Magazine Project: Day 4

Please complete your magazine/newsletters today. Please print out a copy of your work (do NOT fold or staple your work!)

Chew On This: Investigative Journalism

Investigative journalism involves researching and reporting a story that someone is trying to hide from the public. Writers often investigate and report information to create change in the world. Investigative reporters are behind many of the changes that we see today in our society due to their reporting the "truth". 

The Internet, for example, is full of citizen writers or reporters who take it upon themselves to write about the "truth"--usually something that a company or institution is trying to hide. For a few examples please look here. These are investigative reporters who have won Pulitzer Prizes.

To be a good investigative reporter, a writer needs to conduct research, gain knowledge from interviews or articles on-line or in print, investigate an issue, and observe. Good investigative and research skills, determination, and a keen sense of skepticism are important qualities to have if you want to be an investigative reporter. It also helps to know the law and have a social conscience. That is, you should care about people and our society.

Chew On This is a type of investigative journalism. It's novel length, but includes a lot of research and fact finding. Its purpose is to report information to the public in an entertaining way--a task many authors try to accomplish.

HOMEWORK: Please read Chew On This over the break. When we return from vacation, we will begin working on an investigative report/documentary project. As you read the book, examine how the author uses facts, historical information, reports, interviews, etc. to report "the truth" about the fast-food industry.

Magazine Project: Day 3.

For homework, I asked you to select one of the magazines from the journalism website: http://www.threesixtyjournalism.org/audience/students/websites.

Take 2-3 minutes to recall the article you selected. Then in groups of 4-5 (there will be 3 of these groups in our class), please share what you learned about the magazine/newsletter/on-line site you chose. What sorts of articles did the magazine have, what would a writer need to know if he/she submitted to this magazine, what does the magazine publish, etc.

Take 10 minutes to share your findings. When you have completed this task, please continue to work on your magazine project. You should aim to complete the project by the end of Wednesday. 

 

HELP/ADVICE WRITING ARTICLES:

If you need HELP writing journalism articles, check this website out for advice!

To add or delete pages, select add or remove pages from the INSERT menu. 

HOMEWORK: None.

Newsletter/Magazine: Day 2

Last class we chose a partner and began to create a newsletter (2 sided) where you completed the following:

• 1. Decide on the kind of newsletter/magazine you would like to work on with your partner. 
• 2. Brainstorm some names for the magazine/newsletter. Titles usually help a prospective reader find and identify the kind of magazine he/she would like to read.
• 3. Brainstorm some potential article ideas. 
• 4. Create headlines for your article ideas. These should be short and intriguing titles. Be creative!
• 5. If you have brainstormed at least 5 story ideas and titles, you may begin writing the articles. Make up details or conduct research as you see fit, but above all: be detailed and creative! 

Most newspaper articles interview or have short quotes from participants. Newspaper articles answer: who, what, where, when, how, and why? about a particular event.

Now it's time to start writing your articles. You will need to complete 2-pages of articles (you may include pictures or fake advertisements in your "magazine". Each partner should write enough articles on topics you brainstormed with your partner to fill 2-pages (a back and a front). Taken together, you will be creating a 4-page magazine. You may choose, if you'd like (for extra credit) to write a 6-page newsletter--some of you are capable of this kind of length. Decide on your length as a team.

Learn this JOURNALISM vocabulary:

Headlines: the attention grabbing title of an article
Masthead: the name of the newspaper/magazine (usually designed, but doesn't change)
Article: a specific story/narrative/non-fiction writing about a specific topic
Body: refers to the text of an article
Hook: Every article starts off with an attention grabbing sentence.

Some ideas for articles:

• Interview a parent, neighbor, or student and write out the interview as if you were a reporter. See this link for ideas how to set up and conduct an interview.
• Film/Book/Theater Review: watch a film, read a book, go see a theater or musical production and review the event. Review a book you read this year either for pleasure or for English class. 
• How-to articles: many magazines have articles that focus on how to do something. Usually these articles have good advice.

Please check out these links: 

WEBSITES to gain more ideas for writing projects:

http://www.layouth.com

http://www.reporter.org

A variety of journalism websites: http://www.threesixtyjournalism.org/audience/students/websites

HELP/ADVICE WRITING ARTICLES:

If you need HELP writing journalism articles, check this website out for advice!

To add or delete pages, select add or remove pages from the INSERT menu. 

HOMEWORK: Choose one link from the journalism website posted above. Read and research this site. Be prepared to share this link with the class.

