Modern Studies News Review

Modern Studies News Review Number 76: FEBruary 2009 edition

03/02/09: WILDCAT STRIKES CONTINUE: British engineering workers at the Lindsey Oil Refinery in Lincolnshire, England continued their series of wildcat strikes against the use of foreign labour at the plant. A wildcat strike is one which does not have the backing of a trade union. They are also known as unofficial strikes and are illegal in the UK. Italian workers are currently being employed at the refinery and British workers are saying that jobs should go to British workers and not workers from the continent. The Government’s Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said there was “no policy of discrimination or exclusion” against British workers and that the owners of the Lindsey Refinery had given assurances that this was indeed the case. Lord Mandelson warned that, if the strikers did not go back to work soon, the Government would take action against them. Since the strikes began, workers at the nuclear plants at Sellafield, Cumbria and Heysham have joined forces with the strikers. The issue remained unresolved by the end of the month.

04/02/09: PRESIDENT OBAMA TO SEEK CUTS IN NUCLEAR WARHEADS: Barack Obama plans to set up arms reduction talks with Russia aiming to slash each country’s stockpile of nuclear weapons by 80%. The talks would reduce the number of nuclear warheads to 1,000 each.

05/02/09: WHAT A COO ! Customs officials caught a smuggler with his pants down - and two live pigeons tucked inside them. The passenger with the funny walk was picked up (or should that be pecked up) in Melbourne after jetting in from Dubai. Initial checks revealed two birds eggs in his luggage and bird seed in his money belt. The pigeons, wrapped in paper tubes, were discovered during a full body search. Now the 23 year-old smuggler from Melbourne faces up to 10 years' jail or a £50,000 fine. Border protection chief Richard Janeczko said: "Wildlife smuggling is cruel and poses a severe risk to the Australian environment."

10/02/09: UNEMPLOYMENT RATE RISES: The UK unemployment rate has risen to 2 million. The last time it reached this figure was in 1997.

10/02/09: AUSTRALIAN BUSH FIRES KILL OVER 200 PEOPLE: The death toll in the Australian bush fires disaster was reckoned to be in excess of 200 with teams moving into burned-out towns finding charred bodies in crashed cars and at roadsides, evidence of the victims’ attempts to outrun the inferno spread by 60 mph winds. It is believed the fires were started deliberately.

11/02/09: BANKERS SAY SORRY BUT JOB LOSSES INEVITABLE: Hours after the former leaders of the Royal Bank of Scotland and HBOS (Halifax-Bank of Scotland) apologised for bringing the financial institution to the brink of collapse, staff were told they would pay for the crisis with the loss of 2,300 jobs. The four leaders – Lord Stevenson, Tom McKillop, Andy Hornby and Sir Fred Goodwin - made their apologies, admitting they had misjudged the extent of the financial turmoil that had engulfed the banking sector, before a Treasury Select Committee.

13/02/09: TRAIN CONTRACT GOES TO JAPAN: A Japanese company won the £7.5 billion order for intercity trains defeating a rival that owns Britain’s only train factory. The Government said that the contract would create or safeguard 12,500 jobs but most of the jobs are likely to go to Japan. Hitachi said that it could employ as few as 200 at a British assembly plant. Bad news for the UK economy with unemployment around 2 million.

18/02/09: BROWN’S POPULARITY AT ITS LOWEST SINCE THE ELECTION: The latest opinion poll revealed that Gordon Brown’s Government had taken a 20-point battering. The survey showed the Conservative Party on 48% while Labour had dropped to 28%. The Liberal-Democrats position remained unchanged at 17%. The results showed a decline in the Prime Minister’s personal ratings since the start of the year. Almost two thirds of those polled were dissatisfied with Mr Brown’s performance.

18/02/09: RECESSION MUCH WORSE THAN ESTIMATED: A spokesman for the Bank of England admitted that the present economic recession was far worse than previously thought. Economic growth was virtually at a standstill with more businesses going into receivership resulting in a large rise in the unemployment rate. He stated that the present recession was on a par with that in 1931 with no end in sight for at least till next year.

Not Quite What He Meant The Mugabes Celebrate in Style

A guy carrying out a survey for BBC While his country struggled with hyperinflation, mass children’s television approach a unemployment and a cholera epidemic, Zimbabwe’s President, rather large gentleman and said Robert Mugabe, held a banquet to celebrate his 85th birthday. On “Which is your favourite teletubby ?” the menu were 2,000 bottles of champagne, 8,000 lobsters, 4,000 to which the gentleman replied “A 22” portions of beluga caviar, 3,000 ducks and 8,000 boxes of Ferrero plasma, ya cheeky git!” Rocher chocolates.

Meanwhile, his wife, Grace Mugabe, completed yet another of her shopping trips to the Far East. She settled her $15,000 hotel The Solution to a Problem bill in cash. This could have:-

A wee man said to his pal “The wife  Fed 750 families for a week says naebody ever phones her so I  Provided treatment for 250 cholera victims bought her wan ‘o thae stickers that  Covered one year’s school fees for 125 children says ‘How’s ma drivin’ wae her  Cooked around 60,000 school meals number oan it !”  Clothed 1,000 children

The Mugabes have been secretly building a bolthole in the Far 19/02/09: SCOTLAND’S VIOLENT East to provide themselves with a comfortable lifestyle should Mugabe fall from power in Zimbabwe. Among Grace Mugabe’s CRIME: Despite endless initiatives by purchases in her last shopping spree was a £4 million luxury police and the Government, the murder home in Hong Kong. rate in Scotland is getting worse.

Glasgow is now the European murder capital of Europe with Portugal and Finland taking 2nd and 3rd place . Within the City, Govanhill has the highest rate of killings. In the past 6 years, its 8,500 residents have seen 11 murders take place on their doorstep. With one murder per 4,644 people every year, its rate is 5 times higher than in Glasgow as a whole and is more than 10 times the average in Scotland.

Knife carrying is a major problem among the young in Scotland. Between 1999 and 2007, the number of under-18s convicted of carrying knives and other offensive weapons such as meat cleavers and swords rose from 281 to 487. Two thirds of stabbings go unreported so the number of cases must be higher than the official statistics.

23/02/09: THE LUCK OF THE IRISH ? Police in the Irish Republic finally caught up with the country’s most wanted driver. The Irish cops were searching for serial car offender PRAWO JAZDY as he racked up speeding and parking offences across the country, but had escaped justice by giving numerous different addresses. However, the police discovered that PRAWO JAZDY wasn’t one person – or even a person at all. It appears that officers booking Polish drivers had been taking down the title on the driving licence and not the forename and surname on the licence. An officer working in the Garda’s traffic division reluctantly admitted ‘PRAWO JAZDY’ was actually Polish for ‘driving licence’ !

23/02/09: ANOTHER BIG NAME FALLS VICTIM TO THE CREDIT CRUNCH: Swedish car giant, Saab, filed for bankruptcy throwing hundreds of jobs into doubt at car dealerships in the UK. The company announced it had applied for “reorganisation” allowing it to be either sold off by its US parent company General Motors or to go it alone as an independent business. The news came as it was announced that car production in the UK had dropped by 60% in the past 12 months.

24/02/09: GUANTANAMO BAY PRISONER FREED: British-born Binyam Mohamed, who is of Ethiopian descent, was released after 7 years of imprisonment at the notorious Guantanamo Bay Prison in Cuba. He said that his life as a prisoner was “an experience I never thought to encounter in my darkest nightmares”. He was arrested in Pakistan in 2002 and flown to Guantanamo Bay. Mohamed said he had been abducted, hauled from one country to the next and tortured in mediaeval ways – all directed by the US Government. At Guantanamo Bay, he said his captors forcibly injected him with heroin (Mohamed was a reformed heroin addict), his chest and genitals were slashed with a scalpel and boiling water poured into the wounds. He also alleged that British intelligence agency MI5 was aware of what was happening to him but did nothing. The US had accused him of plotting terror attacks in America but the charges were dropped in October 2008 and Britain requested his release. The US Government denies the allegations of torture. Mr Mohamed was flown back to the UK where his immediate future was uncertain.

25/02/09: Iran moved a A TALE FROM DRUMMY HIGH IRAN’S NUCLEAR TESTS: step nearer to becoming a nuclear power with a test run Teachers are used to pupils telling them that of its atomic power plant during a visit by the head of they taught their older brothers, sisters, mothers Russia’s state atomic energy corporation. Iran’s nuclear or fathers. However, one member of staff who ambitions are a source of concern to the western powers shall be nameless was informed by a diminutive and to Israel. Iran’s president has made it clear in the first year “You taught ma granny’s boyfriend!” past that it is his country’s intent to “wipe Israel off the map”.

