Final Exam Review

1. Timeliness: How recent the event was 

2. Proximity: How close it is to the readers

3. Human Interest: How interesting the story is. Has to attract the readers interest. 

4. Prominence: importance to the readers 

5. Conflict: Stories need to have a problem to make them interesting. There needs to be an issue that the character figures out and goes through

6. Interviews: Have to be done to get quotes for the story. Go and talk with the main subject

7. Research: More information about the topic of the story so that the writer can have a better understanding of the topic and help come up with questions and be able to talk with the main subject during the interview.

8. Quotations: Start with quotation marks the nthe quote then a coma then a quotation mark and then the title given to the subject. 

9. Yes-no question: Don't ask these questions. Questions must be open ended

10. follow-up question: Need more information for the story so you go back and ask more questions to the subject

11. Objective writing: writing you can verify through evidence and facts. you have to remain neutral in your opinion

12. Transition paragraph: Flows between two quotes and adds additional facts and information

13. Hard news story: written where a reader can stop reading at any time and still get the full story (general location or recent events)

14. Soft news story: Mix of information and entertainment (like a feature story)

15. Inverted Pyramid: Story goes from most important information to least important facts

16. Third-person point of view: He, she, they, him, told from interviewers point of view

17. 5 Ws and H lead: In the beginning, is almost like a little summary that explains the upcoming story

18. editing: Going back and checking over grammar and spelling and punctuation to make the story better

19. attribution: the title given to a person after a quote within a news story

20. paraphrase: to summarize

21. fragmentary quotation: not a complete sentence. don't use a comma

22. direct quotation: exactly what the interviewee said. has quotation marks and is word for word

23. partial quotation: like a fragmentary quote

24. Uses of quotations: quote transition style unless it is an opinions piece is needed

25. When to use quotations: after each transition

26. When quotations are unnecessary or not desired

27. Editorial: Kind of opinion story where the whole staff takes a stance on a subject. the people remain anonymous 

28. editorial page

29. columns: run by one person who writes a weekly piece about an opinion or event or anything really

30. editorial that criticizes: These editorials constructively criticize actions, decisions or situations while providing solutions to the problem identified. Immediate purpose is to get readers to see the problem, not the solution.

31. editorial that explains: Editors often use these editorials to explain the way newspaper covered a sensitive or controversial subject. School newspapers may explain new school rules or particular student-body effort like a food drive

32. editorial that persuades: Aim to immediately see the solution, not the problem. Readers will be encouraged to take a specific, positive action. EX. Political endorsements
33. letter to the editor: commend the editor on their writing

Feature Story: first draft

Claire Meyer

7th Period

Finding Faith

How can someone have nothing, but at the same time have everything?

This was the basic question that junior Alec Meyer was able to answer on his two week mission trip to Uganda over the 2014 summer with Austin Ridge Bible Church.

"The people in Uganda have nothing but at the same time they have everything because they have put their faith and trust in God," junior Alec Meyer said. "It made me realize that instead of focusing on the things that I don't have, I just need to focus on being a christian."

 The goal of the trip was to teach leadership within the small communities in Uganda and help in the beginnings of new churches. Meyer was the first youth from Austin Ridge Bible Church to go on and experience this trip.

"Being the first youth to go was an honor," Meyer said. "It was relieving in a way to know that my faith was strong enough for those around me to notice it."

Not only was his faith noticed by his pastor but also by Meyer's parents. For a parent to let their 16-year-old child fly across the country is a hard thing, but Meyer's parents saw the desire within him and came to a conclusion.

"I was really scared and nervous because Uganda is a long way away but I felt like it was something that he and I had really prayed about," Alec's mom Linda Meyer said. "I felt like it was the right thing to do."

However traveling to a another country, especially Africa required some safety actions to be taken. Alec had to receive a physical, get a passport, and had four shots. Malaria, typhoid, yellow fever, and meningitis.

"The doctors ended up giving me two meningitis shots," Alec said. "So I didn't have to worry about catching meningitis."

Alec's expectations of the trip were minimal since he was the only youth member going.

"I wasn't expecting much to happen," Alec said. "Maybe a little student ministry. All I knew was that a difference would be made in these kids lives."

However, Alec was able to connect with the kids of Uganda unlike the adults.

"When you are the same age as someone, it is easier to have more of an impact on them," Alec said. "When you are older and trying to talk to a younger person, it is harder to relate with them."

Alec was even able to form relationships and make friends with those living in Uganda.

"I met a lot of people while in Uganda but there were three people I truly bonded with," Alec said. "There was Simon who was 19 years old and wanted to be a youth leader. I met Pastor Enok who founded the churn of Pader, and finally my tour guide Francis who was going to have twins. We taught him how to play BS."

Not only was Alec able to impact the families in Uganda, but the families were able to impact him.

"If you have a house in Uganda, that's a big deal. Unlike America where almost everyone has a house," Alec said. "But seeing how happy they were just to have a place to stay made me realize how grateful I should be for everything I have."

This mentality still sticks with Alec even eight months after his trip.

"When Alec came back, he was less materialistic, a little more down to Earth and more mature," Alec's dad Duane Meyer said. "It had a lasting impact on him."

