ZOT! The Civics Lesson: A Language Arts/ Social Science Project

The purpose of this lesson is to satisfy the California State Language Arts Standards for use of electronic and internet sources, reading comprehension, writing, and analysis of public debate; and Social Science Standards for democracy in action, the American political process, and participation in public debate.

The class will take a current issue and pose a question for debate simultaneously as a thread on one liberal and one conservative blog site. The same question will be posted verbatim on both threads, framed in such a way as to be politically neutral, and posted for a period of 10 days or 50 responses. Participation by students will be limited to requesting clarification of comments by individual posters. Teacher participation will be limited to guided discussion of the issues, framing the primary and neutral clarification questions, and editing all papers for writing conventions.

The culminating activity will be individual essays comparing and contrasting the opposing political perspectives, and consensus on a final position paper reflective of the class cohort. Final drafts of all papers will be posted on each site with partial student ID numbers, and will be subject to critical posts.

Define what the term 'conservative' means to you; include in your definition the meaning of your core beliefs.

Define what the term 'liberal' means to you; include in your definition the meaning of your core beliefs.

Define what the term 'moderate' means to you.

How far would you shift your position toward the opposing viewpoint without feeling you have co-opted or fatally compromised your core beliefs?

What would you consider as a position within your political philosophy to be 'too extreme'? Too far to the right of the conservative spectrum? Too far to the left of the liberal spectrum?

Thank you in advance for your participation in this project!

1 posted on 12/27/2004 12:59:09 PM PST by thecivicslesson

To: thecivicslesson

2 posted on 12/27/2004 1:05:10 PM PST by randog (What the....?!)

To: thecivicslesson

thecivicslesson was previously zotted as Rev_J_Schierer, Mind_of_Adam_Smith, et al.

Rev_J_Schierer:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1299852/posts

Mind_of_Adam_Smith:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1299971/posts

I report, you decide.

3 posted on 12/27/2004 1:17:41 PM PST by Jim Robinson

To: thecivicslesson

4 posted on 12/27/2004 1:20:50 PM PST by IllumiNaughtyByNature (Never underestimate the power of a cacophony of Cowbells played in unison...It shocks the mind.)

To: K4Harty; MeekOneGOP

I think the TROLL-dar Detector is pinging...

5 posted on 12/27/2004 1:23:04 PM PST by IllumiNaughtyByNature (Never underestimate the power of a cacophony of Cowbells played in unison...It shocks the mind.)

To: Jim Robinson; All

6 posted on 12/27/2004 1:40:50 PM PST by Admin Moderator

To: Jim Robinson

Mmmmmmmmm, I'm smelling troll, JR. Good catch!

7 posted on 12/27/2004 1:40:50 PM PST by 7.62 x 51mm (• veni • vidi • vino • visa • "I came, I saw, I drank wine, I shopped")

To: Jim Robinson

This guy needs to get a f***ing life...

8 posted on 12/27/2004 1:42:30 PM PST by Poohbah (God must love fools. He makes so many of them...)

To: thecivicslesson

Well bless your little ole' pointy head.

9 posted on 12/27/2004 1:42:35 PM PST by najida (MERRY CHRISTMAS! And fruit cake for all!)

To: Jim Robinson

This post wasn't even comprehensible as to its intent... was it just trying to inform people of something going on in CA schools (a comment would have been helpful to go along with the posting)? Was it a lame attempt to actually fulfill the "project" objectives (i.e., simply posting the project description as a politically neutral "question")? Was it merely random text copied and pasted into the buffer just for a desperate desire for attention?

I have to give this troll a 1 out of 10 based on lack of any kind of focus.

10 posted on 12/27/2004 1:47:05 PM PST by kevkrom (If people are free to do as they wish, they are almost certain not to do as Utopian planners wish)

To: thecivicslesson; Old Sarge; Darksheare

11 posted on 12/27/2004 1:47:16 PM PST by Doomonyou (Molon Labe! FMCDH!)

To: Jim Robinson; thecivicslesson; K4Harty; 4mycountry; TheBigB; VRWCmember; Zavien Doombringer; ...

thecivicslesson was previously zotted as Rev_J_Schierer, Mind_of_Adam_Smith, et al. ..... I report, you decide.
Thanks for leaving TCL here for a bit for the Kitties to play with!
TheCivicsLesson, enjoy your stay here, for however short it may be!
Thanks for the ping, K4Harty. :^)

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my Viking Kitty/ZOT ping list!. . .don't be shy.

12 posted on 12/27/2004 2:46:45 PM PST by MeekOneGOP (There is only one GOOD 'RAT: one that has been voted OUT of POWER !! Straight ticket GOP! ©)

MUFFIE!!! Time for snackies....

13 posted on 12/27/2004 2:51:29 PM PST by Hi Heels (Proud to be a Pajamarazzi-Leef lang de Katjes van Viking)

To: thecivicslesson

I like ponies. Do you have a car? What's your sign? Yellow is my favorite color. I drink too much.

14 posted on 12/27/2004 2:52:11 PM PST by Conspiracy Guy (Pray for the millions of lives disrupted by tsunami.)

To: thecivicslesson

thecivicslesson was previously zotted as Rev_J_Schierer, Mind_of_Adam_Smith, et al.

Hey, Adam! Long time no see! Gaze into kitty's eyes and be afraid.

15 posted on 12/27/2004 2:52:44 PM PST by Not A Snowbird (Official RKBA Landscaper and Arborist, Pajama Duchess of Green Leafy Things)

To: thecivicslesson

What is the DIFFERENCE between a liberal, a progressive, a socialist, a communist, and an anarchist-socialist? And which of these subscribe to Marxism?

16 posted on 12/27/2004 2:53:24 PM PST by weegee (WE FOUGHT ZOGBYISM November 2, 2004 - 60 Million Voters versus 60 Minutes - BUSH WINS!!!)

To: thecivicslesson

I am saving you post to a special folder!

17 posted on 12/27/2004 2:53:33 PM PST by Conspiracy Guy (Pray for the millions of lives disrupted by tsunami.)

To: thecivicslesson

18 posted on 12/27/2004 2:54:28 PM PST by Echo Talon

To: thecivicslesson

19 posted on 12/27/2004 2:54:38 PM PST by Republican Wildcat

To: thecivicslesson

Be Gone Troll

Click the Pic
If'n Ya Come Back ta FR I'm a gonna Give Ya a Thumpin' Y'all Ain't Never Gonna Fergit!

20 posted on 12/27/2004 2:54:39 PM PST by Fiddlstix (This Tagline for sale. (Presented by TagLines R US))

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