Using NewsHour Extra Feature Stories

Overview: NewsHour Extra feature stories can help students identify and interpret key issues in current events. This activity anticipates one class period, but the follow-up essay might be assigned as homework or in another period.

Warm Up: Use initiating questions to introduce the topic and find out how much your students know.

Main Activity: Have students read NewsHour Extra's feature story and answer the questions on the reading comprehension handout.

Discussion: Use discussion questions to encourage students to think about how the issues outlined in the story affect their lives and express and debate different opinions.

Follow-up: Students can write a 500-word editorial on the topic expressing their views and send it to NewsHour Extra [extra@newshour.org] for possible publication.

Evaluation: Students are graded on their answers to reading comprehension questions and/or their editorial.

Story: President Bush Announces Border Security Plan, 05/17/06
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june06/immigration_5-17.html

Initiating Questions:

1. What is an immigrant?

2. How many illegal immigrants are in the United States?

3. How can a non-American become a citizen?

Reading Comprehension Questions: (click here for printout)

1. What are the main points in President Bush's immigration plan?

The president's plan includes a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, deployment of National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexican border, and a "guest worker" program that would allow foreigners to work temporarily in the United States.

2. How many Mexicans were arrested attempting to cross the border in 2005, and how many illegal immigrants are in the United States?

The Border Patrol arrested nearly 1.2 million Mexicans attempting to cross the border in 2005. Five hundred thousand are believed to have evaded the patrol, bringing the total number of illegal immigrants in the Unites States to between 11.5 and 12 million people, according to the Pew Hispanic Center.

3. What requirements would illegal immigrants have to fulfill before applying for citizenship?

A citizenship program would be available to illegal immigrants who have learned English, paid taxes retroactively and worked in the country for many years.

4. Does President Bush consider his program to be amnesty for illegal immigrants?

Mr. Bush said the program is not amnesty. "It is way for those who have broken the law to pay their debt to society, and demonstrate the character that makes a good citizen."

5. How long is the U.S.-Mexican border and which states are "border states?"

…the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexican border that spans California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

6. On what points of immigration reform do President Bush and the House of Representatives disagree?

President Bush also is at odds with House Republicans, who support much stricter immigration reform. The House of Representatives passed a bill in December that opposes a "guest worker" plan and favors deportation. The House bill would criminalize illegal status and build a border fence.

Discussion Activity (more research might be needed):

1. What do you think of the president's plan?

2. How has immigration shaped your community?

3. Do you think the citizenship plan for illegal immigrants will increase or decrease illegal immigration? Defend your position.

4. What social, economic and political factors lead migrants to the United States?

Write a 300-500 word essay on any of these topics providing clear examples. Send your completed editorial to NewsHour Extra (extra@newshour.org). Exceptional essays might be published on our Web site.