Tuesday, May 28 political satire

Finishing up the year with satire, which we previously touched on with political cartoons.  This is your last class assignment. I'll review your grades with you in class. All the received obituaries have been graded. Comments are on parent  connect.  Any material turned in at this point will receive 50 points.    Tomorrow I'll pass out the study maps. The schedule for the rest of the year is as follows.
Wed, May 29- Friday, May 31- class time for map practice
Monday, June 3- class time for map practice
Tuesday, June 4- District exam; this will be given by Ms. Hayden. I am not allowed in the room, but am in school, if you need something.
Wed, June 5, study day
Thursday, June 6, FINAL EXAM.....if you need more time, please come to room 176 after school.
Friday, June 7, tests back  last day
Monday, June 10    moving up day.

Satire is a genre of literature, and sometimes graphic and performing arts, in which vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement.^[ Although satire is usually meant to be funny, its greater purpose is often constructive social criticism, using wit as a weapon.
A common feature of satire is strong irony or sarcasm—"in satire, irony is militant"^[—but parody, burlesque, exaggeration juxtaposition, comparison, analogy, and double entendre are all frequently used in satirical speech and writing. This "militant" irony or sarcasm often professes to approve of (or at least accept as natural) the very things the satirist wishes to attack.
Satire is nowadays found in many artistic forms of expression, including literature, plays, commentary, and media such as lyrics.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satire

please read this introductory material.
The Onion is an American news satire organization. It is an entertainment newspaper and a website featuring satirical articles reporting on international, national, and local news, in addition to a non-satirical entertainment section known as The A.V. Club. It claims a national print circulation of 200,000 and says 90 percent of its web site readers are between 18 and 44 years old.Since 2007, the organization publishes satirical news audio and video online, as the "Onion News Network". Web traffic on theonion.com amounts to an average of 7.5 million unique visitors per month.^[
The Onion's articles comment on current events, both real and fictional. It parodies traditional newspapers with stories, editorials, op-ed pieces, and man-in-the-street interviews, using a traditional newspaper layout and an editorial voice modeled after that of the Associated Press. Its humor often depends on presenting mundane, everyday events as newsworthy ("Everyone Forgets To Bring Swimsuits To Coworker’s Party"). Other common themes include surreal exaggerations or puns, such as "‘Grand Theft Auto V’ Missions To Focus Largely On Tutoring, Community Outreach", and contrasting media portrayals against reality by treating the fictional version as the more real ("Obama Fondly Recalls Frustration Of First Term"). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Onion

Assignment: due by midnight tonight  Please go to The Onion site: http://www.theonion.com/?ref=auto     Familiarize yourself with the site, noting on the bar the various topic areas coved by the satirical news cite:  video, politics, sports, business, science tech, entertainment and breaking news.

Select three articles under three headings and respond to the following: Please send along.
1. What is the headline?
2. What is being parodied?
3. What point is the author attempting to make through his parody?

Monday, May 20 the Irish Sports Page

A time of transitions. Here's to remarking upon those who have passed. On that note, we are looking at obituaries, how they are written and how you might imagine your own.

By the way, the slang term for an obituary is the Irish Sports Page.

Please read the following, so as to understand the tone and substance of a well-written obituary, as well as the expectations of your own. The assignment follows.

Writing obits. For generations, the journalism culture demanded that young reporters cut their teeth on obituary stories – “writing obits,” we would say. The thinking was that obituaries were easy to write and possibly not very interesting or important. Today, in many newspapers (except for the larger ones), the obit story has been relegated to a classified advertisement. But writing obits is important work. It always has been. Bert Barnes spent 20 years at the Washington Post writing obituaries before retiring in March 2004. He has written an article for the Post about his experiences on the obit desk.

In it he says: I loved that work. It taught me that even in the monotony of the daily grind, life could be funny and beautiful, surprising and strange. Death is no big deal if you don't love life. I only wish I could have met more of the people I wrote about. One of the first exercises I had in a beginning news writing class in college was to write my own obituary. All of us in the class had to do that, and we had a lot of fun with it. I remember trying to figure out who the pallbearers would be. I still think that’s a good assignment for a beginning student because they have all the information available without having to interview anyone or look anything up.

