#4)A recent survey found that the number of Towson residents affected by identity theft is much greater than the national average.
#5) The Maryland State Department of Education plans to provide $1.2 million to the Towson school district's at-risk programs.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Lede Practice
1. The husband of Mayor Sabrina Datolli was struck by a pick-up truck in a three- vehicle accident, Thursday afternoon at Warren and Davidson avenues.
2. The city council met to propose the creation of a local board to oversee building changes for the historic district.
3. The Senate approved a plan to store 77,000 tons of radioactive waste safely in Nevada desert, said the head of Department of Energy in Washington, D.C.
2. The city council met to propose the creation of a local board to oversee building changes for the historic district.
3. The Senate approved a plan to store 77,000 tons of radioactive waste safely in Nevada desert, said the head of Department of Energy in Washington, D.C.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Extra Credit Post!!!!
Comma Rules
1.)Use commas in compund sentences when clauses are seperated by a conjunction such as "and", "but", "for","nor", or "yet".
Example 1: Andy wanted to take the dog for a walk, but it was raining.
Example 2: Mikey studied very hard for the test, yet he failed.
2.)Use commas to seperate elements in a series.
Example 1: Allison wants to go to Paris, London, Portland and Venice.
Example 2: We went hiking, swimming, biking and running.
3.)Use commas when attributing from quoted material.
Example 1: "I want to go outside," said Steve.
Example 2: She said, "Hello".
4.)Commas follow introductory matter, such as after an inductory prepositional phrases. Also use a comma with a phrase that contains a verbal.
Example 1: In the summer of 1969, he was young and reckless.
Example 2: To get better, she drank water and went to bed.
5.)Commas follow the salutation of a friendly letter and the complimentary close of any letter.
Example 1: Dear Sally,
Example 2: Sincerely, Little Richard
6.)Commas follow all items in a date or full address.
Example 1: ODB is from Brooklyn, NY.
Example 2: My father was born December 31, 1959.
7.)Commas surround nonessential words or phrases. They also set off appositives.
Example 1: Well, I guess we will just have to go with our second choice.
Example 2: The singer, Chan Marshall, has played here several times.
8.)Commas surround words of direct address.
Example 1: Tommy, don't be an idiot!!
Example 2: Chris, don't be silly!
9.)Commas indicate omitted verbs, usually expressed in another part of the sentence.
Example 1: Violence often has victims, hugs, almost never.
Example 2: The song occasionally made her cry, her father, never.
10.)Semicolons connect two complete sentences if sentences have a related thought.
Example 1: The dog got hit by a car; he had to be put down.
Example 2: On the rainy night in the middle of nowhere, the car wouldn't start; we had to sleep there.
11.)Semicolons are used in a list separating items that require significant internal punctuation.
Example 1: My favorite places that I have vistited have been San Francisco, California; Estes Park, Colorado; and Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.
Example 2: He lived in Dublin for 2 years; London,England for 5 years; and now lives in Baltimore.
12.) Colons precede formal lines, illustrations, multisentence quotes, and enumerations.
Example 1: The winners are: Judy, Frank and Gramps.
Example 2: The family made a day plan: First, check into the hotel...(etc)
1.)Use commas in compund sentences when clauses are seperated by a conjunction such as "and", "but", "for","nor", or "yet".
Example 1: Andy wanted to take the dog for a walk, but it was raining.
Example 2: Mikey studied very hard for the test, yet he failed.
2.)Use commas to seperate elements in a series.
Example 1: Allison wants to go to Paris, London, Portland and Venice.
Example 2: We went hiking, swimming, biking and running.
3.)Use commas when attributing from quoted material.
Example 1: "I want to go outside," said Steve.
Example 2: She said, "Hello".
4.)Commas follow introductory matter, such as after an inductory prepositional phrases. Also use a comma with a phrase that contains a verbal.
Example 1: In the summer of 1969, he was young and reckless.
Example 2: To get better, she drank water and went to bed.
5.)Commas follow the salutation of a friendly letter and the complimentary close of any letter.
Example 1: Dear Sally,
Example 2: Sincerely, Little Richard
6.)Commas follow all items in a date or full address.
Example 1: ODB is from Brooklyn, NY.
Example 2: My father was born December 31, 1959.
7.)Commas surround nonessential words or phrases. They also set off appositives.
Example 1: Well, I guess we will just have to go with our second choice.
Example 2: The singer, Chan Marshall, has played here several times.
8.)Commas surround words of direct address.
Example 1: Tommy, don't be an idiot!!
Example 2: Chris, don't be silly!
9.)Commas indicate omitted verbs, usually expressed in another part of the sentence.
Example 1: Violence often has victims, hugs, almost never.
Example 2: The song occasionally made her cry, her father, never.
10.)Semicolons connect two complete sentences if sentences have a related thought.
Example 1: The dog got hit by a car; he had to be put down.
Example 2: On the rainy night in the middle of nowhere, the car wouldn't start; we had to sleep there.
11.)Semicolons are used in a list separating items that require significant internal punctuation.
Example 1: My favorite places that I have vistited have been San Francisco, California; Estes Park, Colorado; and Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.
Example 2: He lived in Dublin for 2 years; London,England for 5 years; and now lives in Baltimore.
12.) Colons precede formal lines, illustrations, multisentence quotes, and enumerations.
Example 1: The winners are: Judy, Frank and Gramps.
Example 2: The family made a day plan: First, check into the hotel...(etc)
Sunday, February 8, 2009
The Five Most Common Grammar Problems
1. Punctuation - The problem is that people don't know the rules.
ADVICE: Don't punctuate unless you know the rule.
ex. She wanted to go home, but he wanted to stay out late.
The comma is used in this sentence because it is a compound sentence that is separated by the conjunction but.
