Current Event Class Schedule

Topics will be changed as necessary to accommodate actual current events.

Semester 1

Project Scholar / Scholar Track

1. Sept 23 / Sept 30
   • Topic: Why current events? D&C 88:78-80
   • Sept 2011 quiz
   • News Sources
   • assignment: watch 3 news shows or read 6 news articles
     • Purpose: Find a new source which is interesting and enjoyable to you
     • Also, hopefully we will get input from a variety of sources
2. Oct 7 / Oct 14
   • report: which news shows did you watch, and what you thought of them
   • 1 Timothy 4:12-16
   • Topic: Media Analysis, Biases, and Worldviews
   • assignment: watch/read news and prepare to report orally on something interesting
   • assignment: watch Manufacturing Consent
3. Oct 21 / Oct 28
   • report: give brief oral presentations (see Luke 4:16-20)
   • Discuss Media Deception (how can we combat the biases in reporting?)
   • assignment: watch/read news, bring written paragraph on something interesting
   • assignment: read Thousand Year War, Preface - chapter 8
4. Nov 4 / Nov 11
   • report: read paragraphs
   • Topic: Economics - supply and demand
   • assignment: watch/read news, write opinion piece and post on blog
   • assignment: read Thousand Year War, chapters 9-17
5. Nov 19 (cancelled) / Dec 2
   • report: read opinions
   • assignment: research a presidential candidate, find out views on various topics
   • assignment: watch/read news, write opinion piece and post on blog
   • assignment: read Thousand Year War, chapters 18-32
6. Dec 9 / Dec 16
   • report: share blog posts
   • report: presidential candidate viewpoints
   • Topic: Macroeconomics
   • assignment: read Thousand Year War, p. 117 (Iraq-Kuwait War) to end
7. Jan 6 / Jan 13
   • Topic: Fact-checking techniques
   • assignment: watch/read news, fact check something
   • assignment: read Understanding Power, chapter 1
8. Jan 20 / Jan 27
   • report: fact-checks
   • Oral Exams
   • assignment: read Understanding Power, chapter 2

Semester 2

writing assignments to be determined...

1. Feb 3 / Feb 10
   • Topic: Principle-based analysis, real world vs. ideal world
   • assignment: read Understanding Power, chapter 3
2. Feb 17 / Feb 24
   • Topic: Intervention and Interests
   • assignment: read Understanding Power, chapter 4
3. Mar 2 / Mar 9
   • Topic: Power structure in America
   • assignment: read Understanding Power, chapter 5
4. Mar 16 / Mar 23
   • Topic: Emergencies and external threats
   • assignment: read Understanding Power, chapter 6
   • assignment: watch/read news, write outline for 1-2 page analysis of a major event
5. Mar 30 / Apr 6
   • Topic: Freedom vs. Compassion (DeMille)
   • assignment: read Understanding Power, chapter 7
   • assignment: watch/read news, write analysis rough draft
6. Apr 20 / Apr 27
   • Topic: Third Parties, American system vs Parliamentary system
   • assignment: read Understanding Power, chapter 8
   • assignment: turn in analysis paper draft
7. May 4 / May 11
   • Topic: TBA
   • assignment: read Understanding Power, chapter 9
   • assignment: turn in final analysis papers
8. May 18 / May 25
   • Topic: TBA
   • assignment: read Understanding Power, chapter 10

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