Understanding Contemporary Culture through Reading News

Reading /Presentation

Keywords:
Business English, Culture, Discussion, Extensive Reading, Grammar, Intensive Reading, Presentation, Research, Speaking, Vocabulary, Web Activities, Writing

On Campus ( to have an on-campus meeting, even only once from #1 - #12)

This class will be offered on-line ( Zoom). If the present situation improves, the class will be offered on-campus.

*Until the class resumes, all students are to choose an article from any news magazine or newspaper/ web news ( whether it be English, Japanese, French, Spanish, German, or Chinese) and write a summary and analysis/comment both in English. Each student is required to send the instructor the above tasks electronically every week (or 2 weeks at the latest) to vulcan@sfc.keio.ac.jp along with the article the student has chosen ( do not send the website address, send the article itself). The insrtuctor will print out the tasks, check the contents, and return them as soon as the class resumes. When the class resumes, final presentations will be given on the last day.

Students are to read latest articles from weekly news magazine (mainly Time and occasionally Newsweek) . Students will be given 2 (occasionally 3) articles every class (they are to choose one for classwork and one for homework). Each student will read, summarize, and analyze one article in class and one at home. Articles will vary from economics, politics to science and culture, but students will be given various types of articles every week. All summaries done at home must be hand-written and handed in for the instructor to check the grammar. Analyses will be presented orally in class. (The Instructor will mainly explain and analyze the articles in the first 5 or 6 lessons: students are expected to do the same in the remaing classes of the semester.) Written versions of all summaries and analyses are to be handed in on the last day of class ( not electronically).

There will be articles on international politics, global economics, different fields in science, environmental problems, culture and so forth. By reading news, it can be expected that the students increase not only their English ability but their knowledge regarding these topics. It is important that students get acquainted with world news and what is actually going on in this world. This course should be an asset to their studies and to their future careers. The instructor will explain each article's background as much as possible; furthermore, the instructor will also explain the expressions or words related to the articles if deemed necessary to enhance the student's understanding.

Attendance: 10%
Assignment: Weekly Summary: 20%
Final Paper: 30%
Weekly Analysis/Comment: 20%
Final Presentation: 10%
Class Participation : 10%

1	Sample News Article from Newsweek or Time Magazine: Students will read a latest news article for summary and analysis. The article will be chosen from the latest edition.
2	Sample News Article from Newsweek or Time Magazine Students will read a latest news article for summary and analysis The article will be chosen from the latest edition. One article will be assigned to the students for reading and analysis due the following week.
3	Students will present their analyses of the assigned article from the previous lesson in class. Pick of the week: Students will be given an article or will choose one of the articles the instructor brings to class for reading, summarizing, and analyzing.
4	Students will present their analyses of the article they have chosen in the previous lesson. Pick of the week: Students will be given an article or will choose one of the articles for reading, summarizing, and analyzing.
5	Students will present their analyses of the article. Pick of the week: Each student will be given an article or will choose one of the articles the instructor brings to class for reading, summarizing, and analyzing.
6	Students will present their analyses of the article. Pick of the week: Each student will be given an article or will choose one of the articles brought to class.
7	Mid-term presentation: Each student will give an oral presentation of the analysis of the article he/ she has found most interesting/ impressive/ intriguing.
8	Students will present their analyses of the article. Pick of the week Each student will be given an article or will choose one of the articles brought to class.
9	Students will present their analyses of the article. Pick of the week Each student will be given an article or will choose one of the articles brought to class.
10	Students will present the analysis of the article. Pick of the week: Each student will be given an article or will choose one of the articles brought to class.
11	Students will present their analyses of the article. Pick of the week: Each student will be given an article or will choose one of the articles brought to class.
12	Final Presentation Each student will give an oral presentation (analysis) of one of the articles he/she has done during the semester. All printed-out versions of summaries and analyses must be handed in by this day.
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This course uses various types of news articles from various categories. Some articles may not interest some people; however, it is important that one be able to understand news one does not like or is not interested. As the world is getting smaller and smaller, everyone should be familiar with what is actually going on in the world. By reading most recent news, students can also increase their reading ability and, moreover, by writing analyses, they can also expect their writing ability to improve.