Friday, May 29, 2009

Opinion Article

It is winter break and time to celebrate and relax with friends and family, except for the piles and piles of homework that need to be completed by the time school begins again in two weeks. There is a book that needs to be read, a 3 page front and back math packet, two history chapters, and 30 biology questions to answer. That combined with the five necessary holiday celebrations and friend parties doesn’t sound like a very relaxed break. What is the point of having a longer break if we are just going to get tons of homework? We could just go back to school for all the time spent on homework!
Why do teachers load up the homework on relaxation time? This doesn’t only happen on one or two week breaks. This same predicament also shows up on long weekends of three or four days. Teachers need to realize that heaping on the homework only creates more stress instead of relieving it, which is the purpose of some of the breaks.
Many students end up doing their homework the night before school returns because they were attempting to enjoy the free time. This leads to many sleepy students, not to mention the projects and homework they were up completing. Projects turn out only so-so because sleep deprived teenagers didn’t really care anymore at midnight. Reading material is not understood because minds were wandering, thinking about everything else that needed completing. And some of the assignments weren’t even started while students tried to finish everything else on their plates.
Many teachers will say that this is the students fault for not starting their homework earlier. This might be possibly true; however, it is mostly because of the homework load that students receive. If students have other plans, like a vacation or a family reunion, there might not be time to do the work. Many students will end up with a pile of homework to do before they return to school. Sophomore Allie Johnson agrees with this statement, “It is partly my fault because I have poor time management skills. But I put off my homework so that I can use the extra day(s) to relax.”
Therefore, there needs to be a compromise. Teachers should back off the homework over long weekends and holiday breaks so students can have a chance to relax and spend time with the people they care about. Students should also attempt to knock out some of the homework at the beginning of breaks so that they won’t be so stressed towards the end of breaks. If teachers and students work out a compromise like this, homework will be completed with the best effort possible, and students will have a chance to relax. That sounds like a much better winter break.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Editorial Prewriting

1. What is a problem/issue that our entire student body (our school, community, country, etc.) faces today?
Too much homework over longer weekends and breaks.

2. What is your view/position on the problem or situation?
Is it really necessary to pile on the work with only one extra day? Put us back in school if you're going to do that!

3. What would you like to achieve with your editorial? (What is the desired result?)
I would like teachers to realize that long weekends are for fun, not for more and more work.

4. How will you persuade your audience to adopt your viewpoint as theirs? List at least 4 persuasive points.
-late nights before the beginning of school again
-no time to soak up the sun and relax
-examples of projects
-less family time especially over holidays

5. How will you motivate your readership to action in your conclusion?
I will make sure it is a persuasive ending so that some or all readers will agree with my article.

6. How will your editorial serve a public purpose?
It could change the homework level on breaks and give students more time to relax so they're not always so stressed out.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Emmy's Peer Edit

1. What are some areas that could use more detail? Why?
I thought it was very good, very detailed. You really understand what the books are about.
2. What additional sources might the author use? Does the lead involve you in the story?
Yes it does. You want to read on a lot.
3. Does the story contain a well defined scene (a detailed description of someone doing something or something happening)? What is it? If not, make a suggestion for a scene that might work.
Not really, I think this was more like a book review. Nothing was really happening in it.
4. What would you like to see or hear more of? Less of? Include, any other suggestions you have for improvement.
I thought it was very good. Maybe have a more clear defined plot of your story.

Allie's Peer Edit

1. What are some areas that could use more detail? Why?
You could add more about what the new renovations will look like for people who don't know much about what is happening.
2. What additional sources might the author use? Does the lead involve you in the story?
The lead is very involving. I was exuberent to read this article!
3. Does the story contain a well defined scene (a detailed description of someone doing something or something happening)? What is it? If not, make a suggestion for a scene that might work.
Yes, you understand exactly what renovations are happening at the library.
4. What would you like to see or hear more of? Less of? Include, any other suggestions you have for improvement.
I thought it was fantastic! Just spell of right next time.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Feature Story

