Exploring Core Democratic Values

Looking at Current Issues in the News

Assignment: Find a substantial and current article in any local newspaper or online news
source (MLive, WSJ, NYT, etc.) that presents a local, state, or national public policy issue.
Print out the article for class and attach to this rubric.
Summarize the article. Identify the CDV that is being debated. Identify the level of
government that would have jurisdiction in this issue. (local, state, national) AND the branch of
government that addresses this issue
Give the rationale for choosing the CDV you identified and why you said that. Develop 2-3
focus questions that would help another student discuss the issue. Be ready to present your
article to a small group and turn in.
Exploring CDVs in the News Rubric (USE TEMPLATE)
On time

Title/APA
Citation

3 points
Assignment is on time
and available for class
discussion
Article is identified using
APA citation format

(Use Template)
Article print
and include with
assignment

Grammar,
Spelling,

Article Summary

(5Ws and H)
(Use Template)
CDV identified

(Use Template)
Rationale for
each CDV

(Use Template)
Level of
government

(Use Template)
Branch of
government

(Use Template)
Focus questions

(Use Template)

Included article
highlights a U.S.
community, state, or
national public policy
issue
0-1 mistakes in grammar,
spelling and/or
punctuation.
Article is summarized
clearly and succinctly
including all important
information
CDV(s) identified
correctly
Rationale for each
identified CDV clearly
described
Correctly identifies the
U.S. level of government
with jurisdiction
Correctly identifies the
branch(es) of U.S.
government involved
2-3 focus questions that
will facilitate discussion
of the issue

1 point
Work is posted on time,
but not brought to class
for discussion
Article is identified by
the Title, Date, News
Source
Included article is about
something other than a
U.S. public policy issue
(service learning, etc.)

0 points
Assignment is late.

2 -3 mistakes in grammar,
spelling and/or
punctuation dont affect
understanding.
Article is summarized.
Important info may be
missing or summary
includes too much info.
Unclear choice; not really
the focus of this article

Any amount of
mistakes in writing
affect
understanding
Article summary is
missing.

Article is
misidentified or
not identified
No copy of the
article turned in
with assignment

CDV identified
incorrectly or not
identified
Rationale for identified
Rationale for
CDV described, but may
identified CDV
be unclear
not described
Unclear choice or reason; Level of U.S.
not really the focus of this government
article
missing/incorrect.
Unclear choice or reason; Branch(es) of U.S.
not really the focus of this govt involved
article
missing/incorrect.
1 focus question that will No focus questions
facilitate discussion
written

Total points possible: 30; What do you think you earned? ________ Total points earned: __________

CDVs in the News Use this template to complete this assignment. Student work is inserted in right-hand
column below for each section
Name and SST309 Section
Megan Dwyer
Title of Article and APA
Corps wont forcibly remove protesters from federal land
Citation
Complete summary of Article
Protests against the Dakota Access oil pipeline have been going on for a
(5Ws and H) (Who, What,
while now in North Dakota. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says that
When, Where, Why, and How?) they have no plans to forcibly remove protesters from the land.
Core Democratic Value(s)
1. Justice
2. Life
etc.
Rationale for each of the CDVs 1. Since protesting is a legal right in the United States as long as it is done
(Why does the CDV you chose peacefully, there is justice in this situation since the protesters are being
fit this issue?)
treated fairly.
2. The protesters should be able to live and protest legally without the fear of
injury or death by the government.
etc.
Branch of Government
The United States Army because the army is the one who would need to
indicated in this issue AND how decide to forcibly remove protesters and then follow through with their
do you know?
actions.
Level of Government with
Federal because the Federal Government is the one who is attempting to put
jurisdiction AND how do you in the oil pipeline.
know?
2-3 Focus questions how
1. Is it legal to protest in the United States?
would you lead a substantive
2. What would protesters have to do to make their protest illegal?
discussion on this article as it
3. Can you think of other peaceful protests, or protests where people did
relates to the Core Democratic
have their rights infringed upon?
Values?