25/02/09: JUSTICE MINISTER REFUSED TO RELEASE CABINET PAPERS ON IRAQ INVASION: Jack Straw, the Westminster Justice Minister, vetoed the order to publish the Cabinet minutes from the run-up to the Iraq war that contained controversial legal advice on whether the 2003 invasion was permissible under international law. The announcement was greeted at Westminster with jeers and catcalls from MPs. Labour’s Andrew McKinlay said “It really is appalling and a bad day for parliament when you get a closing down of debate and discussion on things which must be revealed”. So much for freedom of information in a country which prides itself in being a democracy.

TV FOR SALE

“Dae ye want tae buy a 42-inch plasma telly fur fifty quid ?” asked a chap in the pub the other night. “The volume control disnae work” he added “but ye widnae want tae turn it doon at that price !”

26/02/09: TAXPAYER TO HELP BANKS TO SURVIVE: The Government is to offer the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Bank guarantees of £600 billion against toxic assets (bad investments made by the banks in the past) in a final attempt to help them survive through the credit crunch. This huge sum will be provided by the taxpayer. Surprisingly, Sir Fred Goodwin, who was chief executive of RBS and one of those responsible for the current banking crisis, received a pension of £650,000 a year for life. There have been demands for him to give it back. So far, he has refused to do so. The Government is now considering legal action to force Goodwin to surrender his pension deal.

MODERN STUDIES STANDARD GRADE

CREDIT LEVEL PAPER

DATE: 10TH December 2008

TIME: 1.00 – 2.45

Candidate’s Name: Class:

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Read every question carefully

2. Answer all the questions as fully as you can

3. If you cannot answer a question go on to the next one. Try again later

4. This question paper must be handed in to the invigilator at the end of the examination

History quiz – modern studies questions

1. In which year did the new Scottish Parliament open ?

2. When the new Scottish Parliament came into being, who was its First Minister ?

3. How many MSPs sit in the Scottish Parliament ?

4. Name the MSP for the Glasgow-Anniesland constituency.

5. At present, which political party has the most MSPs in the Scottish Parliament ?

6. Who is that party’s leader and what other post does he hold ?

7. What is the annual salary of Scotland’s First Minister ?

8. What name is given to the system of voting used to elect MSPs to the Scottish Parliament ?

9. Which of the following is the Scottish Parliament not allowed to pass laws on:-

(a) Education (b) Law & Order (c) Defence (d) Health

10. How much did it cost to build the Scottish Parliament building and where is it located ?

Answers

1. 1999 2. Donald Dewar 3. 129 4. Bill Butler 5. Scottish National Party 6. Alex Salmond 7. £129,998 8. Proportional Respresentation (Additional Member Voting System) 9. Defence 10. Estimated at £414 million. It is located at Holyrood in Edinburgh Living in a Democracy

Knowledge & Understanding

Answer the following questions in your jotter

SECTION 1: DEMOCRACY

1. The UK is a ‘democracy’. What does this mean ?

2. Voters in Scotland have the opportunity to vote on four different occasions. For whom are they voting ?

3. The UK is a ‘constitutional monarchy’. What does this mean ?

4. The Scottish Parliament is a ‘devolved’ parliament. What does this mean ?

5. Give one example of a ‘power’ which rests with the Westminster Parliament and not the Holyrood Parliament. 6. Give an example which explains the difference between a ‘right’ and a ‘responsibility’.

7. What is meant by the term ‘representative’ ?

8. How can people ‘participate’ in UK politics ?

SECTION 2: THE LEGISLATURE

9. What is meant by the term ‘legislature’ ?

10.Describe the three types of bills which pass through Parliament.

11.Explain the stage-by-stage procedure used in the UK Parliament for passing a bill.

12.How many members has (i) the House of Commons (ii) the House of Lords ?

Living in a Democracy

1. Explain how MPs vote in the House of Commons.

2. What job is done by the Speaker of the House of Commons ?

3. What name is given to the MPs who sit (i) on the two front rows to the Speaker’s right (ii)on the two front rows to the Speaker’s left ?

4. What work is done by the Party Whips ?

5. Name the three main political parties in the Westminster Parliament.

6. What information is contained in each Party’s ‘manifesto’ ?

7. How are Party candidates selected ?

8. Why might a Government call an election early ? 9. What things can the Parties do to attract voters ?

10. Name (a) your constituency (b) your MP (c) your MSP.

11.Explain how the voting procedure works.

1. What name is given to the UK system of voting ?

2. Explain the terms “majority government” and “minority government”.

3. Explain the terms “safe seat” and “marginal seat”.

4. What is a “floating voter” ?

5. What do “opinion polls” tell the political parties ?

6. Why is the UK electoral system unfair to smaller political parties ?

7. Which form of electoral system would the smaller parties prefer ?

8. What name is given to the electoral system used to elect MSPs to the Scottish Parliament ? 9. How many members has the Scottish Parliament ?

10.How often are MSPs elected ?

11.How often are MPs elected to the Westminster Parliament ?

1. What is the job of the UK Government ?

2. Who sits in the Cabinet ?

3. List some of the ways in which members of the public can participate in UK politics.

4. Explain what a “sectional pressure group” is and give an example of one.

5. Explain what a “promotional pressure group” is and give an example of one. 6. What criticisms are there of pressure groups and their activities ?

7. Visit to Auschwitz On 16th October, fifth year Drumchapel High School pupil Danielle Smith and Mr Castle of the Modern Studies Department flew, along with a hundred or so pupils from schools throughout Scotland, to Krakow in Poland. The purpose of the trip was to visit Auschwitz, the extermination camp where a million and a quarter people were murdered by the Nazis during World War II.

In the morning, pupils were taken through the camp gate with its legend “Arbeit Macht Frei” (Work makes you free) forged in steel above the entrance. The Auschwitz camp (known as Auschwitz 1) now serves as a museum which documents the history of what took place there over a five-year period. Pupils saw chilling reminders of the holocaust – mountains of human hair, spectacles, artificial limbs and pairs of shoes belonging to some of those who died there. Particularly moving was the contents of the suitcases carried by those who thought they were being resettled in Poland, not exterminated. These included children’s clothes, toys and family photographs. Pupils were also permitted to enter one of the gas chambers and saw the crematorium adjacent to it.

The afternoon centred on a visit to Auschwitz 2, known as Birkenau. Unlike Auschwitz 1 which was originally built as a concentration camp, Birkenau was a custom-built killing factory designed to slaughter tens of thousands quickly and efficiently. Pupils visited the guard tower (known as “The Death Gate”) at the camp entrance and walked to the railway siding where the incoming cattle wagons spilled their unknowing victims onto the platform where camp doctors decided who should live and who should die. Amongst the latter were women, children, the aged and the infirm. Most would be dead within two hours of arrival. The remains of the camp hospital, where the notorious Dr Mengele and his assistants worked experimenting on children (especially twins), dwarfs, the physically deformed and the mentally ill.

The day concluded with a short service of remembrance at the Auschwitz Memorial in Birkenau and, in the fading light, candles were lit and placed along the railway track which had delivered its countless victims including Jews, gypsies, homosexuals, Slavs and political prisoners to the awaiting gas chambers.

The visit was a highly emotional experience for all the participants and one never to be forgotten.

CMC Drumchapel Constituency electoral register

Election Day – Thursday 25 th September 2008

Kaitlin Bagley Nicloe Benson Logan Brown Lacey Bruce Elias da Silva Jack Duffy Gemma Graham Natalie Gunn Gemma Halliday Michael Hardie Shehan Hegurgamage Hannah Jeffrey Amy Kemp Hannah Leishman Mandi McKenzie Craig McDonald Chelsea Moir Grant Mooney Hussein Mussa Declan Shanley Gary Sinclair Sophie Stowell Caitlan Taylor Margaret-Anne Walker My Party’s Policies

Party:

Help Stamp Out Torture Ballot paper

Ballot paper

Supported Study

Supported Study sessions for S5/6 will take place

Tuesday ………………………..Mr Castle (Rm 129)

Thursday ………………………Miss Reid (Rm 122) S1 modern studies internet report sheet

Famous dictators Pupil’s Name: Class:

The dictator I have chosen to write about is .

I chose him because .

my report

Modern Studies Department practical work:- posters / leaflets / rosettes / newspapers returning officer

Here are the results of the Drumchapel High Elections:-

Stephanie Graham: DRUMMY DEMOCRATS PARTY =

Macaulay Kavanagh: DRUMMY DRAGONS PARTY =

Demi Lee: DRUMMY BURDZ PARTY =

Karen Neil: SHOOTING STARS PARTY =

I therefore declare that has been elected as Member of Parliament for

Drumchapel High.

