Critique

I disliked that there were very little drawings in the paper. We could of used more drawn pictures as well. We could of tried to use pictures to break up text better on the Opinions and News areas of the paper. I do however like the ideas used in the backgrounds for stories. If we use less pictures perhaps we could try more background pictures?
      Something that goes with the story but at least catches the readers attention. I also liked the way headings are styled. Maybe we should try that with more lengthy stories? I liked how this paper was more colorful than the last. Perhaps that would help to draw the reader in, something flashy to start the story off, nothing beats a good title. That's what usually draws people into stories.                            
    The idea of Santa's gift list was priceless. Job well done on that, the new styles are somewhat flashy and make the paper more interesting to read.
    I disliked the stories that consisted of nothing but words. I love to read but er.. I've heard that the newspaper didn't exactly come off as, "enjoyable", now due to those lengthy stories. I can't say I disagree fully or agree fully. But I do see where those people come from[not naming any].
     I think we should try to use less graphs. Teenagers are our main target and using things like graphs aren't exactly the best idea, but that is a nice touch. Certainly new and colorful so a nice addition but for the age group not exactly the best idea.
   I like how for the stories there is the person's name to let the reader know who wrote it, I don't like how they don't stand out. Same size as the text in the story? That's lame.. We should try to turn it into a bigger font, not the same size as the heading of the story, but trying to bold it and make it more noticeable.

Questions

1. What are your thoughts on Ikkicon?
2. Have you ever been to an Anime convention?
3. Do you think it will be interesting? Why or why not?
4. Are you excited about Ikkicon?
5. Do you think this will be the only con you will go to?
6. Do you know of any other anime conventions?
7. Why did you decide to go to Ikkicon?
8. What do you know about any Anime Conventions?
9. Do you plan go for only 1 day or 2 days?
10. Do you think the cost is a bit much?
11. Is Ikkicon going to make a major difference on your life?

Notes

Most students are the scanners out of the three: Scanner, Grazers, hunters.
It's more likely to make the scanners happy. Make sure every font is the same but different.
Getting together, as the Graphic designer, the one who writes the story, etc seems to be the best bet to making good stories.
Mix the art work and graphics together to make a better form of art that the student body may enjoy.
Using words that draw the attention too far from the graphics for the art to even combine the words and graphics along with your own art.
Try not to make graphics too big, try to keep them in proportion with the story.
Trying new things for calenders and some sort of graphic that goes with stories or create new random graphics that are catchy, just to break things up.
Take mugshots of something important that relates to the story, more so just to break up text like use the dollar-bill rule.
Timelines are becoming popular and more and more used, try using them to show information that could be catchy.
Try student profile to get more into the student body rather than your pure school.
The students or kids in general read a story if it's about them, a friend, or someone oooooorrr.. It's emotional.
Find graphics to replace the inverted pyramid.

Second issue questions

Opinion page- PSAT
1. What are your thoughts on the PSAT?
2. Do you find the PSAT difficult?
3. Do you understand why we take the PSAT?
4. Do you like the PSAT!? Why?
5. Is the PSAT too long?
6. Do you think the PSAT could be done differently? How?
7. Do you think the rules in the PSAT testing rooms are too strict?
8. Do you prefer the quiet testing areas of the PSAT?
9. Do you think we should be allowed something during a break, such as a snack or something?
10. Should the breaks be longer, if so why?

News page-TASE Awards

1. How did the competition go?

2. How was the trip?

3. Was this difficult in any way, emotionally?

4. What was it like?

5. Was this trip fun in any way?

6. What all did you guys/you get do to do up there?

7. Was there ever any time for alone time?

8. Was the attitude of everyone serious all the time?

9. How many awards were won from the competition?

10. Do you guys think we could of done better, if so, in what fields and how?

Infographics

Infographics take the attention from things, they give you a image representation to everything done, they help you with getting to know what's going on easier and quicker. Infographics take your attention from boring long reading to see what's going on that you can understand and notice what the major points of the story are. The importance of them are to be able to keep the reader interested in which they do a great job of this by giving the reader something to look at. Continuously reading nonstop without something that shows you an image, something that's painted for you to understand gets dull, not matter the story.

Infographics are being used more and more on everything to catch peoples eye, to keep them interested and get a better understanding of what's going on. Things such as infographics are eye openers to get everything started as well, starting something out with them are useful since it'd get the reader drawn in right from the beginning so already caught their attention. Infographics describe stories better and make them more interesting.

