Incorporate Current Events

1. Begin each class with a current events question. Read the answer from the paper.
2. Devote the first or last five minutes of class to discussion of a weekly topic. Grade on participation.

Students Find the Articles

1. Students find a course-related article at least 250 words long, and present the article to the class.
2. Students find and summarize one article per week relevant to the course content.
3. Students select three articles on same topic, take notes, write thesis, write paragraphs supporting thesis, use citations.
4. Assign students to use wsj.com, nytimes.com and/or Sunday’s New York Times Job Market to identify several jobs that interest them. Have them outline their strategies for qualifying for the positions.

Student Analysis

1. Distribute article(s) with specific questions addressed: What happened? What do you think about the issues involved? What concepts (e.g., economic) are involved?
2. Develop key questions to help student compare points of view on a current topic from an editorial to those expressed in another source. On international issues, try comparing to a foreign paper.
3. Distribute articles for students to use to practice summarizing, paraphrasing, using quotations, avoiding plagiarism and citing sources. 
4. Students select three articles on same topic, take notes, write thesis, write paragraphs supporting thesis, use citations.
5. Assign students to read several editorials and write one of their own on a selected topic.
6. Assign students to read several letters to the editor and write one of their own on a selected topic.
7. Assign students to read several movie reviews and write one of their own.
8. Assign students to read several book reviews and write one of their own.
9. Assign students to read about a current issue and research the developments on the topic over time.
10. Assign students to use wsj.com, nytimes.com and/or Sunday’s New York Times Job Market to identify several jobs that interest them. Have them outline their strategies for qualifying for the positions.
11. Assign students to read the obituaries and identify the traits (character, education, etc.) that contributed to the achievements of the deceased.
12. Student can discuss how photographs are used, what they add to an understanding of the article, what makes them memorable.

Group Projects/Presentations

1. Students find a course-related article at least 250 words long, and present the article to the class.
2. Divide students into groups and assign each group a different current topic to research and present.
3. Assign student to scan the paper to find an article that in some way relates to their childhood and write a paragraph about it. Students can use their paragraphs to introduce themselves.
4. Student can discuss how photographs are used, what they add to an understanding of the article, what makes them memorable.

Adapted from New York Times' 25 Ideas for Using Newspapers in the Classroom