The
Academical Village All Things Political of Dr. David Garrison 
Bonus Ops for Govt 2302 (all sections)
"Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more. You should never wish to
do less." --Robert E. Lee
These bonus opportunities are available
to all Dr. Garrison's GOVT 2302 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. The semester deadline for submitting
bonus opportunities is the last class day before final exam week. Many bonus ops
are related to the exam material and have earlier deadlines.
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.)
Certain bonus ops are
not available if a task assignment or if you took it in GOVT 2301.
The Constitution Tree Bonus (10
points, a bonus op available throughout the semester)
-- Sheila Chinn
The Constitution Tree Bonus Opportunity is available
throughout the semester.
You probably have to have a romantic soul to even contemplate
this opportunity.
There is a 200+ year old tree, a huge towering oak, in Plano's
Bob
Woodruff Park which I call the Constitution Tree. At the base
of the
tree is an arbor society plaque certifying that the tree was alive
and well
when the U.S. Constitution was written in 1787.
Find the tree. Sit under it, think about
America, and read one of the following: the U. S. Constitution, the Declaration of
Independence, the Gettysburg Address, or Robert Frost's The Black
Cottage while there. Write your thoughts and ruminations from this experience.
Document
the tree with a photo or a rubbing of the plaque.
Hint as to the tree's location: It is in a clearing where
people may
walk and sit and picnic. In other words, it is not in a
totally wooded
location. One further hint... the tree likes water, a southern
sun, and
is close to a park structure. Bob Woodruff Park is between E. Parker Road and E. Park Blvd.
bordered on the west by Shiloh Rd. and on the east by San Gabriel Blvd.
In fact the park is divided by Park Blvd. Thus part of the park lies
south of Park Blvd.
School Taxes & Reform
(15
points)
Briefly but fully
answer the following questions about the property tax in Texas.
1.
What is the so-called “Robin Hood” school finance plan?
2.
What is the fundamental issue that spawned the current Texas school
finance plan?
3.
What are the five issues that the State of Texas must confront to create
a “more modern school finance system”?
Use
the following Dallas Morning News
editorials as your sources:
“Growing school districts have unique problems,” June 9, 2002.
“Petrochemicals no longer boon for districts,” June 17, 2002
“Rural
schools have little room to maneuver,” June 23, 2002
“Life at the Cap,” June 30, 2002
http://
www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/stories/063002dnedilifeatcap.bb1b1.html
Computer Game: The Redistricting
Game (20 points, write three pages, due by last class day)
Play the Redistricting Game found
here.
Include your result page if possible. NOT AVAILABLE AS BONUS OP IF PART OF A
TASK ASSIGNMENT.
Texas Aquifers
(5 points, due last
class day before final)
What is an aquifer? Why are they important in Texas? What environmental
questions arise concerning aquifers? Make a list of the Texas aquifers.
Write one page.
Environmental Scorecard (10 points,
due last class day before final)
Enter your zip code at
http://www.scorecard.org/ and find out about environmental problems in your neighborhood. Print one
page of the results and write one page.
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.
Parkland Hospital (5 points, write one page, due
deadline)
Visit
Parkland hospital online.
Calculate
the
Texas Local Property Tax (20 points, due by last deadline)
You may submit your calculations in advance by email to
Dr. Garrison for checking for correctness and have a chance to correct your
errors. NOT AVAILABLE AS A BONUS OP IF A TASK ASSIGNMENT.
Calculation of the Property Tax
a.
Do all your calculations on one page of paper following carefully
each step in the Property Tax Worksheet below.
First, provide the address of your property in a Collin County city (or
in your Texas home county city).
b.
Assume the property is the home you own and live in.
You are a homeowner.
c.
Label each calculation and each step of the calculation.
d.
Choose one of the following values as the appraised value of your home
and enter it on line 1:
$97,500; $123,000; $240,000; $370,000; $465,500; $695,000; or
$1,373,000.
e.
Use data (exemptions and rates) from the most recent tax year (2007).
Indicate the source of the data on the calculation page
(For the information
use the web site of your county
central appraisal district.)
f.
After calculating your property tax bill for each government entity
calculate a grand total tax bill for the year.
Some
Suggested Sources:
Dallas
Morning News
www.dallasnews.com
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
http://www.window.state.tx.us/
Texas Taxes
http://www.window.state.tx.us/m23taxes.html
Local Property Taxes
http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/proptax/proptax.html
Appraisal Districts
http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/proptax/appd.html
http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/proptax/adalindex.html;
http://www.txcountydata.com
PROPERTY
TAX WORKSHEET
1.
_____________________________________________
2.
_____________________________________________
3.
_____________________________________________
4.
_____________________________________________
5.
_____________________________________________
6.
_____________________________________________
1.
Enter the assessed valuation
of your home on Line 1.
Consult your reappraisal notice or your county’s central
appraisal district or website, or your mortgage company.
For this task choose one of the following values as the
appraised value of your home
and enter it on line 1:
$97,500; $123,000; $240,000; $370,000; $465,500; $695,000; or
$1,373,000.
2.
Enter your
homestead exemption
on Line 2.
Some homeowners may qualify for more than one exemption.
For example, a standard exemption plus either a handicapped or elderly
exemption. According
to state law, you cannot claim both a handicapped and elderly exemption.
If you are a disabled veteran and claim the handicapped exemption, you
may qualify for $1,500 to $3,000 in addition to the amount listed in the table.
Consult the taxing entity or the central appraisal district for
the
amount. If
you have multiple exemptions, add them together and enter the total on Line 2.
3.
Subtract Line 2 from Line 1 and enter the amount on
Line 3.
This is your taxable value.
4.
Divide Line 3 by 100 and enter the amount on Line 4.
5.
Enter the tax rate for the government entity, which you are computing on
Line 5.
6.
Multiply Line 4 by Line 5 and enter the amount on Line 6.
This is your annual tax bill
for that governmental entity.
7.
Repeat this procedure for each governmental entity
for which you pay
taxes – the city, school district, county,
and if it applies, hospital
district and community college district.
NOTE:
Some homeowners also pay taxes to special districts, such as municipal
utility, water improvement, flood control districts, etc.
Consult those districts or the central appraisal district for the tax
rate and homestead exemption.
Under
state law, residents over 65 have their school district tax bill frozen at last
year’s level, unless the computation using the new tax rate yields a lower tax
bill.
1.
_______$100,000___________
2.
_________70,000___________
3.
_________30,000___________
4.
___________
300___________
5.
__________0.487___________
6.
________$146.10___________
A 69 year-old homeowner is figuring city taxes in Addison. His house is valued at $100,000 (Line 1). He is allowed a homestead exemption of 2% ($20,000), plus a $50,000 over-65 exemption. He gets a total exemption of $70,000 (Line 2). He divides the remaining taxable value (Line 3) by 100, the amount on Line 4, and then multiplies Line 4 by the tax rate (Line 5), resulting in his annual city tax bill (line 6). Source: Dallas Morning News
COMMENTARY (5 points, write one page, due at DL)
Documentary
film:
The Way We Get By,
PBS POV
airing Wednesday November 11 at 9 p.m. KERA Ch. 13 (10
points, write two pages, due within one week of viewing)
Documentary
film: RethinkAfghanistan: Veterans to Obama:
Do Not Escalate Video (5 points, write one
page, due by DL)
News
Quiz: The
Berlin Wall Quiz (5points, write
one page, due within one week)
(5
points, write one page, due by Exam 1)
Houston's Guzman first Latina on Texas high courtBy MARY FLOOD Copyright 2009 Houston ChronicleOct. 8, 2009, 9:34PM |
(5
points per Justice Interview; limit two interviews, write one page per interview, due by Exam 1)
(5
points, write one page, due by Exam 1)
Justices Decline to Hear Some 2,000 Cases
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/06/us/06scotus.html
(5
points, write one page, due by Task 2) See also Task 2 for full video.
The Second Amendment & State Gun Control Laws, Wall Street Journal
Video (5 points, write one page, due by Exam 1)
Los Angeles Times - September 28, 2009 (5
points, write 1 page, due by Exam 1)Joe Sullivan was 13 years old when he and two older boys broke into a home, where they robbed and raped an elderly woman. After a one-day trial in 1989, Sullivan was sentenced to life in prison with no chance for parole. Terrance Graham was 16 when he and two others robbed a restaurant. When he was arrested again a year later for a home break-in, a Florida judge said he was incorrigible. In 2005, Graham received a life term with no parole. The two young convicts represent an American phenomenon, one the Supreme Court is set to reconsider in the fall term that opens Oct. 5. At issue is whether it is cruel and unusual punishment to imprison a minor until he or she dies when the crime does not involve murder.
David B. Rivkin, Jr. & Lee A. Casey, "Mandatory
Insurance Is Unconstitutional," Wall Street Journal, September
18, 2009. Why an individual mandate could
be struck down by the courts. (5
points, write 1 page, due by Exam 1)
The Chance for a Free Speech Do-Over (10
points, write two pages, due by Exam 1)
The National
Parks: America's Best Idea Coming to
PBS September 27, 2009
Bill of Rights Game
(10
pts., write one page and print game results page, due by Exam 1)
C-SPAN
Justice Scalia on Constitutional Interpretation
(10
points, write two pages. due by exam 1)
C-SPAN Classroom’s video clip, Justice Scalia on Constitutional Interpretation (5 minutes), to help illustrate the process of judicial review. Have students focus on the following questions:
• What is "the living Constitution?"
