Category 09: Newspaper Layout

INSTRUCTIONS:
The size of the page will be 11 inches by 17 inches vertical. Please use your available desktop software to create your layout. You will design Page 4 including the stories and the available photos and any graphics and artwork that you create. Design the page using pictures, illustrations and/or infographics. Decide which stories are most relevant and place them on the page accordingly. Use any graphic element you wish, as long as it is of your own construction. Access available photos for this contest after Oct. 26 at the Flickr link on the JEA site. You may enlarge, crop or reduce photos. You may use as many or as few as you choose. DO NOT include your name or your school name on your entry. You will be judged only on the layout elements, but please fill your copy blocks with fill text after indicating which story you are using in each copy block. Write and place headlines directly into the layout. With fill text, create and place caption blocks, subheads or other copy of this type. You may create your own pull quotes. Use any style, font and size that you deem appropriate. Remember that your work is being evaluated on design and layout. Your writing will not be evaluated, but please use correct spelling in elements of any size. Body copy blocks and captions should incorporate fill text for design effect. Students must attend the entire critique session or risk disqualification.

SCHOOL INFORMATION:
Lakes High School 10320 Lakeside Drive S.W. Livingston, TX 77351 936-967-4000 Mascot: Lancers Colors: Black and white, with gold School Population: 1,500 Name of Publication: The Spearhead Date of Publication: Nov. 2, 2012 Volume: 45 Issue: 3

ASSIGNMENT:
In black-and-white or color, design Page 4 for The Spearhead using any grid or column plan you like. Use only the newspaper photos from Flickr, stories and information available. Other than provided photos and story ideas, do all of your own work on every aspect of this layout. You will be disqualified if you use images or material from the Internet other than what JEA provides. Write actual headlines; create caption blocks with fill text and place them on the layout. You may also create your own pull quotes if you wish. In your story copy blocks, for which you should use fill text, be sure it is clear where each story concept is being placed on the layout. You may use any or all of the provided photos. You may crop any provided photos to meet your needs. You may create your own original artwork by hand or with available computer programs. Prepare your layout before the convention and bring a PDF of your page on a flash drive to the Write-off registration desk before noon Friday. It will be copied at the desk and returned to you immediately. You will be present and involved in the critique session from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday where you will talk about your layout. During the critique session, you will receive a Critique Response form to complete and submit at the end of the session. That form will be returned to you with your judged entry.

JEA NATIONAL WRITE-OFF CONTEST SAN ANTONIO FALL 2012

Category 09: Newspaper Layout

HEADS UP:
The Write-off rules available on the JEA website have been updated to reflect how you will be judged in this category. Please check the section What Judges Will Look For under your contest. It is a reflection of the judging sheet for this category.

SETTING FOR THE ASSIGNMENT:

With new national core standards coming in all academic areas, schools around the country continue to push students toward those standards and beyond. At Lakes High School, new science courses and extended activities enhance students ability to excel in this area. This page highlights student science learning and the science curriculum in a mix of news, feature and commentary.

AVAILABLE STORIES:
Coverage Area A: Earth and Space Science field trip to space center Freshman and sophomore students in Ms. Rosey Allens Earth and Space Science classes headed to Space Center Houston for an out-of-this-world journey and events customized for the LHS science scholars. Students in all of Livingstons schools have been exposed to the Space Centers distance learning programs, but this was a chance to see things up close. All of Ms. Allens students finished the modules on Seeing the World in A Whole New Way and Careers in Aerospace Industry, but they were ready for the hands-on experience that only the field trip could provide. The one-day field trip for the 172 students was paid for through a grant from Lockheed Martin. Coverage Area B: Commentary Sophomore Priscilla Frost raises concern in her Spear Points column about Texas state science standards coming up short for students who want to pursue sciencerelated higher education and careers. Forty-five states are part of a consortium that will be putting the new standards in science and other disciplines in place. Some work on the new science standards has been done by professors at Texas universities; nevertheless, controlling members of the Texas Board of Education call for no change for now, perhaps for political reasons. The last attempt to update the science curriculum made the state ground zero on whether and how climate-change science and evolution should be included. Priscilla is concerned that missing out on a nationally-developed curriculum might mean missing out on acceptance letters from colleges and universities that screen their applicants for solid science backgrounds. Priscilla is an honor student in math and science, and hopes to be a medical-research doctor. Coverage Area C: Forensic science Just in time for Halloween, junior and senior students in the Forensic Science class got their first taste of blood last month. Studying blood-spatter patterns on wooden objects, students learned in gloved-hands-on activities how to investigate that aspect of a crime scene, comb through other evidence and record it. Some of the students also have attended the Youth Adventure Program at Texas A&M over the past few summers so this course has been an extension of what they learned in Dr. Jeff Toberlins lab. Forensic Science is taught by Ms. Kathy Bryan, and is part of the Health Science Technology program. Coverage Area D: Students planning aerospace careers When LHS announced the addition of an aerospace science course to the curriculum, it provided a needed boost for seniors Kelly Furnas, Connie Fulkerson and Aaron Engelman. These three spent most childhood vacations at Space Center Houston and all have attended Space Camp there. Because of the growing interest in this field, Mr. Ed Arledge, a self-described rocket geek, was recruited to teach this course. This feature follows the three students planning careers in aerospace science and among 26 who are taking the new class.

