Exercise 12.1

For more information contact
Andrea L. Johnson
Mountain East Medical Center
(754) 324-9884
aljohnson@memc.com

For release after 7:40 a.m.
Thursday, Nov. 21

DEPARTMENT HEAD LEAVES

Due to recent tension between the board of directors and the purchasing department, the department head of purchasing at Mountain East Medical Center (MEMC) is resigning and will be replaced by the assistant head of the department.

Bob Wilkinson, current department head, has chosen to resign after disputes involving cost-cutting arose. Johnny Toler, the assistant head who has worked at MEMC for 13 years, is set to take Wilkinson's place. 

"Bob's abilities will be greatly missed at this hospital, but I know that Johnny Toler is a person we can all depend on to do whatever is necessary to keep his department going. I have great faith in him and in this hospital," Harry Illscott, hospital administrator, said.

Toler began working at the hospital as an assistant druggist in the pharmacy and was moved to his position as assistant head in the purchasing department after the pharmacy closed in 1978. Toler’s wife is also on staff at the hospital.

“This hospital means a great deal to me and my family, and I will give my best efforts to making our purchasing department the best. I learned from a fine man – Bob Wilkinson – and I hope I can continue to build on the foundation he established,” Toler said.

Wilkinson plans on taking a job as a purchasing agent at the City Memorial Hospital. Wilkinson graduated from the University of Virginia’s school of hospital administration in 1972. He started at MEMC in 1975 after working as a purchasing chief for a small rural community.

For more information about Wilkinson’s departure and Toler’s new position,  go to MEMC’s web site at www.mcme.com/purchasing.

Exercise 11.5

Liberty offers a first class education in a first class environment

Liberty is academically challenging and aesthetically pleasaing

On the campus of Liberty University, you will find modern classrooms, up-to-date technology, and the study tools you'll need to succeed. To top it off, Liberty is housed on a mountain in the heart of Virginia, facing the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. Choosing to study at Liberty University is like choosing to study inside a work of art.

Liberty offers a vast array of majors and minors, a multitude of recreational facilities, different student activities every month, several on-campus dining options, and four different choices for on-campus housing. The classes at Liberty are designed to foster, shape, and challenge students toward having a Biblical worldview. Professors from all around have come together to teach students in a way that shows them a Biblical perspective on life, so students are able to go out and live for Christ.

As mentioned earlier, not only does Liberty offer many great courses and activities, but it is also surrounded by the beauty of God’s creation. Every season of the year brings a new, beautiful look to the campus. Whether it is a rosy sunset, a warm spring breeze, snow on the mountains, or the vast array of fall colors on the trees, every season looks good on Liberty. 

Exercise 11.3

• What visual effects are used to define location?

There's a table, a lamp, a centerpiece, some cabinets, and some shelving. There is also an island. All of this is showing a normal, American kitchen.

• What sound effects are used to define action?

There are twins speaking, some parts in unison and some parts individually. There is also a ding from the ovens, a jiggle-y noise from the pans hitting the racks inside the ovens, the sounds of the doors shutting, and some music at the very end playing under the narrator.

• What type of format is used?

It is a slice of life format. It shows two girls disliking their new ovens, and it also shows their mother, who likes the oven. It also promotes the oven because it shows it in action, and making food "perfect[ly]."

• Write a brief synopsis of the ad (three or four sentences at most).

There are twin girls sassing an oven, which is actually two ovens. Then, their mom comes in and takes the "perfect" food out. She expresses her love of the ovens, then leaves. After that, the two girls glare at the oven, flip their hair, and walk out.

• What is the target market of the ad?

The target market is most likely busy mothers. The mother portrayed is only part of the ad for a few seconds. She is shown rushing in and then rushing back out, which implies that she's in a hurry.

• What benefits are offered by the ad?

The benefits offered are that the oven can "do two things at once" and that it can do it well. It seems to be helpful, especially to the rushing mother.

• Is there a call to action in the ad?

There is not a definite call to action, but the ad mentions Ikea at the end. It also flashes the Ikea website, which seems to suggest that viewers should check that out.

The commercial can be found here.

Exercise 11.1

• What is the promise offered by this headline?

The headline promises a type of tire spats that help to “suck” the spyder to the ground. It boasts of better control at high speeds. It is certainly not an average type of headline, but it definitely makes for an attention-grabbing advertisement.

• How does the illustration demonstrate the product? How does this illustration attract attention?

The illustration shows where the front tire spats are located on the car, informing viewers and helping to explain what the purpose of them is. There is also a smaller image showing the car itself. They are not super eye-grabbing but they do serve well as means of communicating information.

• What proofs of the promise of benefit in the headline are offered by the body copy?

The body copy mostly just serves as an explanation of what the headline is saying. It does not exactly offer proofs, but it does help to inform readers of what “front tire spats” are and why they are important for the car. It does, however, promise that it will help control the car at high speeds.

• What action does this ad tell readers to take?

It tells readers to do more research at the website. This is a good tactic. The ad, if readers respond correctly, is meant to interest the readers enough to get them to go onto the website of the car and look up more information. Once there is an audience on the website, the company can potentially advertise a whole lot more and get some good attention.

