.

  Newspaper article: (5 points, write one page, deadline date)
 Ron J. Anderson, "Creating Future Excellence," Dallas Morning News, December 5, 2004.

  Newspaper article: (5 points, write one page, deadline date)
Virginia Postrel, "Hurdle Faced by Southwest Airlines Shows Drawbacks of Protectionist Legislation," New York Times, December 2, 2004. 

  Newspaper article: (5 points, write one page, deadline date)
Amy Morenz, "City Charter Debate Intensifies," Plano Star Courier, November 27, 2004.

  Newspaper article: (5 points, write one page, deadline date)
Editorial, "A Shift in the Educational Wind," Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, December 5, 2004.

  Documentary Film: Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election featuring Danny Glover (10 points, write two pages, due by last due date)
     Watch the documentary film Unprecedented, write two pages. NOT AVAILABLE AS BONUS IF CHOSEN FOR TASK 2.
 

  Streaming VideoTelevision program: Frontline, Tuesday:  "Karl Rove: The Architect" (10 points, write two pages, due within one week)
FRONTLINE http://www.pbs.org/frontline/  - This Week: "Karl Rove -- The Architect" (60 min.), Tuesday, Apr. 12 at 9pm on PBS (check local listings) - Inside FRONTLINE: "Past is prologue"
- Live Discussion: Chat with producer Michael Kirk this Wed. at 11 am ET
+ This week
President Bush called Karl Rove "the architect" -- a way of thanking him
for his role in the president's 2004 reelection. And we couldn't think
of a better title for this week's FRONTLINE.

However, Karl Rove is much more than a political guru who guided Bush
and Republicans to victory. With his appointment as deputy chief of
staff in charge of coordinating domestic policy, economic policy,
national security and homeland security, he is the single most powerful
and ambitious policy adviser in the White House.

For this report, producer Michael Kirk set out to look for answers to
these questions: Who is Karl Rove? How does he operate? How does he work
with President Bush? And what does Rove's new position mean for America?
You might say that Kirk found out that 'past is prologue.'

Rove, who has been called a genius in the nuts and bolts of organizing
political campaigns, has developed a tough methodology for winning
elections. And it may prove useful in the bigger battle over the
president's ambition to change the political landscape of the country.
Rove will be found at the center of the campaigns to change social
security, the tort system and taxes. He will also be delivering on the
cultural hot button issues that are so important to the conservative
religious base of the Republican Party, a base Rove courted in order to
win.

Producer Kirk follows the history of the way Rove has positioned his
candidates before on controversial issues. And as you'll see in this
report, which is a co-production with The Washington Post, for over
three decades Rove has honed his skills at hardball politics, using
wedge issues, surrogates and attack ads. But Rove's methods are only a
part of the story. His tactics have been in service of a long-standing
belief in the need to reshape the American political landscape. And in
George Bush, Karl Rove has found the perfect candidate -- one with his
own ambitions to leave a large legacy.

We hope that you will join us this
Tuesday, Apr. 12 at 9pm on PBS (check local listings) and then
visit our web site where you will find more background on Rove's life
and career, interviews with top Republican strategists and Washington
Post reporters, and the opportunity to express your opinion about the
program, at http://www.pbs.org/frontline/shows/architect/

Louis Wiley
Executive Editor

FRONTLINE is a registered trademark of the WGBH Educational Foundation.
125 western avenue, boston, ma. 02134
http://www.pbs.org/frontline/

   Newspaper article: Who Is the Party of Civil Rights? (5 points, due within one week) 
"We started our party with the express intent of protecting the American people from the Democrats' pro-slavery policies that expressly made people inferior to the state,...Today, the animating spirit of the Republican Party is exactly the same as it was then: free people, free minds, free markets, free expression, and unlimited individual opportunity." -- Rep. Christopher Cox (R-California), quoted in Peter Wallsten, "Recasting Republicans as the Party of Civil Rights," Los Angeles Times, January 29, 2005. Read the newspaper article and write one page.

