Class 2/25/2010

Class on February 25^th started just like any other class, but then suddenly it was time for a news quiz. Ten minutes later and we were done, going over the answers. There was a little more argument about the choice of news articles from the class, and this blogger has to ask: after student uproar moved the news quizzes from Monday to Thursday, what’s next?

The quiz featured many big news stories including the death of a whale trainer and Olympic hockey games of note. Please be reminded that the whale in question was not and has no relation to the famous and innocent Shamu. In terms of hockey, there was a brief discussion on Olympic hockey, including a Sidney Crosby versus Alexander Ovechkin debate that took up most of the class. Other topics discussed included the domination of the U.S. of A. on the hockey rink.

After the news quiz, the students were silenced in fear as discussion of the midterm began. The midterm is on Thursday, March 4^th and will require students to write two complete news stories, using any of the styles we have learned in class including inverted pyramid, the hourglass or narrative, chronological, or the kabob focus story. If nervous, students were advised to read chapters 1-6 in the Stovall text, review the AP style and grammar rules (although access will be given to the AP stylebook during the exam), look over the handouts, and read this class blog. There are also sample stories on blackboard for reference.

Even if you are planning on failing the midterm, there is hope available in the form of extra credit. Over spring break you can write an editorial in response to a news story in any newspaper and send it in. If your story is published, you get an instant 100% substituted in place of your lowest quiz grade. Easy money. Please note that the Washington post accepts pseudonyms. For a pseudonym generator, please visit http://makememighty.ca/.

Next, the class moved on to the discussion of review writing, spring boarded by our “review of a review” assignment. The essential elements to writing a review are plot summary, mention of important personnel in production, mention of award nominations, criticism or praise, and a mention of the film’s Motion Picture Association of America rating.

Finally, the class watched the speech from Good Night, and Good Luck and took notes. The class then used the speech to write an in class assignment on speech writing.