The Dakota County Library has many events in the summer and perks for people of all ages. The library offers a fun and sometimes free activities for everyone who wants to join in. There are specific events for children, teens, and adults 55 and older.
Children have the most events to occupy their summer. They can join the reading club which is “a great way for kids to keep up their school education in the summer months”, says children’s librarian Lillian Austen. The kids who join fill out a chart showing how many hours they read and when they turn it into the volunteers it gets moved along the wall. The goal is to make it to the top, around 100 hours of reading during the summer, to get the prize. Children can also join an art contest. They draw and color the most creative picture they can, and if they are lucky they can win a prize! The last activity I learned about is the poetry contest. Kids write their best poem, teaming up with parents or older siblings to help with spelling and grammar. Whoever writes the best and most creative poem gets the prize. These are just three of the activities offered to children during the summer months.
Teens also have a wide selection of activities offered to them during the summer. Although reading for fun isn’t as popular as laying on the beach, teenagers are invited to join the summer reading club. For many teens this is “a popular activity for the hot, hot, days when you just want to stay in the air conditioning,” says young adult librarian Joshua Pace. It also pleases mom and dad when you do something other than become a zombie in front of the television. Another activity offered to teenagers is the poetry contest. It is just like the kids poetry contest, except you aren’t allowed to team up with your parents. These are a few of the activities offered to teens to occupy their time during the summer.
There are also some activities offered to people ages 55 and older. They can join a book discussion group. The adults pick a book and when they decide get together and talk about what they have read and how it relates to their lives today. This is a great way to make new friends and find books to recommend to your friends. The other activity offered to adults is the poetry contest. This contest works exactly like the teen poetry contest. Adults create the best poem they can and the winner receives the prize. These are a couple of the activities offered to adults during the summer months.
Many perks are also offered to library members of all ages. The computers at the library are free for anyone to use and have internet so you can surf the web all you want. For teenagers they offer the volunteen program. Teens help the kids who come in with their reading club sheets and finding books. Teens can also check out video games, so they don’t have to spend all of their hard earned money. The last perk for teenagers is teen e-news. You submit your email address and the library will send you the dates of upcoming events. These are all “great ways for teens to be more involved in their library,” says volunteer coordinator Mary Meyer. The last volunteer opportunity is for adults. You can adopt-a-shelf and once a week come in and keep it neat. This way everyone can find what they are looking for right away.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

1. Theme Statement: The Dakota County Library has many events in the summer and perks for people of all ages.



Sources:

1. Librarian



2. Brochures



3. Library member



4. Event planner?



5. Volunteer coordinator



Questions:

1. What events do you offer for kids 12 and under? Teens?



2. What events do you offer for young adults? Parents?



3. What perks are there for kids 12 and under? Teens?



4. What perks are there for young adults? Parents?



5. What do you enjoy about the library? The events offered?

Sunday, May 17, 2009

AP test article

The Advanced Placement tests are finished but there is still approximately a month of school left. Now what? What will classes be doing now that the tests are done? What are some students’ reactions to the end of their Advanced Placement tests?


Most students are delighted that the tests are over. Now it is time to kick back and relax, or is it? Some classes will watch movies while others continue the work. Other classes will have a combination of both, work and fun. Find out what the most common approach to class after the tests is and some students reactions towards the rest of the year.


The tests that classes have been preparing for all year are over. Allie Johnson, a sophomore says, “I feel like my life can finally begin again.” She thinks it is a pretty good time to kick back and relax since her Advanced Placement United States History class has already learned everything that was planned for the school year. Most students feel pretty much the same as Allie does. Senior Ian Sharp says he “feels fantastic.” He took multiple tests this year while others only took one or two. Kate Kelzenberg, a sophomore from Woodbury High School, says she is “relieved and ecstatic,” that her test is finished. This seems like the most common reaction from students that have completed their Advanced Placement tests.


What about the rest of the school year? Not every class will be watching movies for enjoyment until the end of the school year. Allie Johnson’s Advanced Placement United States History class will be reading current events along with watching documentaries on important historical figures. They will, however, also be watching some movies just for fun such as Pearl Harbor and Forrest Gump. Ian Sharp’s classes will mostly just be watching movies for fun, but as a senior he has earned a lot more relaxation time. Kate Kelzenberg says that in Woodbury they will be watching movies with some historical significance and they will also be working on a group project until the end of their school year.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Peer Edit for Amanda

I really like how you put examples of past calender changes in your paragraph. I think your first sentence does a really good job of explaining what your article will be about. I don't have any unanswered questions after reading this. Good work!

Peer Edit for Allie

I thought this was really good! You should ask if we have to start with a sentence that answers the questions. I like your opener, it's unique. The questions i have are just questions that you would answer throughout your article. Nice work!

