Ryan Tanner-Read

History and International Relations Teacher

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  • Exploration: Red America, Blue America

    I am no longer teaching this course. Some links may be broken.

    This exploration course will allow students to discover the background of contemporary American politics by exploring the recent history and current practice of politics in the United States. The course will begin with an exploration of the idea of “Red” and “Blue” as concepts beginning with the 2000 election map and the famous David Brooks essay in response and moving through Barack Obama’s 2004 DNC speech and finally the 2016 election. Students will then build a basic toolbox of political science terms from the median voter theorem to gerrymandering before considering a range of contemporary political issues and engaging in discussion with the purpose of developing empathy and the ability to speak across political divides by pondering the possible good intentions of their opponents. Students will conclude the course by making predictions as to the outcome of the 2020 election.

  • Exploration: Red America, Blue America

    American Politics Today

  • Class Schedule

    The outline below contains links to all the materials you will need for class including outside readings. You should bookmark this page so that you can return here for each class. All assignments (including questions linked under "Read" below) are due on the day they are listed.

     

    Many of the presentations in this class will use an online tool called Sway to organize our class. For more information on how to use this, please click here.

     

    Please note that this class outline reflects the 2019-2020 school year.

     

    SPRING TERM: Red America, Blue America

    1. Where Do We Stand? Activity

    2. What is Red? What is Blue? Socratic, In Class: 2000 Election Map, Predict a Swing State

    3. How Do Elections Work? Socratic, In Class: Presidential Primaries and Caucuses, Popular Vote v. Electoral College

    4. Who Wins? Socratic, In Class: Building an Electoral College Strategy, Median Voter Theorem

    5. Gathering Data Socratic, In Class: The Problem With Polls

    6. 2016 Election Autopsy Socratic, In Class: Trump’s Road to the White House

    7. Prediction Project Work Day

    8. Prediction Project Work Day

    9. Does Donald Trump Wear Tails? Socratic, In Class: Redistricting and House Voting

    10. Who Votes and Why? Socratic, In Class: Political Socialization Biographies

    11. Who Pays? Socratic, In Class: Citizens United Discussion

    12. Prediction Project Work Day

    13. Prediction Project Work Day

    14. Prediction Project Work Day

    15. Wrap Up Discussion, In Class: Sharing Predictions

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