1. My main subject is my dad, Mike Johnson.
2. For my other interviewees, I will interview possibly my grandparents (my dad's parents), my mom, aunts and uncles (brothers and sisters of my dad) and possibly my sisters.
3. The topic is about my dad's experiences with growing and discovering that he wanted to be an engineer. There are key childhood experiences that made him who he is today.
4. I will be writing a more Personality story.
5. My questions for my dad:
1. Explain your profession/what you do.
2. What inventions/creations that you made as a child affect who you are today?
3. When did you realize you wanted to be an Engineer? Is there a specific moment?
4. What did you create/invent when you were younger?
5. Explain a funny experience that came out of one of your creations.
6. How did your family react to your creations?
7. Who has helped you along the way in becoming an Engineer?
8. What was going through your head as a child when you made these creations?
9. Have you ever reflected back on childhood creations to help you with a project?
10. Tell me about a time when a creation/invention didn't go as planned.
11. How did you learn from that failed experiment?
12. How is inventing/creating as a child different from what you do today?
13. Describe a proud moment from your Engineering career.
14. How did that change the way you performed your job?
15. Have you always wanted to be an engineer? If not, what other jobs did you want?
16. What did you learn from inventing/creating as a child?
17. Who do you work with?
18. Are you happy with your decisions?
19. Did other people influence/affect your creations/inventions/job decisions? Who?
20. Why did you want to create/invent?
6. Questions for my Grandma and/or Grandpa:
1. How did you react to my dad inventing/creating?
2. What funny experiences do you remember of my dad's creations/inventions?
3. Did my dad's inventions ever get him into trouble? Tell me about the experiences.
4. What went through your head when my dad was creating these things?
5. What is the most memorable thing my dad created/invented?
Questions for my mom:
1. Has dad told you about any childhood experiences? Which ones?
2. Has dad's job affected your life? How so?
3. Tell me about one of dad's experiences that you remember really well.
4. Can you relate to any of dad's experiences? Which ones?
7. Background Research:
1. There's approximately 39% of Americans that are Engineers.
2. Engineering is divided into 4 major branches, or groups: Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical, and Civil, which all have sub-branches within them.
3. 30% of Americans have the job they dreamed of having as a child.
4. There are approximately 2 million practicing Engineers in the United States.
5. Engineering, unlike Science, is the creation of making systems to improve our daily lives.
8. I will conduct this interview anytime over the Thanksgiving break, either on Wednesday or Sunday, when my dad and I are the least busy. I will call my Grandparents when they're free over the break.
9. I will interview my dad at my house in person, as well as with my mom. I will interview my Grandparents over the phone because they live way out of state.
10. I will plan on recording the interview, as it's easier to get more information and have the quotes flow better. I might have to write down my grandparents' quotes because the interview will be over a call, but if I figure out how to record the call I will ask if I can do that.
Monday, November 23, 2015
Thursday, November 19, 2015
CE 3.2
1. Unusual requests made by the defense attorney for VonTrey Clark's murder arraignment is that the defense attorney came with a filing to prevent attorneys and witnesses from speaking publicly about the case.
2. Students at Princeton are sitting in the President's office because they are refusing to leave until their demands to improve the social and academic experiences of black students on campus are met.
3. The four teams expected to play in the college football playoffs are Clemson, Alabama, Ohio State, and Oklahoma State.
4. The five "platinum" biker-friendly cities in the United States are Madison, Wisconsin, Fort Collins and Boulder, Colorado, Portland, Oregon, and Davis, California.
5. The other films that were compared to The Hunger Games film are "Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi", "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King", "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn-Part 2", and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2".
Short Answer:
I don't think that this is a good decision by the board because they made the decision not to proof-read the textbooks before sending them out to schools for students to use. Because of the board not checking the facts and wording, students who read these textbooks can receive false information and learn the wrong thing. This can cause many, many problems in the future. I think that the example explaining in the caption about how the slaves from Africa were workers is completely unacceptable. Students who don't know the real story about the slaves' journey from Africa to America could have the idea that these slaves came by choice due to the unacceptable word choice. These people were slaves, they were forced against their free will, but that's not what impression the textbook is giving. Yes! Textbooks should be checked by as many experts and officials as there can possibly be. The more accurate the textbooks are, the better information the next generations are getting. With inefficient information, the future adults can have learned the wrong facts that will hurt the world and the people that live in it. I did think that my textbooks were accurate, but after reading this article, I'm questioning if what I've learned is correct information.
2. Students at Princeton are sitting in the President's office because they are refusing to leave until their demands to improve the social and academic experiences of black students on campus are met.