• How does Justice Scalia interpret the Constitution? What does he mean that this type of interpretation, "used to be orthodoxy?"
• Why does Justice Scalia believe, "the First Amendment does not guarantee free speech?" What distinction does he make between free speech and the freedom of speech? How does this analysis differ from a justice who believes in "the living Constitution?"
• Explain how Justice Scalia’s Constitutional interpretation leads him to rule in support of the burning of the American flag despite his personal views. Do you think Justices should separate their personal views when deciding a court case? Why or why not?
C-SPAN debuts "Supreme Court Week"
(15
points, write three pages. due within one week)
C-SPAN Classroom will provide educational materials including video clips and
lesson plans to accompany "Supreme Court Week" programming. Classroom members
will be alerted when these resources are available.
You can now follow C-SPAN Classroom on Twitter for daily
programming updates and C-SPAN Classroom related announcements: <http://twitter.com/cspan_classroom>
Questions or comments? Please send them to
educate@c-span.org
Washington Week in Review
(5
points, write one page. due within one week)
Watch one program of Washington
Week in Review7 p.m. Fridays on KERA Channel 13 or
view the program online.
|
A New Face for the Supreme Court,
Wall Street Journal Graphic (10 points, write two pages, due by DL)http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info-COURTNOMINEES0209.html
Movie:
American Violet
(15 points, write three pages, due by deadline)
Movie:
State of Play
(15
points, write three pages, due by deadline)
Republican lawmakers resisting Perry repeatedly(10 pts., write two pages, due by Exam 2)Story: Republican lawmakers resisting Perry repeatedly 08:52 AM CDT on Wednesday, April 8, 2009 |
Television program/Streaming video:
PBS Bill Moyers Journal:
Abraham Lincoln, Ch. 13 Friday, April 10 (
15 pts. write 3 pages, due within one week) Shortcut to:
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/lincoln/watch.html.
Interactive:
Income Tax Chart - 2009
(5 points, write one pages, due by ultimate deadline)
Find
Dr. G's flags
(10
points, write one page, due before the flags come down)
Surely you have noticed the nations' flags hanging in
the halls of SCC in anticipation of International Student Day
Dr. G is the sponsor of four flags of the nations. 1. Which four? You may submit
answers by email. Hints: Two flags are from intimately related but estranged
countries. Red is the predominant color in one flag with golden -yellow stars
while red, blue, and a white sun are dominant in the other. One flag has a tree in its center. The fourth
nation, a former state of the USSR, is arid and mountainous and sits close to where Europe becomes Asia.
Red crosses on a white background are the colors in its flag. More hints may be forthcoming.
2. What form of government does each country have? 3. Describe the current
U. S. foreign policy toward each country.
Movie: "The Fog of War"
(15 points, write three pages, 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). 106 minutes. The lessons of the Vietnam War. See Jane
Sumner, "The Lessons of War," Dallas Morning News, February 6,
2004, p. 3H.
"The Nuke Club"
(10 points, due by exam 2)
What countries are
known to have nuclear weapons? What countries may have nuclear weapons or
nuclear weapons capabilities? What countries have the ability to deliver
nuclear weapons over long distances? Always cite your sources.
|
|
Television program:
Tulia, Texas
(10 points, write two pages, due with by Exam 1)
 |
Independent Lens: Tulia, Texas Tuesday, February 10 at 9:00 p.m.One of the biggest drug busts in Texas history took place the |
Bonus Op 15 pts, write three pages, due within one week of viewing
Television Video:
Obama
And The Presidency,
CBS News (10 points, write two pages, due by DL)
Documentary film:
See the Eugene Jarecki film
"Why We Fight."
(15 points,
write three pages, due by
Exam 2)
DVD
copies are available in the LRC and rental stores. And the
film is now available at Google Video. Fully
utilize the information found at the
film's web site in writing
your paper of
commentary and analysis.
NOT AVAILABLE IF PART OF A TASK OR TAKE HOME ESSAY.
(Documentary
film:
"No
End in Sight".
(15 points,
write three pages, due by
Exam 2)
See the documentary film.
NOT
AVAILABLE IF PART OF A TASK OR TAKE HOME ESSAY.
(Television
program: The American
Experience The
Presidents series:
LBJ
|
Newspaper article:
(5 points, write
one page, due by second exam)
Newspaper article:
(5 points, write
one page, due by second exam)
Newspaper article:
(5 points, write
one page, due by second exam)
Newspaper article:
Title:
O'Connor's legacy fading on reshaped court -
USATODAY.com (10 points, write two pages, due by exam 1)
Copy and paste the following into your Web browser to access the sent link:
http://www.emailthis.clickability.com/et/emailThis?clickMap=viewThis&etMailToID=2093641603&pt=Y
Copy and paste the following into your Web browser to SAVE THIS link:
http://www.savethis.clickability.com/st/saveThisPopupApp?clickMap=saveFromET&partnerID=1660&etMailToID=2093641603&pt=Y
KERA Ch. 13, Tuesday, June 17 at 10:00 p.m.
Writ Writer is the inspiring story of Fred Arispe Cruz, a self-taught jailhouse lawyer, and Boston attorney Frances Jalet. Together they waged a legal battle against the Texas prison system and won Constitutional rights for prisoners in the 1960's. Austin filmmaker Susanne Mason directed and produced the documentary. Author Dagberto Gilb adapted the narration from diaries, letters pleadings and courtroom testimony.
Newspaper article:
Excerpt from New York Times Article:
(5 points, write
one page, due by second exam)
Adviser Says McCain Backs Bush Wiretaps
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/06/us/politics/06mccain.html
WASHINGTON — A top adviser to Senator John McCain says Mr. McCain believes that
President Bush’s program of wiretapping without warrants was lawful, a position
that appears to bring him into closer alignment with the sweeping theories of
executive authority pushed by the Bush administration legal team.
Television program:
"Life in the Balance" is a one-hour, statewide KERA
documentary that examines the debate about reforming the
state health care system and how political decisions
touch the lives of patients on gaps in health coverage;
regional ideas for improving the system; and the
challenges faced by those who want to improve public
health care in Texas. Premiered in 2005.
Video
Interview:
Kathryn Edin on Poverty in America
Apr 28, 2008 - ... State business tax
draws concern. ... Rick Perry, who signed the new business tax
into
law, rejected the notion that it is hurting the state's business climate.
...
Television interview:
Justice Antonin Scalia (10 points, write two pages, due by DL)
Interview
of Justice Scalia, CBS Sixty Minutes,
April 27, 2008
Sample Election Ballot (10 points, write one page, due by DL)
Find
your sample election ballot for the Texas Municipal Election of May 9. 2009 at
your county government elections department web site. Print out the ballot and
attach it to your paper.
Fight over border fence
environmental waivers
could reach
Supreme Court
Trend It, Don't End It
Tracking the inscrutable social consensus on capital punishment
for rapists. (10
points, write two pages, due by dl.)
Streaming audio: BBC 4:
Justice Scalia
on torture (15
points, write three pages, due by Exam 1; VS1Exam 4)
Newspaper article:
Court overturns Texas ban on sex toys*
(5 points, write one page, due by Exam 1; VS1 Exam 4)
Newspaper article:
Texas fetal murder law upheld*
(5 points, write one page, due by Exam 1; VS1 Exam 4)
Newspaper
article: Roe v. Wade in Texas (5 points, write one page, due by exam one,
VS1 Exam 4)
|
No challenge to Roe foreseen in Texas Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau |
(5
points, write one page, due by exam one,
VS1 Exam 4)
|
*
Less Freedom, Less Speech By George F. Will In some recess of David
Irving's reptile brain, he knows that his indefensible imprisonment is
helping his side. His side consists of all the enemies of open societies.
(5 points, write one page, due by
first exam, VS1 Exam 4).
Online
Quiz:
First Amendment 101(5 points, write
one page, due
within one week)
*
First Amendment 101. Do
the quiz and write about the results.
Newspaper
article: The Eminent DomainPower (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
"Justice for Sale Quiz" (5 points, due by
Exam 1, )
Take
the
quiz
at the "Justice for Sale"
web site.
Print your quiz results and write one page.
Plano
Municipal Court (5 points, due by Exam 1,
)
Visit Plano Municipal Court online and write one page.
Columnist
Nat Hentoff (5 points, due by Exam 1, )
Choose
a
Nat Hentoff column on civil liberties or civil rights and write one
page.
The
ACLU’s “How Free Are We?” Quiz (5 points, due by Exam 1, )
Take the the quiz at
http://www.aclu.org/Quizzes/QuizQuestion.cfm?quizID=4
Write a page about your results and attach the
results printout to the paper.
The Supreme Court Quiz (5 points, due by first exam,
)
Take the "Supreme Court Quiz" at the Washington
Post.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/sidebars/supremecourt/scotusquiz.htm
Write a page about your results and attach the
results printout to the paper.
Slate's
Jurisprudence:
Death
Penalty Boundaries
(5 points, due by exam 1,)
Listen to this radio report and write one page.
