Current Events

Description: This course will offer students the opportunity to take ownership of their learning and investigate various world affairs that interest them. Students will be investigating events/topics that impact the political, social, economic, and militaristic aspects of our world as examples. The student’s interest will determine the amount of time and detail they spend researching an event/topic. This course will build research skills, presentation skills, and also the ability to decipher factual from falsified evidence.

Course Objective: Students will determine events/topics that interest them. They will use these events/topics as a foundation to learn to voice opinion effectively, promote open-mindedness, and function in a positive community.

Class Requirements: Students are expected to be active participants in this course. Examples of required work are: Discussions, projects, reading, writing, and presentations. A notebook will be a strong tool for keeping organized and will be assessed throughout the semester.

The Brentwood School Rules will be strictly enforced. Students must demonstrate respect for themselves, others, and all property. Students must take ownership of their learning and demonstrate investment in creating a classroom community that promotes safe learning.

Make Up Work: It is your responsibility to ask for make-up work. Work missed due to an excused absence can be completed for full credit within two days. Failure to do so will result in an earned grade of zero. When a student receives an ISA, class work will be completed for up to 80% credit. If a student receives an OSS, class work must be made up within two days of the suspension for 80% credit.

Grading: There are three methods for earning credit in the Current Events course: Class Participation, Daily Assignments and Major Assignments. The weight for each type of credit is as follows:

20% Class Participation (marked daily)
40% Daily Assignments (in class assignments, discussions)
40% Major Assignments (presentations, projects, harkness discussions)

Student’s Learning (Almost daily students will read at least one article to promote awareness, literary use, and media availability)

Week 1 (2 days)
News Article Critical Thinking Questions
Word Up – An investigation into the power of word choice/use

Week 2 (4 days)
Students read Newspaper or Internet articles and answered News Article Critical Thinking Questions
Students worked on summarizing techniques
Students summarized news articles

Week 3 (5 days)
Students investigated Young Voter Interest
Students debated the pros and cons of raising the driving age
Students learned to define, identify and create aspects of a Political Cartoon
Students begin to investigate a variety of forms of Propaganda

Week 4 (5 days)
Identifying techniques for Propaganda in the media
Describing different forms of Propaganda
Black Monday News Article
Constitution Day Activities
Boston Massacre Propaganda Activity
Summary of News Articles

Week 5 (5 days)
Censorship in the media
Censorship, the Constitution, and You!
Summary of News Articles
Censorship vocabulary
Reasons for banning books, music

Week 6 (5 days)
How the Patriot Act impacts you
Pros and Cons of the Patriot Act
Summary of News Articles
21 Things to Improve America

Week 7 (4 days)
Summary of News Articles
Get out and Vote Poster
Presidential Debate Review
Economic Depression 2.0 article?
Bailout Bill Article

Week 8 (4 days)
Summary of News Articles
Presidential Collage Posters
Summary Review

Week 9 (5 days)
Survey Activity on Election Issues
Summary of News Articles
What If Question Sheet Part 1

Week 10 (5 days)
Summary of News Articles
What If Question Sheet Part 2
Election Activity – Candidates and the Issues
New Hampshire Legislature Candidates

Week 11 (5 days [Quarter 1 ends 11/3])
Summary of News Articles
Election Coverage
Polls + Twinkies Activity