Psychology Blogging

So welcome back from Christmas Break.  We will be blogging in this semester of Psychology.  To introduce us to Psychology I have a few questions I would like you to answer and a short journal writing I would like you to do.  Please answer the following below and respond to the journal entry I have posted.

What is your favorite word?
What is your least favorite word?
What one thing do you like about your life?
What one thing do you not like about your life?
What profession would you like to attempt?
What profession would you never attempt?
What 3 words describe you?

Journal writing:
Think about your personal reasons for studying psychology.  Write an entry of at least 200 words describing what you hope to gain from this class and what you would like to gain from the experience of having me as your teacher.

Writing a Thesis

So we are going to be writing an analytical research paper.  While we are at it we are going to learn how to write a thesis for a research paper.  I have included the video below which touches on some important aspects of what we want to accomplish with our thesis for this paper.

And below is a link with examples of proficient thesis. 
http://www.cws.illinois.edu/workshop/writers/tips/thesis/

Wildlife and Globalization

Choose a human-wildlife conflict to study in detail from any prairie habitat in the world (prairies in other parts of the world may be referred to as grasslands, savannah, pampas, plains, or steppe). 
Once you have chosen a conflict,  research on the Web and/or in the library to learn as much as you can about it. Encourage them to contact organizations that support both sides of the conflict to learn more. They should be able to answer at least the following questions:

	What is the animal's range?
	What does it prey upon, and what preys upon it?
	In what ways does it affect other populations (wildlife and human)?
	How did the conflict(s) evolve?
	What is being done to solve the conflict?
	Who are the main groups involved in the conflict?
	What are the main arguments of the groups on each side of the conflict?

Each group use a blank outline map from the Xpeditions atlas to show the area of the world where the conflict they have chosen is taking place.
      
Each group will create a presentation about the conflict it studied. The presentation could be multimedia-based, if resources are available (e.g., a Web site or a PowerPoint slide show); an oral report with a visual component, such as photographs or illustrations; or any other creative way they feel they can demonstrate what they have learned.

 

     

      Each of you will write a position paper as if you planned to send it to a legislator or government official. You should explain what they have learned and how they feel about the conflict you studied in your small group. The paper should include at least one possible solution to the conflict, stumbling blocks to this possible solution, and how to address them.

 

Sunni/Shiites

And here is a link for the difference between a Sunni and a Shiite

Middle Eastern Terrorism

Middle Eastern terrorism terms

 

Jihad

 

Jihadist

 

Fundamentalist

 

Muslim

 

Arab

 

Al-Qaeda

 

Sunni

 

Shiite

 

Islam

 

Islamism or Islamic Fundamentalism

 

Koran or Quaran-

 

Caliph

Caliphate

 

Mecca

 

Is the following below terrorism? As taken from:  http://www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-action/bria-20-1-c-the-rise-of-islamist-terrorist-groups

A radical environmental group burns a vacant hotel that was recently legally built in a wilderness area.

 

Country X, during a time of war, accidentally kills civilians while conducting bombing raids in Country Z.

 

Country X hires an organized crime group in Country Z to assassinate civilian leaders of a group opposing the international policies of Country X.

 

A national separatist group in Country X blows up a railroad station in Country Z to discourage that government from supporting policies of the government in Country X.

 

Try to find an example involving the U.S. where a similar event took place for the last 3 examples above. 

Example for # 1:

 

 

 

 

 

Example for #2:

 

 

 

Example for #3:

Questions from Reading found at
http://www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-action/bria-20-1-c-the-rise-of-islamist-terrorist-groups

http://www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-action/bria-20-1-c-the-rise-of-islamist-terrorist-groups

1.  Osama Bin Laden had called Americans “the worst _______ in the world today and the worst __________...”

2.  Al-Qaeda is different from other terrorist groups in that they:

 

3.  What is Islamic fundamentalism?

 

4.  Fundamentalists call for a return to “pure” Islam as a practice by the Prophet _________________.

5.  They believe they have been invaded by _________________ _____________ and ________________________.

6.  They feel women should:

            Examples: list 3

            1.

            2.

            3.

