Research Presentation Schedule

Dear students,

The revised research presentation schedule is below. Please note the date and time that you have been scheduled. My aim was to have a sign-up sheet and schedule that would be as fair as possible. Thank you for your understanding with the changes to some of your dates and times.

One bit of positive news: Your presentations have been shortened to eight minutes. However, you still are expected to have comprehensive, clear and engaging material for your allotted time.

Lastly, email me urgently if you have any questions about the schedule at richclew@hotmail.com

Work hard and good luck!

April 17:
2:00 – 2:08 Name: Mike Z.
2:13 – 2:21 Name: Kazeem A.
2:26 – 2:34 Name: Chrissy C.
2:39 – 2:47 Name: Paul M.
2:52 – 3:00 Name: Eddie B.
3:05 – 3:15 Name: Mallory M.

April 22:
2:00 – 2:08 Name: Jordan L.
2:13 – 2:21 Name: Ken C.
2:26 – 2:34 Name: Beth B.
2:39 – 2:47 Name: Melissa W.
2:52 – 3:00 Name: Andy C.
3:05 – 3:15 Name: Javier C.

April 24:
2:00 – 2:08 Name: Elyse N.
2:13 – 2:21 Name: Ryan F.
2:26 – 2:34 Name: Justin W.
2:39 – 2:47 Name: JP Fay
2:52 – 3:00 Name: Gess A.
3:05 – 3:15 Name: Mike F.

April 29:
2:00 – 2:08 Name: Ben O.
2:13 – 2:21 Name: Jason J.
2:26 – 2:34 Name: Fabiola E.
2:39 – 2:47 Name: Sara M.
2:52 – 3:00 Name: Maddie P.
3:05 – 3:15 Name: Rob A.

Mortgage + Housing story

Hello students,

Please read this story for Tuesday's class. The link is here.

Research Presentation Sign-Up Sheet

Dear students,

The research presentation schedule is below. The sign-up sheet works like this: Pick a date and time from the list below and write your name, and the date and time you have chosen in the comment box. This sign-up sheet is on a first-come, first-serve basis. You must only choose a date and time that is available, so make sure you look at the comments list before you choose.

Here is the schedule:

April 17:
2:05 – 2:15
2:20 – 2:30
2:35 – 2:45
2:50 – 3:00
3:05 – 3:15

April 22:
2:05 – 2:15
2:20 – 2:30
2:35 – 2:45
2:50 – 3:00
3:05 – 3:15


April 24:
2:05 – 2:15
2:20 – 2:30
2:35 – 2:45
2:50 – 3:00
3:05 – 3:15

April 29:
2:05 – 2:15
2:20 – 2:30
2:35 – 2:45
2:50 – 3:00
3:05 – 3:15

I will send to you by email the PowerPoint presentation I gave in class with the guidelines for your presentation and your paper.

Work hard and have a good weekend!

Research Presentation/Paper Guidelines

Dear students,

As promised, I have posted the guidelines for your research presentations and papers that we discussed in class. The file (in PowerPoint) is here.

Let me know if you have problems accessing the file or if you have any questions about the guidelines.

I am wrestling with how best to determine the order for your research presentations. I will address this in in class on Tues. April 8.

Work hard and have a good weekend!

Professor Lewis

Reading Assignment for Thurs. April 3

Dear students,

Your reading assignment for Thurs. April 3 is here.

We will discuss this reading in class, so please be prepared.

Weekly Discussion Question

Dear students,

This week's discussion question relates to our conversation in class about the economy and your reading assignment (see the March 20 blog post for the link):

Here is the question:
What aspect of the economy concerns you the most? Why?

Don't forget: You must post your thoughts before class on Tues. March 25.

Mandatory Reading Assignment for Tues. March 25

Hello students,

Here is your mandatory reading assignment for Tues. March 25. We will discuss this in class.

The link is here.

Reminder – Research Outlines due March 6

Dear students,

A reminder that your research project outlines are due on Thurs. March 6.

Your outline should be a concise summary of your progress to date. It should include the goal of your research (what questions are you trying to answer?), what you have learned so far, and how you expect to reach your goal.

Your outline also should include the sources you have used to date. List the author's full name (last name, first name), the title of the story/study, the name of the sourced publication, and the publication date.

Examples:
Doe, Joan "Man bites dog," USA Today, Sept. 6, 2006
Juan, Don "Analyzing a life of temptation," Journal of Neuroscience, 206 (that's the issue number) Sept. 2006 (that's the date of publication)

Send your outline as a Word document attached in an e-mail to me. My e-mail address is richclew@hotmail.com. Don't forget to CC yourself on the e-mail, so you know I received it.

Let me know if you have any questions.
Good luck!

Vote on Tuesday!

Hello students,

Don't forget to vote on Tuesday! I think you all have gained an appreciation for how historic this election is. And your vote does count. Exercise that privilege!

Primary Prediction Project for Tue. March 4

Hello students,

There maybe some confusion about the project I assigned earlier this week regarding the presidential primary on March 4.

Each group's goal is to predict who will win the Democratic and Republican primaries in your assigned state. Each group also will need to explain how it made the predictions.

