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Editorial Final

“Small portions, high calories” are the words that come to mind when Amanda Beckman, a three sport athlete at Eastview High School, was asked to explain her view on the school lunches. She chooses to bring her lunch because it is more convenient, reliable, fresh, and healthy.

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine established the Golden Carrot Awards in 2004 to recognize food service professionals doing an exceptional job of improving the healthfulness of school lunches. Oceanside Unified School District in Oceanside, California was the Golden Carrot winner in 2010 because they offer a large variety of nutritious food and made programs to promote healthy eating throughout their school. They established “Lean and Green” Mondays which include low-fat and plant-based entrees for students. Some favorites on this day include a garden veggie patty, and veggie lo mien. They also developed the “Lighthouse Foods” program which introduces fresh fruits, vegetables (most importantly dark green and orange vegetables), whole grain foods, and a daily vegetarian option. This public school offers a daily salad bar, soy milk, and a menu free of trans fats.

So what can we learn from the Oceanside School system? Eastview needs to provide more healthy options and fresher foods. They need to spend time evaluating the student’s wants for their lunches and make programs around those desires. They can look towards the Golden Carrot winner and make a program like the “Lighthouse Foods.” With these fresh and unique options at school, more students would be willing to buy their lunch which in turn profits the school more.

Eastview does have “Sub Shop Days” which more students, including myself, participate in. While school lunches are unreliable, the sub shop provides healthy options with a make your own options. For bread, you can have whole wheat or white subs, or white, wheat, or garden veggie wraps. Then you choice meat and the popular choice is buffalo chicken. And then you’re topping of somewhat fresh vegetables and sauces. This is where the “healthiness” is questioned. The cucumbers look dried out and the lettuce is whiter than the ideal dark green leaves. While Eastview Lightning is headed towards a healthier lunch options, they still need to make some large steps before they can be compared Oceanside Unified Schools in California.

Fresh fruit that actually look fresh could be the first step for the Lightning. A salad bar would also be a great addition to the cafeteria. Beckman explained that she would purchase her lunch at school on a daily basis if it was healthier and reliable to feed her growing body with the nutrients necessary to keep up her athletic physique.

Who knows maybe Eastview could receive the Golden Carrot Award someday, but we are far from it at this point. The incentive would be providing healthier options, and also $3,000 sounds nice too.

Editorial Peer Edits

I editted Jacks and Sam Ross'

Sam and Jack editted mine

Editorial Rough Draft

“Small portions, high calories” are the words that come to mind when Amanda Beckman, a three sport athlete at Eastview High School, was asked to explain her view on the school lunches. She chooses to bring her lunch because it is more convenient, reliable, fresh, and healthy.

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine established the Golden Carrot Awards in 2004 to recognize food service professionals doing an exceptional job of improving the healthfulness of school lunches. Oceanside Unified School District in Oceanside, California was the Golden Carrot winner in 2010 because they offer a large variety of nutritious food and made programs to promote healthy eating throughout their school. They established “Lean and Green” Mondays which include low-fat and plant-based entrees for students. Some favorites on this day include a garden veggie patty, and veggie lo mien. They also developed the “Lighthouse Foods” program which introduces fresh fruits, vegetables (most importantly dark green and orange veggies), whole grain foods, and a daily vegetarian option. This public school offers a daily salad bar, soy milk, and a menu free of trans fats.

So what can we learn from the Oceanside School system? Eastview needs to provide more healthy options and fresher foods. They need to spend time evaluating the student’s wants for their lunches and make programs around those desires. They can look towards the Golden Carrot winner and make a program like the “Lighthouse Foods.” With these fresh and unique options at school, more students would be willing to buy their lunch which in turn profits the school more.

Eastview does have “Sub Shop Days” which more students, including myself, participate in. While school lunches are unreliable, the sub shop provides healthy options with a make your own options. For bread, you can have whole wheat or white subs, or white, wheat, or garden veggie wraps. Then you choice meat and the popular choice is buffalo chicken. And then you’re topping of somewhat fresh vegetables and sauces. This is where the “healthiness” is questioned. The cucumbers look dried out and the lettuce is whiter than the ideal dark green leaves. While Eastveiw Lightning is headed towards a healthier lunch options, they still need to make some large steps before they can be compared Oceanside Unified Schools in California.

