This article was good in that it provided an overview of a topic that is becoming increasingly prominent but still remains relatively unknown. I thought the writer did a particularly good job of explaining the problems with service learning, because it would have been easier to make it seem like it's just a perfect system. The article could have used some more information about how many schools have programs or departments, even though the statistics are still unclear. Also, there could have been more expert opinions and input to provide additional insight to the interviews.

This article is not exactly service learning, which is my topic of interest, however, it provides information on one specific organization that has larger implications in societal changes. The writer does a good job of explaining how these programs help people improve their lives through helping others, while learning a new trade. It had good quotes and details about the programs and the impact they can have on communities.

This article is fairly basic, and does not provide a lot of specific details about the programs. However, it does include some good quotes and provides a variety of reasons why the programs are beneficial from different perspectives. Articles like this are important because they get people interested in the subject, so that more detailed ones can be written in the future.

This article provided a look at a specific program in Massachusetts. I would have liked to see more details, like if every student has to participate, how long the program has been around, and why it was started. However, I thought that the writer brought attention to a different side of service learning and made an especially good point in claiming that it is a good experience for students to have in a now global economy.

I think this story was well-written because it is a complicated issue to discuss in one story but the writer does a good job of providing a well-detailed overview. It was a good profile, and it also showed areas of important success. It also explained the 'why' not just the what. I would have liked to see more from the teachers and students to get some more first-hand perspective.

This story definitely sheds light on an issue that I personally knew nothing about, and I think many other readers probably felt the same way. Illegal immigration is obviously a very relevant issue today, and I thought that the point about the car accident was important because it shows the emotional aspect of the debate. The quote about young people and jobs also accomplished that. Overall my rating was a 3.2 because it was a short story for a complex issue, so it was not able to really accomplish everything it could have. I thought that there could have been more facts about how many illegal immigrants there are on Martha's Vineyard and how it affects the economy or what is done about them. I also didn't think that the ... More »

I think this article does demonstrate good journalism because it balances the human and factual side of a relevant issue. Focusing on the one family and their struggles provided an in-depth and emotional side of the story, while demonstrating how frustrating and complicated the vacancy problem is. It also gave appropriate facts and figures which can help both familiar and unfamiliar readers to understand the scale of the issue.