The villages and slums that Alec saw opened his eyes to the true meaning of being poor.

"I understood that poor means living day by day hoping that you will be able to put a meal on the table," Alec said. "These people in Uganda had to live their lives everyday like this and that is so different from most people in the U.S."

Yet he saw that through these struggles, the people of Uganda are still able to worship God with all their heart.

"The house were basically bricks and plaster," Alec said. "The plaster made it more sturdy and then they covered it all with tree branches and straw. There were one or two rooms divided by sheets but there were four to five kids per family. That's a huge family an area about as big as a bedroom."

Seeing these houses really opened Alec's eyes to the extreme poverty in some areas of the world.

"I noticed how surprised Alec was at certain points of the trip," youth pastor Jared Carter said. "He seemed a bit overwhelmed by the culture shock and especially when he saw poverty for what it was... brokenness."

Those who went on the trip were not able to provide new homes for those living in Uganda. However they were able to give them something even more valuable then material items.

"The first story we talked about with the children was when peter walked on water," Alec said. "It was putting your trust and faith that if you keep persevering you will be able to walk on water, figuratively. The second story that I did alone was the story when the children ran to Jesus because a lot of the time in Uganda you'll find that the children are seem at a lower status but that is not true according to the bible."

The missions group provided those living in Pader, Uganda with hope. They were able to teach leadership skills that would help the Ugandans put their faith in the one that could save them.

"One of the primary reasons for this trip was to put on a church leadership conference for those who are leaders in the community and are trying to bring hope of the gospel to a people who feel hopeless," Carter said.

While in Uganda, Alec was able to notice how material items get in the way of completely putting one's faith in Christ.

"The people who were poor and were christians, well that was all they had," Alec said. "Jesus was the only thing they were going for. The only hope they had was that one day Jesus would come back and fix all the broken things in this world and in their lives."

This opened up his eyes to the difference between two countries pursuits of Jesus.

"Both counties do have many people who desire to have Jesus in their lives, it's just different in the ways we do it," Alec said. "The people in Uganda have a mentality that this is all I have and I'm giving you everything. Whereas in America we still pursue Jesus but their are other things in our life that we make just as important as Jesus and block us from pursuing Jesus with our whole hearts."

The people of Uganda were able to see that American's struggle too and that most want to help them.

"They think that a lot of the people in America are stuck up and rich and that we look down on them because they are so poor so I had to tell them that that was not the case," Alec said. "I told them that we were there for them and were right with them."

As Alec grew in his faith, those around him were able to grow in theirs. Alec was able to make a difference in not just the Ugandans lives but also his own.

"He shared his faith journey for them to hear and you could see the knowledge they gained from hearing a teenage boy describe his experience and passion for Christ ," Carter said. "But at the same time, Alec was further understanding the concept of pursuing Jesus with all his heart."

This trip caused Alec to look at life in a different perspective. He didn't just see materials and money but rather saw how much he needed Jesus in his life.

"I realized that I just need to focus on what being a christian really means and what it truly means to give everything to God," Alec said.

Alec was still finding his faith but after this trip he was completely committed to christ. The trip to Uganda was not just sight-seeing but a truly life changing experience for Alec.

"When I got home, I felt different inside," Alec said. "Going from a third-world country to one that is materialistic is a very different feeling. I was more grateful for the things I had and this experience helped me understand what it means to truly place your faith in God.

Alec was able to truly understand how material things in life do not provide true joy.

"The people in Uganda have nothing but they have everything because they have put their trust in God," Alec said.

Current Events Quiz 3.3

1. What are the goals Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife have from donating a sizable portion of their money? Quote directly Page A1 "Facebook CEO to give..."
Advancing human potential and promoting equality.

2. What are the major reasons (3) the state is adding $130 million in spending for Pre-K? Page B1 "Experts offer pre-k advice"
Smal class sizes, teacher training, and full-day schooling

3. How many stories will the newest downtown condo project be and why is this significant (2 part)? Page B7 "Land sale closes..."
The building will be 58 stories. This is significant because it will be the tallest building in Austin and as well as the tallest residential building west of the Mississippi

4. How much money will David Price make the next 7 years? Page C5 "Red Sox, Price agree..."
$217 million

5. Would you eat Texas Trash? Page D1 "LBJ Library letting us..."
No because I can't do spicy/hot foods and it has tabasco sauce in it

Short Answer

Homeboy industries is an organization that works to give second chances to those who were just let out of prison and former gang members who want to turn their lives around. 

This was a compelling read because there aren't many people left who still care about those who have messed up in this world. Not many people want to help those who have caused trouble in their lives and the lives of others. However this organization, Homeboy, is wiling to help these people turn their lives around and become more functioning members of society. 

As I read the story, I thought about how great of an organization this is. I wish that I could do this sort of thing and help people out. This makes me feel as though the world is finally figuring out that there are lots of people that need to be helped in this world and this is the beginning of a great organization. I also continued to think about how this could impact the lives of so many people that haven't been given a second chance and deserve one. 

