SCRAPBOOK
Due: in 3 installments,
Jan. 22, Feb. 19, and Mar. 12 in lecture class.
In this assignment, you will compile a scrapbook of current (2014) news and opinions on topics related to the environment. This scrapbook can be made of articles from print media (newspapers, magazines, journal articles, or e-articles that have current dates. Articles can include either news reports or opinion-editorial (op-ed) pieces. Each installment of the scrapbook should consist of 'current' articles, defined to be published between Jan. 1-Jan. 22 for the first installment, between Jan. 23-Feb. 19 for the second installment, and between Feb. 20-Mar. 12 for the third installment.
A copy or original of at least the first page of each article should be included, and arranged in chronologic order. The articles must be bound or contained in some way and not loose; suitable binders can include binder clips, staples, hole-punched folders, tape on paper in a notebook, or plastic enclosures.
Provide a separate sheet at the beginning of each scrapbook that summarizes the articles that are included. The summary should arrange articles chronologically and include the following information: date of article or op-ed piece, title of the article, author (if known), and the source (i.e., name of magazine or URL address). Below each entry, use your own words to summarize the main point of the article; you can include additional comments of your reaction to the article or op-ed piece if you wish. If the article reports a breaking news event, the summary should concisely state (in 4-6 sentences) what this news is. If the article is an op-ed pice, the summary should identify the author's thesis (the idea that the author is trying to persuade the reader of).
The intent of the scrapbook is to help students stay attuned to current news events and opinions on the environment. Some of these news or opinion pieces may be useful for helping to formulate ideas for the debate assignment, and the information content of the articles or op-ed pieces also can be used to satisfy some of the objectives for the annotated bibliography assignment in this class. It is intended that the scrapbook, annotated bibliography, and preparation for the debates will enable students to become more proficient at doing self-guided research.
Scrapbooks will be graded
based on the number of articles assembled, the legibility and thoughtfulness
of the summary listing, and on the extent to which the assignment directions
given above were followed. Late scrapbooks will be accepted (they
can be left in my mailbox in CH17), but graded downwards 10% each calendar
day they are late.