Current events are stories about things that happen in the world around us. These stories can cover political happenings, social issues or even natural disasters. You can find current events in a variety of sources but the most reliable are newspaper and magazine articles. You may also use scholarly resources but you will need to take into account how long it takes for scholarly research or information to be published and updated.
Start with a reputable news source, such as your local paper, the New York Times or any of the free morning papers that are given out on subways (NexisUni). Check with your teacher, who may have specific newspapers she would prefer you use. Look for an article that is relatively new and preferably less than one week old.
Read the article and highlight or underline all important information. Note the title, author and date of the article. If there are quotes from people in the article, underline or circle them. Write a topic sentence that states the main idea of the article. Create an outline of the five Ws and H for the article (Who, What, Where, When, Why).
Using your resources, think about how this event relates to what you are learning in your classes. Does it bring up questions about the two party system, capitalism vs. socialism or the role of religion in government? Does it raise any other issues or topics you would like to explore in your own writing?
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