News Item Summary Assignment
The purpose of this assignment is to allow the student an opportunity to investigate the connection between topics covered in class and global events occurring in our current society. Students typically enhance their learning when class concepts are related to current events. Students are encouraged to explore news items from countries other than the United States.
The Assignment: Students are to complete a summary and reflection of a current news article, one that has been published no more than 10 days prior to when the assignment is submitted. The news articles must come from either The Paducah Sun, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Financial Times, The Economist, or Time magazine
Students may a) use a personal access to these sources (you may already subscribe to the Paducah Sun, for example), b) purchase a subscription to one of these publications (a student discount is offered to the Wall Street Journal, for example), or c) may access these sources through the WKCTC library database or the publication website. Student must correctly cite the article, not simply provide a web address.Students shall post assignments directly into the Blackboard Assignment link, and not attach the assignment as a Word document.
The summary/reflection should answer the following questions and meet the following criteria.
1. Any world topic or event is acceptable EXCEPT articles specifically about the U.S. or U.S. businesses; the U.S. President or U.S. politics; and those stories directly about the stock market. It's a big world out there, so I'm looking for the student to explore other countries!Opinion pieces are not acceptable. The purpose of the assignment is to have the student explore a variety of world events.
2. The student should briefly summarize the article, explaining the main issue or individuals being discussed and how the article relates to concepts discussed in class.
3. The student will also provide a brief personal reflection about how this article impacts their own life.
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Exceptional
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Adequate
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Poor
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Grammar
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Superior grammar, sentence, and paragraph structure with only scattered mistakes; correct citation.
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Adequate grammar, sentence, and paragraph structure, with numerous mistakes; cited incorrectly.
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Grammar and sentence structure exhibited many errors, such that the summary was unreadable; no citation.
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Article Summary
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Student provided an article summary that fully explained the economic significance of this item, including complete details of the news item and how this item affects the country or world economy.
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Student summarized the basic issue, but did not completely explain how this item affects the country or world economy.
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Student provided a summary that did not clearly explain the issue and/or the economic connections being addressed.
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Personal Reflection
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Student provided a clear reflection about how this issue impacts their life and how they can use economic concepts to understand the issue.
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Student provided a brief reflection about the issue, but did not clearly demonstrate an understanding of how the issue and concepts are relevant to their life.
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Student did not provide any reflection about how the issue is relevant to their life.
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The article: Cambodia is systematically squashing all forms of dissent by Phnom Penh.