Blog 27: Senior Project Reflection

1. Positive Statement
What are you most proud of in your 2-Hour Presentation and/or your senior project? Why?        -The thing I am most proud of for my 2-Hour Presentation would be the fact that I got plenty of compliments on my activities. Knowing that the activities were engaging and interactive enough for my audience was a big relief. Also, just knowing that the audience enjoyed and got the connection between my answers and activities was really nice.
2. Questions to Consider
a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your 2-Hour Presentation (self-assessment)? Why?        -I would give myself an AE because my presentation was very well thought out. I planned my groups to be publications and that tied into my activities and answers. I also demonstrated plenty of research and evidence, as well as a clear connection for the audience. I also added personal touches to my presentation such as the Press Passes that my audience received as part of my presentation. I think the small details like that made my presentation stand apart.
b.     What assessment would you give yourself on your overall senior project (self-assessment)? Why?        -Overall I would give myself somewhere between a P and an AE. I think throughout the year I have demonstrated work worth a P or higher consistently be it in science fair, research, or my presentations. Although there were one or two assignments in which I received an AP, I believe that the highlights of the year outweigh the very minimal amount of low points. 
3. What worked for you in your senior project?
        -For my senior project, my service learning worked because it gave me plenty of experience seeing journalism in action. My presentations also worked for me as I demonstrated extensive research and knowledge on my topic.
4. What didn’t work for you in your senior project?        -During the senior project, the Three Column Chart really did not work for me. Although some students succeeded in it, I found it very difficult and felt extremely lost and confused on the requirements needed and the end goal of the Three Column Chart. It honestly did not help me in anyway, but I believe that has to do with the fact that I tend to be better in the arts and humanities.
5. Finding ValueHow has the senior project been helpful to you in your future endeavors?   Be specific and use examples.         -The senior project, although extensive and stressful, has proven to be very useful. Next year I plan to be part of Whittier College's student newspaper, and thanks to my senior project I will have already had experience working at a student newspaper due to my service learning. It also opened my eyes to journalism and my dream of ultimately working for a publication. 

Blog 26: 2-Hour Presentation

Here is the link to my 2-Hour presentation plan: 


My 2-Hour Presentation Plan

Blog 22: Answer #3

• Essential Question: What is most important to success in journalism?
• Answer 3: One of the most important factors to success in journalism is the ability to be independent and transparent. 
• Some components of my answer include: 
• Journalistic independence can be damaged by accepting free gifts of any kinds.
• Avoid conflicts of interest.
• Always identify yourself as a journalist when on assignment.
• Any scene dramatized should be clearly stated. 
• Evidence:
• Example 1: While reading The Elements of Journalism by Bill Kovach & Rob Rosensteil, I came across a section that discussed the purpose of journalism, to provide information for the public, so they can make decisions and self-govern. In order to fulfill this and thus, be successful in journalism, remaining independent and neutral.
• Example 2: According to the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics, one of the cornerstones is to Be Accountable, which is broken down into avoiding any contact/ties with outside sources or publications. An example of this would be to be receiving outside gifts or compensation from a company or publication to publish/report a story that will be waived in said company/publications favor for whatever reason. This, as explained in the Code of Ethics, leads to lack of accountability to the bribed journalist.
• Example 3: While speaking with my service learning mentor, she spoke to me about what journalists' job is. She said journalists are responsible for "being the voice to the voiceless". In order to do that, she said, they must do they toughest thing, be neutral. She gave me an ethical case study known as the picture with the vulture in Africa. The photojournalist there was covering a story there and took a photo of a malnourished African toddler who had collapsed while a vulture looked on and was about to hunt. The photo was legendary and sparked huge controversy in the journalism world. Although being neutral is ethical, many discuss the extent of it. 
• Source:
• The Elements of Journalism by Bob Kovach & Rob Rosensteil
• Personal Interview with Cecily Arambula, EIC of Poly Post
• Concordia University Code of Ethics

Blog 20: Room Creativity

1. How do you plan to address the room creativity expectation?
     I plan on addressing the room creativity expectation by using posters and decor revolving around my topic of journalism. To do this, I will create various posters with my essential question and posters about small subtopics within journalism. Another idea I had for decor was to hang newspapers and magazines from around the country or globe including the New York Times, The Poly Post, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, ten57 Magazine, etc. This, I believe will enhance my presentation and allow for my audience to really capture the essence of journalism and its impact on our daily lives. Using magazines that teens read, such as TeenVogue, Seventeen, etc. will enhance this goal of mine. 
2. What activity ideas do you have for answer 1 or 2?
    For my first two answers, I was thinking of one activity revolving around the idea of good interviewing (Answer 2: TEA Method) and my Answer 1, accuracy/research. For my first answer, which revolves around research and accuracy, I plan on having an activity that is based on checking sources. This can be incorporated into the previous activity and be made into a Part 1, Part 2 sequence. Part 1 would incorporate Answer 1, which is about researching the interviewee and checking sources, while Part 2 would include the actual interviewing process of planning effective questions and working toward a presented story that their "editor" has assigned them. This will involve my audience and allow them to work with others to create effective questions for their given goal/story.

