Current Event Assignment for CP World HistoryBerendtKHS 2012-13
Current Event Assignment50 points
•Each student will write up and present a current event (a current news story) in class once a semester.
It is due at the beginning of class on the due date. Late work will LOSEpoints; youroral presentation will be rescheduled.
• You will select a NEWS STORY and email me the link for prior approval. Once approved, you write it up and share what you learned. A news story involves something of importance happening currently in the world.
• The NEWS STORY can come from a newspaper, a journal, (for example Newsweek; Time; Journal of World History) or from specified, teacher-approved Internet news sources (see below).
Acceptable topics:Current political, economic, social, cultural religious issues or events. The news can deal with war, conflict, famine, a country’s national or international political policy, economic or social policy; international organizations; speeches by government officials or other national or international leaders; other issues of historical significance.
Unacceptable topics include (but are not limited to) crime – including murders, rapes, and robberies; celebrity news; sports; weather;natural disasters; local, state, regional news, editorials (opinion pieces).
What to Do:
On a sheet of binder paper,write your full heading and include the following, in order:
- The title of the current event as it appears in the source (underline it)
- The newspaper or journal or Internet news source(where did you find the current event?)
- Thedate of publication
- Country or countries discussed in the news story.
- Geographic region: What is (are) the geographic region(s) where the country/ies in the news story is (are) located? Write this information next to the country, like this example:
Ghana (West Africa) and Spain (Western Europe) - Summary: a detailed summary that tells what the news story is about. This must be at least 1 paragraph andbe written in your own words. Begin with a strong topic sentence. Next, include details focusing on who, what, when, where, and how. Other lesser details follow the main points.
- One or more paragraphs on the significance of the news story. You will explain the importance of the news story. Discuss such points as: Why is the event important?Is it a political, economic, or social issue? What might be the short and long term consequences of this event on the people and countries involved?Does this event affect people only in one region? Why or why not? What are possible solutions to this problem? Are there solutions? Why or why not? This is the critical thinking part of your work.
- Comparison to an earlier historical event: Select an historical event that we have studied mentioned in class and compare this news story to it. For example, if your current event is about an African leader’sconviction for war crimes (genocide), you could compare it to any of the 20th century genocides, including the Holocaust of the 1930s-1940s. NOTE: The news story does not have to take place in the same world region (or country) as the comparison event you choose.)
- Think of and write 2 thought-provoking questions about the news story that you will ask your classmates during your oral presentation. You should be prepared with a response to both questions, but you will not necessarily share your responses.
- Attach a copy of the full article to your written work.
Oral presentation (5 minutes)
Brieflysummarize the news story. You may use note cards. Then pose your 2 questions to the class. You must also be prepared toelicit and respond to questions from your classmates.
What NOT TO DO:
• Do not re-write the article and pass it off as your written summary. Your own language,thoughts, interpretation and perspective must be evident.
• Do not turn in messy work. You will not receive credit until a neat assignment is turned in, AND points will be deducted for sloppiness.
• Do not read your summary when you present to the class. You may use note cards for reference – but do not read from them. Know what you plan to say – practiceat home before the due date, use eye contact and maintain your audience’s attention.
Sources: If you select a news story from the Internet, choose ONLY from these media websites:
Do not select from blogs; other websites may be used ONLY with teacher approval.
Current Event Assignment Rubric
Name:CP World History Period:
Date of presentation:Topic:
_____ / 3Complete copy of news story attached, source and date of publication provided, full URL included if obtained from the Internet
_____/ 2Country/ies and geographic region(s) identified properly
_____/151+ paragraph summary, well-written, including relevant details and in your own words. Spelling, capitalization, grammar and punctuation are correct.
_____/ 61+ paragraph identifying the significance of the news story, in your own words, and free of errors
_____/ 6Comparison to an historical event; well written, in your own words, and free of errors
_____/10Oral presentation is approximately 5 minutes, clear, flows well, eye contact made
with audience
_____/ 8Student asks (2) follow up questions and engages audience in discussion and answers questions from classmates
_____/50TOTAL
Teacher’s Comments:
Current Event Assignment Rubric
Name:CP World History Period:
Date of presentation:Topic:
_____ / 3Complete copy of news story attached, source and date of publication provided, full URL included if obtained from the Internet
_____/ 2Country/ies and geographic region(s) identified properly
_____/151+ paragraph summary, well-written, including relevant details and in your own words. Spelling, capitalization, grammar and punctuation are correct.
_____/ 61+ paragraph identifying the significance of the news story, in your own words, and free of errors
_____/ 6Comparison to an historical event; well written, in your own words, and free of errors
_____/10Oral presentation is approximately 5 minutes, clear, flows well, eye contact made
with audience
_____/ 8Student asks (2) follow up questions and engages audience in discussion and answers questions from classmates
_____/50TOTAL
Teacher’s Comments:
REMINDER!
Current Events Assignment
Name: ______Period: ______
DATE DUE/SCHEDULED: ______
YOU MUST EMAIL ME WITH YOUR ARTICLE LINK BY ______
REMINDER!
Current Events Assignment
Name: ______Period: ______
DATE DUE/SCHEDULED: ______
YOU MUST EMAIL ME WITH YOUR ARTICLE LINK BY ______
REMINDER!
Current Events Assignment
Name: ______Period: ______
DATE DUE/SCHEDULED: ______
YOU MUST EMAIL ME WITH YOUR ARTICLE LINK BY ______
REMINDER!
Current Events Assignment
Name: ______Period: ______
DATE DUE/SCHEDULED: ______
YOU MUST EMAIL ME WITH YOUR ARTICLE LINK BY ______