IBLI Lesson Plan
Upper advanced reading and writing English language class. Monday, 1:15-2:00PM
Class size: 15 university students.
Objectives: students learn how to scan for details, skim for main points, take notes with a guiding framework, construct a critical argument, and post findings on the discussion board.
Materials: Vocabulary words and definitions, an article from ScrippsNews, 10 questions.
Warm -up
**Write as much as you can in 10 minutes on the topic of terrorism and the post-9/11 world (10 minutes).
Main Activities
**Read the article at Scripps News from the net The cost of Iraq war is out of control three times, silently (5-7 minutes).
**Listen to the teacher’s version two times (5-7 minutes).
**Scan for key points and ideas (5-7 minutes).
**Go to Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums
**Post questions and findings on this article; answer teacher’s questions (20 minutes).
Closing
**Read the comments on our class’ findings, and for homework, print comments for next class to discuss, "The cost of the Iraq war is out of control."
Comentary Editorial Tuesday, October 17, 2006
When it comes to casualties in the war in Iraq, no one can put a price on human life. But the cost in taxpayer dollars of U.S. military operations there continues to rise to gargantuan proportions.
The fighting in Afghanistan, home of the Taliban and training ground of the 9/11 terrorists, is one thing. But an increasing number of Americans see Iraq as a war we can no longer afford. Either way, the fiscal burden will be felt for generations because the cost is being applied daily to the nation's budget deficit.
More than 2,700 American soldiers have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, and some 20,000 others have been wounded. We would not presume to trivialize their sacrifice by placing a dollar value on the mayhem, but how many more lives may be put in jeopardy when the growing cost of the Iraq war crowds out spending for, say, a new cancer drug?
These are the real costs that will multiply under an administration that has the nation stuck in an open-ended commitment, with no thought to the long-range consequences. And these costs will continue to grow until the American people decide they've had enough.
Scan for the following key words while reading, and highlight the words once found. Then ask a partner what these words mean to him or her.
Key words and possible answers
(this is an answer sheet for teachers. Students will only receive the vocabulary, and they will have to write their own definition of the words, according to the teacher's explanations and context of the reading).
1. Iraq-noun
A republic in SW Asia, N of Saudi Arabia and W of Iran, centering in the Tigris-Euphrates basin of Mesopotamia.
2. Gargantuan–adjective
Gigantic; enormous; colossal: a gargantuan task.
3. Congress-noun
The national legislative body of the U.S., consisting of the Senate, or upper house, and the House of Representatives, or lower house, as a continuous institution.
4. Congressional-adjective
The national legislative body of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
5. Terrorism-noun
The use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, esp. for political purposes.
6. Trivialize-verb used with object
To make trivial; cause to appear unimportant, trifling, etc.
7. Afghanistan-noun
A republic in Central Asia, NW of India and E of Iran. 23,738,085; 250,000 sq. mi. (647,500 sq. km). Capital: Kabul.
8. Taliban-noun
A Muslim fundamentalist group in Afghanistan.
9. Senate-noun
The upper house of the legislature of certain countries, as the United States, France, Italy, Canada, Ireland, Republic of South Africa, Australia, and some Latin American countries.
10. open ended-noun
Not having fixed limits; unrestricted; broad: an open-ended discussion.
10 Questions
(These questions are meant to engage you in the controversies of the War on Terror. Please include criticisms and comments in your answers. Write about 5 sentences, minimum, for each question. Post these on the discussion board.
1) How much money will the American government spend on the War on Terror next year?
2) How many soldiers have lost their lives in the war?
3) How many soldiers have been wounded?
4) How does this writer feel about the War on Terror?
5) How do you feel about the War on Terror?
6) Was invading the Middle East a good idea?
7) Who was responsible for 9/11 and why?
8) What are your opinions of Bush and Bin-Laden?
9) Why did the West invade the Middle East?
10) How has oil played a role in the War on Terror?