Thursday, March 18, 2010
Burke's Editorial Cartoon
1. Is there a clear point of view? (position)
yes, closing the gate is horrible idea. I agree
2. Does the Op-Ed state the problem and solution simply?
the problem is that it takes longer to get to school, but no solution
3. Does the piece address the counter arguments?
no, but there is no counter-argument, there is no benefit to closing the gate
4. Is the Op-Ed interesting?
it really caught my eye
5. Are the paragraphs organized logically?
yes
6. Does each paragraph develop an idea to support the thesis?
yes
7. Is the writing clear?
well, it's a picture...
yes, closing the gate is horrible idea. I agree
2. Does the Op-Ed state the problem and solution simply?
the problem is that it takes longer to get to school, but no solution
3. Does the piece address the counter arguments?
no, but there is no counter-argument, there is no benefit to closing the gate
4. Is the Op-Ed interesting?
it really caught my eye
5. Are the paragraphs organized logically?
yes
6. Does each paragraph develop an idea to support the thesis?
yes
7. Is the writing clear?
well, it's a picture...
Asad's Story
1. Is there a clear point of view? (position)
yes, that you should be careful with loans
2. Does the Op-Ed state the problem and solution simply?
yes, the solution is to be smart about taking out a loan
3. Does the piece address the counter arguments?
not really
4. Is the Op-Ed interesting?
it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time
5. Are the paragraphs organized logically?
yes, great intro
6. Does each paragraph develop an idea to support the thesis?
yes
7. Is the writing clear?
crystal
yes, that you should be careful with loans
2. Does the Op-Ed state the problem and solution simply?
yes, the solution is to be smart about taking out a loan
3. Does the piece address the counter arguments?
not really
4. Is the Op-Ed interesting?
it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time
5. Are the paragraphs organized logically?
yes, great intro
6. Does each paragraph develop an idea to support the thesis?
yes
7. Is the writing clear?
crystal
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Final Draft:
Hockey:
The Violent Truth
By: Luke Trepanier
This past winter has been one of the most popular and exciting times for the fans, players, coaches, and followers of the sport of hockey. Things really started to get interesting when the 2010 Winter Olympics kicked off in Vancouver. The games were some of the most popular in years and obtained record breaking television ratings. The gold medal game which pitted the underdog Americans against the hometown Canadians, received the highest rating ever for a television program in Canada. While Olympic hockey showed an increase in popularity, ratings in the NHL boosted slightly too after the conclusion of the games. Things are starting to heat up in the playoff race, and some of the most pivotal games of the year are coming up. Lastly, and a little closer to home, was the State High Hockey Tournament held at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. The Friday night semi final session seated of 19,000 fans. To put that in comparison, the hometown NHL team, the Wild, consider a sellout to be 18, 568 fans. I was in attendance for a majority of the games in the AA class, and the tournament was one of the most memorable in years. The only knock I had was that Edina came out on top in the championship game against Minnetonka. But all said and done, the state hockey tournament was a remarkable experience.
While things seem to be looking up for the sport of hockey, there are some issues that are currently unresolved in the game. Most notably, violence. While I consider myself an avid hockey fan, and I played for fourteen years of my life, I too have noticed some troubling problems for the sport in recent months. Yes, the Olympics shined light on the sport and showcased virtually every superstar in the game, but there are some major differences between Olympic and professional hockey. One major difference is fighting.
In the NHL, fighting is a way of life. It’s and integral part of the game. Players have made their careers by fighting. The enforcer is one of hockey’s traditions, and quite frankly, a necessity. It’s entertaining for one. Many hockey fans would agree with that. But, more so, fighting is strategy. It can sway momentum one way or the other. It can be the turning point in the game. It can neutralize players from the game. When I say that, I do not mean to injure a player or take him out of the game. What I do mean, is that some teams will send players to “shadow” superstars, heckle them, chirp them, get in their face. Now, all of these tactics are legal. But if a team sends out their 6’7”, 260 lb. enforcer to entice him in to a fight, that will eliminate the problem right there and then. I asked a fellow hockey player, Eric Ritacco, his opinion on fighting, “it can change the momentum of a game and it has been a part of hockey since the game began”.
I agree with Eric on his stance on fighting, but one issue that I believe needs to be addressed by hockey executives is the presence of cheap shots. Cheap shots are somewhat of a gray area in the sport. What is a “cheap shot”, does it have to be blatant? How is it defined in the rule book? Unfortunately, there is no precise answer to any of these questions. But the one question I do want to address is how to stop them from happening, and eliminate this cheap aspect from the game altogether. The type of plays I’m talking about are intentional, dirty plays. More specifically, head shots, or hits that intended to injure other players. One blatant play like this occurred a few weeks back when Marc Savard of the Boston Bruins was blindsided by check that left him motionless on the ice for minutes, before he was carted out of the rink on a stretcher. He suffered a concussion and is still not playing. While this was an obvious cheap shot, some other plays that have occurred in more recent weeks have been less serious, but the assailants were still harshly punished. This past week one of the game’s premier players, Alex Ovechkin, was suspended for two games for his hit on Chicago Blackhawk defenseman Brian Campbell. I witnessed replays the hit on Sports Center, and I wasn’t completely sold that it should have been classified as a cheap shot. While I believe there is no place for cheap shots in the game, I understand that sometimes these types of plays are hard to recognize.
While I understand it’s no small task to eliminate cheap shots, I feel like steps could be made towards minimizing them in the future. First of all, the NHL needs to specifically define a cheap shot in the rule book. This would eliminate much of the gray area surrounding these kinds of hits. The next step would be to clearly spell out the types of punishment administered for those kinds of plays. When asking what an acceptable punishment would be around the hockey community, I noticed a common trend; Suspensions and fines. In reality there isn’t much else to be, besides possibly banishment, but this isn’t baseball folks, and we’re not talking about Pete Rose here. The closest thing to it so far has been a one year suspension. It has been administered twice in NHL history. Firstly to Marty McSorely when it two-handed Donald Brashear across the back of the head years ago. The next was more recently when Todd Bertuzzi, then of the Vancouver Canucks, committed a similar offense against Brad May. May was severely injured, and due to that play, has no longer been able to sustain an NHL career. I believe harsher penalties, fines, and suspensions would deter such heinous acts, and help to preserve the game of hockey.
