Lonestar Dispatch Issue #2

NEWS

Silver Stars participate in Champions 4 Children

The Bowie Silver Stars are involved in the Champions 4 children organization. The Silver Stars are also holding auditions this month.

Who? Silver Stars

What? Champions 4 Children

Where? Westlake game

When? October

Why? To help raise funds for families who have children with rare or undiagnosed diseases.

How? Let children come on field

Who was quoted in the story? Jennifer Dawson, Maddie Hacking, and Corin Taylor

What quote was the strongest in your opinion? "Never underestimate what you're capable of. It will be had and there will be things that don't go perfectly, but potential is something the judges look for".

Did the lead sentence make you want to keep reading? Yes

Was the conclusion a quote or a statement? Quote

COMMENTARY

First lunch causes hunger throughout the school day

Students are upset about the problems with first lunch compared to second. Students are left hungry by the end of the day and less focused.

Who? Bowie Students

What? First lunch

Where? Bowie High School

When? This year.

Why? It's causing a lot of problems

How? Students being hungry in class, hungry at the end of the day, and less focused.

Who was quoted in the story? No one

What quote was the strongest in your opinion? None

Did the lead sentence make you want to keep reading? Yes

Was the conclusion a quote or a statement? Statement

STUDENT LIFE

Rain doesn't just go away for the Huebner's household

Senior Tristan Huebner at Bowie, experienced flooding in his house during the flash floods. The water flooded most of his house.

Who? Tristan Huebner

What? Flash flood

Where? Austin, Texas/ Huebners home

When? October 12th-13th

Why? The flash flooding

How? Rooms and backyard flooding

Who was quoted in the story? Tristan Huebner and Dan Huebner

What quote was the strongest in your opinion? "I've lived there all my life and it was tough on me so I can only imagine how bad it was on my dad"

Did the lead sentence make you want to keep reading? Yes

Was the conclusion a quote or a statement? Statement

ENTERTAINMENT

STC brings shows to kids

The Starlight Theatre Company put on Children Shows performances. They traveled around Austin to different elementary schools as well as performed at Bowie.

Who? STC

What? Children's Shows

Where? Elementary schools

When? Nov 12-13th

Why? To entertain kids

How? Traveling to different elementary schools

Who was quoted in the story? Christian Haddad and Kalyn Holloway

What quote was the strongest in your opinion? "I have full confidence of the students in the company. I think they have gained knowledge that they need from class with us and that they've made great decisions with their children shows."

Did the lead sentence make you want to keep reading? Yes

Was the conclusion a quote or a statement? Statement

TRENDS AND CULINARY

"Water bottle craze" kicks disposables to the curb

The trend of water bottles is becoming an extremely common item for Bowie students to carry around. The camelBak and Thermoses are the most popular.

Who? Bowie students

What? Water bottles

Where? Bowie High School

When? This year

Why? Students are using Camelbaks and Thermoses more often

How? They're easy to use and keep water cooler

Who was quoted in the story? Daniela Diaz, Cody Wooten, Amaris Teter and Miriam Diaz

What quote was the strongest in your opinion? "During the longer class periods I tend to crave water because it keeps me awake and feeling refreshed."

Did the lead sentence make you want to keep reading? No

Was the conclusion a quote or a statement? Quote

SPORTS

Lady 'Dawgs hungry and focused

The Lady 'Dawgs basketball team is starting their new season. They are working hard to keep their title.

Who? Lady 'Dawgs

What? New season

Where? James Bowie High School

When? November

Why? They are working extremely hard

How? staying focused and working hard every day

Who was quoted in the story? Kianna Ray, Alyssa Kuykendall, and Riley

What quote was the strongest in your opinion? "As a team we have a really good bond and it really helps with our chemistry on the court"

Did the lead sentence make you want to keep reading? Yes

Was the conclusion a quote or a statement? Statement

ENTERTAINMENT

STC brings shows to kids

The STC brings excitement to elementary students all over Austin with their Children's Show performances.

