Radio Show

This project is a combination of investigative journalism and radio broadcasting. Today, you'll be exploring both of these topics through CBC radio. CBC radio is a national, publicly-funded, internationally acclaimed media source. Below I have assembled a list of top-notch investigative journalism programs that you will get to explore today. Choose one of the programs that interest you and click the link. Each link will lead you to a slew of past episodes created by the program. Find an episode that interests you (the more recent the better) and listen to the complete episode. Episodes range in length from 20min to 35min.
You will be required to complete two tasks associated with this activity. First, complete the handout "Deconstructing Audio Texts." Although the boxes are small, try to include as many details as possible.
Secondly, write a minimum of 150 words about the investigative aspects of the episode you listened too. Explain what the episode was about and how the program explored that issue. Include a list of sources that were used in the episode.

Here's a list of some great radio shows.
CBC:
DNTO
Age of Persuasion
White Coat, Black Art
The Current
The Next Chapter
Writers & Company

NPR:
This American Life
Freakonomics
Radio Lab
Stuff You Should Know

CBC link:
http://www.cbc.ca/podcasting/index.html?arts

Literary Essay Rubric

Rubric (.doc)

Journalism Test - Final two questions

Investigative Journalism

- Discuss how the episode you watched fits within CBC’s definition. The definition is posted on the blog. (Write on separate piece of paper)

- List the investigative techniques that the journalists use to explore the issue. (Write on separate piece of paper)

http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2010/gps_distraction/main.html

CBC definition of investigative journalism.

Investigative Journalism: While all journalism is, in a wide sense, investigative, the term can be particularly applied to the vigorous, intense examination of institutions or activities which concern public policy or touch upon the lives of a large part of the population. Investigative journalism should bear in mind the relative importance of an issue and should not be exclusively concerned with the revelation of errors, injustice or wrongdoing. Minor matters should not be treated when more significant topics warrant attention.

This is a particularly sensitive type of journalism, which can have a powerful effect upon the public mind and, consequently, upon the livelihood and well-being of individuals and the viability of public institutions and private enterprises. It therefore calls for heightened skills and the maintenance of strict standards of accuracy. Investigative journalism should not be conducted without adequate resources and the time needed for exhaustive research. (CBC Standards for Investigative Journalism)

Investigative Journalism Programmes

60 Minutes

CBC's Doc Zone

CTV's W5

CBC's Marketplace

Literary Movement Project

A detailed handout has been given to you regarding the project. Both the essay and presentation will be due December 16th.

Hard News Test

Hard news test is due December 14th. If you were absent on December 3rd, you need to come to see me regarding the test.

Stop motion project

Students will be working on stop motion projects the next few film classes.
Due date: December 17th (at the beginning of class)


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Persuasive Essay

Students will be working on their persuasive essays. Students have all the information, plus most of it is posted on the blog.

Reading responses

Students are writing reading responses for Flowers for Algernon. The responses are due Tuesday, October 8, 2010.

Film: Assignment #1

Take 10 short films of everyday activities. Each film must be between 30 to 60 seconds.

Cameras are available in my classroom for loan.

Flowers for Algernon test

There is a Flowers for Algernon test on Wednesday. It will be followed by a reading response the following day.

Formal Persuasive Essay Topics

Considering the novel, we will be writing essays about bioethics.

Here are some possible essay topics. Please refine the topic to make it more specific. Or, come up with your own bioethics topic.

• Euthanasia
• Cloning
• Designer babies (Genomics)
• Organ market
• Surrogacy
• Medical screening
• Integration of students with disabilities (Education topic)
• Rorschach test (psychology topic)
• Artificial life

You can find additional topics here on Wikipedia. Plus, you may find it's a good place for general research.

Remember, this is a persuasive essay so you will be arguing that a particular medical practice is ethical or unethical. Alternatively, you could argue that it should be legal or illegal.

Due Wednesday: Chosen topic, general research, and thesis.

Formal Persuasive Essay Procedure

1) Choose essay topics
2) Conduct general research
3) Create thesis statement
4) Conduct specific research
a. Noting sources
b. Writing down quotes
c. Building arguments
5) Create outline
6) Continue research if necessary
7) Write essay
a. Including in-text citation (MLA)
b. Create works cited
8) Edit essay
a. Self-edit
b. Peer-edit
c. Fact-check by peer
9) Final edit
10) Hand in all of the following
a. Title page
b. Outline
c. Polished copy of essay with in-text citation
d. Works Cited
e. Notes and edited copies

Film Introduction Essay

What is the purpose of film?
What does Sullivan’s Travels suggest? What do you believe?
Your essay should be a minimum of 400 words.
Use at least one quote from the film. (Script)
(Movie overview with quotes)
Use at least two of the quotes below in your essay.
"Imitation, then, is one instinct of our nature. Next, there is the instinct for 'harmony' and rhythm, meters being manifestly sections of rhythm. Persons, therefore, starting with this natural gift developed by degrees their special aptitudes, till their rude improvisations gave birth to Poetry." –Aristotle
"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science." -Albert Einstein
"Jupiter's eagle [as an example of art] is not, like logical (aesthetic) attributes of an object, the concept of the sublimity and majesty of creation, but rather something else - something that gives the imagination an incentive to spread its flight over a whole host of kindred representations that provoke more thought than admits of expression in a concept determined by words. They furnish an aesthetic idea, which serves the above rational idea as a substitute for logical presentation, but with the proper function, however, of animating the mind by opening out for it a prospect into a field of kindred representations stretching beyond its ken." -Immanuel Kant
"Most scholars who deal with rock paintings or objects recovered from prehistoric contexts that cannot be explained in utilitarian terms and are thus categorized as decorative, ritual or symbolic, are aware of the trap posed by the term 'art'." -Silva Tomaskova
"By contrast, the realistic attitude, inspired by positivism, from Saint Thomas Aquinas to Anatole France, clearly seems to me to be hostile to any intellectual or moral advancement. I loathe it, for it is made up of mediocrity, hate, and dull conceit. It is this attitude which today gives birth to these ridiculous books, these insulting plays. It constantly feeds on and derives strength from the newspapers and stultifies both science and art by assiduously flattering the lowest of tastes; clarity bordering on stupidity, a dog's life." -André Breton
“A good painting to me has always been like a friend. It keeps me company, comforts and inspires.” - Hedy Lamarr
“All art is but imitation of nature.” - Lucius Annaeus Seneca
“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” - Thomas Merton
DUE: Tuesday, September 28th (End of period)

Film Reflection

150 words about your thoughts regarding the early ages of film. You learned about the culture and technology during the emergence of the film genre. You also watched several films from that era.

Novel Reading

Read to page 79 for Friday.

Google News

Google News is not a newspaper. It is a collection of articles from news sources from around the world. Google takes articles from all newspapers and lets the reader read any of the articles for free.
Consider the following questions:
Is Google News a good service in a democracy? Is Google News helping the journalism industry or harming it?
Think about this before you answer because it’s more complex than it first appears. Talk it out with a partner if necessary.

Questions for Jay Rosen

Link to interview with journalism expert.

Journalism course

I am currently looking at revising the journalism course due to scheduling difficulties. I will be looking in to the matter.

Novel Reading

Read the first nine progress reports. That's page 1-42.