Nove. 5 - Assignment - Write the opinion piece and email to me via newfrontierinbox@gmail.com

My car in front of one of our great American symbols.

First up, think about how President Obama must feel today.

Now, back to work.

So, the PBS Student Reporting Lab has been busy with the election coverage. Be sure you look at all the videos and read the text.

Now look at the graphics the students did. Click to see that here.

Read through it. Actually dig down into the data and take notes on your reaction. What did students care about? Who took the survey? Where were they? What surprised you? What do you have an argument with and why?

ASSIGNMENT: Read the graphics. Take a random sample of students on the bus or after school today and ask them some of the same questions on the graph. Try to get an idea why students feel the way they do. Do this as an observer. Do not offer your own opinion. THEN DO THE FOLLOWING:

Write an opinion piece (editorial) (at least two or three paragraphs)on the data that you see in these graphs and the attitudes you learned about from your fellow classmates.

Turn them in to newfrontierinbox@gmail.com. I am going to read and grade them.

Honestly, I am looking at how you will make meaning and synthesize the data in those graphs. Relate them to personal observations you have about youth and politics. Are you and your friends apathetic? Pessimistic or optimistic? Look around.

I will grade over the weekend but I will check the email time stamp. Due: Thursday, Nov. 6.

Ms. Greer

Silver Spring, Md.

Nov. 3 - Today's assignment (turn into sub, please)

Ms. Greer is watching!

So we have 4 summatives due this quarter and this is no mystery, they are news packages. We need to be better at feeding the news beast, our dearly beloved, www.jfknewfrontier.com.

On Wednesday, I will send you a schedule of the due dates.

Again, that is a 300-word story that has a great headline, a compelling picture that draws in your reader, and some kind of media (audio, video, slideshow).

I cannot stress enough how much easier this all is if you actually interview at least three people who are close to you story.

Tomorrow is the election. Listen to this interview I just heard about voters. It is sound rich, you can see the people talking and you get inside their heads a bit. Even if you do not agree with the people interviewed, you will agree that the journalist helps us see how complicated this election and politics and peoples' attitudes are. Your job as a journalist it to show the issues and be objective. Listen how the reporter asks questions, how he humanizes the people he talks to. Be like that guy. LISTEN.

Write up your reactions to this and turn into sub. Compare the two voters. What did you notice about the way the reporter did his work?

Also, check out this NYTIMES photographer about covering the Climate March in NYC that I also shot. Why does "technology is not your friend" sound familiar?

10 pts formative

NO LATE WORK!!

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

October 21 - Assignments plus something really cool

Please get your stories done. Please.

Here is something very interesting for you to check out. It is part video game and part investigative reporter. It may not open at school because it is a very dense program. Try it at home. I know that I just had to wait for maybe five minutes for it to load while I looked at a totally black screen.

It is very, very cool.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Assignment - October 14 - Let's talk about grades

Reporters look at the underpinnings of things. (The above photo is the underbelly of a parade float which is relevant to this week of JFK Homecoming.)

In a journalism class, there is intrinsic motivation.

You are motivated because you want to do it, not because someone told you to.

So you guys signed a contract at the beginning of the year that you knew you had four (4) summative news packages due. The dates for these were:

Sept. 12
Sept. 26
October 10
October 24

These are now in the gradebook and will not be going away.

Please talk to me about where I have not given you credit. This will be a real focus the next two weeks to fix but make sure you give me material to work with, ok?.

I have not pressured you. That is not my job. You are to be reporters and sniff out good news stories. That is why this class is different than others. You self-direct with collaboration with your editor and at the end, yours truly.

Packages included the following:

**Photo (to anchor the story on our website)

**300-word article with relevant quotes from people who matter near the story who are value-added to our understanding of it

**Some kind of media (audio, video, slide show, graph, etc.)

It is time.

I will also be giving you other projects, but they will be formative.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

October 8, 2014 - Assignment

Today you are going to check out some "best of" articles by students around the country.

Read them (there are FOUR) and then critique what you think/notice about them. How is their use of quotes? How do they use vocabulary? How is the story organized? Include the answers to these questions in your critique. (6.25 pts. each critique)

First up is this wrestling story at this link

FYI: All quotes that are made bigger for emphasis are called "pull quotes."

Second story is about two goalies at this link.

Third story is here and about a longboarder.

Notice the link to his YouTube channel.

Here is the last story. See how you can take a small story in an academic department and make it very interesting.

TYPE THESE UP AND SEND TO NEWFRONTIERINBOX@GMAIL.COM. Due Date: Friday, October 10, 2014.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Oct. 6 - Survey for PBS

Please take this survey for PBS SRL. Thank you. A pizza party is possible if we do this.