Story ideas and questions.

First story is of Mr. Lee Rogers, the Social Studies teacher whom had gone to Haiti to help with the Haiti relief.

10 questions-
1. Why had you deicded to go to Haiti?
2. How was the Haiti enviroment?
3. You went to help out for a relief?
4. Why did you decide to do this?
5. How long were you in Haiti for?
6. Can you describe the damage of the Earthquake that caused this, how devistating was it?
7. As you helped the Haiti relief, did you ever stop to think of how you would handle their situation?
8. The relief can you describe it to me?
9. Was any thing you needed to do up in Haiti difficult and did it ever get emotional?
10. Did the Haiti experience change you in any way? If so how?

The second story is of the Katrina students, those whom were in the hurricane and are still here, those whom had to endure that. See how they feel after this 5 year period.

10 questions-
1. During Katrina, it was tough.. Were you scared?
2. Was Katrina a big devastation to you?
3. Did you come to Autin right after the big storm?
4. How long have you lived in Austin?
5. Was starting a new life here easy or difficult?
6. Now that you're settled in Austin how do you feel?
7. You've had plenty of time to live here, if and when youu plan to move back, will you?
8. Was it hard to move forward for you in particularly?
9. Is Austin a fair place for you and your family?
10. You've been in Austin a while, do you miss the old town you lived in? Or have you warmed up to Austin?

Slides.

#2: Homecoming: We could issue thingsabout the homecoming how it's changed, how much it costs. The things that are done to be allowed to go to the Homecoming.
#20: Get some good facts and write this story from your view, use headlines, biographs, things to make the story interesting and makes more people wish to read it. We can avoid being obvious if we stray and add little thoughts we have.
#21-27: The second didn't have boring stories in it, it had detail and things maybe a bit boring but it seemed more exciting, the detail and talk of this man's life, especially how lucky he was to finally miss a game that they lost!
#37-A good story tells the reader...
Something new.
Explains what the stor means.
Shows them hunmanity and personality.
Gives the interesting point of view.
#44-Your story must be..
Accurate
Clean and Correct
Smooth
Clear
Tight
Unified
I choose to use smooth because I wish for my stories to flow and make sense, seem as if everything on the story or in it rather is what the story is about. I need to word on that as opposed to doing the other choices due to me trying to go into detail over everything and it get's boring and off track.

Architecture-Details

Both show off some of the schools finer oints, how big and beautiful it looks, from the inside to the outside.

Architecture-Surroundings

The betch and school look perfectly in sync with the center of the court yard, they go together on this rainy day.

Architecture-Light

These both show of light reflecting off other objects, it gives it it's mysterious feel and looks kind of creepy from my view point.

Architecture-Angles and shapes

The roof and bottom and upper roof are all not simple squares, they all provide unique shapes and angles to the lunch room.

Architecture

The windows create a pattern by going at four at a time each section.

Achitecture-Surroundings

This building goes good with the surroundings it has, it matches the corlors and doesn't stick out It looks nice and interesting.

Architecture-Angles and patterns

I like this picture of the house since it shows every angle and design, shows the house as it's full self, not boring and quite interesting.

Architecture-Patterns

This picture shows the building with great patterns, the bars holding the building whine and tangle about, making the pattern.

Pictures- Action shoot preview.

I agree with the judge on the first picture of part 1, it is horrible as far as contrast goes and the picture, the strech of the blur looks good, but it's too distorded, trying to catch it was a bad idea.


I disagree with the picture of the man in the red shirt standing there in part two. It's bad, the backgrounds blurry somewhat, contrast is meh, and the man himself, you cannot see his face.

Decap video of action shoot.

The judges reviewed the photo's and basically pointed out all the bad features. Most were not to they're liking to where they thought some were good, but many people had the same field, they wanted different stories.

David Winner of the action shoot.

He had good composition, his pictures seem distilled some, blurry, but still over all good pictures, he didn't do really bad, his pictures were story and some sports. Some seemed eh and photoshop'd.

Alyssa Schukar-Action shoot runner-up

She focuses on stories.
Theres no feeling. He cannot connect. They all seem the same.-Problems.
He liked the pictures as far as way of taking them went, as well as they liked the photographers style.

Action shot