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!!