Please read the following two obituary examples. Note what aspects of the life are covered and how the notable individual is even quoted.

Sir John Mortimer, who has died aged 85, was a celebrated barrister, author and raconteur. He often used his legal exploits to fuel his writing, and his most famous courtroom creation was Rumpole of the Bailey."I was raised , educated and clothed almost entirely on the proceeds of cruelty, adultery and neglect," he said of his upbringing as the son of a successful divorce lawyer.Sir John's prodigious career was shaped by two events at a young age. His father lost his eyesight, and it became the youngster's duty to describe the world and keep his blind father entertained.His father made it clear he expected his only son to take over his legal practice, and so Sir John began a career in law, later becoming a Queen's Counsel.

He first came to the public eye when he successfully defended Oz magazine against charges of obscenity in 1971.He had already acted for Penguin Books when they published Lady Chatterley's Lover by DH Lawrence. Later, he successfully defended the Sex Pistols when their Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols album resulted in an attempted prosecution.Permissive societySir John became a beacon for the permissive society, but also defended high moral standards. "Liberty is allowing people to do things you disapprove of," he said.

Already the author of several plays and novels, Sir John wrote Voyage Round My Father in 1971. A loose set of anecdotes about his childhood and late father, the play was later adapted into a successful television film starring Laurence Olivier.Two instalments of autobiography, Clinging to the Wreckage and Murderers and other Friends, followed.Displaying his offbeat view of life, Sir John revealed in the latter how he found murderers "really the most relaxed people" he had come across."Generally, they had disposed of the one person that was irritating them," he said.Sir John rose at 5am each morning to write, and his prodigious workload brought him success in many fields.

As well as the adaptation of Voyage Round my Father, he brought his own novels Summer's Lease and Paradise Postponed to television.'Breakfast with a fraudster'In 1981, he translated Evelyn Waugh's classic novel Brideshead Revisited into a phenomenally successful television series, and wrote the film screenplay of the 1999 film Tea with Mussolini.A celebrated member of the literati and one-time chairman of the Royal Court, Sir John led a self-professed double life for many years.He described a typical day as "breakfast with a fraudster, down to the cells to see a murderer, and off to rehearsals at the end of the day".

When he left the Bar, Sir John channelled his adversarial energy into his character, Rumpole of the Bailey, portrayed on screen by Leo McKern.After making its debut as a BBC television play in 1975, Rumpole became an ITV series in 1978 and brought its creator fame across the world. In 1980 it was adapted for radio with Maurice Denham in the lead role, with Timothy West picking up the part in 2003.

Sir John was the quintessential champagne socialist, a champion for reform and permissiveness, who nevertheless lived in the wealthy Chilterns and backed the monarchy and fox-hunting.Despite failing health, he remained active well into later life, attending the February 2008 launch of his play, Legal Fictions, in a wheelchair.He told The Times: "One of my weaknesses is that I like to start the day with a glass of champagne before breakfast.

When I mentioned that on a radio show once, I was asked if I had taken counselling for it."Large and idiosyncraticHe remained disappointed by the modern Labour Party, saying, "we don't ask for much, but it would be nice to have a spoonful of socialism".

He was married twice, the first time to author Penelope Mortimer. After their marriage collapsed, her autobiography detailed infidelities and rows.Sir John would say only that "marriage between two writers is always difficult".His second wife, Penny, was a model booker when he met her, and 23 years his junior. Sir John was able to explore this true life theme of age difference in his novel The Sound of Trumpets.

Although he constantly borrowed from his life to enhance his writing, he remained as large and idiosyncratic as any character he created.In his novel, Felix in the Underworld, the book's central accusation is that the novelist expects others to live out dramatic moments for him.From the clapboard home of his childhood to the wooden benches of the High Court, the same could not be said of Sir John Mortimer.

