Thursday, February 28, 2008

Adding Persuasive Transitional Words to an Editorial

What are persuasive transitional words and how can you add them to an editorial?

PART 1: INTRODUCTION
Transition words (also called “connecting” words) are important words that signal the relationship between one word, phrase, or sentence and the next word, phrase, or sentence. There are several main classes of transition words:
Chronological (words about the order of things)
First, second, third
Next, then
After
Following

Cause-Effect (words about things which make other things happen)
So, thus
Therefore, hence
Consequently
Due to

Example (words to show what a thing is)
One such, another
For instance, for example

Addition (words that add more information)
Similarly, additionally
Another
Also
Moreover

Opposition (words that signal a conflict or problem)
But, though, however
On the other hand
Conversely
Yet
Nonetheless, nevertheless

2. Come to me with your works in progress and I will help you put these transitional words in the right places to make them flow more smoothly.


Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Outlining My Editorial

How do you outline an Editorial?


1. An editorial has five paragraphs just like a comparative essay.
a. Introduction
b. Subtopic I and Supporting Details
c. Subtopic II and Supporting Details
d. Subtopic III and Supporting Details
e. Conclusion and Supporting Arguments

2. Yesterday, you wrote your purpose and summarizing statements. Break these statements into subtopics and put them into outline form.

3. Look for articles online to back up your statements and then post a link to them. Make sure you put quotation marks around direct quotes and give the author credit by using his/her name.

4. Make sure you put your rough drafts and outlines on Google Docs.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Writing a Statement of Purpose for an Editorial

How do you write a statement of purpose for an editorial?

1. By now you should have decided what you want to write about, why you want to write about it, and how you want your readers to feel after they finish reading it.

2. If you haven't thought about these questions now is the time - the assignment of writing a five-paragragh editorial is due this Friday.

3. Compose a statement of why you are writing about this particular subject and summarize your argument in one or two sentences.

4. These sentences are the beginning of your introduction. You then go into the who, what, when, how, and why of your argument. This is your road map of how you're going to get people to think the way you do.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Questioning the Writers

How do you question a writer's assumptions, beliefs, intentions, and biases?

1. Use your thesaurus to look up the words: assumptions, intentions, biases, controversial.

2. Pick an article on a controversial topic like the primaries/ the war/ the economy.

3. Try to see the slant the writer is taking on the subject, e.g. Is he/she in favor of Obama or Clinton? Are they for the war or against it? How can you tell? What are their views on the economy?

4. Writers from different papers have different views. Why would a writer for the NY Times have a different slant than someone writing for the Daily News or the Village Voice?

5. Answer these questions in your blog entry today.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Questioning the Media?

Why is it important to question the media?

1. Think about a time you heard a commercial about this wonderful new drug that will make the pounds roll off your body without dieting. Did you really believe the commercial? Why or why not?

2. Why is the slogan "Buyer Beware" such good advice?

3. What sells newspapers and magazines? What kind of stories do people want to read?

4. Write a blog entry about why you have to double check everything you read.


Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Recognizing Jargon, Colloquialisms, and Culture Specific Terminology

How do you recognize the different types of informal language ( jargon, colloquialisms, idiomatic expressions,etc.)?

1. All aspects of the media have specific vocabulary- sports writers, fashion editors, and even authors like Walter Dean Meyers use vocabulary that's specific to their subject.

2. Look up the words: jargon, colloquialism, idiom, and ebonics in the thesaurus. Write them down and compare them.

3.Make a chart with the above words, give their definition and then give an example of each word.

4.Take an article in sports, fashion, local news, etc. and write down any examples of informal language and write in your blog entry whether or not this language helped you to better understand the article.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Reflecting on the Context of a Media Source

How does CONTEXT affect the way you understand and appreciate a text?

Context is defined as the circumstance that forms the setting for an event, statement or idea, and in terms of which it can be fully understood and assessed.

When you take ideas or statements out of context, they can be understood in a totally different way. You have to know what was said before the statement and what was said after the statement.

Think of a time someone overheard what you said, but didn't get the whole story and misunderstood you. There was misinformation.

Write a blog entry about how important it is to know the context that something is said or written in.


Friday, February 8, 2008

Author's Use of Language

How do you recognize how author's language creates images or feelings?

1. Read an article that you find interesting.

2. Write down any feeling that you felt as you read the article: Anger, fear, excitement, sorrow, etc.

3. Share the article with a friend and see what he/she feels about it.

4. Chat online and then post your chat on your blogs.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Making Inferences about Online Media

How do you infer information from online media?

Read an article online and ask the question why was it written to yourself and see if you can read between the lines.

Answer your question in your blog.

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Links to Excellent Student Blogs

Jomar A
Anthony B
CamilleC
Daquawntc164339.blogspot.com
JaiquanB
SamanthaG
KarynaG
Myles M
Sylvester P
Kalima P
Rita R
Jonathan R
Jose V
Drew W

Collaboration with Ms. Averbach's Classes: 165 and 262

Michael A.

Ariel C.

Luigi F.

Rebeca G.

Jimmy M.

Robert N.

Chris O.

Ralph P.

Dailin P.

Rey R.

Carlos S.

Jonathan S.

Celina T.

Maria V.

Jarolis G.

Jasmine A.

Matthew M.

Giovanni M.

Jonathan N.

Chris P.

Katrina P.

Oliver P.

Yamilka R.

Tylisha R.

Fernando R.

Javar W.

Miguel B.

Tony B
Ivette B
Dominick G
Isaac F
Tamika H
Latrell N
Katerine O
Asixadet V

Comparing and Contrasting Information

How do you compare and contrast information from a variety of different online media sources?

1.Use two or more online media sources about a subject you feel passionate about.

2.Make a chart with the the sources' names on top.

3.Write the details and main ideas under each source.
Note the differences and the details that are the same. Try to use direct quotes"" when possible.

4.Enter your findings on your blog.

Monday, February 4, 2008

Online Media Unit

How do I ask predictive questions about an online media article?

Compose predictive questions about a media source and then answer them after reading them in the form of a blog entry.

Friday, February 1, 2008