Current Event Paper

U.S. History Current Event Project

“The whole past is the procession of the present.”

Thomas Carlyle

One of the major goals of a history class is to equip you with the skills to analyze what is happening today, before it becomes history. For your last major grade in U.S. History, you will be required to prepare one current event paper. Your current event article must come from either a newspaper, news magazine, or a reputable internet news source (see list on back of sheet) and must deal with a topic that relates to the United States. An acceptable article must relate to current problems, issues, events, or programs that deal with our society and that are appropriate for school. Entertainment or sports news is not acceptable!

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS: You will compose a current event paper. Your current event paper should be AT LEAST TWO FULL typed pages, double-spaced, size 12-font with standard margins. It should be divided into two parts:

Section 1: What happened?

* Start with a general topic sentence that includes the topic of the article.

* Example: “The Los Angeles Times article ‘Marines in Afghanistan prepared for a long haul’ describes/explains/comments on…”

* DO NOT: “I chose this article because….”

* Provide the WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY of the event.

* Include two concrete details (statistics, quotes) and correctly cite the author.

* Example: According to (author of article, person interviewed, etc.)….

* DO NOT: Copy straight out of the article unless it is a direct quote.

* DO NOT: Use lengthy quotes as filler in your paper.

Remember! NEVER use “I” in formal written work that is based on fact. Your opinion has no place in this first section!

Section 2: So what? (At least 3/4 of a page)

* Explain why you think this current event is important.

* How is it important on a local, state, national, or international level?

* How might it impact you or those around you?

* Remember...