Feature story notes

Main Subject: Alec Meyer

How did this experience change you as a person?
"This experience made me more grateful and thankful for what I have. It helped me understand what being poor and not knowing what is going to happen really means. Finally, it helped me understand hat it means to truly place your faith in God."

Who motivated you to go on this trip?
"My youth pastor Jared. He said it would really help me to grow in my faith and help me to understand how people who have nothing are still able to pursue Jesus."

Why do you think you were chosen to go?
"I don't honestly know but I am a student leader in my youth group. I can help out during service and I work in the children's ministry."

What were you expecting to happen in Uganda?
"I was told that I may help out with the youth since I was the only youth on the trip. I was just expecting to make a difference in these peoples lives."

What did you actually do in Uganda?
"I did some small group stuff with the church, I visited and talked to some of the school students in primary and secondary school, went to some different villages, did children's ministry, did a skit, and talked to some of the youth there."

What were some of the things that you talked about with the kids?
"The first story we talked about with the children was when peter walked on water. It was putting your trust and faith that if you keep persevering you will be able to walk on water, figuratively. The second story that I did alone was the story when the children ran to Jesus because a lot of the time in Uganda you'll find that the children are seem at a lower status but that is not true according to the bible."

What do you think the main goal of this trip was?
"It was a leadership trip. We were teaching the what it means to be a good leader.

Where did you go and where did you stay?
We landed in entebi which is the airport there which is a little small town outside of Kampala which is the capital of uganda. I went to a small suburb outside of kampala called gaba which is where i stayed at my first guest house. Then we went over to pacer which is a really rural town. We went on a little airplane. I was mainly in Pader. Then I went to a safari at the end.

What were the places like where you stayed?
Kampala-there were a lot of slums on half of the town and then rich people on the other side. There was a clear line separating these two classes of families. But compared to the other cities I saw it was a pretty nice city.
Pader- very rural town so a lot of villages and a lot of huts. It was a more poor place.

How do you think the separation between the rich and the poor in these villages effected their pursuit of Jesus?
I didn't really talk to any of the rich people so I don't really know. But the poor people (the ones who were christian) that was all they had. Jesus was the only thing that they were going for. The only hope that they had was that one day Jesus would come back and fix all the things that are broken in this world and in their lives.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to go on a mission trip?
There is going to be emotional scenes or things that you most likely have never seen before so you have to be mentally prepared for that. Make sure you know what you are getting into or make sure you have really strong faith because you are going to need strong faith to be able to go all the way across the world.

How did those who went with you impact you?
They were all older than me so they knew a lot more about the problems in Uganda and were able to help me along the way. For moral support

How did the people living in Uganda impact you?
If you have a house in Uganda, that's a really big deal. Unlike America where almost everyone has a house. But how happy they were just to have a place to go a star as americans, we don't really think about that like the day to day stuff the actual things that we already have.

Who all did you go with?
My youth pastor, a bunch of interns, two other pastors

How is the pursuit of Jesus similar and different in Uganda and the U.S?
Similar in the fact that we both pursue jesus it's different in the ways that we do it. They do it more this is all i have I'm giving you everything.In america, we still pursue hime but we also pursue other things that will kind of differentiate the aspects of how much we are pursuing Jesus as opposed to how much we are pursuing other objects.

Would you go backhand why?
I would go back because it was a good experience, I had a good time, and now I know some people there so I have some relationships over there already

Who did you meet?
Simon: 19 years old and built a church there, wants to be a youth leader
Pastor Enok: Founded the church of Pader, brought in tons of people and has big ideas for the church
Tour guide Francis: has wife, going to have twins, taught him how to play BS

What thoughts went through your head on the way to Uganda?
Nothing was really going through my head until later. Our first flight was to Atlanta then amsterdam and I wasn't really thinking about it. Then from Amsterdam to Entebi that's when it really starts to hit you that you went to Uganda. You don't really think about it. I was really anxious because you are going to a completely new country that you have never been to before.

How did it feel when you came back home?
You had a different feeling because you were just in a completely different country and now you are coming back to the country that you have left so you have to get back in the groove of what happens in this country compared to what happens in that country.

What were the differences in the churches?
There church is a lot more free open and there is a lot more that goes on. It's more exciting. Like when the pastor will say something and everyone else will say HALLELUJAH! Here you go, sit in a seat, do all the same stuff every time you go to church. They don't do the same things, it's different every time.
They get into there worship. They pick up chairs, sing, dance around.
In America you kind of just stand there. Maybe put your hand up.

How did Uganda change due to this mission trip?
They think that a lot of the people in America are stuck up and rich and that we look down on them because they are pro so I had to tell them that's not really the case. That we were there for them and were right there with them. We had the same aspects as you do. And I taught them some leadership skills and that they can still be great leaders even though they were young.

Anything else interesting or fun?
We went on a safari

Do you think it would be helpful for more youth to go?
Yes because if you are the same age as someone you can have more of an impact because if you are older and you re talking to younger people you can't really relate with them.

What were the houses and villages like?
The houses were a bunch of bricks and pretty short. They put plaster over the house to make it more sturdy and then they put big tree branches on the top and cover it with straw. They were one to two rooms. They divided the rooms with sheets. There were about 4-5 kids per family in these small houses.

