Student: Current Event Rubric for Assignment 1 Element Beginning Developing Accomplished Exemplary Points 1) Article title and source 5 points a. Using the MLA style of citation, where did you get the article? An article is identified, but the citation is missing. 1.25 pts An article is identified. An attempt was made at citation, but the citation has 3 or more mistakes. 2.5 points An article is identified. A citation is included, but the citation has one or two mistakes. 3.75 points The article is timely and is cited correctly using MLA citation. 5 points 5 2) Summary 5 points Briefly and in your own words, summarize the content of the article. There is not a clear summary of the article. The writing is hard to follow and has errors. 1.25 pts There is a summary of the article, but it is not clear and brief. There may be errors in writing elements. 2.5 points The summary is brief, complete, and accurate, but it has errors in the writing elements. 3.75 points The summary is brief, complete, accurate, and without errors in the writing elements. 5 points 5 3) Connection 20 points Connect the article to a concept we have covered in class. a. Identify and define the concept. b. Describe how the article illustrates the concept. A concept is identified but not defined correctly. The concept does not link to the article. Connections are muddy or missing. There are errors in the writing elements. 5 points A concept is identified but not defined correctly and clearly. The concept does link to the article, but the connection between the article and the concept is not clearly illustrated. There may be errors in writing elements. 10 points A concept is identified and accurately defined, but connections between the article and the concept are not fully developed or are simplistic. There may be errors in the writing elements. 15 points A concept is clearly identified and accurately defined. Clear connections are made between the article and the concept. A high level of thinking is displayed. The writing is error free. 20 points 20 Element Beginning Developing Accomplished Exemplary 4) Viewpoints 10 points Identify the different perspectives that could be present in, or affected by, the information in your article. Think about our discussion of changing demographics. How might the information affect people from different groups? There is not any connection to different perspectives or to any demographics. Only the perspective of the view of the article is presented. There may be errors in writing elements. 2.5 points Another perspective is listed, but the connection is not strong. Demographics are no.

1. Student: Current Event Rubric for Assignment 1
Element Beginning Developing Accomplished Exemplary
Points
1)
Article title
and source
5 points
a. Using the MLA
style of citation,
where did you
get the article?
An article is
identified, but
the citation is
missing.

2. 1.25 pts
An article is
identified. An
attempt was
made at citation,
but the citation
has 3 or more
mistakes.
2.5 points
An article is
identified. A
citation is
included, but the
citation has one
or two mistakes.
3.75 points
The article is
timely and is
cited correctly
using MLA
citation.

3. 5 points
5
2)
Summary
5 points
Briefly and in
your own words,
summarize the
content of the
article.
There is not a
clear summary
of the article.
The writing is
hard to follow
and has errors.
1.25 pts
There is a
summary of the

4. article, but it is
not clear and
brief. There may
be errors in
writing elements.
2.5 points
The summary is
brief, complete,
and accurate, but
it has errors in
the writing
elements.
3.75 points
The summary is
brief, complete,
accurate, and
without errors in
the writing
elements.
5 points
5
3)

5. Connection
20 points
Connect the
article to a
concept we have
covered in class.
a. Identify and
define the
concept.
b. Describe how
the article
illustrates the
concept.
A concept is
identified but
not defined
correctly. The
concept does
not link to the
article.
Connections are

6. muddy or
missing. There
are errors in the
writing
elements.
5 points
A concept is
identified but not
defined correctly
and clearly. The
concept does link
to the article, but
the connection
between the
article and the
concept is not
clearly illustrated.
There may be
errors in writing
elements.
10 points

7. A concept is
identified and
accurately
defined, but
connections
between the
article and the
concept are not
fully developed or
are simplistic.
There may be
errors in the
writing elements.
15 points
A concept is
clearly identified
and accurately
defined. Clear
connections are
made between
the article and
the concept. A

8. high level of
thinking is
displayed. The
writing is error
free.
20 points
20
Element Beginning Developing Accomplished Exemplary
4)
Viewpoints
10 points
Identify the
different
perspectives that
could be present
in, or affected by,
the information
in your article.

9. Think about our
discussion of
changing
demographics.
How might the
information affect
people from
different groups?
There is not any
connection to
different
perspectives or
to any
demographics.
Only the
perspective of
the view of the
article is
presented.
There may be
errors in writing
elements.
2.5 points

10. Another
perspective is
listed, but the
connection is not
strong.
Demographics are
not discussed.
There may be
errors in writing
elements.
5 points
Different
perspectives are
identified.
Descriptions
include
characteristics or
demographics,
but they are
loosely
connected.