3. The four teams expected to play in the college football playoffs are Clemson, Alabama, Ohio State, and Oklahoma State.
4. The five "platinum" biker-friendly cities in the United States are Madison, Wisconsin, Fort Collins and Boulder, Colorado, Portland, Oregon, and Davis, California.
5. The other films that were compared to The Hunger Games film are "Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi", "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King", "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn-Part 2", and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2".
Short Answer:
I don't think that this is a good decision by the board because they made the decision not to proof-read the textbooks before sending them out to schools for students to use. Because of the board not checking the facts and wording, students who read these textbooks can receive false information and learn the wrong thing. This can cause many, many problems in the future. I think that the example explaining in the caption about how the slaves from Africa were workers is completely unacceptable. Students who don't know the real story about the slaves' journey from Africa to America could have the idea that these slaves came by choice due to the unacceptable word choice. These people were slaves, they were forced against their free will, but that's not what impression the textbook is giving. Yes! Textbooks should be checked by as many experts and officials as there can possibly be. The more accurate the textbooks are, the better information the next generations are getting. With inefficient information, the future adults can have learned the wrong facts that will hurt the world and the people that live in it. I did think that my textbooks were accurate, but after reading this article, I'm questioning if what I've learned is correct information.
Friday, November 13, 2015
Feature Writing Preview
1. The difference between a hard news lede and the one I read is that the one I just read had two words, that seemed to grab my attention. It focused more on captivating the reader (myself) than getting all of the information in one paragraph.
2. I learned the Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How from the second paragraph.
3. Yes, there are quotes in the story
4. No, the quotes aren't arranged in the same organizational structure as before, the "quote-transtition" structure. This is more loosely organized.
5. Quoted:
- Kevin McLoughlin, director of post-production films
- Doral Chenoweth III, Dispatch videographer
- Ken Andrews, volunteer & vetran
- Tony Florentino, WNCI program director
- Shane Cormier, Los Angeles agency owner
- Patrick Harris, spokesman
- Ted Williams, the man with the voice
6. In my opinion, I think that the most powerful quote is "My boss said to me: 'If you don't get him hired, you're fired'" - Kevin McLoughlin. I think this because it really emphasizes how powerful Williams' voice is, how the boss is getting involved just for a homeless guy with a voice.
7. There are 33 paragraphs.
8. There are 762 words.
9. The lede and the final paragraph of the story both end with very minimal words that leave you wondering what is next to come.
10. Like my response in question 9, I think that the author left the smallest amount of information to leave you curious about what the story is about or thinking about the story after you finish reading it.
11. Yes, the story was interesting to read because its new information to me that is about someone small that makes it big. It just makes me really happy that these people are noticed, but the video really topped it all off.
12. Yes! I wanted to hear his voice so bad from all of the talk about how amazing and big 'the voice' was.
13. Watching the video after reading the story added the voice aspect to the story and had more of an impact on my interest and understanding of this 'voice'. Because the story was about how amazing this voice was, it really made sense to include an audio of it.
14. Yes, I feel that the story would have lost some of its impact without the video, but not all. The author still did a good job of explaining the voice so thoroughly that I could just hear the voice in my head, but the video made the story so much better.
15. Yes, the author did try to help me imagine the voice and describe it by italicizing what Williams says in the interview. I knew that these words were special, so even though the author didn't tell me those were the words, I knew.
16. Like my answer in question 15, the author showed/described the voice and what Williams said by italicizing the words to make them stand out more.
2. I learned the Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How from the second paragraph.
3. Yes, there are quotes in the story
4. No, the quotes aren't arranged in the same organizational structure as before, the "quote-transtition" structure. This is more loosely organized.
5. Quoted:
- Kevin McLoughlin, director of post-production films
- Doral Chenoweth III, Dispatch videographer
- Ken Andrews, volunteer & vetran
- Tony Florentino, WNCI program director
- Shane Cormier, Los Angeles agency owner
- Patrick Harris, spokesman
- Ted Williams, the man with the voice
6. In my opinion, I think that the most powerful quote is "My boss said to me: 'If you don't get him hired, you're fired'" - Kevin McLoughlin. I think this because it really emphasizes how powerful Williams' voice is, how the boss is getting involved just for a homeless guy with a voice.
7. There are 33 paragraphs.
8. There are 762 words.
9. The lede and the final paragraph of the story both end with very minimal words that leave you wondering what is next to come.
10. Like my response in question 9, I think that the author left the smallest amount of information to leave you curious about what the story is about or thinking about the story after you finish reading it.
11. Yes, the story was interesting to read because its new information to me that is about someone small that makes it big. It just makes me really happy that these people are noticed, but the video really topped it all off.
