Freshmen: Today our focus was on the Letter to the Editor assignment we will do each quarter. Your job is to go to www.sltrib.com, click on the "Opinion" menu, and go to "Letters." Read three of them and then respond to the following prompt here on the blog: What specific things do you notice these writers doing that cause their letters to be chosen for publication? Name a few specific things you notice them doing as writers, and sign in with your first name, last initial, and period. Read for 20 minutes tonight and Tuesday. Begin your weekly 20 minutes of work on Membean, and remember to do it over two different days.
Sophomores: Today our focus was on creation myths. Creation myths seem to be one genre all cultures share. Building off Foster's theory of "one story," we began reading some creation myths and examining the common elements they share. You were then assigned a culture or religion, and your job is to research one of their creation myths. Read it, print it, and bring it to class with you on Thursday.
CNF: Today we focused on radio as a medium for nonfiction, listening to segments of both "This American Life" and "Radio Lab."
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33 comments:
The first letter I read was about cracking down on "HOV" drivers. The writer started out strong giving supporting details, however he fell short as soon as he was done complaining. He could have citied how many accidents have happened when people cross the double white lines and the driver to the right does not notice them. I think he got published because it is a problem, but it was a little weak. The second letter also was regarding "Why we cannot vote on the prison relocation". It was simple, but it caught my attention, because why can't we vote? The state are taking our tax dollars to build a new prison, so this letter enlightened me. The last article was about the Prison Relocation as well. This gentlemen complained throughout his letter. No facts, just stating he thinks the relocation project smells like a skunk. I think all 3 articles were published because it affects all of us Utahns. It actually can spark a debate among other readers as well.
Ethan F. Period 4
The first letter I read was about charging gun fees to cover Medicaid expansion. The writers format was a question and answer solution. I think that the letter got published because he gave a reasonable solution to a problem. He wants to get all Utah gun owners to register their firearms and pay a registration fee and property tax. He also wants all Utah gun owners to obtain liability insurance. The second letter I read was about congratulating Gene Fullmer for being inducted into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame. This writer broke his letter up into 4 different parts,first the topic sentence the second and third sentences was about Gene Fullmer as a boxer and the last sentence was a good concluding sentence. The third letter I read was called "How exactly would this trump plan work". This letter was a question format, the writer talked about the solutions that Mr.Trump had proposed for immigration. I think the letter got published because the it showed that the solutions that Mr.Trump proposed would create more problems than it would solve.
Miguel A. Period 4
The first letter I read was About Donald Trump. The Writer started by making a question for Trump and questioning his solutions. I think this letter was chosen because it had questions that many people probably have and it can become a problem if he is elected.
The second letter I read was gun owners should have play a fee to provide money for health care. The writer started by making a question on how to state has to play 10% of the health care act and then gave possible answers to this problem by taxing gun as if they were a cars. I think this got published because it is a top that involves many people in SLC and all of the US. The third letter I read was about the Utah prison relocation. The writer talked about how money would be wasted on just building a solid foundation to build the prison on that could be flooded by the salt lake and he finishes by saying that there have been prisons that have been in function since 20s that are still functioning.
Tommaso Pascucci period 4
The first letter I read was called the skunk project which is actually about prison and the first thing this person did that caught my attention was he pointed out that since this place was so poorly handled that it must have been handled by Mormons which in my opinion I think isn't very nice that this person just assumed that since it was poorly handled it must of been handled by Mormons I just think they should double check things before saying them. The second letter I read was Take a bow Gene Fullmer I liked this one because this person not only wrote about something they enjoyed like the best Utah boxer but also if you think about he also wrote this in Gene's honor because he also did end up passing away so he just wanted people know how great this guy was. The last letter I enjoyed was Teacher bashing comes from one side because it brings up something so important that people rarely pay attention too except of course our teachers but the concept that our hardworking teachers should be paid more.
Angelica Rodriguez
08/24/15
period 7 English 9
One thing that I noticed was that it had a affect on our state and the topics where thoghs that have an affect on us. Some of them are not compleatly serious they have some humor in them. A lot of letters where writen to with legislators and the government. They where talking about a proble and a solution.
Ryan m. Priod 4
What I found effective in the letters I read was that all of the authors supported what they were writing about with facts. They draw readers in by explaining the problem and then the come up with a logical way to solve the problem.
Gage Harris
8/24/15
Period 4
In all of the poems I read, they seemed to have the same thing in common, they either include something that happened to them, or had some kind of experience with these things. I found this intresting.
Alex Carrillo
Period 4
8/24/15
I found that almost all of the letters I read were about problems that the author experiences everyday. They then came up with a logical solution to the problem. unfortunately since there are so many problems I don't see how they can all be addressed fairly.
Djivan Black
8-24-15
Period 7
I found that all the letters I read started with a question that would raise someone's eyebrow if they just read that sentence. Also I found that these questions were meant to have an answer to them and they used that format and answered the questions to the best of their abilities.