Modern studies in s1 & S2

Modern Studies is essentially a current affairs subject and this is reflected in it’s study themes.

Students in S1 study three topics:-  Rules, Laws & Parliament  Conflict & Human Rights  Environmental Issues

These topics investigate why we need rules and laws in society, why there is conflict in countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan and what happens to those innocent victims of war caught up in the killing and recognises the threat to our planet caused by global warming.

Students in S2 also study three topics:-  Terrorism  Problems of the Developing World  The USA

These topics investigate the rise and impact of terrorism and measures which can be taken to counteract it, the impact of famine, disease, war, dictatorship and debt on the poorest nations of the world and a study of the USA which includes social issues such as poverty, racism and gun crime as well as the USA’s influence on international affairs. What is learned in Modern Studies can be viewed as preparation for life in an adult world.

Modern studies in s1 & S2

Parents: What You Will See

Members of Classes 1A and 1B have been working on a unit entitled:-

RULES, LAWS AND PARLIAMENT

Part of this involves the pupils simulating what actually happens when, as voters, they go to the polling station.

Some of the samples of work on display relate to pre-election activities. They include:-

Making election Posters

Designing Election Leaflets & Rosettes

Preparing Party Speeches

Printing Front-Page Newspaper Articles

Producing Ballot Papers

Fabricating & Painting a Ballot Box

As in a real election, each pupil voter enters the polling station then follows a set procedure:-

Give His / Her Name to a Polling Clerk Who Deletes Them From the Electoral Register

A Second Polling Clerk Gives the Pupil a Ballot Paper The Pupil Takes This to a Polling Booth at the Back of The Room

Once the Pupil Has Cast His / Her Vote, It is Placed in the Ballot Box

When the Polling Stations Close, the Votes are Taken Away to be Counted

When the Result is Known, the Presiding Officer will Announce the Result

By doing this, each pupil is learning how to play their part as adults living in a democracy.

The Modern Studies Department

Presents A Visit to the Polling Station

A Project for Modern Studies Pupils in First Year

Jonathan brown

Darron harkison

Daryl mcgeachin

Jordan McGroarty Jonathan brown

Darron harkison

Daryl mcgeachin

Jordan McGroarty

Jonathan brown

Darron harkison

Daryl mcgeachin

Jordan McGroarty

Election speech

For Candidate

Macaulay kavanagh Hi ! I belong to a Party called THE DRUMMY DRAGONS and am speaking on behalf of our

candidate, Macaulay Cavanaugh.

If he is elected, the things he would like to change in school include putting an end to bullying

because a lot of people are getting hurt by it or maybe even hurting themselves. Another thing he would do is to brighten up the classrooms because some of them are very dull. He also wants to get nicer teachers as most of them are a too strict.

The things he would change in the area would be, first of all, to put a stop gang fighting because a lot of people are scared to leave their own houses because of it. Another thing would be stop

people dropping litter because it is making the environment look as if no one cares when, in fact

a lot of people do.

There is also a need to have more places for young people to go because, if you were a child nine years of age, you wouldn’t be able to go out into your own street without being scared of all the fighting which takes place, so that is why we should have more places to go in our own streets and that is why you should vote for Macaulay Cavanaugh – your DRUMMY DRAGONS candidate.

Macaulay Cavanaugh & the drummy dragons party

Election speech

For candidate Stephanie graham

Hi ! I belong to a Party called THE DRUMMY DEMOCRATS and Stephanie Graham is our candidate.

If my Party is elected, we will try to stop litter so that it does not pollute the environment.

We will also build more parks for children to play in so that they don’t get bored and we will get more CCTV cameras in the area to prevent crime.

In Drumchapel High School, we will change the dinners in the Fuel Zone as most of the pupils don’t like them that much. We will also build an assembly hall because, when there are exams on, the pupils miss out on PE because the gyms are where the pupils have to go to sit their exams.

We will also make sure there is no fighting as it gives the school a bad name.

We are the best –

Better than the rest

Stephanie graham & the drummy democrats party

Election speech For Candidate

Karen neil

Hi! I belong to the SHOOTING STARS Party and our candidate is Karen Neil.

If my Party was to be elected, we would change a few things in Scottish schools.

To start with, we would have lockers for everyone. Lockers would make the school day much easier because it would save pupils from carrying around their heavy bags.

We would also arrange to get an inside swimming pool in Drumchapel High. If every school had a swimming pool, it would save everyone from going to the local leisure centre. It would also be a change from doing PE.

In some schools, there isn’t an assembly hall. The pupils have to share it with their lunch hall so that’s why we are trying to get every school their very own assembly hall.

It’s not just school changes that we want to get involved with. It’s the environment we also want to protect. We would like to add some more trees to the area and also some more flowers.

If we succeed in this, it would make Drumchapel a nicer and pleasanter place.

It would be good if we could arrange to have more clubs for kids. It would keep them from being bored and hanging about the streets.

The biggest thing that we would want to do would be to build a cinema in the area. A cinema would bring more entertainment to Drumchapel.

That is the end of my speech. It is now down to you to make your choice. Choose the right one and vote for us.

Karen neil & the shooting stars party

Election speech

For Candidate

Demi lee

Hi ! My Party’s name is THE DRUMMY BURDS and our candidate is Demi Lee. If you vote for our Party we would make sure that Drumchapel would be cleared of drug dealers and drug users because they give the area a bad name. We would also make sure that there were more things for young people like sports centres, a new swimming pool and clubs and discos. We would also make sure that land which is not used would have buildings put up on them especially new houses to replace some of the older ones in the area.

At Drumchapel High, we would make sure that signs were put up on each floor of the building so that pupils, parents and staff would know where they were going and wouldn’t get lost. We would also make the school holidays longer and the school day shorter – even the teachers think this is a good idea ! Lastly, we would open a cinema in Drumchapel. This would mean that people in the area wouldn’t have to travel to Clydebank to watch a film.

Please vote for our Party. Thank you for listening. DRUMMY BURDS are better than the rest.

Demi lee & the drummy burdz party Demi lee Drummy burdz party

Karen neil Shooting stars party

Macaulay cavanagh Drummy dragons party

Stephanie graham Drummy democrats party

Demi lee Drummy burdz party

Karen neil Shooting stars party

Macaulay cavanagh Drummy dragons party

Stephanie graham Drummy democrats party

MODERN STUDIES STANDARD GRADE

FOUNDATION QUESTION PAPER

DECEMBER 2007

Candidate’s Name: Class:

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Read every question carefully 2. Answer the questions as fully as you can

3. If you cannot answer a question go on to the next one and try again later

4. This question paper must be handed in to the invigilator at the end of the examination

HIGHER NABS TEST – DECISION-MAKING IN CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

Tuesday 13 TH November 2007

Time: 35 minutes

Some pressure groups are more successful than others.

Discuss.

Your answer should include:

 description and development of pressure groups, with relevant examples , evidence of pressure groups being successful in both influencing Government policy and / or achieving their aims.  presentation and analysis of evidence that allows for balanced comment and conclusions on the view that some pressure groups are more successful than others.

INTERMEDIATE 2 NABS TEST – DECISION-MAKING IN CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

TUESDAY 13 TH November 2007

Study Theme 2 Government & Decision-Making in Central Government

Time: 35 minutes

Pressure Groups of all kinds play an important role in influencing political decisions.

Explain the ways in which pressure groups attempt to influence political decisions.

Make sure that in your answer you:  describe at least two methods used by pressure groups  explain how groups use them to attempt to influence political decisions  give relevant examples

INTERMEDIATE 1 NABS TEST – DECISION-MAKING IN CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

TUESDAY 13 TH November 2007

Study Theme 2 Government & Decision-Making in Central Government

Time: 25 minutes

Newspapers play a large part in influencing politics in the U.K.

(a) Describe two ways newspapers can influence politics in the U.K.

In your answer, you should:  describe two ways newspapers can influence politics in the U.K.

 give examples to support your answer

The Prime Minister is the most powerful member of Parliament.

(b) Give two reasons why the Prime Minister is the most powerful member of Parliament.

In your answer you should:

 give two reasons why the Prime Minister is the most powerful member of Parliament

 explain each of your reasons

 give examples to support your answer

Question 5 The USA G

(a) The USA is described as a ‘Land of Opportunity’ but some members of ethnic minorities often do less well when it comes to education, housing or employment.

Choose one of the topics from the box above, namely education or housing or employment.

Give two reasons why some members of ethnic minority groups often do less well than white Americans in the topic you have chosen.

In your answer, you must refer to ethnic minority groups in the USA that you have studied.

