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Teacher’s Edition
Dear Teachers,
Some of your students will soon be off to college or entering the job market, where tough times
await them. Our cover story looks at why the unemployment rate is still so high for young people and at
the unprecedented levels of student-loan debt college students are taking on. If that sounds bleak, one of
the key economic lessons of the article is that college graduates fare much better in terms of salaries and
employment over the course of their careers than those who don’t get a college degree.
Iran frequently tops the news these days, with its suspected nuclear program sparking increasing anxiety among Western nations and with hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad often railing against the
U.S. and its way of life. But when New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof took a recent road trip across
Iran and spoke to ordinary Iranians, he found a lot more goodwill toward Americans than you’d expect.
Defense officials warn that the U.S. is vulnerable to cyberattack by foreign hackers or governments. In “Cyberwar,” we examine the impact such an attack could have on power grids, transportation
systems, and financial networks—and what can be done to guard against it.
One hundred and fifteen years ago, an explosion on the USS Maine
in the waters off Cuba led to the Spanish-American War. Times Past looks
back at the war that signaled the emergence of the U.S. as a global power.
IAn Zack, Executive Editor
KEY ARTICLES
opinion
 6 celebrities for sale?
A New York Times columnist questions the ethics
of stars who endorse junk food.
cover story
 8 trying times
High youth unemployment and soaring college debt pose
a big challenge for young people.
international
10 on the road in iran
It’s a much more complex country than what
we see on the evening news.
international
14 cyberwar
Are we facing a “cyber Pearl Harbor” that could wreak
havoc on our computer networks—and our lives?
times past
16 ‘remember the maine! to hell with spain!’
How the United States emerged from the Spanish-American
War as a true global power
CURRICULUM STANDARDS
Subject/NCSS
common core
media studies
social studies
reading informational
text: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10
literacy in history/social
studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10
• Culture
• Production, Distribution &
Consumption
Economics
currEnt events
• Production, Distribution &
Consumption
• Individual Development & Identity
world history
global studies
• Power, Authority & Governance
• Global Connections
current events
global studies
• Science, Technology & Society
• Global Connections
u.s. history
world history
• Time, Continuity & Change
• Power, Authority & Governance
reading informational
text: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10
literacy in history/social
studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10
reading informational
text: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10
literacy in history/social
studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10
reading informational
text: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10
literacy in history/social
studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10
reading informational
text: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10
literacy in history/social
studies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10
A SUPPLEMENT TO
THE NEW YORK TIMES UPFRONT
for a full list of the standards, go to Upfrontmagazine.com.
cover story
trying times
writing prompt
Is obtaining a college
degree worth the effort
and expense today?
Write a persuasive
essay, using evidence
from the article to
support your view.
LESSON
PLAN 1
critical thinking
With a sluggish job
market and college
debt loads reaching
a record high, times
are tough for today’s
20-somethings.
Why is unemployment
higher among young
people than it is for the
nation overall?
 What advantages
does the article say
today’s young people
have over older
generations? Do
you agree with the
author’s assessment?
If so, do you think
these advantages will
eventually pay off?
Explain.
Why is it getting
harder for many young
people to go to college?
Debate
Should colleges be
required to offer a
locked-in tuition rate for
the entire period of
a student’s enrollment?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
With experienced
workers taking many
entry-level jobs, have
fewer hourly jobs been
available to high-school
students in your area? If
so, what effects have you
seen?
Economist Carl Van
Horn notes that
today’s young people
are not a “generation
of slackers.” Do you
agree? Explain.
Why do economists
consider student loans
to be “good debt”? Do
you agree?
About half of 18- to
24-year-olds currently
live with their parents or
moved back home for a
period of time at some
point in recent years.
How might this trend
affect society?
Do you think your
generation will be
more or less affluent
than your parents’
generation? Explain.
fast factS
Because of a slump in
construction, grads with
architecture degrees
face an unemployment
rate of 15 percent.
