As individuals, define “history” and share your definition with a partner. Next, as a class, discuss how history is similar to an unsolved mystery, a morality tale, a crime scene and a conveyor belt. Is history primarily a matter of facts or perspective? Are there historical truths? If so, what are they? Then, with your [...]

continue reading.....

Find an example of a professional in today’s Life section who, to fulfill the duties of her or his job, may have to act against her or his personal code of conduct. Next, spend some time thinking about your personal code of ethics. Now, imagine you’ve applied for a lucrative job. You are offered the [...]

continue reading.....

At John Peter Zenger’s 1735 trial for seditious libel, his lawyer, Alexander Hamilton, argued that citizens have the right to expose and oppose “arbitrary Power … by speaking and writing – Truth.” Look through today’s paper, and identify two articles that expose and/or oppose arbitrary power. Then, decide how the American public would be affected [...]

continue reading.....

Intelligence, put simply, is information. The principal duties of the Central Intelligence Agency (one of many of the nation’s intelligence services) are to provide information on national security topics, to conduct counterintelligence activities and to perform other functions related to foreign intelligence and national security. Read an article in today’s paper about national security. Then, [...]

continue reading.....

In presidential elections prior to 1800, the candidate with the most electoral votes became president and the runner-up became vice president. Consequently, electors in 1796 picked a Federalist president (John Adams) and a Republican vice president (Thomas Jefferson). (The 12th Amendment prevents this situation from occurring today.) What would happen if the president and vice [...]

continue reading.....