MR2 Spyder

"The Persuaders" -- Response Post

I watched “The Persuaders” in its entirety. Things I learned from it are: advertising that appeals to emotions must be done carefully, it is a popular trend in advertising to appeal to emotions, and collecting data for what consumers want is an interesting and in-depth process.

The video used an example of a new airline called “Song” that was all about appealing to women of a specific financial status. Though the overall concept of creating a brand identity did not seem like a bad idea, it seemed as though “Song” did not market that identity in a very clear way. By seeing their example and how long it took for consumers to not only recognize it as a company but also as an airline, it shows that emotional appeals in marketing can be risky. It also shows that actual appearance of a product is good for consumer recognition.

“The Persuaders” talked a lot about how emotional advertising works. It also made it seem like, since the 90s, this has been a popular form of advertising. The emotional appeal is marketers attempts to cut through the “clutter” of all of the advertising around, and it seems to be effective only maybe half of the time. It was also interesting to note that some advertisers attempt to market through entertainment, which proves good for getting their name out there, but not necessarily for getting consumers to want to use the product/service being advertised.

Along with this, the process of collecting data from focus groups is interesting, if not a little weird. Some of the questions seemed pretty out there, but the overall process seemed to turn back decent results most of the time.

Exercises 8.2, 8.3, & 8.4

8.2 Writing an Audio News Story
Faculty Death

Professor Elizabeth Billson passed away in her sleep around three in the morning. She suffered from cancer for ten years. During her 36 years of instructing at Liberty University, Professor Billson taught approximately ten thousand prospective teachers. She was the recipient of Liberty University’s “Outstanding Professor” award last year. The students and faculty will grieve this recent loss through a prayer vigil held at DeMoss Hall around six o’clock this evening.

Wreck

Last night a two-truck collision occurred on 1-95. Both drivers are without injury. The roadways were blocked on both sides for about 45 minutes and traffic was jammed. There was also an oil slick caused by fuel that spilled from both trucks. The accident happened on the part of 1-95 that is currently undergoing repairs. The lanes narrow into two at that spot and the trucks hit head on. Both drivers claim to have braked but they still ended up colliding. They each have histories of speeding and reckless driving.

8.3 Writing an Audio News Story with Actuality

The recently repaired, 75 year old bridge that sits over Roaring Creek has finally re-opened for use. It was washed out by a flood last year and the county has spent the past 11 months trying to repair it. According to Roland Lively, the department head of the County Department of Transportation, the county was already setting aside some funds to repair the bridge. (actuality) Those funds, however, were not enough to cover the seven hundred thousand dollar replacement fee. The county was able to afford replacing it after the state and the U.S. Department of Transportation chipped in. While the bridge was out, residents in the Oak Grove neighborhood had to drive farther up Roaring Creek Road to connect onto Highway 19. With the bridge back in order, they now only have to drive about a mile to get to the highway.

8.4 Writing an audio News Story with Actuality

Last year's record of 3 wins and 22 losses for the Harbrace University women's basketball team brought them their third losing season. Coach Jess Storey resigned at the end of the season, and Harbrace announced her replacement earlier today. Pam Neubaugher (NEW-bow-er), the assistant coach for three years at Staley Colley in Pennsylvania, accepted the position. Neubaugher feels a lot of potential for Harbrace this season and she is determined to find some good recruits to help secure that feeling. (actuality) Neubaugher played basketball at the University of California, Long Beach, and made the all-conference team her senior year. She is also six feet two inches tall.

ABC 13: An Analysis

Audio/Visual Impact:

Tonight's 6 pm broadcast used a variety of images and video clips to help communicate information to the audience. Some of those visuals included: photographs of criminals, bullet points of important information, moving images displaying weather forecasts, interviews with neighbors and family members effected by different crimes or accidents reported on, a list of forecasted temperatures in the local areas, etc. Some of the pictures and interviews could definitely trigger certain emotions, which gives those news stories greater impact on the audience. There were also some interviews which helped to provide more information on the topics being presented. For example, an interview with the woman who heads up a food donation program that provides children with backpacks full of meals and snacks explained that they try very hard to help fill a need rather than just “putting a band aid” on the problem. Her interview was a good addition because it not only allowed viewers the chance to put a face with the program but also to see what the backpacks  and meals looked like, along with how they are stuffed. Overall, the use of different visual and audio aids provided a much greater impact than just reading the story would.

Timeliness:

The timeliness of the broadcast was on point. There were a large number of stories considering the half-hour block of time that the whole broadcast filled. Each story was at least 30 seconds long and at most about a minute. There were no transitions, which added to the quick timing. Overall, the whole thing almost seemed disorienting because it was so quick-paced, but it was like most news broadcasts, so it was probably good that it moved so fast. The audio and visual aids mentioned above helped to speed things along. Also, the reporters were able to quickly read the stories, which were written in such a way as to provide only the bare bones facts that viewers would care about. Along with the incredible speed of the stories, there was a large variety in what was reported on. The broadcast was able to cover local news, college sports, local racing news, weather, and a special on how to protect one’s plants through the predicted frost of this coming weekend. If the reporters were not reading such briefly written stories, or if the visual aids were not included with the stories, there is no way the broadcast would have been able to report so much.

