Social Science Current Events Report
Find a print news story of at least ten paragraphs (or 250 words) that relates to history or social science and read it carefully. Then, on a separate sheet, use the information below to analyze the article. Provide a bold header for each section (just like on this form), and include the original of the article.
Article Data
Ina table like this one, provide the following information:
TitleAuthor / Date
Source (for websites, please provide website name and address) / Source type
The 5 W’s
In one or more paragraphs, summarize the facts of the article (in other words, what are the 5 W’s of the story- the who, what, where, when and why?)
Vocabulary
List and define one new or high quality vocabulary term from this story (it may or may not be social science-related – just a good word to use in your thinking and writing). Either highlight it in the story or include the sentence in which it is used here.
Big Ideas
In a paragraph, use “Big Ideas in Social Science” list to discuss one or more ways that this story connects with the Big Ideas in social science.
So What?
In a paragraph, use the “Why Is This an Important Story?” list to discuss the reason or reasons why this story matters.
You and Your World
What reactions do you have to this story? How could or does this story affect you or your world?
Grading Criteria
- Appropriately chosen article?
- All parts present?
- Your discussion sufficient?
- Copy of article attached?
- Well edited and correctly formatted?
- Turned in on time?
The Big Ideas in Social Science
/Why Is This an Important Story?
Artistic Expression- What do different types of art (visual, musical, spoken, written) look like?
- How is art "shaped by" and a "shaper of" groups of people? and what does art tell us about people's lives?
- What were the causes and effects of teamwork and struggle between people?
- Are these causes and effects any different today?
- What is democracy?
- How did democracy start and how does it compare with other political systems?
- How has democracy changed over time?
- What other ideas have given birth to new political, economic and religious movements?
- What goods and services were being produced and how were they being distributed?
- What is being produced and how is it being distributed today?
- What effect has the market place had on people's lives?
- How are people shaped by and shapers of the places in which they live?
- What is history and why is it important to study history?
- How are governments, religions, schools, families and other groups similar and how are they different?
- What are the purposes behind these institutions?
- How have individual human beings influenced the events and the course of history?
- What is science and technology and how have science and technology shaped peoples' lives?
- What did scientists think and how was science "done" in the past?
- What do scientists think and how is science "done" today?
Relevance – A story that happened nearby or is about a concern of local interest.
Magnitude – A story that is great in size or number; for example, a tornado that destroys a couple houses might not make the news, but a story about a tornado that devastates a community would be very newsworthy.
Unexpectedness -- Something unusual, or something that occurs without warning.
Impact – News that will affect a large number of readers.
Celebrity – News about someone famous or important.
Oddity – A unique or unusual situation.
Conflict – A major struggle in the news.
Tragedy – Bad news often "sells" better than good news.
Continuity – A follow-up or continuation to a story that has been in the news or is familiar.
Emotions – Emotions (such as fear, jealousy, love, or hate) increase interest in a story.
Progress – News of new hope, new achievement, new improvements.
Alarm – News of new fears, new developments, new signs of deterioration