September 2008 Archives
Do Polls Miss Obama Voters With No Land Line?
By Amanda Ruggeri Mon Sep 29, 11:35 AM ET
Amid questions over how much public opinion polls on the race between John McCain and Barack Obama are being affected by racial prejudice and the unpredictability of new-voter turnout, a new study on the youth vote and cellphones suggests there could be another gap in traditional opinion polls--one that could mean Obama has more support than other surveys estimate.
The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, in three separate surveys this summer, contacted users not only of traditional land lines but also of cellphones. Each time, Obama came out 2 to 3 percentage points higher than when Pew called land lines alone.
Opinion surveys are usually adjusted to account for age differences, so the discrepancy cannot be explained simply by the fact that people who use only mobile phones are younger. It's also, Pew found, that youths who are strictly wireless--nearly half of the 18-to-29 bloc--are 10 percentage points more supportive of Obama than their counterparts who retain land-line phones.
Why would this be? "Demographics," says Michael Dimock, Pew's associate director for research. Although Obama's plugged-in political campaigning could be a factor, it appears to come down to the kinds of voters he's attracted. Cell-only youths tend to be at the younger end of the group, more likely to be unmarried, and more mobile than those on land lines.
Not all polls call only land-line users. Gallup calls cellphones, as do New York Times/CBS pollsters. Meanwhile, another study on the issue last week by ABC News/Washington Post found that calling cellphones affects poll results only negligibly.
Dimock also cautions against overdramatizing Pew's findings. Two points, after all, isn't that much. "Any pollster would say, 'Well, you're really working in the margins here,'" Dimock says.
Still, even the margins could matter, given how close the election appears to be, particularly in several key swing states.
Great finish to the debate Monday...Today we will go-over Section One and your homework. We will have a short quiz on Section Two and try to touch on the McCain/Obama debate.
Homework for Wed:
Read Thucydides (Pericles' Funeral Speech) and write 5 quality discussion questions from it to turn in. Be prepared for a rigorous discussion. The reading wil be handed out in class.
Here is the plan for today:
1. Debate - Sacrifice
2. Greece Graded Discussion/ Turn- In Notes
3. Presidential debate Discussion/ Collect Extra Credit Assignments
HW: Greece Sec II- Quiz on Tuesday in class
1. What did you think of the candidates performances?
2. What kinds of questions were asked?
3. Did the debate change your impression of each candidate?
4. Any final thoughts?
Hello, It is great to be back and I am excited to see everyone again tomorrow. I realize it is difficult when a teacher is gone for 3 days, and I will try to clarify everything regarding the homework and debate in the morning We will have a Current Events presentation from Hannah and Mohan and look at a current events issue as well.
Homework for Monday (No School Friday)
Read pp. 120-126 and Read Thucydides "On the Early History of the Hellenes" (to be handed out in class) and come to class ready for a rigorous discussion complete with notes on both readings. These will be turned in. You will be graded on the notes and your contributions to discussion.
Since the Victorian Age (late 1800's) there has been a fierce debate over the fundamental nature of and reasons for religious sacrifice. It may seem to us a little silly to be arguing over this, but it is a key issue in social science and religious studies. Why would people sacrifice animals or humans (both valuable in an economic and personal sense) in the name of a God or Gods? Think back to our brief discussions of Hebrew or Persian sacrifice as a starting point.
For this debate you will be assigned the position/view of a famous social scientist or philosopher regarding the nature of sacrifice. You will make the case that that position is the only true and correct one. Your argument will consist of the following....
I, 2 Minute opening statement making the case for your position
II. A short critique of the other major positions
III. Prepared critical questions for at least 2 of the other groups/positions.
In making your case ask yourself the following:
1. How would my position explain the nature of religious sacrifice?
2. How/Why does my argument make coherent sense?
3. Can it explain the nature of certain religious practices today?
Think of a practice today that equates with ancient sacrifice.
4. Can it explain sacrifice among the Ancients (Ex. Persia/ Judea, etc.)
Groups/Positions
1. Sir Edward Tylor: argued that sacrifice was essentially a gift offered to the God or gods in exchange for their cessation of hostility. Basically he argued that originally sacrifice was seen as a means to control natural events thought to be controlled by the Gods.
2. William Robertson Smith: Argued that Sacrifice was a means of communion/connection among the members of a group and their God or Gods. Saw it as a means of strengthening the group with a supernatural connection.
3. James Frazer: Saw Sacrifice as an outgrowth of magic. Magic, to Frazer, was a "primitive" means of attempting to manipulate the environment through spells The religious leader of the group was seen as having divine power and able to give offering to the Gods. Sacrifice grew out of this attempt. His view is somewhat similar to Tylor's.
4. Marcel Mauss: argued that the sacrificial victim (ex. Horse, cow, etc.) serves as a buffer for society between the sacred and worldly realms. Thus, the thing being sacrificed serves as an intermediary between worlds.