Magazine/Newsletter Project: Day One

We will start today by looking at some magazines. Magazine writing is one way in which young or inexperienced authors can break into the writing field. It's not easy, though. But there are enough magazines out there for every kind of reader.

Library task: flip through samples of 2-3 magazines during period 3. Mark your observations on the handout sheet (to be turned in for participation credit).
Note:

• What is the magazine's title?
• identify the audience for this magazine (who is likely to be the reader of this magazine?)
• What sorts of articles does the magazine seem to print? (list some topics or themes)
• Read ONE article in full. List its title and add a summary of the article.
• Why do you think there are so many ads in this magazine?
• What patterns of ads do you notice? How might the ads target the reader of this kind of magazine?
• If you were to write for this magazine, what would your article be about?

Back in the lab (4th period):
 
Open a template for a newsletter. I'd suggest using Microsoft Word or Pages, but if you are comfortable with InDesign, feel free to use that.

Choose a partner. You (and your partner) will create a newsletter (2 sided) where you complete the following:

• 1. Decide on the kind of newsletter/magazine you would like to work on with your partner. 
• 2. Brainstorm some names for the magazine/newsletter. Titles usually help a prospective reader find and identify the kind of magazine he/she would like to read.
• 3. Brainstorm some potential article ideas. 
• 4. Create headlines for your article ideas. These should be short and intriguing titles. Be creative!
• 5. If you have brainstormed at least 5 story ideas and titles, you may begin writing the articles. Make up details or conduct research as you see fit, but above all: be detailed and creative! 

Most newspaper articles interview or have short quotes from participants. Newspaper articles answer: who, what, where, when, how, and why? about a particular event.


Homework: None.

500 Word Short Story: Draft

Today, please use your brainstorming exercises from last class to write a 500 word short story. Keep the advice in mind when writing. Remember the models you read. Be creative! Today, by the end of class, you should have a complete 500 word short story draft completed. Print out your stories by the end of class today. Please proofread your work before you turn it in.

Done early?
check out:

• The History of Nikola Tesla (animated)
• The History of Thomas Edison (animated)
• The Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe (animated story)
• To Kill a Mockingbird (animated summary of the novel)

HOMEWORK: None. Watch the videos if you didn't get a chance to during class. Please turn in your 500 word short story drafts.

500 Word Short, Short Fiction

Today we will write a 500 word short story. Before we do: Refer to the note sheet I gave you last class. Then, if you have not yet watched these two short videos, please do so in the next few minutes.

• Daniel Radcliffe: 500 Words story
• David Walliams: 500 Words story

Then, in groups of 3-4, please gather and read the short stories in the packet for the first part of today's class. As you read, please note and discuss how each story unfolds. How does the author make the story more interesting and creative? How might you do this in your own fiction?

During 3rd period, it's work time. Please leave your safe groups and return to your cold, cold desks. There I want you to write a 500 words short story. Your topic can be anything. Consider the stories you just read, and let your mind and imagination play.

HOMEWORK: None, unless you didn't complete your assignment. 500 word short story. Get to it!

Hint Fiction Project & The 500 Word Story

• 1. Get together in the following groups: Group Z: Izzy, Saisha, Mitchell, Aleah     Group Y: Tyshay, Tyshon, Austin, Jaymee, Yasmine; Group X: Jacob, Radezia, Grace, Karla, Justice.

• Once in your groups, read your work together. Offer feedback to one another. Then together as a group, select the best 4 hint fiction pieces from each author.
• 2. Using the program PAGES, please complete the following assignment:
• From the TEMPLATES menu, choose CARDS and INVITATIONS under PAGE LAYOUT.
• Choose one of the POSTCARD options (Only!). Each author may choose his/her own template option.
• Each story you wrote will have a picture or graphic on the front side (one for each story) that appropriately depicts or goes with the theme or tone of your story. (No text is needed on the front of the card, so you can delete the text box. Click on it, then delete.) Find IMAGES from GOOGLE IMAGES or your own photography.
• On the BACK of the card (where the address information would normally go) please type your 25 word or less hint fiction story on the back. Be sure to include your title AND your name on each one. You do NOT need to include your address. Remove this text. You may change the FONT to something you like that is legible and appropriate for your design, but you should not have more than one card per story. Make sure each story is aligned with the right picture.
• When you have typed up all four stories on the template, check your grammar and spelling. Make sure there are no errors, then print out your work and hand in. DO NOT FOLD your paper.

For help, see my mock-up.

Take a break between 3-4 period. Check out these websites!

• 25 Insights on Becoming a Better Writer
• Daniel Radcliffe: 500 Words story
• David Walliams: 500 Words story
• Please read at least 2 500 word stories from this site. 
• Next class: writing a 500 word story.