Information, not Explanation

 The broadcast did a very good job on spending more time presenting information and less time explaining it. An example of one story that explained more than most was a special they did on how to keep plants alive during the upcoming predicted frost. It included some background information on plants, along with a series of tips supplied by a local gardening expert. The extra explanation made sense, though, because it was a how-to piece rather than just a normal news story. An example of when the reporters did not over-explain was when they were reporting on a man who is under charges for possessing child pornography. This story is an ongoing story that has been unfolding for the past few months and the reporters simply stated the new facts that have been released, but they did not waste time on giving lots of background information. There was enough to fill in any viewers who are new to this story, but there was also enough new information to satisfy those who are already aware of the background pieces of information. Overall, the stories were brief, to-the-point, and just what was happening. There was not any fluff or added, unnecessary information.

Critique of a Blog: BuzzFeed

At first glance, BuzzFeed may not be the most aesthetically pleasing website out there, but upon further investigation, one can see that it is actually well organized, full of interesting content, and easy to navigate.

Most of the content on BuzzFeed is organized in a list format. This allows readers easy access to the material in a fun, readable way. These lists also include lots of photos and gifs (moving photos). Pictures add clarity and ease to conveying information. They also just add to the visual interest of the articles, along with giving the reader a sense of interactivity.

On the side of their main page, BuzzFeed incudes a long lost of links to other websites. This gives readers quick and easy ways to navigate to other sites that may supply information that is equally interesting.

The videos they post are short clips, which also allows the content to be more easily accessible. Viewers do not have to feel bogged down by the idea of watching long, drawn-out videos.

A special feature on the BuzzFeed website is a series of buttons for readers to rate their reaction to the different stories. The buttons include reactions like "OMG," "LOL" and "FAIL." This allows readers to interact more with the text, and see how others have felt about the information.

Along with all of the fun and entertaining content, BuzzFeed has a pretty solid news section as well. They include hyperlinks and photos in those stories, just like one might expect to see on a more formal news website.

Unfortunately, BuzzFeed does have some questionable/crude content. It would not be a recommendable family website. For its intended audience of adults, however, it does pretty well relating to them.

Overall, BuzzFeed does a really good job at meeting the needs of an audience and fulfilling the characteristics of a good website. It's easy to navigate, fun to use, and a little addicting.

Photos: Long Range, Mid Range, Close-Up

This is a long-range shot of a tree by the edge of the intramural fields on South Campus.

As you can see here, this tree by the intramural fields has already begun to take on its autumn colors.

This image shows the differing colors on the leaves of this tree by the intramural fields.

News Writing Project

Twenty year old thought to have killed his mother, shot his father

Story Highlights:

• A 20-year-old Lynchburg resident, Ben Wagner, allegedly shot his mother and father in their home Wednesday, Oct. 2.
• Police arrested him and are investigating to see if he is guilty.
• Wagner will go to court Oct. 7 to set a date for trial.

Ben Wagner, the suspect, is a
20-year-old employee of
Burger King.

Ben Wagner, a 20-year-old Lynchburg resident, is a suspect in the murder of his mother, Dianne Wagner, and attempted murder of his father, Bert Wagner.

A 911 call came in at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 2 from an anonymous caller, reporting that gunshots were heard from the Wagner house. When officers Shane Barrow and Mindy Johnson arrived, they found Dianne Wagner dead in her kitchen and Bert Wagner passed out in the garage. Both suffered gunshot wounds. Dianne Wagner died of two gunshots to her chest, and Bert Wagner had a gunshot in his leg.

Bert Wagner was rushed to Lynchburg General Hospital. A spokesperson from the hospital stated that Bert came through surgery with no complications and is in recovery.

Ben Wagner was reported as carrying a gun and speeding off in his white Camaro. Police issued an all-points bulletin at 6:15 p.m. Ben Wagner's car was spotted at a Shell gas station 8:21 that evening. Police were able to take Ben into custody peacefully from the store.

Police found a 9mm handgun in Ben's car and are currently testing it to see if it matches the bullets from Dianne and Bert Wagner's wounds. Ben is scheduled to appear in Lynchburg General District Court on Oct. 7. He will faces charges for one count first degree murder, one count attempted murder, and one count malicious wounding. His official trial date will also be set.

"I lost my wife and my son. Ben may still be alive but things will never be the same. I will stand by my son's side and continue to give him the love he has always had," Bert Wagner, in a media interview, said.

Police have stated that Ben Wagner has had prior arrests. They include:

• an altercation at his job
• finding cocaine in a car that he was riding in, after the driver of the car was stopped
• speeding, with a blood alcohol level of .15

No charges were filed for the first two arrests, but  a $1,200 was paid fine for speeding.

The Wagners live at 134 Donald Street in Lynchburg.

"The Wagners seemed like good people. They kept to themselves mostly. Ben was a nice boy who used to cut my lawn," Jane Smith, a neighbor, said.

"This crime has shaken the city to its core. We have made this case a priority and are working to restore peace to the Wagners' neighborhood," Police detective Randi Bennet said.