While I do not have all of the answers right now, I do have the hope that someone of higher power in the NHL can answer them, and soon. Something needs to be done to protect the integrity of the game, protect the players, and protect the diehard fan base that the sport possesses. It would be a shame for such disgusting acts to override such a beautiful sport.
The Violent Truth
By: Luke Trepanier
This past winter has been one of the most popular and exciting times for the fans, players, coaches, and followers of the sport of hockey. Things really started to get interesting when the 2010 Winter Olympics kicked off in Vancouver. The games were some of the most popular in years and obtained record breaking television ratings. The gold medal game which pitted the underdog Americans against the hometown Canadians, received the highest rating ever for a television program in Canada. While Olympic hockey showed an increase in popularity, ratings in the NHL boosted slightly too after the conclusion of the games. Things are starting to heat up in the playoff race, and some of the most pivotal games of the year are coming up. Lastly, and a little closer to home, was the State High Hockey Tournament held at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. The Friday night semi final session seated of 19,000 fans. To put that in comparison, the hometown NHL team, the Wild, consider a sellout to be 18, 568 fans. I was in attendance for a majority of the games in the AA class, and the tournament was one of the most memorable in years. The only knock I had was that Edina came out on top in the championship game against Minnetonka. But all said and done, the state hockey tournament was a remarkable experience.
While things seem to be looking up for the sport of hockey, there are some issues that are currently unresolved in the game. Most notably, violence. While I consider myself an avid hockey fan, and I played for fourteen years of my life, I too have noticed some troubling problems for the sport in recent months. Yes, the Olympics shined light on the sport and showcased virtually every superstar in the game, but there are some major differences between Olympic and professional hockey. One major difference is fighting.
In the NHL, fighting is a way of life. It’s and integral part of the game. Players have made their careers by fighting. The enforcer is one of hockey’s traditions, and quite frankly, a necessity. It’s entertaining for one. Many hockey fans would agree with that. But, more so, fighting is strategy. It can sway momentum one way or the other. It can be the turning point in the game. It can neutralize players from the game. When I say that, I do not mean to injure a player or take him out of the game. What I do mean, is that some teams will send players to “shadow” superstars, heckle them, chirp them, get in their face. Now, all of these tactics are legal. But if a team sends out their 6’7”, 260 lb. enforcer to entice him in to a fight, that will eliminate the problem right there and then. I asked a fellow hockey player, Eric Ritacco, his opinion on fighting, “it can change the momentum of a game and it has been a part of hockey since the game began”.
I agree with Eric on his stance on fighting, but one issue that I believe needs to be addressed by hockey executives is the presence of cheap shots. Cheap shots are somewhat of a gray area in the sport. What is a “cheap shot”, does it have to be blatant? How is it defined in the rule book? Unfortunately, there is no precise answer to any of these questions. But the one question I do want to address is how to stop them from happening, and eliminate this cheap aspect from the game altogether. The type of plays I’m talking about are intentional, dirty plays. More specifically, head shots, or hits that intended to injure other players. One blatant play like this occurred a few weeks back when Marc Savard of the Boston Bruins was blindsided by check that left him motionless on the ice for minutes, before he was carted out of the rink on a stretcher. He suffered a concussion and is still not playing. While this was an obvious cheap shot, some other plays that have occurred in more recent weeks have been less serious, but the assailants were still harshly punished. This past week one of the game’s premier players, Alex Ovechkin, was suspended for two games for his hit on Chicago Blackhawk defenseman Brian Campbell. I witnessed replays the hit on Sports Center, and I wasn’t completely sold that it should have been classified as a cheap shot. While I believe there is no place for cheap shots in the game, I understand that sometimes these types of plays are hard to recognize.
While I understand it’s no small task to eliminate cheap shots, I feel like steps could be made towards minimizing them in the future. First of all, the NHL needs to specifically define a cheap shot in the rule book. This would eliminate much of the gray area surrounding these kinds of hits. The next step would be to clearly spell out the types of punishment administered for those kinds of plays. When asking what an acceptable punishment would be around the hockey community, I noticed a common trend; Suspensions and fines. In reality there isn’t much else to be, besides possibly banishment, but this isn’t baseball folks, and we’re not talking about Pete Rose here. The closest thing to it so far has been a one year suspension. It has been administered twice in NHL history. Firstly to Marty McSorely when it two-handed Donald Brashear across the back of the head years ago. The next was more recently when Todd Bertuzzi, then of the Vancouver Canucks, committed a similar offense against Brad May. May was severely injured, and due to that play, has no longer been able to sustain an NHL career. I believe harsher penalties, fines, and suspensions would deter such heinous acts, and help to preserve the game of hockey.
While I do not have all of the answers right now, I do have the hope that someone of higher power in the NHL can answer them, and soon. Something needs to be done to protect the integrity of the game, protect the players, and protect the diehard fan base that the sport possesses. It would be a shame for such disgusting acts to override such a beautiful sport.
Editorial Topic
1. What is a problem/issue that our entire student body (our school, community, country, etc.) faces today?
School parking
2. What is your view/position on the problem or situation?
kids should not have to pay to park at their own school
3. What would you like to achieve with your editorial? (What is the desired result?)
to shed light on the fact that it is ridiculous
4. How will you persuade your audience to adopt your viewpoint as theirs? List at least 4 persuasive points.
-it's a rip off
-it's necessary to park in the main lot, specifically for athletes,handicapped students
-if no one paid to park in the main lot, the teen center could not provide enough parking for the whole student body
-faculty neglects the problems because they can park for free
5. How will you motivate your readership to action in your conclusion?
emphasize that something must be done
6. How will your editorial serve a public purpose?
motivate students to take a stand against the situation
School parking
2. What is your view/position on the problem or situation?
kids should not have to pay to park at their own school
3. What would you like to achieve with your editorial? (What is the desired result?)
to shed light on the fact that it is ridiculous
4. How will you persuade your audience to adopt your viewpoint as theirs? List at least 4 persuasive points.
-it's a rip off
-it's necessary to park in the main lot, specifically for athletes,handicapped students
-if no one paid to park in the main lot, the teen center could not provide enough parking for the whole student body
-faculty neglects the problems because they can park for free
5. How will you motivate your readership to action in your conclusion?
emphasize that something must be done
6. How will your editorial serve a public purpose?
motivate students to take a stand against the situation
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
NHL Violence Interview Questions?
