Final Drafts are due on Tuesday with all notes and earlier drafts...
Make sure to get these in on time as we are moving into sports after we debrief the 2nd issue which will be coming out on Tuesday.
We will be planning on getting out a 3rd issue on 3/20 (end of the second trimester)
Which means it will need to go to print by Monday, 3/16
Friday, January 30, 2009
Reorganization
We will be reorganizing the paper on Tuesday... including editor positions
Thank you to those of you who showed up yesterday for the training. I thought it was very helpful...
Thank you for helping correct the pages of the paper.
Thank you to those of you who showed up yesterday for the training. I thought it was very helpful...
Thank you for helping correct the pages of the paper.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
The Allstate Foundation’s Driving Force in Journalism Contest
Deadline Quickly Approaching:
The Allstate Foundation’s Driving Force in Journalism Contest
Did you know car crashes are the No. 1 killer of teens – more than suicide, drugs, and violence combined? But, most crashes are both predictable AND preventable.
The Allstate Foundation is holding a high school newspaper challenge where students can win up to $3,500 in cash. To help high school journalists use their skills to make a difference and create awareness about the No. 1 killer of teens, we hope you can encourage your students to publish an article in their school paper about smart driving.
To help aspiring writers get started, The Allstate Foundation has provided story topic ideas, tips on smart driving, startling facts, and other resources at www.keepthedrive.com/journalist.
But be sure to act fast! The deadline for all submissions is March 6, 2009.
For more information about the Driving Force in Journalism Award and cash prizes, visit: http://www.keepthedrive.com/journalist/.
The Allstate Foundation’s Driving Force in Journalism Contest
Did you know car crashes are the No. 1 killer of teens – more than suicide, drugs, and violence combined? But, most crashes are both predictable AND preventable.
The Allstate Foundation is holding a high school newspaper challenge where students can win up to $3,500 in cash. To help high school journalists use their skills to make a difference and create awareness about the No. 1 killer of teens, we hope you can encourage your students to publish an article in their school paper about smart driving.
To help aspiring writers get started, The Allstate Foundation has provided story topic ideas, tips on smart driving, startling facts, and other resources at www.keepthedrive.com/journalist.
But be sure to act fast! The deadline for all submissions is March 6, 2009.
For more information about the Driving Force in Journalism Award and cash prizes, visit: http://www.keepthedrive.com/journalist/.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Finishing touches on the paper
If you could spare some time, please come into school tomorrow or Friday to finish up the final pages... there are finishing touches that need to be done and I DO NOT want to do them myself...
Remember, this is a student paper... NOT a teacher paper.
Come in at regular time and stay until they are done... I need all eyes to check for final edits. Even if a few people can come in... If it can get done tomorrow, that will be ideal and I will post to the blog that no further help is necessary.
Otherwise, I will see those of you who have been selected to come on Thursday for training in Indesign.
Remember, this is a student paper... NOT a teacher paper.
Come in at regular time and stay until they are done... I need all eyes to check for final edits. Even if a few people can come in... If it can get done tomorrow, that will be ideal and I will post to the blog that no further help is necessary.
Otherwise, I will see those of you who have been selected to come on Thursday for training in Indesign.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Independent reading assignment example...
passage that the author used language in a particularly effective way:
"My daddy's face is a study. Winter moves into it and presides there. His eyes become a cliff of snow threatening to avalanche; his eyebrows bend like black limbs of leafless trees. His skin takes on the pale, cheerless yellow of winter sun; for a jaw he has the edges of a snowbound field dotted with stubble; his high forehead is the frozen sweep of the Erie, hiding current of gelid thoughts that eddy in darkness. Wolf killer turned hawk fighter, he worked night and day to keep one from teh door and the other from under the windowsills. A Vulcan guarding the flames, he gives us instructions about which doors to keep closed and opened for proper distribution of heat, lays kindling by, discusses qualities of coal, and teaches us how to rake, feed, and bank the fire. And he will not unrazor his lips until spring" (Morrison 61).
