SUBJECT: English
GRADE: High School
TECHNOLOGY: Internet
BY: Scott Cissel
READING THE NEWSPAPER
Target Group
- This lesson plan is designed for students in a twelfth grade English class. Students of this age are often interested in expressing their views on controversial ideas and topics. This lesson asks students to critically read news articles and take a position on a current and controversial topic.
Objective
- Students will read and evaluate on-line newspaper articles on controversial topics and identify the main idea, supporting information, point of view, and biases in front page and editorial columns published four weeks preceding the assignment date.
Materials
- Library or home computer with internet link.
- Worksheet for article analysis.
Lesson Plan Description
- Teacher will tell students that they may choose a news articles on a controversial topic. For example an article on a controversial law, social or school policy, health issue, or international conflict.
- Working with a partner each student will find a front page international, national, and local news article and a related editorial article for each respective front page article. Students will analyze a total of six articles.
- Students will use the worksheet provided to assist them in analyzing their articles. A common assumption is that front page articles necessarily contain objective reporting, while only editorials are open to biases, or the writer’s options. Worksheet questions will guide students in critical and comparative reading of front page and editorial articles.
- Students will use at least two nationally syndicated, on-line newspapers; such as The Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com), The New York Times (www.nytimes.com, or USA Today (www.usatoday.com). For local news students may choose a print copy of their state, county, or town newspaper.
- Nota Bene:
The front page article and its related editorial do not need to come from the same newspaper.
- After completing the worksheets each set of student partners will choose one controversial topic on which to take a position. Each student will take an opposing position. In 1-2 pages each student will briefly exlain his/her topic, his/her position, and explain why the position is the best position on the topic.
Evaluation Procedure
- Students are evaluated on the completion of three worksheets; i.e. each work entails the analysis of an international, national, and local news article and its related editorial. If students answer 80% of worksheet questions with detailed examples, then the lesson plan objective has been achieved.
Article Analysis Worksheet
Front page article
- List the following: newspaper, date, article title, author, and web address.
Front Page Analysis *Answer in complete sentences unless indicated otherwise
1) What is the subject of this article? (one sentence)
2) What are the main event(s), person(s), place(s), or problem(s) described in this article? (min. five sentences)
3) Describe the most important issue raised in this article and find three sections of the article which support this issue. In your own words explain the supporting information and list a relevant quotation for each supporting element. (min. two paragraphs)
4) How is the supporting information related to the main argument? (min. one paragraph)
5) Is there any information given which appears unfactual? That is, is their information given about the main issue which does not have a quoted source? Which words suggest to you that a statement is an opinion? (List three examples)
6) What does the opinionated information tell you about the main issue? (min. one paragraph).
7) How would rate this article (scale of 1-10). Consider the following: Does it contain unnecessary information? Is it lacking is necessary information? Are there missing words, misspelling, or grammatical errors in the article?
Related Editorial
- List the following: newspaper, date, article title, author, web address.
Editorial Analysis
1)How is this editorial related to the front page article? (three sentences)
2)Does the author take a position cited in the front page article? If so, who is cited as having this position in the front page article? (One sentence)
3)What is the author’s position on the topic? (One paragraph)
4)Give three example of the information the author uses to support his argument:
5)Does the author give the sources of his/her supporting information ? i.e., people, organizations, or dates? If yes, give three examples.
6)Of the three examples you cited the author as using to support his/her position, does any of the supporting information not have a source? If yes, list which one (1-3).
7)Do you agree with the author’s position? Why or why not?
Personal Position
- With your group partner, choose one controversial topic (if the three you chose) on which to write. You and your partner must take opposing positions on this topic. Use data from the articles to support your position. Give at least two sources for your supporting information. Your position paper must be 1 1/2 to 2 pages in length.
- Remember, be sure to state your controversial topic, your position, and give at least three reasons why your position is best. Be prepared to read your positions as a group in front of the class.