-- Just am finishing up your synthesis essays. Some reactions: In general, you're doing a nice job incorporating the sources, and staking out a clear point of view. What you can work on: moving beyond a five-paragraph format, and acknowledging complexity. Almost everyone thinks the answer to the question I asked is either all one way or all the other -- the changes journalism are either a dire threat to democracy or its ultimate savior. In truth, I think all of us can see ways in which "new media" both threaten and bolster democratic dialogue and institutions. It's ok to come down on one side or the other, but no mater which way you go I don't think you can completely dismiss the other side's arguments. 

Props to Kathy for having the guts to go first here. The essay is up as a link from the main blog page. She asks us to respond in "sandwich" form -- not totally sure what that means, but here's my guess: Praise/suggestion/praise. Am I right, Kathy? Let's go with that for now. So, as a comment on this message: 


1) What do you like most about the essay? 
2) What one thing should she work on? Focus at this point on content, rather than form, ideas rather than how to connect them to the books, etc. 
3) End with some kind of encouragement

Just fixed the blog link from the previous post, so you should be good to go with Orwell. Why don't you post your response as a comment here in this format: 

Here's a link to Joel's web site if you're interested in a bit more about him. Should be a nice conversation tomorrow. 


And here's a link to Orwell's "Politics and the English Language" for Monday. I'll put up a post to respond tomorrow. 

Ok, here's the link to the "Sports Taboo" essay. Given that we're not as far along as I'd hoped with "Shattered Glass," though, I'm going to make the following schedule changes: 


-- "Sports Taboo" for Tuesday
-- 1,000 words of summer reading essay by Thursday. 


This seems like the best way to handle it, rather than rushing completely. 

Without seeing the whole movie, it doesn't make much sense to talk about the plot. But I'm interested how you react to its portrayal of journalism. I think it's a fairly accurate portrayal of the way a magazine like TNR works, which isn't that far off from a newspaper or TV station. What surprises you? What questions does it raise? Post your thoughts as a comment on this message

1) When you get a chance, drop me a quick email (brian_baron@newton.k12.ma.us) just so I have your email address. If you entered it in the blog post on the synthesis essay, I have it, so you're g
2) Tomorrow (and Friday, and Monday probably because of guidance groups) we're going to be watching a film called "Shattered Glass" that gets at some important issues in journalism. I usually do this in a long lunch block, and we order in pizza, but we don't have a long lunch block. So tomorrow, "Shattered Glass."