Thinking Critically: World Issues for Reading, Writing, and Research

by Shulman, Myra

• ISBN13: 9780472089536
• ISBN10: 0472089536
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-04-01
• Publisher: Univ of Michigan Pr

Summary

Thinking Criticallyhelps students improve English skills while exploring major issues in the world through news articles. Topics range from the conflict between India and Pakistan, the use of palm pilots, the AIDS crisis, and gender equality, to research into the benefits of sleep. Each chapter contains two to three articles, a vocabulary review, discussion questions, research and writing activities, debates/role plays, exercises designed to provoke critical thinking, and a list of suggested websites and books to enhance student understanding. Students will improve their skills in reading and discussing authentic news articles conducting research on the Internet writing academic papers debating issues making oral presentations analyzing and writing about complex issues.

Table of Contents

International Trade	1	(12)
Which countries have a communist or socialist system of government?
Reading 1 Politics---U.N.: Assembly Votes 173--3 for End to Cuba Blockade (Global Information Network, 2002)	1	(4)
Reading 2 Cuba to Buy $66M in American Food (www.salon.com/, 2002)	5	(5)
Research Question Why has the United States maintained a trade embargo on Cuba?	10	(1)
Writing Assignment Position Paper	10	(1)
Oral Presentation	11	(1)
Debate	11	(1)
Thinking about It	11	(2)
Regional Conflict	13	(14)
What are the major regional conflicts in the world today?
Reading 1 Russia Fails to Persuade Pakistan, India to Budge (The Washington Post, 2002)	13	(5)
Reading 2 Politics: Year Opens with India and Pakistan Talking Tough (Global Information Network, 2003)	18	(6)
Research Question Why is there a conflict between India and Pakistan over Kashmir?	24	(1)
Writing Assignment Summary	24	(1)
Oral Presentation	25	(1)
Debate	25	(1)
Role Play	25	(1)
Thinking about It	25	(2)
Modern Technology	27	(12)
What are the newest information technology products on the market?
Reading 1 Stalker Tech: Students at the University of California at San Diego Are Tracking Their Friends' Locations with PDAs (www.salon.com/, 2002)	27	(4)
Reading 2 China Plans Health Limits on Mobiles (BBC News World Edition, 2002)	31	(5)
Research Question What are the newest models of PDAs?	36	(1)
Writing Assignment Interview and Report	36	(1)
Oral Presentation	37	(1)
Debate	37	(1)
Thinking about It	37	(2)
Economic Conditions	39	(14)
Which are the seven richest countries in the world?
Reading 1 Counting the Cost (Economist.com, 2002)	39	(5)
Reading 2 Global Wrap Up (Malaysian Business, 2003)	44	(6)
Research Question What is the value of the dollar in comparison to other major world currencies at this time?	50	(1)
Writing Assignment Business Letter	50	(1)
Oral Presentation	51	(1)
Role Play	51	(1)
Thinking about It	51	(2)
Scientific Research	53	(13)
How many hours of sleep should a person get every night?
Reading 1 Learning in Your Sleep (Economist.com, 2002)	53	(3)
Reading 2 Workaholics Kiss Goodnight to Sleep (BBC News World Edition, 2002)	56	(2)
Reading 3 Taking Control (Newsweek, 2002)	58	(5)
Research Question Why do humans need to sleep?	63	(1)
Writing Assignment Book Review	63	(1)
Oral Presentation	63	(1)
Role Play	64	(1)
Thinking about It	64	(2)
Global Epidemics	66	(11)
What major epidemics have devastated societies throughout history?
Reading 1 Clinton, Mandela: AIDS Threatens World Stability (www.washingtonpost.com, 2002)	66	(4)
Reading 2 Report: China Faces ``Titanic'' AIDS Crisis (The Washington Post, 2002)	70	(4)
Research Question Will medical researchers find a cure for AIDS?	74	(1)
Writing Assignment Synthesis	75	(1)
Oral Presentation	75	(1)
Role Play	75	(1)
Thinking about It	76	(1)
Corporate Reform	77	(12)
Which major global corporations have been accused of unethical procedures?