7.  The Islamic terrorists see themselves as:

8.  Terrorist tactics run against the basic teachings of Islam.  Why?

 

9.  What was the six day war?

 

            What role did the United States play?

 

10.  What and who was the PLO?

 

11.  Name two terrorist events the PLO was involved in.

 

12.  Is the PLO still active in trying to destroy Israel?

 

13.  Who is Muhammad bin Abd al-Wahhab?

 

14.  Wahhabism is promoted in the Saudi Arabia educational system.  Tell me about their textbooks and curriculum.

 

15.  Explain how the United States was involved in the Iranian Revolution.

 

 

 

16.  Explain how the United States was involved in the Soviet War in Afghanistan.

 

 

17.  How did this lead to Bin Laden’s uprising.

 

18.  Who is the Taliban?

 

19.  Osama Bin Laden declared that since the Gulf War against Iraq in 1991 the United States had:

 

20.  What is a fatwa?

 

21.  What was bin Laden’s decree?

 

22.  Islamic fundamentalism attracts what type of people?

Islamic Fundamentalism: What Should We Do About It?

There is a connection between certain kinds of Islamic fundamentalism and Islamist terrorism. What should we do about this?

1. Below are listed some policies that the United States might adopt to try to counter Islamist terrorism. Form small groups to discuss these policies.
2. Each group should choose what it considers to be the most important policy for the United States to adopt now. Groups may develop their own policy choice if they wish.
3. Each group should then defend its policy choice before the rest of the class.

Proposed Policies

1. Remove all American military forces from Saudi Arabia and/or Iraq.
2. Remain in Iraq to develop democracy as a model for other Muslim countries.
3. Pressure Muslim countries to close religious schools that preach hatred.
4. Provide foreign aid to Muslim countries in order to reduce unemployment and poverty.
5. Give foreign aid to countries that curb Islamists.
6. Work to achieve security and justice for Israel and Palestine.
7. Capture, try, and (if convicted) execute Osama bin Laden.  So we killed him.  Analyze if this policy worked.
8. Lessen our dependence on Mideast oil.
9. Develop your own policy.

 

MUNICH

First, the terrorism issue. Spielberg told a Los Angeles Times interviewer that answering aggression with aggression "creates a vicious cycle of violence with no real end in sight." He said much the same thing to Time magazine -- "a response to a response doesn't really solve anything. It just creates a perpetual-motion machine."
And his film frames for the viewer exactly this bleak vision of unending and unendable violence. Palestinian terrorists murder Israeli athletes to put their cause before the world. Israeli counterterrorists assassinate Palestinian terrorists involved with those murders. Palestinian terrorists carry out more murders of innocents, presumably because of the assassinations. At the end of the film, the camera lingers on the pre-9/11 Manhattan skyline, dominated by the twin towers of the World Trade Center. The film is crafted to demonstrate that violence breeds violence in the long run as well as in the short run.

Ebola Strategy

EBOLA Final Assessment

So in groups we worked to come up with a strategy to stop the continuation of the Ebola disease.  You were to complete an epidemiologic triangle finding the host, agent, and environment.  Your group was to then come up with strategic plan to stop the disease.  I would like to assess what you learned.  To do this I want you to tell me what you learned about the disease that you did not previously know.  Take me through the process you went through both individually and as a group.

Basically it is a review of what you personally learned from your own research and group members research and your thoughts on your group's strategy. (Let's say 200 words)

Part 2
In addition, we might as well add our final goal of connecting globalization and global health.  Diseases and health problems know no borders?  What is a problem in one person or country can easily be a problem somewhere else in the world due to the rise of globalization.  How will the future of our environment, of our expanding population, of our current technology impact the future of our health?  How are they connected?  What does the future hold? Brainstorm and analyze!  (Let's say 200 words also)

TERROR ALERT!

"The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." Albert Einstein

The above quote is one of my favorite quotes I refer too when I think about homeland security both domestic and abroad (international).  I find it sort of symbolic or maybe even ironic that a guy who helped the United States build the atomic bomb (Manhattan Project) and is one of the greatest thinkers of all time would put a spin on the "axis of evil" and place the responsibility of stopping danger on the "allies of good."  So to what extent should we blame ourselves for the evil in the world?  In class we will want to focus on this question as well as examine the United States current Security Strategy.  We will want to explore other countries fight against terror and define some of the current terrorist threats we need to protect against (refer to ISIS or ISIL blog).  Lastly, we will analyze how  terrorism is related/linked to globalization and the effect each has on each other.

