Current Event Article-World History
As we move into 2nd semester, it is important to be thinking about how Modern World History has begun to shape
through real events happening now.
Here are the guidelines for your current event article/presentation:
1. Don’t wait until the last minute.
2. If you don’t understand what the first article you selected is about- choose a different one.
3. Chose articles about topics that interest you.
Certain topics are NOT allowed: Sports, Entertainment, Crime, Editorials (Opinions)… What does that leave?
PLENTY!!
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Geography: Environment, Immigration, Global Warming, etc. as it relates to humans.
Culture: Customs, traditions, religion and politics, etc.
Government: Elections, laws, court decisions, etc.
Technology: New inventions, Innovative ways to better our lives, etc.
Cooperation & Conflict: Foreign policy, trade agreements and disputes, wars, etc.
Resources: Natural or human resource issues between governments or groups.
History/Archeology: New discoveries or theories about the past (fossil finds, etc.)
Empires: What country dominates the world now…and who is rising?
In a nutshell-- articles about individual people or events that affect a small number of people are generally not
acceptable. Although a car accident on Rt. 95, a Red Sox win, or Paris Hilton getting caught doing something she
shouldn’t is considered newsworthy, these are not the types of current events I want you to focus on.
If you have a doubt about whether an article is acceptable or not SHOW IT TO ME AHEAD OF TIME. If you complete
a current events assignment on a topic that is NOT acceptable it will NOT be accepted!! In addition, it must be within
the past TWO WEEKS or it will NOT be accepted. The article must also be attached or it will not be accepted.
This is where #1 on the “Must-Do” is important. If you wait until the last minute and do not check with me first you may
not get credit for the assignment.
EVENT SELECTION:
 Must use a different theme and continent for each article
 No events can be focused on the U.S.
DUE DATES (Honors):
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
February 12 (A) and February 13 (B)
February 26 (A) and February 27 (B)
March 12 (A) and March 13 (B)
April 9 (A) and April 10 (B)
April 23 (A) and April 24 (B)
DUE DATES (Academic):
1. February 20 (A) and February 23 (B)
2. March 12 (A) and March 13 (B)
3. April 23 (A) and April 24
PAPER FORMAT:
 Times New Roman, font size 12
 1-inch margins
 double-spaced
 A title
 NO EXTRA SPACES
 Minimum 2 pages
 ONLY YOUR NAME IN THE HEADER
Failing to the meet these guidelines can result in a 5point deduction. IF A PAPER IS LESS THAN 2 PAGES, THE
HIGHEST GRADE IT CAN RECEIVE IS A 21/30!!!
Current Event Rubric
Criteria
Accomplished
Introduction The introduction has
all of the following:
Who, What, Where,
When
Proficient
The introduction is
missing one of the
following: Who,
What, Where, When
5
4
Connecting to 5 The report makes a
themes
strong connection to
one of the themes of
history with a brief
description about
connection
Analysis and
Impact
Conclusion
Developing
The introduction is
missing two of the
following: Who, What,
Where, When
3
2
The report has a weak
connection to one of the
five themes of history
4
1-0
There is little to no
connection to the five
themes of history
1-0
Report has one paragraph that Report lacks structure
discusses three impacts the
and is a series of
event is having as it relates to nonrelated facts to the
its themes-could have deeper themes
analysis/support
7, 6
5
Conclusion presents
main facts (who, what,
when, where) but lacks
connection to future
importance and impact.
3
out of
5
out of
10
3, 2
5,4
Essay Format, The essay has a clear The essay has an
The essay is missing
The essay has 3 or 4 of the
Structure
introduction,
adequate
either one or two of the following: There are very few
conclusion, a strong introduction,
following: introduction, distinctions between the
connection to the
conclusion, and
conclusion, a strong
paragraphs, missing a
terms, is set up
somewhat connection connection to the theme, connection to the theme, has
properly (font,
to theme. Has some is set up properly (font, the wrong font, margins, or
margins, title), and spelling and grammar margins, title), and has title, has many spelling and
has few spelling/
errors
few spelling/ grammar grammar errors.
grammar errors
errors.