(Word Count: 406)



Local Man Suspected of Murder/Attempted Murder of Parents
Ben Wagner, a 20-year-old Lynchburg resident, was arrested for killing his mother and shooting his father. Police are investigating to determine if he is guilty or innocent.

CNA: Pop Culture

Miss Piggy joins Kermit at Smithsonian

On Tuesday, Jim Henson's daughter Cheryl Henson, announced that she and her family would be donating the Miss Piggy puppet to the Smithsonian. Kermit the Frog is already on display there, and along with Miss Piggy, The Swedish Chef, Cookie Monster, Elmo, Bert and Ernie, Red Fraggle, and Travelling Matt are also being donated. The Henson family has expressed that the puppets should not just sit around in boxes.

Miss Piggy Article

Boyfriend Says He'll Propose to Girlfriend After She Makes Him 300 Sandwiches [Insert Eye Roll Here]

Due to a rise in movies coming out of blogs, a new website (300sandwiches.com) has gained popularity. On this blog, the writer Stephanie Smith, chronicles how she has accepted the challenge of making 300 sandwiches for her boyfriend Eric in hopes that he will propose to her. Aside from the obvious sexist nature of this challenge, there is comedy in that Eric is apparently a better cook than Stephanie.

Sandwich Article

Bullock cements her status in Hollywood -- literally

Sandra Bullock added her hand and foot prints in the cement in front of the TLC Chinese Theater. While she was "cementing" her fame, she heard news of a bill passed to protect the children of celebrities from the paparazzi. The news of the bill, along with getting to add her hand prints to the theater, caused for lots of celebration on Bullock's part.

Sandra Bullock Article

Exercise 7.3

Chicken Truck Causes large pile-up, 25 Injured

Story Highlights:

• A 12 car pile-up occured Monday at the corner of McFarland Boulevard and 15th Street
• The driver, Jeff Johnson, and a local retired teacher, Sarah Bernell, were both hospitalized
• Thirty chickens died in the accident and about 40 remain unaccounted for
• Both Johnson and Bernell are in good condition
• The damage to the 12 cars was minor
• The injuries to the 23 other people were also minor, most just with bruising
• If any chickens are found, please take them to Alabama Poultry Inc.

Alabama Poultry Inc. uses their 20,000 chickens to
suppy eggs to IGA stores across the south. 

Monday evening on the corner of McFarland Boulevard and 15th Street, the driver of a semi-truck full of chickens made an illegal left turn and caused a 12 car pile-up.

The pile-up resulted in 2 hospitalizations, 23 injuries and approximately 40 missing chickens.

Jeff Johnson, the 45-year-old truck driver for Alabama Poultry Inc., made it out with bruises and what appeared to be a broken ankle. Sarah Bernell, a 63-year-old passenger in one of the cars involved, was also admitted to the hospital due to injuries sustained in the accident.

About 300 chickens suffered injuries and at least 30 died in the accident. Many more were trapped inside the truck wreckage until firemen arrived.

Clarence DiMotta, the hospital's spokesperson, reported that Johnson and Bernell are both in good condition. Bernell is thought to have a slight concussion.

"It was the biggest pile-up I've ever seen. Lots and lots of smashed bumpers but the worst part was the screams of the chickens. Those things sure do make a lotta noise, you know," Sergeant John Jones of the McFarland Police said.

The chickens were being driven to one of the company's new farms near Gadsden. Alabama Poultry president Carlton Fitzsimmon reported that the dead and missing chicken will cost his company around $700. If any of the chickens are found, they should be returned immediately to Alabama Poultry Inc.

Other than Johnson and Bernell, 23 people were injured in the pile-up, but only with bruising. No one else was admitted to the hospital. The damage done to the 12 cars involved was minor. The same cannot be said of the eggs, though, as a lot of smashed ones were found in the truck's wreckage.

"It was so hot out there I thought we might have fried eggs for dinner," Jones said.

Exercise 5.14

5.14 Creating Lists

A High School World Religions Course:
Johansen High School in Modesto, California, has a 9-week religion course that covers:

• Hinduism
• Christianity
• Islamism
• Confucianism
• Buddhism
• Sikhism
• Judaism

Polio:

Wild polio is still an endemic in northern Nigeria because:

• there are stigmas against vaccinations.
• some think the vaccines  carry AIDS.
• some believe the vaccines are meant to sterilize Muslim girls.

Home Runs:

The record for home runs has been set by:

1. Babe Ruth
2. Hank Aaron
3. Barry Bonds

Bees:

Something positive bees can be known for is:

• their provision of food for humans.
• their pollination process, which helps grow food for humans.
• their hive location influencing healthy growth in gardens.
• their fascinating social structure in which no bee can live on its own.

CNA: Sports News

Trent Richardson dealt to Colts

The Cleveland Browns decided to trade Trent Richardson, a running back, to the Indianapolis Cults. Richardson was a first-round pick during the 2012 NFL draft. Since the Browns decided to trade him, they now need to find new running backs to fill in the hole left by Richardson.

Richardson Article

Stalock unbowed after adversity

Alex Stalock of the San Hose Sharks suffered through a severed tendon and nerve, and then a broken finger tip, all the while trying to just finish a season of hockey. Recently, Stalock has been able to play with the Sharks. He is not sure if his leg injury will ever get better, but he is still determined to play ice hockey and hopes to one day make it to the NHL.

