Why is Maine So White? First assignment.

Our class has now morphed into WHY IS MAINE SO WHITE?

Here is your first assignment.  It may be challenging reading for you but it is sooo worth it! :)
First assignment – due Thursday, December 9.  Bring in your notes to class.

(1) Read this “Overview” of Ethnicity: http://anthro.palomar.edu/ethnicity/ethnic_1.htm   THIS IS COLLEGE-LEVEL READING.  You will want to read it through twice, probably even three times! 

(2) The first time you read, try to get a general understanding of the material.  The second time through, make notes as you go along, jotting down the ideas and terms that you think are the most important.  Also note anything that you have questions about or need defined, or is just confusing!

(3) Take the Practice Quiz which is linked at the bottom. 

Terms to Know - for Monday GAME!

gubernatorial
governor
Congress
Senate
House of Representatives
constituent
Clean Elections
candidate
Baldacci
P. LePage
E. Cutler
L. Mitchell
S. Moody
K. Scott
C. Pingree
D. Scontras
M. Michaud
J. Levesque
Ed Legg
bond
Oxford Hills
campaign
PAC (political action committee)
phone bank
mudslinging
glittering generality
polls
absentee vote
liberal
conservative
moderate
libertarian
totalitarian
Republican
Democrat
independent
unenrolled
Maine Congressional District #1
Maine Congressional District #2
Augusta
Washington, D.C.

Final Project topics

Why do people vote?  Why do some people not vote?  DILLON

Who may be running for President in 2012?  ZACH

How did Mainers vote on Nov. 2, 2010?  SARA

Who is Paul LePage?  CHARLOTTE

How does impeachment work?  NOAH

What makes a good campaign ad?  MATT

How does a Presidential election (and the Electoral College) work?  TIMMY

What are some differences between Congressional Districts #1 and #2?  COALTON

final project assignment

Due Monday, Nov. 15: Choose your question and find two potential sources of information!

Who: Maine Elections Class students
What:  Ask a question.  Research the answer.  Share your findings in a cool way.
Why:  We’ve covered a lot in this class, but there’s SO much more to find out!
When: Due in class Mon. 11/29; share/display at LEAP Night 12/2.
How:  Use information we’ve learned in class, interview other people, look stuff up online, read the newspaper, visit the library, etc. 

More details:
What:  Your project’s format is up to you.  Draw up graphs, make a poster, create a movie or slideshow, write a song,  etc.  etc.  Make it awesome.
How: A minimum of three (3) sources is required.  Cite them properly. 
When:   You will have some opportunities to work on this in class, but you will need to also work on it outside of class (a.k.a. “homework”).
    Monday, 11/15:  Come to class having chosen your question and having found at
        least two potential sources.  40 minutes of work time in class.
    Thursday, 11/18:  40 minutes of work time in class.
    Monday, 11/23: 30 minutes of work time in class.
    Monday, 11/30:  Share & discuss projects in class.


Ideas for questions:
    Why do independents run for office?  Do they ever win?

    Who is Paul LePage?  (create a biography/profile)

    How does the election for President work?  What is the difference between the Electoral College and the popular vote?

    Who might run for the next President of the U.S.?  (research potential candidates)

    How did Mainers vote on November 2, 2010?  (make graphs of different issues and/or different towns and districts)

    How are Congressional Districts #1 and #2 different from each other?

    What makes a good campaign ad?  (create your own or analyze past ads)

    Why do people vote?  Why do some people NOT vote?  (poll/interview)

Election Results

                             TNS MOCK                 STATEWIDE MOCK                REAL ELECTION

Governor:           Mitchell                                LePage                                 LePage

US House:            Pingree                               Pingree                                 Pingree

Casino?                    No                                        Yes                                       Yes


Bond - Dental            Yes                                    Yes                                        Yes

Bond - Land              Yes                                    Yes                                        Yes

Augusta is a no-go

Unfortunately, we don't have enough people to go to Augusta tomorrow.  Sorry to those who were excited about going and thanks to those of you who let me know whether you could or couldn't go!

Still, tomorrow promises to be an exciting day, what with the mock election, more debates to watch, and all.

P.S. Pres. Obama's on The Daily Show tonight!!?!

Are you there, Elections Class? It's me, Flora.

