AP Seminar Assignments

Part II

1. Go to the website http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate.
2. The left hand side of the website has topics for discussion, labeled “Recent Discussions”. You will need to scroll down to see the different topics.
3. Click on a topic title you are interested in, you will see a list of debaters and their essay titles will appear. Click on “Read the Discussion” to access the first article in the grouping.
4. Click on each essay title to read the other essays in the grouping.
5. You must read ALL articles. Be sure to read the entire article, not just the excerpt.
6. Choose two articles that provide different perspectives on a topic that can be attributed to one of the lenses mentioned above. You will do this twice.

N _E.g. Issue A is a Political/Historical lens and has two articles: one for and one against;

N _Issue B has an Environmental lens and has two articles: one for and one against.

7. Print all four of the articles in the discussions. Read and annotate the four articles and complete the journal assignment outlined below. If you need help printing, visit the local library, or stop by school – I’ll be here.
8. Create an MLA works cited entry for each article (see the Purdue OWL for tips).
9. In no more than two typed, double-spaced pages, under the citation, provide the following:
10. Identify the different issues presented regarding the topic and how it connects to one of the lenses outlined in the diagram above.
11. Identify the author’s main idea, argument, or thesis.
12. How does the author create his/her argument? What are the lines of reasoning?
13. Do you believe the author and the evidence are credible and reliable? Why or why not?
14. Evaluate the article’s effectiveness. Is it convincing? Why or why not?
15. Utilize at least 2 quotes from the articles for support.
16. The journal entry should be typed and double spaced.
17. Journal entries should be at least 250 words and written in MLA format.

Part I

1. Choose a socially-relevant topic that is in the news. (Entertainment “news” (gossip) is not socially relevant!).

N Some examples are: social media bullying, climate change, the upcoming presidential election, alleged racism in police departments and shootings of black men, standardized testing in schools, and political controversies involving the various branches of government.

2. Find three articles from three different sources. Print and read the articles.
3. For each article, fill in the chart on the following page.
4. Write a reflection in which you address:
5. Why you chose your topic and why you believe it is socially relevant.
6. How did you find your sources, and how do you know that your sources are credible and trustworthy?
7. What you learned about the topic that you didn’t know before.
8. How the topic is being covered in the news. What are the areas of focus?
9. What final conclusions can you draw about the topic based on your reading?
10. Each reflection must be 250 words minimum.
11. Each reflection must follow MLA guidelines, to the best of your knowledge.