Comparative Government through Film G Block

Final Project Reflection and Presentation Questions

2009-01-11T17:46:00.000-08:00

Due Date: Thursday, January 22 2009.

The Human Rights Issue Trailer Project was intended to motivate you to research a modern or historical international human rights violation while simultaneously learning new creative tools for expressing your ideas. Because this course emphasized government and politics, it is important that your final reflection and presentation illustrate the acquisition of knowledge about your nation of focus and it’s government. For your presentation, each member of your production team must write an individual reflection including responses to ALL of these questions. They may be posted on the blog, but you are responsible for being prepared to answer any of them directly during your presentation on the day of our final. This portion of the project must be completed independently from the rest of your group. It will count as a 100 point exam. Notes for EACH of the questions should be a minimum of 150 words and may not exceed 250 words. (This paragraph is 157 words.)

Finals - C block 1/20, F block - 1/23, G block 1/22

REFLECTION QUESTIONS/ TALKING POINTS (20 points each):

1. Sunmarize the human rights issue selected for your project. Why did your group select this issue/ event? Explain why it is particularly important in the nation(s) your group emphasized in the trailer.

2. Describe the current political system and structure of government in your nation(s) of study. Compare the government of your nation with that of the United States and at least one other nation that we have studied in class this term (India, Great Britain, Ireland, Iran, Nigeria.)

3. What are some major issues in this nation that contribute to the problem profiled in your trailer? Reference cultural, economic, political and geo-political factors in your response.

4. How does the current administration in your nation of study feel about the problem you profiled in the trailer? What are they doing to alleviate, resolve or escalate/ reinforce this problem?

5. What do you think will be the state of affairs regarding this issue five years from now in your nation(s) of study? What would it take to drastically alleviate or eliminate this problem by 2014? Who should be responsible for these improvements? (Consider funding, resources, education, technology and leadership in your response.)

Additional questions for consideration – may be asked of the group during presentation (no points, but will be evaluated during oral presentation on day of screening):

Overall, what did you learn through completing this project? What questions do you still have about the topic and/ or nation that you studied.

Evaluate the finished product. What do you think worked? What could be improved? If given a “do over” what would you change about the project?

How does the finished product compare with the vision for the project your group had when planning the story board? Evaluate your effectiveness in achieving your creative vision.

If this film were produced in full, who would be your target audience? What would they learn and/ or be inclined to do as a result of seeing your film?

Discuss the creative elements of your project (visual, text, “found footage”, audio). What were your sources and inspirations for selecting these pieces. How do you think they contributed to the overall effect of the trailer?

If you saw this trailer, would you go see the film? Why or why not.
What advice would you give to students who take on this assignment in the future?

Human rights violations in modern-day India

2008-12-29T13:06:00.000-08:00

Review India's country profile at: http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/rough/2007/06/india_street_chlinks.html

Select one of the human rights topics to investigate below. Read and or/ view sources on PBS' Frontline website.

Summarize the issue being sure to explain why it is a human rights issue. Explain how India's government is responding to this crisis and evaluate the role and effectiveness of Parlaiment in managing this issue. Propose your own action plan for resolving this problem.

Poverty and the Organ Selling Industry
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/rough/2006/07/india_a_pound_o.html

Sexwork, Human Trafficking and HIV/ AIDS
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/india304/aronson.html

Education, poverty and the "digital divide"/ access to technology
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/india/

Street Children
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/rough/2007/06/india_street_ch.html

Due Wednsday, January 7. Minimum 250 words. Remember that all video elements must be submitted by Tuesday January 6 for in-school editing.

How Risky is India?: Analyzing outsourcing and foreign investment in times of economic and political crisis

2008-12-16T17:50:00.000-08:00

1. Read "How Risky is India", an article from the December 4 issue of Businees Weekly at:
http://businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_50/b4112024094731.htm?chan=rss_topDiscussed_ssi_5.

2. Summarize the article and explain how it reflects the structure of politics in India as well as the nation's relationship with Britain and the United States.