Analysis: In this passage Morrison uses the motif of winter to characterize Mr. Macteer. She uses the extended metaphor comparing his features to wintery imagery, such as "eyes become a cliff of snow threatening to avalanche." This image is strong and potentially scary, almost threatening, yet at the same time respected. She uses the simile "eyebrows bend like black limbs of leafless trees" to show the curves of his brow emphasizing the power of the before mentioned avalanche in his eyes. He is "cheerless" like the winter sun, not yielding enough warmth to keep them sated. Morrison characterizes Mr. Macteer in this stern manner to give us a contrast to Cholly Breedlove as well as present a tone for what the winter section will be about. It is effective as the reader gets a better sense of who Claudia is in its description and how she is raised. We've already learned a little about Mrs. Macteer and now we get the other half. The whole Macteer family serves as a barometer to which we can compare/judge the Breedloves in the future. The strong imagery and diction further solidifies the watchful way that her father protects the family :"A Vulcan guarding the flames, he gives us instructions about which doors to keep closed and opened for proper distribution of heat, lays kindling by, discusses qualities of coal, and teaches us how to rake, feed, and bank the fire." He both protects and instructs as a good, authorative parent should. The reader walks away from this description feeling like children, slightly afraid of him, but curious nonetheless.
"My daddy's face is a study. Winter moves into it and presides there. His eyes become a cliff of snow threatening to avalanche; his eyebrows bend like black limbs of leafless trees. His skin takes on the pale, cheerless yellow of winter sun; for a jaw he has the edges of a snowbound field dotted with stubble; his high forehead is the frozen sweep of the Erie, hiding current of gelid thoughts that eddy in darkness. Wolf killer turned hawk fighter, he worked night and day to keep one from teh door and the other from under the windowsills. A Vulcan guarding the flames, he gives us instructions about which doors to keep closed and opened for proper distribution of heat, lays kindling by, discusses qualities of coal, and teaches us how to rake, feed, and bank the fire. And he will not unrazor his lips until spring" (Morrison 61).
Analysis: In this passage Morrison uses the motif of winter to characterize Mr. Macteer. She uses the extended metaphor comparing his features to wintery imagery, such as "eyes become a cliff of snow threatening to avalanche." This image is strong and potentially scary, almost threatening, yet at the same time respected. She uses the simile "eyebrows bend like black limbs of leafless trees" to show the curves of his brow emphasizing the power of the before mentioned avalanche in his eyes. He is "cheerless" like the winter sun, not yielding enough warmth to keep them sated. Morrison characterizes Mr. Macteer in this stern manner to give us a contrast to Cholly Breedlove as well as present a tone for what the winter section will be about. It is effective as the reader gets a better sense of who Claudia is in its description and how she is raised. We've already learned a little about Mrs. Macteer and now we get the other half. The whole Macteer family serves as a barometer to which we can compare/judge the Breedloves in the future. The strong imagery and diction further solidifies the watchful way that her father protects the family :"A Vulcan guarding the flames, he gives us instructions about which doors to keep closed and opened for proper distribution of heat, lays kindling by, discusses qualities of coal, and teaches us how to rake, feed, and bank the fire." He both protects and instructs as a good, authorative parent should. The reader walks away from this description feeling like children, slightly afraid of him, but curious nonetheless.
2nd issue of the paper
Once again, a deadline we have set has fallen upon us... We have class on Monday, so I'm pushing it back until then.
By the end of the day on Monday, I expect that ALL pages of the paper will be ready for print.
Make sure that you use your checklists... Make sure that you proofread.
So far I've seen 3 finished pages out 16 and they still have some easy errors.
Let's buckle down and finish up
By the end of the day on Monday, I expect that ALL pages of the paper will be ready for print.
Make sure that you use your checklists... Make sure that you proofread.
So far I've seen 3 finished pages out 16 and they still have some easy errors.
Let's buckle down and finish up
Current Events #5
All Sports again, please. Due Monday, 1/26
We have class on Monday, 1/26
You are off from Tuesday, 1/27- Monday, 2/2
Classes resume - Tuesday, 2/3
Your investigative features are due upon your return... 2/3 - final drafts
We also will begin work on the next issue... so have ideas to start working on when you return...
All to be discussed Monday
We have class on Monday, 1/26
You are off from Tuesday, 1/27- Monday, 2/2
Classes resume - Tuesday, 2/3
Your investigative features are due upon your return... 2/3 - final drafts
We also will begin work on the next issue... so have ideas to start working on when you return...
