News and Current Events 301 Syllabus

The following is the class syllabus for NCE 301:

1)    There is no essay, except for at the end.

Units:

1)    Anderson Cooper 360

2)    Best of YouTube (Break)

3)    Gallup Poll

4)    Meet the Press

5)    NBC Nightly News

6)    Onion News Network (break)

7)    Fareed Zakarias GPS

8)    State of the Union with Candy Crowley

9)    Face The Nation

Essay: of the sources presented, which is the LEAST likely to be biased and why?

NPR World Story of the Day, #5 (See note at end)

(LINK: http://www.npr.org/2012/09/03/160501527/for-afghan-girl-going-to-school-is-act-of-bravery )

                                                                       

Welcome to week #5 of NPR’s World Story of the Day from NPR. This is also our 15^th week. This lesson deals with the bravery in the world that we seldom see on TV. It features a young girl, going to school. The act in and of itself is not brave—but it is when you consider where it is she’s going to school….

This lesson comes from September 3^rd, 2012 (my birthday). It features a young girl, arguing with her family about going to school in the most dangerous of places.

Here are the discussion questions:

1)    Is this truly an act of bravery?

2)    Why does her brother not want her to go to school?

3)    Why does the brother want his sister to marry and why?

4)    What threats do girls have to face besides the Taliban?

Homework:

1)    Why is the girl going to school in Afghanistan so significant?

ATTENTION:

This class, NCE 201 is going on hiatus. The next class, NCE 301, begins next Saturday and will last for the next 9 weeks. NCE 301 is an intense course, designed only for the newsiest of newsies. 5 articles will be posted per week, all on one entry.

NPR World Story of the Day, Week #4

(LINK http://www.npr.org/2012/08/31/160346085/israel-finds-itself-a-partisan-election-issue-in-u-s )

                                                                       

Welcome to week #4 of NPR’s World Story of the Day from NPR This is also our 14^th week. This unit, we’ll hear about various stories from across the world. This unit also has a heavy emphasis on the Middle East. September and August were ripe times for international news. This marks the beginning of a spotlight on two other Middle-Eastern countries: Israel and Afghanistan.

This lesson comes from August 31^st, 2012. The central issue behind this one is: What if you’re a nation being used as a political issue, much like Israel has been used? Is it a good thing for your nation, or, is it a bad thing?

Here are the discussion questions:

1)    Why is this election “different” in terms of Israel’s role in the election?

2)    Why is the “politicization” of Israel a bad thing in the eyes of the speaker in the article?

3)    According to the other speaker, why is the politicization of Israel a good thing?

Homework:

            1) If your country was politicized, would this be a good thing or bad thing for your country? 

World Story of the Day #3: Libya finale

(LINK: http://www.npr.org/2012/09/20/161459963/libyan-group-denies-role-in-u-s-consulate-attack )

                                                                       

Welcome to week #3 of NPR’s World Story of the Day from NPR.” He said. This is also our 13^th week. This unit, we’ll hear about various stories from across the world. This unit also has a heavy emphasis on the Middle East. September and August were ripe times for international news. This marks the end of the Libyan unit.

This lesson comes from September 20^th, 2012 (my birthday). It features a terror group in Libya discussing the attack on Benghazzi, the city where the embassy was. You will hear their claims regarding the situation and remember it as well. Good luck.

Here are the discussion questions:

1)    Do you buy the group’s denial that they participated in this event? Why or why not?

2)    Describe the terrorist group

3)    Why do they not like the West?

4)    What role do they play in Libya?

Homework:

            1) Do you believe Hilary Clinton’s (initial) reading of the situation or the Libyan President’s (initial) reading of the situation? Why do you think that?

Part 2 of 3 on the Libyan Embassy Incident

(LINK: http://www.npr.org/2012/09/12/161025931/clinton-libya-attack-was-by-small-savage-group)

                                                                       

Mutanatia greeted his students as they entered the room with a handshake again. “Welcome to week #2 of NPR’s World Story of the Day from NPR.” He said. “For your enjoyment, the brainteasers were posted on my facebook page. If you’d like the links, please comment here. This is also our 12^th week. This unit, we’ll hear about various stories from across the world. This unit also has a heavy emphasis on the Middle East. September and August were ripe times for international news. Remember, this is a unit on the Libya embassy attacks for the next 2 weeks. At the end of next week, you’ll be asked to decide whose side you agree with more on the initial reading of the situation. Remember that one side (if you look it up, you’ll know) has already changed their position.”

This lesson comes from September 12^th, 2012. It features Hillary Clinton discussing the attack on Benghazzi, the city where the embassy was. You will hear her assessment of the situation and remember it as well. Good luck.

Here are the discussion questions:

1)    How likely, in your opinion, is the Secretary of State’s scenario?

2)    Why did the mob attack the consulate?

He then passed out the homework:

            1) Do you think that this attack in particular was really about the film, or was there a larger point to it/