For the "Jim Crow" bonuses choose only one for credit:
The Rise & Fall of Jim Crow: Jim Crow Quiz (5 points, due by
Exam 1 )
Take the Jim Crow Quiz at
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/tools_quiz_1q.html.
Write one page reporting your test results and what you learned from this
experience
OR
The Rise & Fall of Jim Crow: Voting Then & Now
(5 points,
due by Exam 1 )
Go to
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/tools.html
and click on Voting Then, Voting Now. Click on Try to Vote
and proceed through the voting site. Write one page about your voting experience and what you learned about
voting rights.
OR
The Rise & Fall of Jim Crow: Interactive Maps (5 points, due by Exam 1)
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/tools.html
Click on Go to the
Maps. Then Click on the topics (Jim Crow Laws, Colleges &
Universities, Population & Migration, Lynching & Riots and the state
map. Note Texas in particular. Write one page about what you
learned from this experience.
PISD & Freedom of Speech (5 points, due by Exam 1)
Read this DMN article and write one page.
Free
speech case awaits fate
Trustees
may take appeal on leaflet policy to U.S. Supreme Court Sunday,
October 19, 2003
The Bills of Rights Compared
(5 points, due by first exam)
Compare the U.S. and Texas Bills of Rights. What major
rights appear in the Texas Bill of Rights but not in the U. S. list. (Not
available to my former GOVT 2301 students and due by Exam 1.)
"The Supreme Court & 9/11"
(5
points, due by Exam 2
)
Read and write one page: Linda Greenhouse,
"Justices Face Decision on Accepting 9/11 Cases,"
New York
Times, November 3, 2003
"Texas Abortion Law 2004 (5 points,
due by exam 1)
Read David Pasztor,
"24-Hour
Abortion Wait Starts Today," Austin American-Statesman (statesman.com),
January 1. 2004 and write one page.
"The Ninth Circuit Got It Right"
(5 points, due by Exam 1)
Read and write one page: Laurence H. Tribe,
"The
Ninth Circuit Got It Right," Wall Street Journal, September 18,
2003.
News Analysis: The Draft
(5 points, due by Exam 1)
Read ," New York Times,
October 3, 2004 and write one page.
U. S. Supreme Court: First Monday in October
(5 points, due by Exam 1)
Read David Savage,
"Wine,
Dogs, and Drugs on High Court Agenda," Los Angeles Times,
October 3, 2004 and write one page.
U. S. Supreme Court: First Monday in October
(5 points, due by
Exam 1)
Read Warren Richey,
"High-Court
Sentencing Showdown," Christian Science Monitor, October 3, 2004
and write one page.
News Article: President Chooses Judges (5 points, due by Exam 1)
Read John Dean,
"A Crucial But Largely Ignored 2004 Campaign Issue:
The Next President Is Likely to Appoint At Least Three Supreme Court Justices,"
Findlaw.com, September 27, 2004 and write one page.
The Bills of Rights Compared
(5 points, due by first exam
)
Compare the U.S. and Texas Bills of Rights. What major
right appears in the Texas Bill of Rights but not in the U. S. list. (Not
available to my former GOVT 2301 students and due no later than the class
meeting before Exam 1.)
Texas Abortion Law 2004 (5 points,
due by exam 1)
Read David Pasztor,
"24-Hour
Abortion Wait Starts Today," Austin American-Statesman (statesman.com),
January 1. 2004 and write two pages.
The
Texas Sodomy Statute
(5 points, due by Exam 1)
Read this article and write two pages: Linda Greenhouse, "Libertarians
Join Liberals in Challenging Sodomy Law," New York Times, March
19, 2003
MLK Celebration 2008:
Monday Leadership Breakfast
Film: The new Robert Redford film
Lions for Lambs: (15 points, write three pages, due
b deadline)
Television program & Online: "Extraordinary Rendition" (10 points, write two pages, due within one week
of viewing)
|
Movie: "Rendition" (10 points, write two pages, due within one week after
seeing the movie) currently playing in local theatres.
Television news:
 |
|
|
(5 points, write one page, due within one week of viewing)
Video & Web site:
The American Juror (10 points, write two pages, due
within one week of viewing)
Film: THE 11th HOUR Rated PG, 95 min.
Angelika Dallas (10 points, write two pages, due
within one week of viewing)
Official Selection - Cannes Film Festival
Leonardo DiCaprio co-produces and narrates "The 11th Hour", an eye-opening
documentary about the state of the global environment featuring appearances from
Mikhail Gorbachev, Stephen Hawking, Andrew Weil, and a slew of knowledgeable
environmental reporters and activists including Andy Revkin , Lester Brown, Tim
Carmichael and Wes Jackson. The film is a fascinating look at what it means to
be human in a deteriorating world as well as a proactive look at how to solve
the world's climate crisis.
The
Fourth of July:
Loyal to a Fault
(5 points, write one page, due by deadline)
Foreign Policy:
THE 2007 FAILED STATES INDEX (5 0points, write
one page, due by Exam 2)
|
From FOREIGN POLICY’s July/August 2007 Issue
|
Television & Online program:
The Tank Man (15 points, write three pages, due by Exam 2)
|
Television & Online program: Juvenile Justice (15points, write three pages, due by deadline)
NOT AVAILABLE IF A TASK ASSIGNMENT
Frontline: When Kids Get Life
On-Air & Online | Tuesday, May 8, 2007, 9 - 10:30 pm
Grade Range: 9-12
The U.S. is one of the very few countries in the world that allows children
under 18 to be prosecuted as adults and sentenced to life without parole.
Producer Ofra Bikel visits five young men in Colorado sentenced to life without
parole to examine their crimes and punishment, the laws that sanctioned their
convictions and the prospect of never being free again. (CC, Stereo, DVI, 1
year)
View our online state-by-state map showing stats on juveniles sentenced to life
without parole. Plus, log on to washingtonpost.com/liveonline to talk about the
program on May 9 at 11 am ET.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/whenkidsgetlife/ (Available May
8, 2007 )
FindLaw's Writ - Grossman/McClain: New Justices, New Rules The
Supreme Court Upholds the Federal Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003
http://writ.lp.findlaw.com/commentary/20070501_mcclain.html
Death
no more
(5 points, write one page, due by deadline) NOT
AVAILABLE IF A TASK ASSIGNMENT
Mike Hashimoto: Capital punishment
should continue
(5 points, write one page, due by deadline) NOT
AVAILABLE IF A TASK ASSIGNMENT
Texas' Next Step
(5 points, write one page, due by deadline)
NOT AVAILABLE IF A TASK ASSIGNMENT
House: Allow religion in school
(5 points,
write one page, due by deadline)
Television program:
Independent Lens
Race to Execution (10 points,
write two pages, due within one week of broadcast; by Exam 3 (VS1)
This film traces the fates of two Death Row inmates. Through these compelling personal narratives and the often unexpected results of research on race, justice and the media, "Race to Execution" exposes the factors that influence who lives and who dies at the hands of the state. (CC, Stereo)
Log on to the companion Web site; learn about some of the most important cases on race and the death penalty in recent U.S. history.
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/racetoexecution
11: States Suspending Executions (5 points,
write one page, due by exam 3)
That's the number of states that have suspended executions because
of questions over lethal injection, the primary method of execution
in 37 of the 38 states that have retained the death penalty -- only
Nebraska still uses the electric chair. And check back every weekday
for another number in the news.
Read more
Web
Site:
Top 10 Racist Supreme Court Rulings (10
points, write two pages, due by Exam 1, VS1 Exam 3)
U.
S. House of Representatives Debate: Congressman Sam Johnson's floor statement on
the debate in Iraq
(5 points, write one page, due by exam one,
VS1 Exam 2)
|
February 16, 2007
|
Newspaper
article:
Texas' chief justice
calls for overhaul of state courts
(5 points, write one page, due by exam one,
VS1 Exam 4)
DVD, Television, Streaming Video:
The ACLU Freedom Files (10 points per file video, write two pages, due by
Exam 1, VS1 Exam 4)
Watch one
or more programs
of the ACLU Freedom Files series on civil liberties and civil rights.
LRC Videotape: "Judge Justice, A True Activist Judge, Civil Liberties &
Rights in Texas" (15 points, write three pages, due by Exam 1, VS1 Exam 4)
Watch the videotape on reserve in the LRC titled
"Judge Justice," the most famous or infamous federal district judge in
Texas history. Topics include Texas racial segregation, high school
cheerleaders, and treatment of Texas juvenile delinquents, the mentally
retarded, and prisoners in state facilities.
Movie: North Country (15 points, write three pages, due by Exam 1)
See the recent movie
North Country
based on Clara Bingham & Laura Leedy
Gansler's book Class Action. Or read the book. Concentrate on civil rights and the law of
affirmative action and sexual harassment. For movies write so specifically
that there is no doubt that you viewed the film.
Audio: Oral Argument at the Supreme Court
(10 points, write two pages, due by Exam 1)
Listen to an oral argument of a Supreme Court case and
write a four to five page review and commentary on the experience. Find
the oral arguments
here and
here.
Simulation: "You Are a Police Officer." (10 points,
write two pages & include results page, due by Exam 1)
Go to the Longman Participate.com. 4.0 textbook web site chapter 5 and do
Simulation 1 "You Are a Police Officer." (for students who have
access to the text site)
Movie: "Gideon's Trumpet"
(15 points, write three pages, due by Exam 1,)
Reading: Anthony Lewis' essay
"The
Silencing of Gideon's Trumpet"
and the report on Texas indigent defense
Muting Gideon's
Trumpet.
centrate on the rights of the accused and the Bill of Rights.