George Mason video
Thomas Friedman
You tube-a different spin on things
Kurbaan
Terrorism Definition
Terrorism Watch and Warning
Paranoia
Nuclear Weapons stockpile


2013 National Security Strategy


ISIL-blog we did in class
Boko Haram
Al-Qaeda
Khorasan-maybe a more dangerous group than ISIS-article

Health Insurance and Politics

So when we were watching the documentary Sicko (directed by Michael Moore) I had a thought (oh great).  I wanted to know how much money the healthcare industry contributes to Congress annually.  I also thought it would be interesting to compare the differences in off-year elections to the Presidential election years.  With a little research I came across a great website that had the information I wanted to know. 

The Opensecrets.org website has charts and graphs that help explain how much money is contributed to political parties yearly.  Since we are studying healthcare the following link will take you to the health care portion of the website.  It is very interesting to see just how much money the health care industries contribute to politicians and parties. 

In the right hand column there is a dropdown box that will let you explore other sectors such as energy, defense, and so forth.  There is a wealth of information on this website that will help you better understand not only politics but the influence that both public and private industry has on elections, political parties, and recipients.  One cannot underestimate the influence of lobbyists in today's government either.

Pay close attention in particular to the charts on contribution trends and party split found here.  Very interesting to look at election years and contributions and how they seem to go up.  Also look at who receives more of the contributions-Republicans and Democrats.  Can you figure out why?

Health Alert!

Global Health

So with the recent Ebola outbreak the last few months in Africa and now with a confirmed case in Texas and the EnterovirusD68 spread in the U.S.,  I thought now would be a good time to talk about our healthcare system in the United States.  In particular I think we should compare it to Canada's healthcare system and take a look at some of the healthcare systems in other countries. Along with that we should tie in infectious diseases (Ebola and the EnterovirusD68  to be specific) to globalization.  I think that we should also examine what the future holds for the U.S. healthcare system.  One question I have is with the Affordable Care Act now in place, will people be able to afford the bills and premiums that these new potential, epidemic diseases, will surely cost Americans.  It will cost millions for hospitals to initiate isolation measures and other specific care that will be needed.  And with the high-tech testing that will be required, who will foot the medical bills.  We know the medical industry will get their money one way or another.

And just to show an example of the costs of healthcare for the journalist that is now quarantined in a Nebraska facility with Ebola, read this article.

And I thought of another idea yesterday.  I have linked an article that helps explain this-if you can follow it.  But what about an international healthcare system?  What if you had a set of international guidlelines/medical facilities/etc. that promoted competition between health care providers, companies, hospitals, and doctors.  This would be true globalization of health care.  Just a thought.


So to start with we will answer the questions at the following link (Global Health).  We will watch a documentary called Sicko directed by Michael Moore and then we will explore the Ebola disease along with other diseases and tie them into globalization.

1.  Step one is to go to my Global Health link above and visit the websites and answer the corresponding questions.

2.  Step two is to watch the documentary Sicko and we will answer some questions and blog on it.

3.  We will read an article on the concept of a international healthcare system.  We will do group work and comments on my blog.  linked an article

4.  Step 4 is we will investigate the Ebola virus, tying in globalization and the future of the American health care system.  Your group will devise a strategy using the Epidemiologic Triangle as a basis for your strategy.

5.  We will blog individually on how Globalization and global health are linked together.

Ebola-how it started
current map update
Contagion

Human Trafficking

So one of the areas that I want to tie into migration, women, and globalization is human trafficking.  Human trafficking is one of the fastest growing epidemics in today's world.  I have been teaching about it for many years but I am always amazed that it has only been recently (the last 3 or 4 years) that a major worldwide effort has been made to combat this crisis.  So we are going to explore this topic in great depths this semester with the hope that not only can we create awareness to the problem but maybe become knowledgeable enough to help recognize problems in the future.  So to start with I would like to find out what you know about human trafficking.  Please take the online quizzes below and report your scores for each one.

