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Summer Session - CURRENT EVENTS & MASS MEDIA

In this course we will take a historical and contemporary look at issues in international politics, the global economy, and popular culture.This course provides students an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the issues that frequent newspapers, television news, and other popular media and fuel the controversies that both divide our population here in the United States and around the globe. 

Course Objectives:

  • become more aware of the major issues of the day and become more informed citizens
  • be able to conduct research on current event topics using reliable websites and other sources 
  • form, support and express views and opinions on the major issues
  • learn to tolerate and coexist with people possessing viewpoints and beliefs that differ from their own
  • become more aware of media bias and become more media-literate
The abundance of information in our world today can be overwhelming, especially when we do not realize that some sources are more dependable than others. It is easy to be misled when we do not take time to explore issues with care.

Key Questions:
What information can we trust?
How do we know what is right or wrong?
Are we able to see truth in many viewpoints, while realizing that not all opinions are equal?

DATE
CLASS CALENDAR / INFORMATION
  Monday - July 16 Jojo's Travel Adventures
Tuesday - July 17  MORNING TOPIC: Introduction to CURRENT EVENTS & MASS MEDIA

CLASS PRESENTATION: A Sampling of Websites
- ProCon.org
- OnTheIssues
- Global Issues
- Huffington Post vs. Drudge Report
- AND The Onion (which people believe more often than you might expect)

CLASS NOTES: Mass Media and Current Issues TOPICS

DISCUSSION: What is our BEST plan?
AFTERNOON TOPIC: U.S. History - Period 1
DAILY ASSIGNMENT: Current Events ANALYSIS
U.S. History
- Period 2 / Chapter 2: pp. 23-31, 35-37
- Period 2 / Chapter 3: pp. 47-49, 53-55 
Wednesday - July 18 TOPIC: Current Events ANALYSIS

DAILY ASSIGNMENT: Current Events ANALYSIS
U.S. History
- Period 3 / Chapter 4: pp. 68, 70-77
- Period 3 / Chapter 5: 88-89
- ONLINE GAME: THE ROAD TO REVOLUTION
Thursday - July 19  TOPIC: Current Events ANALYSIS

DAILY ASSIGNMENT: Current Events ANALYSIS
Excerpts from Liberty video
 U.S. History
- Period 3 / Chapter 5: 90-94
- Period 3 / Chapter 6: 103-109
Friday - July 20 TOPIC: Current Events ANALYSIS

DAILY ASSIGNMENT: Current Events ANALYSIS
Excerpts from Liberty video
Monday - July 23 TOPIC: Current Events ANALYSIS

DAILY ASSIGNMENT: Current Events ANALYSIS
Excerpts from Liberty video
 U.S. History
- Period 3 / Chapter 6: 109-111, 113-118
Tuesday - July 24 TOPIC: Current Events ANALYSIS

DAILY ASSIGNMENT: Current Events ANALYSIS
History Channel - The Presidents, 1789-1825
U.S. History
- Period 4 / Chapter 7: pp. 131-142
- Period 4 / Chapter 8: 153-154
Wednesday - July 25 TOPIC: Current Events ANALYSIS

DAILY ASSIGNMENT: Current Events ANALYSIS
History Channel - The Presidents, 1825-1845
U.S. History
- Period 4 / Chapter 9: pp. 173-189
Thursday - July 26 TOPIC: Current Events ANALYSIS

DAILY ASSIGNMENT: Current Events ANALYSIS
U.S. History
- Period 4 / Chapter 10: pp. 193-198
Friday - July 27 TOPIC: Current Events ANALYSIS

DAILY ASSIGNMENT: Current Events ANALYSIS
U.S. History
- Period 4 / Chapter 11: pp. 209-210; 212-215
Monday - July 30 TOPIC: Current Events ANALYSIS

DAILY ASSIGNMENT: Current Events ANALYSIS
U.S. History
- Period 5 / Chapter 12: pp. 230-231; 233-234; 238-239
Tuesday - July 31 TOPIC: Current Events ANALYSIS

DAILY ASSIGNMENT: Current Events ANALYSIS
U.S. History
- Period 5 / ALL of Chapter 13
Wednesday - August 1 TOPIC: Current Events ANALYSIS

DAILY ASSIGNMENT: Current Events ANALYSIS
U.S. History
- Period 5 / ALL of Chapter 13
Thursday - August 2   TOPIC: Current Events ANALYSIS

DAILY ASSIGNMENT: Current Events ANALYSIS
U.S. History
- Period 5 / Chapter 14: 270-271; 274-283
Friday - August 3 TOPIC: Current Events ANALYSIS

DAILY ASSIGNMENT: Current Events ANALYSIS
Monday - August 6 TOPIC: Introduction to CURRENT EVENTS FINAL PROJECT

- CURRENT EVENTS FINAL PROJECT GUIDELINES
- CURRENT EVENTS FINAL PROJECT ARTICLE SUMMARY FORM
Tuesday - August 7  TOPIC: CURRENT EVENTS FINAL PROJECT

- CURRENT EVENTS FINAL PROJECT GUIDELINES
- CURRENT EVENTS FINAL PROJECT ARTICLE SUMMARY FORM

CLASS ACTIVITY: Work on CURRENT EVENTS FINAL PROJECT - DUE AT END OF CLASS ON THURSDAY
Wednesday - August 8  TOPIC: CURRENT EVENTS FINAL PROJECT

- CURRENT EVENTS FINAL PROJECT GUIDELINES
- CURRENT EVENTS FINAL PROJECT ARTICLE SUMMARY FORM

CLASS ACTIVITY: Work on CURRENT EVENTS FINAL PROJECT - DUE AT END OF CLASS ON THURSDAY
 Thursday - August 9
END OF SECOND SEMESTER

CURRENT EVENTS FINAL PROJECT - DUE AT END OF EXAM PERIOD