(Knowledge & Understanding 4 marks)

(b) Study Sources 1 and 2 below, then answer the question which follows.

SOURCE 1

Newspaper Report – The State of the American Economy

The USA has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $40,100. American firms are at or near the forefront in technological advances, especially in computers and in medical, aerospace, and military equipment.

At the same time, however, the USA has long-term economic problems which include inadequate investment in infrastructure, sizeable trade and budget deficits, and stagnation of family income in the lower economic groups. SOURCE 2

Economic Statistics – USA

Budget: revenues $1,862 trillion; expenditures $2,338 trillion Exports: $795 billion Imports: $1,476 trillion External Debt: $1.4 trillion Public Debt: 65% of GDP

SOURCE 3

America is currently living beyond its means and is storing up economic problems for future generations to deal with.

Using only Sources 1 and 2 above, give two reasons to support the view of the leading economist.

Your answer must be based entirely on the sources above. (Enquiry Skills 4 marks)

You are investigating the topic in the box below. The work of the US Congress

Answer questions (c), (d) and (e) which follows.

(c) As part of the planning stage of your investigation, give two relevant aims for your investigation. (Enquiry Skills 2 marks)

(d) You decide to use the Internet to gather information about the work of the US Congress.

Give two ways in which you could use the Internet to help with your investigation.

(Enquiry Skills 2 marks)

(e) You also decide to use a library as a source for your investigation.

Describe one advantage and one disadvantage of using a library as a source to find out about the work of Congress. (Enquiry Skills 4 marks) Page 14

QUESTION 5 C

(A) Ethnic minorities in the USA have made considerable political and social progress in recent years.

What arguments could be put forward for and against this point of view ?

(Knowledge & Understanding, 8 marks)

(b) Study the information below, then answer the question which follows. The recovery of the US economy which started in 2001 is currently providing significant benefits to working families.

Give one reason to support and one reason to oppose the view of Gemma McKean. Explain your answer.

(Enquiry Skills, 6 marks)

(c) Study the information below, then answer the question which follows. Using only the information above, give two conclusions about the results of the 2004 US Presidential Election.

(Enquiry Skills, 4 marks)

For Tuesday’s Bulletin (27 th November)

A group of S3 Modern Studies pupils will be participating in a series of workshops arranged by the Red Cross in connection with HIV and AIDS Awareness Day. As a consequence of this, they will be absent from classes during Periods 1 and 2. A list of the participants is printed below:-

3D1 Alana Barclay 3W1 3D2 Aaron Aitken 3W1 Jennifer Barnshaw 3W1 Ricky Booth 3W1 David Craig 3W1 Stephen Cusik 3W1 Gemma Aire 3W2 Matthew Findlay 3W2 Darian Gilfillan ` 3W2 Stacey Wallace 3W2 Patrick Farrell 3W2 Nicole Aitken 3X1 Natalie Forrester 3X1 Samantha Ramage 3X2 Rebecca Hurt 3X1 Donald Rankin 3X2 Colin McCrann 3X2 Kellie Smith 3X2 Amy Leishman 3X2 Baris Kurt 3Y1 Zoe MacAreavey 3X2 Alistair Baker 3Z1 Thos Fullerton 3Y1 Michael Campbell 3Z1 Lynn McReady 3Y2 Scott Morton 3Y2 Mark Evans 3Z1 Emma English 3Z1 Colin Lamont 3Z1 Heather Mullen 3Z1 James Sweeney 3Z1

Apologies for the short notice and any inconvenience this may cause.

Newspaper Date & Price

Newspaper Name

Child Soldier Headline

Colourful Picture

Main Story

Colourful Picture S5/6 Modern Studies

Attendance

Name Class

Ainslie Bain 5W

Richard Barnshaw 6

Stephanie Farrell 6

Samir Hasanov 5Y

Stephanie McCallum 5Y

Marlene Madenge 5Z

Natasha Milliken 5Z

Sufyan Rashid 5X

Khadidja Rebika 5X

Laura Spence 6

Michael White 5X CONTENTS

 BBC report on illegal immigrants (USA) – (5 mins)  “30 Days” – Minute Man lives with illegal immigrant family (50 mins)  “ Robert Taylor Flats” Chicago – (50 mins)  “ The Simpsons” – Tony Blair – (25 mins) MODERN STUDIES DEPARTMENT

Advice to Students and Classroom Support Staff

MARKING IN S1/2

When marking pupils’ jotters in S1 and S2, consideration should be given to the following:-  Does each set of questions have (a) a heading and (b) a date ?

 Are the pupils’ answers written in sentences ?

 Does the content accurately reflect the content of the lesson or unit booklet ?

 Is the work well-presented in terms of (a) grammar, (b) writing and (c) layout ?

In S1, some leeway in these matters can be allowed for as each pupil is adjusting to the procedures and working arrangements of secondary school and new experiences. This is especially true with the first two S1 blocks in the rota from August to October.

It is also important to reward good work with praise eg either a written comment or a praise stamp examples of which are given below:-

Where appropriate, it is important to steer pupils towards the next step in the learning process eg “Now that you have learned this, what will be your next step ?”. By doing this, the teacher becomes a facilitator of learning placing the onus on the pupils to take responsibility for their own learning . (See Modern Studies Departmental Handbook – Formative Assessment).

Modern studies department

Raising attainment (September 2007)

Contents Item 1: S3 Pupil Expectations Sheet

Item 2: Modern Studies Skills – Notes for Teachers

Item 3: Modern Studies S1 Skills Unit

Item 4: Modern Studies S1 Writing Skills Unit

Item 5: Modern Studies – Functional Writing Unit

Item 6: M St Standard Grade Revision Notes (exemplar)

Item 7: Standard Grade Checklist (Exemplar)

Item 8: “What did I Learn in Modern Studies Today ?”

Item 9: Modern Studies S4 Personal Improvement Plan

Dear Mr Smeaton,

S2 pupils at Drumchapel High School will shortly be studying a Modern Studies course unit on ‘Terrorism’. This normally lasts around seven weeks and has proved popular with students because of its relevance to present-day life. In it, we examine the motives for, examples of, and ways to combat terrorism. We also look at international responses to terrorism through inter-state cooperation. The course is supported by a range of video materials including the 7/11 attacks, the Bali and Madrid bombings, the Beslan School massacre in Russia, the 7/7 London bombings and the kidnapping of Ken Bigley.

The purpose of this letter is to ask if you would be willing to come and speak to some of our pupils about the failed bomb attack at Glasgow Airport on 30th June in which you played a significant role and for which you, among others, were singled out for praise. As you are well aware, images of the attack were shown world-wide and this display of terrorism sadly raised awareness here in Glasgow that everyone is at risk no matter where they live.

I sincerely hope that you will honour us with a visit although I know there may be obstacles (eg getting time off work to attend) but your bravery is an example to others and every generation needs its heroes. Regrettably, the school cannot pay you a fee but we can pay your transport expenses.

If you would like to come, we can finalise the details by phone or e-mail. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

Colin Castle (Principal Teacher / Modern Studies)

Spotted on the web - 3 rd July ‘07

“Get him cloned – A wee regiment of Smeatos will soon sort out the world’s wars !” Character / Academic Reference for Ms Pauline McFadden Dear Sir / Madam,

I have known Pauline McFadden for the past seven years in my capacity as her Modern Studies teacher and later as a family friend during which time I have been very impressed by her application, industry, commitment and ambition.

Ms McFadden is a highly intelligent, unassuming young lady with a mature attitude who puts every effort into her studies and consistently produces work of a very high standard. Her school attendance was excellent, her behaviour impeccable and she was (and remains) an excellent role model for others.

Ms McFadden has always harboured academic ambitions. These she fulfilled at Glasgow Caledonian University last year by gaining an Honours degree in Sociology. That she wishes to undertake a post-graduate teaching qualification comes as no surprise and I know she will make every effort to achieve this as a stepping stone towards already mapped out career goals.

As a potential post-graduate student, Ms McFadden has all the necessary attributes. She is hard-working, diligent and conscientious. I cannot commend her to you more highly. Should you wish to discuss this matter further please contact me at the above address.

Yours faithfully,

Colin Castle

(Principal Teacher / Modern Studies)

Pauline’s e-mail address: [email protected]

February 23, 1997: Fire onboard!

During a routine ignition of an oxygen-generating canister, cosmonaut Alexander Lazutkin suddenly faces a flame going out of control. Before the crew puts on gas masks and extinguishes the fire, a multi-module complex, including the Soyuz spacecraft, their only "lifeboat" is filled with smoke. Fortunately, the station's life-support system eventually "clears the air."

June 25, 1997: The collision!