 

  "Governor Davis' Ghost" (5points, due the last class day before the final)  
    Read and write one page: Carolyn Barta, "Governor Edmund Davis' Ghost Laid to Rest in Last Election," Dallas Morning News, January 5, 2002, 5J.    http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/viewpoints/stories/010503dnedibarta.34098.html

Newspaper article: Let Felons Cast Ballots and Others Will Follow (5 bonus points, due by Exam 2)
Laws barring former prisoners from participating have ripple effects. By Sasha Abramsky
Sasha Abramsky, author of "Hard Time Blues," is working on a book about disfranchisement, to be published next year by New Press. October 31 2004 A few years ago I asked the man who was then Florida's speaker of the House what sense it made to keep felons who have served their sentences from ever voting in his state. He countered by asking — as many Americans might, I suspect — whether giving the vote to "everyone who has two arms and two legs is the best way to govern a democracy." The complete article can be viewed at: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-op-abramsky31oct31,1,4815526.story?coll=la-news-comment-opinions
Visit latimes.com at http://www.latimes.com


  Newspaper article: John Stewart's Political Impact (5 points, due by Exam 2)
     Read Howard Kurtz, "The Campaign of a Comedian," Washington Post, October 23, 2004, A01 and write one page.

  Movie: CELSIUS 41.11 (10 points, due by exam 2)
     See the movie Celsius 41.11 and write two pages. For details see the message below: 
From: <newsletter@angelikafilmcenter.com>
"The Republicans finally have Hollywood's answer to Michael Moore: Celsius 41.11" - The New York Times
"Conservatives are launching a cinematic counterstrike" - The Washington Post
"Republicans are aiming to give Michael Moore a taste of his own medicine" - Daily Variety
Synopsis: “This film wins an entry into the debate. It’s going to be talked about.” – Jerome R. Corsi, author of “Unfit for Command”
The highly anticipated and long awaited rebuttal to Fahrenheit 9/11 is finally here. “Celsius 41.11 - The Temperature at Which the Brain Begins to Die”, is billed as “The Truth Behind the Lies of Fahrenheit 9/11.” Celsius 41.11 presents a point-by-point defense of President Bush by politicians, journalists and scholars. Discussing the legality of the Florida recount in 2000, the Clinton administration’s record on fighting terrorism, and the theory of American exceptionalism, this eye opening documentary is a must see for anyone questioning the accuracy of Michael Moore’s infamous film.  For more information:  www.celsius4111.com

  Movie: Fahrenheit 9/11 (10 points, due by exam 2)
     For 10 points see Michael Moore's film "Fahrenheit 9/11" and write two pages. Write so specifically that there is no doubt that you saw the movie. Attach your ticket stub or video receipt to the paper. What does this movie tell you about American culture, politics, and the media? Who is Michael Moore and why is he controversial? The film is now playing in movie theatres and is available at video stores. For an additional 5 points compare your review of the movie to a film critic's review such as these reviews at the Austin American-Statesman and write one page. For another 5 points write one page about political documentary films at "Austin Documentarians Political Picks," Austin American-Statesman (statesman.com), June 25, 2004.
  
   The Living Room Candidate (10 points, due by second exam)
     Visit the  "The Living Room Candidate: A History of Presidential Campaign
  
  Online TV: Gender Politics: Women & the Vote (5 points, due within one week)
     Listen to and follow the accompanying transcript of "Gender Politics," PBS Online Newshour, October 12, 2004 and write one page.

   Television documentary: "Diary of a Political Tourist," (15 points, due within one week of showing)
     Watch the HBO television program "Alexandra Pelosi's Diary of a Political Tourist," and write three pages. Its first showing is Monday, October 11, 2004 from  7-8:30 p.m. on HBO television. The documentary is a sequel to Ms. Pelosi's "Journeys With George" and follows the Democratic presidential contenders in 2004. The DVD is available in the LRC.

   Movie: "The Candidate," (20 points, due by Exam 2)
     Watch this groundbreaking political movie from the 1970s starring Robert Redford. Write three pages. This movie is also available on reserve in the SCC LRC and at video stores.

   Radio Debate: Pulpits & Politics: The Role of Religion in Elections (10 points, due by Exam 2)
     Listen to the NPR Justice Talking September 14, 2004 debate and  write two pages.

   Radio Story: Religion & Politics: The Faith of President Bush & The Faith of Senator John Kerry (10 points, due by Exam 2)
     Listen to the NPR Morning Edition October 4 & 6, 2004 news stories and  write two pages.

  Wedge Issues (5 points, due by second exam) 
     Read William Schneider, "Wedges Failing to Bite," Atlantic Online from the National Journal, July 27, 2004 and write one page.

  Political Movies (5 points, due by second exam) 
     Read Chris Vognar, "Lights, Camera, (Political Action)," Dallas Morning News July 25, 2004 and write one page.

  Artists & Politics (5 points, due by second exam)
      Read Thane Peterson, "Why Artists Are Rallying Against Bush," Business Week, July 21, 2004 and write one page.

