SCIENCE CURRENT EVENT GUIDELINES

Advances in science and technology are occurring at a pace that is almost too fast to imagine. These advances are helping us live longer, healthier lives and are giving us opportunities that were not available twenty, even ten years ago. As a science student it is important for you to stay current regarding advances in this field. To do so, you will be reporting on quarterly current events. These will be due on the follow dates: Nov. 1, Jan.23, April 4, & June 6. You may bring in a rough copy earlier if you would like it proofread.

Choosing an article:

·  Be sure the article is current. Within the past 6 months.

·  It must be directly related to science.

·  Make sure your source is credible (from a recognizable news source). DO NOT just type “science news” into Google and just print the first page that comes up.

·  The source must be a print source (including printed web pages).

·  The article should be age appropriate. Choose something that challenges you, but that you can also understand.

·  The article should be an appropriate length.500 words or more, not a small blurb in the paper. Your article should be significantly longer than your summary!

·  If you have a question about an article, see Mrs. SkinnerBEFORE the current event is due.

·  If you find an article in a source that you cannot cut out (i.e. library paper, magazine), make a photocopy or scan & print

·  Attach the original article or a photocopy/print out of the article. If you have printer issues, deal with those ahead of time and use the resources at school.

Helpful Website Sources

http://www.sciencedaily.com

http://www.sciencenews.org/

http://www.space.com/news

http://www.cnn.com (scroll to science and technology)

http://www.msnbc.com (left side of the page)

http://www.discovermagazine.com

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/news.html

http://www.nytimes.com/pages/science/index.html

http://abcnews.go.com/technology (story tab, not video)

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/tech/main205.shtml

http://www.sciam.com/

Report Format: One FULL page (No more than 2 pages) typed double-spaced summary & opinion/insights. Use 12 point font, no larger and 1” margins, no larger!! Check your page set-up! Use correct grammar and spelling. Use spell/grammar check, but also proofread for errors this doesn’t catch!!

Summarize: 1-2 paragraph(s) (paragraphs are at least 5 sentences in length) summary of the article. Tell me what the article was about in YOUR OWN WORDS. Pick out the major point of the article (avoid too many mundane details). My advice is to read the article once, then read again with a highlighter. Put the article aside to write the summary WITHOUT looking at the article. Summary should explain to anyone what the article was about. Keep in mind the 5 W's: WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY. No PLAGARISM or “over-paraphrasing” (which includes just changing a few words in a particular sentence) NO QUOTES in a summary!

Opinion/Reaction/Insights : 1 paragraph (paragraphs are at least 5 sentences in length) on your opinion of the article.This may include, but not limited to: why you chose this article, did you agree or disagree with the content, what did you think the implications would be, what you learned, etc. Sentences should NOT include: “This article was cool.” or "I didn't like it or learn anything" "I didn't understand it." These would not count towards your 5 sentences and give no substance to your paragraph. If you don't like or understand the article--choose a different article!

New Vocabulary Word(s): Choose 1 or 2 words from the article that is new to you. Highlight in the article itself. (If there are none, this article may not be challenging enough.) Write the word, part of speech, andthe definition of the word as it is used in the article. No PROPER NOUNS (names of people, places, things)!

For example:

Ex. newspaper- (noun) -A publication usually issued daily or weekly containing current news, editorials, feature articles, and usually advertising.

Beginning / Developing / Proficient
Format / -Problem with two or more of the following: Less than 1 page total, over spacing from top, not typed, double spaced, margins > 1”
1 / -May have a problem with one of the following: Less than 1 page total, over spacing from top, not typed, double spaced, or margins > 1”
2 / -1 page total including: summary, opinion & vocab, -No excessive spacing from top, typed in 12 point font, double spaced, margins 1”
3
Spelling,
Grammar / -Article was not spell checked and/or proofread
-Multiple errors
1-2 / -Article may have been spell checked but was not well proofread
-Some errors
3-4 / -Article was spell checked and well proof-read prior to submission
-Few to no errors
5
Summary / -Summary misses key points and/or includes nonessentials (mundane details).
-May lack sentence minimum (5+)
-Includes “quotes” or too much like original rather than all in own words (paraphrased instead of summarized) / -Summary shows understanding of most key points; still has some mundane details
-May or may not lack sentence min. (5+)
-Mostly in own words, with only a few parts “paraphrased” / -Summary shows understanding of all key points, avoiding mundane details & does not include any of your own opinions
-Sentence minimum (5+) or more
-Completely in own words with no indication of plagiarism or “overly paraphrased”; No quotes
1-2 / 3-5 / 6-7
Opinion / -Responses show limited understanding of the article.
-May lack sentence minimum (5+)
-Insights are vague and not related to content of the article
-Generic phrases and/or repetition of summary / -Responses show partial understanding of the article
-May or may not lack sentence min. (5+)
-Insights are somewhat related to the content of the article
-Too many generic phrases like “This article was interesting” or repetition of summary / -Responses show evidence of complete understanding of the article
-Sentence minimum (5+) or more
-Insights are directly related to the content of the article
-New ideas, q’s, thoughts, not just a repeat of the summary or generic phrases like “I learned a lot”.
1-2 / 3-5 / 6-7
Vocab / No vocabulary term highlighted in article or defined with part of speech / Vocabulary not highlighted in article and/or not defined OR part of speech missing / New vocabulary term highlighted within the original article, defined, and part of speech given
0 / 1-2 / 3

Total: ______/25

*5 pts off every day late

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