Here is the link: Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

September 29, 2014 -- Caption Assignment (12 pts formative)

Please write captions to the following pictures. For example:

Sophomore Nathan Cinada leaps high for the floating illusion photography assignment with Ms. Ingersoll.

Here are the photos you need to caption. Be sure you have the main characters name and grade and use an action verb (google that if you have forgotten what that is.)

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

NOTICE THAT THESE ARE NOT POSED. WE ARE TRYING TO CAPTURE THE READ DEAL, THE WAY REALITY IS at JFK WITHOUT Selfie Posing or Photobombing. Photographers need to search like hunters for the images that are real.

Type up and turn in tomorrow.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

September 24 - Reading a master writer assignment Due Monday, September 29 (formative)

Look at this link after you read the story.

You are to read both articles on the trick the Washington Post played on unknowing subway riders.

Look at the way this was written.

Part 1: Look up words you do not know. Write them out and define them. There should be at least 15 of them.

Part 2: Write an essay/article on what you learned about writing from this reading. What was richer and more informative about the reading compared to just watching the video? What are three take-aways (meaning info that you will carry with you for life.) Just know that I expect 3-5 really good paragraphs. DO NOT BORE ME.

15 points on the definitions
25 points formative on the essay

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

September 16 - Writing - Review this - Quiz on Friday

Go to this link and review.

Sept. 15 -- Super Soaker Day (20 pts Formative)

Here are links to projects and articles that I want you to read/watch and write about.

Look at each of the following projects and answer these questions in a well-written paragraph

What is the story about and how do they get our attention?

What is the most powerful element of the three pieces I have linked to and why?

Do not be afraid to voice your opinion in your analytical writing. You have been looking at visual images all of your life, so be the expert you already are.

1. "Out My Window NYC" is a project that uses audio and photos.

2. "One in Eight Million" is a collection of characters in NYC. Check it out here.

3. "Social Worker with a Camera" is another slideshow to analyze.

4. Here is a great way to think about doing slide shows in Final Cut X.

Ms. Greer

Silver Spring, Md.

p.s. You might want to see how Blair wrote up their football win over JFK here.

September 2 - Assignment and Writing Notes

Bamboo used in last year's parade for spears and banners.

So here is the link to get you started on the parade story.

You will need to get more quotes.

You will also have a choice of last year's parade pictures OR get Mr. Kirk drawing something.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Aug. 27 - Welcome back! Today is Rapid Response on Ferguson.

Today we will post our answer to the prompt from the PBS Student Reporting Lab Rapid Response. The Rapid Response is a way for the reporters to see what America's young reporters are thinking about issues. It is a remarkable opportunity to get your voice heard and to practice sound bites that are worthy and add to overall discourse and better understanding. Here is what it looked like in the past.

Here is the social hub from SRL. See what other reporting labs are up to.

Here is another link to the student summer experience with the PBS SRL All-Stars.

Here is our page. Last year we had three stories that almost made the cut (and they still may get used with tweaking). They are very strict with their standards. This year, we want to do at least two great stories and multiple Rapid Responses.

Here is the link that is connected to the picture above. It is a really powerful piece of reporting and everyone should listen to the whole package. Afterwards, write a quick, interesting paragraph with your thoughts about what you just heard AND details that stuck out to you. These details are what make good reporting. They help the listener or reader or viewer SEE what you are talking about. (8 pts. formative)

Also, just so you know what the new show format will be on Fridays, it will be a lot like this. But with Kennedy flavor.

Also, check this out.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

June 2 - Summative Essay

My View of Myself as a Journalist

(300 words) Summative ( 15 pts.)

Answer the following in a short essay.

Am I more aware of issues around me in my community and school?

Do I pay more attention to current events?

Do I want to communicate my thoughts on issues/observations to my peers and to my elders with media or writing?

Give examples of why or why not.

Type up and turn in to newfrontierinbox@gmail.com

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

May 30 - Assignment (20 pts formative)

Watch and respond to questions on these short videos.

Video 1 is here.

What do you think of this issue? Legit or not?
What additional information would you need to dig out to write a well-rounded, legit story?
Write this up in a well-written paragraph.

Video 2 is here.

This video sets a location and a community. What do you notice? Track how it changes if it does. Write that up in a well-written paragraph. Include your take-away opinion of this situation.

Turn in to Mr. Brewer.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

May 29 - Assignment (20 pts. formative) Write up what you think of this list. What do we do or not do? What do we need to change?

So today you will respond to several articles and situations.

1. The tragedy in Santa Barbara has raised issues about how the student press covered it.

Check out one school's policy on emergencies and how they cover them below:

In an emergency…

A fire, a shooting, an unexpected death… these are all stories that we hope we don’t ever have to cover. But some high schools and colleges have faced these crises, and have provided their communities with the information that is especially needed in troubling times.

