Units of Study
Investigative Journalism
Investigative Journalism-Day 1
Intro to Writer’s Workshop
Student expectations:
Teacher expectations:
Investigative Journalism-Day 1
Day 1
Day 2
Day 2
Day 2
Classwork:
Homework:
Make a list of 5-6 newsworthy stories that you can write over the next few weeks. We’ll begin writing a story a day on Monday.
Day 3
Field Trip to the Gym
Look for potential news stories all around you. Be alert to moments of drama, look for out-of-the ordinary, heightened emotions. Use your observations as a basis for your newscast.
GOAL: Be objective, but get your reader interested in the facts **Cover your 5Ws in your notes**
Writing:
HOMEWORK: 200 word article due tomorrow
Day 3
Possible Notes:
Date: November 11th
Time: 12:35
Place: gym
**Cover your 5Ws in your notes**
Day 3
Gym Class Hero
Three girls were seen fighting in the gym at Greenfield Central Junior High School today over who would be chosen for center during a class basketball game. The three girls were from class 301, and each was a strong player. First they tried to make a decision by talking about it. Then they jumped for it. Then they shoved for it.
Passage 1
Sean stood in the cool, black darkness of the third floor hallway. His palms were sweaty as he reached toward the tall glass case. Even in the utter blackness he could almost see the trophy glittering behind the glass. The golden warmth of it seemed to call him like a siren, whispering “Sean, I belong with you. You deserve me. Take me home.” Slowly, hands trembling, he brought out the hammer. He didn’t see the girl, who was watching from the dim shadows.
Day 3
Passage 2
Only one object was taken from the case at McKinley High School. It was the trophy for the State Wrestling Championship. A single eye-witness to the theft reports that she saw a lone figure standing in front of the case, wield a blunt object – it might have been a hammer – and smash the case. As this witness shielded herself from flying shards, the perpetrator dropped the hammer and fled with the four-foot-tall trophy. McKinley had lost its first-ever State Wrestling championship trophy.
Day 4
8th graders outmatched 7th graders in Greenfield-Central Junior High’s dodgeball tournament last April. 600 students sat on bleachers chanting for their favorite dodgeball team while the tournament bracket moved closer to the championship game. We all roared as the each team struck out players on the opposing team.
Day 4
September’s PTA vs. Teachers soccer match is something that no student will forget.
Parents outnumbered the teachers at the PTA vs. Teachers soccer match on the first Saturday of September. Here’s how it unfolded. The “team” of teachers milled about the field. Some were in jeans, others wore shorts with sandals. The students crowded the sidelines chanting for their homeroom teachers while they waited for the “parent team” to make their on-field appearance. My own heart beat with excitement.
Sample
September’s PTA vs. Teachers soccer match is something that no student will forget.
Parents outnumbered the teachers at the PTA vs. Teachers soccer match on the first Saturday of September. Here’s how it unfolded. The “team” of teachers milled about the field. Some were in jeans, others wore shorts with sandals. The students crowded the sidelines chanting for their homeroom teachers while they waited for the “parent team” to make their on-field appearance. My own heart beat with excitement.
Music sounded. Led by an official-looking soccer referee, the parents filed onto the field. They wore matching soccer uniforms complete with matching cleats and socks. I thought to myself, “They probably had spent thousands of dollars on them.”
Sample
Brainstorm with your partner about what you’ll write today and then go to work!
Day 4
Make sure you turned in your homework (300 word article) to Google Classroom
Bell Ringer
Read “Sissy Syndrome” with your partner and answer the following questions:
“Sissy Syndrome”
What things matter that we don’t discuss openly?
Period 2
Period 2
Period 5
Period 5
Period 6
Read “Sissy Syndrome” with your partner and answer the following questions:
“Sissy Syndrome”
Today you’re going to write stronger. You’re also going to find the heart of the story and stretch it out.
Ways to Add Description to Your Writing
Writing Goals for Today
Bell Ringer
Intro
According to one witness, “The car came out of nowhere, and so did the brave bystander.”
A witness first claimed that “the car came out of nowhere,” before adding, “and so did the brave bystander.”
“The man swept the dog right from under the car’s wheels” was how witnesses described the incident.
Quotes
Incorporate each style of quotes into a final piece that you’ll work on: 100 word count OR go back and add these quotes to the articles you’ve previously written:
According to one witness, “The car came out of nowhere, and so did the brave bystander.”
A witness first claimed that “the car came out of nowhere,” before adding, “and so did the brave bystander.”
“The man swept the dog right from under the car’s wheels” was how witnesses described the incident.
OPTIONS:
Bell Ringer
Find a place in your writing to apply these techniques and revise it OR Write a new newspaper article using these techniques
Techniques for Making Short Writing Powerful: Grace Notes
Bell Ringer
Task
Homework: Begin getting all of your articles typed, put in the same doc, and organized in order from your best to worst article. Each article gets its own page.
Let’s look at the IJ checklist. Soon we’ll hold it up against your own writing, but first we’ll use a sample piece of writing. For this to work, you have to:
Final Stretch!
LAST WORK DAY!!
Need one-on-one time with Mrs. Toney?
Period | Time |
1 | 8:35-9:15 |
2 | 9:19-9:58 |
3 | 10:02-10:42 |
4 | 10:46-11:31 |
5 | 11:35-12:59 |
C Lunch | 11:56-12:26 |
D Lunch | 12:29-12:59 |
6 | 1:03-1:43 |
7 | 1:47-2:27 |
Convocation | 2:31-3:25 |
Daily Quest