1) Do you believe that fighting belongs in the NHL? Why or why not?
2) Why do you think that fighting is still a part of the game today?
3) Why do you belive that hockey games in the Olympics averaged much higher televison ratings than typical NHL games?
3) What type of hockey do you prefer watching, the NHL, or the Olympics?
4) Why do you prefer this type?
5) How did you react to some of the "head shots" that have have injured players in recent weeks?
6) What do you think the punishment should be for a player who injures another player on a headshot?
7) What, if any, rule changes should be made to help prevent these type of injuries?
2) Why do you think that fighting is still a part of the game today?
3) Why do you belive that hockey games in the Olympics averaged much higher televison ratings than typical NHL games?
3) What type of hockey do you prefer watching, the NHL, or the Olympics?
4) Why do you prefer this type?
5) How did you react to some of the "head shots" that have have injured players in recent weeks?
6) What do you think the punishment should be for a player who injures another player on a headshot?
7) What, if any, rule changes should be made to help prevent these type of injuries?
Friday, March 5, 2010
Lightning Boys Basketball Team Prepares for Section Playoffs
As the winter months begin to come to a close, and the temperature begins to heat up, so does the competition in high school boys basketball. The section playoffs begin on Wednesday March 10th, so this is crunch time for the players at Eastview High School. One of the team captains, Vinard Birch, weighed in on what the team needs to focus on before the playoffs begin, “We need to work on our defense and get better with our plays”. Coach Mark Gerber also emphasized defense, and said that it will be something to work on in practice.
The Lightning hopes to capture a high seed, so they can play their first game in front of a home crowd. The team enters tonight’s final regular season game with a 14-11 record. However, Coach Gerber explained that, “[One] cannot compare simply by record. This team has had to battle through a lot of adversity, changing lineups, etc. They have talent, but more importantly, they have strong leadership, unselfishness, coachability, and great character”. The team believes that their depth will allow them to make a run at the state tournament.
The Lightning get production out of many different players on the team, and don’t have to rely solely on one superstar, like some other teams in the state. The team also has a great mix between rookies and experienced veterans. They are not top heavy with seniors (only five on the roster this year) so they will be a very competitive for years to come. While that may be true, the Lightning want to focus on this season, and having a strong finish to the season. When asking senior captain Vinard Birch, What is one reason why your team will make it to the state tournament? He responded, “because we're very talented and play together. Also, we have a lot of depth in our bench”.
Although the team has a few blemishes on their record, but they also have some big wins this season. One of the most impressive victories was a 56-51 win versus Eden Prairie, which was ranked as the number one team in the state at that time. Although Eden Prairie is a conference opponent, they are not in the same section as the Lightning, so they’re won’t be another match up until possibly the state tournament. But besides just EP, there are a few other stiff competitors around the league.
Two of the top challengers in the section are the Eagles from Apple Valley, and the Lakeville South Cougars. Apple Valley is ranked number nine in the state and Lakeville South is ranked ten, according to MaxPreps.com. Valley is lead by senior Tom Schalk, who is one of the leading scorers in the metro. But the Eagles also have an impressive youngster on their roster, 8th grader Tyus Jones. It has been rumored that University of Minnesota head coach Tubby Smith has already begun to scout Jones, and has attended numerous practices and games of Apple Valley’s. Lakeville South on the other hand, is lead by junior Alex Richter. Richter leads the Cougars in scoring average with 23.5 points per game. Either team would provide a challenging test for the Lightning, but a section championship game against Apple Valley would provide much intrigue, seeing as the Eagles ended Eastview’s state tournament hopes in the section semi-final last year. Either way, hopes are high for the Lightning. The belief is that whoever they play, they will come out on top.
The Lightning hopes to capture a high seed, so they can play their first game in front of a home crowd. The team enters tonight’s final regular season game with a 14-11 record. However, Coach Gerber explained that, “[One] cannot compare simply by record. This team has had to battle through a lot of adversity, changing lineups, etc. They have talent, but more importantly, they have strong leadership, unselfishness, coachability, and great character”. The team believes that their depth will allow them to make a run at the state tournament.
The Lightning get production out of many different players on the team, and don’t have to rely solely on one superstar, like some other teams in the state. The team also has a great mix between rookies and experienced veterans. They are not top heavy with seniors (only five on the roster this year) so they will be a very competitive for years to come. While that may be true, the Lightning want to focus on this season, and having a strong finish to the season. When asking senior captain Vinard Birch, What is one reason why your team will make it to the state tournament? He responded, “because we're very talented and play together. Also, we have a lot of depth in our bench”.
Although the team has a few blemishes on their record, but they also have some big wins this season. One of the most impressive victories was a 56-51 win versus Eden Prairie, which was ranked as the number one team in the state at that time. Although Eden Prairie is a conference opponent, they are not in the same section as the Lightning, so they’re won’t be another match up until possibly the state tournament. But besides just EP, there are a few other stiff competitors around the league.
Two of the top challengers in the section are the Eagles from Apple Valley, and the Lakeville South Cougars. Apple Valley is ranked number nine in the state and Lakeville South is ranked ten, according to MaxPreps.com. Valley is lead by senior Tom Schalk, who is one of the leading scorers in the metro. But the Eagles also have an impressive youngster on their roster, 8th grader Tyus Jones. It has been rumored that University of Minnesota head coach Tubby Smith has already begun to scout Jones, and has attended numerous practices and games of Apple Valley’s. Lakeville South on the other hand, is lead by junior Alex Richter. Richter leads the Cougars in scoring average with 23.5 points per game. Either team would provide a challenging test for the Lightning, but a section championship game against Apple Valley would provide much intrigue, seeing as the Eagles ended Eastview’s state tournament hopes in the section semi-final last year. Either way, hopes are high for the Lightning. The belief is that whoever they play, they will come out on top.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Interview Questions
Interview #1 (Coach Gerber)
1) Q: How many years have you been coaching Lightning basketball?