2. Subject and Verb Agreement- This problem can occur with collective subjects, certain pronouns, fractions as a subject, compound subjects, or subjects structured with either/or.
(Rule- A fraction or percentage of a whole is considered a singular subject.)
ex. Three- quarters of the pizza is left.
3. Correct Use of Pronouns- Problems people make with words like "he", "she", "you", "they", "I" or "it".
Advice: Pronouns must agree with their antecedents.
Ex. Manchester Orchestra became one of my favorite bands, after they played a show in Baltimore.
4. Sentence Structure- Problems include: fragments, run-on sentences, faulty parallelism, and modifier placement.
ex. Wrong: While dancing to the beat, the boy took his jacket off his body.
Better: The boy took his jacket off his body, while dancing to the beat.
5. Word Usage- is a problem because we have words that function similarly but not identically.
ex. RIGHT! --- Cancer affects your body.
WRONG! --- Cancer effects your body.
ADVICE: Don't punctuate unless you know the rule.
ex. She wanted to go home, but he wanted to stay out late.
The comma is used in this sentence because it is a compound sentence that is separated by the conjunction but.
2. Subject and Verb Agreement- This problem can occur with collective subjects, certain pronouns, fractions as a subject, compound subjects, or subjects structured with either/or.
(Rule- A fraction or percentage of a whole is considered a singular subject.)
ex. Three- quarters of the pizza is left.
3. Correct Use of Pronouns- Problems people make with words like "he", "she", "you", "they", "I" or "it".
Advice: Pronouns must agree with their antecedents.
Ex. Manchester Orchestra became one of my favorite bands, after they played a show in Baltimore.
4. Sentence Structure- Problems include: fragments, run-on sentences, faulty parallelism, and modifier placement.
ex. Wrong: While dancing to the beat, the boy took his jacket off his body.
Better: The boy took his jacket off his body, while dancing to the beat.
5. Word Usage- is a problem because we have words that function similarly but not identically.
ex. RIGHT! --- Cancer affects your body.
WRONG! --- Cancer effects your body.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Chapter 4
A summary lead is the opening of the story that sums up the main points.
Main characteristics:
1. Be Specific- provide important details
2. Avoid Backing Up- start off strong (start with subject)
3. Be Concise- focus on one point
4. Use Active Voice- write so that the subject undertakes an action
Three Examples:
1. Two people died in a single-vehicle crash in Parkville about 2:30 a.m. on Joppa Road near Pershing Avenue, police said. By Gus Sentementes
-I think this is a good example because it tells you who,what,where, and when.
-The lead also starts with what everyone wants to know. When a reader views the picture of the crash the first thing they want to know is how many people died.
2. A worker at the Domino Sugar factory in Baltimore died this morning in a forklift accident -- Maryland's first case of an industrial workplace fatality this year, authorities said. By Gus G. Sentementes
- It is to the point and provides the most important details.
- It is specific
- Avoids backing in
3. WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama signed a bill today extending health coverage to 4 million uninsured children, a much-needed win a day after he lost his nominee to lead his drive for sweeping health care reform. By Kevin Freking
- Specific about what the bill will do
- Gives the who, what, when
All stories taken from Baltimore Sun
Main characteristics:
1. Be Specific- provide important details
2. Avoid Backing Up- start off strong (start with subject)
3. Be Concise- focus on one point
4. Use Active Voice- write so that the subject undertakes an action
Three Examples:
1. Two people died in a single-vehicle crash in Parkville about 2:30 a.m. on Joppa Road near Pershing Avenue, police said. By Gus Sentementes
-I think this is a good example because it tells you who,what,where, and when.
-The lead also starts with what everyone wants to know. When a reader views the picture of the crash the first thing they want to know is how many people died.
2. A worker at the Domino Sugar factory in Baltimore died this morning in a forklift accident -- Maryland's first case of an industrial workplace fatality this year, authorities said. By Gus G. Sentementes
- It is to the point and provides the most important details.
- It is specific
- Avoids backing in
3. WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama signed a bill today extending health coverage to 4 million uninsured children, a much-needed win a day after he lost his nominee to lead his drive for sweeping health care reform. By Kevin Freking
- Specific about what the bill will do
- Gives the who, what, when
All stories taken from Baltimore Sun
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Chapter 14
Objectivity- requires a journalist to use observable facts instead of opinions
- keep your emotions out of your story
- make sure to balance your sources
- report every angle
Throughness- requires a journalist to look at every side of the story
- think about what is important for the readers to know
- get to know your sources
- make sure your sources are reliable
Accuracy- requires a journalist to report the truth
- fact check
- assume that nothing is true about your story without support
- have several sources per side
Fairness- requires a journalist to present every side of the story with intentions to gain truth
- don't assume anything about anyone or anything
- think about the motives of your sources
- try to include the minority opinion
Transparency- requires a journalist to remain in the role of information gatherer to maintain the trust of the public
- do not express your opinions about your sources
- link all sources
- accurately quote sources, do not assume the meaning of their statements, stick to the facts and their quotes
- keep your emotions out of your story
- make sure to balance your sources
- report every angle
Throughness- requires a journalist to look at every side of the story
- think about what is important for the readers to know
- get to know your sources
- make sure your sources are reliable
Accuracy- requires a journalist to report the truth
- fact check
- assume that nothing is true about your story without support
- have several sources per side
Fairness- requires a journalist to present every side of the story with intentions to gain truth
- don't assume anything about anyone or anything
- think about the motives of your sources
- try to include the minority opinion
Transparency- requires a journalist to remain in the role of information gatherer to maintain the trust of the public
- do not express your opinions about your sources
- link all sources
- accurately quote sources, do not assume the meaning of their statements, stick to the facts and their quotes
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