To begin, you must find a newspaper article on an interesting event (this will be your primary source), then do research on at least two articles/sources related to the situation (these will be your secondary sources). If your primary source is an exclusive (that is, it is the only report published), then you might need to consider a related theme/topic that corresponds to additional secondary sources. If you can’t figure out a related theme/topic from your article, then you may have to choose a different primary source.
The primary source must come from a legitimate news source (Links to an external site.) (more on that later) and must be objective (Links to an external site.). It also must deal with a current topic that provokes a persuasive opinion (Links to an external site.). Finally, it has to be recently published at least a month old. In this case, do not hand in a primary source published earlier than June 1, 2019.
The additional, secondary sources can be of any publication date (that is, published at any time) and should provide pertinent information, facts, data or statistics, and quotes from authoritative figures. Make sure you have at least one commentary (Links to an external site.)article, presenting an opinion about the topic not necessarily similar to your own. You may also use email/letters to an editor (Links to an external site.), op-ed pieces (Links to an external site.), blogs (Links to an external site.), personal interviews and Internet sites as sources, but be aware that they might not be as reliable as a news report (Links to an external site.). When you submit, please import your assignment either as a Word attachment or inline submission and provide links to all source materials with your final draft in your Work Citation page (Links to an external site.).
Once you gather your primary and secondary sources, you are ready to begin your commentary: