Grade 9 Social Studies
Name:
Defining, Illustrating, & Examining American Ideals
Equality
Rights
Liberty
Opportunity
Democracy
1. Definition (20 words max):
2. Current example of my ideal:
Examine newspapers, listen to talk radio or TV news programs (such as NPR or PBS), explore the teacherrecommended on-line sources in search of your assigned ideal. Describe in detail the story (read, heard, or
seen) for someone who is unfamiliar with the issue or example you have chosen. “READ” the entire
article/story, but ONLY print OR cut it out IF it’s a GREAT example and/or visually appealing.
DESCRIPTION of your Ideal from recent media:
Source of story?
“IDEALS” SUMMARY QUESTIONS
Date:
page #/other:
(ANSWER in the space below; later, reorganize worksheet, esp. #3 & 4
into a half page of text/writing for possible display on classroom wall)
3. How does your chosen article demonstrate your ideal (positive/improving? negative/worsening? other?)
4. What thoughts, opinions, and/or reactions do you have about you story & your assigned ideal?
-Show that you know WHAT your ideal means and express your view of its status (What’s it like today?)
5. All students must submit one VISUAL contribution for the wall: printed articles are not usually the visual!
Image or picture….drawing or collage….clip art….relevant article heading or picture “showing” ideal
Each person submits a “sizeable” VISUAL image representing his/her American Ideal.
Fist-sized up to FULL page (if it’s original/creative, etc.)
NAME on it (back)?
Each person TYPES a DETAIL-FILLED ½ page essay:
10 minor points
20 major points
Summarizing or defining your ideal in your own words…question #1 (FRONT of this worksheet)
TWO sentences
Describing the relevant current event story…#2
3-4 sentences
Assessment of whether or not America is improving or getting worse…#3 & #4
3-5 sentences
Evaluation DEDUCTIONS?
Inadequate, incomplete, or impersonal descriptions?
-1 to -3 per part
Excessive typos, poor sentence structure, spelling, and/or grammar errors
Lateness?
-1 or -2 points
-1 to -3 points