Final Review - Class 2

1. Return: Unit II Test
• Correct FRQ and look over multiple choice
2. Feedback: Presentations 
• How can we improve our presentations today? (Focus on facilitating...)
3. Review: Finish Presentations
• How can you learn best from these presentations?

Final Review - Class 1

1. Prepare: Develop a plan for presenting your Essential Question
• What are characteristics of good public speaking?
2. Review: Final Exam
• How will learn effectively from the presentations?

Unit II Test

1. Blogs: Read posts on polls in your policy area
2. Test: Unit II Test
3. Review: Final Exam
• Immediately after completing the Unit II Test, start working on your assigned Essential Question(s) to help create a review guide for the Final Exam...
• You will be assigned a bullet point
• Create one blog post to answer all the Essential Questions in the assigned bullet point
• Look at your notes 
• Look at the teacher's blog posts on that chapter
• Find charts/diagrams that help visual learners
• Look at the Reader to see what vocabulary you should include in your answer, and then put all vocabulary in bold and define them
• Your response should be in narrative form, not outline form

Ch 1 - Constitution

• 1. How did the delegates at the Constitutional Convention address the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
• 2. What were the key compromises developed at the Constitutional Convention? 
• 3. What do the Federalist Papers reveal about the framers' intentions?
• 4. How does the Constitution exemplify the concepts of "separation of powers" and "checks and balances"?
• 5. What is the process for amending the Constitution?
• 6. Why is Marbury v. Madison still significant today?

Ch 2 - Federalism

• 1. How is federalism exemplified in the Constitution? and 2. How has the Supreme Court ruled on issues of federalism?
• 3. How is federalism exemplified in the use of federal grants? 
• 4. How has the relationship between the federal government and the states evolved since the country's founding? and 5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of unitary, federal, and confederate systems?

Ch 3 - Culture

• 1. How does political socialization occur? and 2. What are the underlying values of American culture?
• 3. What are the underlying values of the following American ideologies: liberalism, conservatism, libertarianism, and socialism? and 4. What is the ideological breakdown of the American population?
• 5. What is the process of legal immigration? and 6. What are the current policies that have contributed to the current state of the US-Mexico border? and 7. What are common myths about undocumented immigrants?

Ch 4 - Participation

• 1. How do Americans engage in political participation? and 2. How does political participation vary by demographic groups?  
• 3. How do political beliefs vary by demographic groups? and 4. What effect do voter turnout trends have on policy development? and 5. What are recent reform efforts that involve elections?

Ch 5 - Public Opinion 

• 1. What are the different types of polls used in politics? and 2. What role does framing play in public opinion?
• 3. How are polls, focus groups and other sources of data used by candidates and elected officials? and 4. What are the characteristics of a quality public opinion poll?

Ch 6 - Media

• 1. How does the news media practice agenda setting and issue framing, and how do institutions seek to influence these practices?
• 2. How has the news media industry evolved over the past century, and what is the future of the news media industry? and 3. What is the difference between objective journalism and opinion journalism?
• 4. How does the news media serve as a watchdog on institutions? and 5. What are common criticisms of the news media?

Ch 7 - Interest Groups

• 1. What are the various ways that interest groups exert influence over policymaking institutions? and 2. For example, how do lobbyists exert influence over policymaking institutions?
• 3. How do interest groups participate in the iron triangle during the policymaking process? and 4. How do unions and management engage in the collective bargaining process?

Ch 8 - Political Parties

• 1. What is the purpose of political parties in elections for Congress and the Presidency? and 2. What is the purpose of political parties within Congress and the Presidency?
• 3. Why does the U.S. have a two-party system whereas the U.K. has a multi-party system? and 4. What role do third parties play in American government?

Ch 9 - Elections

• 1. What are the various stages of the modern presidential election, and why has it become so long?
• 2. How does the electoral college influence presidential election strategy, and why does it continue to exist today?
• 3. What factors contribute to incumbency advantage in the House and the Senate?
• 4. How has campaign finance law evolved in recent decades?

Ch 5 - Public Opinion - Class 3

3. How are polls, focus groups and other sources of data used by candidates and elected officials?
4. What are the characteristics of a quality public opinion poll?

