Students recall news stories they have seen in the
past.
A working definition for news.
Where does it come from?: A brief discussion of news
sources.
Watching the News
Analysis: Taking Notes.
Students demonstrate understanding of key idea by naming
each story.
Students demonstrate understanding of relevance by
identifying story as local, national, or international.
Students learn to listen for important ideas by listing
three key facts.
Informal discussion: comparison of student
answers.
Students watch a new set of news stories, following
process from first week with the addition of identifying
the possible issue. Informal discussion: comparison of
student answers.
Students choose a story to focus on next class.
Understanding the arguments.
Class brainstorm. What is the difference between a
reporter's account and an interview?
What are interviews for?
Students watch chosen news story and list facts in
two columns: one for those given by reporter, the other
for those given by interviewees.
Class brainstorm: which are facts and which are
opinions? What's the difference?
Understanding the arguments (2)
Teacher chooses a news story for focussed viewing.
Students follow viewing and notetaking process from
previous week. Students write a paragraph identifying
their opinion about the issue. Students must use
information from the news story either as support for
their own opinion or as focus against which to present
their own arguments.
Discussing the News
Teacher presents discussion rubric and rules. Watch the news story from
previous week again.
document revised 3
Sept 2006
