English 12 - Preparing for Klausur

Here are my recommendations on how to prepare for the Klausur:

- Revise the topics we've talked about: mainly September 11 and Presidential elections. Read through the articles again. 

- Make sure you understand the electoral system: go back to the website we worked with and read the paper on the 'non-issues' in this years' elections

- Watch excerpts from the last presidential debate. Opening and closing statements are especially important. You can start here.

- Study your vocabulary words (words in context and your own!). If you don't know what a ballot is used for and what happens at a convention, you need to do an extra shift of studying!

- Get a good night's sleep. Don't forget: Hakuna Matata.

Obama's Speeches - Listening for Stylistic Devices

Study the  hand-out on stylistic devices carefully! This is a very important list - you need to know these expression for analyzing all kinds of  texts!

Then read the transcript (excerpts) of the speech Obama gave in Berlin in August. Start identifying stylistic devices. Then watch the speech here: Obama's speech in Berlin

Another really important event was Obama's speech in Philadelphia. 

You will understand a lot about the role of race and religion in American history. 

(This is extra credit)

Researching the Civil War

Start your explorations here. 

Read through the introductory page. 

Then go to the Maps, Biographies and Historical Document sections to find the answers to the questions provided on the hand-out. Try first to find the answers here. If you need additional information, go elsewhere on the web. Sum up your results in 1-2 paragraphs in a post on your class's blog. Click on Images of the Civil War and choose a picture to accompany your blog. To upload the picture, you have to click on the small picture icon in the upper line of the posting window.

Understanding the US electoral system

The US president is not elected directly by the people but through the vote of the electors, the members of the electoral college. Each state has as many electoral votes as it has members of Congress. The presidential candidate with the majority of the popular vote in a given state (i.e. votes by the people voting in that state) gets all the electoral votes from this state. This "winner takes all" system has a profound impact on how campaigns are run. 

The McCain/Palin campaign just decided to pull out of Michigan. That means, they are not campaigning in Michigan anymore: McCain and Palin don't hold any more events there, they don't spend any more money on TV ads, the volunteers move on to a different battleground state. Why? Because recent polls show that they don't have a chance to win that state anymore. Of course, McCain will still get a considerable amount of the popular vote, but not the majority. Therefore he will not get the electoral votes of Michigan. 

To learn more about this issue, go here.

Click on the map and answer the questions on the hand-out.

Galilei heute?

Die Frage, wo ein Galilei wohl heute zu finden wäre, beschäftigt mich weiterhin. Einer, der für mich in Frage kommt, ist K.R. Sridhar.  Hier sind ein paar Daten über ihn, und hier ein langer Artikel über die Zusammenhänge, in denen er arbeitet. Die 'Kirche' gegen die Leute wie er heute kämpfen, sind die großen Ölfirmen und der Einfluss, den sie weiterhin auf die Regierungen haben (siehe Cheney). Oder? Was meinen Sie? Ich freue mich über Kommentare!

Understanding Slavery

We will spend todays lesson learning about slavery on this website.

1. Decide in your group what you want to focus on:

a) A World of Slavery: Many countries participated (and participate) in slave trade. Which ones? When? 

b) A slave on three continents: The story of Oloudah Equiano, who was enslaved on three continents.

c) Witness a slave auction. Who could have stopped the auction?

2. Take your time exploring the topic. One person in your group writes a list of words you had to check (go to leo.org)

3. When you are done exploring, type 2-3 paragraphs on what you have learnt and print it out.