Suggested Timeline for Article of the Week Assignments

Monday – Close Read. Read with a pencil/highlighter in hand, and annotate the text.
• Underline key words and phrases – anything that strikes you as surprising or important, or that raises
questions or confusions. Random underlining or highlighting by itself is coloring, not close reading.
• Write your thought and/or reactions to the text in the margins (close to what you have highlighted or
underlined).

Tuesday – Vocabulary. Complete three vocabulary entries on the front of a lined piece of paper. You
must use at least one of the bold words in the article, if any are present. You can pick two others of your own
or use bold words for all three.

Wednesday – Summary Statement & Reflection. On the back of the vocabulary sheet, write a
statement for the article in which you include:
• The title of the article
• A summary verb (see your verb list) – underline your word(s).
• A sentence completed with the main idea/main point of the article.

Summary Verbs
For beginners:
compares explains presents
defines gives shows
describes lists tells
For more proficient writers:
acknowledges confuses evaluates persuades
adds considers explores praises
advises contrasts expresses predicts
answers defends features proposes
argues demonstrates furnishes provides
asks denounces identifies recognizes
blames discourages illustrates recommends
captures discusses implies simplifies
clarifies emphasizes informs solves
classifies encourages invites suggests
concludes endorses judges supports
confirms entertains mentions teaches
confronts entices offends traces

On the same paper, write your reflection to the specifications of your prompt. Grade your own Article of the
Week packet, staple your rubric on the top of that sheet, and turn it in to the basket.

Packets are due on Thursday morning of each week.

 Generic Reflection Questions
1. Choose 3 interesting quotes from the article. Write a 2-3 sentence reflection for each in
which you explain their meaning and/or importance.

2. Write down five things you learned by reading the weeks article. Which of these 5 do
you think is the most important to know/ Explain why in 3-5 sentences.

3. After reading an interesting article, create a T-chart. On the left side, bullet the key
points of the article. On the right side, list what the article doesn’t say. What has been
left out? You should include at least 3 bullet points. Write a small 4-6 sentence
paragraph summarizing your list and explaining why you think it was left out.

4. If an article contains bias (an opinion; prejudice), identify the bias and explain the “other
side” in 4-6 sentences.

5. Choose three of the following sentence starters and write a brief 2/3 sentence reflection
for each.

6. In 3-5 sentences, explain in your own words the author’s point of view.

7. List the pros and cons of to an issue. (1) Take a position and then (2) support it with 3
reasons from the text. (Your paragraph should be 4-6 sentences.)

8. (1) Three important points/ideas are… (2) because… (in 4-6 sentences).

9. In 3-5 sentences explain the author’s purpose and intended audience.

10. Free response. Respond to the article any way you see fit in 4-6 sentences.

**Note**
Alternative prompts may be assigned for specific
articles. It is the student’s responsibility to write
down prompts, if needed.
 A.o.W. Grading Rubric
________ / 20 Annotation
- Student has underlined key words and phrases (4)
- Student has added thoughts or questions in the margins (6)

________ / 30 Vocabulary Entries

- Student has completed all parts of the entries x 3
a. Part of speech (1) 100 Total
b. Definition of the word (2)
c. Sentence using the word (3)
d. Visual representation (2)
e. One synonym and antonym per word (2)

________ / 50 Summary Statement & Reflection

- Student has completed all parts of the summary statement
a. the title (5)
b. a summary verb (5) in the correct context (5)
c. a sentence completed the main idea of the article (10)
- Student’s reflection answers all of the question thoroughly (10)
- Student’s reflection response is thoughtful and well written (10)
- Student’s reflection includes information from the article (5)

Vocabulary Organizer Example

one synonym &

one antonym

sentence using
Word paraphrased
the word definition
& part of speech

visual
representation