Good writers learn good vocabulary (25 pts formative)

Objective: SWBAT learn a new word by explaining it via video scenario. This will help you with writing with more clarity and help you navigate the different media types that makeup backpack journalism.

The New York Times is running a contest on vocab word definitions.

Here is the mission.

Here are some examples.

Very quickly, break into your groups to make a plan.

You will chose one of these words from the pdf link below:

Here is a link to the entire list.

Your group needs to act this word definition out.

15 seconds is the total length of the video.

We will shoot when we return from Thanksgiving.

Formative (25 pts)

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Opinion/Editorial Writing Assignment (20 pts formative) - Due Tuesday/Wednesday (Hand-in folder)

I don't know if you have to do this in your English classes, but I want you to write a short editorial about gratitude. What are you grateful for OR what are you NOT grateful for?

This assignment can be funny, ironic, whatever . . . it just needs to be in your voice. No fakery here. Also, this is for print. For the site. We will put up the best ones.

Surely, you are grateful for some crazy things.

Let the world know.

Do I have your article/media for the other assignment?

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

November 19 - Audio piece and article ( Summative 30 pts.)

This Cavalier was found in a folder in the Media Center that was related to the beginning of our school.

So . . . here it is. For today and block day and Friday (deadline is Friday), you need to come up with an article that is enhanced with some other media. It can be a photo slide show OR an audio piece OR a video.

Our mission is to provide news articles for our readers. This will build their visits to our paper and it will help you hone your skills. Learning to write clearly (and concisely) is one of the skills most in demand by employers. See this article that Mr. Howard sent to the English Department yesterday.

Here are some stories that need to be written:

Diabetes Day
Blood Drive

Winter sports reports (talk to each coach and the players about the season)
9th Grade Make a Difference Project

SGA (what are they working on now?)
Winter Fashion at JFK

Poms Competition

Anything Science OR Forensics

Profile a teacher or character around school

Vegetarians here at school

New breakthroughs in science

Anime Club and what they You could also skirt around in the NY Times or the Washington Post and see if there are any articles your are interested in localizing.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md

November 15 -- Journalism Homework (Due Thursday for 20 pts.) --You are going to work on audio like a radio reporter

Listen to the audio you see in this link. Then you need to transcribe 10 minutes of it. When you do this you will be able to see how it is assembled. Narrator speaks and then you hear their soundbites. Look at the way it is assembled. Type up the sound. Exactly as you hear them.

Unique: Her quote (yes, type up everything she says)

Narrator: Write up the words of the narrator exactly

Music or NAT (natural sound): Note these when you hear them and check the times -- how long did these run/

I want you to pay particular attention to the way the narrator weaves the quotes together. It is conversational but always leads into the next quote.

WHY Do we do this? So that you can start internalizing how these stories are constructed. You will be doing plenty of your own stories. Learn from the masters . . . no need to reinvent the wheel.

I also want you to listen to this. Last year I took students to hear these guys in downtown DC. They win tons of awards.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

November 12 - Read and comment (10 pts)

Read this from The New York Times

PBS would like us to comment on examples from our lives that showed our private life becoming too public in social media. Do you have a story like that?

For 10 pts formative, comment and give examples of how social media might violate your life or someone else you know.

Meanwhile, check out your Washington zip code in this really cool article from The Washington Post. I was shocked at the difference between where I grew up and where I live now. It explains a lot about the politics differences. What suprised you about your zip code? What did not? Write that up as the end of your comments. Thanks.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Nov. 7 - Press Conference Today

We have a press conference today on Macbeth. Please look up the play online so that you can ask some reasonable questions. Kennedy's Drama Club opens the show this weekend and we will have some of the actors and Mr. Utterback here for statements and questions.

You will be expected to write a 300 word piece on this for a formative grade of 30 pts. Make sure that you consult the "Quotes and using them correctly" sheet that I have handed out.

Nov. 5 - Don't WHINE that you cannot think of a story!

Today we are going to look at a reporter who does television news, yes, but he has compiled many awards and accolades. He also gets the last slot on Friday's CBS News, typically a feel-good, upbeat slot. Click here for an example.

But the most important thing about this reporter is that he believes that everyone has a story and he set out to prove it.

His process? He throws a dart at the map and then travels to the place the dart hit. THEN he randomly picks a name out of the local phone book to find his subject. So, then what happens?

Check the following out:

Click here for a lady who still makes me smile after I have seen this so many times.

Click here for the kid.

Click here for the pulling teeth kind of interview.

Click here for the the cop in LA.

SOOOOO . . . . what are some key components of getting the story? How does he do this in your expert opinion? What does Harman do when he meets these people? Write up your thoughts and turn in today. (10 pts formative) Ms. Greer

Silver Spring, Md.

Nov. 4 - Today's assignment (15 pts. formative)

Read this. Written by a student. This is an example of very good use of detail. What works in this story? Write that up for 15 pts. formative TODAY.

Also, check out these posts just for your own information.

Click here for the Smithsonian competition.

Click here for an interesting story on photos and narrative.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.