In case the Moodle is down… the assignment for World Cultures…
Assigned 23 February 2010
Due 26 February 2010
**You will have approximately 2 1/2 hours in class to complete this over the next week. Any other time you need will need to be your own**
| INDIA OUTSOURCING POSITION PAPER |
Last Friday, you read two essays on outsourcing to countries like India and its impact on the United States.
I’d like you to pick ONE SIDE and then write a “Position Paper.” A position paper is an essay that asks you to present your opinion on an issue based on research.
Here are the steps:
- Research: Based on last Friday’s readings, you have a basic knowledge of the issues behind outsourcing. Please pick THREE of the myths that those papers argue again and use that as the base of your research. Find at least one source per myth (and since you are researching the myth, you research would argue against the myth). These should be high quality sources, based on the criteria we discussed earlier this semester… be able to defend your sources. Please make sure to record your websites in your Delicious account. You are expected to create a basic works cited sheet using the tools we used last semester.
- Brainstorm: Based on your research, formulate a single statement with your opinion. For example, “I believe outsourcing is good for the United States because it creates trade opportunities, it allows the United States to focus on high tech jobs and it provides wealth to other nations. If you need help with this, I am happy to talk it out, but please know something about the topic first! You will report this sentence on the Moodle.
- Write: After you have your statement, please write (you can use Google Documents or Word, but, you will copy and paste this into Moodle when you are done) a position paper on the topic of no less than 500 and no more than 1000 words. Use basic citing technique (author’s last name or the website in parenthetical citations). If you need help with this, ask.
- When you turn in the paper, you will be expected to paste a basic works cited list at the end using the same technique we used earlier this semester.
Don’t wait until the last minute to start. Again, if you have problems, a question is easy to answer.
Questions? ASK…

Nice job, World Cultures!
Excellent job this week, 2nd and 3rd period World Cultures! You were flexible, mindful to our tasks, and a great model of how we might use computers in our classroom this year! Have a GREAT long weekend! Ole!

School starts this week!
Yay! School start this week! I’ll see frosh on Wednesday and everyone else on Thursday! Woo hoo for school!

Grading Criteria for European Project
Our research project will be grading based on the following questions:
- Depth: Does your project demonstrate the depth required from the amount of time dedicated to the task?
- Knowledge: Does your project demonstrate an understanding of the topic at hand?
- Research: Does your project demonstrate that you researched from a variety of sources that are good, respected sources of information?
- Source citation: Have you appropriated cited sources via Delicious.com?
AGAIN… If you choose PowerPoint as a presentation tool, BE PREPARED TO RECORD AN AUDIO TRACK FOR SHARING ON SLIDESHARE. You should see Neiffer before Thursday on how to do this!
World Cultures: Assignment for 14 April 2009
How is it already April 14th??!
FOR TODAY:
We will be making Bubbl.us brainstorming charts for the eight areas we considered in the Europe brainstorming exercise.
I AM GOING TO BE GIVING YOU LESS GUIDANCE, and I expect you to take an active role in making this happen.
Here is what we need:
- Eight Bubbl.us charts based on the eight sections of the Europe chart. You will need to create accounts on Bubbl.us. You need to figure out how to make the accounts and make sure that everyone’s views are represented on the charts.
- Those charts need to be put on the World Cultures Wiki. I can help you with this, but, you should seek to figure it out yourself.
I am happy to answer questions if you are truly confused, but, I am going to large sit on the sidelines today.
Good luck!
PART TWO:
Okay… using the charts for inspiration, please use Google News to find our virtual textbook for Europe. Here is what you need:
- FIND ONE article for each category and post in Delicious. You will then need eight articles!
- Article must be topic, news-oriented, and UNDERSTANDABLE BY YOU. If I ask you a question about your article and I get a blank stare, that’s not good enough!
- Please write a minimum of three sentence summary of the article.
- Tag the article:
worldcultures0809europe2p (2nd period)
worldcultures0809europe3p (3rd period)
World Cultures Makeup for Thursday, 2 April 2009
IF YOU WERE ABSENT on Thursday, 2 April 2009 for the discussion, please do the following for makeup. IF YOU DON’T COMPLETE THIS, you will receive a zero for the discussion grade.
1.) The two articles we considered are here and here.
2.) Write an entry on the World Cultures Blog considering this question:
How can India develop to feed and provide for its 1.1 billion residents and still be sensible about environmental and water issues?
If you have any questions, don’t be afraid to ask! Good luck!
Please have this posted and completed by 14 April 2009.
Today in World Cultures!
Today in the 2nd Floor Lab!
Please work on the following assignments:
1. Delicious Discussion Articles: Please find and tag THREE articles about India current events for discussion next week. Please meet the following criteria:
- Readable… make sure the article makes sense to the average reader, including you.
- Current… make sure the article covers a 2009 issue.
- Interesting… make sure the article talks about something that is of interest to you, and potentially half or more of your classmates.
What can the article be on? Anything! Here, however, are some ideas:
- Globalization
- Pollution
- Development and poverty
- Politics
- The economic downturn’s impact on India
- Overpopulation
Please tag the articles:
worldcultures0809indiadiscussion
2. Comment on the Blog: There are 10 or so entries on the World Cultures Blog (my thanks to those of you that followed directions and made a post… you will be rewarded!!). Please comment on at least three blog posts, and attempt to answer other questions or add to the discussion already there. Do you best to make your comments intelligent, constructive and reflective of good thinkin’.
The “Mother Ganges” River
Introducing… World Cultures Blog!
After many generations of less-than-perfect software, I have finally posted a simple Wordpress blog that will serve as the “World Cultures Blog” here. I intend to to use this with my World Cultures classes this week. Please read…and comment!
World Cultures: For spare time on Friday
Are you done with the initial India current events research? Woo hoo! Nice.
If you have spare time, you may do this next set of steps for extra credit. Yes, extra credit. I don’t give extra credit often, so, take advantage.
I’d like you to find WEB PAGES (as opposed to news articles, like our Delicious research) with information on India.
Here is what I am looking for:
- Picture archives (travel picture, pictures of locals, etc.)
- Maps and map collections
- Information on geography, history and the like
Here is what I don’t want:
- Wikipedia, InfoPlease, Encyclopedia, About.com, and the like
- Stuff from the first page page of Google searches… dig deep!
Write a complete description (3-4 sentences…descriptive!) of the website in the notes and tag it:
worldcultures0809indiastuff
I can’t promise extra credit for every link, but I will give credit for every interesting, unique webpage.
Good luck! You can do this until Monday, 9 March 2009 at 11:59pm. Thanks