News and Current Events 201! Try 2

[Mutanatia]

Mutanatia stands at the door and hands each of you a syllabus with a shake of his hand. You all file into the lecture hall where he begins to speak. "Please open the syllabus." You do as he says.

He narrates as you read along. "Welcome to News and Current Events 201. This a semi-intensive course as it covers sources of news through the lens of the media. We will have ground-breaking events, some not-so ground breaking, and of course, once News and Current Events 301 (which I encourage you all to join as well!) kicks off, then we will go on a brief hiatus with a few fun 'detours' to cover the time. This course will run from June 29th to the following year at some point.

Real Time with Bill Maher

NPR It's All Politics

1st "Detour": NPR Sunday Puzzle

NPR World Story of the Day (These range from topics about Bin Laden to U.S. Espionage against Iran, to the rebellion in Tunisia, and so forth)

Second "Detour": The Onion Radio News

Third "Detour": Car Talk (People call up about their car problems and are made fun of for it:p)

7) NPR Wait...Wait...Don't Tell Me!

8) This American Life"

He paused, waiting for those there to turn the page.

"'Detours' do not require any actual work, but is there to break from the monotony of hard brainwork. Those will be 5 weeks at time. It should also be mentioned that each unit is 5 weeks long, with a different episode or story for each week.

A bit about the News Sources:
Bill Maher is an HBO comedian.
It's All Politics is an NPR show about U.S. politics
Sunday Puzzler is a brain teaser
Onion Radio News is Parody and comic
World Story of the day is a show about World News
NPR Wait...Wait...Don't Tell Me is a news show that lampoons newsmaker
This American Life a Chicago Public Radio show that yields a powerful narrative about the subject matter they are discussing.

There will be three essays, assigned throughout the course. Essays consist of an intro, three well-written paragraphs of 3 or more lines, and a conclusion. I want you to think about the essays now, so below are the topics.

ESSAY 1:
After the Real Time with Bill Maher episode, and due at the end the end of the detour, discuss the dangers of taking Bill Maher (And blogs for that matter) as "fact." Should these sources be presented as "news" or simply "opinions about the news?" Explain your answer.

ESSAY 2:
After the NPR World Story of the Day episode, and due at the end of the second detour, please describe the difference between U.S. Political News and World News. Does one affect the other in only one direction, or do they affect each other? Do news from other nations differ from our nation's news? If so, how?

ESSAY 3:
At the end of the course, discuss the various sources of news, how each should be treated, and how each figures into our overall picture of the world."

He waited for the groans as students turned the page.

"GRADING RUBRIC:
Participation will count for 95% of your grade, since this is an online course. To participate, please answer the homework questions through PM, and also answer the discussion question in class (read: in thread). 5% of your grade will be the essays."

FINALLY: Above all else, the point is to have fun. If real life gets in the way, I won't hold it against you. But please provide a sentence or two discussing why you can't do the discussion for this week, about 2-3 days before the lesson goes up. If the work load is too much, we can lessen it, but let's start out with this. Have fun!"

As the students closed their textbooks, the professor looked up. "Are there any questions?" He asked.

[Markanite]

I'd like to sign up Mut!

[Mutanatia]

Anyone else?

[Aersoldorf]

I'll try it

[Mutanatia]

Thanks ^_^

[Aersoldorf]

Have we started and I've missed it?

[Mutanatia]

This course will run from June 29th to the following year at some point.

Reason: Jury duty X.x

[Aersoldorf]

My bad, sorry

[Mutanatia]

First week. You have two weeks to respond. Just because I was feeling productive


(LINK: www.hbo.com/real-time-with-bill-maher#/real-time-with-bill-maher/episodes/0/234-episode/synopsis/quotes.html )

Mutanatia was there again to greet you with a handshake. When his students sat down, he said, “Hello and welcome to Week #1 of Real Time with Bill Maher, also our first week of this class. To give you a little background: Bill Maher, as informed as he seems to be, is a comedian and not a pundit. This means that he does not conform to journalistic standards. This will be important later on when you write your essay in 10 weeks’ times. Our assignment throughout these 5 weeks of this unit will be the following: evaluate if it is even possible to rely on Bill Maher.



Now, full disclosure, I am a fan of Bill Maher. I like him because he’s funny and entertaining. But I do not accept his opinions as “truth” or, in some cases, as even “informed.” Your discussion for each week of this unit will be to do the following:

1) Find a statement you agree with and explain why. Discuss with others and be prepared to defend your viewpoint civilly. There may be nothing you agree with. Please state why this is the case.
2) Find a statement you disagree with and explain why. Discuss with others and be prepared to defend your viewpoint civilly.


This episode originally aired on 1/20/2012. Topics included the Republican Primary, Mitt Romney, SOPA, The keystone pipeline, and Special Interest Groups. “

He then passed out the homework:

Homework:
1) Fact-check one of the quotes found in the list (or on the overtime segment) and tell me why it is, or isn’t, accurate.
2) What is the general consensus for SOPA and for Citizens United?
3) Finally, evaluate Bill Moyers, from the PBS station, Bill’s first guest. Tell me what you think, from what you’ve seen of him, his political viewpoint is. Is he pushing a message? IF so, what is it? Or is he doing talking points?

FINALLY, as this is the FIRST week, there will be TWO weeks to conclude your homework and discussion.

[Markanite]

Hi Mut! The Bill Maher quote link doesn't work

[Mutanatia]

How about now?

[Markanite]

1. Agree , "It was a brave thing because he had to take on the muscle of the oil industry". I agree with this statement as it can be difficult for incumbents to go up against big organisations, especially in an election year.

2. Disagree, "Heres one thing that trumps Money;Debates. The debates exposed Rick Perry as an idiot and made Newt Gingrich viable". I disagree with this statement, just because hes not very eloquent, especially in debates doesn't make Rick Perry an idiot. Newt Gingrich was a fair candidate as he had a lot of experience behind him so he may have been viable before the debates.

[Mutanatia]

Counter points:
Do you think that Perry's forgetfulness and weird patterns of speech may have made him LOOK like an idiot?

[Aersoldorf]

ugh, i can't open the link from a ps3, nor can i access it at work. i'll try from my home pc tomorrow evening

[Mutanatia]

How about now?

www.hbo.com/real-time-with-bill-maher#/real-time-with-bill-maher/episodes/0/234-episode/synopsis/quotes.html

[Markanite]

Jul 2, 2012 12:10:19 GMT -5 Mutanatia said:

Counter points:
Do you think that Perry's forgetfulness and weird patterns of speech may have made him LOOK like an idiot?

Everyone forgets things, especially under pressure. He often uses colloquilisms which to some may make him look like an idiot but I don't think so

It took it a while to load for me Aerso, I left it for a few mins and it worked fine.

[Mutanatia]

My class has moved here:
mutanatia.blogspot.com/