Current Events Journal
Directions and Expectations
Objectives:
- To read, think, and write about current events within the broader context of U.S. History.
- To become familiar with the content and structure of newspapers.
Directions:
- Each week you should choose an article from a current newspaper, cut it out, and glue it neatly in your Current Events Journal.
- On the page(s) following the glued newspaper article, please write the following:
- The title, author, source, and date of the article
- A paragraph summarizing the article. What is it about?
- A paragraph explaining why you chose the article. Why is it of interest to you? If an argument or opinion is made in the article, do you agree or disagree with it? Why?
- A paragraph telling why/how you think this event is significant in the broader context of U.S. History. What issue(s) does it touch upon? (e.g. politics, economics, social issues, foreign policy, the environment, technology, etc.). Has something like this happened before? What can we learn from it?
- Think about the article and organize your thoughts before you begin writing.
- Thearticle should be related to the United States and should be a news story suitable for a U.S. history discussion. (e.g. Articles on the Yankees pitching staff or the status of Jennifer Aniston's love life are not acceptable no matter how interesting they may be.)
- Acceptable newspapers include any major national newspaper (e.g. The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, etc.). Articles from local newspapers or free morning papers given out on the subways (e.g. Metro, AM New York, The New York Post, The Daily News, and Newsday) are not acceptable.
- The article should be cut out of a newspaper and not printed from the internet.
- Your work is due and will be checked on the last class session of each week. (This may be on a Thursday or a Friday depending on the block schedule.)
- All work should be well-written, organized, and legible in blue or black ink.
- Choose articles/topics of interest to you. Have fun with this!
