High schooler's article in a major newspaper

Can we make a difference? Can we show the world that we can come together, despite the odds, despite our differences?

Can we join arms and love each other as brothers and sisters?

We shall see.

A news article about a violent incident at my very own high school in Atlanta, GA. Take note: it's written by a high school student.

Different angles, same issue

Remember how I said that the same issue can be covered in many different ways? Here are some examples from the Tribune, just from the past couple days. If you're still looking for a topic to write about, you can use these as inspiration.

The debate about concealed carry in Illinois:

Should concealed weapons be allowed in church? At day care centers? In casinos? On buses and trains? Inside sports stadiums? And what exceptions should be made?

 Chicago aldermen want the police superintendent to step down:

"Both Garry McCarthy, (First Deputy police Superintendent) Al Wysinger and the entire leadership in the Police Department have my 100 percent support, but they also have my sense of impatience to get the results throughout the city to bring the type of safety we want in every neighborhood," Emanuel said.

Obituary for Bobby Gore:

Fred Douglas "Bobby" Gore defied labels. He was at one time a leader of the Vice Lords street gang and did time in prison for murder. But he also was an activist, community organizer and mentor.

Have you found any good articles? Feel free to share!

Dealing with serious issues using humor

Behold, a recent article from our friends at The Onion:

“As we speak, maintenance crews are working diligently to restore public transportation, de-ice roads, and clear back alleyways so that Chicagoans can quickly resume murdering again,” Department of Streets and Sanitation spokesman Dave Michelson said of the heavy blizzard, which caused numerous homicide cancellations this morning at peak murder times.

“Unfortunately, we’re backed up by about 35 deadly shootings at the moment, but we hope to restore regular death tolls as soon as possible. We apologize to anyone forced to postpone shootings or other killings today and assure concerned murderers that they will be able to resume slayings by the early afternoon.”

This week we're working on informative reporting; next week on argumentative and persuasive writing. After that, though, we'll be exploring other ways to express opinions and spread awareness, including art, music and even humor. Keep this in mind when we get there.

Research for your informative article

So, you're writing an informative piece for your group blog. Where to start?!?

That's right! Research! Click below for some links to help you get started.

Icarus's Intro

Hi my name is Antonio, and I will be blogging under the name Icarus from the Greek myth about the boy who flew too high. One think I am really interested about is photography. I have always loved taking pictures and I constantly want to venture out to places unknown, to find new shots. I always keep finding myself returning to place once and once again, the botanical gardens, it's one of my favorite placese to go and I always interesting things that make great shots. This year though I have really begun to lean the professional ways to use a camera. With this new knowledge I plan to plow straight foward  into all the remaining photography classes my school offers.

When I think of role models in my life my father is defenantly a huge influence on how I view the world. My father is the strongest person I know and is a person I aspire to be. He continues to teach my new lessons everyday and is always giving me insightful information on the best way to work through life's problems. The suppot he gives me helps me to over come challenges encourage me to help others overcome their challenges. My father's sway on me is monumental and I would ask for no other rolemodle.

Y2Gavin Introduction

                                                                The Beginning of a new Editor
  

Hello everyone my name is ******* and I am one of the bloggers of Kappa League Soars. I will be posting under my account name Y2Gavin after one of my childhood idols Y2J Chris Jericho. One of my biggest interest is Technology so I can become a game designer in the near future. Ever since I became a teenager I've been asked the question " What makes you the man you are today?" To respond to that question I say challenging my self to become the absolute best makes me the type of man I am today. Whether its in sports, academics, or life I always bring it no matter what the obstacle is. With that being said me being able to take on any obstacles makes me the man I am.

           Agree with me great, If you don't then tell me what you think by commenting.

Movements.org's tips on blogging for social change

Movements.org has a how-to article about beginning to blog, this one focused on blogging for social change. Sounds familiar, right? That's what we're doing! There are some great tips here, on creating a blog, on promoting the blog, as well as the writing process itself. Here are some highlights:

Your writing should reference current events while also providing background and context (that's why it’s good to blog about what you know). Assume your readers know nothing about the situation you’re describing.

Read as many other blogs and news sites as possible. You’ll need fresh sources of inspiration and content to blog about and reading a lot is the best way to do it. Set up an RSS feed to automatically receive updates from your favorite sites.

If you are going to be covering topics that may cause others to harm you in some way, then it is a smart idea to blog anonymously. This means choosing a pseudonym, but it also means paying close attention to any other identifying factors in your work. For example, if you mention that you had a meeting with other activists, don’t give away any identifying details of your meeting place. This could include a wide range of descriptions, from landmarks to street names to the weather.

This author especially focuses on the need to make blogging social. Find other blogs to comment on, share your blog through Facebook and Twitter, and encourage your readers to comment. Social change involves being social, so your goal should be to create a conversation, not just to voice your own opinion (although you can certainly do that, too). For more on making blogging social, check out numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10.

Here's that link again: How to Blog for Change for Beginners by Susannah Vila.

Tips on blogging

Hey, Kappa Leaguers. If you're here, you're probably about to write your first blog post. As you do so, here are some tips for you to keep your writing fun, exciting, and accessible to readers.

Introduction to Me

Hey Everyone. My name is Kevin and I will also be one of your instructors. I will be posting under the name ZeeOhLoo, which is simply a play on my last name, which is what a lot of people call me by. One of my big interests in life is Biology, and I really like to ask questions about the world around us. I've always been mesmerized by the techniques we use to study such a small world.

As I get older (I don't think I'm that old), I think about all the role models I have had that have shaped my life to where it is today. My family and friends keep me sane and have always been there for me while growing up throughout my journey. I have also been able to work jobs and do school work to make me more responsible. I believe it's important to ask a lot of questions, whether it's because you don't understand something or because you're calling someones' bluff.

I hope we can create an open dialogue through use of our time together and here on this blog. I am very excited for this opportunity to work with you.

Mneme's introduction

Hi, y'all! I'm one of your instructors, and I'll be posting under the name "Mneme." It's a nickname that one of my high school teachers gave me as a freshman. (Ask me what it means in class and I'll tell you the story!) As you can tell from my "y'all," I claim the southern city of Atlanta as my hometown, but now I call Chicago home. I love photography, old movies, and (believe it or not) GRAMMAR.

One political issue I feel very strongly about is immigration. I feel this way because a good friend of mine got deported a few years ago. Although she came to the United States before she knew what "undocumented immigrant" even meant, when her status was discovered she was forced to leave the country, leaving her family and friends behind. Because of her story and the stories of others, I believe many of the restrictions keeping people from entering the country legally should be lifted.

Agree with me? Great! Disagree with me? Great! Make your case in the comments.