Current Events

CURRENT EVENTS PRESENTATION FORMAT

Current Events are an essential part of every Social Studies course. You will be expected to use the various resources that are available to you to report on CURRENT EVENTS throughout the year. Our world is constantly changing and as a member of it, you should stay informed! Pick something relevant and worth knowing. Sporting events and entertainment will not be considered a current event for our purposes.

You may choose to learn about events from a variety of different sources including: newspapers, news websites, radio, television, the local radio station. Beware of fake news and make sure you site where you get your information from. Second-hand news does not count. If you get your item from TV, you must quote the specific program – newscast (6 o’clock news), current affairs program (The National, 60 Minutes), and the day and time you watched it.

There are 4 categories that any current event will fall under. They are:

  • International Event (World) e.g. Trump tweets, North Korea nuclear testing, Syrian refugees
  • National Event (Canada) e.g. NAFTA, missing and murdered Aboriginal women
  • Provincial Event (BC) e.g. Lower Mainland drought, depleting salmon stocks
  • Local Event (Burnaby) e. Kinder Morgan pipeline on Burnaby Mountain, Brentwood development

The format you use should cover all of the following:

  1. Find an event that is relevant and worth knowing. Freak events are entertaining but not necessarily worth knowing in the larger scale of things.
  2. Give date and time of your source; e.g. September 8, 2017.
  3. Select the category from above 4.
  4. Name the source of your information.
  5. Using the 5w’s (Who? What? When? Where? Why?), describe what the article or event is about. It is a summary in your own words. Note: you may not be able to answer all of the W’s in every current event which also might mean you need to find another event.
  6. You must give a 3-5 sentence personal commentary reflecting on the significance on the event you are about to report on. This is your response to what you have read. Every time we read or hear something, we have an opinion on the topic – one way or the other. This is what you are expected to explain here. How did you feel about what you read? Positive or negative. Did it affect you at all? Why or why not? It is your interpretation of the event. You may not have very strong feelings about it but you must take a point of view.

This is to be presented in front of the class, at the beginning of every class. It is advised that you write out your presentation ahead of time to receive top marks but it is not necessary.

You will be evaluated based on the following rubric for each current event presented.

     /16 Total 1 2 3 4
Summary of Event and Relevance Identifies only a few facts from the event or they are insignificant. Identifies some facts from the event though may be insufficient or insignificant. Event could be more relevant Identifies many facts from the event. Event relevant to our lives. Identifies most facts from the event that are relevant and important to understanding. Event is very relevant.
Significance Cannot identify event’s significance or the event is insignificant (refer to front of the page for appropriate topics). Vaguely identifies event’s significance. Can identify event’s significance to some extent though perhaps from a limited perspective. Clearly identifies event’s significance and possibly from a variety of perspectives.
Grammar Many grammatical errors. Use of slang or inappropriate language. Some grammatical errors. Minor to no grammatical errors. Minor to no grammatical errors.
Presentation Frequent pauses, “uhms and aahs”, poor eye contact, and or cannot be heard. Some pauses, “uhm and aahs”, some eye contact, and needs to speak louder. Good eye contact with little to no breaks and pauses. Good cadence, eye contact, positive body language.

You will be told 2 classes ahead of time of when you are to present. Record your date – if you do not present on your assigned day or “forgot” you may not have another chance to present. Be prepared.