Stalock Article

RG3 dodges talk of Redskins name controversy

Robert Griffin III, the quarterback of the Redskins, claimed that he was advised not to speak about the controversy surrounding his team's name. The controversy has existed for years but is now resurfacing because of a symposium held earlier this year to discourage using Native American names in sports. Those over Griffin claim they never said he could not talk but that he just chooses not to.

Redskins Article

Exercises 5.11, 5.12, & 5.13

5.11 Writing Leads & Second Paragraphs 1
Curriculum Changes
The president of Liberty University recently announced changes in graduation requirements, making students take one math, one computer science, and one foreign language course.

"We feel that these new course requirements will allow us to turn out better-educated persons," David French, Liberty's president, said. The change in curriculum was caused by a recent study, showing that 15 percent of students took a foreign language course and 20 percent took a math course while attending the university.

Arrest
On Friday a 22-year-old senior from Vanderbilt was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol for the third time in six months.

The driver, Cathy Bensen, is the daughter of Jim Bensen, the locally known attorney, and Sharon Bensen, who resides in Canada. Bensen was a straight-A student, this year's homecoming queen, and a member of the cheerleading squad.

Record Weather
It has been unseasonably warm, with Tuesday's temperatures reaching the 80s. On Tuesday the temperature reached 82 degrees, making it the hottest for this date since 1888.

The Port Colombus weather office stated that the high for Tuesday was 82 degrees at 3:30 p.m. It is the hottest temperature for this date since 1888. <<--- make lead

5.12 Writing Leads & Second Paragraphs 2
Protest
At Perdue University, a group of citizens led by the pastor of Ever-Faithful Church of the Living Water has been angered by the university's decision to teach evolution in biology courses.

Laura Cliff, the professor of the class under scrutiny, and Perdue's own president would not give comment on the situation. However, Wibur Striking, the pastor, did. "I plan to lead a group of 25 dedicated Christians to the state capital next Monday to speak with legislators abut this problem. We believe the teaching of evolution is against the principles of this Christian country, and we want to put a stop to it."

Lawsuit
A local woman is suing Amburn's Produce Market in Circuit Court Monday for $100,000 due to negligence.

The woman, Ellie Maston, allegedly slipped and fell on some green beans left on the floor of the market on April 1 earlier this year. Maston broke her hip slipping. According to her lawsuit, Maston has "suffered permanent bodily and mental injuries, incurred medical expenses and lost income."

Agreement Announced
The presidents of Ambrose Steel Company and United Steelworkers Local 923 have joined together to announce a collective bargaining agreement. An agreement between a local steel company and steel union have put a stop to a strike set in motion for midnight Tuesday.

^^This new turn of events stopped a strike set in motion for midnight Tuesday. Had the agreement not taken place, Ambrose would have stopped production and put 457 steelworkers out of jobs. The terms of agreement and "substantial wage agreement" (as Clyde Parris, present of Amrbose, said) will be announced Monday night. The union will vote on the contract next week.

"[This is] the best we can get out of the company," Charles Pointer, president of United Steelworkers, said.

5.13 Writing Leads & Second Paragraphs 3
Malpractice Suit
Two doctors from Riverside Hospital save a lawyer's life from a heart attack during a suit against them for malpractice.

Barney Olive and Stephen Rogers both quickly worked on lawyer William Hamilton when he suffered a heart attack during the final arguments of the case. Hamilton is now recovering in Riverside and the case is suspended until next week.

Alumni Festival
Lynchburg College is planning a spring festival for the month of April, hoping to send proceeds to the school library.

The festival will include games and contests on the football field, along with a barbecue lunch and an exhibition baseball game. The date of the festival is not set yet because it depends on whether or not the baseball team makes it to the play-offs this year.

"This kind of activity is one of the positive things we can do to make this college a better educational institution," Bobby Don Willis, a Lynchburg College alumni, said.

Exercise 5.9

5.9 Writing Leads 2

Plant Accident:
An employee of Gross Engineers suffered from third-degree burns while installing new pipes on the roof of Petal Municipal Power Plant 3 p.m. Thursday.
Who: Duane LaChance
What: Third-degree burns/intensive care unit
Where: Petal Municipal Power Plant
When: 3 p.m. Thursday
Why: He was installing new pipes on the roof
How: He touched a wrench to a power line

McCartney Illness:
Peter McCartney was admitted Thursday to Riverside Hospital for exploratory throat surgery after losing his voice during a performance in Bennett Auditorium and surgery is scheduled for Friday.
Who: Peter McCartney
What: Needs throat surgery
Where: Riverside Hospital
When: Today (Thursday)
Why: His voice was reduced to a whisper during a performance
How: Uncertain

BOE Meeting:
Hattiesburg Board of Education met Friday morning to discuss the recent drop in enrollment and pass a set of new dress code rules suggested by the administration.
Who: Hattiesburg Board of Education
What: BOE Meeting
Where: Hattiesburg
When: Friday morning (today)
Why: Discussing drop in enrollment, voting on new rules that ban miniskirts for girls and jeans for all students, and accepting a bid from Farmer's Dairy to provide milk
How: ?