  Are You Red or Blue? (5 points, due by second exam)
Anne E. Kornblut, "Red or Blue—Which Are You?: Take the Slate quiz," Slate.com, July 14, 2004

  New Book:  American Hubris & Islam (5 points, due by July 7)
     Read Anonymous, "Seeing Islam Through a Lens of U.S. Hubris," Los Angeles Times (latimes.com), July 2, 2004 and write one page.

   New Book: Labor Unions & Campaign Finance (5 points, due by July 7)
     Read Linda Chavez, "As Democrats Look Away, Unions Flout Campaign Finance Laws," Los Angeles Times (latimes.com), July 3, 2004 and write one page.

   Pop Culture & the 2004 Elections (5 points, due by July 7)
     Read Paul Farhi, "Pop Culture and the 2004 Election," Washington Post, July 2, 2004 and write one page.

   Movie: Review of Fahrenheit 9/11 (5 points, due by July 7)
     Read David Denby, "George & Me," The New Yorker, June 28, 2004 and write one page.

   Movie: Critique of Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 (5 points, due by July 7)
     Read Richard Cohen, "Baloney, Moore or Less," Washington Post, July 1, 2004 and write one page.

   The Supreme Court & President Bush (5 points, due by July 7)
     Read Anthony Lewis, "The Court v. Bush," New York Times (nytimes.com), June 29, 2004 and write one page. 

    Michael Moore & the Liberal Elite (5 points, due by July 7)
     Read Barabara Ehrenreich, "Dude, Where's That Elite," New York Times (nytimes.com), Ju;y 1, 2004 and write one page.

  Texas NAACP & LULAC ( 5 points, due by the last class before the final exam)
     Read Juan Castillo, "In Civil Rights Struggle, 'a New Tent'," Austin American-Statesman (statesman.com), June 28, 2004 and write one page.

    How Abortion is Costing the Democrats Votes (10 points, due by last class before the final)
     Read Larry Eastland, "The Empty Cradle Will Rock," Wall Street Journal (wsj.com), June 28, 2004 and write two pages.

    TV 6-29-04: P.O.V.: "Bill's Run: A Political Journey in Rural Kansas" (10 points, due by last class day before final exam)
     Watch "Bill's Run," on Point of View on KERA Channel 13, Tuesday June 29 and write two pages. 

    A Critique of Campaign Spending (5 points, due by last class day before final exam)
     Read Carolyn Barta, "Campaign Spending a Runaway Train," Dallas Morning News, June 28, 2004 and write one page.

  House Divided? (5-10 points, due by last class day before final exam)
     Read Arnold Hamilton, "A House Divided? Two Political Districts, Two States of Mind," Dallas Morning News, June 26, 2004 and Bruce Nichols, ""In the Heartland, 'Our Intentions Are Good,'" Dallas Morning News, June 26, 2004 and for another five points Arnold Hamilton, "'Hopelessly Divergent,' or Common Ground?" Dallas Morning News, June 26, 2004 and write two pages.

  Campaign Finance (5 points, due by second exam)
     Read Linda Feldmann, "In Politics, the Rise of Small Donors," Christian Science Monitor, June 27, 2004 and write one page.

  The Problem with Voting Machines ( 5 points, due by the second exam)
     Read Molly Ivins, "Vote--abort--or retry?" Fort Worth Star Telegram, June 27, 2004 and write one page.

  A Conservative on Michael Moore (5 points, due by last class day before final)
     Read David Brooks, "All Hail Moore," New York Times, June 26, 2004 and write one page.
 

   TV: McLaughlin Group (5 points, due by last class before final exam)   
     Watch "The McLaughlin Group" on KERA Channel 13 and write one page.

   TV: CNN's The Capital Gang (5 points, due by last class before final exam)    
     Watch CNN's "The Capital Gang" and write one page.

   Radio: Rush Limbaugh (5 points, due by last class before final exam)   
     Listen to Rush Limbaugh and write one page.

  Texas Campaign Finance Reform ( 5 points, due by the second exam)
      Read Laylon Copelin, "Activists to Pursue Campaign Reforms," Austin American-Statesman (statesman.com), June 27, 2004 and write one page. 

   TV: Nightly News (5 points, due by last class before final exam) 
     Watch "Nightly News" on the NBC News and write one page.

   TV: CNN's Headline News (5 points, due by last class before final exam)    
     Watch CNN Headline News and write one page.