The same Russian crew including Vasiliy Tsibliev and Alexander Lazutkin, which just several months ago was battling flames on Mir, plus NASA astronaut Michael Foale, found themselves in the middle of the worst collision in space history. During a docking test with the use of remote control onboard the station, Tsibliev lost control of a tumbling cargo ship. The vehicle collides with the station and seconds later, the crew onboard Mir hears a hissing sound of air escaping their vessel. Miraculously, almost instantly, the crewmembers were able to locate the air leak to Spektr module. After short struggle to find cutting tools, they severed the cables leading into the Spektr and safely sealed the hatches.

July 1997:

In July 1997, a cosmonaut, Alexander Lazutkin, added another footnote in the logbook of Mir's accident- prone operation when he disconnected an important cable, setting the vessel adrift without solar power. The Russian denied stress or tiredness were responsible for the accident. He said he simply made a mistake.

Mir commander declared unfit for repairs American astronaut may make spacewalk

July 16, 1997 Web posted at: 3:24 p.m. EDT (1924 GMT)

MOSCOW (CNN) -- The commander of the Mir is unfit to repair the crippled Russian space station and NASA has tentatively agreed to have his American crewmate train for the crucial mission, Russian officials said Wednesday. But NASA gave conflicting accounts as to whether an agreement had been reached to let U.S. astronaut Michael Foale begin preparing for the mission. Foale is being considered for the repair mission because commander Vasily Tsibliyev is suffering from an irregular heartbeat and has been declared unfit for the much-needed repairs. "We have tentatively agreed that the American astronaut and the Russian flight engineer (Alexander Lazutkin) will have a practice run on Monday, July 21," said Russian Mission Control chief Vladimir Solovyov. "Then, we'll make a final decision with our NASA colleagues on whether to carry out the spacewalk." ALEXANDER LAZUTKIN

When the Soyuz capsule bearing the ill-fated Mir crew hit the Kazakh steppe in mid-August, the landing "wasn't as soft as it could have been," engineer Alexander Lazutkin later recalled. The former gymnast has clearly mastered the art of Right Stuff understatement. In his spartan apartment on the edge of Moscow, Lazutkin speaks of Mir in the most sanguine tones. "The inquisition is over," he reports, "and so far, no fines."

In the meantime, he isn't worrying about his paycheck. He's considering doing what so many retired Politburo and KGB bigwigs have done: writing his memoirs. Maybe with the royalties, he'd be able to move his wife Lyudmilla and daughters Natasha, 13, and Yevgeniya, 8, out of the apartment he's lived in since 1961.

After two weeks of R. and R. on the Black Sea, Lazutkin and Tsibliyev are on tour, hitting six German cities to promote the space program. Despite his ordeal, Lazutkin remembers Mir fondly. "Up there, there's something worth watching. The earth...the northern lights. You fly like a bird. And you can't fathom how people could possibly walk." He'd still love to take another spin onboard. The odds, however, are slim.

Monday, Sep. 15, 1997 By ANDREW MEIER

So it wasn't the fault of the commander with an aching heart, after all. In an exclusive interview with TIME, cosmonaut ALEXANDER LAZUTKIN revealed that it was he--not Russian commander VASILY TSIBLIYEV or NASA astronaut MICHAEL FOALE--who accidentally disconnected the fateful cable on board Mir in mid-July, sending the Russian space station into its second dance with death of the summer. "It was my fault," Lazutkin said softly, sipping coffee in his cramped two-room apartment on Moscow's northeast edge. "It was at night, and I was in the process of undoing something like 50, 60 or 70 cables. I don't even remember now how many."

Engineer Lazutkin and Tsibliyev, who returned to Earth last month, face fierce recriminations and quite possibly a stiff fine. Last week VALERY RYUMIN, the Russian head of the Mir shuttle program and the deputy head of Energiya, the firm that built Mir, blamed the cosmonauts for Mir's troubled summer. But within days other top Russian space officials came to their defense. Lazutkin says he's willing to abide by the conclusions of a joint U.S.-Russian investigation that will deliver its judgment later this month, but he remains convinced that Russia's earthly shortfalls contributed to Mir's difficulties. "The collision and all that went wrong afterward were caused by a combination of factors, both on the station and on Earth," he said. "On Earth it's a cliche to say 'To err is human.' How come the same logic doesn't apply up there?"

Former Mir Crew Lashes Out at "Scapegoat" Claims The two Russian cosmonauts who spent six often- harrowing months on board the Russian space station Mir lashed out at those who wished to turn the crew into "scapegoats" by pinning the blame for the aging station's problems on them. Former Mir commander Vasily Tsibliev and flight engineer Alexander Lazutkin spoke at a press conference August 16, two days after they returned to Earth in a Soyuz capsule after six months on Mir. "Attempts are being made to blame us for this unlucky voyage," Tsibliev said. "It's easy to pin the blame on the crew. As always in Russia, people are looking for a scapegoat." "I consider that our mission was very successful," Tsibliev said, explaining that the mission was successful because "we returned alive and in good health." Tsibliev was responding to reports in the Russian press as well as comments by Russian President Boris Yeltsin which seemed to pin the blame for the June collision of the Progress spacecraft with Mir's Spektr module on "human error." An irritated Tsibliev placed the blame on funding problems for the Russian space program. "A significant number of mishaps befell our crew," he said. "In my view, they originate on Earth, from the state of our economy, the problems afflicting our life, the cutbacks." Despite the problems on Mir, Tsibliev agreed with Russian officials who believe Mir can continue to be used until 1999. "I think Mir will keep flying for more than another year," he said. Tsibliev and Lazutkin returned to Earth August 14. Ironically, as another sign of problems with the Russian space program, braking rockets intended to fire just before touchdown failed, giving the returning cosmonauts a much stronger jolt than intended. Neither cosmonaut was injured, though. During their six months on Mir Tsibliev and Lazutkin had to deal with a flash fire that broke out from an oxygen-generating canister, problems with the oxygen generator and carbon dioxide removal systems, leaking antifreeze from a balky coolant system, and the multitude of problems from the Progress-Spektr collision. In the weeks that followed the collision, Tsibliev developed an irregular heartbeat, believed to be caused by the stress following the accident. Tsibliev's heart problems forced Russian planners to eventually delay a planned repair spacewalk until after a new crew took station.

Mir 23 Flight Engineer Alexander Lazutkin eventually confessed to pulling the wrong plug, and blaming Tsibliev. He also took responsibility for the 2/23 fire. <26>

XVII Congress of the Association of Space Explorers Almaty, Kazakhstan September 26 – October 2, 2001 Commemorative Poster

This poster commemorates the 17th Planetary Congress of the Association of Space Explorers (ASE). The Congress took place September 26 – October 2, 2001 in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Bearing the authentic signatures of the participating astronauts from 8 nations, it is part of a series of limited edition posters that have been produced and signed at each ASE Congress since the Association was founded in 1985; 174 of these posters were signed at the 17th Congress.

The poster has two headings, the main heading in English at the top, with the Russian displayed at the bottom. Around the periphery are printed translations of “Association of Space Explorers” in the native languages of all ASE members who have flown in space. Clockwise, from upper left with English at the top, they include Vietnamese, Hindi, Bulgarian, Italian, Afghani, German, Polish, Japanese, Romanian, Dutch, Czech, Hungarian, Mongolian, Spanish, Arabic and French.

