6th Grade Current
Events
Learning the Correct Format for Writing
a Current Events Article
By Mr. Mild
How to Write a Current Event
• Parts of the Newspaper
• Due Dates and
Categories
• Current Events Rubric
• Setting Up Your
Current Event Paper
• Main Idea and
Supporting Details
• Writing the Summary
• Writing the Reaction to
Your Article
• Writing the Bibliography
This year you will be required to read the newspaper, select a current event of interest or concern to you,
and write a summary of the article and your reaction to it. You will be required to complete three papers by
the due dates listed in your Current Events packet. Summaries must be handed in to me on the due date
in order to receive full credit. They will be graded according to the Current Events Rubric you received
from me. Make sure you follow the guidelines given to you.
Parts of the Newspaper
There are many parts to a newspaper
that you must be familiar with to
complete your current events article.
Using your newspaper, find the
following text features in your
newspaper:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Index
Headline
Subheading
Byline
Lead
Captions
Wire Service
Current Event
– Etc……..
Due Dates and Categories
Please keep in mind that you will want to select an article with some “meat”
in it. If you select a one or two paragraph article, it will be hard for you
to write a strong reaction!!
January 30th – State and Local News -Find and review an article that is
related to a state or local event on the topic of Government.
OR Find an article about an event that has taken place
recently. It can be local, regional, state, national or
international. ---
Resources: The Tribune Chronicle, Youngstown
Vindicator, Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Current Events Rubric
4
3
2
1
Weight
WRITING
Article Components-Your
name, date, original
article & date,
bibliography
All required elements
are presented
exceptionally well.
All required
elements are
present.
Some required
elements are
missing.
Several required
elements are missing.
1X
Appearance/
Organization
Typed, neat, well
organized, edited, and
visually appealing.
"WOW!"
Neatly
handwritten or
typed, edited, and
organized
according to
directions.
Neatly handwritten
or typed, but needs
organization and
editing.
Handwritten and
appears sloppy.
Needs editing.
1X
READING
Summary - Written as a
summary, including, who,
what, where, when, why,
how
Summary describes
article clearly and in
great detail using own
words.
Summary clearly
describes article in
own words.
Summary describes
article, but missing
some information
and/or is not in own
words.
Summary describes
article, but missing
vital information.
2X
Reaction - Thoughtful,
thorough, with
supporting evidence.
Conclusion is
thoughtful, thorough,
and includes evidence
to support reaction.
Conclusion includes
evidence to
support reaction.
Conclusion includes
what was learned,
but lacks evidence
to support reaction.
Conclusion is vague
and lacks focus.
3X
Writing:
Reading:
Total:
A+/B+/C+/D+/F
26-28
24-25
21-23
17-20
0-16
Setting Up Your Current Event Paper
Article Components
* Cut out or make a copy of your entire article. Tape the entire article to a piece of
regular paper. This will be the first page of your Current Events paper.
* Write your name, grade, assignment (Current Events #1, 2, 3), and due date in the
upper right corner of the first page, which has your article attached to it. Please
DO NOT make the page bigger then a regular piece of paper. This may require that
you do some cutting and pasting to make it fit.
* Use another page to write your summary, reaction, and bibliography. Your first
sentence of your summary should note the name of the newspaper, date of issue,
author, and name of article. This will not count as one of your 5 - 7 sentences.
* At the end of your summary and reaction, include the bibliography information for
your article.
Appearance/Organization
* Paper should be neatly written or typed
* Organized according to directions
* Edited for spelling and mechanics.
Main Idea and Supporting
Details
When reading for
When reading for a
MAIN IDEA
Of a passage, you need the
POINT
Or the
LIFE LESSON
Of the selection.
DETAILS
Of a passage,
you need search for
WHO
WHAT
WHEN
WHERE
WHY.
Writing the Summary
In your own words, write a brief summary (5 - 7 sentences) of the
article. Remember to include the 5 W≠s (who, what, where, when,
and why, if applicable). (Refer to the examples we have done as a
class at the beginning of the year to help refresh your memory.)
When writing your summary, make sure you answer the following
questions:
•Who is involved
•What happened?
•Where did it happen?
•When did it happen?
•Why did it happen?
Writing the reaction to your
article
Your reaction to the article needs to include one or more of the following:
a. Your thoughts about the article
b. Why this article interests you
c. Agreement or disagreement with the events/article
d. Effects on you, our community, or state, now or in the future
e. Possible remedies or solutions to problem
f. Comparisons to other articles or events you have read attended that a
similar to this information
Make sure that this is a paragraph. Use examples from the story to support your
point of view. This IS NOT a one sentence response!! (Refer to the examples we
have done as a class at the beginning of the year to help refresh your memory.)
Writing the Bibliography
Writing Bibliographies for a Newspaper Article
WITH AN AUTHOR
Author’s last name, author’s first name. “title of the article.” Title of the Newspaper
number day of the month name of month year: page numbers, including
section.
Example
Poniewozik, James. “TV Makes a Too-Close Call.” Time 20 Nov. 2000: 70 - 71.
WITHOUT AN AUTHOR
“title of the article.” Title of the Newspaper number day of the month name of month
year: page numbers, including section.
Example
“Maine, National SAT Averages Remain Unchanged.” Bangor Daily News 29 Aug.
2001: A9.