Read UN Declaration of Human Rights. After reading all of the articles, choose 5 that you believe are the most important. For each article, explain why you believe this makes your top 5 list.
In-class activity Thursday/Friday
Fill out the following chart for 2 of the human rights that you identified in your homework assignment.
Homework Due Monday, Sept. 8
Read "Children Crossing." Answer the following questions in complete sentences and draw as much information from the reading as possible:
1. Why are children leaving countries like Mexico and many other Central American nations in great numbers?
2. Describe some aspects of their journey to the United States?
3. How is the United States responding to this "surge" of immigrant children?
4. What is the experience of these children if they make it across the border?
5. What does the last paragraph tell you about Adrian's motivations for leaving Guatemala?
Research Activity on Human Rights- Sept. 9/10
Fill out worksheet in Library.
Due 9/18 and 9/20
NAFTA Simulation - Interior Monologue due Sept. 15
Write a 3/4-1 page interior monologue. Use first person and incorporate responses to the following questions:
1. Who are you and what is your background? (Give your self a name if you like.)
2. What is your life like? What experiences have shaped you as a person?
3. What do you think about the changes that have resulted from NAFTA?
4. What are your hopes and fears about the future?
NAFTA Materials Due on Tuesday(9/30)/Wednesday (10/1)
Put the simulation materials in the following order:
1. interior monologue
2. answers to 5 questions from "u.s.-mexico NAFTA conference"
3. negotiating session notes
4. arguments on priority issues
5. notes on options for voting
6. follow-up questions
NAFTA Debate on Monday, October 6
We will be debating the statement: NAFTA has benefited the United States and Mexico. In order to prepare for the debate, complete your T-Chart in order to record as many pro and con arguments on the issue of NAFTA. Finish reading the article "NAFTA: Was It Worth It?" Highlight pro an con arguments so you can record them on your T Chart. Then add other arguments from our simulation and the handouts called "Rethinking the NAFTA Record."
Thursday/Wednesday (10/1, 10/2) - Library Research
You will be writing a persuasive essay on the strengths and/or weaknesses of the United States immigration policy. Before you get instructions on the mechanics and organization of this essay, you will be going to the library to do research on a variety of issues that relate to immigration.
Research Objectives
- Learn the key elements of U.S. immigration policy.
- Learn the reasons people from other countries emigrate to the United States, the numbers of people that are coming and the ways in which they come.
- Learn some of the changes that groups and politicians want to make to the immigration policy.
- Learn the impact of immigration on the United States and on the home countries of the immigrants.
- Learn the different points of view about the U.S. immigration policy.
- Overall, gather enough information and ideas to allow you to take a position on the strengths and/or weaknesses of the U.S. immigration policy.
Research Process
- Use the same databases as we used for the Human Rights Research Project.
- Record your research using the Digital Note-taking Method.
- Before you begin, brainstorm a list of key words that will help you in your research.
- You will need a minimum of 4 sources.
Debate on NAFTA - October 7/8
You will only be able to participate in the debate if you have your thesis and 3 arguments (with evidence) in writing.
Immigration Research- Completed by October 13