The central image of the poster was painted by cosmonaut Alexei Leonov and represents a Soyuz booster superimposed over a representation of the Aral Sea; the lily is the national flower of Kazakhstan. The background is taken from NASA archive photo # 83 HC 213 which has been used for each set of posters in the series

Visit to drumchapel high school

By Russian cosmonaut & nasa engineer

14 th June 2007

Fun day trip – sunday 24 th June

Itinerary By coach to Stirling Castle - tour of Stirling Castle - return by coach to Cumbernauld Heliport - Helicopter trip to Stirling flying over Castle and Wallace Monument – return to school from Cumbernauld by coach

Cost Each pupil will be required to pay £30 towards cost of trip

Number of places 21 pupils + 4 staff

pupils already going on trip

Jennifer Cunningham (S6) Maxine McReadie (5Y) Marc McKenzie (5Y) Georgia McKay (5Y) Jade Kerr (5Z) Lisa Barr (5W) Laura Spence (5X) Jamie Sweeney (5X) Scott Linn (5Z) Ainslie Bain (4W1) Sufyan Rashid (4X1) Mariam Tanveer (4X2) Samir Hasanov (4Y1) Ahmadwali Stanizay (4Z1) Caritas Ndige (4Z2) Bakhtawar Tanveer (3X2) Billy Best (3W1) Joey Satganalingam (4Z2)

20 places – 1 available

Staff: B McKenna C Castle G Roberts K McDonald Jim Dunn Modern Studies

Ms Catherine Reid Peebles High School Tel: 01721 720 291

2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. G 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. MODERN STUDIES 65. STANDARD GRADE 66. 67. GENERAL ANSWERS BOOKLET 68. 69. PRESENTATION GROUP – NOVEMBER 2006 70. 71. TIME:10.20 – 11.50 72. 73. 74. 75. Candidate’s Name: Class:

76. 77. 78. 79. INSTRUCTIONS 80. 81. 82. Use this booklet to answer the questions in your examination paper 83. 84. If you need another booklet, ask the invigilator for a copy 85. 86. The Answers Booklet(s) must be handed in to the invigilator at the end of the examination 87. 88. 89. 90. 91. 92. 93. 94. 95. 96. 97. 98. 99. 100. 101. 102. 103. 104. 105. 106. 107. 108. 109. 110. 111. 112. 113. 114. 115. 116. 117. 118. 119. 120. 121. 122. 123. 124. 125. 126. 127. 128. 129.To: Wilson Blakey (SMT / Head Teacher) 130. 131.Copies to: Carol Taylor (SMT / Head of Year Group) 132. Jackie Anderson (Pastoral Care) 133. Martin McGovern (Behavioural Support) 134. 135.Date: 18th May 2006 136. 137. 138. Liza Campbell (2W2) 139. 140.On 27th April, an incident occurred in Margaret Kirkwood’s Modern Studies class which has given me some cause for concern. Details of the incident are provided in Mrs Kirkwood’s Incident Report (see attachments) in which Lisa Campbell (2W2) incited another pupil, Jacqueline Hamilton (2Y1), to commit an act of violence on her person. Mrs Kirkwood would have been perfectly entitled to have had Lisa Campbell charged by the police although it is to her credit that she chose not to do so. 141. 142. This incident is the culmination of a series of incidents throughout the school involving this pupil whose clear intention is to disrupt classwork wherever and whenever possible. 143. 144. My concerns centre on her attitude to staff. These are as follows:- 145. 146. She is contemptuous of staff, defiant, argumentative and uncooperative. 147. 148. Her attitude to school and education in general is negative. 149. 150. She has a malign influence on some pupils (notably Jacqueline Hamilton) and is capable of intimidating others. 151. 152. I am aware that her behaviour elsewhere mirrors that experienced by Modern Studies staff. 153. 154. A glance at her record of attendance, referrals and suspensions shows that this behaviour has been on-going since the start of the session. 155. 156.Appeals to her better nature (!), endless BSTs, trips to area supervision, detention in the supervision room and weeks on a behaviour card have achieved nothing. 157. 158. Her absences are numerous, her sanctions list takes up five pages while her exclusions to date number eight. 159. 160. I would like to know what strategies are currently being used to address this problem other than the issue of daily behavioural performance sheets or what future strategies are planned. 161. 162. Carol Taylor (SMT) informed me that Lisa may be joining Right-Track in August and would therefore be off the scene for some time. This too concerns me as any anti- social behaviour from Lisa could result in her being sent back to school. Even if she stays the course, she will return to the DHS in S4. 163. 1 164. 165. While accepting that the SMT is limited by the constraints placed on it by the Authority when dealing with seriously disruptive pupils, I nevertheless feel that the point has now been reached where options have to be re-examined with a view to removing Lisa Campbell permanently from the school. 166. 167. Although she has opted for Modern Studies in S3, I have advised Mrs Taylor that I would like her name deleted from the section lists for next session. I know that the Home Economics Department has made a similar request; perhaps there are others ? 168. 169. 170. 171. Colin Castle 172. 173. (Modern Studies) 174. 175. 176. 177. 178. 179. 180. 181. 182. 183. 184. 185. 186. 187. 188. 189. 190. 191. 192. 193. 194. 195. 196. 197. 198. 199. 200. 201. 202. 203. 204. DATE 205. LESSON CONTENT COMMENTS 206. LESSON 207. 208.

209. 210. 211. 212. LESSON 213. 214.

215. 216. 217. LESSON 218. 219. 220.

221. 222. LESSON 223. DHS MODERN STUDIES DEPARTMENT 224. RECORD OF WORK FOR SESSION 2005-06 225. 226.YEAR LESSON GROUP : CLASS : TOPIC :

227. 228. 229. LESSON 230.

231. 232. 233. 234. LESSON 235. 236.

237. 238. 239. LESSON 240. 241. 242.

243. 244. LESSON 245. 246. 247. 248. LESSON 249.

