Unit Question: What are the issues that matter to me?

Name: Aaron Low

Due dates: 1st entry: Tuesday Nov 20th,

2nd entry: Monday December 3rd

3rd entry: Monday December 17th

4th entry: Wednesday January 16th 2013

Your Task: Inquire into a current event issue and present to the class

Details & Conditions:

· Choose an current event that is interesting to you, that has at least one controversial issue in it, and that you can follow as it develops in the news

· Complete 4 entries for your issue in the template to complete the following:

· summarize the article

· identify different perspectives on the issue

· write short paragraphs of your opinion about the issue

· make connections

· Present your issue to the class in an oral presentation

You will be assessed on the following MYP criteria:

Criterion A: Knowing and understanding

Criterion C: Thinking Critically

Criterion D: Communicating

Entry 1:

Headline: Sandy: Barack Obama asks Congress for $60bn

Source of the news: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20649755

Photograph:

5W + H Summary

WHO: Obama and Sandy

WHAT: Money

WHEN: 8 December 2012

WHERE: The U.S.A

WHY/HOW is it important, interesting, controversial: This is important because this could end sandy reign.

1-4 new vocabulary words with definitions in your own words:

1. Congress meaning : is the upper house of the U.S.A

2. Superstorm meaning: famous

3. Scale meaning: measurement

4. Presidential meaning: election

Identify a controversial issue related to this story and phrase this as a “should” question that applies to many other news stories (not just this one).

Should Sandy stop making hurricanes?

Opinions on the issue:

What are the opinions about this issue? Sandy should stop making hurricanes, because it might kill innocent people.

What is your opinion about this issue? Explain why you have this opinion in a TEEEL paragraph.

Connect this story to your own experience, or anything else you know about in the news, or a book you read or a movie you watched.

This story reminds me of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Entry 2: Barack Obama takes "fiscal cliff" plan to Michigan

5W + H Summary

WHO: Barack Obama

WHAT: Pushes tax

WHEN: 10 December 2012

WHERE: U.S.A

WHY/HOW is it important, interesting, controversial: Obama is increasing the tax, therefore the price of the things in U.S.A would be cheaper because people would not have as much money as before due to the tax.

1-4 new vocabulary words with definitions in your own words:

1.fiscal cliff means, economic effects

2. deductions meaning, subtracting

3. Tax revenue meaning income through taxation

4. Republican meaning political party

Identify a controversial issue related to this story and phrase this as a “should” question that applies to many other news stories (not just this one).

Should Obama raise taxes?

Opinions on the issue:

What are the opinions about this issue?

Obama should not have increased taxes because people do not have enough money to feed themselves and yet Obama is raising taxes.

How has the story changed or developed since your last entry?

Obama is raising taxes

What is your opinion about this issue? Explain why you have this opinion in a TEEEL paragraph.

Connect this story to your own experience, or anything else you know about in the news, or a book you read or a movie you watched.

Reminds me of hitler in world war 2.

Entry 3: Barack Obama advocates ‘collective action’

http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2013/01/22/obama-inaugural-speech-liberal-government/1854459/

5W + H Summary

WHO: Barack Obama

WHAT: Collective action

WHEN: 22/1/2013

WHERE: U.S.A

WHY/HOW is it important, interesting, controversial: it is important because it affects the Americans in the U.S.A.

1-4 new vocabulary words with definitions in your own words:

1.seize-take advantage of it

2.Delcaration- declaring something

3.Medicare-medical insurance

4. mutual-genuine

Identify a controversial issue related to this story and phrase this as a “should” question that applies to many other news stories (not just this one).

Should Clinton have retired?

Opinions on the issue:

What are the opinions about this issue? My opinion for Obama is that he is doing a good job.

How has the story changed or developed since your last entry? No.

What is your opinion about this issue? Explain why you have this opinion in a TEEEL paragraph.

Connect this story to your own experience, or anything else you know about in the news, or a book you read or a movie you watched.

My own experience of buying a food that I only like to eat or a food that everybody likes for dinner. If choosing one that I only like to eat, the rest of the family will be affected.