1. Review: Unit II Test
• Study essential questions, vocabulary, blog posts, and notes from class for Ch 3 - Culture, Ch 4 - Participation, and Ch 5 - Public Opinion
2. Case Study: Death with Dignity Law
• Watch Part 2. Standing Up for a Cause You Don't Support
• Which Oregon statute conflicted with which federal statute?
• How did Sen. Wyden and Sen. Smith vote? Why?
• If you were in their shoes, how would you have voted? Why?
• When should follow public opinion (delegate) or go against public opinion (trustee)?
3. Homework: Blog Post on Surveys (EQ #4)
• Look at their two surveys (from different organizations) related to their policy issue
• Analyze the surveys for the following...
• the sample (random? size?)
• the wording (neutral? clear?)
• the analysis (correct? bias?)

Ch 5 - Public Opinion - Class 2

3. How are polls, focus groups and other sources of data used by candidates and elected officials?

4. What are the characteristics of a quality public opinion poll?

1. Homework: Obama Campaign (EQ #3)
• How can use the homework reading to answer this question?
• The Death of the Hunch (Slate)
• A Vast Left-Wing Competency (Slate)
2. Analysis: Scientific Poll (EQ #4)
• How do you determine the quality of a poll?
• Case Study #1: Poll & News Analysis
• Case Study #2: Poll & News Analysis
• When have polls been wrong?
• 2008 New Hampshire Primary Coverage & Interview with John Zogby
• 2012 Presidential Election

Ch 5 - Public Opinion - Class 1

1. What are the different types of polls used in politics?

2. What role does framing play in public opinion?

1. Quiz: Ch 05 - Public Opinion
2. Summarize: Types of Polls (EQ #1)
3. Case Study: Frank Luntz & George Lakoff (EQ #2)
• Watch Part 5. Giving Us What We Want of The Persuaders (Frontline)
• Watch opening segment of How Democrats & Progressives Can Win: George Lakoff
• What have Frank Luntz and George Lakoff contributed to the study of public opinion?
• Can you find examples of the concepts they mentioned?  Tweet them to the class hashtag.
• How has the Obama campaign learned from Luntz or Lakoff?
• 2008
• 2012

Ch 4 - Participation - Class 3

4. What are recent reform efforts that involve elections?

1. Debate: Election Reform Proposals
• Let's finish our look at other reform proposals
• Should we have a Rotating Regional Primary System?
• Should we support the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact?
• Should we have Universal Voter Registration (see other countries)?
• Should we have Compulsory Voting?
2. Write: Letter to your U.S. Representative
• Who is your U.S. Representative?
• What are the traits of a good letter to a member of Congress?
• Briefly introduce yourself
• State that you are doing this for class
• Explain your request and the rationale behind it
• What suggestions would you give to your neighbor about his/her letter (posted on blog)?

Ch 4 - Participation - Class 2

4. What are recent reform efforts that involve elections?

1. Prepare: Election Reform Proposals
• We already looked at whether we should have Voter ID laws... let's look at other reform proposals
• Should we have a Rotating Regional Primary System?
• Should we support the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact?
• Should we have Universal Voter Registration (see other countries)?
• Should we have Compulsory Voting?
2. Debate: Election Reform Proposals
• What is your informed opinion on each proposal?

Ch 4 - Participation - Class 1

1. How do Americans engage in political participation?

2. How does political participation vary by demographic groups?

3. What effect do voter turnout trends have on policy development?

1. Quiz: Ch 04 - Participation
2. Summarize: Forms of Participation (EQ #1)
• What are the various ways Americans can participate in the policymaking process?
3. Analysis: Turnout by Demographic Groups (EQ #2)
• What does the Census Bureau data indicate about voter turnout for various demographic groups?
• According to page 14 of this Census Bureau analysis of the 2008 election, what are reasons for not registering and not voting?
• If they did vote, who did different demographic groups support in 2012 presidential election?
4. Current Events: Latino Vote (EQ #3)
• What was the voter turnout among the Latino vote in the 2012 election?
• What did Jorge Ramos say shortly before the 2012 election?
• What are some conservatives (i.e. Sean Hannity) saying after the 2012 election?
• What are some proposals on the table for immigration reform? 