Feature Writing Preview

1. What is the difference between a hard news lead (lede) and the one you read above?
The one I read above had a lot of information, while the hard news lead was interesting with facts ands news.2. What paragraph(s) did you learn the following information?
a. Who: 1
b. What: 1
c. Where: 1
d. When: 2
e. Why: 3
f. How: 25-26

3. Are there quotes in this story?
Yes.4. Are those quotes arranged in the "quote-transiton" style we used in news writing?
Some.5. Who is quoted in the story?
Williams, Mcloughlin, Chenoweth, Andrews, Florentino, and Cormier6. What quote is the most powerful in the story, in your opinion?
"He said to me: 'Radios is defined (as) theater of mind,"7. How many paragraphs is the story?
338. How many words is the story (hint: you can copy and paste into Word and get a word count)?
7629. What is significant about the lead (lede) and the final paragraph of the story?
They both start with "That word".10. Why do you think the writer did that with the lead (lede) and final paragraph?
I think he used it to show how important it is to the article.11. Was the story interesting to read?
Yes.12. When you finished the story, but BEFORE you watched the video, did you want to hear the voice?
Yes.
13. Multimedia approaches are powerful tools, what impact did the video have when watched directly after reading the story?
The video helped better understand as well as hearing his voice.14. Would the story have lost its impact without the video?
Not entirely, but yes.15. Did the writer try to come up with a way for you to hear the voice, i.e. did he try to describe the voice or give you a way to "hear" the voice without really hearing it?
Yes16. How did the writer do that?
The words that he used, for example he used the term "baritone".

Current Events Quiz 3.1

1. In Thursday's paper on page D1in the story called "Flatbed taking on key role in arts," what is the main focus of the story? Please be specific and summarize the entire story.

An art gallery in Austin called Flatbed, started out as a small business on the corner of a small street but soon became bigger when they moved the location. Now it's part of the Gallery Shoal Creek as of this year. 

2. On the side of that story, there is a "sidebar" with additional information about arts in Austin. What types of information were provided in those sidebars that you didn't get from reading the "Flatbed" story?

The sidebar talks about the East Austin tours as well as specific artists.

3. In Wednesday's paper on page D1 in the story called "Formula one for success," what is the main focus of the story? Please be specific and summarize the entire story.

This article is about a man experiencing Formula One and finding it as a true passion, when he was in England with his father. After that he traveled to different places to watch the races, and how everywhere he goes there is unique food. Now he cooks meals based on where the Formula circus is racing that week. He shares a story about when he tried to cook fish heads for China but miserably failed by cooking them too long.

4. What does the writer do that causes you to keep reading the article even if you don't care about cooking, or formula one car racing?

He talks about each of his experiences and you never know what is going to happen in these situations that he is in.

5. What techniques did the page editors at the Austin American Statesman use to break up the lengthy text present in that story?

They split the story up on two different pages, as well as putting  additional information about the story on the sidebar, like a recipe. 

6. In Tuesday's paper on page D1 in the story called "Hug to out is the ethos of Roy Spence," 

what is the main focus of the story? Please be specific and summarize the entire story.

This article is about a man, Dale Roe who is very uncomfortable about hugging, meeting a man named Roy Spence who wrote a book about hugging and all of its forms. Spence experienced extreme loneliness being away from his family, when he felt a feeling of warmth as if he had been hugged, which inspired him to write a book about it. His book talks about mental hugs, and life lessons he has received from his dad. Roe explains how after his interview with Spence, he felt more comfortable about hugging. 

7. Would you want to get a hug from Roy Spence? Why or Why not.

Current Events Quiz 2.4

1. Who is the new UT Athletic Director, or what school did he come from (first or last name)?

Steve Patterson

2. Did the affordable housing bond pass?

Yes

3. Why is the county about to pay almost $50,000 to move a tree?

The tree was dangerously low to the ground and near the road.

4. What is the 15th state to allow gay marriage?

Illinois

5. What country just launched a mission to Mars?

India

Answer the questions below, please write at least a paragraph (3-5 sentences):

REMINDER - Some of you are not writing enough here. A single sentence isn't enough. I expect you to expand upon your writing. If you think you have written enough, you haven't, write more. Be sure to answer WHY you think something.

1. A Miami Dolphin football player, named Richie Incognito, was just suspended this week from the team for allegedly bullying a teammate, named Jonathan Martin, so much that Martin walked out in the middle of the day just before practice and has not returned to the team. Feedback from the league has been mixed. Some former players say that this kind of thing should never happened and that the severity of the bullying went way over the line, while others say that Martin needed to deal with the situation behind closed door and that he is a "sissy" and a "tattletale". Do you think that professional football players should be held do a different standard when it comes to these types of incidents because its a "Mans" sport or not? WHY? (MAKE SURE TO ANSWER WHY?) Do you think that Incognito should be allowed to play again? WHY? Do you think the other Dolphin players will welcome Martin back to the team with open arms? WHY?

I don't think football players should be held to a higher standard because it's a "Mans" sport because the way you handle situations like these, never changes throughout life. People are bullied and people respond in all different ways depending on who you are. The way Jonathan Martin reacted is acceptable because that is who he is. Bullying isn't a good thing no matter who you are, so someone shouldn't have to be forced to go through it or be called a "sissy" if they are upset and try and do something about it. I think Incognito should be allowed to play again under the circumstances that he won't continue to bully anyone. I think this because if he realizes what he's doing is wrong, and knows the second he bullies someone he will be banned from playing, he hopefully won't do it again. I think some of the players may accept Martin back to the team but others will inevitably look down on him or look at him as weak. I think this because this debate wouldn't be going on if there wasn't a side that disagreed with Martins actions. 