Quiz 1
Quiz 2 


And here are some links to videos we will watch that will help you understand what human trafficking is about.

What is it?
What is it?  Part 2 (2020)
Facts on human trafficking
Teens for sale
How common is it?
25 facts
Then and now

Costs of a Slave 
Costs of a slave

End it movement 1
End it movement 2

Slavery Footprint

And now I would like to hear your comments and review on the topic of human trafficking and slavery.  Feel free to include your thoughts on the video/videos we watched in class.  (200 words minimum

GLOBALIZATION and WOMEN

So one area of globalization often overlooked, but nonetheless very important, is how has globalization impacted women around the world.   In the 1980's an idea was conceived that because of competition from cheap imports from other countries, employers would start hiring workers strictly for their skills-regardless of their gender.  That advancement in technologies would allow a man and woman to compete for the same high paying jobs such as a CEO or president of a company. That having a college degree would favor everyone but in particular it would favor women with a degree- mostly because they had been discriminated against within the labor force.  The thought that other countries had done well electing women leaders along with hiring women to high ranking jobs-why couldn't it happen in the U.S.  The thought that because globalization helps free the movement of people, money, goods and ideas across borders-this would help bridge the gap between men and women in the workforce-benefitting women economically, socially, and politically. That was the 1980s. So after thirty years, has it happened?  Has globalization had a positive impact on women?  How has it affected women in the United States/world?  These are things we want to look at and examine in class.

How does globalization affect women?

“Women do two thirds of the world’s work, receive ten percent of world’s income and own one percent of the means of production.” Impower

 I could argue that one affect globalization has on women is that it still leads to discrimination of women- in particular with unpaid or informal labor.  I think of the exploitation of women in low-wage sweatshops around the world.  Does globalization lead to the outsourcing of certain jobs in other countries-which then traditionally hire women or children to fulfill the making of a product. (think Nike, where your t-shirt was made, etc.)  If you click on the Impower link above, you can read how in India globalization has had some negative effects on women in the working force.

Can I argue that globalization has led to the exploitation of women thru human trafficking.  I say yes it has. This is one issue we will spend some time on.  Human trafficking is the fastest growing crisis the world faces today.

But it is not all bad.  Globalization has helped women in general by raising income levels throughout the economy,  benefitting both men and women. Things of course vary a lot from country to country and from city to village, but on the whole globalization has made people richer in the world. But there is still discrimination. Its great that women can make more money than they used to.  But at the same time men's earning power has increased also.  So the gender parity still might not be there.

In conclusion, I think globalization has had a positive affect on women.  Yes it has intensified certain problems, and has exploited women in some circumstances-but who says this would not have occurred anyway.  The one thing globalization has definitely done is it has brought attention to human rights.  And I think that there is an improved effort by the United States and other countries to improve women rights in countries where women are suppressed.  Globalization is inevitable, but a lot of positives are attainable through globalization and by recognizing struggles that women face around the world, changes can be made.

I would like to know your thoughts on how globalization affects women. I would like you to find one source (make sure its a reputable source)  that talks about the effects of globalization on women.  Include a link to the source and a summary of the source and how it relates to the topic of women and migration/globalization.   Negatives/Positives?  United States?  South Dakota?  (200 words minimum plus link to source included in summary)

GLOBALIZATION and MIGRATION

Cultural Differences

We will watch a bit of the movie "God Grew Tired of Us."   Anyway, in the movie we see numerous cultural differences. Here is a website dedicated to the Lost Boys of Sudan in Chicago.

And here is a link to the documentary to watch it.The Lost Boys of Sudan

So after watching this documentary you should have picked up that their is forced migration and migration as a result of push/pull factors.  One can also see some of the cultural barriers that a person may face as a result.  But what I want to concentrate on is how does Migration and Globalization relate as a result of each other.  Click on Globalization 101 and examine the relationship between the two.  Tell me about migration, the push/pull factors, the effects of migration economically and culturally, and the challenges ahead in the future.  Also be sure to link the two together with concrete examples.  You should be able to do this in 400 words.