Choice g. Movie: "Dirty Pictures"(15
points, write three pages, due by Exam 1)
For movies write so specifically that there is no doubt that you viewed
the film.
Photography
& the Law of Obscenity: Mapplethorpe's images (5 points, write one page,
due by Exam 1)
Movie:
Judgment at Nuremberg
(15 points, write three pages, due by Exam 2)
Particularly comment on the
role of Justice Robert Jackson and compare the trials of the Nazis and Saddam
Hussein.
OR
|
Newspaper
columnist & noted civil libertarian: Nat Hentoff (5
points per column, write one page, due by exam one,
VS1 Exam 4)
|
Legal News article: ( 5 points, write one page, due by Exam 1)
Sebok: The Federal Appellate Decision For The Plaintiffs In The Sex
Discrimination Class Action Against Wal-mart: What Will Wal-mart Do Next?
"Texas & Race Discrimination: Hernandez v. Texas
(5 points, due by last class meeting before
final exam,
Read Ian Haney Lopez, "Hernandez
v. Brown," New York Times, May 22, 2004 and write one page of
comment.
Opinion
column:
Don't Mess With Texas (5 points, write one page, due by exam)
Write a Letter to the Newspaper Editor (5
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.
C-SPAN
or C-SPAN2 (5
points, last exam,
VS1 Exam 4) Watch one hour of C-SPAN or C-SPAN2 programming relevant
to your course. Write two pages. See
www.c-span.org for schedule.
NPR, "All Things Considered" (5
points, due by last class day before final)
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" (5
points, due by last class day before final exam)
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.
This Week with George Stephanopolus
(5
points, due by last class day before final exam)
Watch one program of ABC's This Week with
George Stephanopolus which is broadcast Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. in this
television market. Write two pages.
Face the Nation
(5 points, due
throughout the semester)
Watch one program of CBS's Face the Nation which
is broadcast on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. in this television market. Write
two pages.
Meet the Press (5
points, due throughout the semester)
Watch one program of Meet the Press
9-10 a.m. Sundays on KXAS NBC Channel 5. Write two pages. See the email
message below:
Crossfire (5
points, due throughout the semester)
Watch one program of the television
show Crossfire. Write two pages. See the email below.
Washington Week in Review (5
points, due throughout the semester)
Watch one program of Washington Week in
Review 8-8:30 p.m. Fridays and 12 Noon Sundays on KERA Channel 13. Write two
pages.
The Constitution Tree Bonus
(10
points, a bonus op available throughout the semester)
-- Sheila Chinn
The Constitution Tree Bonus Opportunity is available
throughout the semester.
You probably have to have a romantic soul to even contemplate
this opportunity.
There is a 200+ year old tree, a huge towering oak, in Plano's
Bob
Woodruff Park which I call the Constitution Tree. At the base
of the
tree is an arbor society plaque certifying that the tree was alive
and well
when the U.S. Constitution was written in 1787.
Find the tree. Sit under it, think about
America, and read one of the following: the U. S. Constitution, the Declaration of
Independence, the Gettysburg Address, or Robert Frost's The Black
Cottage while there. Write your thoughts and ruminations from this experience.
Document
the tree with a photo or a rubbing of the plaque.
Hint as to the tree's location: It is in a clearing where
people may
walk and sit and picnic. In other words, it is not in a
totally wooded
location. One further hint... the tree likes water, a southern
sun, and
is close to a park structure. Bob Woodruff Park is between E. Parker Road and E. Park Blvd.
bordered on the west by Shiloh Rd. and on the east by San Gabriel Blvd.
In fact the park is divided by Park Blvd. Thus part of the park lies
south of Park Blvd.
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.
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 Blvds. 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.
County Commissioners Court Meeting (15
points,
due the last class day before the final; 5 additional points if you have a
conversation with a commissoner 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.
Television/Streaming Video: Question Time with British Prime Minister
(10 points
per hour watched, write one page per half hour, due
by last due date)
Sunday, May 1st at 6 pm, 9 pm, and 12 midnight ET on C-SPAN
(Program running time: Two hours.)
British Politics on C-SPAN: BBC's "Question Time" with with Prime Minister Tony
Blair, Conservative Party Leader Michael Howard, and Liberal Democrats Leader
Charles Kennedy. The program is hosted by David Dimbleby and includes questions
from a studio audience. Each party leader will be on for 30 minutes. Then,
following the BBC program, we'll show highlights of C-SPAN's recent visit to the
United Kingdom.
Face the Nation (5 points, due
throughout the semester)
Watch one program of CBS's Face the Nation which
is broadcast on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. in this television market. Write
one page.
This Week with George Stephanopolus (10 points, due by final exam)
Watch one program of ABC's This Week with
George Stephanopolus which is broadcast Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. in this
television market. Write two pages.
NPR, "Morning Edition" (10
points, due by final exam)
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.
NPR, "All Things Considered"
(10 points, due by final exam)
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.
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.
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 Blvds. 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.
Newly Elected Leaders in Congress: House (5 points, write one page, due
one week from 11/16) & Senate (5 points, write one page, due one week from
11/16)
Name the newly elected leaders in Congress. Give Title & job role, name, party
and state and specifically how chosen.
New Seniority Leaders in Congress: House (5 points, write one page, due
one week from 11/16) & Senate (5 points, write one page, due one week from
11/16)
Name the new seniority (standing committee chairpersons) leaders in Congress.
Give Title & job role, name, party and state and specifically how chosen.
Newly Elected & Appointed Leaders in the Texas Legislature: House (5
points, write one page, due one week from 11/16) & Senate (5 points, write one
page, due one week from 11/16)
Name the newly elected & appointed leaders in the Texas legislature. Give Title
& job role, name, party and state and specifically how chosen.
"Mississippi: Is This America? 1963-1964" and "Bridge to Freedom 1965"
Monday, October 16, 2006
9 - 11:00 pm
Mississippi's grass-roots civil rights movement becomes an American concern when college students travel south to help register black voters and three of them are murdered. In the second hour, a decade of lessons is applied in the climactic and bloody march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama and a major victory is won when the federal Voting Rights Bill passes. (CC, Stereo, DVI, 1 year)
Screen historic footage of these events; listen to freedom songs; read newspaper headlines; and see photo galleries as you follow the online story of America's Civil Rights Movement.
http://www.pbs.org/amex/eyesontheprize
Television program:
Movie: Judgment at Nuremberg
(15 points, three pages, deadline)
Documentary Film:
"Rated R:" Republicans in Hollywood. (10 points, write two
pages, due at deadline)
A DVD of "Rated R" is available in the LRC.
Texas House, Senate & Governor Races 2006
(10 points, write two pages, due
by deadline date)
Click on Texas at the Washington Post
Election 2006 page
for information.
Television
program February 21, 2006 & Streaming Video & Web Site:
"The Insurgency"
(10 points, write two pages, due within one week of viewing)
|
Online
Game: ACLU TV
Justice Match
(10 points, write two pages, due by exam 1)
ACLU TV Justice Match
http://www.aclu.tv/supreme/game
Dear Friend, I just played the ACLU's "Justice Match" game that
shows you where YOU stand on some of the key constitutional issues that have
faced the Supreme Court over the past several years. I'm sure you'll agree that
the Supreme Court is a mysterious body for most Americans, despite the fact that
it is the last defense for our civil liberties. The Court began its 2005 term
closely divided, with Justice Sandra Day O'Connor retired but still seated and a
proposed replacement nominated but not yet confirmed. Play the game at
http://www.aclu.tv
and find out which Justice's opinions are most like your own. You might find out
that you aren't quite as liberal or conservative as you imagined. Play the
ACLU's "Justice Match Game: Find Your Court Date!" and find out at:
http://www.aclu.tv
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)
"Texas & Race Discrimination: Hernandez v. Texas
(5 points, due by last class meeting before
final exam)
Read Ian Haney Lopez, "Hernandez
v. Brown," New York Times, May 22, 2004 and write one page of
comment.
Streaming
Video Television program:
Frontline: The Last Abortion Clinic (10 bonus points, write two pages, due within one week)
FRONTLINE
http://www.pbs.org/frontline/
- 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.
Fed Raises a Key Rate to 4.25 Percent in 13th Straight
Hike (5 bonus pts., one page, by deadline)
Crips Gang Co-Founder Is Executed
(5 bonus pts., one page, by deadline)
Bush Says He's Confident That He and McCain Will Reach
Agreement on Interrogation Policy (5 bonus
pts., one page, by deadline)
|
Justice Staffers Saw Texas redistricting as illegal
(5 points, one page, by deadline)
Texas redistricting at the Supreme Court
(5 points, one page, due by deadline)
Molly Ivins columns
(5 points per column, one page per column)
Streaming
VideoTelevision program:
PBS Frontline, 8
p.m., November 22, 2005: 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 --
http:http://www.pbs.org/frontline/storm/
|
Newspaper article:
Kinky as Governor? (5 bonus points,
write one page, due within one week) Story: Could Kinky Friedman really be our next governor? |
Television program:
Foreign Exchange
with Fareed Zakaria: Any weekly show (5 bonus points, write one page, due
within one week)
|
||
|
Television program:
The McLaughlin
Group: Any weekly show (5 bonus points, write one page, due within one week)
|
||
|
Political Quiz:
Neconservative Foreign Policy Quiz (10 bonus pts., write one page, due by
exam 2)
Movie:
North Country
(10 points, write two pages, due within one week)
Not
available as a bonus if chosen as Task 1.
