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.

Rationale for identified

CDV described, but may
be unclear
Unclear choice or reason;
not really the focus of
this article
Unclear choice or reason;
not really the focus of
this article
1 focus question that will
facilitate discussion

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

CDV identified
incorrectly or not
identified
Rationale for
identified CDV not
described
Level of U.S.
government
missing/incorrect.
Branch(es) of U.S.
govt involved
missing/incorrect.
No focus questions
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
Katie Reynolds Section 3
Title of Article and APA
Rini, Jen. "More Doctors Offering Direct-pay Health Care." WZZM
Citation
13 News. 15 Nov. 2015. Web. 16 Nov. 2015
Complete summary of Article
This article discusses a new technology being introduced in doctors office.
(5Ws and H) (Who, What,
The article is based out of a doctors office in Wilmington, Delaware. A
When, Where, Why, and How?) patient who was suffering from neck pains was tired of waiting in offices for
hours. A doctor agreed with her complaints and came up with a direct paying
system for her office. It is a fee that patient pays for a whole year of medical
care. It allows three to four checkups and covers routinely producers. It is
providing people with the same opportunity of health care.
Core Democratic Value(s)
1.Justice
2. Common Good
Rationale for each of the CDVs 1. Justice fits this article because it is offering a service to everyone. They are
(Why does the CDV you chose
all receiving a flat rate and being offered the same amount of services
fit this issue?)
covered under that rate. It is just another option of health care that is more
affordable.
2.This article also supports common good because individuals in a
community created this plan. The doctor who started offering did it because
she thought it was more beneficial to people in her community. The women
who brought up the complaint got an answer from her community doctors
and resulted in a solution that is benefiting many people.
Branch of Government
indicated in this issue AND how
do you know?
Level of Government with
jurisdiction AND how do you
know?
2-3 Focus questions how
would you lead a substantive
discussion on this article as it
relates to the Core Democratic
Values?

Legislative branch- Bringing attention to how to improve health care laws.

Local/ State Government- Seeing other beneficial ways to get patients
affordable treatment. They are getting on board and supporting their
physicians officers who are offering this plan.
Why is it important for everybody to afford health care? How come local
governments create new affordable health care but National government is
always in a debt? Is there any other Core democratic values that could be
found in this situation?