Student reporters have a unique position in the midst of a breaking story:

o We are teenagers who may be close to those who are most affected.
o We are sons and daughters who need to take into account the concerns of our families.
o We are students who must follow school rules.
o We are journalists who have an obligation to provide information to our readers.

To resolve these sometimes conflicting roles, The HUB has the following policy:
o In an emergency, safety comes first. Follow all instructions from school officials and go where they direct you. Never put yourself in danger!
o If you are personally affected by a crisis, do not feel like you need to put on your reporter hat. Take care of yourself; others who are less affected can take over.
o When able, take notes on all aspects of the crisis that you can personally observe. Interview people about the crisis, even while waiting. Don’t wait for an assignment: report!
o Remember to take photographs, with cell phones, if necessary.
o If you can do so without interfering with their work, interview officials at the scene who can provide context and information (wear a press pass).
o Connect with an editor-in-chief or adviser as soon as possible to see how you can help with the story. Come to the classroom if allowed. If not, the editor-in-chief will designate a meeting place, which could be at a staffer home or the Davis Enterprise [our local paper]. Call an editor-in-chief to find out where the meeting place is.

To make sure we are always prepared for an emergency that may keep us out of the our classroom, we:

o Keep the cell phone numbers of the editors-in-chief, photo editor, adviser, and Student Press Law Center (at a minimum) stored on our own cell phones.
o Keep laptops up-to-date with programs and templates.
o Keep press passes and notebooks with us.
o Photographers keep at least a point-and-shoot camera with them at all times to capture breaking stories.

Our goal is to:

o Keep our community informed by posting confirmed facts (not speculation) on our web site by the end of the day.If warranted, write, layout, and distribute a special issue that provides context and information to our community.

REMEMBER, THE ABOVE IS THE POLICY OF THE OTHER SCHOOL. YOU ARE TO RESPOND TO IT IN WRITING. PUT IN JFKNEWFRONTIERINBOX@gmail.com. Due: At end of class today.

May 15 - Assignment (due Monday, formative, 25 pts.)

This is a drain near my mother's house in Greenbrier County, W. Va., a place riddled with caves.

Go to this link and read the following article.

When I was about 13 years old, I earned a Girl Scout badge in caving. It was probably the coolest experience I have ever had. One cave we went in, Organ Cave, had a secret entrance. We came out the paid entrance six hours later, extremely dirty and everyone was like "where did they come from?" Coolest moment ever.

I was always struck by how beautiful the crystal rocks looked underground. Like diamonds. When you brought them to the surface, they just looked like rocks. One other cool things about that cave. Someone had a New Years Eve party down there and a lot of the decorations were there from 40 years before. In another one we explored, they had tended to injured soldiers during the Civil War. Some of that stuff was still there, too. The entrance to that cave has been sealed since we were in there.

Read the article. I want you to write a short essay on what your reaction to this article and this kind of exploration. Show thought. What struck you as interesting about it?

ALSO, what 10 new words did you see and what did they mean (look them up AND WRITE THEM UP). Turn in the words and your well-developed paper on this article to me on our scheduled exam day next week.

May 13 - Response to Media Assignment (Formative 20 pts.) Due Thursday, May 15

Read the following and comment on how to localize these stories.

Click here for a video on the definition of "Asian." What are your responses to this? Write them up in a paragraph. What is your experience with the term "Asiam?"

Watch the following science piece and think about how much females have to endure in Africa. You also know this latest piece on the young girls who were abducted in Nigeria, right? WRITE UP A RESPONSE TO YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE STATE OF BEING A FEMALE IN AFRICA.

Probably the most important story in the paper today is this one. What are the implications for you and your children with this story? Write a paragraph where you explain what you think the environmental state will be. Don't just tell me that sea levels will rise 10 feet.

Graduations are all around and that means commencement speakers. Look at this article. What advice do you want to hear? What do you think they should say to you?

Five points per paragraph. Not that hard. Don't bore. Show thought.

Type up. Turn in.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

April 30 - Assignment - 20 points formative - Due TODAY!

Go the The New York Times and the Washington Post today's edition online.

Write up ten story ideas that you can localize for the school newspaper with the links to the original news article.

Put in my hand-in folder Pd. 6(not the Buffalo).

Work quickly. Looking around will help you get ideas. For example, who knew there was a deadly fungus in cloth, for goodness sake? See this link here. Now that is a horror movie.Can this fungus travel to other places, like a school, for instance?

I am at a media festival debriefing. Back tomorrow.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

April 10 - Assignment - 25 pts. summative --Did I hear Drone?

