Class Activity: Current Events Reporting

Questions:

1. What's being discussed in this article?
2. When did the event happen? (Is this breaking news or something that's been analyzed and discussed for a while?)
3. What questions do you have that would help make this article make more sense to you? What more do you need to learn about to be able to report on this event?

Article: Looking at Islamic Center Debate, World Sees U.S.


1. The question is whether or not to allow permission for a mosque to be built in Milan. The debate is based on the fact that across the world there has been an Islamic struggle over the acceptance of the religion in other countries. The article discusses multiple countries views on the subject. America, China, Thailand, and Italy's opinions on the subject were used as support. Controversies concerning the mosque being built was the main issue in this article. The goal is to support the building of Park51 to show the changes in the world can now let a mosque be built in Milan even after 9-11 and the false hope of the Islamic religion being accepted.

2. This event has been going on for more than two decades. It is a continuing movement that has been trying to have been achieved. It is not ground-breaking news as it has been a work in progress for so long. This event has been being debated for a long time and has not yet reached a final conclusion. When the final conclusion comes, that will be ground-breaking news.

3. I would like to know more background on the article because it has been going on for over two decades. I would need to research the other articles and research that has been published on the debate to learn more about it. Also, I would like to know more about Abdelhamid Shaari as he is the main succession behind this debate. Another question I have is why this is such a big controversy and how it has become such a big controversy.

Which newsworthy events do you remember from your lifetime?

My responses:

1. Busch got re-elected
 I was in 2nd grade. I remember not knowing anything about him being re-elected. I found out in class. I remember what a big deal it was. I had no idea about politics or anything, so it was all new to me.

2. Hurricane Katrina
 I heard about it on the news right after it happened. I was a student at Whitfield. It was a huge catastrophe and there was a ton of damage. It seemed so surreal to see all the actual damage on TV. I remember seeing all the people who were now homeless lined up by big warehouses to find shelter and food of some sort. I got all my information from the news and discussions in class. Today, I am still learning about all the damage that was left over. 

3. Anna Nicole Smith
I got all my information on E and also, on channel 5 news. I remember watching THS (true hollywood story) on E news! I don't remember too much about it. That is how I found out about her and her tragic story.

Mom's responses:

1. Challenger exploding
2. 9-11
3. Princess Diane's wedding and death