3. Mehul Srivastava and Nandini Lakshman (the authors) tell us that "Only in 2001, when a stable government focused on the economy with a brand message "India Shining" did things (economically speaking) take off." They then ask the reader "Which India will prevail- the India that nurtures global industries and rising affluence or the India of stalled hopes and endemic violence?" Answer this question with regard for the information presented in the article.
****If you need further help understanding the recent attacks in Mumbai and the conflict in Kashmir, check out the research and background links at :
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7754438.stm

Trailer Study

2008-12-10T08:52:00.000-08:00

In order to help you think through the format of your Political Issue Documentary or Feature trailer project, you and your Production Team are asked to view and analyze at least SIX trailers from the links below. You must view at least two documentary and two feature trailers. These should be a mix of ametur and professionally produced films.Features (most trailers available for view in large format at www.spout.com/films):

City of God - street children/ gangs and drugs in Brazil
http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1808439335/trailer
Paradise Now- suiscide bombing
Maria Full of Grace- drug trafficking
Osama- women's rights in Afghanistan
Bread and Roses- immigrant worker rights/ labor organizing USA
The Last King of Scotland - dictatorship of Idi Amin in Uganda
Human Trafficking - self explanitory

Documentaries:God Grew Tired of Us: Children of War in Sudan: http://www.spout.com/films/God_Grew_Tired_of_Us/261762/921795/trailers.aspx

Sicko:Health care in US and Canada
http://www.spout.com/films/Sicko/284216/35687/trailers.aspx

Inheritance - an American woman comes to terms with the Nazi roots of her family's wealth: http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2008/inheritance/index.html

Various POV doucmentary trailers are available for view at: http://www.pbs.org/pov/filmarchive.php

Several SHORT documentaries concerning global human rights issues are available for view at:http://www.mediathatmattersfest.org/

Rights on the Line - Immigrant Rights:
http://www.mediathatmattersfest.org/7/rights_on_the_line_vigilantes_at_the_border/index.php?fs=about

Bread: Poverty in Guatemala:http://www.mediathatmattersfest.org/6/bread/

Detailed study of a political or human rights issue in your nation of study

2008-11-22T15:20:00.000-08:00

* Map below measures human rights restraints in nations around the world. Blue nations have the least restraints, red have the most.

Your final blog assignment for the second marking period is also the culminating project for this grading period. You will need to summarize three articles on a political and/or human rights issue in a nation of your choice in a historical or modern context. The issue or event you select will ultimately shape the film/documentary trailer you will be working on next marking period, so be sure you are genuinely interested in the topic.

The articles selected for this assignment must reflect international perspectives (they must be from the media of at least TWO different nations.)

Note: if you haven't completed the first part of this project, please select a nation and move forward with this assignment anyway. I'll be happy to help you chose one - just ask!

Some topics you might like to research include:

Effects and events of specific wars in your nation of study
Race based conflict and discrimination
Women’s suffrage/ voting rights
Universal suffrage/ voting rights
Impact of specific leaders and/ or dictators
Gender parity (difference) and/or discrimination
Labor issues, strikes, and unions
Genocide
Imperial rule and colonialism
Indigenous/ native rights
Terrorism
Health crises
Human trafficking (may be labor or sex work related)
Pollution, water and waste management
Poverty
Industrialization
Child rights issues (soldiers, labor, slavery, orphan crises, health crises, education and infanticide (killing of unwanted babies) are some issues you might chose to focus on)

For the purposes of this assignment you must:

Locate and summarize three articles on the (1) issue you have chosen as it specifically relates to the issue/event you chose. Be sure to explain when and where this event had/is having the greatest impact, who is most directly affected by it.

Explain how this event relates to the political system in place (or systems in conflict) of your nation of study

Summarize the role of leaders in managing this issue. Evaluate his/her/ their role in relationship to this issue.

Explain how this problem/event relates to the government case studies we’ve covered in class thus far (U.S., Iran, UK)

Cite your three internet or printed articles in MLA format
( http://www.easybib.com/ ) will format citations for you in MLA if you have the necessary information.

This assignment must meet a minimum of 600 words. It must be typed and may be either emailed to me, posted to the blog or submitted on paper.

This will count as TWO blogs and follow the generic blog rubric that appears on the right side of this page under “blog rubric”.

Due: Wednesday December 3 before class.
5 bonus points will be added if you submit by Monday December 1.

OPTIONAL Extra Credit Assigment:
Write a film synopsis and review of any of the following films:

In the Name of the Father
The Madness of King George
The Queen
Braveheart
Michael Collins

Directions:

Summarize the plot.

Explain what it reveals about the political history of the nations it relates to.

Draw connections between the film and the information you learned in one of our recent units.

Conclude by evaluating the film and stating whether or not you would recommend it to other Government students.

Prime Minister Politics 101

2008-11-16T08:25:00.000-08:00

Last week many of you posed questions about why British Prime Minister Tony Blair has been replaced as head of Parlaiment by PM Gordon Brown. Here's your chance to find out and learn more about the legislative process in the United Kingdom.