•
ON UPFRONTMAGAZINE.COM
Supplement your lesson with the video “Youth Unemployment in Britain.”
international
on the road in iran
decade ago? Whom do
they blame, according to
Kristof? Why?
writing prompt
Describe some of the
contradictions that seem
to define life in Iran
today. What do you think
these contradictions will
mean for Iran? In which
direction will the nation
head? Explain.
LESSON
PLAN 2
critical thinking
On a 1,700-mile road
trip across Iran, New
York Times columnist
Nicholas Kristof
uncovered many
surprises.
What stereotypes do
many Westerners have
of Iranians? Why do you
think Kristof argues that
these stereotypes can
be harmful?
2 •
Through interviews,
what does Kristof find
out about Iranians’
interests and lifestyles?
What about their
feelings toward
America? Do any of his
findings surprise you?
Explain.
Why are many
Iranians less satisfied
with life in their country
than they were almost a
Upfront • upfrontmagazine.com
Debate
Take a stand: Do you
agree with Kristof that
an Israeli military strike
against Iran would be a
serious mistake? Why or
why not?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Why do you think the
Iranian government
insisted on approving
Kristof’s route? Does
it surprise you that
officials gave him a
journalist visa? Explain.
How should the
U.S. deal with Iran’s
suspected nuclear
program? Do you think
sanctions are working?
One Iranian told Kristof
that the U.S. is a bully.
ON UPFRONTMAGAZINE.COM
Learn more by watching the video “Kristof’s Iranian Road Trip.”
Do most Iranians seem
to share this view?
Explain.
How do Iranians
learn about American
culture? Do you think
their view of Americans
is realistic?
fast facts
All eyes will be on Iran
in June, when the nation
will hold an election to
choose a successor to
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
He is barred by
law from running
for a third term.
•
international
cyberwar
cyberattacks? Why or
why not?
LESSON
PLAN 3
critical thinking
Defense officials
warn that the U.S.
is increasingly
vulnerable to foreign
cyberattacks—some
of which could
have devastating
consequences.
What kinds of
disruptions could a
major cyberattack on
the U.S. cause? Do you
consider these problems
serious? Explain.
Which foreign nations
do officials say present
the greatest cyberthreat to the U.S.? Why?
How do you think
the U.S. can best
defend itself against
cyberwarfare?
Does it surprise
you that the U.S.
has participated in
writing prompt
What does Defense
Secretary Leon Panetta
mean by a “cyber-Pearl
Harbor”? What might
such an event look like?
How might its shortand long-term effects
compare with those of a
physical attack like the
one at Pearl Harbor?
Debate
Support your view:
Should the the U.S.
engage in cyberwarfare
with its adversaries?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What was the intent
of the cyberattack on
Saudi Aramco last
August? Why do you
think hackers used
an image of a burning
American flag?
Do you see a cyberattack
as an act of terrorism?
Why or why not?
The Geneva Convention
is an international
agreement that
regulates armed
conflict; for example,
it limits acts that hurt
civilians. Should nations
try to draft a similar
treaty for cyberwarfare?
If so, what should it
include?
How might cyberwarfare
change the needs of the
U.S. military?
fast fact
Unlike other viruses,
a worm spreads on its
own via a computer
network—without
a user opening or
forwarding an infected
file or program.
•
ON UPFRONTMAGAZINE.COM
Download “How a Secret Cyber Program Worked.”
times past
1898: ‘Remember the maine! to hell with spain!’
writing prompt
Compare the U.S.’s role
in the Spanish-American
War with its recent roles
in Iraq and Afghanistan.
What has motivated the
nation’s involvement in
each conflict? What have
been the outcomes? Use
evidence from the text to
support your response.
LESSON
PLAN 4
critical thinking
One hundred and fifteen
years ago, the USS
Maine exploded in the
waters outside Spanishcontrolled Cuba. The
event led to the SpanishAmerican War.
Why is the war seen
as a pivotal event in
American history?
Why was the U.S.
concerned about Spain’s
role in Cuba?
Do you think most
Americans supported
the U.S.’s going to war
with Spain? Did they
support the expansion
that resulted? Explain.
How do you think
Americans would react
today to a policy of
American expansion
abroad? Explain.