How did this impact you spiritually?
When you see people who have nothing but are yet the happiest people you have ver seen only because they placed their faith in God, it makes you realize how most Americans value material items more than God but those who have nothing are able to pursue God with all their heart because they are not worked about material items.
Instead of focusing on the things that you don't have, focus on what being a christian really means and what it means to give everything.
The people in Uganda have nothing but they have everything because they have put their trust in God.

How did it feel to be the first youth to go on the trip?
It felt amazing. It was a great honor to know that my faith showed to the leaders and that they would pick me to go.

Secondary subjects: Mom

What were you thinking when you let your son go to Uganda?
I was really scared and nervous because that is a long way away but I felt like it was something that he had really prayed about and that he had wanted to do and I had really prayed about it and felt like it was the right thing to do so I was trying to not be scared.

How did this trip impact you?
It made me have to trust god more that he would be okay without being under my protection

What precautions did you have to take before Alec went on the trip?
we had to talk to him to make sure it was something he really wanted to do then he had to get shots, have a physical, get a passport and prepare packing.
Shots: Yellow fever, meningitis, malaria pill, and typhoid

What changes did you see in Alec when he came back?
For a little while he was nice to his brother and I think he did realize what the difference was between what being poor here is like and what being poor in a third world country is like. So I think I noticed a difference in that

What did you expect would happen in Uganda?
I think I thought he would be doing more children's ministry then he did. I think it was more of a working adult trip and that Alec was limited in what he could do. He did do some ministry but I think they traveled to more places than I thought stye would.

In what ways did Alec's trip encourage the sponsoring of a child?
I have always wanted to do those things and that's kind of where my heart is sponsoring kids so since he was familiar with that place I thought sponsoring a child from there would just be a neat way to continue that ministry.

Secondary Subject: Dad

What were you thinking when you let your son go to Uganda?
Well before I let him go I was thinking is it going to be safe, is he going to be mature enough, and I thought it would be a great opportunity for him

How did you think this trip impacted you?
Helped me learn more about Uganda and Africa because we heard about his trip so it got the issue over there closer to me and the family because he explained it in real life and not just reading about it.

What changes did you see in Alec when he came back?
When he came back I think that he was a little less materialistic, a little more down to earth, and a little more mature. It has clearly impacted him.

What did you think would happen in Uganda?
I thought that he was going to look at how the youth ministry was working and maybe make comments if whether the youth here could make an impact over there. I thought he was going to learn a lot about Uganda.

Secondary Subject: Jared Carter

1. Why did you suggest Alec to go to Uganda? The purpose of the trip was to expose our 2015 Residents to the work our church is doing in Pader Uganda.  They asked me to go on the trip to provide some training for their leaders that work within their youth ministry.  I asked if I could bring a student along and they agreed that it would be awesome for the youth in Uganda to hear from a youth in America and how they live out their faith.  I thought Alec was a great person to ask because of his maturity level and passion for ministry. I knew it would be a great opportunity for him to see what God is doing globally and be exposed to another culture.  2. What changes, if any, did you see in Alec while in Uganda? From my perspective Alec seemed a bit overwhelmed by the culture shock.  I noticed how surprised he was at certain points of the trip... especially when we saw poverty for what it was… brokenness.  As the trip continued I could tell Alec was just processing everything.  3. Was it beneficial to have a teen there? Why or why not? I think it was a great experience for everyone who was on the trip.  Having Alec there was huge because he was able to speak to the youth in Pader and share the hope that we have in the gospel. Their youth were blown away by the fact that American teenagers have struggles as well.  Just Alec’s presence was a blessing to the youth there… in there eyes traveling to visit them is a big deal.   4. How do you think Alec was able to impact the children in Uganda? Alec had the opportunity to play with kids and share bible stories… but I think his biggest impact was on the youth.  He shared his faith journey and for them to hear an American (who they think has it all together) admit that we too have struggles (they might just look a little different) was a big deal.  5. How was the church as a whole able to help Uganda through this mission trip? 6. What was the initial goal of the trip? Austin Ridge has partnered with Pader Community Church to bring hope and restoration to a community of people in Northern Uganda that have dealt with so much pain and poverty because of the war.  One of the primary reasons for this trip was to put on a church leadership conference for those who are leaders in the community and are trying to bring the hope of the gospel to a people who feel hopeless. This trip in particular was just a continuation of our ongoing partnership with Pader Community Church.   7. How has Alec continued to change after coming back from the trip?  In my opinion Alec has matured in his thinking of how God is at work globally.  I think the exposure of the trip has caused him to evaluate what is really important and how he can be involved in helping others.

