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Patterns Pathfinder

AGOPP Research Model
Information Literacy Skills Outcomes:
  • Students will be able to locate resources to meet an identified need.
  • Students will be able to gather relevant information from appropriate resources.
  • Students will be able to communicate findings by producing materials in an appropriate format.
AGOPP Research Process Directions
Gather Information
Organize Information
Prepare
Present


Ask Questions

Over arching question. How can we understand the evolution of American values and principles since the 1970's?

 
Photo courtesy of AP Images
 
Patterns of Presidential Power
 
Presidents Carter, Reagan, and Clinton used their presidential power to influene a national agenda.
  1. STRAND A The need for energy to fuel business and industry was balanced by Carter's energy conservation programs. To what degree does the presidency affect individuals, groups or institutions?
  2. STRAND B President Reagan instituted a policy called "Reaganomics" to boost the nation's economy, while cutting taxes and increasing the defense spending. To what degree does the presidency affect individuals, groups or institutions?
  3. STRAND C Clinton influenced Congress to pass the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and help maintain a growing economy. To what degree does the presidency affect individuals, groups, or institutions?
The Big Question: To what degree does the presidency affect individuals, groups, or institutions? (Institutions= schools, churches, private charities & organizations, and the government.)
Patterns in the Economy
 

Photo courtesy of AP Images
 
Since the 1970s, the US economy has continued to change in the following ways:
  1. STRAND A There continues to be a widening income gap between the rich & poor. In what ways have these changes in the American economy had an impact on individuals, groups or institutions since the 1970's?
  2. STRAND B An increasing number of women are part of the workforce but inquity issues remain. In what ways have these changes in the American economy had an impact on individuals, groups or institutions since the 1970's?
  3. STRAND C The US economy has changed from an industrial economy to a technology and service economy. In what ways have these changes in the American economy had an impact on individuals, groups or institutions since the 1970's?
The Big Question: In what ways have these changes in the American economy had an impact on individuals, groups, or institutions since the 1970's? (Institutions= schools, churches, private charities & organizations, and the government.)

Keyword options:
Income gap
"pay equity"
"service economy"
employment trends & industrial
income distribution


Photo courtesy of Discovery Education Streaming
 
Patterns of Culture
 
Changes in society and culture since the 1960's have had a significant impact on America in the following areas:
  1. STRAND A The 1950's concept of a traditional two parent family has changed to include a broader definition of family. Explain how the federal, state or local government has responded to these social and cultural patterns.
  2. STRAND B The increasing number of older Americans has created new issues and problems for American society. Explain how the federal, state or local government has responded to these social and cultural patterns.
  3. STRAND C The impact of rising drug use during the 1960's continued in the following decades. Explain how the federal, state or local government has responded to these social and cultural patterns.
The Big Question: How the federal, state or local government has responded to these social and cultural patterns?

Keyword options
"Nuclear family"
"blended families"
"single parent family" subject "broken homes"
"aging population"
"old age
"drug abuse" AND impact

Patterns in the Environmental Movement

Photo courtesy of Discovery Education Streaming
 
Since the 1970's, the U.S. government has been trying to balance the need for enfvironmental protection programs with the economic costs and impacts of such programs.
  1. STRAND A Public concern about global warming has grown while the U.S. government has resisted involvement in programs to reduce and reverse this environmental change. In what ways have these changes in environmental protection influenced individuals, groups or institutions since the 1970's?
  2. STRAND B Industrial production has increased the amount of acid rain but industrial production is critical for economic prosperity. In what ways have these changes in environmental protection influenced individuals, groups or institutions since the 1970's?
  3. STRAND C Conservation of natural resources has been more difficult as demand for lumber, oil, natural gas and metals has increased. In what ways have these changes in environmental protection influenced individuals, groups or institutions since the 1970's?
The Big Question: In what ways have these changes in environmental protection influenced individuals, groups or institutions since the 1970's?

Keyword options:
"global warming"
"natural resources" conservation
"environmental protection"
"environmental law"

Patterns in Immigration
Photo courtesy of Discovery Education Streaming
 
Immigration has changed in the late 20th century, creating new patterns in American society.
  1. STRAND A Immigration data and trends in the late 20th cntury show new patterns in orgins, settlement and employment in American society. How has immigration policy affected American society in the late 20th century?
  2. STRAND B Immigrants face a variety of issues and challenges similar to past immigrant waves. How has immigration policy affected American society in the late 20th century?
  3. STRAND C Immigration brings new cultures that have an impact on existing American cultures. How has immigration policy affected American society in the late 20th century?
The Big Question: How has immigration policy affected American society in the late 20th century.

Keyword options:
"immigration trends"
"immigration policy"
"Immigration challenges"

Patterns in the Middle East
Photo courtesy of Discovery Education Streaming
 
Conflict in the Middle East has affected u.S. Policy decision in that region.
  1. STRAND A The Iranian revolution and subsequent hostage crisis affected teh perception of the U.S. in the Middle East and eventually led to further acts of terrorisim against America.
  2. STRAND B President Carter recognized the strategic importance of a Middle East peace in his implementation of the Camp David talks between Israel and Egypt.
  3. STRAND C Iraqi agggression against Kuwait posed a threat to self determination and key oil reserves which prompted a U.S. military response (The Persian Guld War).
The Big Question: How have conflicts in the Middle East affected American Foreign Policy decisions?