12. Yes! I wanted to hear his voice so bad from all of the talk about how amazing and big 'the voice' was.
13. Watching the video after reading the story added the voice aspect to the story and had more of an impact on my interest and understanding of this 'voice'. Because the story was about how amazing this voice was, it really made sense to include an audio of it.
14. Yes, I feel that the story would have lost some of its impact without the video, but not all. The author still did a good job of explaining the voice so thoroughly that I could just hear the voice in my head, but the video made the story so much better.
15. Yes, the author did try to help me imagine the voice and describe it by italicizing what Williams says in the interview. I knew that these words were special, so even though the author didn't tell me those were the words, I knew.
16. Like my answer in question 15, the author showed/described the voice and what Williams said by italicizing the words to make them stand out more.
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Peer Reflection #2:
1. Claire
2. This story is about the negative effects of giving a child allowance for things such as chores, grades, etc.
3. "I do not think that parents should give their kids allowances."
4. Yes, Claire mentioned the argument from parents who want to give their kids allowances and their reasons behind it.
5. No. Claire was strong in saying that she doesn't believe kids should be given allowance.
6. There's an embedded quote from a professor that says, "This being because these kids 'think far less about money in general.'" (paragraph 6)
7. 1st person
8. I could tell that Claire was writing an opinions piece (straight commentary) because she used first person pronouns and had her own personal opinions.
Comment Link:
http://clairesjournalismblog.blogspot.com/2015/11/2nd-opinions-piece.html?showComment=1447185495795#c3490677674289170727
2. This story is about the negative effects of giving a child allowance for things such as chores, grades, etc.
3. "I do not think that parents should give their kids allowances."
4. Yes, Claire mentioned the argument from parents who want to give their kids allowances and their reasons behind it.
5. No. Claire was strong in saying that she doesn't believe kids should be given allowance.
6. There's an embedded quote from a professor that says, "This being because these kids 'think far less about money in general.'" (paragraph 6)
7. 1st person
8. I could tell that Claire was writing an opinions piece (straight commentary) because she used first person pronouns and had her own personal opinions.
Comment Link:
http://clairesjournalismblog.blogspot.com/2015/11/2nd-opinions-piece.html?showComment=1447185495795#c3490677674289170727
Peer Reflection #1:
1. Alyssa
2. This story is about a review of the movie, "The Martian".
3. "I was thoroughly impressed...", "I loved how realistic everything on Mars was..." , "I loved how the movie ended..."
4. Yes, Alyssa explained the side that doesn't like the movie.
5. No, Alyssa stayed on the side of liking the movie.
6. No quotes
7. 1st person
8. Yes, Alyssa was writing in a straight commentary piece because she used 1st person pronouns and spoke for herself.
Comment Link:
http://alyssasjournalismblog.blogspot.com/2015/11/opinions-writing-2.html?showComment=1447184692239#c4343430446213462806
2. This story is about a review of the movie, "The Martian".
3. "I was thoroughly impressed...", "I loved how realistic everything on Mars was..." , "I loved how the movie ended..."
4. Yes, Alyssa explained the side that doesn't like the movie.
5. No, Alyssa stayed on the side of liking the movie.
6. No quotes
7. 1st person
8. Yes, Alyssa was writing in a straight commentary piece because she used 1st person pronouns and spoke for herself.
Comment Link:
http://alyssasjournalismblog.blogspot.com/2015/11/opinions-writing-2.html?showComment=1447184692239#c4343430446213462806
Friday, November 6, 2015
Editorials and Personal Columns
Ideas for future Editorials:
1. Issues involving teachers that don't do their job
2. School parking traffic before and after school
3. Lack of funding for the school
One columnist I read/watch on a regular basis is Connor Franta. I continue to read/watch him on a regular basis because the content he produces is inspirational, thoughtful, and interesting. He writes about things I can relate to and he talks about things that help me with issues I have.
Opinions Piece on Social Media:
Social Media is being used by nearly fifty-nine percent of children by the age of ten. This has grown over the past few years. Less children should be introduced to technology and social media because I feel it's taking a toll on their minds, but they don't realize it.
When Social Media is introduced to a child's life early on, this can affect their ability to interact face-to-face and have an in-depth conversation. With Social Media acting as a mask, children lack the social development that is necessary for their life.
Along with the incapability to socialize in person, a child can establish a hate speech. A child who is exposed to Social Media sites has a higher chance of being introduced to discrimination. They are more likely to develop disrespectful behavior, especially if the child is part of a minority being discriminated against.