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Newspaper Story

The AP tests are finished but there is still about a month left of school. Now what? What will classes be doing now that the test they have been working towards all year has been taken? What are some students reactions to the finish of the AP tests?
Most of the students, me included, are delighted that the AP tests are over. Now it's time to kick back and relax. Or is it? Some classes will watch movies, while others will continue with the work. Find out what the most common approach to class after the AP tests is, and students attitudes towards the rest of the year.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Interviewing Notes


  • Choose 3 interviewees and write 10-15 questions for each person.
  • Want to aquire an anecdote(a brief story told by the interviewee which is usually paraphrased by the author), a revealing quote(said by the interviewee and gives insight to personality;unique and adds to the story), and a portrait from the interview(a description created by the writer that is based on observations of the interviewee;relevent to topic).
  • Interviewees who trust you will talk more.
  • Opener: beginning question or remark.
  • First Step: question about the topic.
  • Qualifier: find out if the source is qualified.
  • Routine Factual: who, what, where, when, why, how.
  • Numerical Questions: statistical information.
  • G-0-S-S-E-Y: a way to ask deeper questions (goals, obstacles, solutions, start, evaluation, why).
  • Responder: clarification.
  • Soliciting a Quote: a specific question.
  • Soliciting an Anecdote: prompts a short story.
  • Imaginative: strays from the routine.
  • Grenade: difficult questions.
  • Recover From Grenade: a nuetral question.
  • When you conclude say thank you, sign documentation sheet, and ask any further questions or answer further questions.

Friday, May 8, 2009

Gathering Information

1. Who will be the new superintendent of district 196?
Jane Barens
2. How many teachers are absent from school today? Who are they?
12; Donais, Dumonceaux, Garrison, Gerber, Ganader, Hendrickson, Kelly, Lieffort, McCarty, Pawlicki, Phelps, Wagner
3. Who is the president of our school board? How many are on the board?
Mike Rosine; 7
4. What date is graduation this year?
June 12
5. Who are the newest faculty members?
Mrs. Sundae, Mr. Boldus, Mr. Fedje...
6. Who is the tallest person at our school?
Mr. Tollefson
7. What does DECA stand for?
Destributive Education Club of America
8. How many home football games were played this season?
6 games
9. Who are the student council officers?
Rachel Anderson, Kellie Van Beck, Nikki Fitzgerald
10. Where do you find accurate spelling of a student’s name? Grade level?
Campus
11. How many students have enrolled at EVHS this year?
2,217
12. Who is the head custodian?
Brian Fisher
13. Who advises the Yearbook?
Jules Kitchener
14. Where is the district office located? (city & street name)
Chippendale in Rosemount
15. Who are the administrators (in addition to Dr. Peterson) and what are their duties?
Franchino (tech and arts), Hanson (9th-10th grade), Percival (Athletic), Miller (Assistant Principle),
16. Who advises the chess club?
Mr. Detmer
17. Name the captain(s) of the girls’ soccer team?
Kelsey North, Marissa Price, Sam Mehr
18. Who manages the cafeteria?
Jean Marten
19. Who are the librarians?
Ms. Koziy, Mrs. Lindgren, Mrs. O'Sullivan
20. How many students are taking AP tests this year?
500

Friday, May 1, 2009

Law and Ethics notes

1. What authority do school officials have to control the content of high school student media?


1st amendment: speech, press, assembly, religion, and petition


They can't restrict you unless what you are doing is illegal or threatening. Public schools have more freedom than private schools.


4 major cases: Tinker vs. Des Moines (first amendment protects right to protest on campus), Bethel School District vs. Fraser (Inappropriate speech for class president), Hazelwood School District vs. Huhlmeier (school can censor speech; has to be related to curriculum), Morse vs. Frederick (because it was a school authorized event the school had the authority to censor the banner).


2. Libel- publication of a false statement of fact that seriously harms someones reputation.
Slander- spoken false statement of fact that seriously harms someones reputation.

3. Web Page Notes:
  • Different types of stories- Hard news: news of the day, starts with a summary lead (who, what, where, when, why?), information readers need; Soft news: news that isn't time sensitive, profiles about people or organizations; Feature: explores an issue, less time sensitive, complex issues that are too long for hard news; Editorial: expresses an opinion, personal but relevant to the reader; Youthbeat: your story from your point of view; My Word!: short opinion, to the point, not as likely to be a personal narrative
  • Structure of an article-

Lead- summarize the story and draw the reader in.

Body- opinions of people you interview, facts, and narrative to help the story flow.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Newspaper Questions

What Back Issues Can Tell Us:

1. What stories are covered every year?
Dances, graduation, sports, and holidays.

• What time of year did these stories run?
Sports ran all year. Everything else happened around the time it happened (ex. Homecoming dance was in October).

• Are any of the same people involved year after year?
I didn't see any of the same names in different years.

2. What was the biggest story of each year?
For most years there is always a newpaper just for homecoming, but in 2005-2006 the biggest article would have been on hurricane Katrina.

3. How many personality sketches of students were run each year?
There were approximately four personality sketches each year.

• What types of students were interviewed? (athletes, student leaders, etc.)
There were all different kinds of students interviewed, people from speech team and athletes.

• Was any one student constantly featured in one year? Why?
I didn't see any constant feature.

