Reflection:

Hot off a super UIL Journalism Team performance at Pine Tree’s Saturday meet it looks like a great UIL season shaping up. The team led by senior Austin Jordan, along with Cade Palmer, Mason Malone and Rachel Horne took the team championship. Austin took three of the four gold medals.  I must say that not only are these kids successful they are a joy to be with.

Last week in Sociology we wrapped up our study of “What Makes Us Happy”…and it is not as warm and fuzzy as it sounds. The lesson was about neural biology, development of self-identity, self-awareness and what really makes us tick, and click. The lesson ends with an eye to what we want out of life, both professional and personal. The focus was on future choices and creating a life with meaning.

J1 has pursued news writing and the power of words to tell a story, convey feelings, paint a picture of what is and what was. We continue to look at great writing inside and outside the field of journalism including Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood, and all things Rick Bragg. We continue to study current events each day by diving into the Longview News-Journal daily.

Sociology:

Because we fully developed last week’s lesson which was left hanging at the end of the fall semester we used the entire week. This week we will begin with following the lesson plan that was posted for last week.

Introduction to Journalism:

Students will be able to:

~discern and explain the difference between news and feature stories.

~demonstrate the ability to write a news lead and a feature lead

~identify news versus feature stories daily in the Longview News-Journal

Monday-Friday:

Read the Longview News-Journal daily, id news and feature stories. Analyze leads and discuss.

Study basic news and feature writing rules using handout: Write Stuff.

Test:  News Story prompt & Feature Story prompt