Ozzie Valdez
8/24/15
Period 4
I found that all theses letters all had in common was. One like we did discuse in class is they all have there opinin on how certain things how they should be but they dont just leave it there they certain ideas how we could change what is going on or how he or she shows us how we can it change what is going on. Another thing i noticed is. They relate some of the topis to you almost as it has a effect on you and it touches you and draws you into the letters.
The three letters I read from the Salt Lake Tribune were, Quit teacher bashing, Skunk Project, and Gun fees for Medicaid. Quit teacher bashing (August 21, 2015) is about politicians who are bashing our nation’s teachers. The author explains how she is appalled to read about the “disparaging” comments politicians are saying today about teachers. She writes that politicians say that teachers are always complaining and feeling sorry for themselves. The author disagrees with this. She herself is a parent of two school-aged children and she states that the teachers she knows are “exceptionally hardworking, dedicated and professional.” The author finds teachers dedication inspiring and understands that there are a number of things that can be improved in public education. When Anna Tibbitts says that she has “had teachers spend hours with my discussing her child’s needs,” and “I’ve received emails at midnight with progress reports and responses to my questions,” she is appealing to the emotions of the reader.
Skunk Project is about why the location of the Utah State Prison is a bad idea. The author states that “the people who selected this Utah State Prison site must be morons.” The author backs up his point with reasons as to why this is a bad site. He says it is “one of the most unstable land sites in the country.” This is because the money spent to prepare this site could almost rebuild the prison where it is now. He also explains that if in 5 or 10 years the Great Salt Lake rises, the prisoners “will be able to swim in the exercise yard.” He is using t3he technique of humor. The author says that the “morons” should look at prisons in the eastern states because some of them have been going since the ‘20s and ‘30s and still function well. James Sim states, “they should rename this the Skunk Project… because the whole thing stinks to high heaven.” More humor.
In Gun fees for Medicaid the author is using sarcasm to make fun of Utah’s gun laws. He writes that “purchase and ownership of weapons designed to kill will be used to fund medical services necessary to save lives.” In other words, the author is saying that the state uses the money collected from gun taxes, registration fees, and insurance, like we do with cars, to pay their percent of the cost for Medicaid.
Letter: Have the courage to call out Trump, Charge gun fees to cover Medicaid expansion, Take one more bow, Gene Fullmer
In all three of these letters the writers ask the readers questions about what they want to know such as the author of the first article who says "Where is the courageous candidate or the gutsy reporter who will call out Trump for what he is, an unprincipled hate monger who feeds people's worst instincts?"
Matt Cotter
Period 4
8/24/2015
I found that in all three articles I read they all began with a question or some sort of grabber. Something that draws the readers attention that makes them want to finish reading the article. Another thing that I found in common with the letters I read, was that many of them had to do with current issues in our society right now. Not all the letters have a solution but some of them that do make the letters seem a bit better than others. All of the letters have similarities and differences that make them into good pieces of writing that make the reader engage with the content.
Ruby P. , Period 4
When I read all three articles I noticed how each one started with popular questions in today's society. All of these articles began with a question to get the reader intrigued. These writings also showed true passion for the subject which made me want to read the rest. In most of the writings these writers wrote their well thought out arguments and tried to show you their points. Also all of these letters proposed an idea at the end that could make you agree or think of your own ideas based on theirs.
Joseph Thomas
Period 4
When I read the articles what got me attracted to them was the fact that they talked about things happing in society today. The wrote great argument or got their points across which may be why it was published. For example if you wrote about women not getting paid as much as men compared to someone writing about how much the love kittens, who's article would be published? Yours because people would be interested in what you have to say rather than what the other has to say about cat's.
Rebecca A. Period 4
In the letters I read they all had one thing in common questions. I like that it has a lot of questions because it makes you think more than if you just read a big long paragraph about the same subject. Also all this letters had a hook. I really liked this letters because they got their point across very well. Also at the end they gave an idea of what could happen or what it should be.
Caleb D. Period 7
In all three of he letters I read, i noticed that all of them had to do with a problem being caused by people, or an event, and then asking people, with a very very strong opinion to change it, and then giving them the solution. All of them seemed to be somewhat negative as well, all were about a problem like I stated before. The point was always well put across in the first line if nit in the title. So you always knew what the problem or main topic of this letter was going to be about. Then following that point, they would give some detail to an extent about what is going on. Then lastly each author would try to give you their way of solving the problem.
In the letters I read someone thing interesting I saw was they stated a problem that was worth looking into. They stat the problem and then they post a solution so it's easy for the reader to find to what's going on. Specifically, I notice the writer would emphasize the reslutuoon so his/her problem could be fixed. If you don't have a solution then you are just complaining in your letter.