Ch 3 - Culture - Class 4

6. What are the current policies that have contributed to the current state of the US-Mexico border?

7. What are common myths about undocumented immigrants?

1. Quiz: Immigration Myths & Realities Quiz
• How accurate is your knowledge?
2. Documentary: Crossing Arizona
• As you watch the first half (00:00 - 43:20) of Crossing Arizona, prepare to answer the following questions:
• Answer questions #1-11 of the viewer's guide
3. Discussion: Common Myths
• Please welcome a teacher from the Nogales immersion
• Questions for the teacher:
• How have you sought to develop an informed conscience on these issues?
• What are the current policies that have contributed to the current state of the U.S.- Mexico border?
• What are common myths about undocumented immigrants?
• Slides from Ms. Vanderpol
4. Case Study: Nogales Immersion
• Please welcome students from the Nogales immersion
• Questions for the students:
• Prior to immersion, what were your views on immigration?
• How did immersion change your views?
• What person/event had the greatest impact on me?
• Questions from the class?
5. 3-2-1: Today's Class
• Share three discoveries, two connections, and one question from today's class

Ch 3 - Culture - Class 3 (Kairos)

5. What is the process of legal immigration?

1. Film: The Naturalized
• As you finish the film...
• What issues are raised for you?
• What questions do you have?
• What else do you find interesting for a follow-up discussion?
2. Research: Naturalization (EQ #5)
• What questions do we want to answer?
• i.e. Who is eligible? 
3. Blog: Political cartoons
• What did your classmates find?

Ch 3 - Culture - Class 2 (Kairos)

5. What is the process of legal immigration?

1. Reflection: Unit III Test
• Review multiple choice
• Correct FRQ
• Reflection: How are you doing in terms of class, SI, and life in general?
2. Prior Knowledge: Legal Immigration
• How does someone obtain an immigrant visa?
3. Film: The Naturalized
• As you watch the film, what do you learn about how a legal immigrant becomes a naturalized citizen?
• What else do you find interesting for a follow-up discussion?

Ch 3 - Culture - Class 1

1. How does political socialization occur?

2. What are the underlying values of American culture?

3. What are the underlying values of the following American ideologies: liberalism, conservatism, libertarianism, and socialism?

4. What is the ideological breakdown of the American population?

1. Quiz: Chapter 03
2. Results: 2012 Election Predictions
• 2nd: EC - Foster, Senate - Knutsen, House - ?, 30 - O'Malley/Ajlouny/Eng, 31 - O'Malley/Gray, 32 - Turley, 33 - Tocchini, 34 - Watts, Aljouny, 35 - Gallagher, 36 - Turley, 37 - Ford, 38 - Schoenberger/O'Malley/Gray, 39 - Limchayseng/Gallagher, 40 - Ford
• 4th: EC - Keane, Senate - Maclean-Vernic/Taniguchi, House - ?, 30 - McDermott, 31 - Keighran, 32 - McGovern, 33 - Vukasin/Dacre, 34 - Keighran, 35 - McGovern/Safreno, 36 - McGovern, 37 - Skelton, 38 - Green, 39 - McKewan/Vukasin, 40 - Dacre/Keane
3. Summarize: Political Socialization (EQ #1) and American Culture (EQ #2)
• What are the various ways we experience political socialization? 
• What values are considered "American values" and are accepted by nearly all Americans?
• Case study: Declaration of Independence 
• Case study: Pledge of Allegiance
• Case study: National Anthem
• Author: E.J. Dionne
4. Analysis: American Political Ideologies (EQ #3 & 4)
• According to Pew Research, what is your ideology?
• According to the Political Compass, what is your ideology?
• What are the underlying values of liberalism, conservatism, libertarianism, and socialism?
• Case study: Grover Norquist
• Case study: Hillary Clinton
• Case study: Ron Paul
• Case study: Brian Moore
• What is the ideological breakdown of the country? 

2012 Election Results - Class 2

Why did President Obama win re-election?

How will President Obama and the 113th Congress work together?

1. Analysis: The Presidency
• Livetweet: What were the key factors, according to the NY Times, behind President Obama's reelection?
• Livetweet: What are other media outlets saying?
2. Analysis: The U.S. House of Representatives
• What did we learn about the House from The Majority Leader: Eric Cantor (60 Minutes)?
• Who will control the House?
• Livetweet: What did Speaker John Boehner say yesterday?
3. Analysis: The U.S. Senate
• What did we learn about the Senate from Is the Senate Broken? (60 Minutes)?
• Who will control the Senate?
• Livetweet: What did Majority Leader Harry Reid say yesterday?

