APES Current Events Weekly Assignment
Purpose: In order to more successfully contribute to community and society at large, one should be current
on the world’s issues, updates, and changes. Being an informed citizen and discussing current events will
give one a better perspective on different points of view and encourage a healthier lifestyle.
Article Guidelines:
Article must be current—within approximately one month of due date.
Article must be relevant—should pertain to an environmental issue (be able to explain)
Article must be from appropriate source—NOT Wikipedia! (see suggestions below)
Article must be attached to Assignment Sheet and should be appropriately marked.
Directions: Every week you will read a current events article and turn in a current events assignment
sheet. The news source can be digital or print. All assignment sheets are due on dates given below. If you
have an “excused” absence on a due date, your assignment sheet is due the next class. You may only
use the Current Events Assignment Sheet Template given in class and should also familiarize yourself with
the rubric before completing.
Note: Begin by MARKING THE TEXT as you read! This should include underlining main ideas,
highlighting important facts/details, circling unfamiliar vocabulary, writing notes and/or connections in the
margins, etc. Specific directions for each section are given below.
I. Summary: On the lines given, summarize the main idea of your article. This should be easy if
you have already underlined main ideas and highlighted important facts.
II. Vocabulary: Circle at least three unfamiliar vocabulary words from your article as you read. If
you cannot find three, you may have to choose words that others might not know. Fill in the
vocabulary chart, listing the part of speech, an appropriate definition.
III. Reflection: Think about your own opinion or reaction to the topic presented in the article. Do
you agree or not? What is your position, claim, argument?
IV. SLC Connection: Explain how the article you chose relates to your Small Learning
Community.
DON’T FORGET TO ATTACH YOUR ARTICLE TO YOUR ASSIGNMENT SHEET BEFORE YOU TURN
IN!!
Suggested Sources
Local newspaper!!
www.nytimes.com (New York Times - newspaper)
www.courant.com (Hartford Courant - newspaper)
www.washingtontimes.com (Washington Times – newspaper)
www.washingtonpost.com (Washington Post – newspaper)
www.latimes.com (Los Angeles Times – newspaper)
www.chicagotribune.com (Chicago Tribune – newspaper)
www.middletownpress.com (Middletown Press - newspaper)
www.msnbc.com (NBC – broadcast T.V. news)
www.cnn.com (CNN – cable T.V. news)
www.usnews.com (U.S. News & World Report - magazine)
Presentation Rubric:
www.foxnews.com (Fox – cable T.V. news)
www.abcnews.go.com (ABC – broadcast T.V. news)
www.cbsnews.com (CBS – broadcast T.V. news)
Current Events Assignments are due EVERY MONDAY
unless otherwise notified. If Monday falls on a holiday,
the assignment is due the next class day.
APES CURRENT EVENTS ASSIGNMENT
Name: __________________ Date: ________Per:_______
Title of your article :
________________________________________________________
Source (where did you find it): __________________________________
WHO is the article about? _____________________________________
_________________________________________________________
WHEN did the event take place? ________________________________
_________________________________________________________
WHERE did the event take place? _______________________________
_________________________________________________________
How do you feel about this event? _______________________________
_________________________________________________________
How does event affect you and/or the world?_______________________
_________________________________________________________
Why did you choose this article? ________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Please summarize the article below in at least 5 well written complete sentences (a
summary tells what this article is about).
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
New Vocabulary
1. ____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
***On the back or on another sheet, do the reflection and SLC connection.
APES CURRENT EVENTS RUBRIC
This assignment is worth 20 points. Below are the expectations for
this assignment and how it will be evaluated. Each student will be
required to complete one of these assignments each week.
Assignments are due on Monday at the beginning of class.
Points Possible
Assignment sheet is filled out
completely and neatly.
Student wrote a minimum of 5
complete sentences for the article
summary.
Student was prepared to present
his/her article to the class.
Practice was evident. He/she is
able to answer questions asked
about the article.
The article was attached to the
assignment.
The assignment was completed on
time.
Overall Points: ______/20
Student’s
Points
8
5
4
1
2
Grade: ____________
Comments:
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________