So we have watched the two videos about Globalization.  Conduct some research into either the costs or the benefits of globalization.  You will need to prepare a 300 word report highlighting your thoughts-either for or against globalization.

The intention of the report is to get you to write a concise summary of the key issues facing the planet as globalization takes a further hold. You will be raising the key issues that face the authorities rather than providing any form of definitive answer. For example, you may feel that a key way of solving many of the problems is to further extend the movement towards freeing up trade. At this level, how that may be done is another matter!

What is Globalization?

So we are trying to figure out what Globalization exactly is.  In class we watched a few videos that had some good music to them-including my favorite theme from "Last of the Mohicans."  But I have also come across a couple of videos on you tube that are much more animated and detailed-basically better taught than I could do.  So as you watch the videos that are linked below, ask yourself some questions such as "Is Globalization a good thing or a bad thing?"  Be able to provide concrete examples to back up your reasoning. 

 

Read Lizzie's story and find 10 things you did/encountered today and where they came from.



Getting started

Friday, August 30, 2013

Please read these steps carefully and complete step1 before class tomorrow.  You will be creating your own blog page to use as an ongoing e-journal throughout the duration of this course.  You will be expected to use the next couple of days to develop your blog using creative yet appropriate images, design, fonts, colors, etc. to make it your own.  You need to follow the steps as well as the restrictions that are listed below.

NOTE:  Do not use last names on the blog and do not use specific identifiers such as your address or the name of our school.  Instead, you can consider using your first and middle names or other nicknames and for the school, simply say a suburban high school or something like that.

STEP 1: Please go to https://www.blogger.com/start and follow the steps to create your blog.  Begin by clicking on “Create a blog.”  If it asks to text you a verification code, you can do that without fear of google spamming you.  Don’t feel pressured for a good title – this is changeable, but the url address is permanent.  As you fill out the info,  PLEASE BE SURE THAT YOU WRITE DOWN THE FOLLOWING INFO:

 USERNAME:  _____________________________

PASSWORD: ______________________________

BLOG ADDRESS/URL:  http://www.                                                     .blogspot.com/

AND YOUR PASSWORD TO GIVE TO Mr. Reints

 

STEP 2:  Click on settings and then click on comments and scroll down to the bottom where it says Comment Notification Email.  Enter in the email address you check most frequently.

STEP 3: Once you have created a blog and are logged into your blogpage (which should be at the blog address in Step 1)

• Click Design(At the top) or "layout"(on the side)  
• Then--> (on the side bar) click "add gadget" --> scroll down and click add link list
• In the “new site url” box, write: http://sociologyrei.blogspot.com
• In the “new site name” box, write: Reints’s Page

Click “add a link” to add any other links that will make your blogsite more useable (add any websites you might check frequently like your yahoo/aol/hotmail, or your facebook or whatever).

STEP 4:  Feel free to add pictures/change fonts/layouts/templates to make this blog personal and conducive to you!  There’s lots of gadgets – feel free to explore them. 

STEP 5: Use for the Course:

• You are to make at least 1 post (on your own page) and 2 comments (on a classmate’s page each week) but feel free to post more.

For this class, each post should (This is how you will be graded):

• Should demonstrate that you understand the sociology terms, ideas and content in class.
• Should apply the sociology to your own life and help others understand the sociology.  Use examples from your own life, or examples you find in your posts.  Be unique.  Avoid cliché’s.  Make your blog authentic.  Bring in new ideas from your experiences, what you read, your daily life, etc.
• Write properly, use proper prose and grammar, and post on time – by classtime the last day of each week.
• Comment on a different classmate’s page each week.

STEP 6: First post:  Blog 1

• Who am I?  Write a blog entry that defines who you are.  Explain to the class what makes up the person you are.  What are the biggest influences in your life?  What are your goals/purposes in life?  

Precautions:

• Please remember that this blog should be treated as seriously as you would treat a test or an essay or a project for class.

• You should also refrain from using your full last name anywhere on the blog.

• You will be responsible for monitoring what people have posted on your blog. 

This is not your facebook account, you need to be aware that this site is public, therefore DO NOT use your Full Name on the page, DO NOT use information that a “creeper” could use to identify you.   DO keep your posts, pictures, and songs appropriate.