My opinions story

2016 was the first year that the class of 2019 students at Bowie high school had to take the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) on computers rather than paper.

This decision led to a lot of controversy that could have been avoided if we just stuck with the paper tests.

Though taking tests on computers goes faster, it can cause more mistakes to be made by the students since they can’t actually view things the same. Sometimes it is helpful for a student to annotate to help them figure out the right answer, but on a computer that is not an option.

This year any mathematic STAARs will be more difficult since students can’t show their work next to a problem. It will also be harder to analyze graphs or any other pictures because all you have is a computer screen, you can’t look closer or draw things that help you solve. Even though we have the option of using scratch paper, it’s not the same as actually getting to write on the test.

Students are already stressed enough about how hard the test will be, but now they have to worry about the complications of taking a test on the computer. This is something that can be helped and avoided.

It was also not fair to students that some had to go review their test again. For the students having to review it was not fair that they had to miss another day of classes for a mistake that they had no part in. On the other hand it was not fair to the students that didn’t have to because they didn’t get the chance to fix their test after they’d already seen it. 

Students could have discussed answers with friends and go back the next day to revise their mistakes so they could get a better grade, but not every student got this opportunity.

Using computers is not always trust worthy. They can glitch and cause more problems. There is still a chance that some students lost answers or some answers got switched around. You can’t always be 100% sure with technology.

This test is taken to evaluate students’ knowledge, to see if teachers did their job through out the school year. Our scores are compared to other schools and help the state rank each school. How can the state really know this if the test was taken at unequal circumstances.

Students should have gotten the chance to input their opinion on whether or not the STAAR should have been taken on computers. This may have been easier for all the proctors and test graders, but in the end the students are the ones that are really affected by this test. They should have a say about the test that determines if they graduate from high school. 

Hopefully next year the school board will look into these problems and make a decision that will help the students and not themselves. 

Taking the STAAR on computers was not the best idea and it led to too many problems. 

SNO online papers

Is Uber Really Safe?
1. Blake Gomez
2. He is addressing the safety issues of taking an Uber.
3. "It is perfectly okay to use Uber but people should be wary of the high risk involved with using it."
4. Yes, he said why people use Uber but also why they shouldn't.
5. He was a little wishy washy, he wrote more about why Ubers weren't safe but then he said "It is perfectly okay to use Uber" so I was confused on what his opinion really was.
6. No quotes
7. 2nd pov

5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Coming Into La Joya
1. Melanie Gaxiola
2. She is talking about all the things she doesn't like about La Joya high school.
3. "I was also pretty lucky to move schools with my best friend, so I wasn't completely alone, but nonetheless, I made new friends rather quickly."
4. No, she just listed all the things she didn't like about the school and not what other people may think.
5. Yes, she was wishy washy. She made a list of all these things she hated about coming into this new school, but then at the end she talked about how it wasn't that bad and she felt lucky, so she never really had a straight opinion.
6. No quotes
7. 1st pov

What should you do when stopped by the police?
1. Rosalba Hernandez
2. This is about the appropriate way to act when you are pulled over by the police.
3. "Don't run or resist arrest. Also, don't complain or tell the police they're wrong or that you're going to file a complaint."
4. Yes, he said what to do and what not to do in this situation.
5. No, he said what he thought was appropriate to do in this situation by stating facts and giving suggestions on how to act.
6. Yes, there was quotes.
7. 3rd pov

Personal Essays

1. Be sure your essay is about something you are passionate for and care strongly about.
2. Make your emotions real and immediate by noting specifics and details that draw the reader into the experience, rather than just setting them aside as observers.
3.

• Writing essays in 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.
• Make connections. If you’re writing about a global theme (poverty, unemployment, child abuse) bring the subject closer to home by relating it to specific, individual examples. If you’re writing about more mundane subjects (left-hand turn signals, the search for the best French Fries, your daughter’s graduation) again, set your views against a wider backdrop or perspective so the reader can relate to it.
• 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.

opinions writing preview activity

Apple refuses to violate privacy of users
1. Editorial
2. The FBI is trying to get Apple to make a software that will allow them to see everything on someone's phone. Apple refuses to violate their consumers's privacy so the FBI must come up with another way to find evidence.
3. "Here, the risk isn't worth the potential consequences, which would be much worse for the country and all iPhone users."
4. Yes, he gives an alternative for the FBI.
5. No they were not wishy washy. S/he stated the facts and gave her/his opinion on why the FBI is wrong for doing this. S/he did not give any additional information that contradicted their opinion.
6. There are no quotes in the story.
7. 3rd pov

