Ms. Gokturk

Journalism

Look at the following phrases. How would you fill them in? Refer to your question log.

• ____________ is really important to me. Other people feel and think ______________ about it.

• People really ought to do something about ______________.

• People need to know that ________________ is happening all around us.

• At Schreiber, _______________needs attention.

• In my community (neighborhood, Schreiber, Port, etc.), ________ needs to change.

THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE. Your mission is to find a topic of importance to you and expose it to the rest of us. Look at your question log for ideas, observe your world, think about something you’re curious about or annoyed by, or develop a feature or opinion piece you wrote for this class.

You will expose the truth to us by writing a long feature story in which you will reveal the truth. Your goal is to make us feel something by unveiling these truths. What will we do? Change? (For example, your exposé might reveal Schreiber’s student alcohol abuse problem. Will your readers think twice about their own drinking? Will another student join SADD? Will a parent speak to their child? Or, if your exposé is about the crisis in the Middle East, will your readership be more sensitive towards Muslims?)

You are writing an exposé that will be put together to look like a magazine or newspaper insert. See the samples.

Your feature is in-depth report must contain various elements and follow certain guidelines. Here is the checklist. Please check off each element as you complete it.

• Topic Choice. Define the topic and have it okayed by Ms. G.
• Survey. (Graded in sections.) Create a survey that is 10-20 questions and no more than 2 pages. These surveys will be distributed to 75 Schreiber students (by you) to aid you in your research. You must have both qualitative and quantitative questions in your survey.
• Survey
• Tally
• Charts/graphs
• Extended feature story. This long feature will include (at minimum) ALL of the following:
• two local authority interviews/quotes
• three general research facts (national statistics or comparative statistics) [be sure to cite the resource: "According to…."
• five local quotes/interviews from students
• analysis of survey results (implications)
• Visuals! There must be at least ONE graphic per page with a caption of explanation. However, note the samples you were given; graphics look good and make the story hold together. Your graphics must include ALL of the following:
• 2 charts or graphs you created from the survey with caption
• 1 Original artwork with caption or 1 digital photo with caption (Ms. Leone will help you capture an image if you ask nicely and schedule a time)
• 1 artwork or photo with caption (found on Internet is OK)
• appropriate graphics filler for white space (even relevant clipart is OK)
• Sub Story. Your feature will cover the general gist of your goal. However, you will find along the way of your investigation that you have more "stuff." Translate one focal point of this "stuff" into ONE of the following (roughly 200-300 words min.):
• a hard news story that follows the inverted pyramid format
• a profile piece on a person directly linked to your topic or who is of interest
• a review of a relevant film or book or play related to topic
• Opinion. Write a 350-500 word opinion piece on your topic.
• Interest Box. This can be a box with contact information or a 10 step "How To" or anything else that would be relevant and of interest to you topic.
• Total Length. The entire final written project must fill AT MINIMUM four complete pages (no white/dead space) in the Microsoft Publisher program you are taught. However, to fulfill the requirements at an A level, you will have to go over this minimum guideline. See the Maiko piece for a model sample of writing or the SUV piece for perfection.
• Extra Credit. Presentation of your findings for the class using a PowerPoint.

Final Project is Due: ________________