All to be discussed Monday
Urban Voices - info for all and for whomever is writing the article
I need students to come up with narratives that can connect subjects, emphasize existing ideas, i.e.: Censorship(Family Guy); music in advertising(Target); music criticism. Any essays that kids have already done in class, that could connect sections or comment on the media itself are welcome.
They could be read by students between song selections, or could be paired with visuals or slideshows.The concert program is as follows(more can be added as we go along-this is an outline).
Thanks- Ms. Delahunt
MUSIC AND MASS MEDIA:
Music in Television:
Mission Impossible Theme Song-Grade 10
Music in Cartoons:
- Family Guy=ALL
- Hot Chocolate- Polar Express=Grade 7
Music in Commercials/Internet:
- Creditreport.com
- Yahoo.com
- Target(Beatles, oldies)
Music in Movies:
- Little Shop of Horrors - Grade 7
- Rent- Seasons of Love-Grade 7
- La Vie Boheme- Grade 10
Music Based on Newspaper Articles:
Sweeney Todd:
- Ballad of Sweeney Todd-grade 7
- Pretty Women-Men grade 10
- Nothing's Goin' To Harm You-Ladies grade 10
Music in Documentaries:
Ashoken Farewell = ALL
Thursday, January 22, 2009
On-going Independent Reading Assignment -#4 due 1/23 (TOMORROW)
Directions: Identify and present passages from your independent reading book that illustrate the qualities listed below. Limit passages to one page of text. To present them, you may type them or photocopy and paste them.
After each passage, write a brief but specific explanation of hot the passage exemplifies the quality stated (three to five sentences). Remember to provide the page number of each passage.
- passage that reveals an important quality about the main character (protagonist)
- passage that shows an important part of setting
- passage that suggest the complexity of the protagonist's conflict(s)
- passages that suggest the complexity of the protagonist's conflict(s)
- passage in which the author uses language in a particularly effective way
- passage in which the author uses language in a particularly effective way
- passage that shows teh symbolic importance of something or a passage that suggests why the book has the title it has
- passage that shows the protagonist's situation at the end
- passage that suggests and important idea, theme, or insight the book conveys
- passage that shows what you liked about the book
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Independent Reading Assignment #5
The next assignment will be due on Friday, Feb. 27th.
Get an early start this time.
Get an early start this time.
Investigative Feature Finals due on Tues. Feb. 3
Your final drafts of investigative features are due on Tuesday, 2/3 (the day we return from regents break)
You should attach all prior work.
They must be typed. Follow the directions.
You should attach all prior work.
They must be typed. Follow the directions.
2nd issue
I've checked the Newspaper folder and sadly not much is in it. I need for each section to get all pages completed by the end of this week... which means, some folks should plan to stay for lunch and after school... potentially come in before school too this week to get it finished.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Independent Reading assignment #4
Reminder that IR assignment number 4 is due on Friday, 1/23 (next week)
If you are still having difficulty, please come see me.
If you are still having difficulty, please come see me.
Preparing for the 3rd issue - let's shoot for 20 pages
Story ideas should be starting to circulate for the next issue -
Each section should shoot to cover 4 pages - set up templates - i.e. save a blank page after you've set up the section heads for an even side and an odd side with proper size. This will save time in the future.
What should we be covering?
Next Town Hall meeting is 2/4
Here's what MUST be covered:
News:
Sports Night
Urban Voices Concert and Program (7th and 10th)
Obama Inauguration
Inauguration day... should be a whole page... coverage, pics (I will take care of) but you should too bring a camera 1/20 (Tuesday)
Midyear Program Changes
E-portfolio
InDesign training
Ski trip
Pub lab lunch passes
8th grade advisory walk-a-thon for breast cancer (contacts Mrs. Loukatos, Mrs. Evangelista, Ms. Livigni and Ms. Laverda)
Feature:
Music in schools i.e. Urban voices
Things to do over breaks
(can draw from the ones we all did and some from the foundations class)
Fashion show shirts for clubs
Teacher profile?
broadcast - club versus class... generate interest
Fieldwork
Advisory
DIR
Editorial
Print letters from 6th graders -
Midyear drop off in grades?
Why students don't read...
Teacher submission? DIR - teacher/student?
(there will be some from my foundations class)
Advisory - what's the point?
substitute teachers?