Story from BBC NEWS:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/entertainment/1023315

EXAMPLE 2:

Steven P. Jobs, the visionary co-founder and former chief executive of the technology company Apple Inc., died on Oct. 5, 2011. He was 56.
Apple said in a press release that it was “deeply saddened” to announce that Mr. Jobs had died. “Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives,” the company said. “The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.”
In August, the company announced that Mr. Jobs, who had battled cancer for several years, was stepping down as chief executive but would serve as chairman. Apple named Timothy D. Cook, its chief operating officer, to succeed Mr. Jobs as chief executive. Mr. Jobs became chairman, a position that did not exist previously.
In January, Mr. Jobs took a medical leave of absence from Apple, his third. Mr. Jobs had seemed to recover from pancreatic cancer after surgery in 2004, and received a liver transplant in 2009.
He made a surprise appearance in March to introduce the company’s new version of the iPad. After he was greeted by a standing ovation, Mr. Jobs alluded to his leave but did not say whether he was planning to return to the company. “We’ve been working on this product for a while and I didn’t want to miss today,” he said.
In June, in his last public appearance before stepping down, Mr. Jobs presented the company’s new online storage and syncing service, iCloud.
Perhaps more than any other chief executive, Mr. Jobs was seen as inseparable from his company’s success. The company has outflanked most of its rivals in the technology industry with the iPhone and the iPad, which have been blockbuster hits with consumers.

At Apple, a creativity factory, there was a strong link between the ultimate design-team leader, Mr. Jobs, and the products. From computers to smartphones, Apple products are known for being stylish, powerful and pleasing to use. They are edited products that cut through complexity, by consciously leaving things out — not cramming every feature that came into an engineer’s head, an affliction known as “featuritis” that burdens so many technology products.
That restraint was evident in Mr. Jobs’s personal taste. His black turtleneck, beltless blue jeans and running shoes gave him a signature look. In his Palo Alto, Calif., home years ago, he said that he preferred uncluttered, spare interiors and explained the elegant craftsmanship of the simple wooden chairs in his living room, made by George Nakashima, the 20th-century furniture designer and father of the American craft movement.
Great products, Mr. Jobs said, are triumphs of “taste.” And taste, he said, is a byproduct of study, observation and being steeped in the culture of the past and present, of “trying to expose yourself to the best things humans have done and then bring those things into what you are doing.”
His product-design philosophy was not steered by committee or determined by market research. The Jobs formula, according to colleagues, relied heavily on tenacity, patience, belief and instinct. He became deeply involved in hardware and software design choices, which awaited his personal nod or veto.
Mr. Jobs, of course, was one member of a large team at Apple, even if he was the leader. Indeed, he often described his role as a team leader. In choosing key members of his team, he looked for the multiplier factor of excellence. Truly outstanding designers, engineers and managers, he said, are not just 10 percent, 20 percent or 30 percent better than merely very good ones, but 10 times better. Their contributions, he added, are the raw material of “aha” products, which make users rethink their notions of, say, a music player or cellphone.
Mr. Jobs undeniably proved himself a gifted marketer and showman, but also a skilled listener to the technology. He called this “tracking vectors in technology over time,” to judge when an intriguing innovation is ready for the marketplace. Technical progress, affordable pricing and consumer demand all must jell to produce a blockbuster product.
The Early Years
Mr. Jobs founded Apple in Cupertino, Calif., in 1976 with Steve Wozniak, and built an early reputation for the company with the Apple II computer. After the Macintosh was introduced in 1984, the company’s business stalled, and Mr. Jobs’s relationship with John Sculley, then Apple’s chief executive, soured. Their conflict ended with Mr. Jobs’s departure from Apple in 1985. The following year, with a small group of Apple employees, he founded NeXt Computer, which ultimately focused on the corporate computing market, without notable success. In 1986, he bought the computer graphics division of Lucasfilm Inc. and re-established it as the independent animation studio Pixar.
A decade later he sold the NeXt operating system to Apple and returned to the company. In short order he was again at the helm and set out to modernize the company’s computers.
After he returned to Apple in late 1996, Mr. Jobs became the product team leader, taste arbiter and public face of a company that has been a stylish breath of fresh air in the personal computer business. With the introduction of the iPod, iTunes, iPhone and iPad, Apple has shaken up the music and cellphone industries. Mr. Jobs was long known for his intense focus on product design and marketing, but after Apple introduced the iPod digital music player in 2001, he also came to exemplify what is hip across many American and international cultures, in areas from business to music.
Following His Own Path
Mr. Jobs’ instinct to heed his own counsel did not always serve him well. When he was diagnosed with a rare form of pancreatic cancer in October 2003, his early decision to put off surgery and rely instead on fruit juices, acupuncture, herbal remedies and other treatments — some of which he found on the Internet — infuriated and distressed his family, friends and physicians, according to a biography of Mr. Jobs by Walter Isaacson (“Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson; Simon & Schuster; $35). By the time Mr. Jobs underwent surgery in July 2004, the cancer had spread beyond the pancreas.
When he did take the path of surgery and science, Mr. Jobs did so with passion and curiosity, sparing no expense, pushing the frontiers of new treatments. Mr. Isaacson said that once Mr. Jobs decided on the surgery and medical science, he became an expert — studying, guiding and deciding on each treatment.
According to Mr. Isaacson, Mr. Jobs was one of 20 people in the world to have all the genes of his cancer tumor and his normal DNA sequenced. The price tag at the time: $100,000.
The DNA sequencing that Mr. Jobs ultimately went through was done by a collaboration of teams at Stanford, Johns Hopkins, Harvard and the Broad Institute of MIT. The sequencing, Mr. Isaacson wrote, allowed doctors to better tailor drugs and target them to the defective molecular pathways