Fresh fruit that actually look fresh could be the first step for the Lightning. A salad bar would also be a great addition to the cafeteria. Beckman explained that she would purchase her lunch at school on a daily basis if it was healthier and reliable to feed her growing body with the nutrients necessary to keep up her athletic physique.

Who knows maybe Eastview could receive the Golden Carrot Award someday, but we are far from it at this point. The incentive would be providing healthier options, and also $3,000 sounds nice too.

Editorial Interview

Interview-Amanda Beckman
1. What comes to mind when you hear the phrase "school lunches"? "Small portions, high calories", soggy, smelly

2. Do you buy or bring your lunch and why? Bring because it is more convienent and healthier

3. If school lunches were better quality, would you buy your lunch more often? Yes

Editorial Pre Writing Questions

TOPIC: School Lunches

1. What is a problem/issue that our entire student body (our school, community, country, etc.) faces today?
The School lunches are not adequate, unhealthy, and students don't want to eat them.

2. What is your view/position on the problem or situation?
Schools should serve more healthier and appetizing options so students aren't forced to bring their lunch

3. What would you like to achieve with your editorial? (What is the desired result?)
To educate people in our lunch options and the amount of people that don't actually buy lunches from school.

4. How will you persuade your audience to adopt your viewpoint as theirs? List at least 4 persuasive points.
-unhealthy
-expensive
-unappealing
-unappetizing

5. How will you motivate your readership to action in your conclusion?
I will be giving suggestions to make a difference in school lunches

6. How will your editorial serve a public purpose?
By providing people with information on school lunches

Final Feature Story

In our world today, teenagers are constantly bombarded with images from the media. Pressure is at an all-time high for boys and girls to fit into the perfect mold of what the ideal teenager should be. The media presents males and females with a double standard that is impossible to avoid. Media also affects teens in many areas of their lives, most noticeably their self-esteem and actual health. While it is undeniable that both sexes receive different positive and negative messages from the media, girls are most impacted by them.

            Young men and women are sent mixed signals from the media, most easily through television shows and commercials. There is an evident double standard that is alive and well. Even though the messages of these double standards are different, they are similar in that they both affect boys and girls. Taylor Sabrowski, an 18 year old student, describes television shows like Jersey Shore, Gossip Girl and The Real World represent lifestyles that teens look up to when they are not safe and realistic at all. These shows and others always show the jock that gets a lot of girls, and the girl who will do anything for a boy. After seeing these, both sexes are motivated and influenced to conform to the actions so they can experience the result on the show. If a guy dates a lot of girls and does things with them, he is looked upon as a “player.” Sometimes this is seen in a negative way, but most often he will gain respect from those around him. Although women should cautious, they tend to flock to these “players,” so the boys are basically being rewarded for their actions. On the other hand, if a girl dates around and explores her options, she is branded with the name “whore” or “slut,” and is alienated and humiliated. While her decisions might not be the best, she is doing exactly what the boy is, but receives double the slack. Even in these modern times, the double standard between boys and girls is still crystal clear. The media does a lot to enhance these double standards, and makes it even more unfair.

            The influence that media has on teenagers’ health is probably the most visible. Open any magazine and you will see tall muscular men and stick thin women. Paris Sanders, a 17 year old female, believes that the media insists on women being skinny and men being muscular. Images that flood the eyes of young males and females are sending mixed signals for each gender. The media has distorted body images and blurred the line of a healthy versus unhealthy lifestyle. The media puts pressure on boys to be fit, in turn urging them to be healthy. The stereotypical buff man is often seen gracing the pages of magazines and television commercials. The level of muscle and workout required to attain such physique is usually within a healthy realm. For girls, it’s a different story. They are showered with images of ribs and collarbones protruding, announcing it to be beauty. A message is being sent that states “the thinner you are, the prettier you are.” This drives some teenage girls to take drastic measures in order to look like stick-thin models. The media is a cause for many eating disorders among young teenage females, along with the horrible self-esteem that accompanies those who don’t achieve the unrealistic criteria. While it is true that both teenage boys and girls are manipulated by the media, the damage done to women’s health is more permanent. The media plants the seed creating a mess in girls’ lives but then they aren’t there to deal with the consequences. Health is an issue that should not be taken lightly, and it isn’t the media’s job to decide what body physique should be considered beautiful.

