In-Class Activity Utilizing the New York Times

Class Material (Google Slides) | Class Material (PDF)

I designed this activity specifically for the first couple of weeks (weeks 1-3) of my English 2100 or 2150 courses at Baruch College. It is adaptable for traditional face-to-face classroom settings, as well as hybrid or online classes.

Many readings for this seminar emphasized the importance of early student grouping. Given that most students in Baruch 2100 or 2150 are first or second-year students, and are still exploring their majors, it can be challenging to gauge their interests solely based on their academic focus. Instead, I often kick off the class with a free writing session where we share personal stories. I’ll throw in some anecdotes about growing up in Korea and my hobbies, like gaming and graphic novels. It helps me understand their individual interests, and I can then group them accordingly.

When I reviewed the online databases shared in the seminar, I saw them as ideal for the research essay stage, typically in the middle or later part of the semester. However, I realized they could be utilized much earlier. This ties into my goal of making research activities engaging from the start, rather than waiting until later when they might seem mundane. So, while this activity relates to Literacy Narrative, it also introduces students to online databases early on.

This activity should take around 45 minutes to an hour and is divided into three parts. First, students will spend 15 minutes exploring the New York Times online archive and browsing resources published on their birthday.* Next, they’ll select the most intriguing resource and write a brief piece describing it. Finally, they’ll join a small discussion group of three or four peers to share their selection. As they listen to others, they’ll take notes and post them on Google Docs, which we use in class. I’ll provide a PowerPoint with specific prompts, and for the writing exercise, I’ve included a sample piece I’ve written.

*During the seminar, I had the chance to learn about an activity Nathan Nikolic was planning and ask questions about it; I borrowed this idea from his activity.