11. There may be
errors in writing
elements.
7.5 points
Different
perspectives are
identified clearly.
Descriptions
include
information
about
characteristics or
demographics
and are clearly
connected.
The writing is
error free.
10 points
10
5)

12. Reaction
10 points
Take a position
on the issue
contained in the
article.
a. What ideas,
positions, or
assumptions do
you want to
challenge?
b. What do you
agree with and
why?
A clear position
is not identified.
There may be
errors in writing
elements.
2.5 points

13. A position is
identified but it is
not very clear.
There are not any
challenges or
agreements.
There may be
errors in writing
elements.
5 points
A clear position is
identified, but it is
not tied to the
article with any
challenges or
agreements.
There may be
errors in writing
elements.
7.5 points

14. A clear position
is identified and
it is tied to the
article with a
challenge or
agreement. A
high level of
thinking is
displayed. The
writing is error
free.
10 points
10
Write your paper in paragraph form using good sentence
structure with proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Your paper should follow the MLA style guide, see the
“Starting Here/ Resources” tab in BlackBoard for information
on
MLA. Write the paper in your own words. If you need to use a
short quote, cite properly. The paper should be
approximately two pages in length, double-spaced, one-inch
margins, and 12-point font. It should be turned in via
eCampus in .doc, .docx, or .pdf format.

15. GOVT 2306 Current Event Assignment 1 Due
September 17, 2019
50 Points Turn in via
eCampus
It is important to know and understand how class material
connects to outside events. This assignment consists of
accessing a news article pertaining to the Texas State
Government. Choose an article from the list below or, if you
want to choose your own article, it must be less than 4 months
(120 days) old and from one of the following sources: 1) The
Texas Tribune or 2) The New York Times.
The purposes of this assignment are:
1. to analyze primary research, current events, and new or
original works;
2. to develop written communication skills;
3. to express ideas in discipline-specific language;
4. to connect concepts you are learning in class material, with
real-world issues.
You are to include the following criteria in your assignment:
1. Article title and source – 5 points
a. Using the MLA style of citation, where did you get the
article?
b. For this assignment, you must include the url in your citation.
2. Summary - 5 points
Briefly and in your own words, summarize the content of the
article.
3. Connection - 15 points
Connect the article to a concept we have covered in class.
a. Define the concept(s) that you state the article connects to.

16. b. Describe how the article illustrates the concept(s).
4. Viewpoints – 10 points
Identify the different perspectives that could be present in, or
affected by, what is included in your article. Think about our
discussion of changing demographics. How might the
information in the article affect people from different groups
such as race or ethnicity, age, region, religion, family structure
or size, education, gender, etc.
5. Reaction – 10 points
Take a position on the issue contained in the article.
a. What ideas, positions, or assumptions do you want to
challenge?
b. What do you agree with and why?
Write your paper in paragraph form using good sentence
structure with proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Your
paper should follow the MLA style guide, see the “Starting
Here/ Resources” tab in BlackBoard for information on MLA.
Write the paper in your own words. If you need to use a short
quote, cite properly. The paper should be approximately two
pages in length, double-spaced, one-inch margins, and 12-point
font. It should be turned in via eCampus in .doc, .docx, or .pdf
format.
This is not a critique of whether the article is good or bad. This
assignment is to make a connection to the classroom material
and to explore the different sides of the issue.
Most migrants cross at the Texas border. Here’s how the flow of
people intersects with Trump’s policies.
https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2019/migrant-texas-
border-trump-
policies/?_ga=2.234865118.1528837628.1568081733-
663046730.1566854871

17. How a decade of voting rights fights led to fewer redistricting
safeguards for Texas voters of color
https://www.texastribune.org/2019/09/10/texas-enters-2021-
redistricting-fewer-safeguards-voters-color/
Two years after Trump announced an end to DACA, "Dreamers"
look ahead with hope and anxiety
https://www.texastribune.org/2019/09/06/dreamers-filled-hope-
anxiety-two-years-after-trump-tried-end-daca/
Trump administration announces rollback of Obama-era
methane regulations
https://www.texastribune.org/2019/08/29/trump-administration-
announces-rollback-obama-era-methane-regulations/
Will Texas Turn Blue in 2020 or Simply Become More Deeply
Divided?
https://www.tribtalk.org/2019/07/08/will-texas-turn-blue-in-
2020-or-simply-become-more-deeply-divided/
Migrant apprehensions continue to surge on Texas-Mexico
border
https://www.texastribune.org/2019/06/05/migrant-
apprehensions-continue-surge-texas-mexico-border/
Trump's tariffs could hurt Texas, U.S. economies as much as
Mexico's, border leaders and analysts say
https://www.texastribune.org/2019/05/31/border-leaders-
criticize-trumps-threat-tariffs-mexican-goods/
Where is Texas’ growing population coming from?
https://www.texastribune.org/2019/05/08/texas-keeps-growing-
where-are-newest-transplants-coming/