TEACHER’S SIGNATURE: PT’S SIGNATURE: 250. 251. 252. 253. 254. 255. 256. 257. 258. 259. 260. 261. 262. 263. 264. 265. 266. 267. 268. 269. 270. 271. 272. 273. 274. 275. 276. 277. 278. 279. 280. 281. 282. 283. 284. 285. 286. 287. 288. The Taliban (meaning a seeker or student of knowledge is a Sunni Islamist Movement which ruled Afghanistan from 1996 until 2001. 289. 290. 291. The Taliban Movement was founded in 1994. Its aims were to remove the older Mujaheddin groups who were running the country, establish a united Islamic state and eliminate the drugs trade. 292. 293. 294. It rose to prominence in January 1995 when, after capturing the city of Kandahar, it defeated the forces of the Afghan Mujaheddin leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. The capital city, Kabul, fell to the Taliban in August 1996. The former President, Najibullah was publicly executed and strict Islamic law was imposed including banning television, forbidding females to go to work and schools and making beards compulsory for men. 295. 296. 297. By the end of 1996, the group controlled two thirds of Afghanistan and had imposed a strict Islamic regime, making Afghanistan the third country since 1979, after Iran and Sudan, to pass into the hands of an Islamic government. 298. 299. 300. 301. Despite the horrors witnessed by many Afghans during the Taliban years including the confiscation of private property, imprisonment without trial, torture and public floggings and executions, Afghanistan remains a country of great beauty, rich in culture and tradition as the following images testify………………… 302. 303. 304. 305. 306. 307. 308. 309. 310. 311. 312. 313. 314. 315. 316. THE EXECUTION OF PATRICK McNICHOLL 317. 318. 319. 320. 321. On 28th March 1718, Patrick McNichol was brought to the Gallow Hill by a troop of soldiers from Mugdock Castle. He was accompanied by three Kirk ministers who would comfort and bless him until he climbed the scaffold to the gallows. 322. 323. Each of the ministers in turn asked McNicholl a question:- 324. 325. 326.First Minister: “Did you intend to use violence against those who might try to prevent your escape ? 327. 328.Second Minister: “Were you carrying a weapon on the night you tried to escape ? 329. 330.Answer: “No” 331. 332.Third Minister: “Did you use violence against the deceased, John Graham ? 333. 334.Answer: “No” 335. 336. 337.Following this exchange, McNicholl asked the ministers to pray for his soul but not as a murderer – a crime for which he said he was innocent. He then mounted the scaffold, gazed around him and knelt for several minutes in prayer. When he stood up, the noose was placed around his neck by the executioner and he was immediately “dispatched”. 338. 339. It was common practice to leave the body of a condemned person dangling in the air as a warning to those who might commit the same crime. In Patrick McNicholl’s case, his family pleaded with the Marquis of Montrose to be allowed to cut down his body and carry it off to be buried alongside the grave of his father. The Marquis gave his permission although we do not know to this day where McNicholl’s body lies. 340. 341.His executioner received £20 for “turning off” McNicholl – a considerable sum of money for those days. 342. 343. 344. 345. 346. 347. 348. 349. 350. 351. 352. 353. 354. 355. 356. 357. 358. 359. 360. 361. 362. 363. 364. 365. 366. 367. 368. 369. 370. 371. 372. 373. 374. 375. 376. 377. 378. 379. 380. 381. 382. 383. 384. 385. 386. 387. 388. 389. 390. 391. 392. 393. 394. 395. 396. 397. 398. S2 Dictators Internet Sites 399. 400.Search Engines: Any of the following…………. 401. 402. 403.www.googlesearch.com 404. 405.www.askjeeves.co.uk 406. 407.www.infoplease.com 408. 409.www.answers.com 410. 411.www.monitor.co.uk 412. 413.www.photius.com 414. 415. 416. 417. 418. 419. 420. 421. 422. 423. 424. 425. 426. 427. 428. 429. 430. 431. 432. 433. 434. 435. 436. 437. 438. 439. 440. 441. 442. 443. 444. 445. 446. 447. 448. 449. 450. 451. 452. 453. 454. 455. 456. 457. 458. 459. Modern Studies Departmental Meeting – 30/11/05 460. 461. Minutes 462. 463.Item 1:- Departmental response to QA final report 464. 465. The final report has some variations compared to the verbal report given to me by QA inspector Frank Cooney. FC did point out that, as this was his first inspection, has report would have to be checked by QA senior inspector Allan Orr. While agreeing with most of his (AO’s) comments, I took issue over Point 3.2 (The Teaching Process). He commented:- 466. 467. “MS needs to develop a written policy on departmental monitoring 468. of teaching and learning through classroom observation and to 469. implement the department’s own Development Plan target to 470.monitor learning and teaching in classes.” 471. 472.The department has such a policy which can be found on Page 30 of the department handbook. I appended a copy of this to the QA report which has now been forwarded to the Head Teacher. 473. 474.Item 2:- Departmental Action Plan (2006-07) 475. 476. Following discussions with CM, it is my intention that, during the summer term, work will begin on addressing issues raised by the QA inspectorate. It is planned to target one issue per month for as long as is necessary so that the department is fully prepared for any future HMI or QA inspections. While the department received a positive report from the QA inspectorate, there are areas which still need improving. These are:- 477. 478. 1. Raising attainment 479. 480. Establishing clear assessment procedures at Higher level 481. 482. 3. Introducing a Higher pupils’ course booklet which includes an assessment section 483. 484. Involving pupils in the assessment of their own work 485. 486. 5. More systematic self-evaluation to articulate with department development plan 487. 488. 6. Production of a Standards & Quality Report (priority) 489. 490.Item 3:- Progress in Standard Grade, Intermediate 1, 2 and Higher courses 491. 492. At present, S3 classes are sitting end-of-unit tests (Living in a Democracy). 3D section is making steady progress but 3E section is struggling due to variable attendance, inability to cope with course demands and general apathy. S4 sections have just completed an end-of-unit test with depressing results. The S5/6 Int 1 / 2 class is also experiencing some difficulty with several Int 2 pupils having to be downgraded to Int 1. Some downgrading may also have to take place in the S5/6 Higher section. 493. 494.1 495. 496. Apart from adopting more stringent selection procedures next session, the department may well have to reconsider the introduction of Access courses and provide an additional enterprise option for pupils in S3-5. 497. 498.Item 4:- Prelim examination diet 499. 500. CM producing Standard Grade F, G and C papers which should be completed by the end of this week. 501. 502.Item 5:- Departmental requisition – new materials (texts + ICT hard- and software) 503. 504. LCD multi-media projector + splitter cable 505. 506. Disk:- ‘Perfect Papers’ Modern Studies Higher 2004-05 & 2005-06 507. 508.New texts:- 509. Higher (i) Changing Society in the UK 510. Alliances & the Developing World 511. Ideology & Emerging Nations 512. Modern Studies Revision Guide 513.On Order:- 514.Higher (v) Studies in International Relations 515.Standard Grade (vi) Living in a Democracy 516. 517.Item 7:- S2 Terrorism unit (staff / pupil response) 518. 519. Feedback very positive. Pupils enjoyed unit and the variety of tasks it offered. All unit tasks and extension exercises conformed to 5-14s guidelines and this was endorsed by QA inspectorate. 520. 521.Item 6:- A.O.C.B. 522. 523. 524. 525. 526. 527. 528. 529. 530. 531. 532. 533. 534. 535. 536. 537. 538. 539. 540. 541. 542. 543. 544.2 545. 546. 547. 548. 549. 550. 551. 552. 553. 554. 555. 556. 557. 558. 559. 560. 561. 562. Modern Studies SQA Action Plan 563. 564. 565. Modern Studies Departmental Action Plan (2006-07) 566. 567. Submitted on 29 th November 2005 568. 569. 570. 571. Over the next eighteen months, the Modern Studies Department will undertake the following measures in an effort to improve attainment:- 572. 573. 574. * Raise attainment at all levels through greater emphasis on skills development, more 575. skills-focused homework tasks and more extended writing exercises 576. 577. Purchase more commercial texts for all levels (but especially Higher) making these the core of each unit rather than in-house produced materials which will be used in a supporting role to develop learning 578. 579.Impose stricter entry requirements to Standard Grade Credit, Intermediate 2 and Higher courses 580. 581. Introduce a Higher Pupils’ Course booklet which will include detailed course descriptor and assessment procedures section together with an outline of what pupils are expected to achieve 582. 583. The introduction of more Standard Grade Credit Level strategies to extend and develop learning 584. 585. Pupils will given greater opportunities to review and assess each other’s work 586. 587. 588. 589. 590. Colin Castle 591. 592. (Acting PT – Modern Studies) 593. 594. 595. 596. 597. 598. 599. 600. 601. 602. 603. 604. 605. 606. 607. 608. 609. 610. 611. 612. 613. 614. 615. 616. 617. 618. 619. 620. 621. At Drumchapel High, pupils are encouraged to play an active part in school life. Some do this by playing sports. Others join some of the school’s thirty or so clubs. Another way is to stand for election to the Pupil Council. 622. 623. WHAT IS THE PUPIL COUNCIL ? 624. 625. The Pupil Council is made up of pupils from every year group in the school plus two members of staff (Mrs McAllister and Mr Castle). Pupil Council meetings are held once a month, usually in Mr Castle’s room (Room 129) and last for around 30 minutes. These meetings give pupils a chance to put forward their ideas and opinions about things which they think are important to the school. For example, pupils might want to raise money for school funds or for a charity or perhaps start a new club. These matters can be discussed at Pupil Council meetings. If the Pupil Councillors agreed that these were good ideas, they would let the Head Teacher know and he would decide whether or not they could be done. 626. 627. 628. WHY DO WE NEED A PUPIL COUNCIL ? 629. 630. The Pupil Council gives pupils the opportunity to take part in making decisions which will affect both themselves, their classmates and the school. By becoming involved, pupils are helping to make Drumchapel High a popular place with pupils, parents and staff. 631. 632. 633. 634. Page 1 635. 636. WHAT ARE THE DUTIES OF A PUPIL COUNCILLOR ? 637. 638. 639. 640. 641. 642. 643. 644. 645. 646. 647. 648. Pupil Councillors are expected to attend all Pupil Council meetings. 649. 650. They are expected to discuss school matters with members of their class and keep them informed about decisions which the Pupil Council has taken. They can do this 651. in their tutorial group the morning after each Pupil Council meeting. 652. 653. Pupil Councillors can help set targets and list these in order of importance once they have discussed them with the members of the Pupil Council and their tutorial group. 654. 655. Pupil Councillors must be prepared to listen to the views of other Pupil Council members and to those of their tutorial group. 656. 