Ms. Schlee's Assignment

Current Events Online Scavenger Hunt

Overview: Today you are going to look at a variety of reliable online news sources and learn a helpful method for extracting and analyzing information from a current events article. You will be directed to a number of different sites and asked to find, read, and analyze various new reports. Follow the directions below, step-by-step. You are expected to stay on task and work quietly by yourself (aka…absolutely no talking while in the lab).

Part I – CNN
Directions:
1) Go to www.cnn.com
2) Browse the homepage. On a separate sheet of paper, write down the different features you see on the homepage. What sections/features look of interest to you?
3) Scroll down to the section that says “More News” and click either “World” or “U.S.”
4) Choose one article from this section that looks of interest to you and read it from top to bottom.
5) Once you have finished reading the article answer the “News Article Questions” below. This strategy will help you dissect and analyze a current event, which in turn will help you better understand the event and its significance/importance.

News Article Questions:
A) What is the title of the article?
B) Name the source you got your article from.
C) When was the article published?
D) Who are the people involved in this article?
E) What happened in the story?
F) Where did the story take place?
G) When did the story take place?
H) Why did the events in the story occur?
I) In 4-5 sentences, or more, discuss the effect the story has or had on the world around it. Be sure to think about your answer; you won’t find the answer word for word in the article. Re-read the article and think about why the story is important and what might happen in its aftermath.

Part II – Chicago Tribune
Directions:
1) Go to www.chicagotribune.com
2) Browse the homepage. What features do you see on this homepage? How is the Chicago Tribune homepage different or similar than CNN’s homepage, information wise?
3) Scroll down the page and click where it says “local” news on the left hand side.
4) Pick one of the articles and read it from top to bottom.
5) Complete the “News Article Questions” above for this article.

Part III – Other New Sources
Directions: If you finish with both Part I and Part II take a look at and browse the reliable news sources below. Look for special features and the type of specific information they display.
1) www.nytimes.com
2) www.msnbc.msn.com
3) www.foxnews.com
4) www.bbc.co.uk/