Debate
The U.S. acquired Puerto
Rico from Spain after
the Spanish-American
War. Should Puerto Rico
be granted statehood or
independence today?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Why do you think
Theodore Roosevelt
argued that the nation
“needed” a war? In the
end, did the SpanishAmerican War benefit
the U.S.? Explain.
What were the Monroe
Doctrine and the
Roosevelt Corollary?
How did they affect U.S.
policy?
Who were the Rough
Riders? What do you
think their existence
suggested about
the nation’s attitude
toward war?
How did the SpanishAmerican War shape the
U.S. relationship with
Cuba today?
What do people mean
when they call the U.S.
the “world’s police
officer”? In your opinion,
should the U.S. assume
that role?
fast facts
During the war, almost
4,000 American soldiers
died of typhoid, yellow
fever, or malaria. Only
300 died in battle.
•
ON UPFRONTMAGAZINE.COM
Watch our video on the U.S. & Guantánamo Bay.
F e b r u a r y 1 8 , 2 0 1 3 • up fr o nt m aga zi ne . c o m • 3
graph cover story
print this out
rising student loan debt
T
$30,000
This bar
graph shows
average
debt for
new college
graduates
with loans.
$20,000
source: Institute for College Access and Success
(based on data from the U.S. Department of Education);
data includes both public and private colleges.
AVERAGE DEBT
oday’s college
graduates face
not just a challenging
job market but also
unprecedented debt (see
article, p. 8). With college
tuition continuing to rise
over the past decade
(up 33 percent at state
schools and 21 percent
at private schools) and a
fragile economy leaving
some families struggling
to pay bills, students
have been borrowing
more than ever. Just how
much they’ve borrowed
is often linked to where
they studied. In 2011,
graduates from New
Hampshire schools
owed the most, with an
average debt of $32,000.
Grads from Utah schools
owed about half that.
$10,000
0
1993
1996
2000
2004
2008
2011
YEAR
analyze the graph
1 Average college-
2 From 1996 to
loan debt was about
$17,000 in ____.
a
b
c
d
1993
1996
2000
2004
3 Experts estimate
2011, average debt
among new college
graduates with
loans increased by
____.
a about $21,000
b nearly $14,000
c slightly less
than $10,000
d almost $8,000
that the average
student-loan debt
for new grads is
now rising by about
5 percent each
year. If so, data for
2012 should show
an average debt of
about ____.
4
I n 2008, graduates
of public colleges
who had loans had
an average debt of
$20,000. The graph
suggests that the
average debt of
private-college
graduates must
have been ____.
a
b
c
d
a
b
c
d
$40,000
$37,000
$33,000
$28,000
about the same
not factored in
higher
lower
5
A
2011 graduate
carries that year’s
average debt load.
To pay off the loan
and interest, he
must pay $275
per month for 120
months. How much
interest will he pay
on the loan?
a
b
c
d
about $2,000
about $6,000
about $10,000
about $14,000
discussion questions
1 The debt shown on the graph doesn’t include money that parents may have borrowed to help pay their child’s tuition bills. How
would average debt change if parents’ debt was added? Should parents borrow money to help pay for college? Why or why not?
2 College graduates earn more and face lower unemployment rates than people who have only a high school diploma. Do you think
attending college is worth the risk of accumulating loan debt? Explain.
3
In what way does the current job market exacerbate the student-debt problem?
4 Why do you think average loan debt varies widely from state to state?
4 •
Upfront • upfrontmagazine.com
quiz 1 cover story
print this out
trying times (p. 8)
1
Today’s college students are part of the
generation known as the Facebook
generation or
in-depth questions
4 Statistics and studies show that people with
college degrees
a
c
d
t ypically face lower unemployment rates than
those without degrees.
earn more over the course of their careers
than those without degrees.
both a and b
neither a nor b
5
Tuition rates have
I t reached a new peak in 2012.
It’s not as high as the rate for senior citizens.
It’s high but below the peak it reached
in 2009.
It’s about the same as the overall
unemployment rate but is rising steadily.
a
b
een rising at public and private colleges.
b
been rising at private colleges but dropping
slightly at public colleges.
been rising at public colleges but dropping
significantly at private colleges.
remained largely unchanged since 2008.
