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: Muslim-American Leaders Intensify Youth Outreach Initiatives, 08/15/05
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/july-dec05/muslimyouth_8-15.html

Initiating Questions:

1. What makes it difficult for immigrants to assimilate into American society?

2. Is it possible to maintain a cultural and religious identity in a new country?

2. What conditions foster young people to feel alienated and frustrated, like the students who carried out the shootings at Columbine High School?

Reading Comprehension Questions: (click here for printout)

1. How did young Muslim-Americans react to the second attempted terrorist attack against London?

Following the second attempted terrorist attack in London, the Muslim Public Affairs Council and the Islamic Society of North America issued a statement on behalf of young Muslim-Americans condemning the distortion of Islam into an ideology of hatred.

"This afternoon, the world witnessed a second terrorist attack on London. In light of these hostile events, we Muslim American students and youth stand united in condemning all acts of terror and the burgeoning war on ideas. We refuse to remain silent while others claiming to represent Islam preach an ideology of hatred."

The statement was signed by over 50 Muslim student and community groups nationwide and marks the beginning of the first national campaign launched by Muslim youth.

2. What are some of the initiatives Muslim leaders are organizing?

The Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation, a nonprofit organization that represents the needs of the Islamic community, is prioritizing funding for youth activities.

The group currently runs eight free-standing Muslim youth centers in different cities and has plans in the works to open six more.

They will also encourage more mosques to be involved in the Boy and Girl Scouts, broaden recruitment efforts for youth outreach workers, and train psychiatrists and psychologists to work with Muslim youth.

In an effort to increase dialogue and activity within Muslim families, the foundation also plans to sponsor more parent-youth retreats.

3. What makes the situation of young Muslim-Americans unique?

Muslim leaders are aware that there are unique issues facing American-born Muslims struggling to balance the values of American society with the teachings of Islam.

For some, carving out an identity that incorporates both religion and culture can be challenging and confusing.

"The most predominant feeling is confusion. It's like someone is saying one thing about what it means to be a Muslim and someone else is saying another," Al-Sarras said.

4. How is the MAS Freedom Foundation encouraging young Muslims to become Imams?

In an effort to integrate Islam and American culture, the Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation plans to increase its offering of scholarships to Muslim-American youth interested in pursuing theological studies. Their hope is that these young theology scholars will be future Imams, Islamic religious leaders, who have grown up in the United States and understand the young Muslim-American community.

Discussion Activity (more research might be needed):

1. Muslim leaders have emphasized the importance of community involvement for young Muslims. What do you think are some of the barriers these youth face in becoming active in their communities?

2.What can other Americans do open the lines of communication with Islamic youth?

3. Research the central teachings of Islam. What are they? How is the faith practiced? How is it distorted?

4. Take a look at the transcript of this discussion (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/middle_east/july-dec05/islam_8-04.html) between Muslims with different perspectives. How do their views affect your understanding of Islam?

5. What are some other religions that have been distorted in the past to justify violence/terrorism?

Write a 300-500 word essay on either 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.