5
Deficient
Point Total
The introduction is
missing four of the
following: Who,
What, Where, When
____________
out of
5
__________
5, 4
3, 2
Report has three
Report has three
Report has Two
strong paragraphs paragraphs that
paragraphs that
that discusses three discusses three
discusses three impacts
impacts the event is impacts the event is the event is having as it
having as it relates to having as it relates to relates to its themesits themes
its themes-could have could have deeper
deeper
analysis/support
analysis/support
10
9-8
Conclusion has all or
most of the
following present at
a high level (main
facts-Who, What,
When, Where) and
future importance
and impact
Needs Improvement
The introduction is missing
three of the following: Who,
What, Where, When
2
4 or ____
Conclusion is
incoherent or not
existent
________
1, 0
out of
5
The essay is lacking
all components or is
nonexistent.
1 or _______
Total Points
out of
30
COMMENTS:
5 Themes of Modern World History
Belief Systems and Social Structures (BS/SS)
• How do political, religious, or intellectual ideologies shape the decisions of a nation and its
leaders?
• What effect does religion have on the role of the individual within society?
• What role do the major world religions have on various economic and political institutions?
• How does the role of the major world religions and intellectual philosophies affect the
development of political and economic institutions?
Conflict and Continuity (CC)
• What causes conflict between different states, regions, civilizations, ethnic groups, cultures, and
religions?
• What were the effects or outcomes of war and conflict?
• What effect did the resolutions or treaties have on the people, country, region, etc?
• How does uniformity and commonality support continuity over time? (Peaceful coexistence is
supported by uniformity and commonality).
Cultural and Intellectual Development (CID)
• How did cultural, scientific, and technical breakthroughs impact the way people live and
think?
• How did the spread of cultural diffusion affect different nations, regions, and people of the
world?
• What effect did the movement of people throughout history, including patterns of migration,
exploration, and colonization as well as imperialism have on different cultures and
societies?
Economic and Political Institutions (EPI)
• How do political institutions impact the lives of the people?
• How do economic principles and policies shape world events?
• How do historical events influence the development of political institutions?
Human and Environment Interaction (HEI)
•
•
•
•
•
How are people, nation-states, or regions affected by their environment?
What impact do natural resources have on the development of a nation or civilization?
What role does the environment play in national security?
What role do natural resources play in international relations between nation-states?
How and why do political boundaries change over time.
Current Events
Source
Guidelines:
Current is defined as occurring in or belonging to the present time. Therefore, you must
follow the time guidelines below when selecting an article to use for your current events
assignment.
Your article must come from a reputable news source. All of the sources listed below are
acceptable. However, if you find an article from a source not listed below you must ask me first
if it is acceptable to use for the assignment.
Most popular sources:
Source Name
abcnews.com
cbsnews.com
cnn.com
foxnews.com
msnbc.com
National
Geographic
nationalgeographic.c
om Newsweek
Newsweek.com
reuters.com
Time
time.com
US News and World
Report usnews.com
USA
Today
usatoday.c
om
Type
Within the last
Online Television News
Online Television News
Online Television News
Online Television News
Online Television News
Magazine
Online version
Magazine
Online version
1 week
1 week
1 week
1 week
1 week
1 year
Online News Service
Magazine
Online version
Magazine
Online version
Newspaper
Online version
1 week
2 weeks
2 weeks
2 weeks
1 week
Other acceptable sources include all other major newspapers/news magazines and their online versions~
Examples include but are not limited to:
Los Angeles Times New
York Post Forbes
Magazine Chicago
Tribune
San Francisco Chronicle Associated
Press
New York Times
Washington Post
You may use Google News as a search for articles, but Google News is not the source. Google News is simply
a news search engine that gathers links to other newspapers or magazines. Whichever site it directs you to is
the source.