   TV: World News Tonight  (5 points, due by last class before final exam) 
     Watch "World News Tonight," on the ABC News and write one page.

   TV: CBS Evening News (5 points, due by last class before final exam) 
     Watch the "CBS  Evening News" on the CBS News and write one page.

   TV: Special Report with Brit Hume (5 points, due by last class before final exam) 
     Watch "Special Report with Brit Hume" on the Fox News Channel and write one page.

   TV: Hannity & Colmes (5 points, due by last class before final exam) 
     Watch Hannity & Colmes on the Fox New Channel and write one page.

   TV: The O'Reilly Factor (5 points, due by last class before final exam) 
Watch Bill O'Reilly's  "The O'Reilly Factor" on the Fox News Channel and write one page.

   USA Today/CNN/Gallup Poll 6-24-04 (5 points, due by second exam) 
     Read the the June 24, 2004 USA Today/CNN/Gallup Poll and write one page.

   Fox News Poll 6-24-04 (5 points, due by second exam) 
     Read the Fox News You Decide 2004 Poll of 6-24-04 and write one page.

   The Right's View of the New York Times (5 points, due by second exam) 
     Visit the Times Watch web site and write one page.

  Movie: The Candidate (15 points, due by last class day before final)
See the classic Robert Redford film "The Candidate" and write three pages. Attach video receipt. Write so specifically that there is no doubt that you saw the movie. What does this movie tell you about American culture, politics, and the media? The film is available at SCC LRC Reserve Reading or on the library shelves and in movie rental stores. 

  Movie: Primary Colors (15 points, due by last class day before final)
     See the Mike Nichols film "Primary Colors" and write three pages. Attach video receipt. Write so specifically that there is no doubt that you saw the movie. What does this movie tell you about American culture, politics, and the media? The film is available at SCC LRC Reserve Reading or on the library shelves and in movie rental stores. 

   Are the Media Biased? A View from the Right (5 points, due by second exam) 
     Visit the Media Research.Org web site and write one page.

  Are the Texas Media Biased? ( 5 points, due by the second exam)
     Visit Texas Media Watch and write one page.

   Are the Media Biased? A View from the Left (5 points, due by second exam) 
     Visit Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting and write one page.

  Texas Death Penalty & IQ (5 points, due by last class day before final exam) 
     Read Claire Osborn, "Supreme Court Returns Texas Death Sentence Case to Appeal Court," Austin American-Statesman (statesman.com), June 25, 2004 and write one page.


  Juneteenth ( 5 points, due by the second exam)
     What is Juneteenth? Write one page. 

   Southern Baptists & Presidential Politics ( 5 points, due by the second exam)
     Read David D. Kirkpartick, "Bush Allies Till Fertile Soil, Among Baptists, for Votes,"  New York Times (nytimes.com), June 18, 2004 and write one page. What is the connection to Plano, Texas in this article?

   Film: The War Room (15 points, due by last due date)
     Watch the videotape movie of the Clinton 1992 presidential campaign for President and write three pages. Write so specifically that there is no doubt you saw the movie. Attach video receipt.The videotape is on Reserve Reading at the SCC LRC for Dr. Garrison. DVD copies are at the CPC & PRC LRCs. Copies may be available in local movie rental stores.

   Film: Journeys with George: A Home Movie (15 points, due by last due date)
     Watch the DVD home movie by Alexandra Pelosi of the Bush campaign for President in 2000 and write three pages. Write so specifically that there is no doubt you saw the movie. Attach video receipt. The DVD is on reserve reading for Dr. Garrison at the SCC LRC. It may be available in local movie rental stores.

   Book Sparks Debate Over War on Terror (5 points, due by Exam 2) 
     Listen to the audio and read the transcript of "War on Terror: Richard Clarke," Online Newshour, March 22, 2004 and write one page.

   The Gender Gap: Married v. Single Women (5 points, due by Exam 2) 
Read Christy Hoppe, "Asking Single Women Out--to Vote," Dallas Morning News, March 21, 2004 and write one page.

  The Libertarian Presidential Candidate (5 points, due by second exam day)
Read and write one page: Monica Polanco, "Austinite Is Party's Pick for President," Austin American-Statesman (statesman.com), May 31, 2004.

  The Dixiecrats (10 points, due by second exam day)
Meet the Dixiecrats at NOW. Write two pages of comment.

    Movie: The Alamo (15 points, due by last class day before the final)
     See the movie and write three pages relating the movie to the Texas political culture (see your TX text).  Write so specifically that there is no doubt that you saw the movie. Also attach the movie ticket stub or video receipt to your paper. May be available in movie rental stores soon.

