Tuesday, January 31 and Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Content Objective: I can report to write my own informational news article. 
Language Objective: I will brainstorm questions and conduct interviews to obtain quotes and information for a news article. 

Agenda: 
1. Bell Work: Current events: 
For 10 minutes, read current news on any of the following media outlets: 

• The Salt Lake Tribune
• The Deseret News
• The New York Times
• The Wall Street Journal 
• The Washington Post
• The Huffington Post
• BBC

After reading, open up a new GoogleDoc, title it with your name and today's date and answer the following questions: 

1. What about the article(s) you read was new and/or interesting? 
2. List all the sources that are used (people interviewed and sources cited) in the article you have read. How do you know they are credible? 

2.) Draw a note card with a name on it. For this activity, pretend you are the person whose name you drew on your card. 

• For three minutes, interview your partner (as the person on their card) asking any questions you want to know about any topic you would like them to talk about. It is important that your partner answers your question "in person", as the person or character on their card. 
• Once your three minutes are up, switch. Now, it is your partner's turn to ask you questions while you pretend to be the person or character whose name you drew. 
• After the first round of interviews, take a minute to Google the person you just drew if you didn't know who they are. 
• Do a second round of interviews, taking turns of two minutes each, asking and answering questions about your/your partner's character's/person's "life work" or "most important accomplishment". 
• Write down the questions that gave you the most effective, detailed responses. 

3.) With a partner, look up and write your own definition of an open-ended vs. a close-ended question. Add this definition to your GoogleDoc.

4.) Based on the topic that you chose and focused last period, determine three sources of authority who you can interview to get more information on the topic you have chosen. Make sure that you can conduct these interviews in person. Also, make sure these sources of authority are people who know the most about this topic. Include administrators, teachers, coaches, students, etc. For each source, briefly jot down what kinds of information they should be able to give you. 

5.) Once you have determined your three sources, write down at least 5 questions for each of your sources. Keep your questions open-ended to ensure you are getting the most effective, helpful answers. 

6.) Get a note to leave the room to go and start interviewing your sources. Make sure you are gone for no more than 15 minutes total as you will be able to finish your interviews next period. Record your interview on your phone (use whatever voice recording app you have on your phone). Always ask for permission before you start recording. Make sure you do not interrupt any ongoing classes. You may have to make appointments with your sources if they are busy to come back at a later time. 

Assignments: 
In today's GoogleDoc include the following and upload it to CANVAS (use the GoogleDoc tab to upload your file): 

• Current Events Questions
• Most effective "Character" interview questions
• Your definition of closed vs. open-ended questions 
• Your 3 sources and the information you expect to get from them
• Your interview questions 
• Any interview notes you have taken today