Exercise 5.8

5.8 Writing Leads 1
Crash:
A plane crash at noon Wednesday in a new Super Shopping Mall, killed an Air Force pilot from Little Rock Air Force Base and destroyed 15 cars in the lot.
Who: Rufus N. Hebernowski
What: Plane Crash
Where: Super Shopping Mall
When: Today at noon (Wednesday, Sept. 11)
Why: Uncertain
How: Uncertain

City Council:
Thursday's city council meeting determined a 10 percent increase in property tax to expand the city park that will take effect on the first of next month and raise average taxes to $50 yearly.
Who: City council
What: Deciding to increase taxes
Where: The city council meeting
When: Today (Thursday, Sept. 12)
Why: To pay for doubling the park size
How: They are going to pay for the new park size by increasing the taxes, up to $50 yearly

University Raises:
Perdue University's vice president of finances announced all faculty and staff get a 15 percent pay raise, the first raise in two years, that will take effect this fall.
Who: Harold R. Drazsnzak faculty and staff
What: Announcing pay raise for university faculty and staff
Where: Perdue, The front steps of the administration building
When: Recently This fall
Why: First raise in two years
How: Increased revenues from the state made it possible

Journalism Students Meet:
Thursday's Journalism Student Association met to start a boycott against a raise in tuition, which is believed to increase by 10 percent beginning in the fall semester.
Who: Journalism Student Association
What: Boycotting rise in tuition
Where: Perdue
When: Boycott starts Friday
Why: Tuition is supposed to raise by 10 percent in the fall semester
How: They are going to boycott classes tomorrow to protest

September 11th: A Student's Perspective

Twelve years ago, on September 11, two planes crashed into the World Trade Center, one crashed into the Pentagon, and one landed in a field in Pennsylvania. This event shook America to its core. Currently, the last of the youth who lived through this event are college-aged. One student (who wishes to remain nameless) agreed to answer some questions about her experience during the event.

When asked how old she was, she said was in third grade and only nine. Because of her young age, she was not greatly effected by the event. She said she did not understand what was going on. She also recalled being at home, getting ready for school when she found out about it. When asked how her parents reacted, she said "They were running around the house, freaking out."

At the time, the student did not personally know anyone who served on the scene or who passed away because of it. "Well...I met [someone] this past summer."

Her reaction then was not a very big one, but if this event occurred while she was in her twentys, it would have looked a lot different. "I'd be really freaked out. I wouldn't know what to do. Because I'd be more aware of it, I would be more scared about what was going to happen."

Looking back on the scene, she said she believed people jumped out of the building because they were desperate and did not want to die in a fire. If she were on one of the planes or in the building, she said she would have liked to stop the people, but in reality, she probably would have just "screamed and prayed."

Since this event occurred, there has been a memorial erected where the buildings once stood. Though the student was not aware of the memorial, she believes it to be appropriate considering the lives lost.

CNA: World News

New van Gogh painting discovered: 'Sunset at Montmajour'

The van Gogh museum discovered a new painting by Vincent van Gogh and is displaying it in September. Lots of research went into the painting to check things like techniques and canvas style. It has been determined that he probably painted "Sunset at Montmajour" during a period where he painted several other well-known pictures.

van Gogh Article

Afghans celebrate soccer win over India, a rare victory after years of war
On Wednesday, the streets of Afghanistan were full of celebrating men and boys. The country's soccer team beat India in an international soccer championship. The win symbolized to a lot of the citizens the country's new freedom from the suffering of the past 12 years, where they had to deal with the stereotypes of terrorism and the harsh rule of Taliban.

Soccer Article

Badger cull sets off a fight in Britain

Due to a recent spread in tuberculosis among cattle, badgers, the main spreader of TB, have been targeted for killing. A large amount of activists have decided to start an "annoy campaign" to slow down the process. Though their intentions of preserving an animal that has lived in Britain for a longer period than humans are good, the farmers are suffering from the lack of healthy cattle and believe that something must be done.

Badger Article

Exercise 3.9, 3.10 & 3.14

3.9 Using the Stylebook 7

1. Estalene Smoots dropped her French class the first day of school.
2. Sadie Hoots won $3.2 million on "Wheel of Fortune."
3. Frustrated that their professor required them to eat fried rutabagas, the students walked out of class at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning.
4. The office manager hat 21 plants, 62 cats and two puppies.
5. President Aubrey Lucas is originally from Compton, Calif.
6. On Oct. 25, Ruth Ann Bobetski will turn 41.
7. Goober Hicks lives at 10 West Hardy St. He used to live in a run down shack at 2803 Williamsburg Road.
8. Abby gave birth to a 9-pound baby boy.
9. The president invited me to dinner at the White House, but I could not fit it into my schedule.
10. Sen. Davies said his earnings had increased 10 percent in the 1980s.
11. Barney the dinosaur will be executed on Tuesday, Nov. 2.
12. In front of the hub, 25 vagabons attacked me from behind. (only spell out numerals if you keep it first in the sentence)
13. Snarkle found a 10-inch bug crawling in her spaghetti. "Great! Now I won't need seconds," she exclaimed.
14. All the men in the ROTC chapter wore red, white and blue pantyhose to class in January 1991.
15. The Bay City baseball team lost its final game 2-1 and climbed dejectedly back onto its bus.