657. When the Pupil Council decides to do something, it is the job of every Pupil Councillor to tell their class all about it – after all, each Pupil Councillor is 658. their class’s representative. 659. 660. 661. HOW DO I BECOME A PUPIL COUNCILLOR ? 662. 663. Pupil Councillors are chosen by the members of their tutorial group in an election. Each pupil votes for the pupil candidate (or candidates) of their choice. There is no limit to the number of candidates who wish to stand for election. All you have to do if you want to stand for election is to give your name to your class tutor at registration. Voting papers will be printed and the election date will be announced. The method of voting will be explained to you by your class tutor. 664. 665. 666. 667. 668. 669. Page 2 670. 671. 672. 673. 674. 675. 676. 677. 678. 679. 680. 681. 682. 683. 684. 685. 686. 687. 688. 689. 690. 691. 692. 693. 694. 695. 696. 697. 698. 699. 700. 701. 702. 703. 704. THE SINISTER WEB OF TERROR 705. 706.The suicide bombers are likely to have been the last link in the careful planning chain that led to the 7/7 bombings. Al-Qaeda deploys different units to plan and reconnoitre, acquire materials and money and provide theological support. Between 12 to 20 people may have been part of the cell, each maybe not knowing who the other members were. The bombers themselves are seen as weapons rather than terrorists. 707. 708. THE MASTERMIND 709. 710.Several al-Qaeda members were investigated. As in the Madrid bombings of 2004, a foreign master-planner was thought to have been responsible. Although intelligence services have not revealed his name, it is known that ‘The Mastermind’ had previously visited the USA and had links to Abu Faraj al-Libbi, the al-Qaeda No 3. It is also known that ‘The Mastermind’ operated through Pakistan and attended a summit conference there in March 2002. Police revealed that their al-Qaeda suspect had arrived at the port of Felixtowe a fortnight before the London bombings but left Heathrow on the morning of 7/7. 711. 712. THE SPIRITUAL MENTOR OR ‘BRAINWASHER’ 713. 714.Mohammed Sidique Khan, Hasib Hussain, Shehzad Tanweer and Jermaine Lindsay would have had a spiritual mentor who indoctrinated the four men into the unorthodox belief (promulgated by some Islamist clerics) that their deaths in action were the quickest route to get to Paradise. Their mentor would have prayed with them, counselled them and reinforced their resolve if they appeared to waver. A charismatic but menacing figure known as ‘Mr K’ was suspected of being a key influence on the youngest bomber, Hasib Hussain. This individual came from Pakistan and settled in the Leeds suburb of Beeston. He had a background in Islamic preaching. 715. 716. THE FRIEND 717. 718.A 29 year-old youth worker at the Hamara Youth Access Centre in Beeston was believed to have befriended Khan, Tanweer and Hussain. He was suspected of having links to the ‘Brainwasher’ ‘Mr K’ and to have helped recruit the three bombers. 719. 720. LOGISTICS AND FINANCE 721. 722. Several people would have obtained the explosives needed to make the bombs. These would have been paid for with cash raised through credit card fraud or siphoned off from legitimate charitable donations. The fund-raising cells were probably operating somewhere in Europe. 723. 724. 725.Page 1 726. 727. 728. 729. 730. 731. 732. 733. 734. RECONNAISSANCE AND PLANNING 735. 736. Volunteers scoured London for targets for more than a year. Marking London Underground maps and timing journeys, they reported back to their mentor. These scouts were probably young men who hoped one day to become suicide bombers themselves. 737. 738. 739. THE BOMBMAKER 740. 741.The man who made the bombs - Magdi el-Nashar - had received jihadi training overseas. Dr el-Nashar was a skilled bio-chemist who specialised in enzyme research. The bombs were assembled at 18 Alexandria Grove, Burley, Leeds. Dr el-Nashar worshipped at the Leeds Grand Mosque where Mohammed Sidique Khan, Hasib Hussain and Shahzad Tanweer also worshipped. Jermaine Lindsay was also believed to have visited this mosque from time to time and had met al-Qaeda leaders. 742. 743. THE BOMB 744. 745.Acetone peroxide – TATP or ‘Mother of Satan’ as it is known due to its devastating effects – is the home-made explosive that police believed the London bomb-maker used. Anyone with a basic knowledge of chemistry can make it. It is made using commonly available chemicals such as sulphuric acid (found in drain cleaners), hydrogen peroxide (used in hair dyes) and acetone (used in nail varnish). The process involves evaporating the liquid, leaving behind crystals that constitute the explosive. This explained why a large quantity was found in the bath at 18 Alexandria Grove in Leeds. It is highly unstable, being sensitive to heat, friction and shock. The crystals might have been ‘plasticised’ – a process which turns the material into something resembling plastic explosive. This would ensure that the bombs did not detonate early. An expert for Jane’s Defence Weekly said “Anyone can make acetone peroxide – at the risk of losing their fingers – but it is very, very volatile”. Because of that, he said, the evidence pointed towards outside assistance for the bombers. There is a precedent for the use of TATP in Islamic terrorism. In 2001, the British-born ‘shoe bomber’, Richard Reid, tried to blow up an airliner with plasticised TATP. 746. 747. THE BURNING CROSS THEORY 748. 749. Experts believe that the bombs were meant to go off in the north, south, east and west of London. However, the Northern Underground Line was closed forcing Jermaine Lindsay onto a bus. 750. 751. HIGH ALERT 752. 753. Firearms officers placed on the alert after the bombs had been detonated were ordered to kill potential suicide bombers with a single shot to the head. A chest shot might have triggered an explosion. The four Yankel armour-plated vehicles used by the police and security forces carried teams of elite marksmen. The vehicles were designed to withstand the impact of a suicide bomb blast. 754.Page 2 755. 756. 757. FOILED U.K. PLOTS – FROM SARIN GAS TO HIJACKINGS 758. 759.Security officials will not say on how many previous occasions Islamic terrorists have attempted attacks on Britain but, on Friday 8th July, former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lord Stevens, said that there had been eight foiled plots in London in three years. Among the plots and attempts known are:- 760. 761. A suspected plot last year to attack the London Underground with Sarin Gas. There was a suggestion that this attack might also have included a separate ‘dirty bomb’ using chemical and radiological waste mixed with conventional explosives. 762. 763. In an earlier case, terrorists were said to be plotting a car bomb attack against nightclubs in Soho or in a car park beneath one of London’s top hotels. 764. 765. The so-called Ricin Plot in which suspects were alleged to have been preparing to place the deadly poison in jars of beauty cream or contaminating tooth brushes or other products. Karnel Bourgass, a failed Algerian asylum seeker, was jailed for 15 years for his part in that plot earlier this year. He was also jailed for killing a policeman during his arrest at a flat in Manchester. 766. 767. Two years ago, MI5 warned the Cabinet that there might be an attack at Heathrow Airport, possibly involving surface-to-air missiles fired at a departing or arriving passenger aircraft. 768. 769. In 2000, a man was convicted for plotting an explosion against an unspecified target. Last year, a number of men were arrested after police learnt of an apparent plot to bomb Old Trafford, the Manchester United stadium. They were released without charge. 770. 771. Unconfirmed reports suggested that al-Qaeda cells had considered flying hijacked aircraft into skyscrapers in Canary Wharf in East London. One terror suspect was also thought to have been planning to hijack a plane and fly it into London’s American Embassy. 772. 773. In Autumn 2002, David Blunkett, then Home Secretary, was forced to deny a story that terrorists planned to launch a chemical weapons attack on the London Underground. 774. 775. 776. 777. 778. 779. 780. 781.Page 3 782. 783. 784. TERRORISM (1993 – 2005) 785. 786.FEBRUARY 1993: Osama Bin Laden was linked to the World Trade Center bombing which killed 6 people. 787. 788.OCTOBER 1996: Bin Laden declares a jihad (holy war) calling on militants to attack the US and its allies. 789. 790.AUGUST 1998: al-Qaeda’s first mass attack. More than 250 die in attacks on US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. 791. 792.OCTOBER 2000: Attack on USS Cole (a warship) in Yemen leaves 17 dead. 793. 794.SEPTEMBER 2001: Terror attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington kill more than 2,700. 795. 796.JUNE 2002: 14 killed at US consulate when suicide bomber blows up a truck in Karachi, Pakistan. 797. 798.OCTOBER 2002: Bali nightclub bombing kills 202 people including 28 Britons. 799. 800.NOVEMBER 2002: Hotel blast in Kenya kills 15 people. 801. 802.MAY 2003: Suicide bombers kill 34 people in Riyadh, Saudi-Arabia, after attacking 3 compounds for foreign workers. 803. 804.AUGUST 2003: Car bomb attack outside the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia, kills 12. 805. 806.NOVEMBER 2003: 17 killed in Riyadh, Saudi-Arabia. 807. 808.NOVEMBER 2003: Suicide bombings at 2 synagogues (Jewish places of worship), the British Consulate and the London-based HSBC Bank in Istanbul, Turkey, kill 61 people. 809. 810.MARCH 2004: Madrid bombings kill 191 commuters and injure 1,500 when 4 trains are targeted during the morning rush hour. 811. 812.JULY 2005: London hit in co-ordinated terror attacks. 56 people killed and over 700 injured. 813. 814.JULY 2005: 3 bombs are exploded at the Ghazala Gardens Hotel, at Sharm-el-Sheikh in Egypt killing between 88 people. A Pakistani group with links to al-Qaeda are believed to have carried out the attacks. 815. 816. 817. 818.Page 4 819. 820. 821. 822. MODERN STUDIES CODE OF CONDUCT 823. 824. Copy the Code of Conduct into your Modern Studies jotter 825. 826. Line up quietly outside the classroom and enter the room only when you are told. 827. 828. Go to your desk, remove your jacket and sit down. 829. 830. Come prepared to work with a pencil, a rubber and your student planner. 831. 832. Do not eat in class, do not swing on your chair and do not talk unless you are told to. 833. 834. Listen carefully to any instructions you are given. 835. 836. Raise your hand to answer a question or if you need help. 837. 838. Do not leave your seat without permission. 839. 840. Homework must be completed, signed by a parent or guardian and handed in on time. 841. 842. All written work must be done neatly with correct headings and the day’s date in the margin. 843. 844. Behave in a way which allows you and the rest of the class to learn. 845. 846. Do not swear in the classroom and treat others with respect. 847. 848. Always do your best when given a task to complete. 849. 850. When using rubbers, coloured pencils, glue sticks and rulers return them to the resource table when you have finished with them. 851. 852. Leave the class when you are told to and leave calmly and quietly.