A: 9 yrs. as head coach, 2 yrs. as assistant.
2) Q: Which teams will put up the toughest test in your section?
A: Apple Valley, Lakeville South
3) Q: How would you rate this year's team compared to past seasons?
A: Cannot compare simply by record. This team has had to battle through a lot of adversity, changing lineups, etc. They have talent, but more importantly, they have strong leadership, unselfishness, coachability, and great character.
4) Q: What will your team work on in the practices leading up to sections?
A: Defense, opponents' top players/plays, and execution.
5) Q: What will be your team's key to success in the playoffs?
A: Free throws, rebounding and turnovers. Whoever wins in those three categories will win the games.
Interview #2 (Captain Karl Otto)
1) Q: When and why did you start playing basketball?
A:I got a Little Tikes hoop when I was three and have loved it since!
2) Q: What is the team's record so far?
A: 14-11
3) Q: As a captain, how do you help prepare your team for the section playoffs?
A: Keep working harder in practice and make sure every one's having fun!
4) Q: What is one of your team's greatest strengths?
A: Our depth and flexibility. Nobody can matchup with us! And our lockeroom bonding.
5) Q: What has been the most memorable part of the season thus far?
A: Our win over EP who was 1st in state.
Interview #3 (Captain Vinard Birch)
1) Q: When and why did you start playing basketball?
A:I started playing when I was little, like 5, because I couldn't afford to play hockey because it was too pricey.
2) Q: As one of the most experienced players on the team, how do you get your team focused for the playoffs?
A: We just work hard, and listen to "No Ceilings" (Lil' Wayne mix tape).
3) Q: What is one reason why your team will make it to the state tournament?
A: Because we're very talented and plat together. Also, we have a lot of depth in our bench.
4) Q: What is the main thing that you need to work on in practice to prepare for playoffs?
A: We need to work on our defense and get better with our plays.
5) Q: What has been the most memorable part of the season thus far?
A: Beating the number one team at the time (Eden Prairie).
1) Q: How many years have you been coaching Lightning basketball?
A: 9 yrs. as head coach, 2 yrs. as assistant.
2) Q: Which teams will put up the toughest test in your section?
A: Apple Valley, Lakeville South
3) Q: How would you rate this year's team compared to past seasons?
A: Cannot compare simply by record. This team has had to battle through a lot of adversity, changing lineups, etc. They have talent, but more importantly, they have strong leadership, unselfishness, coachability, and great character.
4) Q: What will your team work on in the practices leading up to sections?
A: Defense, opponents' top players/plays, and execution.
5) Q: What will be your team's key to success in the playoffs?
A: Free throws, rebounding and turnovers. Whoever wins in those three categories will win the games.
Interview #2 (Captain Karl Otto)
1) Q: When and why did you start playing basketball?
A:I got a Little Tikes hoop when I was three and have loved it since!
2) Q: What is the team's record so far?
A: 14-11
3) Q: As a captain, how do you help prepare your team for the section playoffs?
A: Keep working harder in practice and make sure every one's having fun!
4) Q: What is one of your team's greatest strengths?
A: Our depth and flexibility. Nobody can matchup with us! And our lockeroom bonding.
5) Q: What has been the most memorable part of the season thus far?
A: Our win over EP who was 1st in state.
Interview #3 (Captain Vinard Birch)
1) Q: When and why did you start playing basketball?
A:I started playing when I was little, like 5, because I couldn't afford to play hockey because it was too pricey.
2) Q: As one of the most experienced players on the team, how do you get your team focused for the playoffs?
A: We just work hard, and listen to "No Ceilings" (Lil' Wayne mix tape).
3) Q: What is one reason why your team will make it to the state tournament?
A: Because we're very talented and plat together. Also, we have a lot of depth in our bench.
4) Q: What is the main thing that you need to work on in practice to prepare for playoffs?
A: We need to work on our defense and get better with our plays.
5) Q: What has been the most memorable part of the season thus far?
A: Beating the number one team at the time (Eden Prairie).
Topic and Angle
Topic: Boys Basketball Team Prepares for Section Playoffs
Angle: How does the team prepare for a run at state?
Angle: How does the team prepare for a run at state?
Friday, February 26, 2010
Writing a News Story Notes
Writing a News Story
1. What can I write about? What is news?
On the surface, defining news is a simple task. News is an account of what is happening around us. It may involve current events, new initiatives or ongoing projects or issues. But a newspaper does not only print news of the day. It also prints background analysis, opinions, and human interest stories.
Choosing what's news can be harder.
The reporter chooses stories from the flood of information and events happening in the world and in their community. Stories are normally selected because of their importance, emotion, impact, timeliness and interest. Note: all these factors do NOT have to coincide in each and every story!
2. Identify what kind of a story it is
Hard news (+/- 600 words): This is how journalists refer to news of the day. It is a chronicle of current events/incidents and is the most common news style on the front page of your typical newspaper.
It starts with a summary lead. What happened? Where? When? To/by whom? Why? (The journalist's 5 W's). It must be kept brief and simple, because the purpose of the rest of the story will be to elaborate on this lead.
Keep the writing clean and uncluttered. Most important, give the readers the information they need. If the federal government announced a new major youth initiative yesterday, that's today's hard news.
Soft news (+/-600 words): This is a term for all the news that isn't time-sensitive. Soft news includes profiles of people, programs or organizations. As we discussed earlier, the "lead" is more literary. Most of YPP's news content is soft news.
Feature (+/-1500 words): A news feature takes one step back from the headlines. It explores an issue. News features are less time-sensitive than hard news but no less newsworthy. They can be an effective way to write about complex issues too large for the terse style of a hard news item. Street kids are a perfect example. The stories of their individual lives are full of complexities which can be reflected in a longer piece.
