Current Events Example

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/30/world/europe/murdoch-apologizes-for-grotesque-netanyahu-cartoon.html?hp&_r=0

Current Events

The following themes can be used for your current event:

·         Human Behavior

·         Prejudice and Stereotypes

·         Nazism and White Supremacy

·         Persecution to Mass Murder

·         Resistance and Rescue

·         Other Possible Genocides

Where do you find current events?

·         A current event can be obtained from any newsworthy printed or on-line source. The New York Times, Time, Newsweek, CNN.com, and BBC.com are all good places to look for articles. Do not use tabloid publications such as People, OK, Star, etc.

·         If you are not sure - ask.

After you find your article, what do you do?

·         Cut out, print out or make a copy of the article including the dateline.

·         On the back of the page write or attach a summary of the article as well as your opinion/commentary on the story or issues.

Expectations:

·         The total length of your summary and commentary together should be about one handwritten page.

·         At the beginning of the period the first time we meet each week I will circulate among the class to check current events. I will place my initials on your current event if it is the proper content, form, and length. A number of students will then be called at random to share their article with the class. Everyone should keep the stamped current events in their notebook.

·         At the end of each marking period I will check your notebook for the proper number of initialed current events (this will usually be between eight and ten). The bulk of your notebook grade will be based on current events. It is extremely important for you to maintain a neat and well-organized notebook since these grades have a large impact on your marking period and semester averages.

Syllabus

“Be proud of everything you do, for what you do and how you do it tells others who you are.”

Class Description:  Holocaust and Genocide is a semester-long course offering 2.5 credits. This course is offered to students in grades 11 and 12. Holocaust and Genocide covers many of the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards for Social Studies.

Holocaust and Genocide students need a more global understanding of society. One component of this is to help students understand the consequences of hate. Through an elective course that offers Holocaust and Genocide education, students can gain exposure to past and present atrocities and learn how society can avoid atrocities in the future.  The class will use the following outline of topics:

·         Human behavior

·         Prejudice and stereotypes

·         The rise of Nazism

·         Persecution to mass murder

·         Resistance and rescue

·         Identified Genocides

The mission of the Holocaust and Genocide course to is to ensure that the students understand the significant pull of social forces on individuals and groups, and to use that information as fully formed individuals in a modern society. The ultimate goal of this course is to educate students, to become informed citizens of the United States, in the Global Age. This will be accomplished by:

·         Examining past events, as well as current struggles

·         The use of primary and secondary source materials

·         Infusing technology to assist in the learning process

·         Exploring alternate points of view

·         Participating in presentations

Expectations:   Success will depend on your eagerness to learn, the strength of your curiosity, and your initiative and discipline.  I expect my students to come to class each day prepared to deal with the subject matter at hand.  Generally the assignment will be to have read the chapter; sometimes research will be necessary; and other times written homework must be done.  As this class relies heavily on student discussion and interaction (rather than strictly on teacher lecture), it is essential that each student come to class ready to contribute toward the daily goals.  With that said, I EXPECT the following:

1.       Assignments to be completed by the day they are due (this includes all READING assignments).

2.       Be on time and prepared for class (i.e. your textbook, binder, and a writing implement).

3.       No talking at inappropriate times.

4.       Be ready to participate by making eye contact and being fearless when it comes to your opinion.

5.       Make up all missed assignments in a timely manner as per the student handbook.

Remember the 3 R’s:  Responsibility is the key to success, and the remedy for failure.  No excuses!  Respect the person and property of those around you.  Right action, right effort, right speech, and right thought.  After all, “you shall profit as you invest.”

Grading:  All assignments, whether homework, current events, quizzes, essays, tests, blogs, or projects will be graded on a cumulative basis.  I will add the total amount of points for every assignment during each respective quarter and then divide by the number of points you have earned on those particular assignments.  Keep track of your grade the whole year.

Required supplies: A binder with dividers and a writing implement.

Required subscriptions: There will be a few assignments that will require you to listen to podcasts online.  So if you do not already have a subscription to ITunes, then please sign up and download the program on your computer at home.  You will also need to join the following site:  http://www.glhandg.blogspot.com/ for our class blog.

Welcome to the Blog!

Throughout the year you will be asked to have conversations on our blog.  The blog will be our way of communicating online and will often be where your homework is completed.  Please be aware that I will put out some minimum requirements and ground rules as to keep the blog moving and appropriate. Also be aware that anything posted MUST abide by the rules of our school. Remember that once something has been posted, there is no going back! If done correctly you will find this exercise rewarding and enjoyable.

General Expectations:
1. A post consists of QUALITY commentary not necessarily quantity
2. You must read all the previous posts because this blog is meant to be a continuous conversation
3. A post can include a link or a picture to observe and comment on, but must also contain your commentary
4. Otherwise a post needs to be at least a paragraph in length
5. NOTHING can be inappropriate or divisive in nature
6. Feel free to disagree and discuss but do it respectfully
7. Feel free to compare and contrast to other times in history, the present day, or other subject matters
8. Be creative, imaginative, and show your intellectual curiosity
9. Look one of my old blog's as an example: http://dunellenapeuro.blogspot.com/