Feature Story Brainstorm

Main Subject: Alec Meyer

Supporting Interviews: Parents and Youth pastor

Topic: A mission trip to Uganda for two weeks/ first youth to go on this trip

Angle: How it felt to be the first one to get to go and how it impacted Alec's life

-First-hand experience

Questions:

1. How did this experience change you as a person?

2. What or who motivated you to go on the trip?

3. Why do you think you chose to go?

4. What were you expecting to happen in Uganda?

5. What really happened there?

6. What was the main goal of the church?

7. Why do you think that you were picked to go?

8. Where did you go, where did you stay?

9. What did you specifically as a teenager do?

10. What advice would you give to someone wanting to go on a mission trip?

11. How did those who went with you impact you?

12. How did the people living in Uganda impact you?

13. Who did you go with?

14. What were some really cool events that happened while you were there?

15. In what ways is Uganda similar and different from the U.S.?

16. Would you go back and why?

17. What thoughts went through your head on the way to Uganda?

18. What would you do if you were in charge of a mission trip? What kinds of things would you work towards in the country.

19. How did it feel when you came back home?

20. Anything else interesting or fun that you did?

21. In your opinion, how did Uganda change due to this mission trip?

Supporting Questions:

Parents-

1. What were you thinking when you let your son go to Uganda?

2. How did this trip impact you personally?

3. What changes did you see in Alec when he came back?

4. Why do you think you let him go?

5. What did you think would happen in Uganda?

6. Did Alec's trip encourage the sponsoring of a child (Justine)?

Pastor-

1. Why did you suggest Alec to go to Uganda?

2. What changes did you see in him while he was there?

3. Was it beneficial to have a teenager there? Why or why not?

4. If you go again, would you take more youth?

5. How do you think Alec impacted the children in Uganda?

6. How did Uganda change due to this mission trip?

Research:

1. Uganda is in East Africa

2. Austin Ridge Bible church has a partnership with a church in Pader, Uganda

3. There is a child development project in the pader church that Austin Ridge is supporting

4. Pader, Uganda is suffering through times of poverty and religious persecutions 

5. My family is supporting a child from Uganda

When: Over Thanksgiving break

Where: I will interview Alec and my parents at my house and my pastor at youth group on sunday

How: I will record them speaking and take notes. Recording helps me hear the things that I missed when I was trying to take notes.

Current Events Quiz 3.2

1. What are the unusual requests made by the defense attorney for VonTrey Clark's murder arraignment? Page A1 "Ex-Austin cop pleads...."
A filing to prevent attorneys and public from speaking about the case

2. Why are students at Princeton sitting in the president's office? Page A7 "Students sit in president's office"
To demand social and educational experiences of black students to improve on campus

3. Who are the current four teams that are predicted to play in the college football play-offs, according to the article on page C4 "Power four plus more"?
Clemson, Alabama, Notre Dame, and Ohio State

4. Who are the five "platinum" biker-friendly cities in the United States? Page D3 "Austin earns gold status..."
Austin, Texas
Madison, Wisconsin
Fort Collins and Boulder, Colorado
Portland, Oregon
Davis, California

5. What other films where compared to the final Hunger Games film out this week, for their lack of....really exciting viewers at the end? Page D6 "Hunger Games finale...."
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
The twilight Saga: breaking Dawn Part 2
Harry Potter and the deathly hallows: part 2

SHORT ANSWER

I do not think turning down an extra fact check is a good ira by the board. Students are coming to school to learn and work from these textbooks and they should be reassured that they are learning the true facts and getting the best school experience. When the information is wrong in a textbook, students end up larding the wrong thing and it is hard to correct the knowledge that they have already memorized. This is why it's important to get an extra fact check on school textbooks so schools can be extra sure that their students are learning the right information. 

     I do not think that that caption is acceptable. There are two reasons it is not acceptable. The first one being that any and all information in that textbook needs to be correct. If a student reads that and this that slaves were being paid to work then he has false information about America;s past. Furthermore, students who had family members that were slaves or just feel strongly about that subject may become very offended and it will definitely disrupt their experience at school. 

     I think that textbooks should be checked by both people in the fired and staff members. People in the field will be much more knowledgable and be able to get the facts straight, but those who are just on the board will look at the finer details in my opinion. They will be more concerned about their child's and the children of others educations. 

     I do think that my textbooks are accurate for the most part. Honestly we don't use textbooks that often in any of my classes so I wouldn't know for sure. I do think though that the teachers trust them to provide us (their students) with a good education and that helps to reassure me that the information in those textbooks are accurate. 

Feature Writing Preview

1. What is the difference between a hard news lead (lede) and the one you read above?
A hard news summarizes the story that you are about to read while this story hooks you and get's the reader interested.

2. What paragraph(s) did you learn the following information?
a. Who: 2
b. What: 2
c. Where: 2
d. When: 2
e. Why: 2
f. How: 2

3. Are there quotes in this story?
Yes there are a few quotes

4. Are those quotes arranged in the "quote-transiton" style we used in news writing?
No they are not arranged in quote-transistion style

5. Who is quoted in the story?
Ken Andrews
Tony Florentino
Shane Cormier
Frank Willson
Patrick Harris
Ted Williams
Doral Chenoweth
Kevin McLoughlin


6. What quote is the most powerful in the story, in your opinion?
I think Chenworths quote is the most powerful. "We run into these guys at the exit ramps and we pretty much ignore them," said Chenoweth, who was en route with his wife to the grocery store when he first saw Williams. "This guy was using his talent." It shows that he was special and others can be too.

