Wednesday Sept 5

Course Criteria Sheet: Senior Journalism

Both the student and parent / guardian should sign the bottom of the sheet.   There is also a copy on the SOTA web site.    Please retain the top information.  This is due Friday Sept 7 for a homework grade.
*Contact information: Mrs. Parker’s telephone: 242-1760; please leave a message and I’ll ring you back  within 24 hours; e-mail: Dolly.Parker@rcsdk12.org ; mail box location: first floor, behind the reception desk.
*Class blog: http://journalism12-13.blogspot.com  This is the go-to place for all daily class information, including readings and assignments.  
*Parent Connect: The system is designed to improve communication between school and home to support student achievement. Through this secure online system, you will be able to check your child’s academic progress from any computer, any time. Registration is through the RCSD website: http://www.rcsdk12.org
  Note: As per school policy, no phones, electronic equipment or food is permitted in the computer lab.

 Journalism is the natural expression of human curiosity and the exploration of human nature. As with other language arts courses, students will practice those reading, writing and oral skills that promote proficiency. Our goal is their practical application to whatever further educational path the student chooses. This course introduces the strategies, tools and techniques of journalism. Students will work in a variety of media to explore local, regional and national issues.  Upon the successful completion of the course, the student will receive one graduation credit. 

Needed Classroom Materials:
Thumb drive This is for computer work and presentations.
Ear phones We work almost exclusively with the computers and students must be able to hear their material.
Expectations: Though important in all academic settings, due to the nature of the course, it is essential that we build an atmosphere of trust and cooperation.  As various viewpoints are expressed, it is the expectation that the discussion remain mature, civil and respectful at all times. On this point, there is no flexibility. 
Respect for Self – Be on time, prepared and ready to learn. (Academic success corresponds to attendance; the class follows the school and district policies.)
Respect for Others – Assist others’ learning, do nothing that interferes with learning.
Respect for Property – Treat the room and its contents with care.
Grading:  Writing 50%, Class Work 40%, Homework 10%. Please note that summer reading is 20% of the first marking period’s grade.
Late work policy: Students have ten days to make up material with no penalty for legally excused absences. 

Otherwise, ten points per day is deducted from the assignment.

Please note that in lieu of a midterm and final exam, students will complete an individual project

Senior Journalism      Mrs. Parker                            due Friday, September 7

We have read and discussed the above material.

Student Signature ______________________         Parent Signature __________________________ Parent / Guardian name (please print) __________________________________

e-mail contact: _____________________________________________

phone contact: ________________________________
Welcome to Journalism. Today we are reviewing classroom policies. As most of our work will take place in one of the three computer labs, it is imperative that there is no food or beverages- never / ever - brought into these rooms. Students should share the criteria information with their parents and sign and return the attached sheet by Friday 7 September. Please retain the top sheet for contact information

Note that for this class you will need ear buds and a thumb drive. You will be listening to podcasts and watching videos. As folks pace themselves differently and to avoid a cacophonous environment- and to keep some sanity within the class- in order to listen to your assignment, you must have your own-not shared with the buddy next door- set of ear phones.  And to be realistic, I know some folks listen to music while you are working. These are your private sounds. Do not share the music with anyone, including your neighbor.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Each day when you come into the room, you should log onto this site: http://journalism12-13.blogspot.com   This is your key to the class. It will tell you everything that is happening that day, as well as upcoming assignments and assessments. You have access to the class 24/ 7. I have designed the course, so that there is minimal work outside the classroom. However, I expect 40 minutes of productive work each day. That means anytime wasted in class means additional time outside the classroom. As well, that means you are responsible for the work that occurs when you are not here. Work may only be made up for legal absences. These must be recorded as such in the office. Otherwise, if you are not here- and there is no recorded legal absence- the work is due by midnight that day- or it is a zero. Please note that school field trips and college visits are anticipated outings. If a previous assignment is due on that day, plan accordingly, for there will be no extension.

What's happening? 1)On Monday and Tuesday of next week, you will have your summer reading assessment. All seniors were required to read E.L. Doctorow's Homer and Langley. The assessment will consist of a critical lens essay, in which you will respond with the summer text and one other piece of literature. If you have not read the summer assignment, you will choose two other works. However, the highest possible grade is a 70%.


On Wednesday we are exploring the First Amendment of the Constitution, the relevant portion of the First Amendment, passed in 1791, reads

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. Please memorize the above; this will be a quiz on Friday September 7. In the meantime....you need by our next class to have yourself registered on this blog. This is where most of your writing will occur. And I promise you, we will be writing lots! As well, I have set up a drop box account for more involved work, so that very little need be printed out.

Assignment: Due at the close of Thursday's class.

I would like to try something a bit more creative in the getting-to-know-you category. Below you will see The Proust Questionaire. Open up a word document and respond to the questions. When you have completed the task, send them along in an e-mail, (dmpalond@frontiernet.net) where I'll collect them in the drop box. Take your time. Your responses should be fluid and grammatically correct. However, they may be witty and imaginative. Tasty bits might be shared on the blog. As noted above these are due at the end of class tomorrow. The grading rubric will be based upon correct grammar, spelling and completion of the assignment. Have fun!  (check minus, check, or check plus (75 / 85 / 95).

The Proust Questionnaire
Marcel Proust 10 July 1871 – 18 November 1922) was a French novelist, critic and essayist best known for his monumental À la Recherche du Temps Perdu (In Search of Lost Time- earlier translated as Remembrance of Things Past). It was published in seven parts between 1913 and 1927. In the back pages of Vanity Fair magazine each month, readers find The Proust Questionnaire, a series of questions posed to famous subjects about their lives, thoughts, values and experience. As a way of getting to know you, and by extension each other, please read and respond to the following questions. They are from a party game the young Proust played at the age of 13. As with this writer, the questions give insight into character and life beliefs. Take your time and reflect. These should not be extended responses, but make them full sentences.  Humor and wit are welcomed.

1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
2. What is your greatest fear?
3. What is your greatest extravagance?
4. What is your current state of mind?
5. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
6. On what occasion do you lie?
7. What do you dislike most about your appearance?
8. What is the quality you most like in a woman? Man?
9. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
10. When and where were you happiest?
11. Which talent would you most like to have?
12. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
13. What do you consider your greatest achievement?
14. What is your most treasured possession?
15. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
16. What do you most value in your friends?
17. What historical figure do you most identify with?
18. What is your favorite hero of fiction?
19. What is it that you most dislike?
20. How would you like to die?