Your assignment: Writing your own obituary.

Your life was significant. That does not mean it has to be a fantasy, but clearly deserves 500 words. Flesh it out; make it real.

DUE FRIDAy, May 24 by the end of class. E-mail. Thank you.

Tuesday, May 14 editorial writing

ASSIGNMENT:   writing your own editorial.  DUE FRIDAY, May 17.
I am aware that many of you will be participating in the Lilac Festival.  Plan accordingly; this is due midnight Friday. (NO EXCEPTIONS). There will be only two more class grades after this and the final (25% of the marking period.)
FINAL EXAM IN CLASS ON THURSDAY, JUNE 6

At this point you have turned in your pre-writing on your editorial selection(or not, but that was your choice.). Please review the information on how to write a good editorial, remembering that research is very important.

Details: minimum 500 words.
            minimum 3 facts with their sources noted (you do not need to do formal citations).
            grammar / spelling / language conventions....if you are unsure of the expectations, please reread the Atlantic review from last week.
There will be only one more writing grade, which, if you recall, goes in the 40% category. Proof read your work carefully.
Before beginning, please review the following information on 

Transitional Words & Phrases

Using transitional words and phrases
helps papers read more smoothly, and at the same time allows the reader to flow more smoothly from one point to the next.

Transitions enhance logical organization and understandability
and improve the connections between thoughts. They indicate relations,
whether within a sentence, paragraph, or paper.

This list illustrates categories of "relationships" between ideas,followed by words and phrases that can make the connections:

Addition:
also, again, as well as, besides, coupled with, furthermore, in addition, likewise, moreover, similarly

When there is a trusting relationship coupled with positive reinforcement, the partners will be able to overcome difficult situations.

Consequence:
accordingly, as a result, consequently, for this reason, for this purpose,
hence, otherwise, so then, subsequently, therefore, thus, thereupon, wherefore

Highway traffic came to a stop as a result of an accident that morning.

Contrast and Comparison:
contrast, by the same token, conversely, instead, likewise,
on one hand, on the other hand, on the contrary, rather,
similarly, yet, but, however, still, nevertheless, in contrast

The children were very happy. On the other hand, and perhaps more importantly, their parents were very proactive in providing good care.

Direction:
here, there, over there, beyond, nearly, opposite, under, above,
to the left, to the right, in the distance

She scanned the horizon for any sign though in the distance she could not see the surprise coming her way.

Diversion:
by the way, incidentally

He stumbled upon the nesting pair incidentally found only on this hill.

Emphasisabove all, chiefly, with attention to, especially, particularly, singularly

The Quakers gathered each month with attention to deciding the business of their Meeting.