Directions:

1. Read:

A) “Tony Blair to Resign in a Year”ABC Newshttp://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=2405434&page=1

AND

One of the following articles and explore one of it’s hyperlinked sources (may be text, video, image or audio files)

B) Blair “My political journey is over” 5/10/07CNN News

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/05/10/blair.announcement/index.html

C) “British Prime Minister Announces His Resignation”MTV Newshttp://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1559212/20070510/index.jhtml

2. Summarize the articles, emphasizing the primary reasons UK Prime Minister Tony Blair voluntarily resigned in 2007s. Explain what these sources tell you about the role of the Prime Minister, his/her relationship with the Parliament and the role of political parties in the UK Parliament.

3. Answer one or more of the following questions:

How does Blair’s resignation compare to the US Presidential resignations we’ve learned about in class (Nixon, Clinton and Jackson)?

What does this say about the differences in the governments of the United Kingdom and the United States?

Based on your knowledge and the articles, why did MP's and Britons believe Brown's policies would better serve the interests of the UK?

Your post must be a minimum of 250 words.
Be sure to comment or question a peer's response.

The Royal Crown in the modern world

2008-11-08T14:24:00.000-08:00

This week we will be exploring the roles and responsiblities of the British Parliment. As discussed Friday, the leader of Parliment is the Prime Minister, and it is he or she who is essentially the exectuive leader of Great Britain. The Queen, however, remains the Head of State of the United kingdom and over a dozen independent commonwealths. Your blog this weekend asks you to analyze the changing and contested role of the British Monarchy in the modern world.

Directions: Actively read the articles below:

How the Commonwealth sees the Queen:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/4922394.stm

The Queen admits monarchy must evolve to survive:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-queen-admits-monarchy-must-evolve-to-survive-650187.html

2. Summarize each article providing insight on what powers and influence the Queen has on British politics and culture.

3. Based on the articles, how has the Queen's political and cultural role and influence changed in recent history? Refer to at least three nations and multiple perspectives in your response.

Blog due Tuesday, November 11 (Veterans day- no class)
250 word minimum.
You may post, email, or print your response

Considering Iran, England and Nigeria: the implications of Sharia law in modern societies

2008-11-01T14:42:00.000-07:00

Sharia law can be defined as a set of relilgious principles based on the Koran by which Muslims are required to live. Modern-day Iran, Lebanon, and Nigeria are some of the modern nations that use these laws ( Afghanistan had Sharia law under the Taliban.) Interestingly, a Chief Justice in Great Britain recently proposed the use of Sharia law in Britains' Muslim communities as a way to settle civil and domestic disputes. As we conclude our unit on Iran and prepare for upcoming units on Nigeria, England and Afghanistan the following articles pose interesting questions for comparative social science.

Directions:
1. Actively read the following articles

A) "Sharia law SHOULD be used in Britain, says UK's top judge"By Steve Doughty Daily Mail Blogsite. July 4, 2008:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1031611/Sharia-law-SHOULD-used-Britain-says-UKs-judge.html

B) "Sharia law incompatible with human rights legislation, Lords say" by Afua Hirsch. UK Guardian, October 23, 2008:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/oct/23/religion-islam

2) Watch the Frontline clip linked below (it is only two minutes) on Sharia law in Nigeria and one Nigerian's views on the system:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/muslims/portraits/nigeria.html

Summarize the main ideas of all three sources. Evaluate the arguments for and against Sharia legal systems as presented in the articles. Then, consider all you have learned from this assignment and our current unit in Iran to present your own opinion on Sharia law in the modern world.Your post should be at least 250 words and include a response to at least one other classmate, on this or another block's blog.

Work due Wednesday, November 5 (same day as test on US and Iran)

Please remind your loved ones to vote!

Can a democracy be theocratic? Analyzing politics in Iran

2008-10-19T10:48:00.000-07:00

Article 1 of the Iranian Constitution reads:

The form of government of Iran is that of an Islamic Republic, endorsed by the people of Iran on the basis of their longstanding belief in the sovereignty of truth and Koranic justice, in the referendum of 29 and 30, March 1979, through the affirmative vote of a majority of 98.2% of eligible voters, held after the victorious Islamic Revolution led by Imam Khumayni.
Iran's population is 89% Shia Muslim, 9% Sunni Muslim, and 2% split among Judaism and Zoroastrian (the oldest monotheistic religion). As we learned in class, Iran is a theocratic regime that has democratic elements. (See BBC's "Iran, who holds the power?") This week's blog requires you to analyze some primary and secondary source documents on the experiences of religious minorities in Iran.

