Article Discussion Oct 22

Part II - Group analysis about article

• What is the article about and why did you choose it?

The article is about the banning of plastic bags from larger retails stores. Plastic bags are still allowed in restaurants and for fruits and vegetables in grocery stores but not at check out.

Why we chose this article is due to that it is local news and it is an important subject today. The environmental impact from us is huge and by banning plastic bags from one kind of market might set future motivation to get rid of all plastic bags in the future. It is a big step for Santa Barbara County in the run for making more conscious choices.

• What kind of news is the article?

The article is in the local news and goes under the subjects economy and politics because it is a matter of economic and political decisions.

• What is the news article about?

Big stores like Vons, Albertson's, Rite Aid, CVS etc. will no longer provide their costumers with plastic bags from August 22 this year. This is an action for making people stop using plastic bags and for saving unnecessary plastics. Restaurants are still allowed plastic bags but hopefully that will change after that these big stores have changed their plastic bag consume.

• Gather three word

Word 1: Implementation – noun – Execution/putting into effect

Word 2: Coalition – noun– noun –alliance

Word 3: Stringent – Adjective – compelling or urgent

Article #5 due Oct 22

Opening of Northern Ireland's first abortion clinic

In Northern Ireland abortion is not permitted and this article is about Northern Ireland's first private abortion clinic located in Belfast. This clinic will help women with information, advice, etc. and early medical abortion and vows to operate within the law.

Word 1

1. Word: Contraception

2. Part of Speech: Noun

3. Definition/Synonym: Birth-control

Word 2

1. Word: Grueling

2. Part of Speech: Adjective

3. Definition/Synonym: Exhausting

Word 3

1. Word: Precious Life Movement

2. Part of Speech: -

3. Definition/Synonym: Precious Life Movement is an organization that is working for keeping abortion out of      

Northern Ireland

Please see Vocabulary (red words highlighted), at the right in the page archive.

Article #3 Due Oct 1

Has the earth reached its carrying capacity?

In this Article by Julia Clayton, the Earth's carrying capacity is brought forward as a global issue. Here, Julia writes about what is happening, how the population grows each day and what we must do about the growing problem.

How many people can Earth carry before the resources runs out and the situation goes out of control?

What will happen to the human species when the Earth reaches its carrying capacity?

Most likely what will happen when the Earth reaches its carrying capacity is that the resources, food supply etc. will run short and the competition over these scarce resources will drive people to do unmoral things.

We are already living in a "this is mine, that is yours"- kind of world and that kind of thinking will continue with us through time and will not make the fragile situation better.

Hopefully, a disaster from nature will destroy us before we reach the point when this kind of horrific competition begins. This has already happen before, if not a meteorite, an ice-time. Earth itself decides whenever it's time to eliminate a specie and with that leave space for a new - maybe smarter and friendlier - specie.

Words
Please see page Vocabulary (red words highlighted), at the right in the page archive.

Article
http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-science/earth-carrying-capacity.htm

Newspaper Article Discussion Sept 24

Group Discussion 

In the group: LU LIN, Xinfa Zhou and Jose.

Himalayas avalanche sweeps away climbers in Nepal

Where did this happen?

It happened in the Himalayas in Nepal.

Can you explain what is happening?

A flood snow hit a couple of European climbers when they were climbing Mount Manaslu, the 8^th highest mountain in Himalaya

What would result if the avalanche never happened?

The climbers would probably, if no other problem occurred, reach the top without more difficulties and they would have a better chance to survive the adventure.

What conclusions can you draw about the expedition?

You have to be prepared for every occasion, everything that can happen during the climb – Change of weather, resources, accidents, injuries, etc. – and be aware of the consequences.

How can you change the plan?

Climb another day, look at the weather forecast more thoroughly and choose days when there is a very low risk of a snowstorm to sweep in.

What is the opinion of climbing high mountains?

We think that if you want to climb the 8^th highest mountain in the world you should prepare good, coordinate your expedition well and be aware of the consequences that can happen during the adventure.

Article #2 Due Sept 24

Himalayas avalanche sweeps away climbers in Nepal

This article is about a couple of European climbers and guides that has been struck by an avalanche in Nepal. The climbers were climbing Mount Manaslu when a ‘flood of snow’ hit them and killed what is believed, nine persons. The number of dead can though be higher due to the fact that they do not really know how many climbers it was in the party. It is said that five climbers have survived and have been rescued and flown to the hospital for recovery.

Word 1
1. Word: Avalanche
2. Part of Speech: Noun
3. Definition/synonym: Snow Storm, Flood of snow

Word 2
1. Word: Deterioration
2. Part of Speech: Adjective
3. Definition/synonym: Failure

Newspaper Article Discussion

Class Notes from Sept 10, lecture 4

Part II - Group analysis about articles

• What is the article about and why did we choose it

The article is about a new way of transporting drugs and we chose it because it is an important and a global issue today and it affects a lot of people around the world.

•  What kind of news is the article

This article is in the section breaking news/world news from The New York Times

Summary: The article is about a new way of transporting drugs. According to the article the drugs came from South America to the coast of U.S. It was supposed to travel from Ecuador to Los Angeles but it got caught before it reached the American coast.

• Gather three words

Word 1: Sophisticated – Adjective – High degree of complexity

“American authority has discover three new and sophisticated drug traffic submarines”

Word 2: Emphasized – verb – understate the importance, underline

“..though they emphasize that no use of submersibles by militant has been detected”

Word 3: Envy – noun – feeling resentful, longing after something that’s not yours and that you want

“...submarines that would be the envy of but a few nations”

•  Other group's articles

Health article about children that are bullying other children, that have autism, in school

What can the society or the schools do to prevent this from happening?

What can the parents do to prevent their children from bullying other kids?

Local news about an economic company that moved their company to a different place and the people working there couldn’t (understandably) move along so they lost their jobs.

How will this affect these people and the society around them?

What will happen to the company/the workers?

Traffickers and the way the use to smuggle the drugs – look above for more information

Health article about parents who want their under aged children to be able drinking in their presence.

Why should they be allowed to drink in their parents present if they are not allowed to drink under the law?

Article #1 Due Sept 10 2012

Organic food - better for you or not?

As the headline explains this article is about if organic food is better for us or not. Scientist at Stanford decided to explore in this subject and look up the difference between organic  and conventional food.

Word 1

1. Phenol
2. Noun
3. Phenol is an organic compound

Word 2

1. Pesticides residue
2. Noun
3. Pesticides residue is remains of insecticides (remains of spray that eliminate insects)

Word 3

1. Contamination
2. Noun
3. Contamination is also defined as pollution to the environment

Article found online, Los Angeles Times:

Organic Food - better for you or not