One of the main reasons why Social Media shouldn't be introduced to children at an early age is the issue of cyberbullying. A poll showed that twenty-one percent of children have posted negative comments starting from age eleven. Another twenty-six percent of children went on another's account and posted without permission. A child can be a victim of this common problem. They can feel insecure or lack confidence needed in life. This can require a long process to replenish what they have lost.
More than half of eight to sixteen year olds have ignored the age limits for Social Media sites, including Facebook, Snapchat, and Ask.fm. According to Dr. Richard Woolfson, child psychologist and Knowthenet spokesman, this is not only unsafe, but can expose a child to content, people and situations that they aren't comfortable with and prepared for. This can tamper with their mind and leave negative effects on their state of mind.
Not only is Social Media content inappropriate for children, they are also in danger of online grooming. Approximately forty-three percent of kids have confessed to messaging a stranger by the age of ten. It is growing increasingly common for pedophiles to make fake profile accounts in order to become friends with the kids. They can then gain access to personal information, such as their school or city, and use that information to hurt the child.
With that being said, Social Media can persuade children to easily give out personal information, which can lead to identity theft. They most likely don't have experience with internet safety, and a survey showed that twenty percent of children feel it is okay to share this sort of information.
People may argue that Social Media is good for a child's confidence and help them express themselves, but studies have found that a child can feel put down or judged by other accounts. Being at such a young age, that child can judge their success with how many followers they have gained or if they are being included in social topics.
Social Media is being used by young children all around the world, and it is harming the child's state of mind. The issue of insecurity and lack of safety will continue to grow if children join Social Media before they are prepared for the content.
Word Count: 528
1. Issues involving teachers that don't do their job
2. School parking traffic before and after school
3. Lack of funding for the school
One columnist I read/watch on a regular basis is Connor Franta. I continue to read/watch him on a regular basis because the content he produces is inspirational, thoughtful, and interesting. He writes about things I can relate to and he talks about things that help me with issues I have.
Opinions Piece on Social Media:
Social Media is being used by nearly fifty-nine percent of children by the age of ten. This has grown over the past few years. Less children should be introduced to technology and social media because I feel it's taking a toll on their minds, but they don't realize it.
When Social Media is introduced to a child's life early on, this can affect their ability to interact face-to-face and have an in-depth conversation. With Social Media acting as a mask, children lack the social development that is necessary for their life.
Along with the incapability to socialize in person, a child can establish a hate speech. A child who is exposed to Social Media sites has a higher chance of being introduced to discrimination. They are more likely to develop disrespectful behavior, especially if the child is part of a minority being discriminated against.
One of the main reasons why Social Media shouldn't be introduced to children at an early age is the issue of cyberbullying. A poll showed that twenty-one percent of children have posted negative comments starting from age eleven. Another twenty-six percent of children went on another's account and posted without permission. A child can be a victim of this common problem. They can feel insecure or lack confidence needed in life. This can require a long process to replenish what they have lost.
More than half of eight to sixteen year olds have ignored the age limits for Social Media sites, including Facebook, Snapchat, and Ask.fm. According to Dr. Richard Woolfson, child psychologist and Knowthenet spokesman, this is not only unsafe, but can expose a child to content, people and situations that they aren't comfortable with and prepared for. This can tamper with their mind and leave negative effects on their state of mind.
Not only is Social Media content inappropriate for children, they are also in danger of online grooming. Approximately forty-three percent of kids have confessed to messaging a stranger by the age of ten. It is growing increasingly common for pedophiles to make fake profile accounts in order to become friends with the kids. They can then gain access to personal information, such as their school or city, and use that information to hurt the child.
With that being said, Social Media can persuade children to easily give out personal information, which can lead to identity theft. They most likely don't have experience with internet safety, and a survey showed that twenty percent of children feel it is okay to share this sort of information.
People may argue that Social Media is good for a child's confidence and help them express themselves, but studies have found that a child can feel put down or judged by other accounts. Being at such a young age, that child can judge their success with how many followers they have gained or if they are being included in social topics.
Social Media is being used by young children all around the world, and it is harming the child's state of mind. The issue of insecurity and lack of safety will continue to grow if children join Social Media before they are prepared for the content.
Word Count: 528
CE 3.1
1. Travis county wants to ban the Confederate flag from a parade this month because they claim it is a "a political symbol of hatred and racism."
2. Julian Hernandez found out from a discrepancy involving his social security number when applying for colleges.
3. A group of kids have to climb a ladder to get to school because if they didn't, the kids would have to walk 1.5 miles around a neighborhood to get there.
4. Whole Foods is an Austin-based organic foods business. Amplify Snacks is an Austin-based business of popcorn and tortilla chips for health-conscious consumers. HomeAway is an Austin-based business in the online vacation rental industry.
