Deadline for book review moved to May 6

So that everyone can fully and honestly read their assigned books, the deadline for the book review feature has been moved to May 6, 2008. As always, your assignment needs to be posted on your blog and printed out with enough copies for everyone for workshop on that same date.

Instead, we will be reading and discussing in class on April 22 these exemplary features:

Humor

Woody Allen: Rabbit Running

Time Magazine, July 3, 1972

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,877848,00.html

Art

The Messengers

Time Magazine, September 22, 1967

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,837319,00.html

Eulogy

The Last Day in the Life

Time Magazine, December 22, 1980

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,924600,00.html

Technology

How Technology Almost Lost the War

Wired Magazine, November 27, 2007

http://www.wired.com/politics/security/magazine/15-12/ff_futurewar

Assignment 7.0

Write a book review, 350-600 words, on a novel by any of the following authors:

• Yann Martel
  
• Haruki Murakami
  
• Salman Rushdie
  
• Banana Yashimoto
  
• Jeanette Winterson
  
• Gabriel Garcia marquez
  
• Any Booker Prize winner
  
• Any timeless literary giant (Jack Kerouac, Victor Hugo, Herman Melville, Oscar Wilde, etc.)

Please note:

• Do NOT choose children's literature (CS Lewis, JRR Tolkein, JK Rowling, Antoine de Saint Exupéry, etc.)
  
• Do NOT choose self-help and spiritual books (Kahlil Gibran, Richard Bach, Rick Warren or any of their ilk.)
  
• Do NOT choose books that have already been turned into films. ("High Fidelity," "Love in the Time of Cholera," etc.)
  
• Avoid books that are all too popular. ("10,000 Years of Solitude," "The Satanic Verses," etc.)
  
• Added points will be given for reviews on books that are an author's most recent.
  

To be posted on the blog and printed (with enough copies for everyone) for workshop in class on  May 6, 2008.

The best works will be published on the Lifestyle section of the Manila Times for Fridays (Literary theme).

Summary of class activities April 15, 2008

Activities:

• Workshop of assignment on health features
  
• Discussions on providing objective features and using unbiased language
  

Objectives:

• For students to learn how to provide pertinent information while entertaining readers
  
• To develop gender-sensitivity in writing
  

Comments:

• Generally all students show marked and steady improvement in writing.
  
• Certain students still need help in basic grammar.
  
• Certain students used judgmental and chauvinist language.
  
• Many students failed to attribute sources and provide relevant facts.
  

Attendance April 15, 2008

1. Arnela Almirez
   
2. Mike Dimaano
   
3. Franco Attento
   
4. Aileen Tandang
   
5. Aki Menor
   
6. Gwen Kangleon
   
7. Eiroll Manalo
   

 

• Yna de Leon - ABSENT
  
• Yuri Aguilar – ABSENT
  
• Tomi Uysingco – ABSENT
  
• John Basco – ABSENT
  
• Alane Chiong – ABSENT
  
• Rem Lucio – ABSENT
  
• Katrina Guevarra – ABSENT
  

Assignment 6.0

For men:

Write a humorous yet informative and relevant feature on contraception.

For women: 

Write a serious and informative feature on cervical cancer, human papillomavirus and HPV immunization.

All features must be 300-450 words, posted on blogs and printed with enough copies for workshop the next class, April 8, 2008.

The best works may be published in the Lifestyle section: for the Wellness theme on Wednesdays for ladies; and Offbeat theme on Thursdays for gentlemen in the class.

Objectives:

• To write health features.
  
• To learn to write humorously. (The ladies will get their chance on another assignment.)
  
• To contrast styles for both serious and humorous articles.
  

Summary of class activities April 4, 2008

Activities

1. Workshop of mid-term feature profile on contemporary music
   
2. Discussion on advantages of avoiding the herd and focusing on most recent materials

Objectives

1. For students to gain competitive advantage in publishing articles
2. Appraisal specific to each student given verbally

Comments

1. Students have shown marked improvement in writing and have taken comments and suggestions on how to improve their writing to heart.
2. Quit a few articles show potential for actual publication

Attendance April 8, 2008

1. Arnela Almirez
   
2. Mike Dimaano
   
3. Rem Lucio
   
4. Franco Attento
   
5. Katrina Guevarra
   
6. Alane Chiong - LATE
   
7. John Basco - LATE
   
8. Aileen Tandang - LATE
   
9. Aki Menor – LATE
   
10. Gwen Kangleon – LATE
    
11. Eiroll Manalo - LATE
    

• Yna de Leon - ABSENT
  
• Yuri Aguilar – ABSENT
  
• Tomi Uysingco – ABSENT
  

Mid-Term Feature Writing

Write a 600-400 word profile feature based on an interview of any of the following bands:

• Radioactive Sago project
  
• Sinosikat
  
• Urban Dub
  
• Typecaste
  
• Taken By Cars
  
• Out of Body Specials

The feature should:

• Explain what the musical genre of the band is
  
• Should ask the the musicians what makes their music Filipino
  
• Should provide insights on how the music industry really works
  
• Provide information on their latest and upcoming projects
  

To be posted on your blog on or before April 8, 2008 and printed (with enough copies for everyone) for workshop in class. As with all requirements, the student's grade will be based on:

• Promptness of posting the requirement on their blog 
  
• Attendance and participation in class workshop
  
• The final edited/rewritten article posted on their blog at the end of the semester.

To those who have yet to submit: better late than never.