Today+in+Class

Breaking News!


"I've been reading speeches all my life — but nothing like this — and let me tell you what was great about it — what it is, is a military practice and it's called attacking from a defensive position. It's how Henry won at Agincourt — it's how Alexander won — it's how Reagan kicked Carter's butt — and what you do is this — you take your opponent 's best shot and you throw it back on him." ([|NPR])
 * Before we begin. . . what was Matthews' response to Senator Obama's speech?**


 * Questions for the Day**: How do we make sense of Senator Obama's speech? What were //your// responses to the speech//?// What are the experts saying?


 * Sources to help us with our APPARTS analysis of the speech**

Place and Time **
 * Author   **
 * CNN: Obama Profile:http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/candidates/barack.obama.html
 * 


 * Prior Knowledge

Audience **
 * New York Times: Slide Show---Outside Invesco Field: http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/08/29/us/08272008OUTSIDERS_index.html
 * CNN: Slideshow--Inside Invesco Field: http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/conventions/multimedia/dem.day4/index.html


 * Reason **
 * Washington Post, "The Message The Party Wanted To Hear": http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/29/AR2008082900104.html?hpid=topnews
 * Washington Post, "Obama Rekindles Flame" http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/28/AR2008082802849.html?hpid=opinionsbox1


 * The Main Idea **
 * New York Times: Interactive Speech:http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/president/conventions/videos/20080828_OBAMA_SPEECH.html
 * NPR: Transcript of Speech: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94087570


 * Significance :**
 * New York Times, "Bringing Lofty Words Down to Earth": http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/29/us/politics/29assess.html?hp
 * CNN, "Analysis,": http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/29/analysis.day4/index.html Click on the names of the analysts to read their commentary on the speech.
 * New York Times, "Johnson's Dream, Obama's Speech"http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/28/opinion/28caro.html?em
 * CNN: Obama's Milestone Resonates with iReporters: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/28/obama.history.irpt/index.html

Wednesday, August 27 Day 5
http://assets0.twitter.com/images/twitter.png?1219711764
 * Before we begin. . .**


 * Questions for the Day**: Based on your classmates' presentations, how would you define hardball? What is the essay challenging you to do? What are the characteristics of //good// historical writing? What's the role of a political convention in the process of electing a president?


 * Leave No Shot Unanswered?** Read more here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/26/AR2008082603920.html?hpid=topnews




 * The November Elections: Spotlight on Denver**
 * CNN: Elections 101: http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/path.presidency/
 * NPR Interactive Election Map: http://www.npr.org/news/specials/election2008/2008-election-map.html#/president-nprOvM/
 * Louisiana Elections: http://www.nola.com/elections/
 * CNN: Conventions 101: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/20/explainer.conventions/index.html
 * Anatomy of a Convention: http://www.demconvention.com/anatomy-of-a-convention
 * Convention Schedule: [|http://www.demconvention.com/schedule]
 * Delegate Map: http://www.demconvention.com/delegates2008/
 * Delegate Voting: http://www.demconvention.com/delegate-voting
 * NPR Convention Coverage: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93739553

Tuesday, August 26 Day 4

 * Questions for the Day:** According to Matthews, what are the rules of the game? How is the game of hardball played?



//Washington Post//, "McCain and Leno Joke About His Age," (8-26-08): http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/08/25/mccain_and_jay_leno_joke_about.html


 * Presentations**: You can find your classmates wiki pages by clicking on the links to the left. You will need to use these pages (and the presentations!) when you prepare to write your essay. Pay particular attention to the current examples.

Monday, August 25th Day 3

 * Questions for the Day:** What big announcement did Barack Obama make this weekend? What's happening in Denver this week? What are the attributes of a GREAT presentation?




 * In Denver,**
 * Democratic National Convention Official Site: http://www.demconvention.com/
 * NY Times Coverage of the Convention: [|http://www.nytimes.com/pages/politics/index.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1219670541-UE xNHkpLJd8gbR2iyHY1g]
 * Washington Post Coverage of the Convention: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/politics/?hpid=topnews
 * CNN Coverage of the Convention: http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/conventions/


 * In the Polls**
 * RealPolitics Latest Polls:[| http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/latestpolls/index.html]
 * For the numbers, click here: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/us/general_election_mccain_vs_obama-225.html

Friday, August 22nd Day 2

 * Questions for the Day:** Who is Chris Matthews? Why did he write this book? Who is his primary audience? What is Hardball? How can you apply the lessons in //Hardball// to the current presidential election?


 * Applying Hardball Lessons to the Current Election: The McCain Housing Flap**


 * **Listen** to the original interview here: http://share.ovi.com/media/thepolitico.public/thepolitico.10064


 * **Read** the New York Times article, "Obama Counts McCain's Houses: The Latest Political Flap" (August 21, 2008): http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/21/obama-counts-mccains-houses/?scp=1&sq=McCain%27s%20homes&st=cse


 * **Listen** to NPR story on John McCain's homes and Obama's response. [|NPR, "McCain, Obama Make Housing Issue Personal" (August 22, 2008)]


 * **Watch** Obama's campaign ad. What //Hardball// lessons is he using? What advice would you give to John McCain on how to respond? You can also view the video on Obama's campaign web site here: http://my.barackobama.com/page/invite/seven

media type="youtube" key="lCMVL5tXLGQ&hl=en&fs=1" height="344" width="425"

media type="youtube" key="K_pnh4NFbZ0&hl=en&fs=1" height="344" width="425"
 * **Watch** McCain's response ad. What lessons is he using? Which ad is the most effective?

How engaged are you? Take this quiz and find out. Make sure you take a careful look at the results.

media type="custom" key="1662505"

media type="custom" key="1662553"

Overview of Hardball assignment.

//Washington Post//, "McCain and Leno Joke About His Age," (8-26-08): http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/08/25/mccain_and_jay_leno_joke_about.html


 * Presentations**: You can find your classmates wiki pages by clicking on the links to the left. You will need to use these pages (and the presentations!) when you prepare to write your essay. Pay particular attention to the current examples.

Monday, August 25th Day 3

 * Questions for the Day:** What big announcement did Barack Obama make this weekend? What's happening in Denver this week? What are the attributes of a GREAT presentation?




 * In Denver,**
 * Democratic National Convention Official Site: http://www.demconvention.com/
 * NY Times Coverage of the Convention: [|http://www.nytimes.com/pages/politics/index.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1219670541-UE xNHkpLJd8gbR2iyHY1g]
 * Washington Post Coverage of the Convention: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/politics/?hpid=topnews
 * CNN Coverage of the Convention: http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/conventions/


 * In the Polls**
 * RealPolitics Latest Polls:[| http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/latestpolls/index.html]
 * For the numbers, click here: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/us/general_election_mccain_vs_obama-225.html

Friday, August 22nd Day 2

 * Questions for the Day:** Who is Chris Matthews? Why did he write this book? Who is his primary audience? What is Hardball? How can you apply the lessons in //Hardball// to the current presidential election?


 * Applying Hardball Lessons to the Current Election: The McCain Housing Flap**


 * **Listen** to the original interview here: http://share.ovi.com/media/thepolitico.public/thepolitico.10064


 * **Read** the New York Times article, "Obama Counts McCain's Houses: The Latest Political Flap" (August 21, 2008): http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/21/obama-counts-mccains-houses/?scp=1&sq=McCain%27s%20homes&st=cse


 * **Listen** to NPR story on John McCain's homes and Obama's response. [|NPR, "McCain, Obama Make Housing Issue Personal" (August 22, 2008)]


 * **Watch** Obama's campaign ad. What //Hardball// lessons is he using? What advice would you give to John McCain on how to respond? You can also view the video on Obama's campaign web site here: http://my.barackobama.com/page/invite/seven

media type="youtube" key="lCMVL5tXLGQ&hl=en&fs=1" height="344" width="425"

media type="youtube" key="K_pnh4NFbZ0&hl=en&fs=1" height="344" width="425"
 * **Watch** McCain's response ad. What lessons is he using? Which ad is the most effective?

Thursday August 21st Day 1

 * Questions for the Day**: What does civic engagement mean to you? How engaged are you? How about your peers? Does your voice matter?

Take an online quiz to gauge your civic engagement here: http://www.pbs.org/teachers/vote2008/blueprint/widget/



View "America for Dummies" video here:http://www.mediathatmattersfest.org/8/index.php?id=10

Take a look at "Get My Vote" site here: http://www.npr.org/getmyvote/