Final Exam Planning

1. I will shoot this assignment this Saturday April 30, 2016.
2. I will shoot at my aunt's house.
3. I will be documenting my cousin's birthday party.
4. I will need my camera and maybe a tripod, both of which I have in my possession.
5. I will photograph the bouncy house, presents, parts of the piñata and parts of the birthday cake. I will video parts of the piñata and parts of the birthday cake and some in the bouncy house. I will narrate some of the information about the party (names, relationship to birthday boy, etc.) and some of the presents. Narration will introduce people in still photographs. Lots of still photographs will follow, and when people are in the bouncy house there will be some video. More photographs, then piñata video and pictures. More stills, then cake video and pictures. Present pictures and some narration explaining importance of gifts.

Illustrator

Infographics

Create line charts

Intro to iMovie

Intro to iMovie Video:
1. iMovie is fairly easy to use and uses both still photos and videos. Importing both videos and still photos isn't difficult and is simply a click and drag action. It is possible to edit the length of the video, split clips in many pieces and add effects to a clip.
    iMovie has two types of timeline modes, a clip mode, and a time mode, and each present unique features. Adding titles and subtitles is hassle free and can be on a clip or on a black screen. iMovie makes making movies as easy as possible and the options are fairly self-explanatory.
2. I already knew that iMovie made movies can use both still photos and videos.
3. I didn't know that clips could be edited.

iMovie for Mac:
1. iMovie is designed for all apple products, iPhones, iPods, iPads and Macs. An iMovie can be started on product and finished on another. iMovie can be used to make both movies and trailers for these movies.
    Sound effects can be added as well as voice overs. Themes add a professional feel to the movie and they bring their own professional soundtrack. In order to share a movie, you only need to export it into a compatible file and upload it to your favorite site.
2. I already knew that trailers could be made.
3. I didn't know that you could access movies on all apple products.

4. I am concerned about having enough time to complete the project and getting the video.
5. I am confident that I can have the photos quickly and maybe the video if I can figure out how to use it.
6. I would document my sister's track meet or my cousin's birthday party.

My Opinion Story

All students are familiar with standardized tests, STAAR, SAT, ACT, MOY, AP tests, etc., and the stress they bring with them. We are forced to think the same way the test makers think, because of the somewhat-biased choices, avoid the correct-looking-wrong-answers, and become masters in subjects that do not always interest us. I think that this is wrong, students shouldn’t be required to spend hours differentiating between a, b, c, and d, or writing essays on ridiculous prompts that don’t truly reflect our writing skill.

Although I realize that some measure of knowledge is needed to show if students are learning enough, I don’t think that standardized tests are the way to go. First of all, these tests don’t take into account learning impairments as much as they could. For example many students read slowly, but these tests don’t accommodate that.

Secondly, the time constraints make students nervous and stressed as time runs out. For instance, many students like to double check their answers to ensure that they answered every question right, but the time constraint doesn’t always allow these students enough time to do this. 

In addition, the sheer number of questions is ridiculous; sixty questions about grammar, sentence structure, and literary analysis is excessive. For example, students in Texas must take the English STARR test twice in high school. 

Lastly, students are required to take five STAAR tests to pass high school, but three of these are generally taken during freshman year. Even if a student takes algebra in 8^th grade, they still must take two STAAR tests in 9^th grade, while sophomores and juniors take one STAAR test and seniors take none. If we could just take biology in 9^th grade, English II in 10^th grade, algebra II in 11^th grade, and United States government in 12^th grade, then there would be less stress freshman year, and fewer tests to take for high school students.

I don’t agree with the fact that students have to take both the English I STAAR and the English II STAAR. If we could just take the English II test, then our skills would still be tested and we wouldn’t be as stressed freshman year. In addition, if we could just take an Algebra II test instead of the Algebra I test, then our skills would be more developed and we could take fewer tests as a 14-15 year old. And instead of taking an United States history test, knowledge that is rarely used, we could take an United States government test, we would be more knowledgeable about our government and this knowledge is much more relevant in today’s world than U.S. history.

I think that standardized tests are too stressful and don’t accurately measure students’ knowledge because the test is unaccommodating for disadvantaged students, and because of the time constraint, and somewhat-biased answers.

SNO Online Papers

The Polaris Press: Minimum Wage

1. Erin Lungwitz
2. President Obama's plan to raise minimum wage. 
3. "The minimum wage in the United States should be raised to $10.10. People who work full time shouldn't be impoverished."
4. She addresses the other side of the topic by saying "Some of these companies don't want to pay their employees more than the current minimum wage in fear of losing money..."
5. She wasn't wishy-washy about her opinion because throughout the story, she clearly conveys her feeling toward the topic. 
6. There are no quoted in the story. 
7. This is in a 3rd Person point of view. 

Falcon Quill: The War on Gender wage Equality: A perspective on the disparities between men's and women's paychecks

1. Alex Doswell
2. The unfair gap between the amount of money men and women are paid.
3. "It's frustrating that I'm discriminated against for something as rudimentary as gender.
4. She doesn't really address the other side of the topic.
5. She isn't wishy-washy at all about her opinion because she clearly conveys her opinion throughout the entire article. 
6. She quoted one article. 
7. She wrote in 1st Person point of view.

The Review: Taylor Swift at the Grammys: Bad Blood or a girl-power missive?

1. Kara Wollmers
2. The impact and implications of Taylor Swift's speech at the Grammys.
3. "Swifts's speech was a breath of fresh air."
4. She doesn't really address the other side of the topic.
5. She is not wishy-washy in her opinion because her opinion is conveyed throughout her article. 
6. There are quotes from Taylor Swift's speech and Kanye West's rap.
7. She wrote in 2nd Person point of view.

Personal Essays

1. One idea about choosing a topic to write about presented by the writer is to chose a topic that you are passionate about. 

2. One thing that you should remember when writing your piece is to avoid abstract phrases and to be specific. 

3.   

     -Personal essays by definition contain a personal perspective. You should be there. Watch your construction. If every sentence begins "I", you need to rephrase to provide a better rhythm and pace to your piece. 

     -Writing essays is a great way to get your opinions off your chest, but avoid philosophical rants which make no connection to your reader's experience. Again, keep it personal while relating to a wider world. 

     -Take your ideas from wherever you can. Note your reactions to everything, pursue passing preoccupations and distractions, consider what makes you, glad, angry, passionate in what you read, see, and hear. Mine your own past for incidents, images, lessons and epiphanies.