1.Read the article and then take the test: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/09/20/insider/approve-or-reject-moderation-quiz.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&_r=1

 

 

2. Read over the commenting guidelines below…

 

Commenting Guidelines:

• Comments should be at least 2-5 sentences, not less.
• Write comments that add to the conversation. Ask a question. Provide a link that might clarify a point. Copy/paste a passage that interests you then write your comments and questions.
• Read the article. Read all the comments. Be part of the full discussion.
• Use comments to show what you think is important, interesting, controversial, thoughtful.
• Constructive criticism only. Critique the idea, not the person. Being derogatory or inflammatory distracts the conversation. Respect other people and their opinions and ideas.
• Use good grammar and spelling. Mistakes cause readers to focus on how you write, not your ideas.
• Treat people the way you want to be treated.

In addition, these response prompts for comments, from Scattergood Biology, also might be helpful for studetns to keep on topic and ensure high quality comments:

• This made me think about “¦
• I wonder why “¦
• Your writing made me form an opinion about “¦
• This post is relevant because “¦
• Your writing made me think about “¦
• I wish I understood why “¦
• This is important because “¦
• Another thing to consider “¦
• I can relate to this “¦
• I don’t understand “¦
• I was reminded that “¦
• I found myself wondering “¦

 

 

 

3. Please read and respond to AT LEAST THREE of your classmates’ blog posts from yesterday.

Today you should get mad about something.

 

The best editorials stem from discontent. Post to your blog about an issue that bothers you. You will eventually be taking this post and fine-tuning it into a cleaner (less ranting) editorial. The post should be no less than 200 words.

 

 

ALSO, if you are interested in a leadership role in the class/club – please fill out the following form: https://goo.gl/forms/fq4LULo3gnzHQbDG2

Editorials!?

 

Click this link for today’s assignment: https://goo.gl/forms/DCVflgk6K8CPemFQ2

Intro & Regular Students:

We will be spending the next three days on the activity below. You will be crafting your first, short news story.

 

1. CLICK HERE:
   • https://docs.google.com/a/smithtown.k12.ny.us/document/d/1PkFTVSSgZzVnqha9zPjUWgiAnu1uMqU0ZU50L6ILL8A/edit?usp=sharing
2.  BEFORE YOU TYPE: Go to “File –> Make a Copy” and save it as “YOUR NAME Guided Writing Activity.”
3. Follow the steps!

 

1. Read the following information about hard news articles and leads.
2. Answer the questions: https://goo.gl/forms/fW5AYCFjHlBbDj5Y2

 

Hard news articles are written so the the reader can stop reading at any time, and still come away with the whole story.  This is very different from an essay, which presumes that the audience will stick around to the end, and can therefore build to a finish.

 

The Lead: The lead, or the first sentence of the story, is arguably the most important part of the article. Based on the content of that first sentence, a reader will either look deeper into the story, or move on to the next one.

• Read this article, especially paying attention to how the lead, the first sentence, is constructed.

Therefore, how you craft your lead is very important. There are some basic rules one can follow:

• The who, what, when, where, how, why lead.
• Basically, just like it sounds. This lead tries to answer the 5 w’s and one h in one sentence.
• EXAMPLE: A 15-minute operation involving a forklift, 20 firefighters, seven police officers and one scared pig ended a two-hour traffic delay on Interstate 94 Sunday morning.
• How you craft the sentence is also important:
  • Five Ws and an H (or, finding a lead by emphasizing the most important news element first):
    1. WHO: President Clinton will visit Cuba next week at the request of Caricom nations.
    2. WHAT: Lightning struck the upper deck at Wrigley Field last night while the Cubs were playing in San Francisco.
    3. WHEN: Midnight tonight is the deadline for tax returns, but the local post office is ready to accommodate procrastinators.
    4. WHERE: The Emerson and Towanda intersection is officially the most dangerous crossing in Bloomington, according to the Illinois Bureau of Transportation.
    5. WHY: Because she could correctly spell “ostentatious,” Lisa Wheeler will go to the state Spelling Bee finals.
    6. HOW: By hitting his 50th home run last night for the fourth year, Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa etched his name in the baseball record books alongside Babe Ruth and Mark McGwire.

Intro & Regular Journalism: What makes a story “newsworthy”?

1. Complete form: https://goo.gl/forms/DCk48movxI5qvOY92
2. Class discussion – what makes something “news”
3. In a reputable news site (and subject area) of your interest, find the top two stories for today. Read both stories (be sure they are straight news stories and not editorials – when in doubt – ask!).
   • potential sources: www.cnn.com, www.nbcnews.com, news.google.com, www.wsj.com, www.nytimes.com
4. On your blog, create a new post in which you:
   • provide a link to each story and a brief (1-2 sentence) summary of each.
   • A short 3-4 sentence paragraph explaining why you think these journalists decided that these particular stories were “newsworthy.”

 

Advanced: Come speak to me!

NOTE: Make sure you have completed all the steps from YESTERDAY’S post first!

 

Official Blog Entry #1 (*Your first “REAL” assignment*)

 

1. Find a blog that interests you here: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/blogs/directory.html?_r=0
2. Read a particular post that you find interesting (or upsetting).
3. Post an entry on your blog in which you:
   1. Provide the title of and link to the blog post to which you are responding.
   2. State your own feelings about the issue.
4. Check out some information about how to establish a successful blog: http://journalists.org/2014/05/13/how-to-start-a-blog-the-kick-in-the-pants-i-wish-i-had-in-college/

*For those of you who demand word counts I would suggest 300 words as being absolute minimum for any blog entry worth publishing

 

 

1. Mr. Klauber will share information obtained from the first survey.
2. Go back into your edublog.
3. Play with the layout a bit and set it up to your liking.
4. For your first post, decide what you think is the most pressing news story going on right now (locally, nationally, or globally). Label the post with the date and the topic you are examining. As articulately as possible, elaborate on your personal feelings regarding this topic. Keep in mind these posts will be visible to others in this class.
5. Complete survey: https://goo.gl/forms/o7GeKkC7Z5Q3fg7n2

Welcome!

1. Complete the work from yesterday (filling out the survey and setting up an edublog account).
2. Complete Journalism Interest survey: https://goo.gl/forms/5INST5eaNiaB5SYm2
3. Spend a few minutes checking out our website: www.westbullseye.com
4. Watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaTeACp0w50&app=desktop
5. Open a blank google doc (if you don’t know how or can’t – use Word).
6. Respond in a short (1 paragraph) response: what do you think the role of the Bull’s Eye should be (broadcast,online, and in print)? What should we continue to do, or do differently? Save the response until tomorrow.

Welcome to Journalism 2016-17!

1. Complete the google form
   • CLICK HERE: https://goo.gl/forms/JtbdftFmfZQx4WfZ2
2. Go to- www.edublogs.org
3. Click the green “sign up” button on the top right
4. Select “I’m a student.”
5. DO NOT click use invite code
6. Enter the same email address you listed on the google form from step 1.
7. DO NOT create a new site – once you’ve registered and are you are in your dashboard just sit tight and await further instruction.

 

Journalism Syllabus 2016-17