Journal of Current Events

AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE CURRENT EVENTS JOURNAL

Purpose: The objective is for you to obtain an increased awareness of environmental science events in the news and to make connections between the course and the real world. To accomplish this objective, you will find 15 articles during each semester and submit a Current Events Journal approximately two weeks prior to the end of the semester. Requirements: 1. Articles must be the original form from a newspaper, magazine, or journal. It may come from a recognized Internet news source such as MSNBC, NBC, CNN, etc., or by approval of the teacher. 2. All articles must pertain to our environment and human or natural impacts on it. 3. The date and source of the article must be included on the page with the article. Articles may not be collected prior to the start of the semester. A minimum of 2 articles from each month is required. 4. If the article is too large to fit on one page, cut and paste as needed and put it on more than one page. 5. If an article is continued on back, that portion may be photocopied. 6. There is no minimum length for the articles. 7. Articles should be neatly cut out and neatly taped or stapled into the journal. Use only one side of each notebook page. 8. A total of fifteen articles is required. 9. If in doubt as to whether or not an article meets the requirements, check with the teacher.

Journal Format: The journal should be submitted in the following format: Page 1: Title Page Page 2: These printed instructions Page 3: Table of Contents (with article noted) Page 4 to end: News articles and answered questions. All pages are to be numbered in the lower right hand corner.

Analysis Questions: 1. State the title of the article, date, and source. 2. Give a brief summary of the article. 3. Are there any controversies surrounding this article? If so, briefly state it. 4. State your perspective on this news article based on your own personal knowledge of the topic and your reading of this article. 5. How does this article relate to the units that we will be studying?

Table of Contents Format: the table of contents must be formatted in the following manner.

Table of Contents

Date Title of Article Source Page Number ______Due Date: Dates will be announced by the teacher and posted on the assignment calendar.

Need Help: If you require help or are unsure whether an article meets the requirements of the assignment, please check with Mr. Edmonds at school or contact Mr. Edmonds at the following email address: [email protected] Grading: The journal will be graded using the rubric that follows. Please refer to the rubric as you create your journal entries and put the journal into final form prior to submitting it to the teacher.

CURRENT EVENTS JOURNAL SCORING RUBRIC

SCORE CRITERIA

6 The required number of articles is turned in, the minimum monthly quota of articles is met, and the articles are the original form and include the date and source. Student’s answers to the = to an analysis questions demonstrate an awareness and high level of understanding of science A+ events in the news. Articles and typed responses to the analysis questions are neatly displayed in the Journal. Title page, printed instructions, and table of contents are included. The assignment is turned in on or before the due date.

5 The required number of articles is turned in, the minimum monthly quota of articles is met, and the articles are the original form and include the date and source. Student’s answers to the = to an analysis questions demonstrate an awareness and high level of understanding of science A events in the news. Articles and responses to the analysis questions are neatly displayed in the Journal. Title page, printed instructions, and table of contents are included. The assignment is turned in on or before the due date.

4 The required number of articles is turned in and the articles are the original form and include the date and source. Student’s answers to the analysis questions demonstrate an awareness and = to a B understanding of science events in the news. Articles are neatly displayed in the Journal. Title page, printed instructions, and table of contents are included. The assignment is turned in on or before the due date.

3 The required number of articles is turned in and the articles are the original form and include the date and source. However, answers to the analysis questions are incomplete or too brief to = to a C demonstrate the student’s awareness or understanding of science events in the news. Articles may not be neatly displayed in the Journal. Title page, printed instructions, and table of contents are included but are not neatly done. The assignment is turned in late but within one week of the due date.

2 The required number of articles is turned in. However, the articles are not the original form or do not include the date and source, or answers to the analysis questions are incomplete or too = to a D brief to demonstrate the student’s awareness or understanding of science events in the news. Articles may not be neatly displayed in the Journal. Title page, printed instructions and table of contents may not be included.

1 The required number of articles is not turned in or the articles do not pertain to science. The assignment is more than one week late. = to an F

0 Either no attempt is made or the Journal is not turned in prior to the Final Exam day.