1. The first paragraph of a news article should answer the questions who, what, where and when. List the who, what, where and when of this news item. (NOTE: The remainder of a news article provides details on the why and/or how.)

2. Why did President Obama reject the Keystone XL pipeline?

3. a) What effect will the rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline have on producers?
b) What effect will the rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline have on Obama administration officials who are fighting global warming?
c) Why is Secretary of State John Kerry opposed to the Keystone XL?

4. What did Keystone XL represent to environmental groups?

5. a) What benefits did TransCanada and other oil companies say the pipeline would have provided to the U.S.?
b) TransCanada Chief Executive Russ Girling said in a statement, “Today, misplaced symbolism was chosen over merit and science, rhetoric won out over reason.”
Rhetoric is defined as: language that is intended to influence people and that may not be honest or reasonable. Do you agree with Mr. Girling’s assertion? Explain your answer.

6. What concern does Republican Senator John Hoeven have about President Obama’s decision?

7. a) Where do the presidential candidates stand on the Keystone XL decision?
b) TransCanada had asked the Obama administration on Monday to pause the review, in a move seen by many as an attempt to postpone a decision until a new US president took over in 2017. How does your candidate stand on the Keystone issue? Find links to all candidates’ websites at: StudentNewsDaily’s 2016 Presidential Election page.

CHALLENGE: Read the “Background” and check out the links under “Resources.” Does this information change your view of the Keystone XL? Explain your answer.