Election 2012 Results - Class 1

1. Analysis: 2012 Election
• On your blog, write an objective news article (with headline, pictures, lede, and body paragraphs with links) that summarizes the results of federal elections
• Presidential Exit Polls: CNN: Exit Polls & NYTimes: Multimedia
• Party Control of House & Senate: WP: House & WP: Senate
• Effect of Nonpartisan Redistricting & Open Primaries in CA: CA Secretary of State: Results
• CA Propositions: CA Secretary of State: Results
2. Analysis: the Future of the Senate
• Watch 60 Minutes: Is the Senate Broken?(Youtube)
• Read the transcript

Political Campaign - Campaign Ads & Mock Townhall Debate

Today's Goal: To teach a World History class about the choice Americans face between President Obama and Governor Romney. 

(www.270towin.com)

1. Campaign Ads
• Imagine you are at home and watch these student-made ads...
• 2nd Period
• Pallari & Gray
• Flood & Turley
• Ford & Eng
• Klein & Gallagher
• B Foster & Schoenberger
• T Foster & Sanders
• Shanagher & Yasevich
• Otto
• Latham
• Ajlouny & Knutsen
• 4th Period
• Blohm & Vukasin
• Hillman & Schoshinski
• Keighran & McDermott
• Taniguchi & McKewan
• McCaffrey & Dacre
• Boyd & Green
2. Townhall Debate
• You will now witness a live debate where you can ask questions...
• Meet the candidates
• 2nd Period: Cook, Tocchini, Wilkes, Peter 
• 3rd Period: Sacks, Stiles, Bautista, Keane
• 4th Period: Safreno, Vogelheim, Maclean Vernic, McGovern
• Opening statements 
• Questions from you about the following topics
• Economy
• Education
• Same-sex Marriage
• Afghanistan
• Libya
• Syria
• Iran
• Closing statements
• Vote at: http://bit.ly/TFNsvc
3. Reporters Submit Articles
• Seniors (who are not candidates) must publish a blog post by the end of the period with
• Headline
• Picture(s)
• Lede first paragraph
• Several paragraphs with quotes from both candidates

Political Campaign - Class 2

1. Review: 2012 Presidential Campaign
• What is the purpose, background, schedule, and rubric? 
2. Groupwork: Today's Tasks
• What do the candidates need to accomplish by the end of today?
• Participate in a mock debate
• Make a plan for studying the issues over the weekend
• What do the campaign ad producers need to accomplish today?
• E-mail the Youtube link to the teacher
• Join the audience for the mock debate

Political Campaign - Class 1

1. Overview: 2012 Presidential Campaign
• What is the purpose, background, schedule, and rubric? 
2. Groupwork: Today's Tasks
• What do the candidates need to accomplish by the end of today?
• Write 60 second opening statements by both Presidential and VP candidates
• Research/bookmark positions of both candidates on debate topics
• What do the campaign ad producers need to accomplish today?
• Meet with other producers on your side to plan overall campaign ad strategy
• Create a storyboard for your ad

2nd Period Assignments

• Democratic Candidates (Coin-flip to determine who is Obama and who is Biden)
• G Tocchini & Cook (2nd Period)
• Watts & O'Malley (6th Resource Period)
• Republican Candidates (Coin-flip to determine who is Romney and who is Ryan)
• Wilkes & Peter (2nd Period)
• Casey & Limchayseng (6th Resource Period)
• Democratic Campaign Ad Producers (Each pair produces one 0:30 ad)
• Pallari & Gray
• Ford & Eng
• B Foster & Schoenberger
• Shanagher & Yasevich
• Latham
• Republican Campaign Ad Producers (Each pair produces one 0:30 ad)
• Flood & Turley
• Klein & Gallagher
• Ajlouny & Knutsen
• T Foster & Sanders
• Otto

4th Period Assignments

• Democratic Candidates (Coin-flip to determine who is Obama and who is Biden)
• Safreno & Vogelheim (4th Period)
• Sacks & Stiles (3rd Resource Period)
• Republican Candidates (Coin-flip to determine who is Romney and who is Ryan)
• A. McGovern & MacLean Vernic (4th Period)
• Bautista & Keane (3rd Resource Period)
• Democratic Campaign Ad Producers (Each pair produces one 0:30 ad)
• Keighran & McDermott
• Blohm & Vukasin
• Boyd & Green
• Republican Campaign Ad Producers (Each pair produces one 0:30 ad)
• Taniguchi & McKewan
• McCaffrey & Dacre
• Hillman & Schoshinski