See the movie about the first court case
regarding sexual harassment inspired by the book titled “Class Action: The
Landmark Case That Changed Sexual Harassment Law,” by Clara Bingham and Laura
Leedy Gansler.
EVERYONE!
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."
Kirk traveled to Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib for pieces of the story, but the
spine of this report traces what happened from the very beginning when, in the
immediate aftermath of 9/11, the Administration's top legal minds developed a
rationale for putting the Geneva Convention and the military code of conduct
aside in order to permit what was called 'coercive interrogation.' "The Torture
Question" tracks how techniques that began at Guantanamo eventually migrated to
Abu Ghraib and beyond. One interrogator describes the use of dogs during
interrogations to frighten the prisoner. Defense Secretary Rumsfeld has stated
this was never authorized. Yet it was done. Tuesday's report provides the
context for understanding how the rules were confused, how lines of authority
were blurred, and what happens when the authorization of 'coercive
interrogation' makes it way into the battle zone.We hope you'll join us Tuesday
night for "The Torture Question" and in addition to the program's new
revelations, you will find more on our Web site, including FRONTLINE's
interviews with White House, Pentagon, Justice Department, FBI and CIA
officials, special photos, a chronology of the 'new rules of war,' plus the
option to watch "The Torture hhttp://www.pbs.org/frontline/torture/
Louis Wiley Jr.
Executive Editor
|
|
.
Law article:
If the President Is
Libeled, Can He Sue? Should He?
By JULIE HILDEN
(5 bonus pts., write one page, due by first exam)
Newspaper
article:
The Texas 10% Law
(5 points, write one page, due by
last class day)
Television/Streaming Video: Books in Depth:
Thomas Friedman (10 points per hour watched, write one page per half
hour, due
by last due date)
Sunday, May 1st at 12 noon - 3pm ET on C-SPAN2
LIVE Book TV's In Depth: Thomas Friedman. The New York Times foreign affairs
columnist and three-time Pulitzer Prize winner Thomas Friedman will be our guest
for In Depth on May 1, 2005. Mr. Friedman is the author of four books: "From
Beirut to Jerusalem" (winner of the National Book Award for non-fiction), "The
Lexus and the Olive Tree," "Longitudes and Attitudes: Exploring the World After
September 11," and the recently published "The World Is Flat: A Brief History of
the Twenty-first Century."
Movie:
ENRON
(10 points, write two pages, due within one week)
ENRON: The Smartest Guys in the Room opening this Friday at the Angelika Plano.
ENRON - Not Rated
Directed by Alex Gibney, this is the inside story of one of history’s greatest
business scandals, in which top executives of America’s 7th largest company
walked away with over one billion dollars while investors and employees lost
everything. Based on the best-selling book The Smartest Guys in the Room by
Fortune reporters Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind and featuring insider accounts
and incendiary corporate audio and videotapes, Gibney reveals the almost
unimaginable personal excesses of the Enron hierarchy and the utter moral vacuum
that posed as corporate philosophy.
Visit
www.angelikafilmcenter.com
for showtimes.
Film: Downfall (10 points, write two pages, due
within one week of viewing)
See the film
Downfall, write two
pages.
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.
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.
Streaming VideoTelevision program: Frontline,
"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/
http://www.pbs.org/frontline/
Newspaper
article: Teenage Killers & the Death Penalty (5 points, write one
page, due by exam one)
Linda Greenhouse,
"Supreme
Court, 5-4, Forbids Execution in Juvenile Crime," New York Times, March
2, 2005.
Streaming VideoTelevision program: Frontline, "The Soldier's Heart (10 points,
write two pages, due by second exam)
FRONTLINE
http://www.pbs.org/frontline/
- This Week: "The Soldier's Heart" (60 min.),
Tuesday, Mar. 01 at 9pm on PBS (check local listings)
Picking just the right title for a FRONTLINE can sometimes be a tough
process, but in the case of this week's program, everyone immediately knew it had to be called "The Soldier's Heart."
History teaches that what seems modern often has very old roots. "Soldier's Heart" is the name used during the Civil War for what became
"shell shock" in World War I, "battle fatigue" in World War II, and "post-traumatic stress syndrome" in Vietnam. The fear of death, the
trauma of killing, the effect of seeing corpses - all can take an emotional toll. For some who return home, free from physical injury, the
war is not over. Producer Raney Aronson spoke with some of these young men in the course
of making this film. One was Brandon Teppo: "I met Brandon on a Marine base in San Diego where he is a marksmanship
trainer. He was Marine infantry in Iraq during the first months of the war. In a preliminary meeting, he told us his war stories, and about
killing - saying, 'It's the kind of thing about your job you got to do, you know basically we're there to take out any bad guys.'
Then we met him again on the rifle range. Dressed in full military gear he was barking orders, standing over the
younger Marines and showing them how to shoot accurately. I hadn't interviewed him on camera yet and I knew my time was running out so I
decided to ask if we could do a quick on-camera interview right then and there. To my surprise he said yes.
Suddenly it was eerily quiet as everyone stopped and waited for us. I sat with Brandon and started to ask him questions about coming
home ... and as he began to talk of how hard it was to adjust, how he started to drink more, and how more than anything he wishes he had
gotten into therapy sooner (could have saved his marriage he said), I started to really rethink my own ideas on bravery - from an idea of a
warrior being brave in combat, to a man who is facing demons after fighting in a war - and sharing those feelings with me, in a very public
way and in a military environment where discussing one's feelings is almost a taboo."
We hope you will join us for "The Soldier's Heart" Tuesday, Mar. 01 at 9pm on PBS (check local listings) and
after watching, explore our web site which offers interviews with top experts about the psychological cost of war on the combat veteran,
web-exclusive streamed video of soldiers talking about this issue, including Brandon Teppo, as well as the opportunity to express your
opinion about the program, at
http://www.pbs.org/frontline/shows/heart/
Louis Wiley Executive Editor
Newspaper issue section: The
Social Security Debate (5 points, due by
last due date)
Read one article at
The
Social Security Debate
at the New York Times and write one page.
Streaming VideoTelevision program: Frontline, "A Company of Soldiers (15 points,
write three pages, due by second exam)
FRONTLINE http://www.pbs.org/frontline/
- This Week: "A Company of Soldiers" (90 min.), Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 9pm on PBS (check local listings)
- Inside FRONTLINE: This film's special problem
- Live Discussion: Chat with co-producer Edward Jarvis this Wed. at 11am
ET This Tuesday we bring you a glimpse into what the war in Iraq is really
like for the average soldier. Producer Tom Roberts and his three-member
team embedded with Dog Company, the 1st Battalion of the Army's 8th
Calvary Regiment stationed in South Baghdad. Over 30 days and 26
missions in November 2004 they followed a small group of the young men
of Dog Company on missions where they were often in combat, and always
in danger. Roberts told us that he took away from the experience some
things that he had not expected:
"I think there were three things. First, the intellectual and
operational model the U.S. was using was far more sophisticated and far
more based upon the complex reality of Iraq than what one was led to
believe by watching the news or reading newspapers.
The second thing was that stories about low American morale just didn't
stand up to the test of reality. Time and time again the soldiers were
positive, cheery and realistic. They are not full of, if you will,
star-spangled patriotism. They are quite realistic about what they're
doing, quite determined, with a clear sense of mission.
The third unexpected thing I came away with is a bigger sense of the
mess and chaos in Iraq than I thought there would be. One has a sense,
sitting here, that there's a counter-insurgency or guerrilla war taking
place. In fact, there are many layers of conflict within the society and
a lot of them don't involve insurgency." We hope you will watch "A Company of Soldiers." And we want to call your
attention to a special problem that FRONTLINE confronted with this film. As you might expect, the soldiers' language is sprinkled with
expletives, especially at moments of greatest fear and stress. As we edited the program, we were judicious, but came to believe that some of
that language was an integral part of our journalistic mission: to give
viewers a realistic portrait of our soldiers at war. We feel strongly that the language of war should not be sanitized and that there is
nothing 'indecent' about its use in this context. PBS stations were given the option of airing an edited or unedited
version based on their own community standards. Broadcasting the
unedited version carries some risk that the FCC would entertain complaints and levy a fine. Each public television station had to
decide for itself whether to take that risk. FRONTLINE does not believe the expletives used by the soldiers violate
the FCC's 'indecency' rule. They are not used in a "gratuitous" manner
nor are they meant to "titillate" or "pander" - the terms the FCC uses to determine if there has been a violation. You may be familiar with
the recent case of ABC's broadcast of the movie "Saving Private Ryan,"
which contained repeated instances of strong language, used in the same
context as this FRONTLINE. It was widely reported that a majority of the
FCC commissioners decided they would not support viewer complaints about
the language in "Saving Private Ryan," and outgoing Chairman Michael
Powell concluded that the agency should not take action against the ABC
stations that aired it because the language was part of accurately portraying the story about the Allied invasion of Normandy during World
War II.