7. How many paragraphs is the story?
34 paragraphs

8. How many words is the story (hint: you can copy and paste into Word and get a word count)?
765 words

9. What is significant about the lead (lede) and the final paragraph of the story?
The lede and the final paragraph of the story are both very short and simple. The lead stars with just an idea of a voice while the final paragraph puts the voice with a person, that voice could be his.

10. Why do you think the writer did that with the lead (lede) and final paragraph?
I thin the author was trying to start off with an idea and end with a summary of that idea but keep it simple.

11. Was the story interesting to read?
Yes the story was interesting to read because the topic was intriguing and had lots of details and had a real storyline.

12. When you finished the story, but BEFORE you watched the video, did you want to hear the voice?
Yes I did want to hear the voice, Throughout the story the people talked about how much money he could make and how popular he is. I wanted to know what kind of voice could cause such a rave over a homeless man.

13. Multimedia approaches are powerful tools, what impact did the video have when watched directly after reading the story?
When I watched the video after having read the story, I was shocked. To hear that voice coming out of that man really made me understand the truth in the words of that feature story. He really did have a God given voice.

14. Would the story have lost its impact without the video?
I don't think it would have completely lost it's impact but the video definitely makes a difference. The reader wants to know what he sounds like and without hearing the voice, the reader doesn't quite understand why Williams was getting so popular.

15. Did the writer try to come up with a way for you to hear the voice, i.e. did he try to describe the voice or give you a way to "hear" the voice without really hearing it?
The author did find ways to describe the voice to us as special and good for radios.

16. How did the writer do that?
The way they talked about how much money his voice was worth helped the reader understand that there was something special about it. Including the phrase, "he had a god given voice." Furthermore, he used many describing words such as "radiant pipes" or describing it as "the voice." The author as able to make it clear to us that his voice was special and good for radio shows.

Other Peer Reflection #2

1. Who wrote the story?

Ellie C

2. What is their story about?

Their story is about violence on television and ow it is getting out of control. Kids have easier access to these shows and somehow need to be protected.

3. What is their direct opinion about that topic? Please quote it directly from the story or do a really good job of paraphrasing.

"In my opinion television has become an unpleasant experience for me in the most part."

4. Did they address what the other side might think about their topic?

She kind of states the other sides opinion. She talks about how she is not saying television is bad but just that people need to be more aware of what their kids are watching and also that there are some stations that are age appropriate and lack the common violence in most TV shows.

5. Were they wishy-washy with their opinion? By this I mean do they ever write anything that makes it sounds like they really aren't sure about their opinion?

No she was not wishy washy with her opinion. Throughout the piece she provides examples against TV violence and evidence that it is a growing issue.

6. Are there any quotes in the story?

There are no quotes in this story.

7. What point of view did they write in (1st, 2nd or 3rd)?
She wrote in 1st person.

8. Can you tell if this person was writing an editorial or a straight commentary piece?
She wrote a normal opinions piece. I can tell because her opinion is stated early on, the intro provides the reader on what the article is about, and the conclusion is a restated opinion.

Comment on Blog

Peer Reflection #2

1. Who wrote the story?

Emily Meritt

2. What is their story about?

Their story is a review on Sounds Good Feels Good by five second of summer and how it she did not like the song and was disappointed.

3. What is their direct opinion about that topic? Please quote it directly from the story or do a really good job of paraphrasing.

"Sounds Good Feels Good has definitely brought on mixed emotions. I honestly think that someone's liking of the music will dependent on their already established opinion of the band. The album is not better than any of the other pop songs they play on the radio."

4. Did they address what the other side might think about their topic?

No they did not address what the other side might think about this topic.

5. Were they wishy-washy with their opinion? By this I mean do they ever write anything that makes it sounds like they really aren't sure about their opinion?

No they were not wishy washy with their opinion. throughout the piece she talks about how the album just wasn't up to par and how it immediately went in the wrong direction.

6. Are there any quotes in the story?

There are no quotes

7. What point of view did they write in (1st, 2nd or 3rd)?
First Person

8. Can you tell if this person was writing an editorial or a straight commentary piece?
They wrote a straight commentary piece because they don't state the other sides opinion and it is just a review.

Comment on blog

2nd opinions piece

Normal Opinions piece: Allowances

Everyone at some point in their life has to do chores. Whether these be around the house, outside, or for another family member, you have to finish these tasks. Some parents decide to reward their kids with an allowance for doing their chores and some do not.  I do not think that parents should give their kids allowances.

When a parent or any adult tells you to go do the dishes, or take out the trash, it is expected that you do it. When things are expected of you, you shouldn't get rewarded for doing them. Being rewarded for something that is expected gives kids the idea that they should be rewarded for everything. This is not a good mentality to have. Kids should understand that some things just need to be done and are part of life.

Furthermore, when you hand kids money, they immediately want to spend it. They want to buy candy or toys but none of them think about saving the money they earned. These spending habits causes bad habits in the future. According to Time magazine, only 1% of kids who receive an allowance save any of it. Therefore those who were, or still are given an allowance tend to spend there money more freely and on whatever they want at that time. Those who never had an allowance tend to be cautious with there money and save it. This leads to a better future because you can't blow all of your money when you get older and still hope to be successful in life.

