Class

Monahan/Journalism

12.22.2011

Do Now:

Print out your original Year-in-Rap 2011 and your blog post in which you self-assess your work on our 12 point scale.

Class Work:

1. Once the Do Now is complete and you have submitted hard copies, you are to create a blog post in which you reflect on 2011 from a more personalized perspective. List between one and three significant events per month.  Finally, choose a month or event on which you may write in detail.

2. Students’ Pick: you are to find an article on a topic you either care about or are interested in. Next, write a piece in which you summarize the information you have found and express your opinion on the matter. If you are having difficulty finding a topic, you are encouraged to follow one of the links below and post directly to the site (following the sites guidelines, of course):

http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/21/can-you-be-good-without-god/

http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/20/have-you-ever-interacted-with-the-police/

http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/19/what-will-you-remember-most-from-2011/

Homework:

Stay informed, be safe and enjoy your break!

2011 Year-in-Rap [example]

‘Bout got into fist-a-cuffs with a trust-a-far-ian

Over the Ninety-nine Percent

And I’m a liber-tar-ian

It’s easy to dismiss the Movement when you’re all grown

your rents still payin’ your rent

And you livin’ on your own

Get off my back MISSION ACCOMPLISHED Obama ends War in Iraq

Eyes on the prize, no made up WMD’s

SEAL Team Six ran the QB-sneak like a ring wearin’ Drew Brees

Were it not for that burned out hull of a Sikorsky

Our man in Pakistan wouldn’t’ve even known ‘bout the attack

Osama Bin Laden buried at sea

And now Twenty-eleven comes to end

‘Nother byte outta the Apple, the Woz lost his best friend

Turn On the News: Top Ten from 2011 and Why?

What makes one news story more “important” than another?

What are the characteristics of a news story that might make it important for more than one day?

In a comment or blog post answer the preceding questions and then make a list of the top ten stories  from 2011. Next, include a brief statement as to why each item or story made your list. Finally, link at least three items from your list to a story from a major news outlet.

Opiate of the Masses

Objectives: SWBAT...
1. Demonstrate reading comprehension strategies by engaging with a "reach" text.
2. Work both cooperatively and individually to explore and respond to the text both verbally and in        writing.

Who was Howard Cosell, and what does this have to do with student journalism?

According to the author David Remnick, what is the opiate to the masses? According to Noah Webster, Funck and Wagnell and or my personal favorite the American Heritage Dictionary, what is an opiate?

Who was Camus?

What is often referred to as "the toy department"? Explain.

On what subject or issue does Alan Schwarz often "enterprising[ly]" report?

Who is Jerry Sandusky? What should be done with him (no wait, don't answer the second part of this question)?

What is a shift in register? According to the author, who has recently failed to recognize the need for one? Explain.

According to the author, who or what was Howard Cosell? What is most likely meant by this description?

With what athlete was Cosell's career intrinsically linked?

What effect did this althlete's religious conversion and subsequent status as Conscientious Objector have on others?

What is meant by the term "Dickensian"? How is it applied? What does it ultimately say about Whitey Bimstein?

Who was Casey Stengal?

How serious was certain individuals disdain for Cosell?

What happened at the Munich Olympics of 1972? What role did Cosell play in the coverage and why?

What was the Cosell/Monday Night Football dust-up? Have there been any similar incidents in the recent or not so distant past? How do they compare and contrast (hints: Don Imus and Hank Williams Jr.)?

How do you feel or what do you think about Cosell having read this article?

AP Topples Sophomore Team with Four Tops

NEW HAVEN- Assistant Principal James Moseley crushes his competition in the faculty lip sync contest with a winning rendition of "My Girl." The Sophomore Team consisting of Mr. Donohue, Ms. Bloom, Mr. Cap and Ms. Krisavage were edged out despite their most excellent performance of House of Pain's "Jump Around."

Metro Line Stalled

As the entire student body of New Haven's inter-district magnet school Metropolitan Business Academy anxiously awaits the arrival of its very own online paper one is forced to ask, "Where is the content?"

First-year advisor Mr. Monahan is baffled by the lack of submissions. "Initially I found the enthusiasm of the Metro's journalism students to be infectious and without end. I was very optimistic that our online paper was going to be the best in the district, if not the state of Connecticut." At the time of this posting there has been one article submitted on the school's  new uniform policy.

What other articles would you like to see/read in this online paper and how can we get them up on the site by week's end?

New Wild Flag Album Review Coming Soon!

With my newfound interest in the blogosphere I re-discovered Carrie Brownstein's now defunct Monitor Mix for the first time (I was peripherally aware of it, but had never read it). In one of her greatest hits/posts, Carrie moderated a panel discussion with a group of independent label heads. In this conversation it was revealed that many labels/artists were including vouchers for a free mp3 download within the packaging of new LPs (vinyl); this struck me as I had recently introduced my oldest son Oscar to Cutler's New Haven's record shop.

Wild Flag's self-titled debut album is the second record I have purchased in as many months (recently replaced the needle on my turntable). At first listen the album rocks! And WF lives up to the label of "supergroup;" however, I believe I will have to listen to it a few more times before I am able to write the review a great piece of art such as this deserves.