Unit III Test

1. Campaign Questionnaire
2. Unit III Test

Ch 9 - Elections - Class 3

4. How has campaign finance law evolved in recent decades?

1. Analysis: Federal Election Campaign Act, aka FECA (EQ #4)
• What were the causes of FECA?
• Watergate
• Lack of regulation and transparency in ads (i.e. Daisy Ad)
• What were the effects of FECA?
• Creation of Federal Elections Commission (Website) and increased transparency (i.e. 1984 Reagan ad)
• Public financing for presidential general elections (Website)
• Groups must form Political Action Committees, aka PACs to contribute to candidates (Website)
• Limits on contributions to candidates, also known as hard money (Website)
• Limits on expenditures by candidates
• What did the Supreme Court say about FECA?
• Buckley v. Valeo (1976): Struck down limits on expenditures because spending money = free speech under the 1st Amendment
2. Analysis: Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, aka BCRA, aka McCain-Feingold (EQ #4)
• What were the causes of BCRA?
• Soft money (i.e. 1996 DNC ad & 2000 RNC ad)
• Independent expenditures and issue ads (i.e. 2000 EMILY's List ad)
• What were the effects of BCRA?
• Ban on soft money; contributions to parties are now hard money
• Corporate/union treasuries cannot fund issue ads 30 days before a primary and 60 days before a general election
• Stand by your ad: "I approve this message" (i.e. 2004 Bush ad)
• Rise in bundlers (i.e. 2012 bundlers)  
• What did the Supreme Court say about BCRA?
• McConnell v. FEC (2003): Upheld BCRA's ban on soft money
• Citizens United v. FEC (2010): Struck down limits on issue ads and opened the door for Super PACs (Website)
3. Primary Sources: 2012 Campaign Ads
• Why do we rarely see campaign ads in California?
• What can you determine from the following ads?
• Ad #1 (OpenSecrets.org profile)
• Ad #2 (OpenSecrets.org profile)
• Ad #3 (OpenSecrets.org profile)
• Ad #4 (OpenSecrets.org profile)
• Ad #5 (OpenSecrets.org profile)
• Ad #6 (OpenSecrets.org profile)
• Ad #7 (OpenSecrets.org profile)
• Find an ad on Youtube, tweet it to the hashtag, and specify what type of ad it is
4. Evaluate: Campaign Finance Laws
• What do we think of the current system?
• What, if anything, would you change?

Ch 9 - Elections - Class 2

2. How does the electoral college influence election strategy, and why does it continue to exist today?
3. What factors influence re-election rates in the House and the Senate?

1. Simulation: Redistricting and Gerrymandering
• How do state parties use the redistricting process to engage in gerrymandering?
• Complete Mission 2: Basic at The Redistricting Game
2. Analysis: Incumbency Advantage in Congress (EQ #3)
• How many incumbents in California have lost re-election in 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2010?
• How do the average re-election rates compare between the House and the Senate?
• House = 90% re-election rate
• Senate = 80% re-election rate
• What are the causes of incumbency advantage?
• Name recognition
• Fundraising (OpenSecrets.org)
• Experience
• Constituent Service
• Franking mail 
• Redistricting and gerrymandering
• Check out this CNN story on gerrymandering 
• FYI: CA passed Prop 11 in 2008 to create the CA Citizens Redistricting Commission 
• Read this story on CA House races in 2012 
3. Analysis: The Electoral College (EQ #2)
• How does the electoral college work? (Not iPad compatible)
• Who exactly is in the electoral college?
• Why do we still have it?
• Requires constitutional amendment
• Favors battleground/swing/toss-up states
• Tradition

Ch 9 - Elections - Class 1

1. What are the various stages of the modern presidential election, and why has it become so long?

1. Quiz: Chapter 09 - Elections
• When you finish the quiz... what is the latest at the class twitter conversation?
• What news can you find and share with the class?
2. Case Study: 2000 Presidential Election and Journeys with George (EQ #1)
• What is the order of events in the presidential election?
• What is the relationship between the campaign and the media?
• What surprises you?
3. Summarize: Stages of Modern Presidential Election (EQ #1)
• Stage One: How do candidates win the unofficial party nomination?
• Build a campaign staff
• Gain a fundraising advantage to be taken seriously
• Embrace symbiotic relationship with the media
• Prepare to target the base/rank-and-file in mostly closed primaries
• Establish name recognition and bandwagon effect by winning Iowa Caucuses and New Hampshire Primary
• Benefit from horse race journalism by taking early lead in national polls
• Win as many early primaries and caucuses to accumulate delegates and superdelegates
• Try to force other candidates to drop out after Super Tuesday before remaining primaries and caucuses are over
• Select a Vice Presidential running mate who balances the ticket
• Stage Two: How do candidates become the official nominee?
• Party conventions officially nominate a ticket (President and VP), formalize party platforms, and unify behind the ticket 
• Stage Three: How do candidates campaign to win the general election? 
• Candidates focus on battleground/swing/toss-up states in the electoral college with voter registration, rallies, campaign ads, and phone-banking 
• Candidates "move to the middle" to appeal to undecided voters
• Candidates engage in debates
• Focus on get-out-the-vote 
• Win the general election
4. Analysis: Increasing Length of Modern Presidential Election (EQ #1)
• Why has it become so long?
• Leapfrogging and frontloading in the 2012 primary schedule
• Look at the past dates for the Iowa Caucuses and New Hampshire Primaries
• Criticisms and possible reforms

Ch 8 - Political Parties - Class 3

3. Why does the U.S. have a two-party system whereas the U.K. has a multi-party system?

4. What role do third parties play in American government? 

1. Analysis: Two-Party v. Multi-Party System (EQ #3)
• What are the causes of the two-party system in Senate and House elections?
• Single-member districts creates a winner-take-all system
• The United Kingdom uses proportional representation with parliament (its legislative body)
• Ballot access  varies by state 
• Redistricting by state political parties (gerrymandering) in many states creates safe seats
• Incumbency advantage (i.e. name recognition, fundraising, experience) prevents serious challengers 
• What are the causes of the two-party system in presidential elections?
• 48 states in the Electoral College use a winner-take-all system
• Two states in the Electoral College use a proportional representation system
• Ballot access varies by state
• Soaring cost of presidential campaigns
2. Case Study: Third Parties in American Politics (EQ #4)
• What are the benefits of third parties?
• Interview with Ralph Nader
• Interview with political scientist
• How have third parties affected presidential elections?
• 1992 
• 2000
3. Blog: Political Parties 
• Remember the guidelines
• Read and comment on as many as you can
4. Twitter: Vice Presidential Debate
• Debrief last night 

Ch 8 - Political Parties - Class 2

2. What is the purpose of political parties within Congress and the Presidency?

1. Case Study: President Obama and the 112th Congress
• We will use this case study to answer EQ #1
• Create a chart in your notes that summarizes the leadership structure of Congress in 2011
• Who controlled the House, Senate, and White House? What are their titles?
• So... was there divided government in 2011?
• Wait... Why did Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell still have any influence if his party was not the majority party?
• Watch The Majority Leader: Eric Cantor (60 Minutes)
• What is partisan gridlock?
• How did Cantor become a leader of the Tea Party wing of the Republican party?
• What was the disagreement about revenues and spending?
• Follow-up Reading
• August 2011: What was the final compromise for the debt ceiling stand-off? Who won the public opinion battle? Why?
• November 2011: What did the Supercommittee announce in November 2011?
• December 2011: What battle occurred in December 2011?
• June 2012: Should voters blame Congress or themselves? 
• January 2013: What is the upcoming fiscal cliff?