One final argument against allowance is that it causes kids to miss the importance of things. Blogging for change, a financial blog says that when parents pay their kids for their grades or chores, the kids only do it for the money. Wouldn't it be better if kids were motivated to make good grades because they got the satisfaction of knowledge? Or that they did their chores, not because they got money, but because they were able to feel good about helping someone? I think these qualities would lead to a more fruitful future and happier life.

However, parents who do give their kids allowances have some arguments of their own. According to a parent blog, most parents think that giving their kids an allowance is the only way to get them to do something. This should not be the case. Parents need to be teaching their kids that they need to do what they are asked. This allows for a better future since people have to listen and cooperate with those around them and most likely will not be rewarded for doing so.

Another reason parents give allowances is they think it teaches their kids budgeting. They think that making their kids work for the money and then letting them see what happens when they spend it will make for a more successful future but it usually doesn't. A professor of finance at SUNY Buffalo had studied kids with allowances for over 50 years and noted that those who got allowances did the worst on financial literacy tests. This being because these kids "think far less about money in general."

If parents really can't get their kids to do chores, I still don't believe an allowance is the answer. Parents could try making chores more fun by doing it with their kid or making a competition out of it. This way kids get to have fun with their family while still getting the work done.

Furthermore, instead of rewarding kids with real money, parents could give them little coupons for fun activities such as a trip to the zoo or a movie night. This way kids learn that getting work done leads to time to have fun with their family or when they get older their friends.

So overall, allowances provide kids with bad spending habits, a bad mentality towards money and how it should be spent, and causes them to miss out on important aspects of life. Due to this, I do not think that parents should give their kids allowances.


WORD COUNT: 675

Current Events Quiz 3.1

1.Why does Travis County want to ban the Confederate flag from a parade to be held this month in Austin? Page A1 "Controversy erupts over..."
It is a symbol of racism and hatred that doesn't fly at city hall so it shouldn't be flown in the parade.

2. How did Julian Hernandez find out he was a victim of kidnapping by his father? Page A12 "Teen discovers..."
When he was applying to colleges there was a discrepancy in his social security number

3. Why does a group of kids have to climb a ladder to get to school? Page B2 "Young students' trek to school.."
Because some students live within a 2 mile radius of the school they are to walk but there are no sidewalks. The ladder is like a shortcut that creates a quicker route to school by climbing over a wall

4. Three-part question, make sure to answer all 3: What business is Whole Foods in? What business is Amplify Snacks in? What business is HomeAway in? BE SPECIFIC FROM THE READINGS. Page B6 top 3 stories on the page.
Wholes foods is in the food business. It is an Austin-based organic foods giant.
Amplify shacks is in the food business. They are the Austin-based maker of popcorn and tortilla chips for health conscious consumers.
HomeAway is in the online vacation rental industry. It is an Austin-based industry that is leading in this market but was just bought by Expedia.

5. What is Elena Donio trying to do with her life and how is she carrying her goals out? Page SA1 "Mentoring women in tech".
Elena Donio is trying to make technology more appealing to women. She mentors other women who want a career in technology, she mentors families, and sets an example for other women by being the president of a technology company.

SHORT ANSWER

This article is an editorial. It is a complex issue that one person is giving his opinions on. There is a timeliness to it because he uses recent occurrences and topics to prove his point. 

In this piece David Brooks was arguing that our lives are complex and full of materials and items but we need to simplify things. Simplifying our lives causes us to learn who we really are. Throughout the article he provides many points that prove his point. For example, when he talks about Henry David Thoreau saying that "when you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will become simpler." Furthermore, Marie Condo's book talks about tidying up your homes and lives, getting rid of things, and how al of that creates a more simplistic life. 

I think the article was termed "from the right" because it was on the right side of the paper and there was also an editorial on the left side so they had to specify. Furthermore, different people wrote in the column daily so if a reader was looking to read a specific author's piece, they would know when it was going to be in the paper and which side. 

Yes he did convince me of his point. He provided many examples about the simplistic movements and how they effect our lives on a daily basis. Furthermore, he explained how lives filled with things and complexity also effect us. He gave both viewpoints and did a good job of convincing me. 

Editorials and Personal Columns

Editorial Topics
-October 30, 2015- the waste of a day
-Air conditioning/heating in the hallways
-Use of phones in Classrooms

Personal Columns
-I don't know if  Instagram counts but that's the only "column" that  read. I read instagram because it is entertaining and helps me stay connected. I keep going back because I want to low what my friends are doing and for entertainment

-If Instagram doesn't count, then the only column I read is the Bowie Journalism 1 blog in 7th period Journalism class. I read it to get my assignments for the class and I keep going back so that I can make a good grade and stay on top of things.

Peer Reflection #2

1. Who wrote the story?

Jaye R.

2. What is their story about?

The amount of work that high schoolers are given and how it effects the mental health of students.

3. What is their direct opinion about that topic? Please quote it directly from the story or do a really good job of paraphrasing.

"We students sacrifice our mental health in order to get work assigned to us done, and it is completely unfair."