Reading 1 Editorial: The System Needs Fixing, Mr. President (BusinessWeek, 2002)	77	(4)
Reading 2 Broadening Corporate Responsibility (The International Economy, 2002)	81	(6)
Research Question What is the free-market system?	87	(1)
Writing Assignment Public Opinion Poll and Report	87	(1)
Oral Presentation	87	(1)
Debate	87	(1)
Thinking about It	88	(1)
World Hunger	89	(10)
How many people in the world suffer from hunger?
Reading 1 Stop Blaming the Weather (The Economist, 2002)	89	(3)
Reading 2 Poor Nations Denounce U.S. Farm Subsidies / Protectionism Adds to Hunger, Critics Say (The Washington Post, 2002)	92	(4)
Research Question What are the 25 worst-nourished nations in the world?	96	(1)
Writing Assignment Essay	97	(1)
Oral Presentation	97	(1)
Debate	97	(1)
Thinking about It	98	(1)
Gender Equality	99	(15)
Which countries deny women their civil and human rights?
Reading 1 Bangladesh Garment Workers Have Taste of Freedom (Women's eNews, 2002)	99	(5)
Reading 2 Arab Women Demand Quotas (The Christian Science Monitor, 2002)	104	(7)
Research Question In which countries do women have the most human and civil rights?	111	(1)
Writing Assignment Press Release	111	(1)
Oral Presentation	111	(1)
Role Play	112	(1)
Thinking about It	112	(2)
The Digital Divide	114	(11)
Which country has the largest number of Internet users?
Reading 1 Why the Poor Need Technology (BBC News World Edition, 2002)	114	(4)
Reading 2 Africans Embrace Mobiles and the Net (BBC News World Edition, 2002)	118	(4)
Research Question Which countries have experienced the greatest growth in the number of Internet users in the past year?	122	(1)
Writing Assignment Memorandum	122	(1)
Oral Presentation	123	(1)
Role Play	123	(1)
Thinking about It	123	(2)
Immigration Policy	125	(13)
Should the United States revise its immigration laws?
Reading 1 The World's Educator (Economist.com, 2002)	125	(5)
Reading 2 Our Rainbow Underclass (U.S. News & World Report, 2002)	130	(5)
Research Question How has U.S. immigration policy changed throughout its history?	135	(1)
Writing Assignment Critical Review	135	(1)
Oral Presentation	136	(1)
Debate	136	(1)
Thinking about It	137	(1)
Social Inequality	138	(13)
What cities in the world have the highest crime rates?
Reading 1 Letter from Rio: The Law of the Jungle (U.S. News & World Report, 2002)	138	(4)
Reading 2 Politics---Brazil; Social Problems Are Lula's Biggest Challenge (Global Information Network, 2002)	142	(6)
Research Question Which countries in the world have the greatest inequalities in income distribution and which have the most equitable income distribution?	148	(1)
Writing Assignment Argument	148	(1)
Oral Presentation	149	(1)
Role Play	149	(1)
Thinking about It	149	(2)
Cultural Heritage	151	(13)
Which archaeological sites throughout the world have been designated as World Heritage Sites by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)?
Reading 1 Afghanistan's Challenge (Science, 2002)	151	(3)
Reading 2 Leaning Tower Poses a Technical and Political Challenge (Science, 2002)	154	(6)
Research Question How has tourism affected the condition of archaeological sites?	160	(1)
Writing Assignment Report	161	(1)
Oral Presentation	162	(1)
Role Play	162	(1)
Thinking about It	162	(2)
Intellectual Property	164	(17)
What is the meaning of the word plagiarism?
Reading 1 How I Caused That Story (Time, 2002)	164	(3)
Reading 2 Editorial: Love Songs to America (U.S. News & World Report, 2002)	167	(3)
Reading 3 Other People's Words (Smithsonian, 2002)	170	(6)
Research Question How does U.S. copyright law prevent plagiarism in the United States?	176	(1)
Writing Assignment Research Paper	176	(1)
Oral Presentation	177	(1)
Debate	177	(1)
Role Play	178	(1)
Thinking about It	178	(3)
Appendix A: How to Read Efficiently	181	(1)
Appendix B: How to Do Internet Research	182	(3)
Appendix C: How to Give an Oral Presentation	185	(2)
Appendix D: Guidelines for Writing and Models for Writing Assignments	187