3.10 Using the Stylebook 8

1. What is the acceptable form of abbreviation for miles per hour? mph
2. What is the difference between civil and criminal cases? Civil = "one in which an individual, business or agency of government seeks damages or relief from another individual, business or agency of government" Criminal = "one that the state or the federal government brings against an individual charged with committing a crime"
3. Correct this sentence: The eye witness found himself in an eye-to-eye confrontation.
4. If GMT is used on second reference, what must accompany it? A clock reading
5. When do you capitalize grand jury? Never
6. Which is correct: Scene two, Scene 2, scene two or scene 2? Scene 2
7. Correct the spelling of "cuetips." Q-tips (or cotton swabs for the generic kind)
8. Which one of these refers to the building where government resides: capital, Capital or capitol? Capitol
9. What use of the term working class needs a hyphen? Adjective form
10. Which term is correct: Christian Science Church or Church of Christian Scientists? Christian Science Church

3.14 Using the Stylebook 12

The Bay City Bluebirds rallied from a 3-run deficit last night Wednesday to defeat the Carmel Cardinals 6-3 and win the Western Tri-State Division Championship.

The Bluebirds are now assured a place in the Tri-State playoffs, which begin next week. Their opponent will be determined Friday in a game between the Santa Ana Generals and the Redwood Knights.

The Cardinals led the Bluebirds for most of the game, and they had a 3-0 lead in the eighth inning.

In the Bluebird's half of the eighth, Tim Story, the first baseman, walked and stole second. Left fielder Biff Carbosi was walked intentionally, and both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch by Cardinal starter Ronnie Miller. Miller was then relieved by Chuck Nelson.

Bluebird second baseman Carbo Garbey lined Nelson's first pitch into deep center field, scoring both base runners. Two pitches later, Garbey stole home to tie the game.

Nelson got the next two hitters out, but then Carey Clark, the Bluebird catcher, homered to put the Bluebirds ahead. The Bluebirds added two more runs in the ninth to insure ensure their victory.

CNA: National News

Babble bloggers: 'We're pissed' to be pregnant with twins

After trying in vitro fertilization and successfully becoming pregnant with not one but two baby boys, an anonymous set of parents have expressed their anger and regret towards trying the fertilization process by starting a blog. They expressed that they only wanted one child and are worried as to how they can afford two on top of the older son they already have. This blog has received a few understanding replies and a whole lot of criticism.

Babble Article

Mass. justices review Pledge of Allegiance

In Boston, Massachusetts, atheists have challenged the state to consider a statewide banning of the phrase "One nation under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. Their main concern is that it "validates" a belief in God and "invalidates" a child's ability to be atheistic. The argument went back and forth for a while, and the final decision has yet to be made.

Pledge Article

Schools try new strategies to battle college drinking

At the University of Virginia, students partied and drank all night long before their graduation ceremony. An inside look at the school's drinking policies reveals that U-Va's main concern is the safety of the students who drink. They, like many other college campuses, struggle to keep alcohol regulated and students informed about the dangers of binge drinking.

Alcohol Article

Exercises 3.5, 3.7 & 3.8

3.5 Using the Stylebook 3

1. The United States is sometimes not the best market for U.S. products.
2. The correct form:
1. upward
2. Labour
3. Avenue
4. cupfulls
5. eyeing
3. The Republican differed from the Democrat many times during the debate.
4. Drs.  John Smith and Mary Wilson performed the operations.
5. The correct form:
1. good will
2. USS Eisenhower
3. cigarette
4. mid-America
6. He said he was neither a Communist nor a member of the Communist Party.
7. After her surgery, she had to wear a pacemaker.
8. "What a hare-brained scheme!" she exclaimed.
9. preempt, speedup, 55 mph, hooky
10. The underworld, or Mafia, was responsible for the murder.

3.7 Using the Stylebook 5

1. The 25-year-old man wept as he left Hattiesburg, Miss.
2. This Nov. 10 will mark our anniversary.
3. Do not park the car on Rodeo Drive. Instead, park at 12 Davies St.
4. They spent $130 to buy a new set of nose rings.
5. Smoots moved to the North because the people there are so nice.
6. At 7 p.m. this evening, the rodeo will begin in the Town Square. (it'd be better to say something like "Tuesday")
7. Yesterday On Tuesday, the terrorists blew up their home at 123 Melrose St.
8. Twenty-two seamstresses were needed to mend the prom dresses.
9. About 5 percent of the professors have lost their hair.
10. After 2 feet of snow fell at his home in Columbus, Ohio, Jones decided to leave.
11. Miss Smith bet $50 that her brother weighed more than a 1964 Chevy.
12. Guy Reel, the Governor of California, set his trailer on fire Sept. 1. (don't capitilize titles that come AFTER the name)
13. A fire began at 3325 McDonald Drive when an oven full of rutabagas exploded.
14. During the 1970s, everyone wore bell-bottom blue jeans to church.

