Stiebitz
AP Lang
Current Events Study
Due date: January 19
What to submit: Summaries and choice board work for 4 different articles
How to submit: Turnitin.com
Topic: select one Source: select a different Key info: write this Choice board:
each week PRINT source each week (no every time mix and match
videos or podcasts)
● Climate change ● Wall Street Journal 1.Source Complete two
● Education ● New York Times 2.Title of article tasks from the
● Politics ● Philadelphia Inquirer 3.Author board to
● Pop Culture ● Washington Post 4.Date complete for
● NPR 5.A summary in each article
● Associated Press your own words:
● Another source 1-3 complete
Use this Lib guide for access sentences
Ana Byler
Ms. Stiebitz
AP Lang
Set 2
Current Events Article 1 (politics)
Trump Has Suggested Violence Could Erupt if Court Cases Do Not Go His Way
New York Times
Matthew Rosenberg
Jan. 10, 2024
Summary: While speaking at a rally in Iowa, Trump talked about the Supreme Court’s decision to hear
an appeal of a court decision ruling that he could not appear on the state’s Republican primary ballot
because he had engaged in insurrection; referencing his supports storming through the the Capitol on
January 6, 2021. The reason this event reached its level of publicity is due to Trump’s use of threatening
diction regarding the topic. His statements suggest potential violence if the Supreme Court rules against
him or if the federal case accusing him of plotting to overturn the 2020 election proceeds. Even though
this manner is typical of Trump’s speeches, it still comes as a shock to many.
Paraphrase 2 paragraphs:
Trump tends to not put himself in the position where he has to explain his words. For instance, he
primarily meets with interviewers of a nice nature and refuses to have open debates with rivals. Even
this Wednesday, when Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley face on in a debate, Trump will be participating in
a town hall.
In response to the Supreme Court’s decision to hear an appeal of a Colorado court decision ruling that
Trump could not appear on the state’s Republican primary ballot, Trump speaks out stating that the U.S.
would be in big trouble if he does not get fair treatment. He then goes on to say, “Does everyone
understand what I’m saying?” creating an ominous tone.
Key ideas from the text:
- Trump suggests violence of the court rules against him
- Threatening language is not new to Trump’s demeanor
- Trump’s statements directly link to the attack on the Capitol in January of 2021
- Trump feels that he can say whatever comes to mind because he has never had to answer any
questions or offer further elaboration
- Trump believes that the charges against him were a politically motivated plot to refrain him from
reelection
- Trump has had previous experiences of harassing public officials who disagree with him
Ana Byler
Ms. Stiebitz
AP Lang
Set 2
Current Events Article 2 (education)
Harvard Crisis Signals Broader Fight Over Colleges --- Claudine Gay was at center of debate over
purpose of education
Wall Street Journal
Douglas Belkin
Jan. 5, 2024
Summary: Resulting from Harvard’s testimony on antisemitism, Claudine Gay, Harvard’s first black
president, received divided support from faculty. Resulting from her lack of experience in a public
speaking position, she came across as unprepared and ill suited for the role. While Harvard initially
backed Gay, when her plagiarism allegations surfaced, some board members began to question if she
was fit to lead. Gay defended herself by passing the allegations off as racist and misogynistic stating that
racists will not stop trying to strip power away from Black Americans until racist ideals become
mainstream once again.
Other perspectives:
A voice of the faculty members both in support and opposition to Claudine Gay as president should be
added to this text. It would create a more balanced and unbiased view of Gay as a leader. It would also
give an inside perspective of those who actually experience working under Gay and are involved in
working alongside her from day to day.
Questions to the author:
1. How did Claudine Gay’s resignation affect the overall structure of the university and the
interactions between faculty with opposing viewpoints on her leadership?
2. What evidence were the plagiarism allegations based on and how effectively were they
investigated before they were released to the media?
3. How did media coverage affect yours and the public’s perception on Claudine Gay and how did
you make sure that you refrained from presenting any biases in your article when it is a very
opinionated matter?
Ana Byler
Ms. Stiebitz
AP Lang
Set 2
Current Events Article 3 (climate)
Growing pains - how will climate change impact what we plant?: WELLBEING Plantsman Kevin
Hobbs offers his vision of future growing in light of climate change.
Philadelphia Inquirer
Hannah Stephenson
Nov. 4, 2023
Summary: The crops that we plant today may not last as a result of climate change. With regards to
temperature extremes, droughts, and flooding, the soil that is used as landscape for farms is changing
and certain crops are becoming unattainable. A major concern that Stephenson shed light on is water
availability, focusing on that in the UK. Kevin Hobbs, co-author of new book Edible: 70 Sustainable
Plants That Are Changing How We Eat, suggests that perennial vegetables are beginning to be more
reliable as they are able to establish root systems and adapt to changing soil conditions.
Key ideas:
- Gardeners and farmers may experience difficulties when farming certain crops due to effects of
climate change
- The landscape of farms will continue to change and the soil will grow more restricted
- Specifically in the UK, water availability is a major issue when it comes to farming sustainable
crops
- Certain crops that many would deem as weeds and unhelpful are actually substantial sources of
food and nutrients
- Current fruits and vegetables will continue to grow in the future, but there will be an increase in
variability of crops
Main point and elements:
Climate change has imposed great challenges on farmers regarding the future of crop harvesting with
focuses on water availability and perennial vegetables.
The article talks about water availability being one of the major issues surrounding the types of crops
that can be planted in the future. As the soil changes, so will the abundance of vegetables and their
variety. It goes on to list various crops that are sustainable and nutritious and seen around the world.
Ana Byler
Ms. Stiebitz
AP Lang
Set 2
Current Events Article 4 (pop culture)
6 takeaways from the return of the Emmys
NPR
Linda Holmes
Jan. 16, 2024
Summary: This year’s Emmy award winning picks were nothing short of expected. Except for a
rendition of the Friends theme song to honor Mathew Perry’s passing. However there were some eye-
catching moments. The TV shows Succession, The Bear, and Beef received praise for directing and
writing awards. On the contrary, the Breaking Bad spinoff show Better Call Saul won no awards,
shocking many of its viewers. What also puzzled many was when Anthony Anderson's mother went on
stage in place of the band and was instructed to yell at the audience, which turned out to be an awkward
encounter and left the audience and directors unsettled. On a high note three of the first four women
winners, Ayo Edebiri, Quinta Brunson and Niecy Nash-Betts, are Black, creating an inclusive
environment and pleasing the media. All in all, this night was a big reunion of old cast members and
new upcoming stars.
Interview questions:
I would interview Anthony Anderson's mother.
1. What was your intended reaction out of the audience when going on stage and yelling at them?
2. How did you believe Jennifer Coolidge would react to your speech to her?
3. If you knew the outcome of your presentation would you have changed anything about it?
Questions to the author:
1. Do you believe that the mournful rendition of the Friends theme song was an adequate tribute to
Mathew Perry and conveyed the message that it had intended?
2. How do you feel about the majority of award winning categories were taken by frontrunners and
whether or not this trend of expected winners contributes to an enticing viewer experience?
3. Who would you have preferred to give a speech in replace of Anthony Anderson’s mother and
what would you have liked them to have said?