IMPORTANT: The project is due on Tue. March 4.

The group leader is in charge of giving the presentation to the class. The group leader also assigns responsibilities to the other group members. I had suggested in class how to divide those responsibilities (1 group leader who coordinates tasks and gives the presentation; 1 student to research the voting habits, pre-primary polls, demographics, etc. in the state; 2 students to analyze the Republican candidates; 2 students to analyze the Democratic candidates). But the decision is yours how best to accomplish the task.

Group leaders can e-mail me at richclew@hotmail.com with any questions.

Good luck and have fun with it!

Reading Assignment for Tues. Feb. 26

Dear Students,

Please read the following for class on Tues. Feb. 26. The reading will tie in nicely with our discussion that day. You can find the reading by clicking here.


Thank you, and I will see you in class on Tuesday.
Have a good weekend!

Weekly Discussion Question

Dear students,

Here is your weekly discussion question. Comments due before class on Tues. Feb. 26.

1. What was a highlight for you in the movie "An Inconvenient Truth" and why? What did you learn in the film that you did not know before viewing it?

Weekly Discussion Question

Hello students,

Here is the weekly discussion question. Your answer is due before class on Tuesday, Feb. 19.

The writers' strike ended this week, when the writers' union voted to ratify the contract negotiated between union leaders and the movie and television industry. Who "won" the strike – the writers or the industry? Whom does the new deal benefit the most? You will need to do a little research to answer these questions effectively.

Class Cancelled

Dear students,

I regret that I must cancel class today (Thurs. Feb. 14), because I am sick – and I don't want to infect you all by coming to school.

That means two things:
1. We will begin watching the film "An Inconvenient Truth" on Tues. Feb. 19
2. I will move back to Tues. Feb. 19 the deadline for you to submit your research topic ideas to me for approval.

I will post the weekly discussion question later today. Your answers are due on Tues. Feb. 19.

Thank you for your understanding and have a happy Valentine's Day!

Weekly Discussion Question

Hello students,

Here is your weekly discussion question. Your responses are due before class on Thursday, Feb. 14. Happy Valentine's Day!

Question: Is global warming real or is it a myth? Please make sure you explain your opinion.

Readings for Tues. Feb. 12

Hello students,

I have two readings for Tues. Feb. 12. They will give you an excellent foundation for the discussion we will have on global warming and will help you assemble your thoughts for the weekly discussion post, which I will add later this week.

The readings are a New York Times story on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) report on global warming and the IPCC's Summary for Policymakers, upon which the Times' story was based. You will find the readings by clicking on the link here.

Weekly Discussion Question

Hello students,

Here is your weekly discussion question. The deadline to comment is before class on Tues. Feb. 5. A reminder: Please make them thoughtful and keep them clean.

Question: Which Democratic and Republican presidential candidate do you think will win on Super Tuesday (Feb. 5)? Tell me the reasons for your predictions.

Spygate Lives

Hello class,

Even as the Super Bowl draws near, Spygate continues! Check out this story today in the New York Times. (Click on the "New York Times" above for the link.)

Housekeeping

Hello students,

A couple of housekeeping items:

1. I have rescheduled office hours for the next two weeks due to scheduling conflicts. I will be available on Tues. Feb. 5 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Tues. Feb. 12 from 3:30 p.m to 4:30 p.m. Please try to visit during those times to get approval for your research project.

If you cannot make those times, then you must send me an e-mail (richclew@hotmail.com) by Tues. Feb. 12 with your research topic idea. I will respond either with approval, approval pending modification, or rejection.

2. We will have an abbreviated class on Thurs. Feb. 7. I have an engagement that was scheduled before the semester began. I apologize for the inconvenience. I strongly suggest you use the time to work on your research topic idea.

Thank you!

This week's assignments

Hello students,

You have two assignments this week. They are:

1. For Thursday, Jan. 31 – You are a reporter at a press conference with Patriots coach Bill Belichick or Giants coach Tom Coughlin. Come up with two questions you would ask either coach.

Two rules: The questions must be thoughtful and relevant. And, you cannot duplicate questions. If someone already has posted the question you had, you must think of another.

The questions must be posted before class begins on Thursday.

2. For Friday, Feb. 1 – Write up your presidential candidate issue profile and send to me by e-mail. My e-mail address is richclew@hotmail.com. The assignment is due by 11:59 p.m. on Friday.

Thank you and have a good week!

Meet the Press

Hi everyone,

Here is the link to the NBC weekly news program, "Meet the Press."

You are required to watch this program weekly. It airs at 10 a.m. on Sundays, or you can watch it online at the link above.

To find the video online, scroll down to "Netcast" and click on it. The show will come on in a new window.

Providence Journal Link

Hi everyone,

Here is the link to The Providence Journal.

You are required to read the paper regularly – either in print or online (using the link above).

Some tips:
From the homepage, click on "News" in the upper left corner. This will show you the main news items in Rhode Island. Scroll down the page, and you will see "More stories." Clink on it, and you will get all the stories in that day's paper.

For national and international news, move your cursor over the "News" icon in the upper left corner and click on "Nation/World."