Open Book Test Due! 300 Word Local News Article

Open Book Test for New Journalism novel:

This assignment is due today. Answers should be thoughtful and use textual evidence for full credit. Note: there are many parts to each question. Make sure you answer ALL parts of the question posed for full credit for each answer. Submit your answers by paper or through our Google Classroom site.

In Cold Blood ?'s:

1. A journalist should always remain objective in reporting a story. Does the fact that Capote likely altered some of the dialogue and characterization in the book affect its merit as an example of the nonfiction novel? Does it affect your enjoyment of the work? How does his book differ in style from a newspaper article or feature? Give examples from the text to support your answer. What would this story have looked like if it had appeared as a journalistic article in the New York Times or a local newspaper like The City or The Democrat & Chronicle?
2. If the murder victims weren't as white, prosperous, or well-liked as the Clutter family, do you think Capote would have written this book? Give reasons (using the text to support your answers) why it is important for writers and reporters to represent race, gender, culture, or class objectively? 
3. Examine the writing/narrative techniques in this book. What's the effect on the reader of the author's technique of alternating between stories of the killers and the stories of the rest of the characters? What does this add or detract from the narrative of the story? What techniques does the author use to make this a nonfiction novel rather than just a history or work of journalism? How is this choice of narrative an effective one for Capote to make? 
4. Even though we know immediately that the Clutters were murdered, the author doesn't give us the eyewitness details until 264 pages in. What's up with that? How does this book not follow the traditional inverted pyramid used in journalism? Is this tactic better or worse (does it strengthen or weaken the book) and why? Use examples from the text to support your answer.
5. Would the story have been told differently if the author hadn't been an outsider to Kansas? If you lived in a small town where there were killers presumed to be on the loose, would you stick around? How is this novel a "romantic" view of small town American life? What scenes or passages conjure this romantic image? Given this viewpoint, how does this create conflict or irony with the violent murder? Use textual evidence to support your answer.

The Other Wes Moore ?'s:

1. During their youth, both Wes' spent most of their time in crime-ridden Baltimore and the Bronx. How important was that environment in shaping their stories and personalities? (Give examples from the text to support your answer). How does the author's own experience and upbringing create subjectivity in the book--remember that journalists aim to remain objective? What parts of the book are objective and which are subjective? Support your answer with the text.
2. Moore states that people often live up to the expectations projected on them. Is this true? If someone you care for expects you to succeed--or fail--will you? where does personal accountability come into play? Additionally, a reader's expectations of a news article or story may color or reaffirm their own biases. How might this book represent urban life in a negative light? Do you feel the book is an accurate depiction of life in an urban setting? Use textual support in your answer.
3. Discuss the writing/narrative structure and techniques used in the book. What's the effect on the reader of the author's technique of alternative personal narrative with that of the other Wes? What does this juxtaposition add or detract from the narrative of the story? What techniques does the author use to make this a nonfiction novel rather than just a history or work of journalism? How is this choice of narrative an effective one for Moore to make?
4. How does this book not follow the traditional inverted pyramid used in journalism? Is this tactic better or worse (does it strengthen or weaken the book) and why? Use examples from the text to support your answer. How does the book differ in style from a newspaper article or feature in the way it is structured (for ex. it has 3 parts...why does the author divide his book in this manner?)
5. Moore says "the chilling truth is that Wes's story could have been mine." Would the story have been told differently if the author had been an outsider: a stranger to Baltimore or from another State or from a rural setting or as a different gender? If you grew up like the other Wes how would you have made different choices? How is this novel pragmatic (useful) in "teaching" the reader about how to avoid tragic problems due to our environment or situation. For example, comment on the importance of family support, financial support, or education as ways to address America's crime and violence problem.

Period 7 or 8:

After you complete your test and turn it in, continue to work on your local news article.

The ANGLE in an article: The angle is the main reason for writing the article or the main point or theme of a news or feature story.  The angle is most often found in the lead of the article (usually the first sentence). It's the lens through which the writer filters the information he or she has gathered. There may be several different angles to a single news event.

For example, if a new law is passed, angles might include the cost of implementing the law and where the money will come from, or the legislators who authored and pushed for the law, or the people most closely affected by the law (the readership). While each one of these could be included in the main story, each one also lends itself to a separate story. What the story focuses on is your angle.

Types of Story Angles

Local angle: Sometimes reporters are asked to "localize a story." You can have a national news story, like hurricane ravaging shorelines across the East Coast or anything about President Trump. But a news outlet in Florida would focus specifically on the area where its readers/viewers are located. Trump may be another issue, entirely, as much of what he does may or may not affect Rochester directly. Democrat & Chronicle readers, however, want a Rochester angle. Ex. What does the news mean for us? In your article, what does the news mean for the students at SOTA?

National angle: Taken for major stories, trend pieces, and issues that affect the country as a whole, this angle connects us with the rest of our country. An example would be how Trump's scandals have impacted the reliability of politics in Washington and for our Democracy.

Follow-up story: After a breaking news story hits the Internet and newspapers, reporters will often write a follow-up story where the lead focuses on new information. Using the inverted pyramid style of writing—where the most relevant information is at the top of the story—a follow-up article gives readers new details followed by the background that is found in the initial story.

Reporters and journalists must learn to build a sense of what's called a "news sense" or a "nose for news," an instinctive feel for what constitutes a big story.

Developing a feel for what constitutes a big story (or news worthy) is something many journalism students struggle with. It can take time and effort to develop this sense. The best way to learn how to find good story ideas is to model published articles or shadow experienced reporters (if you're serious about becoming a journalist). 

Work on your 300-400 word LOCAL NEWS article draft after you have completed and turned in your test (see above).

• Find out who you might contact regarding information on the idea or topic you selected. Make a list of who you might interview or get information from. This list may change as you complete your research. 
• Some information about SOTA can be found here at this link, but you might need to dig deeper and talk to real live people. The district's information can be found here...; you might also find information for the district the RTA website.
• Come up with some questions. Write these down. I'll collect your "questions" with your article at the end of this assignment. 
• Use a press pass and go find out information about your topic/news event. [Please note: some teachers are unavailable at this time...do not bother them!] Ask the substitute today for a pass to interview a teacher or interested party related to your article.
• Complete the 5 W's & H. See handout for help.
• Use your information to write an article of 300-400 words in length. Do not waste your time in the lab--you have a lot to do...!

HOMEWORK: None. Catch up if you missed an assignment.