US Supreme Court OKs Obama's Health Care Plan

This article discusses the decision made today that Obama's health care plan is, in fact, constitutional. His health care plan, which requires all Americans to have health insurance, has been controversial in the United States. Read the article and summarize it or comment on the questions below.

"What do you think about President Obama's health care plan? Are there positive and negative aspects of the plan? What are they?"

New freshmen need to prepare for diverse weather in Provo

This article discusses how it may be difficult for new BYU students to adjust to Utah's variable weather patterns. Those interviewed in the article most often comment on how difficult it is to adjust to Provo's winter. Read the article and summarize it or comment on the question below.

"International students have to adjust to Utah's weather too. Was this adjustment difficult for you? What   did you do to cope with Utah's variable weather?"

Living Life in the Cloud

This article describes how internet file sharing and storage is becoming more and more popular. It also describes some of the risks associated with this sharing. Read the article and summarize it or comment on the discussion questions below.


"Have you used a file sharing program on the cloud? How has it changed the way you use data files? Are you concerned about the safety of these programs? Why or why not?"

BYU's Crime Rate

This article discusses how BYU's low crime rate sets it apart from other universities. BYU has very few violent crimes or crimes related to drugs or alcohol. The university's most common crime is theft. Read the article and summarize it or respond to the discussion below.

"Describe your experience with crime at BYU. What have you noticed about crime on campus? Have you had anything stolen? What did you do? Can you compare crime at BYU to crime that you have seen at other universities?"

Red Cross and LDS Church renew agreement

This article discusses an agreement between the American Red Cross and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to provide humanitarian relief and administer blood drives. Often the Red Cross hosts  blood drives in LDS Church buildings with Church volunteers. Also, the Church and the Red Cross work together on national and international service projects. Read the article, and then summarize it or comment on the question below.

"What are the positive and negative effects of such a partnership?"

Utah fires spark fireworks and gun regulations

This article explains how Utah government officials are discussing further regulations on gun and firework use. With six wildfires currently ablaze, many feel that holiday fireworks and recreational shooting laws should change. Read and summarize the article or respond to the question below.

"With such severe drought conditions, do you think fireworks and shooting should be allowed at all? Explain and support your opinion."

Celebrate the Fourth of July the Healthy Way

This article informs the public about a workshop prepared to teach families how to eat healthy on holidays. It also gives general information to help people improve their nutrition throughout the year. Summarize the article or comment on the question below.

Is it better to exclude some foods from your diet because they are unhealthy or do all foods have a place in a balanced diet? Explain your answer.

BYU's Hartsock Prepares for Uncertain Future

This article describes what former BYU basketball player Noah Hartsock is doing to prepare for the NBA draft. Hartsock, a teammate to Jimmer Fredette, recently graduated and is moving on. His opportunities for success in the NBA are uncertain. Read the article and then summarize it or comment on the question below.

The chances for success in pro-basketball are very few. Is it wise for college sports players to pursue a professional sports career or would they be better off using their education to pursue a more traditional career like business or law?

Perception vs. reality: “healthy” eating out

This article describes students misperception of eating healthy when eating at restaurants. Even students who want to make healthy choices and avoid certain foods when eating out often make mistakes in the foods they chose. The article describes some important tips to make restaurant eating healthier. After reading the article include a short summary or an answer to the discussion question below.

"Have you ever thought that a particular food was healthy for you but then you learned that the food wasn't healthy at all?"

Ad professor urges students to avoid Satan’s efforts to distance us from the Savior

This article summarizes the devotional from Tuesday. BYU advertising and marketing professor Douglas Mackinley encouraged students to develop a real and personal connection to Jesus Christ and beware of the dangers of Satan. After reading the article, write a short summary or a response to the discussion question in the comment box below.

"You can infer from the article that Professor Mckinlay believes that people face spiritual difficulties at all ages but difficulties may be different for people at different times in their life. How is the opposition you feel in your life different now than you expect it will be 20 years from now?"

Green smoothies pack a nutritional punch

This article describes a popular new health trend Green Smoothies. The benefits of this health food and people's personal experiences using it are included in the article. After reading, include a short summary or a response to the discussion question in the comment box below.

"Several people in the article talked about sharing green smoothies with their friends.  Would you be comfortable giving your friends health advice?"

$100,000 Book of Mormon stolen in Mesa

This article describes a crime that happened in Arizona. A first-edition copy of the Book of Mormon was stolen from a rare book store. After reading the article include a summary or an answer to the discussion question in the comment box below.

"Would you want to own a rare book like the one described in the article? Why or why not?"

Renting versus buying textbooks — a guessing game

This article compares and contrasts the advantages and disadvantages of renting books or buying books. After reading the article, include a short summary or answer the discussion question in the comment box below.

"Would you prefer to rent or buy your textbooks? Explain your choice."

China Puts First Female Astronaut in Space

This article announces the first female astronaut from China recently went on a space mission. This is a significant advance for China's space program. After reading the article answer the discussion question below or include a short summary in the comments box. 

"What makes this story newsworthy? If your country had a female astronaut would that be a similarly newsworthy event?

Walking Program Pairs Patients with Doctors

This article describes a new program that Denver hospitals have begun. Doctors volunteer to participate in weekly walks with patients and other community members. The doctors can then demonstrate and teach these participants about the healthy habits of walking. After reading the article, include a short summary or answer the discussion question listed below.

"Why is it important that Doctors are good examples of healthy living? What other careers need to be examples?"

Artificial Pancreas Shows Promise in Humans

This article describes a new advance in medicine. Researchers and doctors are testing a completely artificial pancreas.  This device could greatly help people with diabetes. After reading the article, include a summary or answer the discussion question in the comment box below.

"Would you be comfortable having a completely artificial machine put into your body? Why or Why not?"

Fixing BYU’s massive data crash will take months

This article describes a recent technology problem that BYU experienced. The problem was unintentional but still caused significant frustrations for many people in the BYU community. After reading the article include a summary of important points or an answer to the discussion question below.

"This article describes how 'data dependent' many people are. How data dependent are you? How serious for your life would be a similar problem at your school or work?"

How to get the best recommendations for a job

This article  gives advice for getting the best recommendations for a job. Recommendations are becoming one of the most popular methods for employers to use as they are trying to find new employees. After reading the article include a summary of important points or an answer to the discussion question below.

"For one of the jobs that you have had describe whether or not a personal recommendation was an important part of you finding a job."

Blood Test May Predict Outcome in Early Breast Cancer

This article describes a new test that may help breast cancer patients and doctors. It doesn't cure or prevent cancer but will help understand the seriousness of each particular patients situation. After reading the article include a summary of important points or an answer to the discussion question below.

"Breast cancer is only one of many types of cancer; however it is probably the most frequently discussed in news and popular media. Why do you think this is?"

'For Greater Glory' Dramatizes Mexican War

This article introduces a movie that will soon be released that describes an important but often forgotten event in Mexican history. Even many Mexican citizens are not very familiar with this particular war. After reading the article include a summary of important points or an answer to the discussion question below.

"Movies about a particular history event can be an important part of educating people about it. Describe a historical movie that helped you learn about your country."

Ecologists Call for Action on Biodiversity Loss

This article talks about a serious environmental problem--biodiversity loss. Biodiversity loss is when species of any particular animal or organism completely die in or leave an area. It describes how this problem could affect humans. After reading the article include a summary of important points or an answer to the discussion question below.

"How often do you think about how environmental problems could affect your life? Does this change your behavior?"

Street Fair Aims to Enthrall Children with Science

This article describes a street fair that is intended to interest children in science. After reading the article include a summary of important points or an answer to the discussion question below.

"Why is it important for a city or country to help encourage young people to be interested in science? Does your home country do a good job at encouraging a passion for science?"

Intramurals are keeping families together

This article describes a postive aspect of intramural sports. Intramural sports are for BYU students that enjoy playing a particular sport but aren't good enough to play on the university sports teams. The article describes how students from the same families enjoy supporting each other and participating together.

"These students talk about their family members like they are very good friends. Do you consider your siblings to be your very close friends in addition to being brothers or sisters?"

BYU's emergency Plan

This article describes parts of BYU's emergency plan for responding to disasters including an earthquake. After reading the article include a summary of important points or an answer to the discussion question below.

"Describe a time or situation where your preparation really made a positive difference."

Man on the street: Why is it so easy to be judgmental?

This article  is a collection of direct quotes from BYU students who were asked a question, "Are BYU students more judgmental than similar college students around the country?' A judgmental person is frequently criticizing other peoples behaviors. After reading their responses include a summary of the main ideas or leave an answer to the discussion question posted below.

"What do you think? Are people in the BYU community excessively judgmental of each other? If so, why are they? If not, why do people sometimes feel like this is true.

Students encouraged to follow guidance of the spirit

This article is a summary of the devotional address from Tuesday. Professor Stanley A Johnson presented four points that students can follow to increase the influence of the Spirit in their life. After reading the article include a summary or an answer to the discussion question listed below.

"Professor Johnson suggests that a persons spirituality will affect other parts of their lives including their professional success. Do you agree? What is the relationship between spirituality and professional success?"

Utah English: What’s the Big Dill?

This article is a little bit longer than most we read but it contains a lot of very fascinating information about Utah dialect. A dialect is a variation of a language that has unique characteristics that other speakers of the language may think is strange or in some cases laughable. After reading the article include a short summary or an answer to the discussion question in the comments below.

"How are dialects percieved in your first language? Are people embarrassed if they speak dialect? Or is it seen as something to be proud of?"

Gospel on the go

This article describes how social media and mobile technology is changing how people worship and attend church. After reading the article include a short summary or answer the discussion question below.

"Mobile devices do have some advantages but they also have some disadvantages including distraction. What do you think? Is a mobile device going to have a positive or a negative effect on your spirituality?"

Nigeria Begins Day of Mourning Following Plane Crash

This article describes a plane crash in Nigeria that not only killed all of the passengers in the plane but because it crashed into the city it killed many people not on the plane either. After reading the article, include a short summary or an answer to the discussion question below.

"News like this can increase people's fear of flying. Do you have a fear of flying if so how did you overcome it when you came to the U.S. If you're not afraid to fly, how would you help a friend that is."

Office Cubicle Dwellers Build 'Walls' for Privacy

This article describes one of the challenges of working in modern company offices--a lack of privacy quiet and independence. Modern offices use cubicles to break wide open spaces into small individual work spaces. However cubicles have very short walls that do not enable sound barriers. The article describes how many workers are coping with the disadvantages of this layout after reading answer the discussion question below or include a short summary in the comments.

"Some people find it difficult to work when there is noise in the background. Other people can't work without some noise in the background. Which do you prefer and why?"