• Do you think this was fair?
I think it's fair that there wasn't one.

4. How many personality sketches of faculty were run each year?
There was usually one in each issue.

• Which teachers were featured?
Some examples are Ms. Hanson, Mr. Strey, and Mrs. Strey.

• Why those particular people?
Ms. Hanson because she grew up here, Mr. and Mrs. Strey because they are married.

5. What full page features (or center spreads) did the publication carry?
Most of the full page features were about either homecoming or graduation.

• Are any of those topics still relevant?
Both of these topics are still relevant.

6. What was a great year(s) for sports teams? Activities?
Each year has a whole page devoted to sports and activities.

• Did the school have any state champions?
In 2005-2006 the dance team won lake conference.

• Olympic performers?
I didn't see any articles on this.

• Other honors?
Other honors were Homecoming royalty and just general students of the year.

7. Find a story that uses background information from previous years.
Some of the articles from the world or local events outside of school use past data to show a difference.

8. What topics did the paper editorialize about each year?
I didn't see any editorials in the papers i looked at.


• What stand did the paper take?
Not available

• Has the problem been solved or is it still an issue?
Not available

9. What major news did the paper carry about classes?
They had a story about sleep deprivation, cell phones, and prioritizing.

• Any curriculum changes?
Not that I saw.

• Any major new programs?
Not that I saw.

10. Any new equipment?
Not that I saw.

• Any building programs?
Not that I saw.

11. Any scandals involving students, administrators, or teachers?
Not that I saw.

• What happened?
Not available.

12. What changes in fashion among students can be found?
The only big change i saw was less and smaller glasses.

13. What signs of changing times can you find as mirrored in the concerns of students?
Most of the articles had concerns that we do too. Such as sleep deprivation and texting.

• What concerns never seem to change and would continue to make good stories year after year?
Homecoming, sports, and sleep deprivation.

14. Did the school have any championship academic teams?
There was a feature on the speech team and the science olimpiad team.

• Art show winners?
Not that I saw.

• Band or choir awards?
There was an article on pep band, but I didn't see any awards.

• Science winners?
There was an article on the science olimpiad team, but not any awards that I saw.

• National honors?
Not that I saw.

15. Which clubs were most active?
There were mostly articles on sports, and the occasional academic club.

16. What campus events made the most news?
The biggest events were dances such as Homecoming.

17. What movies and music groups has the paper reviewed?
There was a review on Troy and Big Fish. I didn't see any music groups.

18. What issues did cartoonists choose?
I didn't see any cartoons. The pictures were all photographs the staff took.

19. How has the publication’s format changed?
The issues have become longer with less pictures. They don't put the staff pictures in any more.

20. Did the demographics of your student population change? Why?
I didn't see any changes.

21. What are the school’s traditions and how did they develop?
I didn't see any articles on this.

• Who are the school’s traditional rivals? (Could vary between activites.)
Usually Rosemount, Apple Valley, and Eagan.

• How did the rivalry begin?
They are very close to our school.

22. What are five things most interesting about EVHS?
1. We have canned spam in our newspaper which seems pretty unique.
2. We chomp underclassmen.
3. We have many different club sports.
4. We have articles about pretty much everything in our newspaper.
5. We have teacher features.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

journalism notes

Definition:Define “Journalism” in 1-3 sentences.
The distribution of current events that are news worthy in magazines, newspaper, and the internet.

List and describe the six criteria of newsworthiness.

1. Timeliness-when it happened, want it to be current (yesterday, this morning)

2. Proximity-hows close you are the the event (Apple Valley, Rosemount)

3. Significance-a major event (plane crash, hurricane)

4. Prominence-people that influence other people (celebrity taking kids to swimming lessons)

5. Unusual-things that don't happen very often (fires, murders)

6. Human Interest-something at the end that gives a positive spin after the rest of the negative news (baby dolphin born)

What are the advantages of print journalism?

1. You can read what you want when you want.

2. There is much more detail.

3. It is more accurate.

4. They are easier to keep; tangible.

What are the advantages of broadcast journalism?

1. More current than what's in print.

2. You can see what actually happened (watch sports clips).

3. You don't have to pay for it.

Why has online journalism (convergent media) become so popular?
It has become so popular because it is a combination of print journalism and broadcast journalism. You can read an article or you can watch video clips. It is also popular because it is free.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Maxim magazine questions

1. 150,000 (11.25 million) people read
2. 10% (34%) only read maxim
3. 85% (80%) 16-25 age group
4. Approximately $42,000 ($63,000) household income
5. 90% (78%) are men
6. 50% (73%) college educated
7. 30% (66%) car enthusiastes
8. 95% (80%) use scents
9. Approximately $10,000 ($156,000) color ad