Exception:
aside from, barring, beside, except, excepting, excluding, exclusive of, other than, outside of, save

Consensus was arrived at by all of the members exclusive of those who could not vote.

Exemplifying:chiefly, especially, for instance, in particular, markedly, namely,
particularly, including, specifically, such as

Some friends and I drove up the beautiful coast chiefly to avoid the heat island of the city.

Generalizing:
as a rule, as usual, for the most part, generally, generally speaking, ordinarily, usually

There were a few very talented artists in the class, but for the most part the students only wanted to avoid the alternative course.

Illustration:
for example, for instance, for one thing, as an illustration,
illustrated with, as an example, in this case

The chapter provided complex sequences and examples illustrated with a very simple schematic diagram.

Similarity:
comparatively, coupled with, correspondingly, identically, likewise, similar, moreover, together with

The research was presented in a very dry style though was coupled with examples that made the audience tear up.

Restatement:
in essence, in other words, namely, that is, that is to say, in short, in brief, to put it differently

In their advertising business, saying things directly was not the rule. That is to say, they tried to convey the message subtly though with creativity.

Sequence:
at first, first of all, to begin with, in the first place, at the same time,
for now, for the time being, the next step, in time, in turn, later on,
meanwhile, next, then, soon, the meantime, later, while, earlier,
simultaneously, afterward, in conclusion, with this in mind,

The music had a very retro sound but at the same time incorporated a complex modern rhythm.

Summarizing:
after all, all in all, all things considered, briefly, by and large, in any case, in any event,
in brief, in conclusion, on the whole, in short, in summary, in the final analysis,
in the long run, on balance, to sum up, to summarize, finally

She didn't seem willing to sell the car this week, but in any case I don't get paid until the end of the month.

Monday, May 13,,,,,,editorial pre writing

PLease copy and past the pre-writing exercise, respond to the questions and send along by the end of class.

Purpose of an editorial:

    
 Primary: to persuade! If you can't take a stand, you do not have a good editorial
 Secondary: to inform and/or to entertain

 

How do editorials achieve their purpose?
 

They May Criticize or Attack: If they criticize, they require suggestions for change. If you launch an attack against something, you must be impeccable in your charge. An attack is forceful; criticism does not have to be forceful, but it has to be held down with facts and suggestions for change. Defend: Stand up for an individual or an institution under attack by society.

Compliment: Show evidence that the compliment is deserved. Offer praise when warranted.

Instigate, advocate or appeal: To instigate editorially would mean that the newspaper intended to go on a crusade for something--improvements in the school study hall system, for example. Or you might advocate that this be accomplished by backing suggestions put out by a school committee that studied the problem. An appeal editorial might mean that you’d encourage  people to donate to a school fund drive or vote for a  tax levy increase.

Entertain: An entertaining editorial is good for the reader’s soul, but it should have a worthwhile point and should be written about something worth the reader’s time.

Predict: Support your predictions with fact.

Where Does the Editorial Writer Begin?
 

 Choose an issue

ResearchDo not share your ignorance!  Instead, use primary and secondary sources

Gather Support  (logos)

Gather as many details as possible to convince others that your position is the right one.  Present facts, evidence, written statements from reliable sources or authorities in the subject (experts). Make comparisons to similar situations that support your argument, pictures or images that strengthen your argument.
Present the opposing argument along with evidence that it is fallacious (based on faulty reasoning), weak, or simply not as strong, important, realistic, practical etc. as yours. 

Connect support to purpose The body should have clear and accurate details and examples that you specifically connect to your opinion.  Give strong arguments in the beginning and end of the editorial. Show the opposing arguments and their weaknesses. Offer a solution at the end. Be strong – do not waver in your convictions. Stick to your argument or opinion.

 General Information 

Your editorial should be clear and forceful. Do not preach. Paragraphs should be brief and direct. Give examples and illustrations. Be honest and accurate. Don't be too dramatic.

Avoid moralizing editorials. They tend to preach and turn the reader off. Whatever type of editorial you write, it must be built around logical framework.

 Editorial Pre-Writing

Your Opinion Can Change the World!

