American Government: Current Events

American Government: Current Events

Document Information

1. Document Title: ______

Document Context:

2. Which branch of the government is involved in this article ______?

3. Place of publication: _____ Magazine _____ Book _____ Internet _____Newspaper

_____ Pamphlet _____Other

4. Date the document was published: ______(No more than 2 Years old)

5. Was the document written at the same time as a major event(s)? _____ Yes _____ No

6. Name of author(s): ______

Analysis: (Follow the IACS Writing Expectations – Single Answer & Short Answer Guidelines)

7. IDENTIFY two main ideas of the article: ______

______

______.

8. How does the article relate to what we are learning in class?: ______.

9. Your thoughts and/or reactions to the article? ______.

10. DISCUSS this topic with a parent/guardian and write down one new idea or thought gained from this conversation. (Think about how your thoughts might have changed, a different perspective, new point of view, new information or knowledge received through the discussion): ______.

Parent/Guardian Signature: ______

Grading will be based on the following rubric:

A.  Entire Current Event assignment displays the following requirements for each question/statement above:

o  Demonstrates thoughtfulness, preparation, and accuracy.

o  Reflects real understanding of the story and the issues.

o  Follows directions.

o  Neat and includes entire article.

B.  All Current Event components within the assignment are complete.

Identifying Main Ideas

Identifying the main idea means understanding the author’s main points. The main idea is more than a topic. A topic names a specific subject. The main idea makes a point about the topic. Authors generally state main ideas in the first sentence of paragraphs. Then the other sentences in the paragraph support the main idea with details, facts, and examples. Sometimes the main idea appears at the end of a paragraph. In this case the author presents supporting details that lead up to the main idea. When the author does not directly express the main idea, a reader can infer what the main idea is by looking for the connections between supporting details.

Steps to Identify Main Ideas

1.  Read the first sentence in all the paragraphs, the title, and the headings to identify the topic.

2.  Read the passage, noting specific details. How are the details connected?

3.  Consider the most forceful statements in the material. What message does the author want you to understand?

4.  Reread the first and last sentences. Does the author state the main idea? If not, review the details and examples. What conclusions can you draw?

5.  Use your own ideas to state the main idea or central point.

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