Common Core State Standard
SL.CCS.1/2/3/4 Grades 6-12: An essay of a current news event is provided for discussion to encourage participation, but also inspire the use of evidence to support logical claims using the main ideas of the article. Students must analyze background information provided about a current event within the news, draw out the main ideas and key details, and review different opinions on the issue. Then, students should present their own claims using facts and analysis for support. FOR THE WEEK OF FEB. 18, 2013 Nominees for Academy Awards next Sunday include 9-year-old girl in her first movie
 Find pre-Oscars coverage that mentions a film you saw, want to see or an actor you like. Tell or write a few thoughts about the movie or star.
 Can you name other forms of arts and entertainment that have high-profile awards presentations?
 Is it hard to find news about music, shows or celebrities of interest to your age group? Discuss why newspapers should focus on a wide mix of tastes.
The film industry's "prom," in effect, will be televised this Sunday night from a Los Angeles theater. Though the only dancing will be on stage, the Academy Awards bash has music, dressed-up guests of all ages and prizes – shiny Oscar statuettes for actors, directors, costumers and lots of others who entertain us at the movies and at home. Buzz about possible big winners focuses on popular films such as the historical drama Lincoln (12 nominations) and Life of Pi (11), a story about a spiritually curious boy who survives a shipwreck and travels across the ocean. Another strong candidate is the musical Les Miserables, with eight nominations. There's also an award for best animated feature, with these five nominees: Brave, Frankenweenie, ParaNorman, The Pirates! Band of Misfits and Wreck-It Ralph. And get this: Two of the nominees for best actress are 77 years apart in age! One is 86 (Emmanuelle Riva of France) and the other is 9-year-old newcomer Quvenzhané Wallis, who uses the nickname "Q" because her first name is hard to say (it's pronounced kwuh-VEN-jah-nay). She plays a character named Hushpuppy in a film called Beasts of the Southern Wild, a PG-13 fable about proud, self-sufficient people in Louisiana, and is the youngest best actress nominee in Oscar history. This was her first acting job and she's a longshot to win, but the spunky student charms interviewers and earns respect from moviegoers and fellow performers. She visited the White House last week for a Black History Month screening of the film for 80 students from middle schools and high schools. First Lady Michelle Obama asked if she said her first name correctly. The Academy Awards show's host also is a first-timer -- comedian Seth MacFarlane, creator of the animated TV hits Family Guy, American Dad and The Cleveland Show. The ABC broadcast starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
Front Page Talking Points is written by
Alan Stamm for NIEonline.com, Copyright 2025
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Michelle Obama says: "I love this movie [Beasts of the Southern Wild] so much and . . . wanted to bring it here to the White House and share it with all of you." – At Feb. 13 White House event for students from Washington, D.C., and New Orleans