1. The Supreme Court
September is a month of celebrating firsts for the United States Supreme Court. The first Supreme Court was established on September 24, 1789 as a tribunal of six justices who were to serve on the court until death or retirement. The Supreme Court was set up by the U.S. Constitution to have the ultimate jurisdiction over all laws in the nation, especially those for which constitutionality was an issue. On September 25, 1991, the first woman was appointed to the Supreme Court. Justice Sandra Day O’Connor served from 1991 to2005. Find a newspaper article about a Supreme Court case today. Write a summary of the article.
Common Core/National Standard: Producing clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization and style are appropriate to the task, purpose and audience.
2. 'Desperation' vs. 'The Regulators'
On September 24, 1996, Stephen King published two novels at the same time: "Desperation" and "The Regulators." He used the same set of characters for each book, but in each they face a different set of challenges. One book is not the sequel of the other, but each is an alternate version of what could have happened to the characters. Look at this week's newspapers for an in-depth biography of a person or people. Based on what you know about the person, write a short story that would put the person in a fictional set of circumstances. For example, what would happen if the person were born in a different country or century or to a different family? Stretch your imagination.
Common Core/National Standard: Identifying and using aspects of the craft of the speaker, writer and illustrator to formulate and express ideas artistically. Examples include imagery, irony, multiple points of view, complex dialogue, aesthetics and persuasive techniques.
3. Election 2012: America and the World
From now until Election Day on November 6, students everywhere will be learning about issues in this year’s presidential race through articles in the newspaper or online. The Associated Press, for example, has written a very helpful online article that outlines the candidates’ stands on top issues. Foreign policy is one key issue for the candidates. Republican Mitt Romney supports using military force against the Middle East nation of Iran, backs covert action by the U.S. in Syria, says Russia is the top political foe of the United States and China is a currency manipulator. President Barack Obama opposes a military strike on Iran by the U.S. or Israel, wants to work toward persuading the president of Syria to step down in that Middle East nation, chastised Israel for building developments in disputed Palestinian areas and opposes labeling China as a currency manipulator. As a class, find and read articles on the candidates’ positions on foreign policy. Then organize a classroom mock election. Divide the class into two groups, with one group being the Republicans and other the Democrats. Over the next several weeks, discuss and debate the positions of the candidates on foreign policy. Finish by writing a short essay on the biggest foreign policy issue facing the United States in the next year.
Common Core/National Standards: Gathering information from multiple print and digital sources; using search terms effectively; effectively engaging in a range of collaborative discussions.
4. Violence Springs from Film
A Coptic Christian who made a video denigrating the Islamic faith has gone into hiding after violent protests occurred in the Middle East in response to the film. The American ambassador to Libya was killed when Muslim protests at the embassy escalated into violence; Afghan militants killed 12 people with a suicide bombing of a minibus filled with foreigners; and riots have broken out in many other locations, including the American embassy in Cairo, Egypt. The filmmaker, an American citizen named Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, was questioned by American federal authorities about his role in making the film. He originally used the name Sam Bacile and said he was an “Israeli Jew” and received the money to make the film from wealthy Jewish friends, according to an ABC News report. Find a newspaper story about the film or find one online. Write an opinion essay describing the reaction and how the U.S. could act to keep the violence from spreading.
Common Core/National Standard: Producing clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization and style are appropriate to the task, purpose and audience.
5. Paying It Forward
Nadal Tamer is someone you want in your corner. The 36-year-old from Dearborn, Michigan, fled his home country of Lebanon in the Middle East to get away from violence and make a better life for himself. In the process, he has made life better for others as well. According to a Detroit Free Press article, he is part of a group nicknamed the Detroit Muscle Crew. The crew members donate their time to work on behalf of an orphanage and mission in Haiti. After the 2010 earthquake in that Caribbean nation, Tamer used his skills as a plumber to bring clean water to the orphanage, fix all the toilets and provide a connection for a washing machine. Find and discuss a newspaper article about someone giving back. As a class, discuss what you could do to make life better for someone else.
Common Core/National Standard: Engaging effectively in a range of collaborative discussions.