Ch 8 - Political Parties - Class 1

1. What is the purpose of political parties in elections for Congress and the Presidency?

1. Reading Quiz: Ch 08 - Political Parties
• Download Flipboard (if you haven't yet)
• Send at least one tweet to the Twitter conversation at the class hashtag
2. Blog: Read and Comment on Interest Group Posts
• Subscribe to 2nd Period bundle or 4th Period bundle in Google Reader
• Open Flipboard
• Add your Google Reader account
3. Summarize: EQ#1 - Purpose of Parties in Elections
• How do parties narrow down the field?
• Use primaries to nominate a candidate for Congress (i.e. Four 2012 North Carolina Primary Ballots and 2012 North Carolina Primary Results)
• Use primaries and caucuses to nominate a candidate for President (i.e. 2012 Republican Delegate Tracker and 2012 Republican Convention Roll Call)
• FYI: State parties prefer a closed primary, California recently adopted an open primary
• FYI: Iowa is famous for its first-in-the-nation Iowa Caucuses; Barack Obama used them to gain momentum against Hillary Clinton in 2008
• How do parties unify the electorate?
• Build a big tent with different demographic groups (i.e. Democrats and Republicans)
• Host national party conventions with primetime speeches
• Approve vague policy platforms (i.e. 2012 Republican Platform and 2012 Democratic Platform)
• How do parties help the candidate win elections?
• Party campaign committees (i.e. RNC, NRSC, NRCC, DNC, DSCC, DCCC)?
• State parties and local parties help with voter registration, phone-banking, and Get-Out-the-Vote
• Other?
4. Prediction and Analysis: Party Demographics of Registered Voters
• Look at this data from Pew Research
• What can we learn about the following demographic groups?
• Gender
• Age
• Race
• Education
• Income
• Marital Status
• Parent/Non-Parent
• Homeowner
• Employed
• Union
• Region
• Urban/Surburban/Rural
• Ideology
• Religion
• Based on the data, which party typically gets better voter turnout? 

Ch 7 - Interest Groups - Class 3

4. How do unions and management engage in the collective bargaining process?

1. Preview: Collective Bargaining
• The collective bargaining agreement at Blue Shipping is set to expire tomorrow
• We will have two separate simulated negotiations today
• Within each negotiation, there are three groups: 
• the Blue Shipping management 
• the Blue Shipping union
• the teacher's observers 
• Let's review the expiring contract and compare it to other shipping companies:   
2. Planning: Prepare Demands and Strategy
• You have five minutes to meet with your side and prepare for negotiations
3. Collective Bargaining: Negotiations
• You have fifteen minutes to negotiate a new contract
• The teacher will announce a short recess midway through to allow each side to meet by itself
• At the end, you have three options:
• Reach an agreement
• Union goes on strike
• Management announces a lock-out
4. Analysis: What Did We Learn?
• What were the results of the two separate negotiations?
• What did we learn about collective bargaining?
• What did we learn about leadership?
5. Debrief: Presidential Debate #1 and Twitter
• What did we discuss as we watched the debate?
• What links did you share with each other?
• What questions did you ask each other?
• What tweets from your timeline did you retweet to each other?

Ch 7 - Interest Groups - Class 2

2. How do lobbyists exert influence over policymaking institutions?

3. How do interest groups participate in the iron triangle during the policymaking process? 

1. Case Study: Jack Abramoff
• Watch Jack Abramoff: The Lobbyist's Playbook (60 Minutes)
• Answer EQ #2 by taking notes on:
• What techniques did Abramoff use as a lobbyist on Capitol Hill?
• What reforms does Abramoff recommend?
2. Case Study: The Crusader Tank
• Watch The Battle over Crusader (Democracy in America)
• Answer EQ #3 by taking notes on:
• What are the three corners of the iron triangle?
• How did the three corners interact to make public policy in this case study?
• Who went through the revolving door? (See OpenSecrets.org)
• When we are done, take a look at this summary
3. HW Preview: The First Presidential Debate
• Read the following stories and tweet notable quotes to class hashtag
• 10 Great Debate Moments (POLITICO)
• Cramming and Pruning for First Presidential Debate (NY Times)
• The Most Trusted Moderator in America (POLITICO)
• Obama: I'm Just an Okay Debater (POLITICO)
• Parody: Debate Expectations Memo from Obama and Romney (Slate)
• Watch the date on TV or online on Wednesday night from 6:00 - 7:30 pm
• Join the twitter conversation at the class hashtag (always use the hashtag!)
• Tweet your questions
• Tweet your analysis of the verbal and nonverbal communications
• Reply to your classmates (i.e. find answers to their questions)
• Retweet other tweets from your timeline to the class