Keyword options:
"Hostage crisis"
"Camp David talks" carter
"Persian Gulf War"
Ask Questions
Organize Information
Prepare
Present

  • Write down key words from questions
  • Decide what is the best resource--book, periodical, journal, electronic, etc.
  • Record notes and bibliographic information from all sources consulted
  • Sites to help with note-taking when researching

Gale Power Search Check out the Literature Seach in the Student Resource Center Gold. Username and password availabe on EDLINE.

General Encyclopedia
Facts.Com. Good news source on all topics of interest. Primary Source documents. Username and password availabe on EDLINE.

 Use ProQuest PlatinumAticles from journals, magazines, and newspapers. Use Full-Text Search.
General Encyclopedia
SIRS Knowledge Source. Current events, U.S. government resources, arts and humanities, e-books, primary sources, and relevant Internet links.Username and password availabe on EDLINE. Try the SIRS Discoverer link

Presidential Power

STRAND A

The United States Plans to Cut Dependence on Foreign Oil, 1974

Government Policies to Remedy the Energy Crisis--Carter

STRAND B

Reaganomics Shapes 1980s Economy

"Reaganomics" Digital History article

STRAND C

"North American Free Trade Agreement Goes Into Effect, January 1, 1994"

"Happy Ever NAFTA"

Presidential Power Economy Culture Environment Immigration Middle East

Economy

STRAND A

Census Figures on Income

Tables of Income from 1967-2006

Income by Race

Median Four Person Family Income

Poverty and Income figures

Income Disparity

Increasing Income Gap

New Jersey Income Gap WideningScroll down to the section "What Does it Mean?"

Economic Inequality Helpful Wikipedia article---do not cite

STRAND B

National Committee on Pay Equity

National Organization of Women on Pay Equity

Equal Pay Act Becomes Law 1963

The Economic Status of Women1994 article that has some history on unequal pay for women

STRAND C

Factory Jobs: 3 Million Lost

The Great Job Switch An article from Student Resource Center database

U.S. Service Economy Emerges. 1960-1970s An article from Student Resource Center database

Emerging trends in Information Technology

Future employment trends

Presidential Power Economy Culture Environment Immigration Middle East

Culture

STRAND A

American Families: 75 Years of Change

STRAND B

Old Age and Health Concerns

A Blue Print for Action for the aging

The Next Age an article from the Student Resource Center database

STRAND C

Teenage Drug use

Department of Justice figures on arrests associated with teenage drug abuse

Whitehouse document on the societal cost of drug abuse

Bureau of Justice figures on imprisonment for drug crimes

PBS/Frontline chronology of American's drug war

Human Rights Watch on who is incarcerated

Presidential Power

Presidential Power Economy Culture Environment Immigration Middle East

Environment

STRAND A

The Rise of the U.S. Environmental Movement

Environmental Protection Agency reports on Climate Change

Environmental Defense Fund information

CNN Report on Global Warming

Environmental Education

STRAND B

What Causes Acid Rain?

Effects of Acid Rain

Reducing Acid Rain

Facts on Acid Rain

STRAND C

WV Mining

Wilderness

Environmental Law 1970's

Environmental Protection 1990's

Presidential Power Economy Culture Environment Immigration Middle East

Immigration

STRAND A

Peopling of America

U.S. Census Bureau: Foreign Born

Melting Pot: America's Racial and Ethnic Divide

STRAND B

New US Immigrants Creating Different Assimilation Patterns

CNN Where do immigrants work?

"The Great American Job Hunt: The Immigrant Challenge"

Census Bureau Foreign Born Population 2003

STRAND C

Face of U.S. Immigration

PBS Meet the New Americans

NPR Stories Exploring America's National Identity

Presidential Power Economy Culture Environment Immigration Middle East

Middle East

STRAND A

Hostage Crisis

Hostage Crisis How Reagan dealt with the hostage crisis

Hostage Crisis Scroll down and read "Secret Plants"

STRAND B

Camp David Accords

The Middle East: A Beginner's Guide

The West BankCamp David Accords

STRAND C

The Persian Guld War

FrontLine Gulf War Crisis

Presidential Power Economy Culture Environment Immigration Middle East

Search Engines

Google
 
Carrot2 Clustering Search Engine
Results are sorted by categories or clusters. You can select articles from .edu, .gov, .org, etc.
 
Zuula Search Engine
Results from several different search engines such as Google, Yahoo, Gigablast, etc. are displayed
 
Searchmash
Try this one for fun
 
  • Revise your first draft (use teachers or friends to help go over the text)Revise again if necessaryPrepare your final productPresent the product to your audience
  • Evaluate your process and product

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