 

  TV: "Scarborough Country on MSNBC (5 points, due by last day before final exam)
     Watch one program of Scarborough Country and write one page. See email: 
WELCOME TO SCARBOROUGH COUNTRY
Here's what's happening in Scarborough Country tonight at 10pm ET, 9pm CT, 8pm MT, 7pm PT:

  "Overview of Pew Press Report (5 points, due by exam 2)
     Read Overview from the latest Pew Research Center report Bottom-Line Pressures Now Hurting Coverage, Say Journalists and write at least one full page of comment about the findings.

  "Electronic Voting & Paper Trails (5 points, due by second exam)
Read Katharine Seelye, "Demand Grows to Require Paper Trails for Electronic Votes," New York Times (nytimes.com), May 23, 2004 and write one page of comment.

  "Electoral College Calculator (5 or 10 points, due by second exam)
Click on the Los Angeles Times Electoral Tracker and calculate a winning strategy for your 2004 presidential candidate and write one page. For 10 points do the same and examine electoral history particularly the elections of 1800, 1860, 1896, 1932, 1968, 1992. Write an additional page of comment about what you learned particularly about the electoral college.

  "Native American Voting (5 points, due by second final exam)
Read John M. Glionna,  "Finding a Voice in Politics," Los Angeles Times (latimes.com), May 22, 2004 and write one page.

  "Single, Female, & Apolitical (5 points, due by second exam) 
Read Robin Abcarian, "Unmarried, Female, and Turned Off by Politics," Los Angeles Times (latimes.com), May 10, 2004 and write one page.

    Media Bias (5 points, due by exam 2)
     Read and write one page: Colleen McCain Nelson, "Poll Says More See Media Bias," Dallas Morning News, April 9, 2004.



  PBS News Hour (10 points, due by last regular class period)
     Watch this one hour news program any evening. Write two pages.

  NPR, "All Things Considered" (10 points, good throughout the semester)
        Listen to one hour of  National Public Radio's "All Things Considered"  http://www.npr.org/programs/atc/index.html from 4-6:30 p.m. on KERA 90.1. Write two pages.

    NPR, "Morning Edition" (10 points due by Exam 2)
       Listen to one hour of  National Public Radio's "Morning Edition" http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/index.html  from 5-9a.m. on KERA 90.1. Write two pages.

  Crossfire (5 points, good throughout the semester)
        Watch one program of the tv show Crossfire. Write one page.   

    "Capital Report" (5 points, a bonus op due by Exam 2)
      Join Gloria Borger and Allan Murray for "Capital Report," tonight at 9 eastern and pacific on CNBC TV. Watch one program and write one page. 

   Frontline (10 points, due within one week)
     Watch this PBS television program and write two pages. http://www.pbs.org/frontline/

  "Let the Sun Shine" ( 5 points, due by last class day before final) 
     Read the DMN editorial and write one page: "Let the Sun Shine: Texas Legislature Needs to Record Votes,"  Dallas Morning News, March 30, 2003.

  Force & the Captured Al Qaeda & Taliban Fighters (5 points, due by first exam)
     Read John C. Yoo, "With 'All Necessary and Appropriate Force,'" Los Angeles Times, June 11, 2004 and write one page.
 

  Sine Die (5 points, write one page, due by the first exam)

 
We have a passion for: Learning, Service and Involvement, Creativity and Innovation, Academic Excellence, Dignity and Respect, Integrity.

 

   "The Iron Law of Oligarchy" about. (5 points, write one page, due by the first exam)
                What is the "Iron Law"? Whose idea is it? How does it apply to American politics?
 

    Posse Comitatus (5 points, write one page, due by the first exam)
                Translate this term into English and explanation its applicability to American law and politics.

  Child Drawing of "Government" (5 points, write one page, due by the first exam)
     As a study in political socialization ask a child (age seven to twelve) to draw a picture of the government.  Don't give any further instructions.  Have the child explain the drawing.  Write one page and attach the drawing.

   The Bills of Rights Compared ( 5 points, write one page,  due by the first exam) 
    What is the one major right found in the Texas Bill of Rights that is not found in the U. S. Bill of Rights? Cite your sources. Please submit your answer by email.
       
  What is Deism?  What is Thomas Jefferson's Bible?  ( 5 points, write one page, due by the first exam) 
Write one page about Thomas Jefferson and religion. Cite your sources.