HOMEWORK: Read at least 2 500 word stories.

Geva Playwriting Contest; Back to Hint Fiction

This morning, please take 10-15 minutes to prepare and send your 10-minute play script to Geva. The address is as follows:

youngwriters@gevatheatre.org

You should have a TITLE PAGE with your name, address, phone #, school name, grade, and email address in the lower left or right hand corner. On your title page, please include your cast requirements (characters, and a short 1-sentence description of the character, if possible).

Please print out ONE copy of your play scripts for Ms. Perez and me. We'd like to read them and give you credit for writing!

Hint Fiction Bonanza!

Lab work: Please write between 5-10 Hint Fiction pieces (that's a total of 250 words, if you maxed it all out). You may select some of these stories from those you wrote in your journal or from the last few classes. Take the first period to write a few (after you've completed the play thing...) You will need these drafts before going on to the following steps:

• 1. Get together in the following groups: Group Z: Izzy, Saisha, Mitchell, Aleah     Group Y: Tyshay, Tyshon, Austin, Jaymee, Yasmine; Group X: Jacob, Radezia, Grace, Karla, Justice.

• Once in your groups, read your work together. Offer feedback to one another. Then together as a group, select the best 4 hint fiction pieces from each author.
• 2. Using the program PAGES, please complete the following assignment:
• From the TEMPLATES menu, choose CARDS and INVITATIONS under PAGE LAYOUT.
• Choose one of the POSTCARD options (Only!). Each author may choose his/her own template option.
• Each story you wrote will have a picture or graphic on the front side (one for each story) that appropriately depicts or goes with the theme or tone of your story. (No text is needed on the front of the card, so you can delete the text box. Click on it, then delete.) Find IMAGES from GOOGLE IMAGES or your own photography.
• On the BACK of the card (where the address information would normally go) please type your 25 word or less hint fiction story on the back. Be sure to include your title AND your name on each one. You do NOT need to include your address. Remove this text. You may change the FONT to something you like that is legible and appropriate for your design, but you should not have more than one card per story. Make sure each story is aligned with the right picture.
• When you have typed up all four stories on the template, check your grammar and spelling. Make sure there are no errors, then print out your work and hand in. DO NOT FOLD your paper.

For help, see my mock-up.

If you finish early today or are waiting for your group members to finish up their scripts or writing hint fiction pieces, check out these websites!

• 25 Insights on Becoming a Better Writer
• Daniel Radcliffe: 500 Words story
• David Walliams: 500 Words story
• Next class: writing a 500 word story.

HOMEWORK: None.

Play Prompts & Tips

--A 10-minute play is short. It is meant to be short. Usually, these are about 5-8 pages in length.
--Start your short play just before the climax of your story or plot.
--Give your protagonist a goal. What does this person want?
--Give your antagonist a goal. Why does this person want to stop the protagonist from getting what he/she wants?
--Give your protagonist's goal a time limit. This increases the suspense and conflict.
--Your conclusion or resolution of the play should be quick (probably not until the last few lines of the play).

Give your play a title and a short cast list.

PROMPTS:

Having trouble getting started? Try one of these to help get you out of sticky situation:

• Start with the line: "I want..."
• Start with a character in the middle of an action. Now interrupt that action with a second character. The second character is determined to accomplish a task that has nothing to do with the task the other character is trying to finish. Ex. A mother is cooking dinner, when daughter rushes in and needs comforting about the boyfriend she just broke up with. Mom wants to cook, Daughter wants to talk. Conflict.
• If a character wins his or her goal, they may leave the stage. If the character does not win, keep that character on stage. 
• If you get stuck, have a character talk about his/her past.
• If you get stuck, have a character talk about his/her goal or desires.
• If you get stuck, have a character talk about the future.
• If you get stuck, have another character interrupt. 
• If you get stuck, have another character enter and demand his/her goal is met immediately.

Thief of Always Test; Hint Fiction Tweet; Playwriting

Today, after our Thief of Always test, you should continue the following two writing exercises:

1. Continue writing your 10-minute play script for the Geva Playwriting Contest. This is due on Monday for Ms. Perez and me. We'll both give you a grade for it.
2. If you have a cell phone and a TWITTER account, please tweet one of your hint fiction pieces to a friend, family member, or acquaintance (follower). If you do not have a twitter account and cannot get one, use your email contacts to do the same thing.

You may return your Thief of Always books to the library.

HOMEWORK: None, unless you need to complete your play. (I believe Ms. Perez will be giving you time in class on Monday to complete your scripts as well...)