5. Raymond Firth: argued for an economic explanation for sacrifice. People sacrificed in order to ensure economic success. In addition, specific things were only sacrificed when they were in abundance and when people were able to make that "sacrifice".
Using these brief description, make a good case.
Tylor Group- Jake, Dalia, Lauren, Colton
Smith Group- Billy, Hannah, Kinnery, Ryan
Frazer Group- Azura, Greta, Mohan, Dan
Mauss Group- Sarah, Susie, Connor, John
Firth Group- Audrey, Zosha, Kelvin
Hello, As you know, I will be gone from Monday-Wednesday this week....I will miss you all as I am sheparding 6th graders in the great mid-north. Here are your assignments for Thursday....(In addition, we will have a debate and current events presentation on Thursday)
I. Watch the 2-part lectures in class on Monday ("From Hebrews to Jews", and "The Persian Empire")- I apologize in advance that the lecturer is not the most charismatic fellow I have come across.. Answer the following questions (at least 1/2 page each) from your notes and the outline that will be handed out..
A. What were the political and economic conditions of the Early Iron Age that contributed to the development of Monotheism?
B. Why did Cyrus the Great conquer the Near East so rapidly? How much did he owe to his military and political genius? How formidable were his foes? Why did Herodotus admire Cyrus and the Persian nobility?
II. Read pp. 104-109 and Answer the Following.....
1. Compare and contrast Daoism, Confucianism, and Legalism. Why would each have been attractive to rulers and subjects?
2. What is the I-Ching? Why was it important?
3. How was China unified under the Qin Dynasty? What caused the fall of the same Dynasty?
There is no Homework for the weekend.
Reminder that I will be gone Mon-Wed. Please check the Blog for updates.
Read pp. 99-103 and complete the handout.
Homework for Wed. Read pp. 94-98 and answer the following questions: at least one paragraph for each
1. Describe the rise of the Assyrian Empire.
2. What were some of the characteristics of Assyrian culture?
3. What brought about the fall of the Assyrians?
4. Who was Nebuchadnezzar? Why is he a significant figure in history?
Homework for Tuesday is to read pp.89- 94 and complete the following:
Write a short essay (4-5 paragraphs, typed, double-spaced) answering the following question:
What is the main factor that brought about the Rise and Fall of the Egyptian Empire?
Hello, I hope you all had a great Homecoming weekend. We have a lot to do this week. We will start today with a discussion based on your "deep" questions, then do a group activity, and, if time permits continue an overview of Hinduism and Judaism.
Groups for the Activity
Group 1
Hannah, Dan, Lauren
Group 2
Colton, Ryan, Dalia
Group 3
John, Zosha, Greta
Group 4
Connor, Audrey, Sarah
Group 5
Kinnery, Susie, Billy
Group 6
Azura, Jake, Mohan,
Kelvin
Reminder that Jake and Dalia will be presenting next Friday 9/19
Today we will talk a little about Hinduism and utiize your questions for discussion. For Friday, Please read Chapter 3, Sec 4 (We are skipping section 3 for now). We will have a reading quiz on the section.
Reminder that Colton/Kelvin and John/Billy will be presenting on Current Events on Friday.
Homework for Wed. 9/10: Read pp. 61-65 and answer the following questions in complete sentences (typed):
1. Why have historians attempted to trace language families back to the original Indo-European language? What can it tell them?
2. What was significant about the Hittite civilization?
3. Who were the Aryans? How did they transform Indian culture?
4. How and why did the Caste system develop? How was it structured?
5. What were the Vedas?
6. Compare and contrast the Aryans and the dasas.
Hello, I missed all of you on Friday. I hope things went well and the Nova film was interesting to you. We will spend a brief time discussing it on Monday. Also, a reminder that we will be reviewing for most of the day on Monday. Friday also threw off the Current Events schedule. I am going to have two groups present on Friday to catch up.
Bring your study guides to class on Monday....
One Change:
The Exam is being moved to Tuesday 9/9. (I want another day to review with you as I have been recruited for a 6th Grade Trip on Friday). The exam will now include material through Section 4 (Ancient China).
Homework: Read Chapter 2 Sec 3 for Thursday, Chapter 2 Section 4 for Monday and make notes. The Study Guide will be handed out on Thursday
Hello, Hope everyone had a great weekend. I hope you realized that you are only to take notes on the Mesopotamia portion of the handout. I am sorry I did not clarify that. You will complete the handout as you read the next few sections. Again, the first exam will be on Monday 9/8. You will get a study guide on Wed or Thurs.
I am looking forward to Audrey and Greta's presentation today.....
Great site for Mesopotamia from the British Museum...... http://www.mesopotamia.co.uk/
Homework : Read Chapter 2/ Section 2 for Wed. Complete the appropriate section of the handout.
