Current+Events

Current events assignment TASK:

This assignment can be completed with a partner or individually. Make your choice carefully; if you work with a partner the work must be shared equally and you must report what each person did. I will also expect more from two people than I would from one person.

You will be assigned a focus for your presentation – provincial, national, or global (world news). You must research a variety of sources for this assignment; including television, news radio, newspapers, and internet (you must find at least 3 different sources and may not just use the internet).

PRESENTATION:

Identify the main issues surrounding this topic and present to the class. You can choose to read part of a newspaper article, or simply summarize the main issues at play. You need 3 sources – one can be a video presentation that you can play for the class as well.

Then you will need to create a visual display – this would likely be in the form of a poster or glog, which would contain the newspaper article and a list of other sources, as well as the main points and issues that you identified with this topic. You would place this poster on the white board or screen while you present. Students should be able to access the information from the poster or the glog afterwards when they are working on their questions that you assigned them.

Following the presentation you will provide a series of questions to the class. If you provide these to the teacher the day before they will be photocopied for students. Otherwise you may write them on the board or overhead projector. These questions should elicit understanding and opinions; critical thinking questions should be included (more challenging questions that don’t have a simple answer). Students will submit their answers to you and you will mark them, providing the marks to the teacher when the marking is complete.

ASSESSMENT:

There will be teacher assessment, peer assessment and self assessment for this assignment. See the back for a sample of the criteria sheets.

=__Current Events Criteria__ =


 * 1) Three sources used and sited. Appropriate. Provincial, National, or International – as assigned to you.

Not yet meeting Minimally meeting Fully Meets Exceeds Expectations


 * 1) Visual: Poster or glog clearly displays newspaper article, main points, and a title.

Not yet meeting Minimally meeting Fully Meets Exceeds Expectations


 * 1) Presentation: clearly reads and explains the news event to the class. Answers any questions asked by peers. 15 to 20 minutes in length only.

Not yet meeting Minimally meeting Fully Meets Exceeds Expectations


 * 1) Questions: provided to teacher at least one day prior to presentation. Questions elicit understanding and thought – critical thinking questions included.

Not yet meeting Minimally meeting Fully Meets Exceeds Expectations

Overall:

** Sample Questions ** Locking up Kids is not the Answer


 * 1) What is Bill C-4?


 * 1) What do child advocates believe is the problem with the bill?


 * 1) Which group will most likely be affected the most by the bill?


 * 1) What are some alternatives to Bill C-4?


 * 1) Do you think Bill C-4 should go through? Why or why not?

Current events question evaluation
 * ** Not Yet Meeting Expectations ** ||  ** Meeting Expectations Minimally **  ||  ** Fully Meeting Expectations **  ||  ** Exceeding Expectations **  ||
 * Answers either incomplete or lack key details. || Answers some questions with detail but no original insight. Some thorough answers but not consistently throughout. || Answers questions with some detail and some original insight. Very thorough answers. || Answers each question with original and/or insightful detail. Extremely thorough answers. ||

Overall: NY MM FM EE  Comments:

See my glog for sample news items for each day of the week: []