Freedom of the Press, Privacy, Transparency, and Accountability Assignment

Choose one article/website listed below to read and/or investigate.  On binder paper, please complete the following questions in paragraph form.  (3 paragraphs)

1.  Summarize what the article/website is about as well as its main points.
2.  Read the article or website carefully and discuss (in detail) what you learned.
3.  What are some things that surprised you or interest you in particular?
4.  In what ways does the content of your website connect to the democratic ideas of the freedom of the press, right to privacy, government transparency, and/or government accountable to the people.

Website/Article Links:
Wikileaks.org
"The War Logs" (New York Times collection of WikiLeaks releases)
ProPublica site on government surveillance
The Guardian's Series on the NSA (National Security Administration) Files
"How Laura Poitras Helped Snowden Spill His Secrets" Article (New York Times Magazine)
"WikiLeaks' War on Secrecy: Truth's Consequences" (Time Magazine)

Journal #8: Pillars of Democracy

Link to Foreign Policy/Democracy PowerPoint

Out of the list of "pillars of democracy" in the above PowerPoint, which two do you think are the most important or do you feel most strongly about.  Please explain.  Write at least one well-structured paragraph.

Amartya Sen's "Identity and Violence" Reading and Context Clues Handout

If you were absent today, please view the PowerPoint on "Close Reading Strategies," and then read the first 5 paragraphs while doing the following:  number each paragraph, underline/highlight important points (one per paragraph), left column annotation, right column annotation (one of each per paragraph).  DO NOT do this without first viewing the PowerPoint.
 

Close Reading Strategies PowerPoint Link

Example of Annotation Strategy Link

Link to the reading

Link to the handout

Final In-Class Essay (DATE CHANGE: Thursday 10/17 AND Friday 10/18): Explaining the Conflict

Link to Essay Description

Link to Essay Planner (optional)

Link to AXES Support Paragraph Formation (optional)

Journal #7: "The Underground War in Gaza"

1.  In what ways does Joe Sacco, author of “The Underground War in Gaza,” attempt to remain neutral and show both sides of the conflict?  Explain (in detail) what parts of the piece seem to present the Israeli military’s position and what parts of the piece show the Palestinian perspective.  

2.  Do you think Sacco manages to remain unbiased, or does his own perspective seem to permeate his neutral journalistic stance?

Israel-Palestine Peace Organizations Group Research Project links

10th Grade PowerPoint Requirements link

Peace Project Requirements link

Short Essay: Israeli and Palestinian Literary Analysis

In what ways does the literature of Etgar Keret (Israel) differ from the literature of Darwish and Kanafani (Palestine)?   In what ways do you think these authors reflect the political situation of their particular region?

Use your chart to contrast the subjects/themes, tone, characterization, and setting.  Discuss at least two literary elements.

Requirements:  

•May be hand-written or typed

•Short Introduction (4 sentences) that contains a THESIS statement. 

•Two body paragraphs (8-sentences)

•Conclusion paragraph (4 sentences)

Journal #6: Before we read literature from Israel and Palestine...

In one paragraph, describe what you think Israeli and Palestinian literature will be like?  For example, what are their stories going to be about?  How might the subjects, characters, setting, and tone of Palestinian literature differ from that of Israeli literature?  Think about the realities of living in a conflict zone while responding, as well at the role of the arts in a conflict zone.