Drug dog investigations have students feeling as though their rights are being violated at school
1. Granger Coats
2. Though school safety is crucial, the rules and the way they handle student offenses isn't right and not fair to the students.                          
3. "Ultimately, it creates a sense of fear and hostility amongst teenagers. An overbearing force that has no place within the walls of a successful classroom."
4. Yes, he does say how our school needs safety and he supports the strengthening of effective security.
5. No, he stuck with his opinion and gave facts that supported his opinion.
6. There are no quotes.
7. 1st pov

Social media, back at it again
1. Alicia Molina
2. This story is about internet fame and the result of the famous "damn Daniel".
3. "I think that it's great that people are using their fame for good and they are not keeping it all to themselves, we need more people like Daniel and Josh who use fame for good."
4. No she just gave one side and opinion of the situation.
5. No, she shared her thoughts internet fame and didn't give any other contradicting details.
6. She quoted a tweet from Daniel and the saying "Damn Daniel".
7. 1st pov

Beyonce causes controversy
1. Fuaad Ajaz
2. This is about Beyoncé's formation video and the controversy it aroused.
3. "This goes to show how messed up America is right now."
4. Sort of, he gave his opinion and how he agreed with Beyoncé's views, he also shared a little of the way other American's think about black people.
5. No, he did really good at stating the facts of the Formation video that supported the topic of racism in America.
6. Yes
7. 3rd pov

Is the AP world history test worth it?
1. Mia Barbosa
2. This is about the benefits of taking the AP world history test.
3. "I think that the test is a great way for students to get ahead in the competitive race for college."
4. Yes, she talks about why students wouldn't want to take the test but she gives solutions.
5. No, she states her opinion and backs it up with good reasoning and facts.
6. There are no quotes.
7. 1st pov

A. In a hard news story there are more quotes but in a opinion writing it's mostly just the writer speaking. In hard news you don't really have much of an opinion, you're just stating what has happened. For opinion writing there didn't seem to be much a format to follow, they just stated what they thought and backed it up.

B. I don't think there was photos because photos refer to a specific moment or event and in these writings they were just giving there opinion on an overall topic.

C. - Teachers taking students' phones

- should the STAAR be taken online

- scheduling for Bowie next year

Peer Review SoM

http://isabellasphotojournalismblog.blogspot.com/2016/04/student-of-month-story.html

Paragraphs - 50 points

5 quotes - 25 points

Inverted Pyramid - 25 points

Bonus - 10 points

TOTAL - 110 points

Action Photos - Extra Credit

Earthquake story

On Monday morning, at 8:12 PDT, a powerful earthquake rocked the San Francisco Bay area. It was brutal for people all around the county.

Three of the six people injured were hurt seriously enough to require hospitalization and were transported to Hayward General Hospital.

“The epicenter of the earthquake, which had a magnitude of 6.4 on the Richter scale, was under the Hayward Hills,” according to Penny Gertz, a scientist from the U.S. Geological Survey in Menlo Park, “the quake was a strong one and it occurred on the Hayward Fault, which runs under the hills.”

A building housing McHenry’s Auto Supply at 2342 Plum St. partially collapsed, killing two people and injuring six others, according to Jennifer Vu, a public information officer from the Hayward Fire Department.

“Names of the dead are being withheld pending notifications of families,” Vu said.

Hayward Resident Mike Beamer, whose apartment is across the street from McHenry’s, said he felt a rolling motion that lasted about 30 seconds, with a big jolt coming in the middle.

“I was eating my breakfast when the room started rolling. I dove under the table just as I heard an explosion outside and a chunk of cement slew through my kitchen window. That’s when the screaming started across the street,” said Beamer.

Hayward firefighters used ropes to stabilize the auto supply shop, conducting a search of the building and capped a gas line after detecting a gas leak at the sight.

“Twenty-one fire personnel, 12 police and five American Red Cross workers responded to the building collapse, with some arriving within four minutes of the quake,” Vu said.

“People as far south as Los Angeles and as far north as Redding  felt the quake,” Gertz said.