Connections to Today: Current Event Journal Assignment (Units 3 and 4) Why do we study history? You’ve probably heard many references to the idea that we need to study history because history repeats itself. While this does hold validity in certain cases, it is also important to understand that history connects today to yesterday. Political decisions today are based on past decisions or events, we continue to work on social justice, and we see new interpretations of past legislation and primary source documents. History surrounds us. Over the course of the class, you will be retrieving and evaluating current event articles (in the last 5 years); making connections between the units we are currently studying and today. You will be responsible for finding an online article from a reputable news source. For example: Time.com, USA Today, The New York Times, etc. In your current event assignment, address each of the following:  Provide a summary of the article (include the following: source, date, important people and events, place/location).  Explain the connection to the information we studied in Units 3 and/or 4. o Think of the following questions:  How does this current event article connect to the unit we are currently studying?  What impact did the past have on the events taking place today? Is it political, economic, and/or social?  Provide specific past historical events/people/documents that are involved and explain how they are involved.  What does the current event article tell us about the past?  What predictions do you have on this event affecting the future?  Provide a reflection on your personal opinions regarding the current event article and the historical events it is connected to.  Make sure to provide a hyperlink to the article. (Check to make sure your hyperlink works). Important note: Even though this is a journaling assignment, grammar and proper APA writing must be followed at all times. Please review all work before submitting. See the rubric on the following page specific grading criteria. Current Event Journal Assignment U3-4 HIS202 – US History II HIS202 Current Events Journal Assignment Rubric CRITERIA Deficient Development Needed Proficient Exemplary Summary of Article 25 points Does not provide a summary of the article. (0-5 points) Inadequately developed summary of article; missing some of the following information: Source, Date, Important people and/or events, Place/location. (6-12 points) Provides a summary of article with minimal detail and information; including all/some of the following information: Source, Date, Important people and/or events, Place/location. (13-19 points) Well-developed summary of article: includes all of the following information: Source, Date, Important people and/or events, Place/location. (20-25 points) Making Connection s 25 points Does not make any con.

1. Connections to Today: Current Event Journal Assignment (Units
3 and 4)
Why do we study history? You’ve probably heard many
references to the idea that we
need to study history because history repeats itself. While this
does hold validity in
certain cases, it is also important to understand that history
connects today to
yesterday. Political decisions today are based on past decisions
or events, we
continue to work on social justice, and we see new
interpretations of past legislation
and primary source documents. History surrounds us.
Over the course of the class, you will be retrieving and
evaluating current event
articles (in the last 5 years); making connections between the
units we are currently

2. studying and today. You will be responsible for finding an
online article from a
reputable news source. For example: Time.com, USA Today,
The New York Times, etc.
In your current event assignment, address each of the following:
source, date, important
people and events, place/location).
3 and/or 4.
o Think of the following questions:
currently studying?
today?
Is it political, economic, and/or social?
/people/documents that
are
involved and explain how they are involved.
future?

3. regarding the
current event article and
the historical events it is connected to.
make sure your
hyperlink works).
Important note: Even though this is a journaling assignment,
grammar and proper APA
writing must be followed at all times. Please review all work
before submitting.
See the rubric on the following page specific grading criteria.
Current Event Journal Assignment U3-4
HIS202 – US History II
HIS202 Current Events Journal Assignment Rubric
CRITERIA Deficient Development Needed Proficient
Exemplary
Summary of
Article
25 points

4. Does not
provide a
summary of the
article.
(0-5 points)
Inadequately
developed summary of
article; missing some of
the following
information: Source,
Date, Important people
and/or events,
Place/location.
(6-12 points)
Provides a summary of
article with minimal
detail and information;
including all/some of
the following
information: Source,
Date, Important people
and/or events,
Place/location.
(13-19 points)
Well-developed
summary of article:
includes all of the

5. following information:
Source, Date,
Important people
and/or events,
Place/location.
(20-25 points)
Making
Connection
s 25 points
Does not make
any
connections to
course content.
(0-5 points)
Minimal provides
explanation on how
article is connected to
course content. Lacks
thought, examples,
and may include
inaccuracies.
(6-12 points)
Provides explanation
on how article is
connected to course

6. content. Shows some
thought and
examples.
(13-19 points)
Provides extensive
explanation on how
article is connected to
course content.
Shows in-depth
thought and provides
detailed examples.
(20-25 points)
Reflectio
n 30
points
Does not
provide a
reflection of
personal
opinions
regarding
current event
article and
historical
events.

7. (0-8 points)
Reflection and opinion
of topic is minimally
and/or unevenly
developed. Does not
demonstrate
understanding of article
and content and/or
includes inaccuracies.
(9-15 points)
Provides reflection and
opinion of topic.
Demonstrates basic
understanding of
article and content.
(16-22 points)
Reflection and opinion
of topic is developed,
thoughtful, and
persuasive.
Demonstrates
thorough
understanding of article
and content.
(23-30 points)

8. Spelling,
Grammar,
Sources
20 points
Grammar and
spelling are
deficient. No
reputable
source
used/identified.
May provide an
article that is not
from an
acceptable
news source.
(0-4 points)
Lacks polish and does
not demonstrate
proficiency in grammar
and spelling. Uses
reputable news source
but does not provide
hyperlink or copy of
article.
(5-9 points)
Somewhat polished
and inconsistently

9. demonstrates
proficiency in
grammar and spelling.
Uses reputable news
source and provides
hyperlink that may be
broken or incomplete
copy of article.
(10-14 points)
Polished and
demonstrates
proficiency in grammar
and spelling. Uses
reputable news source
and provides working
hyperlink or copy of
article.
(15-20 points)