3
High youth unemployment has sparked riots in
6
Which is NOT mentioned in the article as an
advantage that today’s young people have?
a
b
c
d
t he U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
Russia, China, and Iran.
Britain, Spain, and Greece.
North Africa and the Middle East.
a
b
c
d
increasing job security
access to a global economy
ease with technology
unprecedented mobility
a
b
c
d
the I Generation.
Generation Y.
the Recession Generation.
the Junk-Food Generation.
2 Which best describes the youth unemployment
rate in the U.S., according to the article?
a
b
c
d
b
c
d
1 What are some of
the young people
mentioned in
the article doing
to land jobs in
this challenging
market? Can you
think of other ways
to gain an edge?
2 To what extent do
you think college
students should
look at the job
market before
selecting majors?
Explain.
3 Do you think the
print this out
quiz 2 international
on the road in iran (p. 10)
1
a
b
c
d
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran began
more than 30 years ago, when
I ran detonated a nuclear weapon at
a remote testing site.
Iran elected President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Iran’s government began repressing women
and religious minorities.
Iranians seized the American embassy and
took dozens of Americans hostage.
2 In an effort to get Iran to abandon its nuclear
weapons program, Western nations have
a
b
c
d
put economic sanctions in place.
proposed a plan for mutual arms reduction.
offered attractive financial incentives.
attacked several cities in northern Iran.
3
The article’s author, Nicholas Kristof, found
strong support for Iran’s government among
a
b
c
d
usinessmen and journalists.
b
farmers and laborers.
Americans.
members of the Bahai religion.
challenges that
young people are
experiencing today
will ease in the
coming decade?
Why or why not?
in-depth questions
4 In Iran today, use of satellite TV is
a
b
d
ermitted in schools and homes in most cities.
p
largely impossible because dishes and
receivers are unavailable.
banned by the government but still
widespread.
punishable by imprisonment or even death.
5 Women in Iran
a
must have a male guardian present to do
certain activities.
attend college in large numbers.
hold some important government posts.
all of the above
c
b
c
d
6
a
b
c
d
Kristof predicts that a war between Iran and
the West would result in
new alliance between Iran and Israel.
a
World War III.
economic sanctions against the U.S.
an increase in nationalism in Iran.
1 Why is it hard
to assess public
opinion in an
autocratic country?
2 Why do you
think the Iranian
government was
willing to let Kristof
do research for
his column when
so many Iranian
journalists are
jailed for printing
views unacceptable
to the government?
3 Are people in
Iran more or less
well-off than you
expected? Explain
and cite examples.
F e b r u a r y 1 8 , 2 0 1 3 • up fr o nt m aga zi ne . c o m • 5
quiz 3 international
print this out
cyberwar (p. 14)
in-depth questions
Last August, hackers unleashed a virus on
Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia’s
4 What has been the goal of U.S. cyberattacks on
a
b
c
d
top military agency.
largest investment bank.
most valuable technology firm.
state-owned oil company.
a
2 In the Saudi Aramco cyberattack, hackers
were successful in
a
diverting millions of dollars into a private bank
account.
erasing e-mails, spreadsheets, and other vital
data on corporate computers.
crippling Saudi Arabia’s power grid.
all of the above
1
1 Which nations
Iran, according to experts?
t o slow down or halt Iran’s suspected nuclear
weapons program
to permanently damage Iran’s infrastructure
to dismantle Iran’s financial system to retaliate for the daily cyberattacks Iran
launches on the U.S.
b
c
d
represent the
biggest cyber
threats to the U.S.?
Why?
2 What would
hackers gain from
tapping into the
U.S. transportation
system or power
grid? How might
these systems
be protected?
5 U.S. cyberattacks on Iran began during the
b
c
d
3 Officials say that frequent cyberattacks
a
b
c
d
onald Reagan.
R
Bill Clinton.
George W. Bush.
Barack Obama.