Sports
Coverage of all sports going on at Francis Lewis - talk to Millman as your point person
Maybe consider an article on a Student Athlete at school to high light (we can do one in each issue)
7th grade dance winner Vicki M.
Entertainment
Local restaurant reviews?
Music reviews - concerts or cd reviews
Final Drafts of Investigative Feature Stories are due Thursday, Feb. 5th
Investigative Feature Stories are due Feb. 5th
They should include all of your previous drafts, research, notes and surveys...
refer to the assignment sheet for what needs to be included.
They should include all of your previous drafts, research, notes and surveys...
refer to the assignment sheet for what needs to be included.
Current events #4 due Tuesday, 1/20
Everyone must do a sports article for this week's current events. Make sure to select something from the sports section of Newsday, the New York Times or the Post.
IT MUST BE SPORTS.
IT MUST BE SPORTS.
Advice for Students Interested in a Career in Journalism
Bill Kovach, Senior Counselor of the Project for Excellence in Journalism
A curious mind and a broad liberal arts education are by far the best qualifications for a career in journalism.
The best foundation begins with an undergraduate liberal arts education that exposes you to a wide range of disciplines of study and helps you supplement your native curiosity with a habit of critical thinking. Whatever course of study you follow, be sure to include a strong foundation in ethics. Then consider study at a university that offers a graduate degree in journalism.
You can begin to develop your skill in the "craft" of journalism by working on a college newspaper or radio station; a television station that features a college report; or working as a college correspondent for a local, regional or national news organization. As for experience while still in school and immediately after graduation, think about immersing yourself in a local experience. Working in a community in which you must look the people in the eye about whom you report before and AFTER you have reported on them can provide very important lessons.
And, throughout all this, read. Read everything you can, including classics in fiction that can help you begin to understand human nature and the human condition. Develop a habit of critically following the work of other journalists and find models for your own work.
Good luck.
InDesign training
We will be having a full day of Indesign training on Thursday, 1/29 (during Regents week)
Only a handful of students will be invited to join us, but will then spend a few days in class teaching the rest of you what they learn.
I will formally invite students in class.
It will be given from 8-3:30 on Thursday. You will be taking the class with teachers.
Only a handful of students will be invited to join us, but will then spend a few days in class teaching the rest of you what they learn.
I will formally invite students in class.
It will be given from 8-3:30 on Thursday. You will be taking the class with teachers.
Page Layouts
Page Layouts for the second issue are due by Friday next week (that is the last possible day) 1/23.
You have today in class and Tuesday in class as well as lunch times between now and then to complete your section pages.
I'd like to remind everyone to use the checklist within your sections to avoid careless mistakes. It's not enough to just get everything on your pages.
Section editors, please insure quality. Circulate among folks, you should not be sitting and doing all the work.
You have today in class and Tuesday in class as well as lunch times between now and then to complete your section pages.
I'd like to remind everyone to use the checklist within your sections to avoid careless mistakes. It's not enough to just get everything on your pages.
Section editors, please insure quality. Circulate among folks, you should not be sitting and doing all the work.
Teacher submissions to the Blazer
So last night I wrote an editorial for the issue. I spoke to Ms. Schneider and a few teachers and they liked the editorial (I'm hoping more importantly, that you guys will like it and want to include it)
Please comment on this post about how you would feel about having teachers submit editorials for the issues. I think it will be a good way to help include more people in our paper and add more voice to the community. I know Ms. Schneider wants teachers to be writing too, so I thought this might be a good way to open things up.
I have a sense that students and teachers may have something to say about my editorial... It is honest, but fair. I'm hoping it opens up a dialogue with students.
What do you think? Should we elicit teacher submissions?
Please comment on this post about how you would feel about having teachers submit editorials for the issues. I think it will be a good way to help include more people in our paper and add more voice to the community. I know Ms. Schneider wants teachers to be writing too, so I thought this might be a good way to open things up.
I have a sense that students and teachers may have something to say about my editorial... It is honest, but fair. I'm hoping it opens up a dialogue with students.
What do you think? Should we elicit teacher submissions?
Urban Voices
Tomorrow we have chorus. Please make sure that come prepared. I'm thinking that some of you will be writing something for our media presentation chorus in March... please ask Ms. Delahunt questions about what she would like on Friday.
Go straight to the auditorium.