Features are journalism's shopping center. They're full of interesting people, ideas, color, lights, action and energy. Storytelling at its height! A good feature is about the people in your community and their struggles, victories and defeats. A feature takes a certain angle (i.e. Black youth returning to church) and explores it by interviewing the people involved and drawing conclusions from that information. The writer takes an important issue of the day and explains it to the reader through comments from people involved in the story.
Hint: Remember to "balance" your story. Present the opinions of people on both sides of an issue and let the readers make their own decision on who to believe. No personal opinions are allowed. The quotes from the people you interview make up the story. You are the narrator.
Editorial: The editorial expresses an opinion. The editorial page of the newspaper lets the writer comment on issues in the news. All editorials are personal but the topics must still be relevant to the reader.
3. Structure for your article
The structure of a news story (hard & soft news & features) is simple: a lead and the body.
The lead
One of the most important elements of news writing is the opening paragraph or two of the story. Journalists refer to this as the "lead," and its function is to summarize the story and/or to draw the reader in (depending on whether it is a "hard" or "soft" news story - See below for the difference between these two genres of news stories).
In a hard news story, the lead should be a full summary of what is to follow. It should incorporate as many of the 5 "W's" of journalism (who, what, where, when and why) as possible. (e.g. "Homeless youth marched down Yonge St. in downtown Toronto Wednesday afternoon demanding the municipal government provide emergency shelter during the winter months." - Can you identify the 5 W's in this lead?)
In a soft news story, the lead should present the subject of the story by allusion. This type of opening is somewhat literary. Like a novelist, the role of the writer is to grab the attention of the reader. (e.g. "Until four years ago, Jason W. slept in alleyways...") Once the reader is drawn in, the 5 "W's" should be incorporated into the body of the story, but not necessarily at the very top.
The body
The body of the story involves combining the opinions of the people you interview, some factual data, and a narrative which helps the story flow. A word of caution, however. In this style of writing, you are not allowed to "editorialize" (state your own opinion) in any way.
Remember:
The role of a reporter is to find out what people are thinking of an issue and to report the opinions of different stakeholders of an issue. These comments make up the bulk of the story. The narrative helps to weave the comments into a coherent whole. Hint: Stick to one particular theme throughout the story. You can put in different details but they all have to relate to the original idea of the piece. (e.g. If your story is about black youth and their relationship with the police you DO NOT want to go into details about the life of any one particular youth).
As a reporter, you are the eyes and ears for the readers. You should try to provide some visual details to bring the story to life (this is difficult if you have conducted only phone interviews, which is why face-to-face is best). You should also try to get a feel for the story. Having a feel means getting some understanding of the emotional background of the piece and the people involved in it. Try to get a sense of the characters involved and why they feel the way they do.
Okay, got it? Let's look at two examples as a way of summarizing the essentials:
Youth are banding together to start an organization. You want to show why are they doing that and the changes are they trying to make in the world. You want to say who they are and the strategies they are using.
An artist is having her first show. Why? What is it that she believes about her art? Is her artistic process rational or from the soul? What does the work look like?
4. Further tips for news writing
Finding story ideas
Keep your eyes and ears open; listen to what your friends are talking about.
Read everything you can get your hands on; get story ideas from other newspapers and magazines.
Think of a youth angle to a current news story.
Research a subject that interests you ask yourself what you would like to know more about.
Talk to people in a specific field to find out what is important to them.
Newsgathering
Begin collecting articles on your subject.
Talk to friends and associates about the subject.
Contact any agencies or associations with interest or professional knowledge in the area.
Create a list of people you want to interview; cover both sides of the story by interviewing people on both sides of the issue.
Collect government statistics and reports on the subject get old press releases or reports to use as background.
Interviewing do's and don'ts
Be polite.
Explain the ground rules of the interview to people unfamiliar with how the media works - this means that you tell them the information they give you can and will be published. If they do not want any part of what they say published, they need to tell you it is "off the record."
Tape the interview (so if anyone comes back at you, you have the proof of what was said).
Build a relationship with the person being interviewed.
Start with easy questions; end with difficult questions.
Read the body language of the person you're interviewing and if they get defensive, back away from the question you are asking and return later.
Don't attack the source.
Keep control of the interview; don't let the subject ramble or stray from the subject.
On the other hand, don't let your "opinion" of what the story should be colour the interview. Always remember that the person you are talking with knows more about the subject than you do.
Organizing the information
Gather your notes, interviews and research into a file.
Review your notes.
Look for a common theme.
Search your notes for good quotes or interesting facts.
Develop a focus.
Write the focus of the article down in two or three sentences.
Writing and editing
Remember you are the narrator, the story teller.
Don't be afraid to rewrite.
Be as clear and concise in the writing as possible.
Avoid run-on sentences.
Be direct.
Tell a good story.
Tell the reader what you think they want to know.
Always ask yourself what the story is about.
Read the story out loud; listen carefully.
Tips For Kreb's Class
1. Find a topic
2. Find an angle
3. Collect Data
4. Conduct Interviews
5. Organize and Write
6. Revise and Edit
1. What can I write about? What is news?
On the surface, defining news is a simple task. News is an account of what is happening around us. It may involve current events, new initiatives or ongoing projects or issues. But a newspaper does not only print news of the day. It also prints background analysis, opinions, and human interest stories.
Choosing what's news can be harder.
The reporter chooses stories from the flood of information and events happening in the world and in their community. Stories are normally selected because of their importance, emotion, impact, timeliness and interest. Note: all these factors do NOT have to coincide in each and every story!
2. Identify what kind of a story it is
Hard news (+/- 600 words): This is how journalists refer to news of the day. It is a chronicle of current events/incidents and is the most common news style on the front page of your typical newspaper.
It starts with a summary lead. What happened? Where? When? To/by whom? Why? (The journalist's 5 W's). It must be kept brief and simple, because the purpose of the rest of the story will be to elaborate on this lead.
Keep the writing clean and uncluttered. Most important, give the readers the information they need. If the federal government announced a new major youth initiative yesterday, that's today's hard news.