5. Elena Donio is trying to coach women who want a career in tech and a family, and she's doing that by organizing dinners and mentoring MBA students at the University of Washington.
Short Answer:
This is a Personal Column article because Brooks is sharing his insights on something he believes. He is using personal experiences and there's no quotes. David Brooks was making the argument that a person should live for a simpler life in order to live life fully rather than trying to do everything and have everything. Brooks proved his point by agreeing with April Lawson when she says "...many of us are on a wireless hamster wheel, running furiously to keep the inbox in the same place." He also argues that "The things they call good, like riches, are really bad." I think that the article was termed 'From the Right' because the left-side story is the other argument against Brooks' points. The left-side article is supporting politics, while Brooks' story is arguing a more natural life without complexity. This could also be termed 'From the Right' because this is the 'right' side of the story, it is the better half of the story. Brooks didn't really convince me of his point. I already agreed with some things he said, but the other points he made didn't affect me. He was more telling the reader (myself) of the things he believed, and didn't try to convince me of pursuing a better life.
2. Julian Hernandez found out from a discrepancy involving his social security number when applying for colleges.
3. A group of kids have to climb a ladder to get to school because if they didn't, the kids would have to walk 1.5 miles around a neighborhood to get there.
4. Whole Foods is an Austin-based organic foods business. Amplify Snacks is an Austin-based business of popcorn and tortilla chips for health-conscious consumers. HomeAway is an Austin-based business in the online vacation rental industry.
5. Elena Donio is trying to coach women who want a career in tech and a family, and she's doing that by organizing dinners and mentoring MBA students at the University of Washington.
Short Answer:
This is a Personal Column article because Brooks is sharing his insights on something he believes. He is using personal experiences and there's no quotes. David Brooks was making the argument that a person should live for a simpler life in order to live life fully rather than trying to do everything and have everything. Brooks proved his point by agreeing with April Lawson when she says "...many of us are on a wireless hamster wheel, running furiously to keep the inbox in the same place." He also argues that "The things they call good, like riches, are really bad." I think that the article was termed 'From the Right' because the left-side story is the other argument against Brooks' points. The left-side article is supporting politics, while Brooks' story is arguing a more natural life without complexity. This could also be termed 'From the Right' because this is the 'right' side of the story, it is the better half of the story. Brooks didn't really convince me of his point. I already agreed with some things he said, but the other points he made didn't affect me. He was more telling the reader (myself) of the things he believed, and didn't try to convince me of pursuing a better life.
Monday, November 2, 2015
Peer Reflection #2
1. Ellie
2. The Bowie High School schedule (Fit and A & B days)
3. "Although I disagree with the 'A' and 'B' day schedule, I completely agree with having Fit everyday."
4. Yes, the people who oppose having Fit every day of the week and the disadvantages that can come from having Fit every day.
5. No, Ellie was strongly on the side of having Fit every day (or most days) and opposing the A & B day alternating schedule.
6. No quotes
7. 1st person
Comment Link:
http://elliesjournalismblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-schedule-at-bowie-high-school-had.html?showComment=1446492938979#c7694589650045746708
2. The Bowie High School schedule (Fit and A & B days)
3. "Although I disagree with the 'A' and 'B' day schedule, I completely agree with having Fit everyday."
4. Yes, the people who oppose having Fit every day of the week and the disadvantages that can come from having Fit every day.
5. No, Ellie was strongly on the side of having Fit every day (or most days) and opposing the A & B day alternating schedule.
6. No quotes
7. 1st person
Comment Link:
http://elliesjournalismblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-schedule-at-bowie-high-school-had.html?showComment=1446492938979#c7694589650045746708
Peer Reflection #1
1. Kelly
2. Freshman taking the PSAT
3. "If I had a choice, I would take the PSAT because it further prepares me for life changing tests that will determine what kind of university I could get into."
4. Yes, she addressed the disadvantages to Freshman taking the PSAT.
5. No, Kelly was really supporting the idea that Freshman should take the PSAT.
6. No quotes
7. 1st person
Comment Link:
http://kelly-sjournalismblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/commentary-article.html?showComment=1446492248588
2. Freshman taking the PSAT
3. "If I had a choice, I would take the PSAT because it further prepares me for life changing tests that will determine what kind of university I could get into."
4. Yes, she addressed the disadvantages to Freshman taking the PSAT.
5. No, Kelly was really supporting the idea that Freshman should take the PSAT.
6. No quotes
7. 1st person
Comment Link:
http://kelly-sjournalismblog.blogspot.com/2015/10/commentary-article.html?showComment=1446492248588
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)