Yes, we can. Are you interested in politics?
US ELECTIONS
LEAD-IN: The last US Presidential election was scheduled for November 4, 2008. How much do you know about the US election system? Do the quiz .
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1. How many states does the USA have? 2. What and where is the White House? 3. Name the two major US political parties 4. How long is a Presidential term? 5. What is the minimum age to vote in the US? 6. When does the “Election Day” take place? 7. Who is the current US president and which party does he belong to? 8. Who is Obama’s running mate (=Vice president if Obama is elected)
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1. Watch a video about the US electoral system and say whether the statements below are TRUE (T) or FALSE (F). Justify your answer
1. Citizens’ votes are counted together on Election Day.
2. More populated states have greater influence on the elections.
3. All the states have the same number of congressional districts.
4. California has fewer districts than North Carolina.
5. The number of electors a US state has equals the number of districts.
6. A candidate is elected President if he/she has the support of the highest number of states.
7. To reach the majority of electors a candidate needs to get 538 votes.
8. The President elect does not immediately become the US President.
2. FOLLOW-UP DISCUSSION.
1. What are the main differences between the US electoral system and that in your country? Which one do you find more democratic?
2. Why do you think the world press is so interested in the US Presidential Elections?
3. How do US politics affect your country/ individuals?
And now a song…
Norah Jones, my dear country.
Twas ____________________and the ____________________were out,
And everywhere they’d go, they’d____________________,
And though I covered my____________________ I knew,
They’d __________ __________. ____________________I
But ________________’s the only saw,
And ____________ ___________later ’twas clear to all,
That nothing is as _________________as________________ _________.
Who knows, maybe he’s not deranged.
Who knows, maybe the plans will change,
But the day after is darker,
And darker and darker it goes,
The newsmen ____________________what they know, but they,
Know even ________________than what they ________________,
And I ________ __ ____________who I can____________________,
For they come what may.
’cause we ____________________in our ____________________ ,
But even more it’s the one we__________________,
I needed __________________ I could shake,
On_______________ ___________.
And deeper and deeper we go,
Who knows if I’ll wake up and scream.
But the day after is darker,
Who knows, maybe it’s all a dream,
I love the things that you’ve given me,
I love/cherish you my dear poultry/country,
But sometimes I don’t/can’t understand,
The way we pay/play.
I love the things that you’ve given me,
And most of all that I am free/lonely,
To have a song that I can ring/sing,
On election day.
1. What does Norah Jones compare Election Day with? Why?
2.What are her feelings for her country? Why?
3.Is Norah Jones objective in this song?
4. Fill in the blanks with comparatives:
Norah Jones thinks Democrats are (good) ___________________________________ Republicans. Maybe she was (happy) ______________________________ in 2000 or maybe she was (disappointed) ________________________________________in 2000 than in 2004. As time goes by she feels (afraid)_____________________________________________for her country.
6 Responses to "Yes, we can. Are you interested in politics?"
December 14, 2008 at 5:42 pm
No need to apologise! You’ver been working very hard, being as you are against the blog… This task is quite long and demanding.
And on be expecting posts from the class and to be honest of course I haven’t exhausted my patience at all! Most of you have visited the site and have taken advantage of it…Besides, a handful of patience is so worth! See you in class, crowned head.
I hope you all have enjoyed the weekend!
January 3, 2009 at 6:31 pm
MISSING WORDS
1-?
2-?
3-shout
4-eyes
5-go
6-away
7- MISTAKEN GAP! I ALMOST GO BANANAS!
8-fear
9-three
10-days
11-scary
12-election
13-day
14-know
15-less
16-say
17-don’t
18-know
19-trust
20-believe
21-candidate
22-hate
23-someone
24-election
25-day
ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS
1- I had to cheat to write this answer because the clue is on the two words of the beggininig of the song and, as you can see, I didn’t guess them so I had to search for the lyrics on the internet to answer that Norah compares election day with Hallowen because is full og ghosts (governors).
2-In my opinion she loves her country but not the way that the goverment deals with the problems. So her feelings are a bit conflicted.
3-Yes, she’s pretty objective because she attacks both, republican and democrat candidate. She doesn’t have a favorite one.
COMPARATIVES
1- As good as
2- Happier
3- More dissapointed
4- More afraid
January 3, 2009 at 7:22 pm
USA ELECTIONS
QUIZ
1- 50 and the state of Columbia
2- Washington
3- Republicans and democrats
4- 4
5- 18
6-?
7- George. W. Bush.
8- I forgot it!
9- Jhon McCain and Sarah Palin.
TRUE/FALSE
1- F
2-T
3-F
4-F
5-F
6-F
7-F
8-T
FOLLOW-UP DISCUSSION.
1- The main differences are that here, in Spain, all the votes are taken together and also you don’t choose a candidate in each “district”. Althought in your district the candidate you didn’t vote won, your vote will we taken as a particular one and it will count the same as the others votes to choose the president.
From my point of view, USA’s system is less democratic than ours. Imagine that you live in a state were most of the people votes opposite than you. Your vote would be absolutely useless! You should move to other state where people voted the same as you to make your vote count.
2- Obviusly because the United States are one of the most powerful countries in the world so what there happen, here will affect too.
3- Is more or less what I’ve said above. As they are suffering from the biggest crisis in the last decades we are suffering too, because most of our economy depends on them.
And now, as a present, a joke a bit related to the USA.
Do you know that Jose Bono’s son wanted to marry with George Bush’s daughter? But George didn’t want that in the school children called his grandson “BONOBUS”.
I already now is rather bad but understand me, my brain is overworked…
January 9, 2009 at 10:59 am
KEY. SONG.
‘Twas Halloween and the ghosts were out,
And everywhere they’d go, they shout,
And though I covered my eyes I knew,
They’d go away.
But fear’s the only thing I saw,
And three days later ’twas clear to all,
That nothing is as scary as election day.
But the day after is darker,
And darker and darker it goes,
Who knows, maybe the plans will change,
Who knows, maybe he’s not deranged.
The news men know what they know, but they,
Know even less than what they say,
And I don’t know who I can trust,
For they come what may.
’cause we believed in our candidate,
But even more it’s the one we hate,
I needed someone I could shake,
On election day.
But the day after is darker,
And deeper and deeper we go,
Who knows, maybe it’s all a dream,
Who knows if I’ll wake up and scream.
I love the things that you’ve given me,
I cherish you my dear country,
But sometimes I don’t understand,
The way we play.
I love the things that you’ve given me,
And most of all that I am free,
To have a song that I can sing,
On election day.
January 9, 2009 at 11:01 am
KEY FOR QUIZ
1. 50 states
2. It’s the US President’s address and it’s placed in Washington DC
3. Democratic Party and Republican Party
4. Four years
5. Eighteen years
6. The Tuesday after the first Monday of November.
7. G. W. Bush from the Republican Party
8. Senator Joe Biden (Delawere)
9. John McCain. Sarah Palin (governor of Alaska)
December 14, 2008 at 12:45 pm
I’ve seen all these videos but I cannot leave a reply, maybe other day. Today I’m in a hurry. I’m so sorry!