Soft news (+/-600 words): This is a term for all the news that isn't time-sensitive. Soft news includes profiles of people, programs or organizations. As we discussed earlier, the "lead" is more literary. Most of YPP's news content is soft news.
Feature (+/-1500 words): A news feature takes one step back from the headlines. It explores an issue. News features are less time-sensitive than hard news but no less newsworthy. They can be an effective way to write about complex issues too large for the terse style of a hard news item. Street kids are a perfect example. The stories of their individual lives are full of complexities which can be reflected in a longer piece.
Features are journalism's shopping center. They're full of interesting people, ideas, color, lights, action and energy. Storytelling at its height! A good feature is about the people in your community and their struggles, victories and defeats. A feature takes a certain angle (i.e. Black youth returning to church) and explores it by interviewing the people involved and drawing conclusions from that information. The writer takes an important issue of the day and explains it to the reader through comments from people involved in the story.
Hint: Remember to "balance" your story. Present the opinions of people on both sides of an issue and let the readers make their own decision on who to believe. No personal opinions are allowed. The quotes from the people you interview make up the story. You are the narrator.
Editorial: The editorial expresses an opinion. The editorial page of the newspaper lets the writer comment on issues in the news. All editorials are personal but the topics must still be relevant to the reader.
3. Structure for your article
The structure of a news story (hard & soft news & features) is simple: a lead and the body.
The lead
One of the most important elements of news writing is the opening paragraph or two of the story. Journalists refer to this as the "lead," and its function is to summarize the story and/or to draw the reader in (depending on whether it is a "hard" or "soft" news story - See below for the difference between these two genres of news stories).
In a hard news story, the lead should be a full summary of what is to follow. It should incorporate as many of the 5 "W's" of journalism (who, what, where, when and why) as possible. (e.g. "Homeless youth marched down Yonge St. in downtown Toronto Wednesday afternoon demanding the municipal government provide emergency shelter during the winter months." - Can you identify the 5 W's in this lead?)
In a soft news story, the lead should present the subject of the story by allusion. This type of opening is somewhat literary. Like a novelist, the role of the writer is to grab the attention of the reader. (e.g. "Until four years ago, Jason W. slept in alleyways...") Once the reader is drawn in, the 5 "W's" should be incorporated into the body of the story, but not necessarily at the very top.
The body
The body of the story involves combining the opinions of the people you interview, some factual data, and a narrative which helps the story flow. A word of caution, however. In this style of writing, you are not allowed to "editorialize" (state your own opinion) in any way.
Remember:
The role of a reporter is to find out what people are thinking of an issue and to report the opinions of different stakeholders of an issue. These comments make up the bulk of the story. The narrative helps to weave the comments into a coherent whole. Hint: Stick to one particular theme throughout the story. You can put in different details but they all have to relate to the original idea of the piece. (e.g. If your story is about black youth and their relationship with the police you DO NOT want to go into details about the life of any one particular youth).
As a reporter, you are the eyes and ears for the readers. You should try to provide some visual details to bring the story to life (this is difficult if you have conducted only phone interviews, which is why face-to-face is best). You should also try to get a feel for the story. Having a feel means getting some understanding of the emotional background of the piece and the people involved in it. Try to get a sense of the characters involved and why they feel the way they do.
Okay, got it? Let's look at two examples as a way of summarizing the essentials:
Youth are banding together to start an organization. You want to show why are they doing that and the changes are they trying to make in the world. You want to say who they are and the strategies they are using.
An artist is having her first show. Why? What is it that she believes about her art? Is her artistic process rational or from the soul? What does the work look like?
4. Further tips for news writing
Finding story ideas
Keep your eyes and ears open; listen to what your friends are talking about.
Read everything you can get your hands on; get story ideas from other newspapers and magazines.
Think of a youth angle to a current news story.
Research a subject that interests you ask yourself what you would like to know more about.
Talk to people in a specific field to find out what is important to them.
Newsgathering
Begin collecting articles on your subject.
Talk to friends and associates about the subject.
Contact any agencies or associations with interest or professional knowledge in the area.
Create a list of people you want to interview; cover both sides of the story by interviewing people on both sides of the issue.
Collect government statistics and reports on the subject get old press releases or reports to use as background.
Interviewing do's and don'ts
Be polite.
Explain the ground rules of the interview to people unfamiliar with how the media works - this means that you tell them the information they give you can and will be published. If they do not want any part of what they say published, they need to tell you it is "off the record."
Tape the interview (so if anyone comes back at you, you have the proof of what was said).
Build a relationship with the person being interviewed.
Start with easy questions; end with difficult questions.
Read the body language of the person you're interviewing and if they get defensive, back away from the question you are asking and return later.
Don't attack the source.
Keep control of the interview; don't let the subject ramble or stray from the subject.
On the other hand, don't let your "opinion" of what the story should be colour the interview. Always remember that the person you are talking with knows more about the subject than you do.
Organizing the information
Gather your notes, interviews and research into a file.
Review your notes.
Look for a common theme.
Search your notes for good quotes or interesting facts.
Develop a focus.
Write the focus of the article down in two or three sentences.
Writing and editing
Remember you are the narrator, the story teller.
Don't be afraid to rewrite.
Be as clear and concise in the writing as possible.
Avoid run-on sentences.
Be direct.
Tell a good story.
Tell the reader what you think they want to know.
Always ask yourself what the story is about.
Read the story out loud; listen carefully.
Tips For Kreb's Class
1. Find a topic
2. Find an angle
3. Collect Data
4. Conduct Interviews
5. Organize and Write
6. Revise and Edit
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Law and Ethics Notes
5 Freedoms of the first amendment:
religion, speech, press, assembly, petition to government.
The Tinker Standard:
-Tinker vs. Des Moines School District (1969)
-Black armbands in 1965
-Student speech cannot be censored as long as it does not "materially disrupt class work or involve substantial disorder or invasion of the right of others."
The Fraser Standard:
-Bethel School District vs. Fraser (1986)-Inappropriate speech for class president
-Because school officials have an "interest in teaching students the boundaries of socially appropriate behavior," They can censor student speech that is vulgar or indecent, even if it does not cause a "material or substantial disruption."