Ch 7 - Interest Groups - Class 1

1. How do interest groups exert influence over policymaking institutions?

1. Quiz: Ch 07 - Interest Groups
2. Flashback: Federalist #10 from Ch 01 - Constitution
• "The influence of factious leaders may kindle a flame within their particular States, but will be unable to spread a general conflagration through the other States. A religious sect may degenerate into a political faction in a part of the Confederacy; but the variety of sects dispersed over the entire face of it must secure the national councils against any danger from that source." - James Madison, Federalist Paper #10
• What would Madison say about interest groups?
3. Case Study: Grover Norquist and Americans for Tax Reform
• Watch: The Pledge: Grover Norquist's Hold on the GOP (60 Minutes)
• How does ATR help us answer EQ #1?
• Political Action Committees (PACs) for ATR
• Independent Expenditures for ATR
• Lobbyists for ATR
• Public Relations for ATR
• Grassroots Mobilization for ATR
4. Blog: Interest Groups
• Edit your blog at www.blogger.com or on an iPad app (Posts and Blogsy are available for a discounted price at the SI bookstore)
• Remember the guidelines, especially:
• Hyperlinks to all evidence
• Art (linked pictures or embedded videos)
• Depth and quality writing
• We will start our homework assignment in class
• Create a blog post where you apply what we have learned about interest groups to your policy issue
• Suggestion: Evaluate the influence of several interest groups in your policy area in terms of:
• Political Action Committees (PACs) 
• Research PACs on OpenSecrets.org
• Independent Expendures 
• Research IEs on OpenSecrets.org
• Lobbyists 
• Research lobbyists on OpenSecrets.org
• TV Ads 
• Research 0:60 or 0:30 ads on Youtube
• Litigation (Lawsuits) 
• Research Supreme Court cases on Oyez.org or lawsuits in lower courts on Google
• Public Relations 
• Research official websites on Google
• Social Media 
• Research recent activity and number of followers/likes on Twitter and Facebook
• Grassroots Mobilization 
• Research membership size on Google
• Protests 
• Research rallies or strikes on Google
• Moral Authority 
• Research religious and/or ethical statements on Google
• Other techniques?

Ch 6 - Media - Class 3

4. How does the news media serve as a watchdog on institutions?

1. 5. What are common criticisms of the news media?

1. U.S. History: Investigative Journalism
• What are examples we can add to our notes for EQ #4?
• Watergate (Washington Post)
• Pentagon Papers (NY Times)
• Abuse in the Catholic Church (Boston Globe)
• BALCO (SF Chronicle)
2. Discussion: Criticisms of News Media
• How can we answer EQ #5?
• Why do some accuse the news media of horse-race journalism?
• Why are some concerned about media conglomerates?
• Media Consolidation: The Illusion of Choice
• Who Owns the Media?
• What are other criticisms we have explored these past two weeks?
3. Blog: Read and Comment
• Review the guidelines
• If you did not earn 5/5, you can resubmit your post by emailing it to me with the changes
• Your blog will be listed in the sidebar
• Read and comment on your classmates' blog posts on the media (remember the guidelines)
4. Satire Analysis: Colbert on Newspaper Headlines
• Remember... there is a bit of truth in all good satire
• As you watch the following segment, analyze the three media sources (Wall Street Journal, the NY Post, and the Colbert Report) for the following concepts in action:
• agenda setting
• framing
• media conglomerates
• media bias

Ch 6 - Media - Class 2

3. What is the difference between objective journalism and opinion journalism?

1. 3-2-1 HW: News War - Part III: What's Happening to the News (Frontline)
• How do the following segments help us answer EQ #3?
• One: A New Definition For What's News
• Two: Network News Then and Now
• Three: Info-Snacking
• Four: The New Universe of Online Media
• Other reactions to the Frontline special?
2. Case Study: Objective Journalism and Opinion Journalism
• Before we begin the case study...
• Remember the definitions of agenda-setting, framing, media bias, objective journalism, and opinion journalism...
• Remember you are a political scientist, not a voter, when you analyze the following... 
• The initial story is posted on Mother Jones on September 17, 2012:
• Let's read the story on its website and watch the first video
• Is it objective journalism or opinion journalism?
• How does it engage in agenda setting? Framing?
• Gov. Romney responded with this statement
• How does his campaign (as an "institution") try to influence the media's reaction to Mother Jones?
• Your reaction:
• Imagine you are a reporter that practices objective journalism...
• Would you cover this story (agenda-setting)? 
• How would you cover it (framing)? 
• Go on Twitter and tweet your objective headline at the class hashtag
• Sample Tweet: "Headline: Text text text text #(class hashtag)"
• The news media's reaction:
• The story quickly spread ("went viral")
• Analyze the following screenshots of websites taken in the evening
• Is it objective journalism or opinion journalism?
• Is there evidence of agenda-setting and framing?

• Key take-aways from this case study:
• Check out this Washington Post analysis with polling data
• How can you better answer EQ #3 now? What constitutes objective journalism or opinion journalism? How do we make that distinction?