3 To what extent
6 President Obama is pressing for a law
launched on the U.S. by ____ aim to steal
secrets rather than inflict damage.
a
b
c
d
administration of
a
b
c
Iran
China
Saudi Arabia
Israel
d
The Early Bird
Gets the Worm...
prohibiting the U.S. from engaging in cyberwar.
replacing conventional warplanes with drones.
allowing the harvesting of online financial and
military data from enemy nations.
allowing some federal control over computer
networks that run America’s infrastructure.
do you think
cyberwarfare
will replace
conventional
warfare in your
lifetime? Explain.
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6 •
Upfront • upfrontmagazine.com
To explore the impact of the sluggish economy on young
people, The New York Times is seeking college application
essays having anything at all to do with money, working,
class, the economy, and affluence (or lack thereof).
The best essays will be published on the Times’ Bucks blog.
Essays—which must have already been submitted by high
school seniors for college applications—can be sent to
[email protected].
For more information,
go to: http://nyti.ms/10PPFd9
or snap the code
deadline: monday, April 1, 2013
print this out
quiz 4 times past
1898: ‘Remember the maine!’ (p. 16)
1
The Spanish-American War was a historic
turning point for the U.S. because it
4 What did the Monroe Doctrine declare?
a
a
b
c
d
severed ties between Cuba and the U.S.
led to the adoption of the Monroe Doctrine.
signaled the emergence of the U.S. as a
global power.
led to the establishment of a standing Army.
b
c
d
2 Why did President William McKinley order the
USS Maine into Havana’s harbor?
a
d
t o keep an eye on U.S. investments in sugar,
tobacco, and mining industries in Cuba
to respond to Spain’s declaration of war
to protect Cuba’s people against human rights
abuses under Spanish rule
to help support Cuba’s independence
3 The Rough Riders were led by
a
b
c
d
William McKinley.
Theodore Roosevelt.
George Dewey.
John Hay.
b
c
in-depth questions
t hat the U.S. was destined to stretch from the
Atlantic to the Pacific
that the U.S. should work to bring democracy
to other nations
that the U.S. would step in if Europe interfered
anywhere in North or South America
that the control of overseas colonies
contradicted America’s foreign policy
5
Which of the following was NOT a result of the
Spanish-American War?
a
b
he U.S. annexed Guam and Puerto Rico.
T
The U.S. purchased the Philippines from
Spain.
Spain’s empire largely crumbled.
Cuba became a commonwealth of the U.S.
1 Why was the
U.S. government
keeping a close eye
on events in Cuba in
the late 1890s?
2 What was “yellow
journalism”? How
did it influence
American attitudes
toward the SpanishAmerican War?
3 Who were the
c
d
Rough Riders?
Do you think such
a group could form
today? Why or
why not?
Play
s iqe
e
N w
w interactiv
our ne
.
Game Show
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F e b r u a r y 1 8 , 2 0 1 3 • up fr o nt m aga zi ne . c o m • 7
cartoon Analysis
print this out
analyze the political
cartoon
1 Why is Iran’s president,
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,
shown in a hot-air balloon?
2 What does the symbol on
the balloon stand for?
3 Less weight in the basket
lets a hot-air balloon soar
higher. What “weight” is
Ahmadinejad tossing out?
What might his goal be?
4
Go to
online
cartoon
of the
week
hat is the cartoonist
W
suggesting about the
Iranian government’s
response to international
sanctions? Who does the
government’s response
help? Who does it hurt?
5 Do you think the
OSAMA HAJJAJ Photo Analysis
• ABU MAHJOOB CREATIVE PRODUCTIONS • POLITICALCARTOONS.COM
sanctions against Iran
have been effective?
print this out
analyze the photo
(See p. 6 in the magazine.)
1 Why do you think Kellogg’s
chose to feature Olympic
swimmer Michael Phelps
on its packaging in 2008?
Do you think the campaign
was successful?
2 Do you think Phelps eats
either of these products?
Explain.
3 In your opinion, is it
acceptable for celebrities to
endorse foods that may be
unhealthy? Why or why not?
Rob Carr/AP Photo
Essay
Do athletes and other
celebrities have a
responsibility to be role models
to kids? Why or why not?
www.upfrontmagazine.com