            Note: Pointing out what’s wrong is easier than contributing to a problem’s solution – and a good editorial’s concern should be to better a situation, not bludgeon it. Remember, also, no matter what your purpose or topic, an editorial is no place to indulge in personal attacks. Be smart! Don’t whine or gripe – use your energy to convince! 

1. What is a problem/issue that our socieity faces today?

  

2. What is your  view/position on the problem or situation?

   

3. What would you like to achieve with your editorial? (What is the desired result?)

  

  

4. How will you persuade your audience to adopt your viewpoint as theirs? List at least 4 persuasive points.

   

5. How will you arouse your readership to action in your conclusion? 

6. How will your editorial serve a public purpose?

Friday, May 10 crime test and editorial choice

 

In class: crime terms test.
Please read the following information. Come prepared on Monday with an issue on which you would like to write an editorial. On Monday, we will do a pre writing exercise. 


Purpose of an editorial:

    
 Primary: to persuade! If you can't take a stand, you do not have a good editorial
 Secondary: to inform and/or to entertain

 

How do editorials achieve their purpose?
 

They May Criticize or Attack: If they criticize, they require suggestions for change. If you launch an attack against something, you must be impeccable in your charge. An attack is forceful; criticism does not have to be forceful, but it has to be held down with facts and suggestions for change. Defend: Stand up for an individual or an institution under attack by society.

Compliment: Show evidence that the compliment is deserved. Offer praise when warranted.

Instigate, advocate or appeal: To instigate editorially would mean that the newspaper intended to go on a crusade for something--improvements in the school study hall system, for example. Or you might advocate that this be accomplished by backing suggestions put out by a school committee that studied the problem. An appeal editorial might mean that you’d encourage  people to donate to a school fund drive or vote for a  tax levy increase.

Entertain: An entertaining editorial is good for the reader’s soul, but it should have a worthwhile point and should be written about something worth the reader’s time.

Predict: Support your predictions with fact.

Where Does the Editorial Writer Begin?
 

 Choose an issue

ResearchDo not share your ignorance!  Instead, use primary and secondary sources

Gather Support  (logos)

Gather as many details as possible to convince others that your position is the right one.  Present facts, evidence, written statements from reliable sources or authorities in the subject (experts). Make comparisons to similar situations that support your argument, pictures or images that strengthen your argument.
Present the opposing argument along with evidence that it is fallacious (based on faulty reasoning), weak, or simply not as strong, important, realistic, practical etc. as yours. 

Connect support to purpose The body should have clear and accurate details and examples that you specifically connect to your opinion.  Give strong arguments in the beginning and end of the editorial. Show the opposing arguments and their weaknesses. Offer a solution at the end. Be strong – do not waver in your convictions. Stick to your argument or opinion.

 General Information 

Your editorial should be clear and forceful. Do not preach. Paragraphs should be brief and direct. Give examples and illustrations. Be honest and accurate. Don't be too dramatic.

Avoid moralizing editorials. They tend to preach and turn the reader off. Whatever type of editorial you write, it must be built around logical framework.

PLease copy and past the following, respond to the questions and send along.

 Editorial Pre-Writing

Your Opinion Can Change the World!

            Note: Pointing out what’s wrong is easier than contributing to a problem’s solution – and a good editorial’s concern should be to better a situation, not bludgeon it. Remember, also, no matter what your purpose or topic, an editorial is no place to indulge in personal attacks. Be smart! Don’t whine or gripe – use your energy to convince! 

1. What is a problem/issue that our socieity faces today?

  

2. What is your  view/position on the problem or situation?

   

3. What would you like to achieve with your editorial? (What is the desired result?)

  

  

4. How will you persuade your audience to adopt your viewpoint as theirs? List at least 4 persuasive points.

   

5. How will you arouse your readership to action in your conclusion? 

6. How will your editorial serve a public purpose?

Wednesday / Thursday May 8 and 9 editorial analysis

Please read the two editorials, Street Gangs: The 800 Pound Gorilla and After Spiderman. Then for each respond to the following questions.  Please get these to me by midnight Thursday, only if you had an AP exam on either Wednesday or Thursday; otherwise, it is due at the end of class on Thursday.  Remember: crime vocab test on Friday. 

