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Current Events… in the News
Course Objective
To develop an awareness of and be able to communicate about the global issues shaping the contemporary world.
Curricular Components
News Articles, Background Lectures, Weekly Quizzes and Academic Essays
Class Routine
- 10min Review & Update
- 5min Quiz
- 10min Background Lecture
- 40min Reading & Discussion
- 25min Writing Instruction
Subject-Specific Knowledge
Economics, Geography, Politics and Sciences
Skills Development
Critical Reading, Socratic Discussion and Academic Writing
About The Course
Through an in-depth analysis of current events, Current Events… in the News focuses on global and local issues around the world. Students learn not only about specific current events, but also about how to successfully read, analyze and write about the news articles. The course examines a broad range of topics including conflict, economics, government and science. Additionally, students engage in extensive writing practice and build presentation skills. The goal of the course is for students to better understand the world around them and be equipped to become increasingly engaged citizens on their own.
About The Instructor
Mr. John Dietrich
Mr. John Dietrich is a certified teacher with nearly fifteen years of education-industry experience in the US and China. He has taught small groups and tutored individuals in subjects ranging from elementary school English and middle school science through high school geography and standardized exam preparation. Mr.Dietrich holds a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning with a specialization in sustainable development, a Bachelors of Science in Anthropology, Certificate in Environmental Studies and a Florida Teaching License (General Science G5-9 & Biology G6-12).
Lesson Components & Structure
This course is designed to provide instruction on a range of important academic and English-language concepts, including critical reading, intellectual analysis, socratic discussion and refined writing. Each 1.5hr lesson will be anchored with a specific news story from the week, derived from traditional news sources such as The New York Times, The Economist, The New Yorker and Time magazine. The readings will be presented in their original form, with in-text annotations and classroom explanations that provide clarity and understanding. The course activities will expose students to content and concepts that are advanced for their age but in ways that make the topics accessible, relatable and understandable.
Each class will follow roughly the same structure from week to week. Lessons will begin with a short ten minute review of the previous week’s article, covering relevant content and any updates. Students will then complete a very brief (five minute) quiz to ensure the retention of discipline-specific concepts and vocabulary. This will be followed with a ten minute lecture providing background on the week’s new topic. Next, the class will spend approximately forty minutes reading the article aloud. While reading, the teacher will lead the class in the defining of vocabulary, discussion of concepts and analysis of geopolitical considerations. The final twenty-five minutes of class will be devoted to writing, with students being presented with a homework prompt, discussing a possible outline and learning specific writing skills.
Each week, students will submit a 1-page essay analyzing the week’s news story. They will receive in-depth written feedback on the assignment and have the chance to produce a final draft.
Course Outline
Current Events… in the News is a dynamic course that will change and evolve as the summer progresses. The course will begin with a discussion of media more broadly, and its role in society. Concepts associated with this introduction will include “the role of the media,” “media bias” and “how to read the news.” These concepts will be revisited throughout the course, and underpin students’ own development as engaged citizenry. For the remainder of the course, students will explore a range of local and global events shaping their world. While each lesson will follow the consistent format discussed previously, specific articles read will depend on the specific week’s ever-evolving events.
Course Materials
All of the materials for this course are carefully selected and produced by the instructor. Students will be provided with a PDF version of a news article each week, along with a PDF version of the week’s background lecture. They will receive these documents 48hrs before each class, so that they can be printed and used for notetaking. Students will also receive edited versions of each week’s assignments, prior to the next week’s lesson. By the end of the course, students will have collated a “course reader” addressing all topics covered, all articles read and all essays written.
Deliverables
Students will be expected to produce approximately ten response papers throughout the course -- summarizing and analyzing the day’s news story. Families should expect roughly one hour of homework after each lesson. Students will also be expected to produce an end-of-course presentation on an article of their choosing.
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