Category Archives: Writing

Feature Article: The Complete Story (Rated G!)

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Even later than last time, on Epic Blog Post News: The Epic Reveal of the Feature Article has come! Come see it in your local computer or device today! Today, one of the authors of the Feature Article Safe and Secure reveals the whole story… In a Rated G Blog post!

So, I agreed to reveal the ultimate secrets of our Feature Article for the fame and publicity- I mean so everyone can understand. I had a co-author but I did most of the work (OK, maybe I didn’t, but I definitely did my share) and won’t reveal the name of my partner because I’m nice that way.

First, we had to pick a topic. Which is hard, because with me, I can’t really make a decision but I don’t regret our choice at all. I picked School Security but my partner was overreacting that I couldn’t make a decision. Eventually I think she was just so tired that she agreed without really paying attention.

Next, we got this poster board and stuck post-its on it to begin planning, which took a bit but we did it and things were looking up so far. After that, we planned our article on a Google Slides, the same one that we have today, and you will see it at the end of the post. Anyways, we put shapes for different paragraphs and red rectangles for features like pictures or pie charts. This was simple and good because it relaxed my brain for a bit.

Then, we had to begin our research. We tried to look for documents with standards for New York State security but found about nothing. We conducted an interview with Mr. Graham, and got a lot of good information. We still had some questions after that, so we asked Ms. Keane some of our other questions. She was also really helpful. We had enough information to write an article. We also sent out a survey using Google Form to see how students felt about security.

We began writing intros, and we wrote 3 and decided to combine aspects from all 3 to make one intro, and we also looked at real feature articles to look at the intros and to help us know how we should write it, to hook all you readers. Then, we actually did the writing itself. We originally wrote the paragraphs in a Google Doc, but then we copy and pasted it into the slideshow. The font we used in the actual article is called Georgia, in case you were wondering. We were the first group to finish but we didn’t rush either, and we also included some of our information in the surveys that we used and made them into pie charts. The writing was finally over.

Our next assignment was to make a podcast, basically reading an intro and outro for our podcast and reading out the article. It was fun, but kind of simple. We had been practicing reading out loud things previously to prepare ourselves, and it was really easy for me. We got microphones from Mr. Casal (our computer teacher) and those soundproof boxes to put them in, and recorded soundlessly. The last two or three paragraphs I did were out in the open, but the audio in the background wasn’t too bad. Now, we’re giving up our secrets to the world. I’ll include another copy of Safe and Secure in this, and possibly the podcast.

Peace from the other side of the screen,

Me

Oh, Look! I Finished My Feature Article!

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Latest, on the Epic Blog Post News, the Feature Article Safe and Secure has come out! Hip, hip, hooray! If you can’t see it, I have no clue how to fix it, so, er, too bad, I guess. If you can see it, good for you! Enjoy! Have fun reading! For some people I know, that’s an oxymoron, but that’s totally off topic. Enjoy!

I Plan a Newspaper Article

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Feeling great about becoming a newspaper writer? Well today in our not-so-new feature article unit, we began to plan out what our article was going to look like. No idea what I’m talking about? Can’t blame you. Let’s take a large step back.

We all were assigned partners, to begin with. My partner and I looked at each other and were like, “yeah, we’re doing security.” Not really, but we settled on security anyways. So we had began worked on these boards and they had post-its on them, but the problem was the post-its kept on falling off every once in a while, so recently our computer teacher was like “Here, you can also plan it on Google Slides,” and the whole class was like “Sweet.”

So back to where we started. We began to plan what our article would look like and it looks pretty good, like those real newspaper that only talk about politics but with a slightly different layout.

So that’s where we are on now, and we’re probably going to begin writing after we finish planning the second and last page.

Now I’m going to write about feelings. Just a small head start.

I’m liking this whole project mostly except for the fact that it involves a lot of slow movement but whatever, it’s enjoyable. Also, we don’t have to work on our non-fiction reading as much so I’ll take it.

So maybe I’ll make another post but don’t expect too much out of me. Bye.

Weinburg Nature Center Field Trip Reflection

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On Friday we went to the Weinburg Nature Center. We were there to learn about ecosystems. It was a little boring since the guy was talking for 30 minutes, then he would let us pet the animals for five minutes, then keep on talking. My favorite part was petting the animals because the guy would stop talking and we got to pet animals. I will probably not change anything in my life because I don’t litter at all. The bus ride home was bumpy but short. We got to eat lunch there, and after we got to school we got to have our recess.

Charlie’s Wish

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We read the book Wish in class and Ms. Volpi told us to write a blog post about what we think Charlie’s wish should be, after we finish our Biblionasium log reflections. So here’s my idea.

I think that the best possibility is that Charlie is wishing for a true family. If you think about it, Charlie’s family back in Raleigh didn’t give her much of a proper family experience, so she’s wishing when she get’s back or if she has to stay, she will get a family who gives her the best “family experience”.

Another possibility is that Charlie is wishing to go back to Raleigh because she has all these friends there. Because in the beginning of the book Charlie was talking to her friend, and her friend was saying that she’d hate it with all those country people (she called them “hillbillies” but apparently it’s offensive so I’m going to try to not use it).

My last theory is that she is wishing for a friend after moving because inside she knows she might never get back to Raleigh so she is hoping there will be someone who is fun so she can have a good time.

Expert Book – Drawing

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Hello! I have made a Google Slides book! It’s about drawing. I chose that topic for multiple reasons. One of those reasons is because I like to draw when I’m bored. Another reason is because drawing has never come hard for me.

I had to do a lot of work for this project. I had to do some research, write a paper and pencil draft for it, find some images and in most cases, create my own! I also had to organize chapters, and write an introduction at the end, even though they normally come in the beginning of the books. I’d say the toughest part was using expert words because drawing doesn’t use many complicated words.

So, my expert book is down below, and I hope you enjoy it! Bye!

 

The History of Typography

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During our class tine in the computer lab, Mr. Casal showed us a video about the history of typography. After watching this video I learned that typography had its first evolution (evolution, not creation) in the 15th century. Some typefaces are old style by William Caslon I, transitional by John Baskerville, and modern, by Fermin Didot and Giambattista Bodoni. Modern has very thin serifs and a high contrast of thick and thin, transitional has not as thin serifs and a thicker contrast between thick and thin, and old style has thick serifs and a low contrast between thick and thin. And William Caslon IV was so sick of serifs, he got rid of them entirely and called it ‘Serif Sans’. And Helvetica is probably the world”s favorite with simple curves. Friedrich Guttenburg invented blackletter which started typography. I think the style of video was cool because it makes it look like it is moving by itself like the clock in the beginning, and Guttenburg’s hat, and the two gears when he said “During the second Industrial Revolution” , and many more times. Even in the beginning when he touched the paper! And it was also cool when he showed all the pieces in the end.

 

 

Here is the video we watched in class:

The History of Typography by Ben Barrett-Forrest from Dezeen on Vimeo.

Mexican Sunflower

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I am in the small, humble Heathcote Garden.

I have a green stem and a red flower.

 

I am a Mexican Sunflower.

 

The wind blows a slight breeze but the sun shines even brighter.

Lilly’s Aster gives a little wave.

 

I am a Mexican Sunflower.

 

The butterflies, bees, and groundhogs gather around me.

Last month, I was an inch smaller and couldn’t see as much as I see now.

 

I am a Mexican Sunflower.

 

Next month I will be bigger but not too much bigger and it will be cold.

 

I am a Mexican Sunflower.