On Wednesday you will be assigned a feature story topic to report on. If you know what topic you would like to report on, please indicate it on the story idea sheet you turn in.
As I've mentioned before, keeping your eyes and ears open to what is going on this school is important, but there are other sources of story ideas as well.
Reading What Other Papers Cover
To get a better understanding of the types of topics other high schools and colleges cover, take some time to explore the links of feature stories displayed on the online high school newspaper sites to the right. Make a list in your post for today (title it "School Features") that consists of at least five feature story topics covered in at least one of these papers and link to at least one story you found interesting.
You should also find a college newspaper and list five of its feature story topics and link to one. To find a college newspaper click here, then click on the state of the school you are interested in or plan on attending, and see if there is a link to that school. If not, choose another school.
Once you have your two lists, briefly discuss the topics that you most want to read about and why? What did you find interesting about the article you linked to? What "qualities of news" do they contain? What conclusions can you draw about what makes a good feature story idea?
Read and summarize the two stories that you linked to. Briefly review each describing what you liked or didn't like. What conclusions can you draw about what makes good feature writing? How might you be able to localize any of these story ideas (apply them to the Hunterdon Central community)?
Homework: Read chapter two from the Radical Write book you received today (don't skip the Showcases and material in the margins). There will be a quiz on this material and the news next week.
Objective: Students will analyze and evaluate feature stories from student publications to draw conclusions on what makes a quality feature article.
NJLALCCS 3.1 READING
H. Informational Text
9. Read and compare at least two works, including books, related to the same genre, topic, or subject and produce evidence of reading (e.g., compare central ideas, characters, themes, plots, settings) to determine how authors reach similar or different conclusions.
Assessment: Blog post