Please PLEASE let me know if you are able to go to the "Rally and Tally" event in Augusta.  We'd leave TNS around 1pm and return to K'bunk around 7:30pm.   A little more info here: http://www.maine.gov/sos/kids/mockelection/index.html.  
Once I have a headcount by tomorrow, I will make the call if we're going or not, and let you know on the office whiteboard by Wednesday a.m.

 On a different note, I did not mention this in class but I hope that all or most of you can do this:  WATCH THE PINGREE/SCONTRAS DEBATE!  Tomorrow (Tuesday) 7pm, Channel 6 WCSH (Portland).  Write a bit about it on your blog for some "extra credit" and a prize in class.
This is what Pingree's campaign is currently saying about Scontras: "he doesn't want to raise the minimum wage, but he would repeal health care reform.  He doesn't believe that global warming is a result of human behavior, he opposes womens' right to equal pay for equal work, and he wants to give tax breaks to companies that ship our jobs overseas." 
Fact, fiction, or a little bit of both? Find out in tomorrow's debate!!

Gubernatorial Candidates & the Issues

Two great resources:
1. Monday's debate between the five candidates for governor.  Two parts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHWV_OZ27zk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7R-JVPdZVY&feature=related

2. A chart from Maine Public Broadcasting which shows each candidate's views (directly quoted) on the issues:  http://www.mpbn.net/News/YourVote2010/YourVote2010TheRaceforGovernor.aspx

Assignment for Thurs 10/21

What issues are important to YOU?  What information do you want to know about each candidate before you are certain about who you'd vote for?
We'll compile these issues and questions in class and then split up the research among everyone.

I'm thinking that each student could research EITHER one candidate (where s/he stands on all the issues), OR one issue (where all the candidates stand on this issue).   We'll need to decide which format to use before we start researching, of course.... Comments?  suggestions?

Thursday 7:30pm in Portland

Wish this weren't happening so late!  I won't be able to make it, but if a group of you wants to carpool to go to this, woohoo!! It will definitely be an interesting & informative experience.

"Choosing Maine's Next Governor: A Forum with the Candidates"

7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Thursday, October 21, 2010 Hannaford Hall, Abromson Center, USM

Where do the candidates who hope to become Maine's next Governor stand on environmental issues?  To find out for yourself, join MECEP, Natural Resources Council of Maine, Conservation Law Foundation, Environment Northeast and Maine Audubon for the only forum with the candidates that will specifically address environmental issues.  

What: "Choosing Maine's Next Governor: A Forum with the Candidates"

Who:

Eliot Cutler (I)
Elizabeth Mitchell (D)
Shawn Moody (I)
Kevin Scott, (I)
Paul LePage (R) invited

Susan Sharon, Maine Public Broadcasting Network, Moderator

Where: Hannaford Hall, University of Southern Maine's Abromson Center, Portland

When: 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Thursday, October 21, 2010

Sponsors:

Maine Center for Economic Policy
Natural Resources Council of Maine
Conservation Law Foundation
Environment Northeast
Maine Audubon 

The forum is free and open to the general public

US debt clock

Check out the U.S. Debt Clock - wow!  usdebtclock.org

Campaign Ads

some links that we'll be checking out in class on Monday....

www.livingroomcandidate.org  --> TV ads through history
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/22/campaign-ads-2010-election_n_683047.html#s143223 --> ads this election season, from all over the country



http://www.youtube.com/user/LibbyForMaine
http://www.youtube.com/user/lepage2010
http://www.youtube.com/user/EliotCutler
http://www.youtube.com/user/MoodyGov

http://www.youtube.com/user/chelliepingree
http://www.youtube.com/user/ScontrasForCongress

I just read an interesting editorial in the University of Southern Maine newspaper online - "We need a governor with experience."

What do you think?  Post a comment here, responding to something in the editorial, and I'll give you a treat on Monday :)

thank you & this monday

I was so proud to be your teacher today - you all were an awesome "audience" for Dean Scontras.  Your questions for, & interactions with, him were impressive, and I appreciated your reflection and analysis of the visit after he left.

For our next class, please reflect a little more on your time today with Dean Scontras.  Write three things in one of the following categories, two things in another category, and one thing in the last category.
The categories:
a) What did you learn today?
b) What do you have questions, or wonder, about - anything related to Maine gov't and/or the election?
c)  What is your opinion on anything that was described or discussed today?

We'll spend part of class looking at your propaganda research/analysis - so please make sure that's done. 

Assignment for Thurs 10/14

TWO THINGS FOR THURS:
1) Dean Scontras is coming to visit!  Please check out his website www.scontras2010.com and come up with 2-3 questions you might like to ask him.  Post your questions on your blog before midnight on Wednesday so that I can make a master list of them.

2) Visit another candidate's website and look for as many of the 8 propaganda techniques as you can, as we did in class today.  Briefly describe what you find, on the handout I gave you.

Gubernatorial Candidates:                                                 US House of Reps:
Paul Lepage:  lepage2010.com                                          Chellie Pingree   chelliepingree.com
Libby Mitchell: libbymitchellforgovernor.com                 Dean Scontras:   scontras2010.com
Eliot Cutler:  cutler2010.com
Kevin Scott:  mainesbestchoice.com
Shawn Moody: moodygov.com

Monday, 10/4

1) FIELD TRIP on Monday! Monday, Oct. 4
Leave TNS at 10:30
Return to TNS by 3:15

We’re going to the Seacoast Democrats office in York, where we will learn about Libby Mitchell and Chellie Pingree, experience how campaigns are run, and interact with real potential voters to get their opinions on the election!
*Please BRING a lunch and snacks.
*Let your afternoon teachers know that you will be absent.
*Check this blog on Monday evening for your assignment for Thursday’s class.       

2) Assignment for Monday....  A reflection on Ed Legg's visit to our class today!  Write three things in one of the following categories, two things in another category, and one thing in the last category.
The categories:
a) What did you learn today?
b) What do you have questions, or wonder, about - anything related to Maine gov't and/or the election?
c)  What is your opinion on anything that was described or discussed today?

Ed Legg is really coming - THIS Thursday (prizes!)

I'm wondering who will read this before Thursday's class....?

   If YOU - yes, you - read this, post a comment below saying so!  Cool prizes to the writers of the first three comments.  

Ed Legg was sick last week, but he's on the mend and is visiting us THIS Thursday, 9/30.

If you haven't already, please post your questions for him on your blog!

He is really looking forward to meeting and talking with everyone.

assignment for Thurs (do by Wed PM, please!)

In preparation for Rep. Legg's visit on Thursday, please think of some things you'd like to learn from him, either about him as a person and/or about the way our government works.  In our conversation with him, you will have the opportunity to ask him questions, so it doesn't hurt to think of a few now!

- On your blog, please post TWO or more questions you have for Rep. Legg.
- Your questions should NOT be able to be answered in one word (e.g. "how old are you?") NOR should their answers be found on his official website - see the link in the post below.
- Please post your blog entry by Wednesday midnight so that I can compile the questions in time for class on Thursday. 
- I'll hand out a list of everyone's questions at the beginning of class so that you have something to refer to during our time with Rep. Legg.

Ed Legg!

Representative Ed Legg is coming to talk with us on Thursday!
You can read more about him here:
http://www.maine.gov/legis/housedems/elegg/

for Monday

We now have a grand total of six (6) student blogs linked to this blog - see the list on the right.  Good job setting up your blogs, you all!!!  I have enjoyed checking them out and plan to comment on them soon.

Speaking of commenting, THAT is your assignment.... Please take a look at at least two (2) other blogs run by your classmates, and leave a little comment on each.

Cool!  happy reading (and keep in mind that these blogs will get much more interesting as time goes on....)

Welcome!! and first assignment.

Hello, my fellow Election Adventurers!
Welcome to my blog.  This is my first post.  I intend to spruce the blog up a bit, add some cool features, but for now I am just going to give you some very information:  
YOUR FIRST ASSIGNMENT...... DUE THURSDAY BY CLASS-TIME:

1.  Start your own blog!   I don't care what host you use, but I recommend blogger.com (this blog's host; you need a google account first).  Wordpress.com is another easy-to-use blog host.   The website you go to will walk you through the steps of creating your blog, and if you need help ask me or (better yet) a web-savvy friend or classmate!

2. Post your first entry!  Please answer these two questions:

• According to today's activity in class, are you conservative or liberal?  
• How do you feel about using this label to describe yourself?

3. Leave a comment on this post with your name and the address of YOUR blog so that I can make a list of everyone's blogs.  That way, in the future, you can easily find your classmates' blogs and see what they're up to.