Roll out the red carpet! Last night was a big night for Hollywood. The Academy Awards, or "Oscars", is an annual American awards ceremony hosted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence in cinematic achievements.
After watching these memorable Oscar Speeches, imagine you just won an Oscar for Best Picture, Best Actor/Actress, or Best Director. Write a 1–2 minute acceptance speech (150–250 words). Your speech should include: • A reaction to winning the award • Thanks to at least three people or groups • A short description of the work behind the achievement • A meaningful message for the audience
1. Why do people thank others in acceptance speeches?
2. Why might winners mention family members, teachers, or coworkers?
3. What kinds of messages do people often include in speeches?
4. Why do you think audiences enjoy hearing acceptance speeches?
Citizen Kane was a brutal portrait of newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. When Hearst learned through Hopper of Welles' film, he set out to protect his reputation by shutting the film down. Hollywood executives, led by Louis B. Mayer, rallied around Hearst, attempting to buy Citizen Kane in order to burn the negative. At the same time, Hearst's defenders moved to intimidate exhibitors into refusing to show the movie. Threats of blackmail, smears in the newspapers, and FBI investigations were used in the effort.
Mark Twain was a famous American humor writer who often used exaggeration to teach lessons about
human behavior. In the story 'My First Lie and How I Got Out of It,' Twain describes a situation where a
small lie begins to grow bigger and more complicated. Each attempt to fix the lie creates new problems
and confusion. The story humorously shows how difficult it can be to keep track of lies once they start.
1) Why do you think the narrator told the first lie?
2) What happens when the narrator tries to maintain the lie?
3) What lesson do you think Mark Twain is trying to teach?
A major U.S.-Israel attack on Iran targeted the country’s top leaders and missile sites Saturday, following weeks of rising tensions over talks on Iran’s nuclear program. Iran has vowed to retaliate.
1) Who attacked Iran and when?
2) Why was Iran attacked, according to this story?
3) How has Iran responded?
4) What have been some of the reactions of world leaders to the U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran?
5) Where did Iran strike in response to being attacked?
6) Do you think a strong case has been made for the U.S.'s attack on Iran? Explain.
7) What do you think should happen now that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed?
8) "The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties. That often happens in war," Trump said in his speech following the attacks. Do you think the U.S. should have attacked Iran? If you are not sure how to answer this question, what further information might you need?
It turns out that Iran has a pretty long history of unrest in order to put power in the hands of the people, and the most recent revolution in 1979 was, at least at first, not necessarily about creating an Islamic state. It certainly turned out to be about that, but it was initially just about people who wanted to get rid of an oppressive regime.
The Constitution mandates that the President “shall from time to time give to the Congress Information on the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” The President’s State of the Union Message and address were known as the President’s Annual Message to Congress until well into the 20th century. Presidents Washington and Adams delivered their messages to Congress in person, but President Jefferson abandoned the practice as “monarchical” and time-consuming, sending written messages instead. This precedent was followed until President Wilson personally appeared before Congress in 1913. President Franklin Roosevelt adopted Wilson’s practice of personal delivery, and it has since become a contemporary tradition. With the advent of radio (1923) and television (1947) coverage of the address, it gained great importance by providing a nationwide platform for the President.
Brooke Gladstone compares the press to blackbirds perched on a wire, saying, “one bird will fly to another wire, and when it doesn’t get electrocuted, all the birds will fly to that other wire.”
Senator Eugene McCarthy came up with that; but what does it mean?
Welcome to the home page of Mr. Kelly's Current Events class. This course looks at the role of the media on international, national, state, local, and school wide levels. Although the content is constantly changing there are recurrent themes including domestic and foreign policy, the economy, war, crime, and the environment. Here you will find assignments, online discussions, and your grades. Be prepared to keep up with weekly reading assignments and be respectful of each others opinions on this site.