3.8 Using the Stylebook 6

1. In August 1985, Davies rented a rutabaga stand in Augusta, GA. (Ga.)
2. Pomerantz tied the beehive to Senator Gramm's cowboy hat.
3. About 1,200 Easter rabbits were killed in the explosion at Big Dave's Bunny Warehouse, located at 2525 Hackensack Drive.
4. In the 1980s, Davies left the Midwest and moved to the Loire Valley in France.
5. Smoots brought two cups of coffee to the Governor.
6. About 8 percent of the cantaloupes have been stuffed with rutabagas.
7. Jones bet $40 that his roommate had hidden the sandwich.
8. The three university professors share a house at 613 25th Ave.
9. After two feet of snow fell at his home in Columbus, Ohio, Davies decided to leave the Midwest and move to the South.
10. On Dec. 11, all classes will be canceled.
11. Yesterday On Tuesday morning, the mayor skipped her aerobics class.
12. Davies drove 2 million miles in his old Toyota Corolla before it blew up.
13. Dr. Kildare said he had filed a malpractice suit against Marcus Welby.
14. At 8 p.m. in the evening, Governor Jim Guy Tucker of Arkansas will give a short speech in front of the Gorgas Library.

Exercises 2.7 and 2.9

2.7 Punctuation 2

1. Nobody knows the trouble I've seen; nobody knows but Jesus.
2. The responsible reporter, one who is scrupulously honest, will still encounter problems.
3. Abraham Lincoln died on April 15, 1865, after being shot while attending a play at Ford Theater.
4. My son was born on Nov. 15, 1980. It was a Saturday, so I didn't get to go to the football game.
5. Why don't you come over my place?
6. Writing for the mass media takes much skill, perseverance and hard work.
7. Wow! I couldn't think of a better place to eat, myself.
8. According to my professor, the world is absolutely, positively flat and you should never forget it.
9. Where are the carpenters? Where are the bricklayers? And most of all, where are the gardeners when we need them the most?
10. "I couldn't come to class today," Jan said, "because I had the flu."
11. Joe got a new computer, which set his parents back a good bit, and he's been dying to tell everybody about it.

2.9 Writing Problems

1. Gilligan was so charmed by the desert aisle, and he decided to marry the movie star.
2. The nice professor said we should always study for our exams.
3. The cantaloupe-throwing contest was cancelled due to adverse weather.
4. Rushing to the scene of the crime, the prosecuting attorney was horrified by the grizzly murder scene.
5. The criminal eluded police by hiding under a Toyota Corolla.
6. Feigning illness, the president refused to make the trip to Tulsa.
7. Morgan cancelled the funeral service after the dead man turned out to be alive.
8. The Smith car had less than 100 pumpkins piled in it.
9. Hurricane Bubba ravaged the Gulf Coast and caused $10 billion in damage.
10. The dancing troupe refused to by its tights at wholesale.
11. Whenever Mark Arnold came to town, the restaurant upped the price of rutabagas by woo percent.
12. The journalists' Cannon of Ethics prohibits taking gifts from sources.
13. Journalists should be guided by one principle: always be accurate.

CNA: Local News

Nelson volleyball squad keeps Alexis Murphy in their hearts and on the court
The Nelson County High School volleyball team played their first game of the season this past week without their senior outside hitter Alexis Murphy. Murphy was allegedly abducted August 3rd and has been missing ever since. Despite Murphy's absence, her team banded together and won the first match with her in mind.

Murphy Article

Peaks of Otter Lodge launches social media contest
In celebration of opening under the Delaware North Company, Peaks of Otter Lodge has begun a social media photo contest. The goal of the contest is to take a picture at the Peaks of Otter Lodge and submit it to Facebook with a two sentence caption of why it is the best memory of Peaks of Otter. Facebook "fans" will determine the grand prize winner, who will win a two-night, three-day stay at the lodge.

Peaks of Otter Article

Lynchburg race issues getting renewed attention, following recent events

Over this past year, a few events have stirred racial tension in the city of Lynchburg. Today (the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a dream speech") a group of Lynchburg citizens gathered to discuss ways to resolve the tension. The first conference to help enable citizens to have a voice regarding the issues and solutions will occur this October.

Lynchburg Article

Defining Good Writing

What is good writing?

What does it look like?

Good writing is hard to define. Certain aspects of writing are subjective, while the rest are objective. Also, there are different types of writing. This definition will look at the overall perspective on writing as a whole.

From a grammatical standpoint, good writing is writing that properly utilizes grammar, word order, structure, and organization. Essentially, it has to make sense. If the writer of a certain piece does not take the time to check the seemingly small details of whether or not words are spelled correctly or commas are in the right place, it can effect the entire piece. Proper grammar and sentence structure add a professional air to writing, thereby making it more credible or respectable. Without it, a piece can become confusing, unprofessional, or easily refuted.

More subjectively speaking, good writing should cause readers to think. It is organized in a way that creates a flow from one idea to the next, prompting understanding. Good writing should have the capability to change readers' perspectives, or at least challenge them to question their original views. It should successfully capture persuasion, information, or whatever other type of goal it is trying to attain (i.e. a newspaper article should inform, an advertisement should persuade, etc.).