Also, we haven't covered urban voices in the newspaper yet. Maybe one of you can make an appointment to interview her at lunch on Friday and can write a news piece for the 3rd issue... and maybe a feature on music in schools and the importance of the arts - We'll talk more about this in class today.
Go straight to the auditorium.
Also, we haven't covered urban voices in the newspaper yet. Maybe one of you can make an appointment to interview her at lunch on Friday and can write a news piece for the 3rd issue... and maybe a feature on music in schools and the importance of the arts - We'll talk more about this in class today.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Week of 1/12-1/16
We will be exclusively laying out the paper this week...
Here is our schedule:
Monday - Channel 1 - and short discussion after you take notes - try to get some new ideas for things we may want to cover... for instance, on Friday they had something about getting sponsors for grades in order to get money for college... we may want to do a feature story on different ways to save for college... Channel 1 is an excellent resource for stories for our paper.
Meet in sections to check progress and set goals for the week.
Turn in Current events assignment #3
Current events assignment #4 due on Tuesday, 1/20 (no school Monday, 1/19)
Tuesday, continue working in sections preparing articles and layout - review of how pages should look and conferencing with individual students, you can coninue work on investigative features as well
Wednesday, continue working in sections preparing articles and layout - review of how pages should look and conferencing with individual students, you can coninue work on investigative features as well
Thursday, continue working in sections preparing articles and layout - review of how pages should look and conferencing with individual students, you can coninue work on investigative features as well - full class check in of progress... where we need to go
Friday, - Urban voices, go straight to the auditorium with your investigative feature stories that are due today... please hand them in with earlier drafts... and sports night. Someone should be there to cover the event. We have pictures being taken.
Here is our schedule:
Monday - Channel 1 - and short discussion after you take notes - try to get some new ideas for things we may want to cover... for instance, on Friday they had something about getting sponsors for grades in order to get money for college... we may want to do a feature story on different ways to save for college... Channel 1 is an excellent resource for stories for our paper.
Meet in sections to check progress and set goals for the week.
Turn in Current events assignment #3
Current events assignment #4 due on Tuesday, 1/20 (no school Monday, 1/19)
Tuesday, continue working in sections preparing articles and layout - review of how pages should look and conferencing with individual students, you can coninue work on investigative features as well
Wednesday, continue working in sections preparing articles and layout - review of how pages should look and conferencing with individual students, you can coninue work on investigative features as well
Thursday, continue working in sections preparing articles and layout - review of how pages should look and conferencing with individual students, you can coninue work on investigative features as well - full class check in of progress... where we need to go
Friday, - Urban voices, go straight to the auditorium with your investigative feature stories that are due today... please hand them in with earlier drafts... and sports night. Someone should be there to cover the event. We have pictures being taken.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Current events #3
You have 1 current events article due on Monday. Please make sure to choose an article from the New York Times or another reputable paper in the section you are writing in.
If you are still having trouble email me and I will walk you through it.
If you are still having trouble email me and I will walk you through it.
Monday, January 5, 2009
6th grade letters
Please make sure to write letters back to all of the 6th graders who wrote you. Be specific to address what they addressed and ask them what they would like to see in the future.
Your finished handwritten letters are due by Friday.
Your finished handwritten letters are due by Friday.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Gearing up
Hello everyone. I hope you all had an excellent vacation.
Here are some reminders and updates:
due on Monday upon our return is your first draft to the investigative feature.
all past due work is also due.
your current events #4 (only 1 article in the section you're writing) is due on 1/12
your first draft of section laid out pages for the 2nd issue is due on 1/13 (Tuesday)
please check in with your sections and make sure you have all of the finished articles. I will do my best to have graded articles with final comments on Monday or Tuesday. All people in the section should be working on lay out pages. Remember to follow the checklists and get up to the publab during lunch when we return.
I will see everyone on Monday.
Here are some reminders and updates:
due on Monday upon our return is your first draft to the investigative feature.
all past due work is also due.
your current events #4 (only 1 article in the section you're writing) is due on 1/12
your first draft of section laid out pages for the 2nd issue is due on 1/13 (Tuesday)
please check in with your sections and make sure you have all of the finished articles. I will do my best to have graded articles with final comments on Monday or Tuesday. All people in the section should be working on lay out pages. Remember to follow the checklists and get up to the publab during lunch when we return.
I will see everyone on Monday.
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