SIZE SPECIFICATIONS:
Your page measures 11-by-17 inches, positioned vertically. Please be sure to prepare it in those proportions, and convert it to a PDF before you transfer it to your flash drive for submission to the registration desk before noon Friday at the convention.

JEA NATIONAL WRITE-OFF CONTEST SAN ANTONIO FALL 2012

Category 09: Newspaper Layout

EXTRA DATA:
Distance learning available from Space Center Houston

EXTRA DATA HINTS:

Use none, some or all of the extra data. You may organize it into infographics or use it otherwise to enhance your layout. Do not use it as a story. Be sure to somehow credit the source of the information.

What to Wear When Youre Out There The Rockets Red Glare Journey Through the Solar System To Infinity and BeyondSeeing the Universe and More Under Pressureto Pop or Not to Pop Floating Food and Puffy FacesIs Living in Space Just Like Life on Earth? Pull Yourself into Some Space Seeing the World in a Whole New Way More than Sciencethe Impact of Rocketry Careers in the Aerospace Industry History of Manned Space Flight Contact Information: email: distancelearning@spacecenter.org phone: 281-244-2149

Science curriculum thoughts

I dont see it happening, with the fact that we just adopted science standards, and weve been averse to adopting anything else coming from a national origin. Thomas Ratliff, Republican representing northeast Texas on the State Board of Education The 2009 standards have been well received by students and teachers and there is no reason to change course. Barbara Cargill, Republican chairwoman of the Board of Education Its giving states the power to adopt this material, and if they choose not to use it, they can use it to inform what they are doing. Ramon Lopez, physics professor at University of Texas, Arlington and a contributor on the 41-member writing team for the new standards. We write our own standards here in Texas. Barbara Cargill, Republican chairwoman of the Board of Education from States Classrooms are Unlikely to Adopt New Common Science Standards Soon by Morgan Smith, July 7, 2012, The New York Times

JEA NATIONAL WRITE-OFF CONTEST SAN ANTONIO FALL 2012

Category 09: Newspaper Layout

EXTRA DATA, CONTINUED:
Notes from Forensic Science interviews:

PHOTOS:
For a selection of photographs to include with your stories, check the JEA website Oct. 26 or later. There you will see the link to the Flickr images for each contest. Download the picture in your preferred size. Crop, size and place them as you wish. You may also use Photoshop or a similar program to alter any of the photos, but be prepared to discuss how and why you did it during your contest time in San Antonio. Please place caption blocks in the most effective and readable manner. If you use a photo as a photo illustration, as in a graphic, you do not have to include a caption. You are being judged on your layout, not your writing, but please attempt to use your best spelling and Associated Press style in writing of any size.

I loved the blood-spatter lab. Some students in my investigation group were disturbed by it all, so they probably wont be forensic scientists. Susan Wilt, senior Im in the Health Science Technology program to become a certified CNA, but this class has shown me a path to a higher-paying job. Maybe working as a CNA will help me pay for a college degree in forensic science. Rob Beard, junior The students get instruction in all aspects of forensics. Then they get to put their knowledge to the test with mock crime scenes. This class is definitely a challenge to teach, but I dont think Ive ever had this much fun. Kathy Bryan, LHS teacher Harley (Smith) and I spent a week last summer at Texas A&M, learning about forensic science. I loved that program. Im able to put all that information into this class and get credit for it. We even make suggestions to Ms. Bryan. Rashad Bowman, junior Science is glamorous and fun and exciting, and I like to think Im making a difference in someones life. Mary Pinkerton, Texas A&M doctoral student and Youth Adventure Program volunteer

Aerospace Science:
Rocket Challenge among Kelly Furnas, Connie Fulkerson and Aaron Engleman:

Time of flight: Time of apogee: Apogee:

Kelly: 10 sec. 2.8 sec. 40 meters

Connie: 13 sec. 3.3 sec. 48 meters

Aaron: 12 sec. 3.2 sec 45 meters

The wind really affected the performance of my rocket. I need to learn to be more patient in the timing of my launches. Kelly Furnas, senior Woohoo! I finally beat Aaron. I wonder if I can put this on my application for Cal Tech. Connie Fulkerson, senior I dont want to talk about it. Aaron Engleman, senior

JEA NATIONAL WRITE-OFF CONTEST SAN ANTONIO FALL 2012