Current Events Quiz #4.2

1. Why is the Austin Fire Department "settling" with the federal government? Story page A1, "Firefighters...."
There was alleged discrimination when hiring minority firefighters.
2. What major retailer recently reported that millions of people's credit card data had been hacked? Business section
Target
3. What internet-based video service reported four million new subscribers in the 4th quarter of 2013, marking the biggest single quarter increase in their history? Business section
Netflix

4. What is the definition of a midwife, according to the story on page B1?
"Midwives are specialized nurses who focus on natural childbirth, including labor and delivery without medical intervention or drugs to relieve pain."

5. What former UT football recently filed for bankruptcy? Sports
Vince Young

REMINDER - Some of you are not writing enough here. A single sentence isn't enough. I expect you to expand upon your writing. If you think you have written enough, you haven't, write more. Be sure to answer WHY you think something.

1. Recently the federal government refused to tackle the subject of genetically modified food labels, forcing individual states to determine whether they are going to pass laws that require food manufactures to label all food that has been modified. There is a story about this on page B8 of today's paper. Please answer the following questions:

A. Do you think that food producers should be required to label all food items that have been modified? WHY?

Yes i do believe that food producers should be required to label all food items that have been modified. I believe this because the modifications that the food producers make could have some negative effects. Therefore people want to know when things they put in their body might he negative effects and they should be able to know.

B. Are you aware of what foods you eat that have been altered? How does that impact your food consumption?

I am not completely sure but I assume a large majority if not everything i eat has been modified. This is because these days if it is not organic it has been modified in some way. It makes me hesitant of what i eat and it makes me want to eat better.

C. Does your family shop with these so-called GMO's in mind?

No family does not shop with GMO's in mind. This is mostly because organic food can be very expensive. My parents don't think that organic food is worth the money because everything is okay in moderation right?

D. Do you think that food should be altered in any way to increase its size, taste or otherwise? Why?

No i do not think food should be modified. I think this because the way food comes naturally is the way it was made to be consumed. It is people's (mostly Americans) greed that drives companies to modify their food. Eating should not be all about what it tastes like most of the time it should be about fueling your body and getting nutrients not about oh i feel like having a hamburger today. 

Current Events Quiz #4.1

1. Why is the amount of money available to candidates in the Texas governor race so important? Reference story Page 1, "Abbot has 3-1 fund edge..."
The amount of money available to candidates is important because candidates have to pay for everything they use in their campaign.

2. What is the biggest controversy surrounding the federal budget bill passed by the house yesterday? Reference story Page 1, "House approves $1.1 trillion..."
The biggest controversy is the tension coming the Tea Party.
3.Why is Apple refunding nearly $32.5 million to consumers? Reference story page B7, "Apple to refund..."
Apple is refunding money to customers because there were many complaints about how it is not always clear when you are buying something.
4. Who are the final 4 teams in the NFL play-offs? Reference Sports section
New England, Denver, San francisco, and Seattle
5. What makes printmaking unique, according to the article? Reference story page D1, "Print Austin celebrates..."
Prints are unique because none of them are alike.
REMINDER - Some of you are not writing enough here. A single sentence isn't enough. I expect you to expand upon your writing. If you think you have written enough, you haven't, write more. Be sure to answer WHY you think something.

1. Yesterday the first child death from the flu was confirmed in Travis County. Does the potential of you getting very sick, maybe even dying from something like the Flu or some sort of transmittable disease frighten you? Do you worry about your health to that level? Has the recent cedar fever outbreak impacted you and caused you to have additional health problems?

No the flu does boot frighten me because i know it can be treated. Also people my age are note likely to die from it. Lastly i have been affected by cedar fever its not that bad its jet in the mornings.

World War ll Veterans Questions

1. When you read the headline, were you at all interested in the story?
Yes i was interested in the story.
2. After you completed the story, what were two things you learned about that you did not know before
I learned that 6,000 soldiers died at Iwo Jima and also that 1,800 died the first day at Iwo Jima.
3. Was the story better than you expected after reading the headline?
Yes it was much better.