FRONTLINE thanks those stations who are willing to broadcast the
unedited version, but recognizes the difficulty any station would have
in deciding to take a risk that might result in a penalty. We encouraged
all stations that could do so to stand with FRONTLINE because we believe
what is at stake here is not only the particulars of this case, but the
principle of editorial independence. We believe that overreaching by the
FCC is at its heart a First Amendment issue. We think that the editorial
integrity of future FRONTLINES is at risk along with many other types of
programs, whether art, science, history, culture, or public affairs.
Editorial decisions should be free from influence by the government and
should be made in accordance with the standards, practices, and mission
of public television. We hope you agree.
We hope you will join us for "A Company of Soldiers."
Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 9pm on PBS (check local listings)
And after watching, explore our web site where you have the opportunity
to express your opinion about the program and the issues it raises, at
http://www.pbs.org/frontline/shows/company/
Louis Wiley
Executive Editor
Newspaper
story: The Texas Death Penalty & Juveniles (5 points, read, write one
page, due by exam 1)Read
Online Ad:
Order
Pizza and write one page for five bonus points due by Exam 1.
Television
program : Life in the Balance: The Health Care Crisis in Texas
(15 points, write
three pages, due within one week of viewing) NOT AVAILABLE IF PART OF AN
ASSIGNED TASK.
Watch the KERA13 production and
statewide
broadcast of
Life in the
Balance: The Health Care Crisis in Texas. Note the Texas public policy role
in particular. See the DVD on reserve in the lrc.
Streaming
Video with Audio & Transcript: Supreme Court Watch November 29, 2004:
Medical
Marijuana, Congressional Power & Gay Marriage, PBS Online Newshour
(15 bonus points, write three pages: one page per issue, due
by Exam 1)
Gay Marriage
(
5 points, due by Exam 1)
Read this article and write one page: William R.
Rubenstein,
"Hiding
Behind the Constitution," New York Times (nytimes.com), March
20, 2004.
How
the Founding Fathers Would Have Handled Gay Marriage
(
5 points, due by Exam 1deadline)
Read this article and write one page: Jonathan Rauch,
"A
More Perfect Union," The Atlantic Monthly (The Atlantic
Online, April 2004.
Supreme Court Dispatches
from Slate.com's archive of recent Supreme Court cases, oral arguments, etc. (10
points per dispatch, write two pages, due by last due date)
Newspaper articles: (5 points each, write one page, deadline date)
Patty Reinert,
"High
Court, 5th Circuit Battling Over Death Row," Houston Chronicle,
December 5, 2004.
Newspaper article: Virginia
Postrel, "Hurdle
Faced by Southwest Airlines Shows Drawbacks of Protectionist Legislation,"
New York Times, December 2, 2004. (5 points, Read & write one page,
due by last due date)
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)
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)
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: 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)
Presidential
library web site:
The New
Clinton Presidential Library
(5 bonus points, write one page, due by last due date)
A Polarized USA?:
Sorryeverybody.com
vs.
Werenotsorry.com
(5 bonus points, write one page, due by last due date)
Newspaper
article:
John Tierney,
"Republicans
Outnumbered in Academia, Studies Find,"
New York Times,
November 18, 2004 (5 bonus points, write one page, due by last due date)
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.
Sin Taxes
in Texas (5 points, due by last class
day)
Molly Ivins,
"Sin
Taxes and Political Sins," Fort Worth Star-Telegram, May 2,
2004. Do you agree or disagree with this writer? Write one page.
An
Income Tax for Texas? (5 points, due by last class
day)
Check out the web site
Texas Tax Relief.com
and compare the property taxes you pay now to the state education income tax and
write one page.
The 2004 Budget Deficit
(5 points,
due by last class day)
Write one page on the national deficit based on
the information found at
Debating
the Deficit at the PBS television program
NOW
with Bill Moyers.
"The Air, the Air. The Air Is Everywhere" (5 points, due within
one week)
Read Randy Lee Loftis,
"EPAWidens
North Texas Smog Net," Dallas Morning News, April 15, 2004 and
write one page.
Financing
Texas Public Schools (5 points, due by exam 2)
Read Terence Stutz,
"Report
Lays Down School Tax Options," Dallas Morning News, March 9,
2004 and write one page.
not available fall 2004 semester Who Are Your Reps? (10 points, due no later than last regular class day)
Who are the FIVE legislators that
represent you -- your Congressperson, your two U. S. senators, your Texas state
representative, and your Texas state senator? Please provide your address.
not available The Best & Worst Texas Legislators
(10 points, due no later than last
regular class day)
According to Texas Monthly magazine
what are the traits of Texas' "best" legislators? Does your Texas
state representative or your Texas state senator make the best and worst list?
Explain. See the 1999, 2001, and 2003 "The Best & Worst Texas
Legislators" articles on EReserve.
School Taxes & Reform (10
points, due by last regular class period)
Briefly but fully
in
complete sentences and paragraphs answer the following questions about
the property tax in Texas.
1.
What is the so-called “Robin Hood” school finance plan?
2.
What is the fundamental issue that spawned the current Texas school
finance plan?
3.
What are the five issues that the State of Texas must confront to create
a “more modern school finance system”?
Use
the following Dallas Morning News
editorials as your sources:
“Growing school districts have unique problems,” June 9, 2002.
“Petrochemicals no longer boon for districts,” June 17, 2002
“Rural
schools have little room to maneuver,” June 23, 2002
“Life at the Cap,” June 30, 2002
http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/stories/063002dnedilifeatcap.bb1b1.html
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.
Streaming Video Televison program: Frontline: "Rumsfeld's
War," (10 points, due by Exam
2)
FRONTLINE:-
This Week: "Rumsfeld's War"
(90 min.), (10
point Bonus op, due within one week)
Bonus
Op for all classes. Watch and
write two pages. Tuesday, Oct. 26 at 9pm on PBS (check local
listings)
http://www.pbs.org/frontline/
This week FRONTLINE presents an antidote to that 'news
from nowhere 'feeling that all of us may have had at one time or
another given the assault of daily
headlines. Using history and context, our documentary this
Tuesday tells the story of how Secretary of Defense Donald
Rumsfeld and others have waged a behind-closed-doors war to change
the Pentagon, especially the U.S. Army, in
service of a new foreign policy.
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>
Subject: CELSIUS 41.11 opens @ the Angelika Plano this Friday!!
CELSIUS 41.11 Opens at the Angelika Film Center – PLANO on Friday,
October 22!
"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
showtimes and advance tickets, please visit: >
www.AngelikaFilmCenter.com
or
www.moviefone.com.
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.
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.
Movie: "The Candidate," (15 points, due
by Exam 2)
Watch this groundbreaking political movie from the
1970s starring Robert Redford. "The Candidate" airs Saturday, Oct. 16
from 7-9 p.m., Ch. 13. Write three pages.
Radio
Audio 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.
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.
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.
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" opening Friday, September 17 in DFW area theatres.
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. 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.
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
Harvard University Institute of Politics Political Personality Test (5 points, due by last class meeting before
final exam)
Take Harvard University's
IOP Political Personality Test. See where your political beliefs fit with
college students throughout the USA. Print your result page.
Streaming
Video: FRONTLINE:
"The Jesus Factor" (10 points, due by last due date)
The Alamo: The Movie (10 points, due by last class
day before the final)
See the movie and write two 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 to
your paper.
Media
Bias (5 points, due by last due date)
Read and write one page: Colleen McCain Nelson,
"Poll
Says More See Media Bias," Dallas Morning News, April 9, 2004.
The
Young & Comedy News (5 points, due by last due date)
Read and write one page: Colleen McCain Nelson,
"A
Funny Thing's Happening on the Way to the Polls,"Dallas Morning News,
April 109, 2004.
The
War Room
(10 points, due by Exam 2)
Watch the videotape movie of the Clinton 1992
presidential campaign for President and write two pages. Write so specifically
that there is no doubt you saw the movie. 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.
Journeys
with George: A Home Movie (10 points, due by Exam 2)
Watch the DVD home movie by Alexandra Pelosi of the
Bush campaign for President in 2000 and write two pages. Write so specifically
that there is no doubt you saw the movie. 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.
Collin County School Finance (5 points, due by exam 2)
Read Editorial,
"Political
Will," Dallas Morning News, March 20, 2004 and write one page.
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.
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.
Want
to work for the CIA? (10 points, due by Exam 2)
Want to work for
the CIA? Check out the
NPR
audio story and the CIA
website especially the career opportunities. Write two pages.
Financing
Texas Public Schools (5 points, due by exam 2)
Read Terence Stutz,
"Report
Lays Down School Tax Options," Dallas Morning News, March 9,
2004 and write one page.
Hardball
(5 points, due within one week)
Watch this television program and write one
page. See
the email below:
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.
TV Program: "Tax Me If You Can" (10 points, due within one week after
seeing the program)
Watch the program and write two pages. See the email
below: FRONTLINE
http://www.pbs.org/frontline/
Pundits & Voters (5 points, due by Exam 1)
Read David Shaw's
"Pundits'
Prophesies May Transform Voters' Reality," Los Angeles Times,
February 1, 2004. Write one page.
