Psychology students pursued discovery of the Roots of Terrorism.  The historical events that contributed, the socio-economic factors, religious, and in relation to the study of psychology how whole cultures can be changed by relational politics.

Journalism students continued to study current events, breaking stories and the terminology of the field through the study of the daily Longview News Journal and lecture.  The class is also continuing to discover the power of the written word, the importance of Voice and how powerful writing can be a variety of styles.  Sampled this week was Rick Bragg’s All Over But the Shoutin’.

Psychology:

Students will be able to:

~define the basic terminology of the field

~identify the three basic approaches to psychology

~be able to explain the historical underpinnings of the field itself

~explain the significance of the scientific method in relation to the field

Monday-film:  Research in Psych.

Tuesday & Wed.:  notes on statistics; representative sampling, probablility lab

Thurs. & Friday:  completion of work on scientific method & statistical analysis (structure of group assignments on creation of original research)

Introduction to Journalism

Students will be able to:

~identify the parts of the newspaper,

~explain thoroughly the different forms of journalistic writing:  news, feature, editorial

~explain the historical roots of journalism with the birth of the mass media

Monday-Wednesday:  Lecture & discussion of history of journalism:  Printing Press-birth of newspapers-1690 Publick Occurrences-1735 John Peter Zenger-role of newspapers in revolution-impact of journalism-founding fathers-first amendment

Thursday & Friday:  John Peter Zenger Trial

Last week was spent watching the documentary 9/11 which seemed to affect all of the students tremendously.  Their written responses were powerful to read.  The week culminated with our local first responders (police, fire & EMTs) being honored at Friday’s pep rally.  Journalism students also followed the breaking stories in Libya and Egypt which certainly seemed to have more import after they had learned first hand from eye witness accounts about 9/ll.

This week will be focused on solid academic examination of the historical backgrounds of both psychology and journalism.

Psychology:

Students will be able to:

~identify the historical underpinnings of the field of psychology

~identify the significance of and contribution to the field by the following:

Wilhelm Wundt, William James, Titchener, G. Stanley Hall, Sigmund Freud

~explain historical approaches of  structuralism & structuralism

~explain what the micro, macro & molar approaches are to studying psychology

Monday:  Philip Zimbardo Introduction to Psychology film

Tues.-Thurs.  discuss film, introduce historical background through text reading, handouts & lecture

Friday:  Senior Friday:  Study Skills instruction

Introduction to Journalism:

Students will be able to identify and explain the significance of the development of mass media of the printing press to the internet.  The unique underpinnings of American journalism will be focused on with special attention paid to Founding Fathers’ protection of journalism, the only privately owned business specifically protected in the constitution of the United States.

Monday:  Create historical timeline from the invention of the printing press to the printing of the first newspaper in colonial America Boston 1690.

Tuesday:  Lecture & discussion of import of John Peter Zenger Trial 1735 and the foundation for the idea of freedom of the press, elimination of prior review and right to speedy trial.

Wednesday:  Lecture & discussion of the impact of newspapers in the American Revolution & the founding fathers protection of the press.

Thursday:  Study of the significance of the Penny Press on acculturation of immigrants, literacy and the evolvement of the modern newspaper in the United States.  Role of telegraph in mass communication and journalism.

Friday:  Role of newspapers in Civil War, westward movement, yellow journalism, muckraking and the impact of Hearst & Pulitzer.

What a week it was!  Lessons on 9/11, Lone Star Cup awarded and the 2012 yearbooks arrived.  It just doesn’t get any better than that.  If you missed the presentation of the 2A Lone Star Cup at Friday’s football game you really need to come by the high school and check it our.  The kind of UIL Dan Noll is busting his buttons with pride and the faculty and much of the student body is as well.  Life is good in the Valley of the Roughnecks as Col. Randall Smith often reminds us.

Monday-Friday:

Psychology & Journalism students will complete the viewing of the documentary 9/11.  We will discuss what we have seen, the implications for our nation, our culture and our future.  We will also watch the documentary The Seeds of 9/11 which explores the roots of terrorism in the Middle East starting with WWI to post 9/11.  We will have class discussions, journal reflections, written assignments for J1 based on newspaper front pages, and predictions based on present of economic, political and cultural repercussions.

 

Psychology:
After lecture, discussion, exposure to film and reference resources, students will be able to:
TEKS 113.36
(7) understand the history of the field of psychology. The student is expected to:
(A) identify defining characteristics that differentiate the field of psychology from other related social sciences;
(B) trace the impact of associationism, psychodynamic (Freudian) thinking, behaviorism, and humanism on current thinking in psychology;
(8) The student compares the processes of theory development and validation. The student is expected to:
(A) define and differentiate the concepts of theory and principle;
(B) describe the relationship between earlier and later theories related to a give psychological construct; and
(C) identify and describe the basic methods of social scientific reasoning
Monday: read Chpt. 1 Sec. 1 & discuss Why Study Psychology
Overview of field
Identify Goals of Psychology
Explain orally the scientific basis of field

Psychology students will be able to:

~identify the historical roots of the academic discipline

~explain the origin of the term psychology including the mythological story of psyche

~consider a broad overview of the discipline and its myriad approaches

Monday:  Story of Psyche, discuss broad outline of discipline

Tuesday:  introductory psychology film

Wednesday-Friday:  9/11 documentary

Introduction to Journalism:

Introduction to Journalism:
TEKS 110:62
(1) Students will demonstrate an understanding of media development, press law and responsibility;
(A) identify the history and development of American journalism through people and events;
(B) identify the foundations of journalistic ethics;

Students will be able to:

~identify the parts of the newspaper

~begin timeline of mass media in history

~view and discuss real time coverage of a breaking event 9/11

Monday:  newspaper quiz, read LNJ & discuss

Tuesday:  discussion of media response on 9/11

Wednesday-Friday:  9/11 documentary

What an amazing start to school!

Psychology hit the halls for a Last First Day of School memory walk starting in the freshman hall and working our way to the senior hall.  It was a first day memory that will hopefully have meaning beyond the moment.  The seniors viewed Randy Pausch’s Last Lecture and considered what gives life meaning and purpose.  The seniors then wrote their goals for their senior year and sealed them in an envelope which they will get back in their diploma packet at graduation.  Senior Friday covered college early admission deadlines, FAFSA, minimum college entrance exam scores necessary for admission and what to do if you want to raise your scores and how to schedule classes.

J1 has learned some fundamentals, been challenged for the future and begun the habit of reading and discussing current events daily.  Voice and rhythm in writing are also being covered on an ongoing basis.

Yearbook and newspaper staff are  reviewing rules and planning the first Gauger and yearbook content planning.