Portfolio+Projects+-+Quarter+II

=Portfolio Projects - Quarter #2=

Again, you may complete these projects in any order. The first project will be due **Friday, November 30th**, the second **Friday, January 11th.** Section editors must complete Project #2 and may complete Project #1 for extra-credit and because it's fun.

Spend some time browsing //The Onion// News website [|http://www.theonion.com.] Read articles that interest you, listen to radio news. Generally check it out.
 * Project #1**

After reading widely, think of a school news topic to satirize. Write an article of between 300 and 500 words, following all of the conventions of news writing, in which you satirize this news. The more serious your tone, the more effective (and funny) your satire will be. Let's face it, school is ripe for the making fun of.

Complete a Columbia Scholastic Press review packet/ checklist for any 2007 issue of //The Bradford.// When you're ready for this, see me for the packet. Hopefully, you have two or three issues to choose from, depending on the deadline you choose. After completing the packet, write up a 500-word critique of the paper which summarizes your findings. This is what the judges do when critiquing our paper.
 * Project #2**

Consider the following questions in your write-up, along with whatever else you notice during your critique.

1. Is //The Bradford// balanced? Would all members of our community see themselves reflected in its pages? Whose voices are missing? How can we include more of them in future issues? Do articles show all sides of issues?

2. In terms of writing, what are we generally pretty good at? (Leads, paragraphing, headlines, attribution, avoiding bias, using active verbs...) What do we need to improve upon?

3. How are our graphics and captions? How could they be improved?

4. Any suggestions for the process of producing the paper? What works? What should change?