Entry 4:

5W + H Summary

WHO:

WHAT:

WHEN:

WHERE:

WHY/HOW is it important, interesting, controversial:

1-4 new vocabulary words with definitions in your own words:

1.

2.

3.

4.

Identify a controversial issue related to this story and phrase this as a “should” question that applies to many other news stories (not just this one).

Opinions on the issue:

What are the opinions about this issue?

How has the story changed or developed since your last entry?

What is your opinion about this issue? Explain why you have this opinion in a TEEEL paragraph.

Connect this story to your own experience, or anything else you know about in the news, or a book you read or a movie you watched.

Criterion A – Knowing and understanding

Student

Teacher

Published Descriptors

0

0

The student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors given below.

1 – 2

1 – 2

The student:

· makes a limited attempt to use some relevant terminology

· demonstrates basic knowledge and understanding of content and concepts through some descriptions and/or examples.

3 – 4

3 – 4

The student:

· uses some humanities terminology appropriately

· demonstrates knowledge and understanding of content and concepts through simple descriptions, explanations and examples.

5 – 6

5 – 6

The student:

· uses relevant humanities terminology accurately

· demonstrates good knowledge and understanding of content and concepts through descriptions, explanations and examples.

7 – 8

7 – 8

The student:

· uses a range of humanities terminology accurately and appropriately

· demonstrates detailed knowledge and understanding of content and concepts through thorough descriptions, explanations and examples.

Task-specific indicators:

· Show your understanding of issues and the current event you chose

· Show a solid understanding of the vocabulary in your article

Student reflections:

Teacher comments:

Criterion C: Thinking Critically

Student

Teacher

Published Descriptors

0

0

The student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors below.

1 – 2

1 – 2

The student:

• makes a limited attempt to analyse concepts, events, issues, models or arguments

• recognizes the origin and purpose of some sources, as well as some values and limitations of sources

• identifies different perspectives

• makes connections between information in a limited attempt to make simple arguments.

3 – 4

3 – 4

The student:

• completes a simple analysis of concepts, events, issues, models or arguments

• describes sources in terms of origin and purpose, recognizing values and limitations

• identifies different perspectives and suggests some of their implications

• makes connections between information to make simple arguments.

5 – 6

5 – 6

The student:

• completes a satisfactory analysis of concepts, events, issues, models or arguments

• satisfactorily demonstrates an ability to analyse and evaluate sources in terms of origin and purpose, recognizing values and limitations

• recognizes different perspectives and their implications

• makes connections between information in order to make valid arguments.

7 – 8

7 – 8

The student:

• completes a detailed analysis of concepts, events, issues, models or arguments

• effectively analyses and evaluates a range of sources in terms of origin and purpose, recognizing values and limitations

• clearly recognizes a range of different perspectives and their implications

• makes connections between information to make valid and well supported arguments.

Task-specific indicators:

You have summarized the main aspects of the current event (5W’s +H) in detail

You have identified an issue and the different perspectives on it

Your opinion paragraph and connection are relevant and clear

Student reflections:

Teacher comments:

Criterion D: Communicating

Student

Teacher

Published Descriptors

0

0

The student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors below.

1 – 2

1 – 2

The student:

• tries in a limited way to communicate information and ideas in a style that is appropriate to the audience and purpose

• tries in a limited way to structure information according to the task instructions

• tries in a limited way to create a list of sources of information.

3 – 4

3 – 4

The student:

• communicates information and ideas in a style that is sometimes appropriate to the audience and purpose

• structures information sometimes according to the task instructions

• creates a list of sources of information sometimes according to the task instructions.

5 – 6

5 – 6

The student:

• communicates information and ideas in a style that is often appropriate to the audience and purpose

• structures information often according to the task instructions

• creates a list of sources of information often according to the task instructions.

7 – 8

7 – 8

The student:

• communicates information and ideas in a style that is completely appropriate to the audience and purpose

• structures information and ideas completely according to the task instructions

• creates a list of sources of information according to the task instructions.

Task-specific indicators:

Your summary, issue, TEEEL paragraph and connection are clearly communicated and well organized

Student Reflections

Teacher comments

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