Evaluating Editorials

Read the opinion pieces number 1 and 2; on a word document answer the following question for each one:

1.  Make a talley of the words or phrases that represent facts in the piece and those that are the opinions.

2.  Which are there more of?

3. What is the opinion of the writer that he or she is trying to persuade the reader to believe?

4. A. What is the opposite opinion of the writer, the one he disagrees with?

    B. Is this mentioned in the essay and does the writer try to discredit this opinion? Or is it implied?  Explain.

5. How does the writer try to convince the reader?

 A. Does the writer use appeals to reason?  Explain.

 B. Does the writer use appeals to emotions?  Explain.

6.  What background details does the writer include?

7. A. Did you learn something from reading this commentary?

    B. Did you change your mind because of reading it or did you come away unconvinced?  Explain.

8.  How well-written is this commentary, whether you agree with it or not?  Explain.

9. Though the last two editorials are not written on the same topic, which editorial is better? Why? Answer this only once.

 

 1) Street Gangs: The ‘800 Pound Gorilla’

Street Gangs: The ‘800 Pound Gorilla’ During my recent research on street gangs, one item was made clear. They are the primary source for drug distribution. The list of crimes conducted by these street gangs on a daily basis is: Drug trafficking, murder, bribery, extortion, robbery, carjacking, prostitution, human trafficking, and money laundering. Some gangs concentrate on some of these crimes but all of them have drug trafficking as their number one activity. Street gangs are the primary vehicle for drug trafficking. This makes them truly a menace to our society. Yet, we ignore them for the most part. We tend to be “blind” to their destruction and terror. There are 1.4 million street gang members (2011) and we act like they don’t exist. According to the US Department of Labor there are more than 2.1 million men and women locked up (incarcerated). The majority are there for drug related crimes. Approximately 650,000 persons are released from our jails/prisons each year but at least 52% will return within three years for parole violation or a criminal act. It is a social disgrace to have that many human beings incarcerated and then they get into a “revolving door”. The cost of housing each prisoner in a state prison can be as high as $45,000 per year. Wait – it gets worse! It is so disappointing that when we persuade a company to hire some of our youngsters for on the job training they cannot pass a drug test. During the Katrina rebuilding we would warn them that they will be getting drug tested in a couple of months so get yourself clean. For many it was too late, they were hooked and couldn’t shake it. To many drug dealing is a very big “business” and right now, in America, business is too damn good. The gang leaders don’t have a recruiting program; they “draft”. One day my aunt in Los Angeles asked her grandson if he were in the Crips. His reply was, “Grandma, I have no choice it is Crips or die”. And these young members have quotas to fill. They must push the dope and get as many hooked as possible. The Peoria, Illinois Chamber of Commerce once did a job study for Black youth (18 – 30). The number one employer was the City government; number two was the local utility company and number three was the illegal drug activity. Peoria has a population of approximately 100,000 persons. No place of any size is immune from drug trafficking. I could not find credible estimates of how large the illegal drug business is in America but with certainly it is at least $250 billion per year. I bet we would be surprised where some of it ends up. My brothers and sisters we have an extreme problem that needs urgent fixing. I would like to see Black elected officials become more active about addressing this problem. It is my firm belief that withdrawal programs are not the end solution. We need to come together and do something radically progressive. Nothing that has been tried in the past has improved this “illness”. The time has come for bold, Americana style action. The first thing we should do is legalize drugs. Treat it like liquor and cigarettes, tax the mess out of it, regulate it wisely. The demand for illegally transported drugs will soon dry up and the use of street gangs will become endangered. We could close many prisons and reduce enforcement officers along with parole and probation officers. The next thing we need to do is to write new legislation. Organized street gangs should be described as racketeering enterprises. Amend the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act to include street gangs with certain severe prosecution of their leadership. Everyone knows who the leaders are and where they live. A good example of this is how authorities are currently going after the street gang MS – 13. According to the Associated Press, “The Obama administration declared the ultra-violent street gang MS – 13 to be an international criminal group ….The aim is to freeze it out of the U.S. financial system and seize what are estimated to be millions of dollars in criminal profits from drug… and other crimes committed in this country”. Let’s form a taskforce like the old “Untouchables”. Forfeit their assets, bust up their leadership and strongly police our banking system that plays along with some of the vast money laundering that is taking place. If we follow the money and clean up the inside corruption that is taking place we will begin to turn the tide. Imagine our nation becoming a populous of people living productive lives once again. Right now we are just seeing our cultures and neighborhoods slide into oblivion. It is not something so great that we cannot manage. Some common sense, a lot of courage and a taste of vision could change it around. God bless us. Mr. Alford is the co-founder, President/CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce®. Website: www.nationalbcc.org. Email: halford@nationalbcc.org

