Reading Comprehension Questions:

1. How has the increase in violence in Iraq impacted the news reporting of the situation there?

2. Does President Bush agree with the term civil war?

3. What is the definition of a civil war?

4. What is the Iraq Study Group? What is its goal? Who are its members?

5. What are some possible outcomes from the Iraq Study Group?

6. What are some other ideas about how to shape the U.S. policy for Iraq?

Discussion Activity (more research might be needed):

1. Do you think there a civil war in Iraq? Explain your reasoning with clear examples.

2. Look at the opinions of various historians in this news article regarding the use of the term civil war. What do you think? Does how we label something impact how it's viewed by the public? How does labeling Iraq a civil war impact your perception of the situation there?

3. Pretend you are a policy maker charged with coming up with a U.S. policy for Iraq. How would you advise the president? How would you make your decision?

4. What is the difference between a reporter and a historian? How might each see Iraq differently? Why?

Write a 300-500 word essay on any 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.