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Current Events… in the News
Course Objective
To develop an awareness of the global issues shaping the contemporary world.
Curricular Components
News Articles, Instructor-Designed Lectures, Weekly Quizzes and Academic Essays
Class Routine
10min Review
5min Quiz
10min Lecture
40min Reading, Discussion & Vocabulary
25min Writing Instruction
Subject-Specific Knowledge
Economics, Geography, Politics and Sciences
Skills Development
Critical Reading, Socratic Discussion and Formal Writing
About The Course
Through an in-depth analysis of news articles, Current Events… in the News is grounded in the global and local issues that affect students’ everyday lives. 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. Each lesson is based on a specific news article, but uses commentary, cartoons, lectures and newscasts to support class discussion. Additionally, students engage in extensive writing practice and build presentation skills. Ultimately, 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
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 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, sources from traditional news outlets such as The New York Times, 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 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 academic writing skills.
Each week, students will submit a short essay (transitioning from one paragraph to five paragraphs through the semester) 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. Students will then be able to collate their work, providing evidence of intellectual growth.
Course Outline
Current Events… in the News is a dynamic course that will change and evolve as the year progresses. The course will begin with a discussion of media more broadly, and it’s 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 citizens. 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 topics covered and articles read will depend on the specific week’s ever-evolving current events.
Course Materials
All of the materials for this course are carefully curated by the instructor. Students will be provided with a PDF version of an annotated news article each week, along with a PDF version of the week’s background lecture. They will receive these documents roughly 48hrs before each class, so that they can be printed and used for notetaking. Students will also receive edited versions of each week’s writing assignment. By the end of the course, students will have a “course reader” addressing all topics covered, all articles read and all essays written.
Deliverables
Students will be expected to produce approximately twelve papers over the course of the semester -- summarizing and analyzing each week’s news story. Families should expect roughly one hour of homework following each lesson. Students will also be expected to produce an end-of-semester presentation on an article of their choosing.
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