Ms. Bowling
Article Card Directions
* Article cards are due at the beginning of class each Friday (or the last day of class for the week).
* If you are in school or if you come to school for part of the school day on the day the card is due, you must turn it in on that day, even if you are not present for the class.
* If you are absent on the due date, you must turn in your card at the beginning of class on the first day you return, along with an excused absence note. You may not turn a card in if the absence is unexcused.
* You will be given weekly points (25 total points possible) for this assignment. These points can significantly help to increase your grade each term if completed correctly.
* If a lowest grade in a grading period is ever dropped for an article card, a zero will not be dropped.
* You will be asked to do five different tasks on an article card and each item will be worth five points.
* Requirement: You must use a 5” X 8” index card, not a 4” X 6” card or a sheet of paper cut to size 5” X 8”.
* Cards must be written in blue or black ink.
* Use only one side of the card. Do not use two cards.
* At times, the article card will focus on a topic associated with content being studied in class. At other times, student choice will be allowed. During the weeks of student choice, choose topics from a daily or weekly news magazine or newspaper that one can consider credible.
* Choose topics of national importance that are significant politically not only now but also for our future. Consider international events that could affect us. Do not write on topics of local or state interest only. Do not write about the rich and famous or the gossip in the magazines at the grocery store checkout lines - no matter how appealing these publications may seem.
See me if you have any questions or doubts about a topic before you complete your card.
Specific Instructions
* Endorse your card in the upper right-hand corner. Place a correct bibliographic entry on the very top line. Then skip one line, indent and write a one-paragraph summary of the article you have chosen.
(Do not begin a summary with “This article was about…”)
*Then, indent for a second paragraph and write a reaction to or critical evaluation of what you have read. You may critique the author’s style, the content, or both. Give support for your viewpoints or claims.
* Failure to follow these rules after a first week grace period will result in a zero for that card or significant point deductions based on present errors. Also, keep in mind that spelling, punctuation, and grammar will be evaluated. One point will be deducted for each error. Be sure to review and, if necessary, revise your article card before submission.