Directions:
1. Summarize two of the articles on the "Pilgrimage Through Iran" site. The URL is:

http://news21project.org/story/2007/07/26/interactive_map_pilgrimage_through_iran

(you'll have to click on two of the locations and view the articles/ videos or photo essays.) What do they tell you about the experiences of religious minorities in Iran?

2. Consider the demographics of modern Iran. In a nation where over 90% of the population is Muslim can one argue that a constitution based on the Qu'ran IS democratic? Further, when a nation overwhelmingly favors one belief system, are democracy and theocracy one in the same?

(In other words, does it make sense to have religious law when a vast majority of citizens share the same beliefs?)

Does the electoral college ensure or comprimise American democracy?

2008-09-30T07:56:00.000-07:00

Consider the sources we reviewed in class and information from at least two of the links posted below. Evaluate the effectiveness of the electoral college and respond to this week's framing question in a response of no less than 250 words. Your response may be posted, typed, written or developed into a visual project (poster or powerpoint).

Sources: www.realclearpolitics.com
www.270towin.com
www.cnn.com/election/2008

Note End of 1st MP deadlines: all work except for extra credit assignments must be submitted by Friday 10/3. Extra credits must be submitted by Tuesday, 10/6.

Both Optional Extra Credits must be 350 words and may be a typed document, poster, powerpoint or other approved assessment.

Extra credit option 1:
Summarize two issues discussed in last Friday's presidential debates. Evaluate McCain and Obama's positions and present your views on each topic. You may want to evaluate media bias in the presentation of the debate if you didn't view it in real time. Include citations of outside sources.

Extra Credit option 2:
Write a film review of one of the movies listed below. Include a plot synopsis, explanation of it's relevance to topics we've studied in class and an overall assessment of the film as both a piece of entertainment and an education tool.

Films:
All the President's Men (Watergate Scandal)
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (commentary on political corruption)
Charlie Wilson's War (media, scandal, role of US in the Kabul War between USSR and Afghanistan)

Does media reflect or shape politics in the modern world?

2008-09-18T06:08:00.000-07:00

This week we discussed the Clinton-Lewinski scandal, considered impeachment, executive privilege and the role of media in American politics (sometimes labeled the "fourth branch" of US government.) Consider our discussions, the film Wag the Dog and your read on current events. Answer TWO of the following questions using specific examples from the film and modern politics:

Does media reflect or shape/inform politics in the modern world? What role does the media play in shaping American political and cultural perspectives? How is media affecting the current Presidential race?

Cite/ link any outside sources you use to compose your response. This assignment may be blogged, typed, written or turned into a film project, poster, etc. It MUST be 250 words in length and reflect understandings from our current unit of study.

Due Monday, 9/22 at the beginning of class

Impeachment assignment

2008-09-17T12:49:00.000-07:00

Read the impeachment summary assigned to your group and answer the following questions:

1. What impeachment charges were involved in this case?

2. What was the President's defense?

3. How does the case relate to executive privilege?

Johnson:

http://www.vw.vccs.eduvwhansd/HIS269/Documents/Impeachment.html

Clinton:

www.landmarkcases.org/nixon/defendant.html

Which branch of the US government is most powerful?

2008-09-09T09:07:00.000-07:00

Answer the question above in a detailed response. Provide historical examples or current events to support your position. Cite any outside sources that you use for this assignment in MLA format.

Due Thursday, September 11.

minimum 250 words

What is the role of government according to Obama and McCain?

2008-09-05T08:19:00.001-07:00

Actively read ONE of the following articles on the front running candidates for the 2008 Presidential race's views on the issue of your choice:

a) The role of government in the economy:

www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&refer=home&sid=a5019JeDatck

b) The role of government in regulating energy and resource use/ prices

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB1212966761810557-lMyQjAxMDI4MTAyODwNjg2Wj.html

c) The role of government in national defense and security:

www.worldpoliticsrview/blog/blog.aspx?id=2420

d) The role of government in regulating health care:

http://stpns.net/view_article.html?articleId=109510843610510810410

Respond to the following questions on the blog or on paper:

Summarize both candidates' views on the issue you selected. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each position. Did either candidates' views surprise you? Explain. Who's views do you agree with more on this specific topic? Why?

Did either candidates' views surprise you? Explain.

Your response is due monday, 9/8 at the begining of class. 250 word minimum.

Political Compass Activity

2008-09-05T08:16:00.000-07:00

Log into: www.stageleft.info/political-compass/

Click on "take the test" to see where you stand on this political scale.

This is an optional/ extra credit assignment