Senator Warren Takes a DNA Test
In response to continued criticism and attacks by President Donald Trump over her claims of Native American ancestry, Senator Elizabeth Warren released the results of a DNA test.
Instructors, click the link below to download this week’s lecture for use in your classroom. The deck contains a writing prompt and a debate question as well as other assessment questions.
Download the PowerPoint Lecture Spark for Senator Warren Takes a DNA Test
Links
“Why DNA test results are actually pretty fuzzy”
hhttps://www.vox.com/2018/10/19/17995566/dna-results-elizabeth-warren-native-american
“Elizabeth Warren releases DNA test with ‘strong evidence’ of Native American ancestry”
https://www-m.cnn.com/2018/10/15/politics/elizabeth-warren-dna-test-native-american/index.html?r=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F
“Nikki Haley jokes she’s not an ‘Indian Woman’ in swipe at Elizabeth Warren”
hhttps://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/nikki-haley-in-elizabeth-warren-dig-jokes-shes-not-an-indian-woman_us_5bc9d1a6e4b0d38b58774f31
“‘Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s DNA test results are ‘only selling to VERY LOW I.Q. individuals’ says President Donald Trump””
https://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/10/sen_elizabeth_warrens_dna_test.html
“Native American sovereignty is under attack. Here’s how Elizabeth Warren’s DNA test hurt our struggle”
https://theintercept.com/2018/10/19/elizabeth-warren-dna-native-americans/
“Elizabeth Warren’s DNA disaster”
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/10/18/elizabeth-warrens-dna-disaster-221607
“What the Elizabeth Warren DNA fiasco says about the media”
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/what-the-elizabeth-warren-dna-fiasco-says-about-the-media
“Elizabeth Warren’s DNA is not her identity”
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/10/what-make-elizabeth-warrens-dna-test/573205/
Assessment
- Writing: Why did Elizabeth Warren take a DNA test?
- Debate: The debate over Elizabeth Warren’s ancestry is a diversion from real issues facing the country.
- Poll: Elizabeth Warren’s ancestry is a legitimate political issue.
- Short Answer: What are some reasons many commentators are concerned about the way in which President Trump discusses Elizabeth Warren’s ancestry?
Current events quiz:
1) After hearing the news that Warren took a DNA test to prove her Native American ancestry, President Donald Trump said that he would only follow through with the payment of $1 million to her favorite charity if ______.
a. he could conduct the test personally
b. the percentage was significant; over 5%
c. he supported the charity as well
d. she promised not to run for reelection in the Senate
2) DNA tests concluded that Elizabeth Warren is likely between ______ and ______ Native American?
- 5/58; 1/120
- 1/64; 1/1024
- 3/8; 1/100
- 1/19; 1/2345
3) Some people are angry with Warren for taking a DNA test to prove her Native American ancestry because ______.
- it is seen as insensitive to Native peoples
- the people of Massachusetts on the whole do not approve of Warren
- some argue that having the genes of a Native American does not mean that you can identify as one, especially culturally
- all of the above
- both A and C
4) The Washington Examiner attacked the media’s portrayal of Elizabeth Warren’s DNA test by claiming that a large percentage of reporters do not even read, let alone understand, the scientific studies that they are covering. (T/F)
5) Trump said that Warren is in fact of Native American descent, despite reports claiming that Democrats found it to be insensitive to Native peoples. (T/F)
6) Elizabeth Warren posted her DNA results to her website. (T/F)
Answers:
1) A
2) B
3) E
4) T
5) F
6) T
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