Vote
by Issue Quiz
(5 points, due by Exam 1)
Choose the 2004 Democratic presidential primary
candidate with whom you agree on the issues. Write two pages reporting the
results.
Choose
a Columnist (5 points, due by last regular class day)
Read a columnist's column on the op-ed pages of the
newspapers such as the DMN, NYT, WP, WSJ, etc.). See if you discover a favorite columnist.
See the list of columnists
section of the Mass Media Politics page of your course web page. Write one
page.
"Texas Democrats & Republicans in 2004 (5
points,
due by exam 2)
Read Ken Herman,
"Texas
Democrats, Republicans Still Adjusting to Roles," Austin
American-Statesman (statesman.com), January 1, 2004 and write one page.
"Media
Matters with Peter Jennings" (10 points, due within one week)
Watch the CCCC town hall meeting with Peter Jennings broadcast on ABC WFAA
Channel 8 at 5-6 p.m. Sunday November 23, 2003. A videotape copy is on LRC
reserve reading. Write two pages.
"All
the King's Men" (10 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 two
pages of your impressions so specifically that there is no doubt that you
watched the movie.
C-SPAN
or C-SPAN2 (5
points, due by ) Watch one hour of C-SPAN or C-SPAN2 programming relevant to
your course. Write one page. See
www.c-span.org
for schedule.
"Capital Report" (5
points, a bonus op due by) 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.
Presidential Quiz (5 points, due by Exam 2) Take the "Presidential
Quiz" and report your results with your comments in writing.
http://www.opinionjournal.com/hail/quiz.html
" West Wing" (10
points, due by Exam 2)
Watch one episode of the television
show "West Wing." Write two pages.
"The
Machiavelli Personality Test" (5 points, due by
Exam 2)
Take the
Machiavelli Personality Test at
http://www.salon.com/books/it/1999/09/13/machtest/index.html
and read "One Mean Renaissance Man" at
http://www.salon.com/books/it/1999/09/13/machiavelli/index.html
What was your score? High mach personalities have
what traits? Who was Machiavelli? What is he known for? Why are we considering
him in this course?
"The
Nuke Club" (5 points, due by Exam 2)
What countries are
known to have nuclear weapons? What countries may have nuclear weapons or
nuclear weapons capabilities? What countries have the ability to deliver
nuclear weapons over long distances?
Frontline
(10 points, due within one week)
Watch this tv program and write two pages.
Washington Week in Review
(5
points, due within one week)
Watch one program of Washington
Week in Review 8-8:30 p.m. Fridays and 12 Noon Sundays on KERA Channel 13. Write
one page. See
email for this week's program.
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. See the email
message below:
Crossfire (5
points, due throughout the semester)
Watch one program of the television
show Crossfire. Write one page. See the email below
Public Opinion Poll: Washington Post-ABC News
Poll:
"Poll Finds Bush Job Rating at New Low,"
(5 points, write one page, due
within one week of the event)
Newspaper article:
Texas Legislators' Pay (5 points, write one page, due by semester deadline)
W. Gardner Selby,
"Another Special Session Gives Rise to Legislative Pay
Chatter,"
Austin American-Statesman, Aril 11, 2006.
Movie:
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)
Movie:
Houston Chronicle news story:
Mexican Flag Fuels Immigration Debate (5
points, write one page, due asap)
Newspaper editorial:
Turning illegal immigrants into felons
(5 points, write one page, due asap)
Find
Dr. G's flags (5
points, write one page, due before the flags come down)
Surely you have noticed the nations' flags hanging in
the halls of SCC in anticipation of International Student Day March 23, 2006.
Dr. G is the sponsor of four flags of the nations. Which four? You may submit
answers by email. Hints: Two flags are from intimately related but estranged
countries. One flag has a tree in its center. The fourth
nation is arid and mountainous and sits close to where Europe becomes Asia.
Brown is the dominant color in its flag
Television program:
Movie: Judgment at Nuremberg
(15 points, three pages, deadline)
This award winning film is showing on KERA
13 Friday, April 28 8:30.
Documentary Film:
"Rated R:" Republicans in Hollywood. (10 points, write two
pages, due at deadline)
A DVD of "Rated R" is available in the LRC.
Parkland Hospital (5 points, write one page, due
deadline)
Visit Parkland hospital online.
Television program: Nightline, April 26, 2006 10:30 p.m., WFAA Channel 8
(5 points, write one page, due within one week)
 
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Television program: Charlie Rose Show
Friday, April 7 at
11 p.m. KERA Ch. 13 (10 points, write two pages, due within one week of airing
 Friday, April 7, 2006 at 11:00 p.m. ET. (Topics subject to change.) Please go to http://www.charlierose.com/ for an updated show schedule. |
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Guest Host GEORGE PACKER, Author / Journalist Guest: GEN. ANTHONY ZINNI, USMC (retired) Author, "The Battle for Peace"
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If your email does not support html messages please go to: To unsubscribe click here or go to http://www.charlierose.com/signOffNews.shtm
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Television program: Nightline, April 5, 2006 10:30 p.m.,
WFAA Channel 8
(5 points, write one page, due within one week)
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Television program: The Immigration Debate. The
Charlie Rose Show, April 4, 2006 11 p.m., KERA Channel 13
(10 points, write two pages, due within one week)
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Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at 11:00 p.m. ET. (Topics subject to change.) Please go to http://www.charlierose.com/ for an updated show schedule. |
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A DISCUSSION ABOUT IMMIGRATION WITH: Guest Host: ROBERTO SURO, Director, Pew Hispanic Center BILL RICHARDSON, Governor of New Mexico TAMAR JACOBY, Senior Fellow, Manhattan Institute GREGORY MANIATIS, Senior Fellow, Migration Institute
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Wall Street Journal commentary:
Texas-Sized Tax Revolt
Movie:
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)
Movie:
“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.)
Houston Chronicle news story:
Mexican Flag Fuels Immigration Debate (5
points, write one page, due asap)
Newspaper editorial:
Turning illegal immigrants into felons
(5 points, write one page, due asap)
Television
program: FOX News Channel: The Wall Street Journal Editorial Report, Saturday/Sunday, Feb. 18-19 (5 points, write
one page, due
within one week of airing)
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THE JOURNAL EDITORIAL
REPORT Bombs and Ballots Tune in this weekend for a discussion on democracy and radical Islam, the media reaction to Dick Cheney and more. Friday, February 17, 2006 12:01 a.m. EST Wall Street Journal editors will look at the consequences of Hamas running Palestine, Shiites running Iraq and postponed elections in Egypt. Plus Dick Cheney hunting accident and the media reaction to it. The program airs on FOX News Channel Saturday at 11 p.m. Eastern Time and again Sunday at 6 a.m. Here's a complete list of airtimes for the contiguous U.S.:
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Television
program: Sixty Minutes, Sunday, Feb. 19 (10 points, write two pages, due
within one week of airing)
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The
Early Show CBS
Evening News48
Hours60
Minutes (SUN)CBS
News Video
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Editorial Page Editor, Wall Street Journal
DAVID GREGORY
Chief White House Correspondent, NBC News
MARY MATALIN
Former Counselor to Vice President Cheney
The Government Accountability Office, the Homeland Security Department's office of inspector general, and a Republican-led congressional panel all recently released scathing reports detailing the Bush administration's failures in planning for -- and dealing with -- the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Now, nearly sixth months after the hurricane devastated the Gulf region, Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff will join us on this Sunday's "Meet the Press with Tim Russert" to respond to the criticism and discuss plans for reforming the Department's emergency response capabilities. What has he learned? Where do we go from here?
Then, Washington is still buzzing about Vice President Cheney's accidental shooting of his hunting partner. Did he handle the situation properly? Is the intense media coverage warranted? We will ask former Cheney counselor Mary Matalin, New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd, NBC News Chief White House Correspondent David Gregory, and the Wall Street Journal's Editorial Page Editor Paul Gigot.
Tim Russert is moderator of "Meet the Press." Betsy Fischer is the executive producer. Michelle Jaconi and Rebecca Samuels are producers.
"Meet the Press" will be seen in Washington, D.C. and New York City at 9 a.m. ET, this week due to Olympic coverage. Please consult the following list for airtimes in other markets, or our website:
www.mtp.msnbc.com for more details.SPECIAL AIR TIMES IN THESE CITIES DUE TO NBC's OLYMPIC COVERAGE 2/19/06:
Atlanta, GA 9:00 AM
Baltimore, MD 9:00 AM
Birmingham, AL 8:30 AM
Boston, MA 9:30 AM
Bozeman, MT 7:00 AM
Colorado Springs, CO 7:00 AM
Columbia, MO 8:00 AM
Columbus, OH 9:30 AM
Dallas, TX 8:30 AM
Des Moines, IA 8:30 AM
Detroit, MI 9:00 AM
El Paso, TX 7:00 AM
Fort Worth-Dallas, TX 8:30 AM
Honolulu, HI 1:00 PM
Kansas City, MO 8:00 AM
Little Rock, AR 8:30 AM
Los Angeles, CA 6:00 AM
Louisville, KY 9:30 AM
Milwaukee, WI 8:30 AM
Minneapolis, MN 8:00 AM
Missoula, MT 7:00 AM
New York, NY 9:00 AM
Omaha, NE 4:00 AM (Monday morning)
Panama City, FL 8:30 AM
Philadelphia, PA 9:00 AM
Pittsburgh, PA 9:00 AM
Portland, OR 6:00 AM
Providence, RI 9:30 AM
Raleigh, NC 9:00 AM
Sacramento, CA 3:30 PM
San Francisco, CA 6:00 AM
Shreveport, LA 8:00 AM
Springfield, MO 8:00 AM
Washington, DC 9:00 AM
Please check local listings or the "Meet the Press" website (www.mtp.msnbc.com <
http://www.mtp.msnbc.com>) for airtimes in your area.
