Using NewsHour Extra Feature Stories

Overview: NewsHour Extra features stories can help students identify and interpret key issues in current events. This activity anticipates one class period, but the follow-up essay might be assigned as homework, or in another period.

Warm Up: Use initiating questions to introduce the topic and find out how much your students know.

Main Activity: Have students read NewsHour Extra's feature story and answer the questions on the reading comprehension handout.

Discussion: Use discussion questions to encourage students to think about how the issues outlined in the story affect their lives and express and debate different opinions.

Follow-up: Students can write an 500-word editorial on the topic expressing their views and send it to NewsHour Extra [extra@newshour.org] for possible publication.

Evaluation: Students are graded on their answers to reading comprehension questions and/or their editorial.

Story: President Bush Asks for More Resources for War on Terror, 9/08/03
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/july-dec03/bush_9-08.html

Initiating Questions:

1. Do you think that the war in Iraq is over? Why or why not?

2. What role is the United Nations playing in Iraq?

Reading Comprehension Questions: (click here for printout)

1. How much money does President Bush plan on asking Congress for? What will the money pay for?

The president announced plans to ask Congress for $87 billion to fund ongoing military and intelligence operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The money would also support rebuilding efforts in the two countries.

2. What three objectives did President Bush outline in his speech?

The president outlined three main U.S. objectives in Iraq: Destroy the terrorists; enlist the support of other nations in securing a free Iraq; and help Iraqis assume responsibility for their own defense and their own future.

3. The speech followed criticism over what events in Iraq?

The speech came after weeks of criticism over the high number of U.S. military casualties in Iraq since the war ended and after two deadly terrorist attacks seriously undermined U.S. efforts to maintain security in the country.

4. What role would the United States like the United Nations to have in Iraq? How do other nations feel about this role?

To date, the United States has refused to share military or political control of Iraq with the United Nations, but on Sunday, Mr. Bush said the United States would present a new resolution to the U.N. Security Council that would create a U.S.-led multinational force in the country.

Countries like France and Germany, which opposed the war, have said they will not send troops to be under U.S. control.

5. How have other politicians responded?

Several Democrats criticized the president's Iraq policy and his remarks, including former House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean. Fellow Republican Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) also disagreed with the president.

Discussion Activity (more research might be needed):

1. What role should the United Nations play in Iraq? What role should countries other than the United States and Britain play there? Explain.

2. Should troops from other countries be led by the United States or by their own military leaders or by the United Nations? Explain your views.

Write a 300-500 word essay on either of these topics providing clear examples. Send your completed editorial to NewsHour Extra (extra@newshour.org). Exceptional essays might be published on our Web site.

Extension Activities:

Full text of President Bush's September 7, 2003 Address

Have your students read the entire text of President Bush's speech to the nation on September 7, 2003. What parts of the speech were most effective in conveying Bush's message? Why or why not? How is this speech similar or different to other Presidential addresses (Note the relation of the beginning of the text to President John F. Kennedy's famous inaugural phrase that the United States would "pay any price, bear any burden" to defend liberty.)?