Post by Lotus Eater on Oct 20, 2006 11:55:36 GMT 7
My newspaper reading class handed in their mid-semester assignments today - and I am a happy little possum. Although not totally correct grammatically or in spelling, they achieved what I wanted in setting the assignment. Their (groups of 4) task was to create a newspaper with a news article, a feature article on that particular item of news and then a positive and negative opinion article - again on the item.
They demonstrated that they understood and could write the difference in article types - and the opinion articles were well argued. Items covered the upcoming accreditation inspection, the "Long March" commemorative speech, student admission into post-grad work , fights in the dormitories etc. Very interesting for me to read about what is happening from a student point of view as well.
Some of the groups got very energetic and put in advertisements (even in colour print! Cost them 6Y I am told!! Greater dedication hath no student than to put their own money in).
Secondly, I used a number of different articles on the same topic (N. Korea's recent nuclear test) today from China Daily, Washington Post, The Guardian and The Australian. They were to analyse the articles and compare styles, information, word usage etc. It was a fun class - they had a great time comparing the number of quotes used from different leaders, the differences in 'take' by different newspapers, and the light on their faces when they 'caught out' newspapers not giving an unbiased view of the event was good to see.
You will be pleased to know that their assessment was: Australian gives most 'balanced' view, Guardian gives a slightly more historical, international perspective, China Daily is into re-assuring it's citizens, Washington Post is into creating fear.
Definitely an interesting class to run.
They demonstrated that they understood and could write the difference in article types - and the opinion articles were well argued. Items covered the upcoming accreditation inspection, the "Long March" commemorative speech, student admission into post-grad work , fights in the dormitories etc. Very interesting for me to read about what is happening from a student point of view as well.
Some of the groups got very energetic and put in advertisements (even in colour print! Cost them 6Y I am told!! Greater dedication hath no student than to put their own money in).
Secondly, I used a number of different articles on the same topic (N. Korea's recent nuclear test) today from China Daily, Washington Post, The Guardian and The Australian. They were to analyse the articles and compare styles, information, word usage etc. It was a fun class - they had a great time comparing the number of quotes used from different leaders, the differences in 'take' by different newspapers, and the light on their faces when they 'caught out' newspapers not giving an unbiased view of the event was good to see.
You will be pleased to know that their assessment was: Australian gives most 'balanced' view, Guardian gives a slightly more historical, international perspective, China Daily is into re-assuring it's citizens, Washington Post is into creating fear.
Definitely an interesting class to run.
