Peer Review and Opinions Writing Preview

Today we are going to finish off the writing portion of the class. Simply put, we are going to look at Mr. Reeves version of the story, remember his is a little shorter than yours, but the idea is there.

So here is his version:

Who - the Bowie Administration (but he didn't put the name of who won it)
What - announced the student of the month
Where - at a press conference
When - Monday morning
Why - the October student of the month
How - announced it

Monday morning the Bowie High School administration named it's October student of the month at an early morning press conference.

The winner was senior Erica Jones.

"I was so excited to win student of the month," Jones said. "It really meant a lot to me to be singled out for this award, I worked very hard last month in my classes and I volunteered 25 hours for NHS."

Jones maintains a 4.0 GPA and is a member of a number of extra curricular clubs at the school.

"We named Erica the student of the month because not only is she a great student, she gives so much to the community," Principal Stephen Kane said.

At the end of last year Jones was nominated and won a leadership role in the National Honors Society.

"Erica was heads and shoulders above the rest of the people who were nominated," NHS sponsor and English teacher Samantha Smith said. "Her position this year is president of the club."

In addition to her high grades and club involvement, Jones volunteers at her church.

"I am a pre-school teacher in bible class," Jones said. "I love to work with the little kids. I want to be a teacher in the future."

Jones has three younger siblings, including her step-brother Ethan King, who is a freshman at Bowie.

"I was so proud of her," King said. "She is an inspiration."

The next student of the month, for November, will be announced late next month.

Okay now its your turn to grade your classmates:

Here is the criteria:

50 points for having at least 8-10 paragraphs (350 words)
25 points for having at least 5 quotes (you may give 10 bonus points if the quotes are done PERFECTLY as the example below looks - PUNCTUATION counts!!!)
25 points if the story is in inverted pyramid style (in your opinion)

Now let's pick out some stories to read. Go to the blog and pick a class different than your own. Click on anyone's blog in that class. Read their story and give them a grade. How are we going to do that? On your blog, link their blog using the LINK button in the tools above. Below that break out their points:

Paragraphs - ? pts
5 quotes - ? pts
Inverted pyramid - ? pts
Extra Credit? - 10 points
TOTAL = ???

Publish this on your blog with a title of "Peer Review SoM"

Now here is how you do a quote:

"I was so proud of her," title name said. "She is an inspiration."

Once you are done with the peer review/grade - here is your assignment for the rest of the period.

On a new blog titled "Opinions writing preview activity" please complete the following:

You will need a copy of the 5th issue of the Lone Star Dispatch and you will need pages  A6 and A7, the Commentary section. These are located in two places - first there could be copies in the black boxes between your computers, or they are located in the front of the room in the black book shelf on the 5th shelf up.

There are five stories on this two page. Read them fully.

For each story answer the following questions (some of them might be the exact same answers, but please answer them for each story):

1. Who wrote the story?

2. What is their story about?

3. What is their direct opinion about that topic? Please quote it directly from the story or do a really good job of paraphrasing.

4. Did they address what the other side might think about their topic?

5. Were they wishy-washy with their opinion? By this I mean did they every go back and say well maybe if this were to happen, then their opinion wouldn't be valid. Support your opinion.

6. Are there any quotes in the story?

7. What point of view did they write in (1st, 2nd or 3rd)?

Finally, answer the following questions:

A. What do you think the major differences between a hard news story and an opinions piece? Come up with at least three.

B. Why do you think there aren't very many photos on this page?

C. What are three topics you think would be good to write an opinions piece on?