The Charlie Rose Show: February 17, 2006
(10
points, write two pages, due within one week)
KERA Ch. 13 11 p.m.
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Friday, February 17, 2006 at 11:00 p.m. ET. (Topics subject to change.) Please go to http://www.charlierose.com/ for an updated show schedule. |
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SECRETARY OF DEFENSE DONALD H. RUMSFELD
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Television
program February 21, 2006 & Streaming Video & Web Site:
"The Insurgency"
(10 points, write two pages, due within one week of tv airing)
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The Attorney General
(15 points, write three pages, due within one week)
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Wednesday, February 8, 2006 at 11:00 p.m. ET. (Topics subject to change.) Please go to http://www.charlierose.com/ for an updated show schedule. |
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ALBERTO GONZALES U.S. Attorney General
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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
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The Constitution Tree Bonus (10
points, due throughout the semester)
The Constitution Tree Bonus Opportunity is available throughout the semester.
You probably have to have a romantic soul to even contemplate this opportunity. There is a 200+ year old tree, a huge towering oak, in Plano's Bob Woodruff Park which I call the Constitution Tree. At the base of the tree is an arborist plaque certifying that the tree was alive and well when the U.S. Constitution was written in 1787.
Your task is to find the tree. Sit
under it, think about America, and read one of the following: the
U. S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence,
the Gettysburg Address, or Robert Frost's The Black Cottage while
there.
Write up your thoughts and
ruminations from this experience. Two pages please. They may be handwritten if
your writing is legible. Document the tree with a photo or a rubbing of the
plaque.
Hint as to the tree's
location: It is in a clearing where people may walk and sit and picnic. In
other words, it is not in a totally wooded location. One further hint... the
tree likes water, a southern sun, and is close to a park structure. Bob Woodruff
Park is between E. Parker Road and E. Park Blvd. bordered on the west by Shiloh
Rd. and on the east by San Gabriel Blvd. In fact the park is divided by Park
Blvd. Thus part of the park lies south of Park Blvd.
Television/Streaming Video: Books in Depth:
Thomas Friedman (10 points per hour watched, write one page per half
hour, due
by last due date)
Sunday, May 1st at 12 noon - 3pm ET on C-SPAN2
LIVE Book TV's In Depth: Thomas Friedman. The New York Times foreign affairs
columnist and three-time Pulitzer Prize winner Thomas Friedman will be our guest
for In Depth on May 1, 2005. Mr. Friedman is the author of four books: "From
Beirut to Jerusalem" (winner of the National Book Award for non-fiction), "The
Lexus and the Olive Tree," "Longitudes and Attitudes: Exploring the World After
September 11," and the recently published "The World Is Flat: A Brief History of
the Twenty-first Century."
Television/Streaming Video: Question Time with British Prime Minister (10 points
per hour watched, write one page per half hour, due
by last due date)
Sunday, May 1st at 6 pm, 9 pm, and 12 midnight ET on C-SPAN
(Program running time: Two hours.)
British Politics on C-SPAN: BBC's "Question Time" with with Prime Minister Tony
Blair, Conservative Party Leader Michael Howard, and Liberal Democrats Leader
Charles Kennedy. The program is hosted by David Dimbleby and includes questions
from a studio audience. Each party leader will be on for 30 minutes. Then,
following the BBC program, we'll show highlights of C-SPAN's recent visit to the
United Kingdom.
Film: Downfall (10 points, write two pages, due
by last due date)
See the film
Downfall, write two
pages.
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.
Documentary
Film: Unprecedented: The 2000
Presidential Election featuring Danny Glover (10 points, write two pages, due
by Exam 2)
Watch the documentary film Unprecedented, write two
pages
Streaming VideoTelevision program: Frontline: "Karl
Rove: The Architect" (10 points, write two pages, due
by Exam 2)
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/
Streaming VideoTelevison program:
NOW
February 11, 2005 (5 points, due by within one week of airing)
Watch the television program currently airing at 7 p.m.
Fridays on KERA Channel 13 and write one page. See
the email below:
NOW Friday, February 11, 2005 on PBS (Check local listings at
http://www.pbs.org/now/sched.html)
This week on NOW: * Backdoor draft? NOW examines the
Pentagon's controversial tactics to put more troops on the
ground in Iraq in THE CALL UP. * Troop's eye view. Get a close-up look at the
efforts in one beleaguered town south of Baghdad to shift from U.S. troops to
newly trained Iraqi troops in A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW.
THE CALL UP As war rages on, the U.S. Army is desperately short of troops to
secure Iraq. But are the Pentagon's policies to keep up troop levels going too
far? NOW reports on how the Pentagon has been forced to resort to what critics
call a backdoor draft to deal with the severe troop shortage. The program
examines the debate over these hard-line tactics, like extending tours of duty
and reactivating semi-retired soldiers, and looks at their effects on families.
The program features semi-retired Army Major Rick Howell, who recently was
stunned to learn that he's been called up to serve. "I have not been to a
single day of military training in eight years and they want me to go back and
be on active duty," he says. "That's a disservice to not only this
country, but to those young men and women...who are being thrown into these
units."
A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW With talk of troop departure in the wake of the Iraqi
election, NOW goes on the ground with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in an
area south of Baghdad known as the Triangle of Death. Alongside Iraqi National
Guard and police there, these Marines have battled tenacious and resilient
rebels to a standstill. But how well would the Iraqis perform without America's
help? Get a soldier's view of the fighting and an insider's look at the gap
between the hopes and reality of the war. NOW continues online at PBS.org
(www.pbs.org/now). Log on to the site for a Q and A with NOW correspondent Bill
Gentile about his time with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit in Iraq; to learn
more about the debate over the shape of a post-9/11 military; to get information
on the Stop Loss order and the role of the National Guard and the Reserves in
Iraq; to use an interactive map and find out if local units in your area are
being deployed; to find resources for veterans and military families; and more.
Television
program: Meet
the Press
(10 bonus points, write two pages, due within one week of
airing) NBC Meet The Press-r area.
Supreme Court Dispatches
from Slate.com's archive of recent Supreme Court cases, oral arguments, etc. (10
points per dispatch, write two pages, due by last due date)
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.
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
FRONTLINE:
"The Jesus Factor" April 29, 2004 (10 points, due by eXAM 2)
Watch this Frontline television program and write two
pages. http://www.pbs.org/frontline/
- This Week: "The Jesus Factor" (60 min.),
Thursday, Apr. 29 at 9pm on PBS (check local listings)
Perhaps one of the most openly religious of all our Presidents, George
W. Bush's personal religious journey is a critical part of who he is.
But it is also a part of the political equation that in the past has
generated overwhelming support from the majority of the nation's 70
million evangelical Christians and may do so again. FRONTLINE producer
Raney Aronson set out to explore this intersection of politics and
religion for this week's report, and she began in the place that the
President has said you need to visit to understand him -- Midland,
Texas.
http://www.pbs.org/frontline/shows/jesus/
-- where you'll also be ableto watch in full "The Jesus Factor" in streaming video.
Journeys
with George: A Home Movie (10 points, due by Exam 2)
Watch the DVD home movie by Alexandra Pelosi of the
Bush campaign for President in 2000 and write two pages. Write so specifically
that there is no doubt you saw the movie. The DVD is on reserve reading for Dr.
Garrison at the SCC LRC. It may be available in local movie rental stores.
The
War Room (10 points, due by Exam 2)
Watch the videotape movie of the Clinton 1992
presidential campaign for President and write two pages. Write so specifically
that there is no doubt you saw the movie. 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.
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 two pages.
Collin County School Finance (5 points, due by May 1)
Read Editorial,
"Political
Will," Dallas Morning News, March 20, 2004 and write two pages.
Gay Marriage
(
5 points, due in one week)
Read this article and write two pages: William R.
Rubenstein,
"Hiding
Behind the Constitution," New York Times (nytimes.com), March
20, 2004.
How
the Founding Fathers Would Have Handled Gay Marriage (
5 points, due by bonus deadline)
Read this article and write two pages: Jonathan Rauch,
"A
More Perfect Union," The Atlantic Monthly (The Atlantic
Online, April 2004.
Financing
Texas Public Schools (5 points, due by May 1)
Read Terence Stutz,
"Report
Lays Down School Tax Options," Dallas Morning News, March 9,
2004 and write two pages.
Hardball
(5 points, due within one week)
Movie: "The Fog of War" (10 points, due within one week after
seeing the movie)
See the movie "The Fog of War" starring
Robert S. McNamara. PG-13 (images and thematic ideas of war and destuction).
Inwood Theatre, 106 minutes. The lessons of the Vietnam War. See Jane
Sumner, "The Lessons of War," Dallas Morning News, February 6,
2004, p. 3H.
Meet the Press (5 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.
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