4. Did they address what the other side might think about their topic?

Yes they did address the other sides opinion. They said that "I can understand where teachers come from.... They believe it helps us learn, and helps us receive a better understanding of the concepts we are learning in class"

5. Were they wishy-washy with their opinion? By this I mean did they every go back and say well maybe if this were to happen, then their opinion wouldn't be valid. Support your opinion.

No they were not wishy washy with their opinion. Throughout the story they talk about "mental health being compromised for school work" and "students annoy get all of this work done" Furthermore, they go into detail about problems with to much work and help to persuade the readers.

6. Are there any quotes in the story?

No there are no quotes in this story

7. What point of view did they write in (1st, 2nd or 3rd)?

They wrote in third person

Comment on Jaye's Blog

Peer Reflections #1

1. Who wrote the story?

Kendall Johnson

2. What is their story about?

The art department at Bowie needing more and better supplies for student use so that they can improve their art skills and make art more enjoyable.

3. What is their direct opinion about that topic? Please quote it directly from the story or do a really good job of paraphrasing.

"I feel that new art supplies are to be purchased and made available to the many art students around campus"

4. Did they address what the other side might think about their topic?

Yes they did address the other side. They stated that money may be an issue in the purchasing of art supplies but gave ways to get around this problem such as fundraisers or student donations.

5. Were they wishy-washy with their opinion? By this I mean did they every go back and say well maybe if this were to happen, then their opinion wouldn't be valid. Support your opinion.

No they were not wishy washy with their opinion. Throughout the story they continued saying, "I believe the art program needs better supplies" or "because of the situation, I can't get my work done." These statements lead back to the fact that the art supplies are not sufficient.

6. Are there any quotes in the story?

No there are not any quotes

7. What point of view did they write in (1st, 2nd or 3rd)?

They wrote in First Person

Comment on Kendall's Blog

1st commentary article

Once you are in high school, you are told about all the freedoms you are going to have and how much fun high school is going to be. One of the things they don’t tell you is that only seniors are allowed to go off campus for lunch. I believe that all grades (freshman-seniors) should be able to go off campus during lunch when appropriate.

Everyone at Bowie High School has 40 minute lunches but seniors get to spend there’s off campus and taking a break from school. They already get to have off periods so I believe that everyone should have the privilege of going off campus for lunch. Studies have shown that kids who get breaks from school are more focused and attentive later into the day. So if all students were able to leave campus and take a break, it would allow for better learning environments for students and better teaching environments for teachers.

Furthermore, many kids don’t have time to pack a lunch in the morning, may not have any food in their homes for lunch, or just may not like, or be able to eat the cafeteria food and wind up not being able to eat lunch. If all kids were allowed off campus, they could choose the food they want to eat and have a lunch. Lunch provides kids with energy to finish the day strong. Therefore those who don’t eat lunch for whatever reason are sluggish and not sharp for their last periods of the day.

Another issue is that not allowing students to go off campus for lunch leads them to make poor choices and try to sneak off campus. I know many students who have gotten in the trunk of cars or just pretended to be a senior so that they could get off campus. Restricting everyone but seniors to the school during lunch is almost challenging kids to see if they can break the rules. This leaves kids with the impression that later in life if they can break the rules and not be caught, then it’s okay. That is not a good mentality to have and is another reason all students should be able to leave campus.

However, I do understand why only seniors are allowed to go off campus. They have been here for four years and deserve some special privileges. Also, many schools are working towards becoming healthier and allowing their students to go off campus and eat fast food would ruin the gradual improvements schools have made to their school lunches. Lastly, schools may be worried that a lot of kids wouldn’t come back after they leave, students would be late for their next class, or students could wind up getting hurt on the streets.

These views may be true for some but lots of kids are active and involved with some athletic activity in or out of school. Therefore the unhealthy food being consumed will not drastically effect the health of most kids.

Also students education is there's. If they choose to skip school and miss class, that is there GPA and future that is being effected. If students decide to skip the rest of the day they will be taught a lesson  by the reflections of their grades. This is a good learning opportunity for them and when they grow up, they will know that it is important to do the right thing and listen to those in charge. 

Futhermore, there are ways to get around most of these problems though. My first suggestion is that once or twice a week, all your students should be allowed to go off campus for lunch. This way, seniors don’t complain that their privileges are being taken away and all other students don’t complain that the lunch situation is unfair.

Schools could also put punishments in place for those who don’t come back or are late to their next class so that they will correct it next time.

Another way to provide this privilege but still keep students under control is having them apply for an off campus lunch pass. To get this pass students would have to have good conduct in their classrooms, acceptable grades, a car or friend to go off campus with, and a parent signature. This way you make sure your student has to earn this privilege.

Again, I believe that all grades should be able to leave campus for lunch and that in doing so, it will provide for a better learning environment, better eating habits, and better mentalities for later in the students life.




SOURCES:
Lunch is important- http://www.tesh.com/topics/kids-and-family-category/kids-need-breaks-to-do-better-in-school/cc/8/id/19968
Kids need breaks- http://www.tesh.com/topics/kids-and-family-category/kids-need-breaks-to-do-better-in-school/cc/8/id/19968