Blog 19: Answer 2

• Provide a rough draft in how you plan to address the following:
• EQ: What is most important to success in journalism?
• Answer 2: One of the most important keys to success in journalism is through using the TEA methods to have effective interviews. Interviewing is a vital source for stories, as most stories will be based off interviews with the "players" of a scenario/case in which you are reporting. 
• The TEA method consists of: 
• Telling the interviewee how questions will be used
• Preparing effective questions
• Creating a comfortable atmosphere
• Evidence/Sources= 3 pieces (facts and examples)
• 1. 13 Simple Journalist Techniques for Effective Interviews by Sarah Stueville: This article provided me with tips about the atmosphere of an interview. I had never thought about how much the setting of an interview can affect the interviewee and their responses. For example, the article states that "people are more comfortable in a familiar place". This can aid the interviewee provide insightful and useful information.
• 2. Interview Questions by Media College: This article was aimed toward the importance of having questions prepared ahead of time before an interview. This is essential for having a base of questions to start off from. Of course, an journalist should have the ability to think on their feet, but having a few set questions will allow for more time.
• 3. Interviewing: The Ignored Skill by Poynter.org: This article by Poynter.org refers to how society tends to believe that anyone can ask questions and interview, however, this is an incorrect assumption. Example:  "If we aren’t proficient at asking the right questions at the right time, we’ll miss on accuracy, fall short on context, and stumble on fairness."
• 4. Personal Interview with Cecily Arambula, EIC of Poly Post: My interview with my mentor at my service learning facility, The Poly Post, spoke to me about the importance of having effective questions prepared. This, she explained, can be achieved by doing sufficient research. She explained this to me by talking about her own experience when tracking down the University's president. She only had a few minutes between two of his meetings on campus to get an insightful story for the newspaper. She did this by researching and having a set of prepared questions beforehand.

Blog 14: Presentation 2 Rough Draft

Here is my 20-Minute Presentation.

My 20-Minute Lesson Plan

Blog 13: Answer 1

1. What is answer 1 to your EQ? Be specific in your answer and write it like a thesis statement.
       One of the most important elements to becoming a successful journalist is to strive for accuracy and fairness.

2. What possible evidence do you have to support this answer?

• For example, if a journalist gains insight from a "credible source" that turns out to not be so credible, the journalists' employer/publication will be at risk of lawsuits, etc. 

• Another example as to why accuracy is essential to success in journalism is because the news are used by the public to inform themselves about current events. The public, according to The Elements of Journalism by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel, uses the news to make informed decisions in a democracy.

• Lastly, another example taken from The Elements of Journalism by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel, where Pulizter's Sun Magazine's motto for a number of years was, "Accuracy, accuracy, accuracy."

• The Elements of Journalism
 by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel

• The Code of Ethics by the Society of Professional Journalists (
http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp)

• Principles of Journalism by Journalism.org

3. What source(s) did you find this evidence and/or answer?

Blog #4: Presentation Reflection

1.  In what way did the first interview affect your presentation?  Please explain, be specific and use an example.
My first interview was for my previous topic in interior design, but I did my presentation on my new topic (as of now) that is child care. The two are not similar in any way, so unfortunately I wasn't able to use the information from my first interviews for my presentation.  
2.  What you say stood out about your presentation performance and why?
In my opinion, what stood out about my presentation performance was the organization I had with my board and my order. Although I forgot one step due to my overall nervousness, I think that order was shown through my presentation. 
3.  What was the most challenging to do and why?
The most challenging thing for me was to keep under five minutes. I was so worried about going over my time that I forgot one of the steps I had planned earlier in my rough and final drafts. 

Blog #3: Senior Project Presentation 1

Five Minute Presentation Rough Draft

Lesson: Types of Child Care

Objective: Students will learn to identify several of the different types of childcare facilities. These include: Day Care Centers, Family Child Care, and In-Home Care.

Procedure:

1.     I will introduce my lesson by asking, “How many different types of child care facilities can you think of?” and I will call on three students to give their opinions/thoughts. (20 seconds)

2.    I will announce to the students that the lesson I will be giving is titled Different Types of Child Care. (15 seconds)

3.    I will then communicate to the audience what my objective is for this mini lesson. (See Objective above). (15 seconds)

4.     Using my presentation board, I will show the students a table of the three basic types of child care that includes a photo and a basic description. Here, I will expand briefly on each specialty. (1 1/2 minute)

5.     Next, I will check for understanding by calling on students and having them guess the type of child care like explained in the “Check for Understanding” section below. (1 minute)

6.     I will then communicate to the audience what my overall goal for this year and my senior project is. This is that I wish to discover something that I hope will become a career for me. (30 seconds)

7.     I will conclude with asking the students if they have any further questions or need any clarifications on the mini lesson. (10 seconds)

Approximate Total Time: 4 minutes

Check for Understanding: I will check for the students’ understanding by having the students play a small game. At the end of my lesson, I will have the students guess the type of child care by giving them clues and then calling on three students. Example: Which type of child care requires the caregiver to visit one’s home? Answer: In-Home Care.

Resources/Materials: To further enhance my lesson, I will be using a poster board organized as a table to show the different categories of child care. This will include a photo or sketch and a brief description about each specialty and their basic pros and cons.

 Evidence of L.I.A.

Literal: Thus far, I have learned many facts about child care and the different types that exist within it. For example, I didn’t know that there were so many different types of child care like Montessori schools, faith-based schools, in-home care, nurseries, etc. that served various clients, children, and purposes.

Interpretive: For this portion, I will draw connections from our lives as children. Almost every child in America has had some sort of caregiver be it a family member or at a facility meaning most of the audience members will have some sort of memory of a daycare they attended. Later in life, we will also have to deal with child care if we have children of our own. This, I believe, will allow students to further comprehend and identify what each of these different types of child care are.

Applied: This will be included in the conclusion of my Five Minute Presentation where I will communicate to the audience what I hope to achieve this year, which is that I hope to learn more about child care on a more professional basis and maybe even take it to the next level and make it a career.