Category Archives: Uncategorized

November 2, 2012 · 5:23 pm

November 2 – Election Update

Coming down to the wire guys…

Go here for the Friday November 2 podcast by Mr. Wood updating the 2012 Presidential Election. Go to this link for accurate up-to-the-minute polling data on the election at Real Clear Politics.com.

Also don’t forget:

Monday November 5 – You need to have logged ten volunteer hours (and show Mr. Wood on Monday) in order to work on Election Day – Tuesday November 6.

Tuesday November 6 – Election Day!

Go here for all information involving Extra Credit Election Volunteering.

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Filed under Uncategorized

October 29, 2012 · 3:18 pm

RWE & A.C.T! Updates – Let’s Get Reflective

Please go here for a fine example of an A.C.T! (or RWE) evaluation written by Emilia Lang OHS c/o 2014.

In an effort to increase our depth of learning when it comes to reading and writing, we are going to concentrate improvement on RWE and A.C.T! news article evaluations in Government and Economics – particularly the opinion (reflection) portion. Up until now it has been enough just to have an opinion on an article. That’s OK; I want you to express personal views. Sometimes, however in an effort to do so we lose credibility – in part because we lose touch with the original issue. Sometimes stating an opinion means that you ignore the facts. Well, not anymore. As you take on a real news article – don’t discard the actual story. Go back to it over and over again.

What I’d like to see us start doing is to intellectually take the article apart; do this as you read it…the second or third time through. Mentally deconstruct it – and physically assault it. When you do these evaluations, write all over the article. I’m not suggesting that you neatly highlight it with a yellow colored felt pen and a ruler; rather circle and scratch and notate with your ink pen all up and down the margins of the paper. The thing ought to bleed with comments before you put a single finger on the computer keyboard. For that to happen you gotta really dig in and think!

We don’t think enough in this society; we just start yapping. When we’re yapping we aren’t listening or looking. To change that let’s begin to pay closer attention to those who have researched and written, writers who have taken the time to think the issue through. You don’t get a job at the New York Times or the Washington Post for merely having an opinion. That’s the difference between journalism and blogging and why we look to the news to see exactly “what is really what.”

So from now on when dealing with these RWE and A.C.T! news article evaluations try hard to reflect more deeply on the issue at hand. Keep the commentary in front of you. Write actively. Think actively. Label your Opinion – Reflection – and then go about a more soulful process of reading and writing.

I think your brain will grow.

PS…no more clean white copied articles either. Turn in the one that you wrote all over with your typed evaluation. And in Economics anyhow, be prepared for reflective pop quiz grades based solely on how actively you’re dealing with your chosen RWE article.

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Filed under 2 Government, 3 Economics, Uncategorized

October 28, 2012 · 11:31 am

LP’s 2-3 / October 29, 2012

For Election 2012 Volunteer Information go here.

Lesson Plans will be posted here weekly in PDF format. In order to access them merely click on the correct class. As changes occur to the plans during the course of the week, I will note those changes at the end of the post – not on the PDF original – so please keep that in mind. If you have any questions concerning the LPs please leave a reply. I will do my best to get back to you with an answer within 24 hrs.

I hope this helps you to better organize your school work and your life.

Salamou Alaykoum.

Period 1 – Senior Current Issues
Period 2 – Government
Period 4 – Economics
Period 5 – Government
Period 6 – Economics

And don’t forget to Volunteer for Election 2012 – Mr. McVoy has confirmed a GREAT OPPORTUNITY for you All.

Volunteer ten hours prior to the election and clear it with Mr. Wood by Monday November 5 and your absence to work the Election “All Day Long” on Tuesday November 6 will be considered school related – that means it doesn’t count against your ten absences and you can make up the work in ALL of your classes. You will earn extra credit for your Election Day work! Plus its a LOTTA FUN! Communicate with Mr. Wood – I need that confirmation on your hours by Monday November 5 for you to qualify.

Go here for more information.

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October 27, 2012 · 1:39 pm

Finally grades are in…GOVERNMENT HONOR ROLL

Congratulations to the following individuals for earning an “A” for Marking Period #1 in Government.

101% – Emilla Lang
100% – Maria Vasconcellos
96% – Sascha Salem-Ebrahim
95% – Falisha Burroughs
94% – Rebekah Sheperd
94% – Erin Brault
93% – Karla Kevern
93% – DJ Bowen
93% – Brooke Wilde
92% – Same McGhan
91% – Chris Moore
91% – Catherine Terpenning
90% – Travis Simmons

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Filed under 2 Government, Uncategorized

October 23, 2012 · 12:35 pm

WAY TO GO OAKRIDGE!

On Tuesday October 16 we had 40 Oakridge students show up to watch the Presidential Debate in Mr. Wood’s room from 9:00 to 10:30 PM.

On Monday October 22 we had another 35 students watch the final Presidential Debate.

We ate pizza, drank pop, and talked politics while we watched Mitt Romney and President Obama square off. One thing was very clear to me regarding these events. Young people do have an interest in what is happening in their world. The fact that you all came, that you were interested and involved in pertinent conversation during and following each debate gives me pause to think that maybe there is a chance for us to resurrect this democracy.

Guys – things are not currently good in this country . I’m not talking about the 8% unemployment rate or the fact they we seem to be involved in military conflict all over the globe or that we have a sixteen trillion dollar debt or that it costs you an arm and a leg to attend college. These things no doubt are serious issues. But they are symptoms of a broken system, not causes of our troubles.

Our problem is “We the People”. We don’t pay attention anymore to what happens in our name. We barely drag ourselves to the polls. My generation has dropped the ball – that’s for sure. We seldom share rational discussion when it comes to politics. We don’t even speak for ourselves anymore. We leave it to talk radio and cable news shows to dictate how we should think. Then we live in a chosen echo chamber and shout across the aisle at one another. We don’t communicate. We don’t think. We certainly don’t listen.

These debates, this exercise in grassroots involvement by you instills in me just a little hope to think that maybe your generation will actually do its homework, think through the issues, and make political choices based on reflective thought. You better – the stakes are getting more and more dire.

Congratulations for being involved in these debates, in this election; continue to “stay awake” to issues of the world. Continue to challenge in your government, your country, and the significant issues that face your generation.

I enjoyed the time spent with you all. And I am very very impressed.

Mr. Wood