Today - Two things you must do today. Quiz which should take you almost no time AND the following response paper to the web link on new ways to spice up our media.

You need to look at the following web site and write up a proposal at least 1.5 pages long with different ideas you take away about how to help our newspaper. We need to post more stories about more sports, events around school, spring break, prom proposals, etc. This is full of ideas that might excite you to do more in cooler ways.

Here is the link to 100 Things you should know about journalism

Make sure that I feel like you really looked at the pieces. And no, we can't get a drone.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md

Feb. 18 - Scholastic Journialism Week -- we need to make our site AWESOME!

So . . . where are we?

We have bought a new program that works with our website to make it better for our mobile phones.

All staff members need to update their staff bios. Look at the way they are done at the A-Blast or the Foothill Dragon Press. Don't give too much personal info away.

Send a small paragraph about yourself to newfrontierinbox.com.

You have two days to get your sound slide finished. DEADLINE IS BEGINNING OF CLASS THURSDAY.

MS. GREER
Silver Spring, Md.

Feb. 10 - Assignment

You have a sound/slide assignment. This is individual. It is designed to get you out in the building documenting life here at Kennedy.

Tell your editors what you plan to cover after discussing so it can be posted on the board today.

Each photo should be really good in telling us more about the people or event you are covering.

Here are some great examples.

We will teach you how to do the audio in Hindenburg if you don't know how yet.

The project will be loaded onto Vimeo or YouTube for the paper.

You will each tweet out your link to your project so we can build page views.

This is going to be awesome.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Feb. 6 - Assignments for the next two days

ALL GOOD REPORTERS KEEP UP WITH THE NEWS. THAT IS YOUR TASK.

You will cruise around in these sites looking for what you think are important stories. You all know about The New York Times and The Washington Post as good sources for news.
But there are others. Especially from people who may have a different perspective. THEY WILL MAKE YOU A BETTER REPORTER.

Here are the links to some of them:

Click here for the BBC.

Click here for the German and mid-European perspective.

Click here for The Guardian (they are the ones who have brought us much of the info from Mr. Snowden, the NSA leaker.

Click here for alternative news.

Click here for news from the Middle East.

Click here for another source of news that Bill Moyers claims he is dependent upon.

Then you will write a current events quiz of 10 questions.
NOTE: ANYONE WHO COPIES DOING THIS WILL GET A ZERO.
I will be taking your test when I get back on Monday.
Turn your quiz into the sub before the end of the period on Friday. 20 pts. formative. Any question I miss you get an additional point.
BUT THE QUIZ MUST BE REASONABLE TO GET THE POINT.

Additionally, you will look for one of these stories and tie it up with a local reaction to it. You must interview students, teachers and other stakeholders in the story. Your job is to research that and have a plan of attack. Write that up and turn into Mr. Brewer before send of day on Friday. Begin your reporting leg work on the story asap. 20 points formative.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Feb 3 - Things to check out and keep in your arsenal of journalistic/storytelling tools

So here is a list of excellent videos from Canada on photography. Check out this group of videos. Choose three and write up three paragraphs (paragraph for each video) of what you learned from them.

Turn in on sheet of paper today.

Formative: 15 points

Your other stories are due to newfrontierinbox@gmail.com for their first edit.

30 points formative.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.

Jan. 27 -

So, check out this two-minute link about telling visual stories. This link is about a photographer, now videographer, for The Baltimore Sun who has had to change up his skills. He has some very interesting things for you to think about as he covers an anime festival here in Maryland.

Today you are going to get your assignment paper and have a staff photo taken.

Jan. 24 -- Today we organize

The above is Keegan talking with PBS for their show on privacy and the web over Google Hangout yesterday.

TODAY, our first piece of business is to work on our organization.

We will review the jobs together. We will accept a job if we are pressed into service and do the best that we can. (Reminder that colleges will see that you worked on the newspaper and they love that. BUT remember that they will be able to see what you have done so be proud and careful with your work).

We will take staff pictures and write a small bio for the web site. Keep it kind of general with no really personal info. Remember, it will be online.

We will go over what you think are our newspaper's weaknesses. Then we will try to address them.

We will start our current event quizzes next week. They will be different that television productions and posed a little differently.

Ms. Greer

Silver Spring, Md.

January 2 - One last STORY before the exam - PLUS - CURRENT EVENTS QUIZ TOMORROW

You need to do another news story before next Wednesday.

Today, you need to look at all current events. YOU HAVE A QUIZ TOMORROW. Check out the weather. Check out resolutions for this next year. Pippin. Any other mural plans with Mr. Kirk?

Do you have any sports stories? Will you cover a game?

Your paper. Your grade.

I hope you want to do a good job of it for its own sake.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.