The Hazelwood Standard
-Hazelwood School District vs. Kuhlmeier (1988)
-Censor stories in student newspaper about teen pregnancy and divorce
-Censorship of school-sponsored student expression is permissible when school officials can show that it is "reasonably related to legitimate pedagogical concerns."
The Frederick Standard?
-Morse vs. Frederick (June 25,2007)-January 2002, Olympic torch travels through town.
-Principle Morse cancels school.
-Senior Frederick unveils banner on the sidewalk across street which reads, "Bong Hits 4 Jesus."
-Suspended for 10 days.
religion, speech, press, assembly, petition to government.
The Tinker Standard:
-Tinker vs. Des Moines School District (1969)
-Black armbands in 1965
-Student speech cannot be censored as long as it does not "materially disrupt class work or involve substantial disorder or invasion of the right of others."
The Fraser Standard:
-Bethel School District vs. Fraser (1986)-Inappropriate speech for class president
-Because school officials have an "interest in teaching students the boundaries of socially appropriate behavior," They can censor student speech that is vulgar or indecent, even if it does not cause a "material or substantial disruption."
The Hazelwood Standard
-Hazelwood School District vs. Kuhlmeier (1988)
-Censor stories in student newspaper about teen pregnancy and divorce
-Censorship of school-sponsored student expression is permissible when school officials can show that it is "reasonably related to legitimate pedagogical concerns."
The Frederick Standard?
-Morse vs. Frederick (June 25,2007)-January 2002, Olympic torch travels through town.
-Principle Morse cancels school.
-Senior Frederick unveils banner on the sidewalk across street which reads, "Bong Hits 4 Jesus."
-Suspended for 10 days.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Super Bowl commericals
We will watch Super Bowl commercials today in class.
http://www.superbowl-commercials.org/
1)What is the company? PlayStation
Who is the target audience: 18-30, male
What persuasive method used (humor, action, celebrity, human interest, etc.)? Humor
How were camera shots and editing used to enhance the message? Showed clips of the game, quick shots.
What is the slogan/message for the company? "Live in your world, play in ours."
Was the message effective? Why or why not? No, I prefer Madden, and I have an xbox anyways.
2)What is the company? Budweiser
Who is the target audience: 21+, mostly male, football fans
What persuasive method used (humor, action, celebrity, human interest, etc.)? Humor
How were camera shots and editing used to enhance the message? Replay of the game, setting in the mountains.
What is the slogan/message for the company? None, just showed logo.
Was the message effective? Why or why not? Yes, but I'm not in the target audience.
3)What is the company? Chrysler
Who is the target audience: Women
What persuasive method used (humor, action, celebrity, human interest, etc.)? Action, celebrity
How were camera shots and editing used to enhance the message? Different angles of the car, close-ups
What is the slogan/message for the company? Drive & Love
Was the message effective? Why or why not? No, Celine Dion is garbage
4)What is the company? Pepsi
Who is the target audience: 21-35
What persuasive method used (humor, action, celebrity, human interest, etc.)? Celebrity, humor
How were camera shots and editing used to enhance the message? Special effects, music
What is the slogan/message for the company? "It's a twist on a great thing."
Was the message effective? Why or why not? No, not funny and Pepsi twist is gross
5)What is the company? FedEx
Who is the target audience: 21-40, people
What persuasive method used (humor, action, celebrity, human interest, etc.)? Humor
How were camera shots and editing used to enhance the message? Close-up,
What is the slogan/message for the company? none
Was the message effective? Why or why not? Yes, it was funny, it was a good take on the movie
6)What is the company? Dodge
Who is the target audience: male, 21+
What persuasive method used (humor, action, celebrity, human interest, etc.)? Humor, action
How were camera shots and editing used to enhance the message? close-ups on actors, car
What is the slogan/message for the company? "Grab life by the horns."
Was the message effective? Why or why not? No, I didn't think it was very funny
7)What is the company? Gatorade
Who is the target audience: male athletes, sports fans
What persuasive method used (humor, action, celebrity, human interest, etc.)? celebrity (MJ), action
How were camera shots and editing used to enhance the message? amazing shots, sweat on face, shows product
What is the slogan/message for the company? "Is it in you?"
Was the message effective? Why or why not? Yes, I like gatorade and their commercials
8)What is the company? ESPN
Who is the target audience: male sports fans
What persuasive method used (humor, action, celebrity, human interest, etc.)? celebrity, humor
How were camera shots and editing used to enhance the message? quick shots
What is the slogan/message for the company? "This is SportsCenter."
Was the message effective? Why or why not? yes, I enjoy the show
9)What is the company? H&R Block
Who is the target audience: 18-55, male, employed
What persuasive method used (humor, action, celebrity, human interest, etc.)? celebrity, humor
How were camera shots and editing used to enhance the message? showed filming of a fake commercial
What is the slogan/message for the company? "Double check."
Was the message effective? Why or why not? No, It doesn't apply to me
10)What is the company? Bud Light
Who is the target audience: 21+ alcohol drinkers
What persuasive method used (humor, action, celebrity, human interest, etc.)? humor
How were camera shots and editing used to enhance the message? set up the scene, showed the product
What is the slogan/message for the company? "Make it a Bud Light."
Was the message effective? Why or why not? No, not very funny.
11). What is the company? Visa
Who is the target audience: 18-55, more male
What persuasive method used (humor, action, celebrity, human interest, etc.)? humor, celebrity
How were camera shots and editing used to enhance the message? show the angle from Yao's view
What is the slogan/message for the company? "It's everywhere you want to be."
Was the message effective? Why or why not? No, not very funny.
http://www.superbowl-commercials.org/
1)What is the company? PlayStation
Who is the target audience: 18-30, male
What persuasive method used (humor, action, celebrity, human interest, etc.)? Humor
How were camera shots and editing used to enhance the message? Showed clips of the game, quick shots.
What is the slogan/message for the company? "Live in your world, play in ours."
Was the message effective? Why or why not? No, I prefer Madden, and I have an xbox anyways.