2) After 'Spider-Man'

While Rochester has been understandably enthralled by Main Street’s current stint as a Hollywood film set, it is incumbent on the community’s directors (local and state officials) to keep one lens trained on the end game.
After the cameras and battered stunt vehicles are trucked away, the politicians who surrendered Rochester’s main downtown drag for 10 days should demonstrate to the public that it was well worth it, and that it might lead to lucrative film and TV activity down the line.
It’s difficult to picture the latest Spider-Man flick not being a commercial success when it lands in theaters about a year from now. So it’s understandable that some question whether the movie’s producers need public assistance, in the form of a 30 percent state tax credit, to successfully follow last year’s The Amazing Spider-Man, reported to have pulled in more than $750 million globally.
It was good of the film production company to canvas local businesses to discuss mitigating lost customer traffic during the shoot. Still, if one found passage to some of the storefronts quarantined by Spider-Man last week, they also found a mixture of excitement, leeriness and anger among proprietors.
Even before the production company settles up with the city over services, including overtime police and firefighter details, City Hall should look at auditing the affected businesses to determine to what extent they’ve been financially impacted.
Too, it won’t be known whether a projected $640,000 Spider-Man infusion into the local economy — not counting dollars spent by curious spectators — materializes until long after Columbia Pictures wraps their Rochester excursion. After the company submits its receipts to the state, the public should expect a final report.

It’s up to Gov. Andrew Cuomo to offer a yearly report on the benefit of allotting $420 million in tax breaks to filmmakers amid criticism of deals that have the public subsidizing prosperous industries. (See: New York state and Erie County promising $94.5 million to the Buffalo Bills last year.)
These 10 days offer a vital learning experience for public officials and the film industry. If the experience proves positive for all, regional economic stakeholders should push to duplicate the success seen by Schenectady, which enjoyed a $2 million bump from the filming of 2013’s The Place Beyond the Pines, filmed principally in that small upstate city. The Finger Lakes region offers countless colorful spots to backdrop film and TV scenes.
Despite the inconveniences, the electric crowds along Main Street are a welcome sight. Still, New York state and City Hall must validate priming the pump for the film industry.

Tuesday, May 7 analyzing editorials

REMEMBER AP CRIME TERMS TEST THIS FRIDAY!

An editorial is defined as a statement of opinion by a magazine or newspaper editor or a television or radio station.
(noun)

An example of an editorial is an article written by the editor of a newspaper detailing his opinion on something.

The definition of editorial is something related to the content in a newspaper or magazine or something written by an editor.

(adjective)

Our next short unit will be on writing an editorial.  This is where you will get to express your opinion.  But, as with most things in life, there are rules. To get you started, I thought it might be fun to listen to a few soap box editiorials by David Mitchell. See profile below. 

Profile

David Mitchell is an actor, writer and comedian. Star of the BBC television sketch show That Mitchell and Webb Look, and the Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show, he is also a regular participant on TV panel shows. He writes comment articles for the Guardian and Observer on subjects as diverse as sport and politics, and presents Soap Box, a video series wherein he sounds off about stuff.

There is less than 16 minutes total for all 4 clips. Choose three of the following and compose one well-written sentence that sums up Mitchell's thesis for each of the editorials.. Include textual material.  Send along, please:)

1) On giving compliments  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yakx7XC6eg0

2) Naming your child  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xblh12XgQ4o

3) On America  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om7O0MFkmpw

4. Carb free diets http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttMrSCnQnnk