Syllabus
CURRENT EVENTS AND THE MEDIA
Brian J. English
(213)740-0079
DESCRIPTION OF COURSE:
The purpose of this course is to teach English skills both inductively and deductively by familiarizing second language learners with newspapers and news media. The main activities of the course will focus on reading news articles, watching television news reports and listening to short radio news broadcasts. There will be class discussions and written assignments.
GOALS OF THE COURSE:
· Students will learn strategies to use and understand newspapers more effectively.
· Students will learn and use new vocabulary words that will help them better understand news stories.
· Students will also gain ample practice in speaking and writing about current events.
Weeks 1 & 2
As an introduction the students examine how newspaper articles are written. The class will look at several examples provided by the teacher. In newspaper journalism writers will often answer the wh questions in the first paragraph. The information in a newspaper article will usually go in descending order from most important to least important. Assignments: 1.) Begin keeping a journal of thoughts and impressions about stories in the news. 2.) Write three “first paragraphs” answering the wh questions. 3.) Begin group work for class presentation on an ongoing local issue.
Week 3
This week is to be spent examining and comparing newspapers and parts of a newspaper. Students will compare local, financial and national papers. Newspapers report the same story differently. Newspapers are designed for fast easy reading. The class will look at the front page, business and sports sections. The class will look at the entertainment section, the classified ads, and the weather report. Assignments: 1.) Write captions to five pictures. 2.) Choose a newspaper article, write a short description of the story and make a short presentation in class about the article. 3.) Write a classified ad. 4.) Write an entertainment review.
Week 4
This week students watch a video of a thirty-minute local news broadcast pausing after each story for discussion and questions. Then students watch a thirty-minute broadcast of the national news pausing the video after each story for discussion and questions. Assignments: 1.) Continue work on group project.
Weeks 5 & 6
Students learn about the various kinds of news magazine journalism including news, entertainment and hobby magazines. Students watch segments from short news documentaries like 60 minutes or 20/20. The class discusses the pro and con side of different issues in the news. Some class time will be used for work on the group presentations. Assignments: 1.) Pick a controversial issue and list all the pros and all the cons.
Week 7
Students listen to tapes of radio newscasts including traffic reports. Students make a self -evaluation of their listening comprehension and discuss strategies for improving their understanding of radio broadcasts. Assignments: Review an internet news site.
A variety of internet news sites will be reviewed. The class will also discuss the public’s comments about news stories on message boards. The class will also discuss “bias” and “sensationalism” in the news. There will be in-class conferencing for group presentations. Assignments: Prepare for group presentations.
Week 9
This week the class looks at an historical perspective on reporting
news events in the media. Assignments:
To be announced.
This week will be devoted to unfinished business, new topics in the news, and final preparation of presentations.
Group presentations.
Assignments: Hand
in journals.
Homework assignments 25%
Journal 25%
Group project 25%
Class participation 25%