Deng D. Period 4
In the letters there was a lot of disagreeing with the government's choices. But i did see that the writers where very creative in their letter. They wanted the reader to really get how this person was feeling. They really wanted you to understand about the problems happening in the letter. The writer would always say bad things about what is going to happen, they want to change it. They want to make it better.
Kate Silcox, Freshmen, Period 7
Many of the letters were questions. They asked a question and then provided their evidence to support their claim. They have their own opinions weaved in but they mostly involve questioning or blaming the government for their lack of care or intervention. I have also seen a few who are passive agressive or sarcastic. They are often a call for other Utahns to change their mindsets or join in in public outcry. I also see some of them as being mad for the sake of being mad. No place is perfect but people highlight the few bad things and ignore all the good because it triggers a bigger emotional response.
Hector Lanchbury, Freshman, Period 7
I read the letters "Time to say good-bye, Donald", "Where are the traffic police?", and Women should start registering with Selective Service".
What I found interesting about each one was that the writers chose to write why they wrote it. The "Time to say good-bye, Donald" letter didn't explain why they wrote it, but "Where are the traffic police" letter explained an incident about that problem happening. I thought about it and saw that it was so the writers could persuade the reader with an actual event to make the reader think about it, worry, then agree to it. The "Time to say good-bye, Donald" letter was more about a national opinion than locally, but in their case I saw that they used terms referring to the reader to make them feel apart of the letter.
Chavo S., Freshman, Period 7
The letter I read was about when the market crashes who will get affected by it.
At first the writer draws the reader in with a question. Then he gave an example of something happening and the result of it. He also talked how to fix this if it did happen, or how to prevent it from ever happening.
Carter C., Freshman, Period 7
The first letter I read was titled "Explain yourselves, smoke and belchers" wrote by Michael Greer. This article was about people who drive pickup trucks with exhaust stacks that pollute the air. I noticed that this writer grabbed the audiences attention by discussing a topic a lot of people have a problem with.
The next letter I read was titled "Time to say good-bye, Donald" wrote by Ryan Hinkins. What caught my eye in this letter, and I assume it caught other peoples eye, is how he started off by asking questions and stating facts.
The final letter I read was titled "HOV lanes? Give it up" wrote by Lynn Maland. Just like the other two letters I read, she caught the audiences attention. She also structured her letter very well and brought up good points.
In the letters that i read, all three were of controversial subjects. Such as wasting water by watering grass during thee heat of the day. I believe that these were published because editors want to hear peoples opinions on these subjects as well as share them with the public.
I read three letters that caught my eye. They all had a main purpose to me. All three letters were asking for simplicity and control.
The first letter I read was about where is our safety. The second said it is to complicated. The third letter stated that there is so much chaos. I guess what they really where saying was just concerns for others and themselves.
Charlotte Brown
Period 7
Freshman
I read the letter "How exactly would this Trump plan work?" The author was published in my opinion because he questions Trumps theories and how his plan is going to work. This writer asks specific questions on what Trump plans to do and wants answers.
Another letter I read was Prison relocation is 'Skunk Project'. The author has strong opinions about what is being done. He disagrees with the States plan for building, for example his comment that the Great Salt Lake could rise and flood the prison. He states facts about what the plan is and what he disagrees with.
The last letter "HOV lanes? Give it up" provides a sarcastic view of the HOV lane and provides their opinion for a solution to this issue. The author complains about this lane and decides that the best way to deal with it is to open it up to everyong. He is frustrated cause no one pays attention to it anyways.
In all of these letters their letters were publish because they questioned things. They also state the facts about what they are taklking about and they state their opinions.
Nick Williams, 9th Section 7
n the letters that I have read, all three were of controversial subjects. Such as wasting water by watering grass during thee heat of the day, the Great Salt Lake could rise, and flooded the prison. The reason why their letters were published, probably because edit want people to think more controversial issues, brainstorming.
Xuan Han
August 30th
period7
I read the letters "Food sales tax is the wrong choice", "Trump shows GOP values not Utah values", and "Affirmation’s choice of speaker shows its false image". I think all of these people were published because they all talked about something everyone can relate to. They were all talking about something local. All of the talkers used very strong voice too.
Anthony Richardson, Period 4, Freshman
I read the letters "20 alleged quotes by Yogi Berra", " Navy to name new submarine the USS Utah" and "Whales return to Long Island Sound after long hiatus". The writers in all of these bring up a interesting topic and state facts about it. The one thing I noticed them do was over exagerate on the topic to show how important it is.
Anthony R
Period7
I read the letters "20 alleged quotes by Yogi Berra", " Navy to name new submarine the USS Utah" and "Whales return to Long Island Sound after long hiatus". The writers in all of these bring up a interesting topic and state facts about it. The one thing I noticed them do was over exagerate on the topic to show how important it is.
Anthony Redding
Period7
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