4. What person was the story written in?
third person
5. Did the chronological format help the story in your opinion?
Yes it helped to understand the story better.
6. How many different people did the writer quote in the story?'
10 or 11
7. What was the thematic element the writer used throughout the story?
it uses a theme of the their in the night to tie the story together.

8. How did the quotes help the story?
the quotes added the personal experiences of the veterans and what it was like to fight in the war. 

9. Was the story written in a very strict, quote-transition format?
no
10. How is this story different than the hard news pieces we have written in the past?
It does not have the strict quote transition formula it also contains a lot of feelings and emotions.

Lone Star Dispatch Evaluation #3

Type: News
Title: Bowie Collaborates with UT to Create a Rain Garden

Summary: UT students and Bowie Students and faculty are going to team up to build a rain garden on the Bowie campus. The garden will be beneficial to the aquifer and will be placed in between the E and F wings.

Who was quoted in the story?

Teacher James Ellerbrock

and teacher Jill Harding

What quote was the strongest in your opinion?

the quote about how the location of the garden was decided.

Did the lead sentence make you want to keep reading?

No not really.

Was the conclusion a quote or a statement?

quote

Type: Commentary

Title: The Endless Struggle of Math

Summary: Math is proving to be hard for manny students to pass because the tests are weighted at 70%.  the writer believes this should be changed to make it more fair.

Who was quoted in the story?

no one

What quote was the strongest in your opinion?

no quotes

Did the lead sentence make you want to keep reading?

yes it did

Was the conclusion a quote or a statement?

statement

Type: Student Life

Title: Stressed? Hop on the Stress-free Wagon

Summary: All students deal with stress at some point. The article tells how we can deal with stress.

Who was quoted in the story?

Freshman Olivia Roberts

Freshman Alexandra Andsell

Freshman Eric Rhodes

What quote was the strongest in your opinion?

The quote about dealing with stress by running.

Did the lead sentence make you want to keep reading?

No

Was the conclusion a quote or a statement?

Statement

Type: Entertainment

Title: Dance Classes Take the Stage at Winter Showcase

Summary: The Dance department put on a winter show with lots of dance performances. Students tell how they felt at the showcase. 

Who was quoted in the story?

Karla Boone 

Brenda Saucedo

What quote was the strongest in your opinion?

The quote where Saucedo tells why she enjoyed the showcase

Did the lead sentence make you want to keep reading?

yes

Was the conclusion a quote or a statement?

statement

Type: Trends and Culinary

Title: The Campus Cools Down, the Winter Style Heats Up

Summary: Students discuss their favorite winter fashion styles. There are many popular trends going around school including boots and sweaters.

Who was quoted in the story?

Senior Victoria Saenz

senior Christian Haddad

Sophomore Karla Boone

What quote was the strongest in your opinion?

The quote where Boone talks about what she thinks of when she thinks of winter fashion.

Did the lead sentence make you want to keep reading?

yes

Was the conclusion a quote or a statement?

statement

Type: Sports

Title: Soccer Tryouts: A success

Summary: Soccer tryouts were quite cold this year. However this didn't stop the girls from playing at their best and telling why they love Bowie soccer. 

Who was quoted in the story?

Junior Emma Orlando

Junior Alisa Hoban

What quote was the strongest in your opinion?

Hoban's last quote.

Did the lead sentence make you want to keep reading?

yes

Was the conclusion a quote or a statement?

Quote

Type: In-Depth 

Title: Hanukkah

Summary: The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah was celebrated on Thanksgiving this year. Students tell their favorite jewish traditions.

Who was quoted in the story?

Sophomore Brandon Crawford

Junior Megan Schwab

What quote was the strongest in your opinion?

Schwab's quote about how Hanukkah is special for her.

Did the lead sentence make you want to keep reading?

yes

Was the conclusion a quote or a statement?

quote

Lead- This winter students bundle up in their favorite winter fashion to escape the frosty temperature.

Story Idea- The musical