Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:
- Textbook: Chapters 1, 2 – Whitman Cobb, W. N. (2020). Political science today (1st ed.). Washington, DC: Sage, CQ Press.
- Lesson
- Local newspaper
- APA style manual
- Citation and Writing Assistance: Writing Papers At CU (Links to an external site.)
- Library Overview (Links to an external site.)
- How to Search for Articles – the Everything Tab (Links to an external site.)
Instructions
Find an article in your local newspaper about a local policy issue that affects you. For example, an article concerning your county’s decision to privatize your trash collection service. Summarize the article and explain how this issue affects you. Is the article neutral? Why or why not? How might you influence this policy in the future?
Be sure to include a scanned copy of the article in your submission in addition to citations. There are several free scannable apps on the market such as Scannable. If printing is an obstacle, you may include a hyperlink to the article. However, if the link breaks or can not be accessed the burden falls on you to produce that article or to risk losing points.
Articles may not be more than one month old.
Writing Requirements (APA format)
- Length: 3 full pages (not including title page or references page)
- 1-inch margins
- Double spaced
- 12-point Times New Roman font
- Title page
- References page
Grading
This activity will be graded based on the Current Event Grading Rubric.
Rubric
POLI330 Week 1 Current Event Gradiing Rubric (100 pts)
| POLI330 Week 1 Current Event Gradiing Rubric (100 pts) |
| Criteria | Ratings | Pts |
| This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Identifies local newspaper article | | 5.0 pts The student uses a relevant and timely newspaper article. | 4.0 pts The student provides a relevant article, but it is not timely. | 3.0 pts The student did not identify relevant article. | 2.0 pts The student did not identify a relevant or timely article. | 0.0 pts No effort |
| 5.0 pts |
| This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Summarization | | 25.0 pts The student describes the main points clearly. | 22.0 pts The student summarizes most of the main points accurately, but has some misunderstanding and may need to re-read the article. | 19.0 pts The student’s description of main points is not clear or is not thorough. | 15.0 pts The student failed to summarize important information. | 0.0 pts No effort |
| 25.0 pts |
| This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Identifies How Affected | | 25.0 pts The student identifies how the issue relates to them accurately and in detail. | 22.0 pts The student identifies how the issue relates to them accurately. | 19.0 pts The student somewhat identifies how the issue relates to them, but the explanation lacks clarity. | 12.0 pts The student does not adequately identify how the issue relates to them. | 0.0 pts No effort |
| 25.0 pts |
| This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Identifies How They Influence issue | | 25.0 pts The student provides a detailed account of how they might influence the issue. | 22.0 pts The student gives a mostly detailed account of how they might influence the issue. | 19.0 pts The student gives a somewhat detailed account of how they might influence the issue. | 12.0 pts The student fails to give detailed account of how they might influence the issue. | 0.0 pts No effort |
| 25.0 pts |
| This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Source Evaluation | | 10.0 pts The student accurately evaluates the source. | 8.0 pts The student mostly accurately evaluates the source | 7.0 pts The student somewhat accurately evaluates the source. | 6.0 pts The student inaccurately evaluates the source. | 0.0 pts No effort |
| 10.0 pts |
| This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome APA: Citation and Reference Formatting | | 5.0 pts Source is properly cited in the text and references page demonstrating a mastery of resource and APA citation reference format. | 4.0 pts Source is cited in the text and reference page. Some minor errors may exist in citation, but it does not interfere with understanding the source of the information. | 3.0 pts Source is cited in the text and reference pazge. Some errors may exist in citation that need to be addressed to clarify the source of information. | 2.0 pts Major errors in citation. Proper citation is missing from either within the text or on the references pages. | 0.0 pts No effort |
| 5.0 pts |
| This criterion is linked to a Learning Outcome Writing | | 5.0 pts The student presents information using clear and concise language in an organized manner (minimal errors in English grammar, spelling, syntax, and punctuation). | 4.0 pts The student presents information using understandable language, but is somewhat disorganized (some errors in English grammar, spelling, syntax, and punctuation). | 3.0 pts The student presents information using understandable language but is very disorganized (many errors in English grammar, spelling, syntax, and punctuation). | 2.0 pts The student presents information that is not clear, logical, professional or organized to the point that the reader has difficulty understanding the message (numerous errors in English grammar, spelling, syntax, and/or punctuation). | 0.0 pts No effort |
| 5.0 pts |
| Total Points: 100.0 |
