The document provides instructions for a 2nd grade current events assignment. Students are asked to find a recent human interest news article from the past 2 weeks to summarize. A human interest story presents people and their situations in a way that elicits interest or sympathy. The summary should include who the article is about, what they are doing to help others, and why it interested the student. Sources suggested are newspapers like the New York Times or local papers, which can also be accessed online. Students are to complete an organizer with details of the article and have their work proofread by a parent.

1. Name: ___________________ # _____ Date: ____________________
December 6, 2010
Current Event:
Human Interest, 2nd Grade
This week you will be looking for a current event that fits the description of a human
interest story. A human interest story is one that discusses a person or people in an interactive
or emotional way. It presents people and their problems, concerns, or achievements in a way
that brings about interest or sympathy in the reader or viewer. Find an article that interests
you either in the subject that it refers to, or the person that it is about, and write a summary
that describes what is being discussed and why. Make sure to include who the article is about,
what they are doing to help others, and why it was important to you. Put the main points in
your own words and remember to choose an event that is no more than 2 weeks old. Great
places to look would be the national newspapers or magazines, like The New York Times, or
even the local newspapers like the Benicia Herald or the Vallejo Times Herald. Many
newspapers have online versions that they update daily if you do not subscribe to a newspaper.
Another great place to look is the public library. They subscribe to many of the well-known
newspapers and also have internet access available.
After you have chosen your story, complete the organizer on the back of this page to
help you organize your information. Make sure you are able to tell about who the article is
about, what the article talks about, and where it takes place. You should also note where you
found the article and what date it was printed or published. Have fun and happy current
event hunting!
Remember:
• A summary is a paragraph that includes only the main details of the article. Only
include the information that is the most important and leave out the smaller details.
• The story or article you choose must be current! You cannot choose a story that is
more than 2 weeks old.
• Your current events are due Friday. When you turn them in they should include a
completed back page and the article or story / information about the news program.
• Have a parent proofread your writing to check for spelling and grammar mistakes.

2. Name of Newspaper or Other Source: ______________________________________________
Date of Article or Story: ___________________________________________________________
Title of Article or Story: ___________________________________________________________
Who is the article about?
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Where does the story take place?
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What is the article about?
Summary (remember to just include the main points!): __________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
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You can attach another sheet of paper if you need more space.
Why did you choose this article? ___________________________________________________
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________________________________________________________________________________
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• Make sure a parent or other adult proofreads your work before you do your final copy!