Editorial - Violence on Television

Violence on television is an issue that is becoming more controversial in todays age because of the movies and television shows that are being shown on programs today. I think violence on television is acceptable to keep showing because some people enjoy watching it, and those who don't should simply not watch it. In some cases it can even be educational.

In this world, there is no pleasing everyone there are constant disagreements happening everywhere. The solution to problems isn’t getting rid or something or only trying to get your way. The solution is to compromise. There is an audience that wants to watch violence and they have the right to see what they want to see, just as much as people who don’t want to see it.

There are parents who don’t want their children to be exposed to violence on television, which is perfectly acceptable. Technology is created today that can create child blocks which blocks anything parents don’t want their children to see. That is a win, win for the people who do want to watch the violence and the people who don’t.

Children aren’t the only concern; there are adults that are offended by the violence that is shown.  If you are someone who is offended by a violent program on tv, simply don’t watch it. This can apply to different categories other than violence. Someone could be offended by shows on MTV, or shows about drugs and sex. The solution is to avoid it because there is an audience out there for all of these programs.

Yes violent television shows can be offensive but I don’t think people have thought about offending the viewers of these shows. If someone loves violent programs, why insult their preferences? It’s a double standard because if someone who promotes violent television insulted the G rated tv shows, they would be considered a horrible person. It is hardly fair if you ask me.

As soon as something is showing something that the world doesn’t want to see, people go crazy over it before even looking for the reason behind it being shown. Violence isn’t always just shown for the sake of making something offensive or overly gory. Violence is the real world. We may not experience it, but it is happening and people should be exposed to it. Sheltering yourself from the violence of the world won’t help us get away from it, it’ll only get worse. 

There are tv shows and movies shown on television that glorify gore and violence, which in that case, if one doesn’t want to watch that, they don’t have to but when it comes to violence based on non-fiction, people who are only looking at it as offensive, should consider looking at it as a learning experience.

In the end, it call comes down to ones preference. Why waste your time fighting over something that you can avoid by clicking a button on your remote control? Making your own choices is much more respectful than insulting the things other people like.

Editorials and Personal Columns

• The homecoming dance
• The homecoming game
• Children Shows

A columnist I read on a regular basis is Ann Shoket from Seventeen Magazine. I read them because her articles are always about new trends for young adults and interviews with celebrities. I keep going back to read them because there's always something new to learn or great tips for that time of year.  

CE Quiz 2.3

1. In Tuesday's paper on page A3 "Ellis Island", what do you know about Ellis Island? Would you like to visit the island? WHY or WHY NOT

I know that Ellis Island was where immigrants were taken to become citizens back in the early 1900s. I have visited the island before and it is so magnificent! I would definitely go again, there is so much history and a lot of things to learn, along with seeing the Statue of Liberty which is amazing!

2. In Tuesday's paper on page A7 "Thanks, Texas..." What points are the author trying to make about Texas? Do you agree or disagree with his perspective? WHY or WHY NOT

The author states that Texas is sacrificing their own poor people so that the poor people in New York could have free health care insurance. Basically, he is being very sarcastic towards Texas and how they are running things, and I disagree with his perspective because he is going about things the wrong way by ridiculing and being rude.

3. In Tuesday's paper on page B1 "School staff to get ...." What are your reactions to the story? Do you think the Bastrop staff should get the training? WHY or WHY NOT

I was shocked at some of the things that were happening in the Bastrop School district. I definitely think the Bastrop staff should get the training because things will only get worse if they don't work on changing the way they are doing things in the district.

4. In Wednesday's paper on page A11 "NFL not..." Do you think the concussion issue is enough to cause changes in the NFL? WHY or WHY NOT

No, because when going into the NFL, you know you are putting yourself at risk. They should make more protective head gear for people in football though for safety.

5.  In Thursday's paper on page A1 "Guards at lockup..." What should happen to guards at the facility?

I think the guards should lose their jobs. I don't agree with the way they are handling things. Using physical violence isn't going make troubled kids feel any better towards the world or improve their lives.

6.  In Thursday's paper on page A1 "Sebelien apologizes: Obama tries..." Should the computer problems plaguing the ACA be reflective on the job the President is doing as the leader of the United States? WHY or WHY NOT?

I don't think it should reflect on the job of the President, because he didn't do anything intentionally.