Course Title: Current World Affairs
(BPO36401--2009)
Department of Political Science, Soochow University,
Lecturers: Professors Chih-cheng Lo and Chi-chung Wu
Time: Tuesdays, 15:30-18:20
Course Description:
The purpose of this course is to help students develop a deeper and better understanding of current world events and international affairs in general. The class will cover the historical, economic, social and political issues in different areas of the world, especially as they relate to the development of Taiwan’s foreign policy. Students are required to follow events in assigned issue-areas or geographical areas every week. They should be prepared to present their observations and findings in class. Usually, each weekly event should be studied and presented with a brief historical review followed by an analysis of causes and impacts of the event. By doing this, we are hoping to provide an opportunity for discussion-based learning. Knowledge of world history and geography is surely helpful in this class and participation in class discussions will be vital to being successful in the class. The objectives of this class will be for students to recognize the changing patterns of the world we live in, to improve their English reading, writing and speaking skills, and to analyze the relationship between Taiwan and the world.
Course Requirements:
1)、Each week, the class may start by watching an English TV news program from CNN/BBC/PTS etc. A short class discussion will then follow.
2)、Each student will be asked to create and manage his/her own blog, whose theme focuses on world events. In the blog, each student should post at least one piece of news events every week and make comments on it. During the class, each student shall then be asked to give a 5-minute oral presentation on that particular international event. The event should be no more than a week old, and should be related in some way to the global issues we have been discussing, or will be discussing. Right after each presentation, we shall have an open discussion based on the topic presented.
3)、At the end of this semester, every student should write an in-depth final report on a world event. The report should be written in English and should be more than 3000 words.
4)、Attendance is very important for you to follow the development of weekly events. So, showing up in class is mandatory.
5)、Actively participate in classroom discussion and debate is the key to succeed in this class. To facilitate productive discussion, students should prepare themselves with questions and answers. More importantly, be involved.
Grading Criteria:
Attendance 10%
Current Event Presentation 30%
Discussion/Participation 30%
Final Paper 30%
Recommended Reading/Sources for Current International Events:
l Yahoo! News. (http://news.yahoo.com/)
l Google News (http://news.google.com/)
l International Herald Tribune (http://www.iht.com/)
l New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/)
l BBC News online (http://news.bbc.co.uk/)
l MSNBC News (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/)
l Taipei Times (http://www.taipeitimes.com/)
l CNN (http://edition.cnn.com/)
l Far Eastern Economic Review, Economist, Newsweek, and Time only offer restricted access without a subscription) So, you may read the print copy in the library.
l Other sources: Infoplease (http://www.infoplease.com/) is a very useful website which provides encyclopedia, almanacs, atlas, etc.
Good Luck & Enjoy It!!
If you can survive, you shall thrive!
(BPO36401--2009)
Department of Political Science, Soochow University,
Lecturers: Professors Chih-cheng Lo and Chi-chung Wu
Time: Tuesdays, 15:30-18:20
Course Description:
The purpose of this course is to help students develop a deeper and better understanding of current world events and international affairs in general. The class will cover the historical, economic, social and political issues in different areas of the world, especially as they relate to the development of Taiwan’s foreign policy. Students are required to follow events in assigned issue-areas or geographical areas every week. They should be prepared to present their observations and findings in class. Usually, each weekly event should be studied and presented with a brief historical review followed by an analysis of causes and impacts of the event. By doing this, we are hoping to provide an opportunity for discussion-based learning. Knowledge of world history and geography is surely helpful in this class and participation in class discussions will be vital to being successful in the class. The objectives of this class will be for students to recognize the changing patterns of the world we live in, to improve their English reading, writing and speaking skills, and to analyze the relationship between Taiwan and the world.
Course Requirements:
1)、Each week, the class may start by watching an English TV news program from CNN/BBC/PTS etc. A short class discussion will then follow.
2)、Each student will be asked to create and manage his/her own blog, whose theme focuses on world events. In the blog, each student should post at least one piece of news events every week and make comments on it. During the class, each student shall then be asked to give a 5-minute oral presentation on that particular international event. The event should be no more than a week old, and should be related in some way to the global issues we have been discussing, or will be discussing. Right after each presentation, we shall have an open discussion based on the topic presented.
3)、At the end of this semester, every student should write an in-depth final report on a world event. The report should be written in English and should be more than 3000 words.
4)、Attendance is very important for you to follow the development of weekly events. So, showing up in class is mandatory.
5)、Actively participate in classroom discussion and debate is the key to succeed in this class. To facilitate productive discussion, students should prepare themselves with questions and answers. More importantly, be involved.
Grading Criteria:
Attendance 10%
Current Event Presentation 30%
Discussion/Participation 30%
Final Paper 30%
Recommended Reading/Sources for Current International Events:
l Yahoo! News. (http://news.yahoo.com/)
l Google News (http://news.google.com/)
l International Herald Tribune (http://www.iht.com/)
l New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/)
l BBC News online (http://news.bbc.co.uk/)
l MSNBC News (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/)
l Taipei Times (http://www.taipeitimes.com/)
l CNN (http://edition.cnn.com/)
l Far Eastern Economic Review, Economist, Newsweek, and Time only offer restricted access without a subscription) So, you may read the print copy in the library.
l Other sources: Infoplease (http://www.infoplease.com/) is a very useful website which provides encyclopedia, almanacs, atlas, etc.
Good Luck & Enjoy It!!
If you can survive, you shall thrive!
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