On Thursday, Jan. 29, President Obama signed a gender pay equity law that will make it easier for women to sue companies for pay discrimination. Pay discrimination occurs when female workers who perform the same job functions as men earn less than their male counterparts. The bill is named for Lilly Ledbetter, a Goodyear Tire [...]

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 The discrepancies between the “haves” and “have-nots” in our culture are vast. Divide a sheet of paper in half and label one side “the haves” and the other “the have-nots.” Then, find examples of people in today’s paper who fit into each column. In general, how willing are the haves to help the have-nots? Explain. [...]

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A tradition is an established custom or belief that is passed down from one generation to the next. Traditions are not just limited to families; they are often an integral part of institutions (e.g., government, the military, religious organizations, schools, etc.). Peruse today’s paper and find five examples of traditions being carried out — such [...]

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President Obama will be the twelfth U.S. president to try to bring peace to the Middle East. Since Israel was created in 1948 from land the Palestinians claim as their own, there have been multiple wars and bloodshed. Read USA TODAY’s coverage of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict currently occurring in Gaza. (If possible, read several days [...]

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During an interview on Thursday, January 15, USA TODAY asked President-elect Barack Obama to talk about his inaugural speech. Obama stated, “My job in this speech and in my presidency is just to remind people of the road we’ve traveled and the extraordinary odds that we’ve already overcome.” He also stated that he believes the [...]

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Read a story in the paper about a group who is unable to speak for itself or has a hard time being heard, e.g., the homeless, children, refugees, Palestinians, Iraqis, etc. Explain how the media is helping to tell their story. Next, develop five questions about the group that you would like to see answered [...]

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A press release is a public relations announcement issued to the news media. Its purpose is to inform an audience of important developments. Using information from today’s paper, compose a press release from the U.S. government, a foreign government, a business or an organization that communicates the groups’ mission, progress or goals to the American [...]

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An adage that many politicians cite says, “to govern is to choose.” With a partner, scan the articles in today’s USA TODAY and list five significant choices that President-elect Barack Obama will have to make (e.g., whether to end the war in Iraq). Briefly describe the importance of each choice in writing. Then, adopt the [...]

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When he takes office on January 20, President-elect Obama will have to deal with the war in Afghanistan and the controversial conflict in Iraq. In Afghanistan, the plan is to send in 20,000 additional troops to fight the Taliban. In Iraq, Obama will work toward bringing all U.S. combat troops home within 16 months. In [...]

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Coaches are more than team leaders; they also serve as role models and teachers. Athletes learn as much from a coach about character as they do performance. Imagine that you are a team’s new coach. Peruse today’s Sports section for a story about a struggling team. Write a speech that you would deliver to your [...]

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