2)What is the company? Budweiser
Who is the target audience: 21+, mostly male, football fans
What persuasive method used (humor, action, celebrity, human interest, etc.)? Humor
How were camera shots and editing used to enhance the message? Replay of the game, setting in the mountains.
What is the slogan/message for the company? None, just showed logo.
Was the message effective? Why or why not? Yes, but I'm not in the target audience.
3)What is the company? Chrysler
Who is the target audience: Women
What persuasive method used (humor, action, celebrity, human interest, etc.)? Action, celebrity
How were camera shots and editing used to enhance the message? Different angles of the car, close-ups
What is the slogan/message for the company? Drive & Love
Was the message effective? Why or why not? No, Celine Dion is garbage
4)What is the company? Pepsi
Who is the target audience: 21-35
What persuasive method used (humor, action, celebrity, human interest, etc.)? Celebrity, humor
How were camera shots and editing used to enhance the message? Special effects, music
What is the slogan/message for the company? "It's a twist on a great thing."
Was the message effective? Why or why not? No, not funny and Pepsi twist is gross
5)What is the company? FedEx
Who is the target audience: 21-40, people
What persuasive method used (humor, action, celebrity, human interest, etc.)? Humor
How were camera shots and editing used to enhance the message? Close-up,
What is the slogan/message for the company? none
Was the message effective? Why or why not? Yes, it was funny, it was a good take on the movie
6)What is the company? Dodge
Who is the target audience: male, 21+
What persuasive method used (humor, action, celebrity, human interest, etc.)? Humor, action
How were camera shots and editing used to enhance the message? close-ups on actors, car
What is the slogan/message for the company? "Grab life by the horns."
Was the message effective? Why or why not? No, I didn't think it was very funny
7)What is the company? Gatorade
Who is the target audience: male athletes, sports fans
What persuasive method used (humor, action, celebrity, human interest, etc.)? celebrity (MJ), action
How were camera shots and editing used to enhance the message? amazing shots, sweat on face, shows product
What is the slogan/message for the company? "Is it in you?"
Was the message effective? Why or why not? Yes, I like gatorade and their commercials
8)What is the company? ESPN
Who is the target audience: male sports fans
What persuasive method used (humor, action, celebrity, human interest, etc.)? celebrity, humor
How were camera shots and editing used to enhance the message? quick shots
What is the slogan/message for the company? "This is SportsCenter."
Was the message effective? Why or why not? yes, I enjoy the show
9)What is the company? H&R Block
Who is the target audience: 18-55, male, employed
What persuasive method used (humor, action, celebrity, human interest, etc.)? celebrity, humor
How were camera shots and editing used to enhance the message? showed filming of a fake commercial
What is the slogan/message for the company? "Double check."
Was the message effective? Why or why not? No, It doesn't apply to me
10)What is the company? Bud Light
Who is the target audience: 21+ alcohol drinkers
What persuasive method used (humor, action, celebrity, human interest, etc.)? humor
How were camera shots and editing used to enhance the message? set up the scene, showed the product
What is the slogan/message for the company? "Make it a Bud Light."
Was the message effective? Why or why not? No, not very funny.
11). What is the company? Visa
Who is the target audience: 18-55, more male
What persuasive method used (humor, action, celebrity, human interest, etc.)? humor, celebrity
How were camera shots and editing used to enhance the message? show the angle from Yao's view
What is the slogan/message for the company? "It's everywhere you want to be."
Was the message effective? Why or why not? No, not very funny.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
For reading time today: http://www.cnn.com
Definition:
Define “Journalism” in 1-3 sentences.
List and describe the six criteria of newsworthiness.
TITLE DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE
1. Significance:Important to many people. (ex. Haiti, impacted thousands of people)
2. Timeliness: Care about things that are current. (ex. weather, traffic in morning)
3. Unusualness: Out of the ordinary. (ex. natural disasters, murders, crime)
4. Proximity: Close to your area. (ex. local sports teams, news about your city)
5. Prominence: Important people. (ex. celebrities, athletes, politicians)
6. Human Interest: Appeals to emotions (ex. heartwarming, baby kitten born, charity)
What are the advantages of print journalism?
1. You can read it whenever you want. You don't have to wait to hear about it.
2. It's portable, you can bring it wherever.
3. It's more descriptive than watching a news story.
What are the advantages of broadcast journalism?
1. Get the element of audio and visual.
2. More current. Ability to be live.
3. Accessibility, can be watched or looked at any time.
Why has online journalism (convergent media) become so popular?
There is unlimited content on the interent. Also, more features are available, such as videos and sound clips. It can also be accessed any time, as opposed to a newspaper, where you have to wait to have it delivered to your house.
Definition:
Define “Journalism” in 1-3 sentences.
List and describe the six criteria of newsworthiness.
TITLE DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE
1. Significance:Important to many people. (ex. Haiti, impacted thousands of people)
2. Timeliness: Care about things that are current. (ex. weather, traffic in morning)
3. Unusualness: Out of the ordinary. (ex. natural disasters, murders, crime)
4. Proximity: Close to your area. (ex. local sports teams, news about your city)
5. Prominence: Important people. (ex. celebrities, athletes, politicians)
6. Human Interest: Appeals to emotions (ex. heartwarming, baby kitten born, charity)
What are the advantages of print journalism?
1. You can read it whenever you want. You don't have to wait to hear about it.
2. It's portable, you can bring it wherever.
3. It's more descriptive than watching a news story.
What are the advantages of broadcast journalism?
1. Get the element of audio and visual.
2. More current. Ability to be live.
3. Accessibility, can be watched or looked at any time.
Why has online journalism (convergent media) become so popular?
There is unlimited content on the interent. Also, more features are available, such as videos and sound clips. It can also be accessed any time, as opposed to a newspaper, where you have to wait to have it delivered to your house.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
CoD
So I have been playing CoD for a couple months now, but can't seem to get the nuke. I use the m16 with a red dot sight and heartbeat sensor. For my perks I use bling pro, stopping power pro, and ninja pro. What guns do you guys use? Perks? Killstreak Rewards?
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