As if self-esteem isn’t already an issue for struggling teenagers, the media buries boys and girls with images and words that show and describe non-realistic expectations. After looking in the mirror and seeing that they do not possess the stereotypical buff arms, flat stomach, tan skin, or skinny nose, their self-esteem starts to decrease dramatically. The pressure embedded in the messages is often equal, but the message itself differs as it is communicated to each sex. Boys are taught to be strong, forbearing, and have an endless supply of confidence. Nick Taschner, an 18 year old male, was constantly influenced by his father’s athleticism. This role model in his life taught him to play sports because he wanted to be strong and fit just like his father. Girls on the other hand, are groomed to be sensitive, indecisive, and fragile. The phrase, “Boys don’t cry” is one every young man hears while growing up. Males who are expressive, emotional, caring, and conscious of their appearance are seen as different, branded with horrible names, and therefore become less desirable. This stereotype makes boys who possess these traits feel bad about themselves as if something is wrong with them. On the other side of the spectrum, young women who are confident know what they want, and maybe a little bit muscular, are seen as in need of refinement. They are primped to be “pretty” which is a narrow definition, one of which nobody really knows the exact meaning. Why is it up to the media to define beauty? Again, if teens are different than the typically seen girl that the media portrays, they may feel under par, depressed and their self-esteem plummets. Media affects the self-esteem of adolescent males and females by sending opposite messages, but the pressure is truly felt on both sides.

It is undeniable that the media pushes both boys and girls to form into the mold of the “perfect teenager.” Sanders characterizes this certain stereotype as being self-disciplined, outgoing, and pretty. Whether it is dealing with self-esteem or health issues, the media’s shadow of influence extends over the minds of teenagers alike. After analyzing the similarities and differences between the messages being sent to boys and girls, one can conclude that girls receive more pressure, and end up adjusting their lives in a negative way. For the most part, the self-esteem of all teenagers has decreased thanks to the ever present media, but between the two genders, the health aspect of females’ lives are most damaged. Girls read more fashion magazines that stress being pretty and having the perfect hair, skin, and body type. They show tiny clothes that require a stick thin body type. The media needs to realize all the power they have and how they are able to control the minds of teenagers. By advertising these images and generalizing characteristics of how boys and girls “should be,” they are causing many teens to feel unworthy. These same boys and girls are ostracized because they are seen as weird and different. The media needs to use this in a positive light and convert the attention to spreading positive messages about how everyone is different and should be content with their uniqueness.

            In our current world, media influence is just a part of life, especially for this generation’s teenagers. They are continuously overrun with images from the media that portray both boys and girls in a “perfect” light. This causes pressure to fit in, which decreases the self-esteem of teenagers, and causes them to change their bodies, whether it’s in a healthy way or not.  Both sexes receive swaying messages, but females are most impacted by these reoccurring ads. It’s hard enough to be a teenager these days, and the added pressure from the media isn’t helping assisting them to reach their full potential.

Edits

I was gone in class when we did peer edits so I just had my mom read over my paper.

Feature Story Rough Draft

In our world today, teenagers are constantly bombarded with images from the media. Pressure is at an all-time high for boys and girls to fit into the perfect mold of what the ideal teenager should be. The media presents males and females with a double standard that is impossible to avoid. Media also affects teens in many areas of their lives, most noticeably their self-esteem and actual health. While it is undeniable that both sexes receive different positive and negative messages from the media, girls are most impacted by them.

            Young men and women are sent mixed signals from the media, most easily through television shows and commercials. There is an evident double standard that is alive and well. Even though the messages of these double standards are different, they are similar in that they both affect boys and girls. Taylor Sabrowski, an 18 year old student, describes television shows like Jersey Shore, Gossip Girl and The Real World represent lifestyles that teens look up to when they are not safe and realistic at all. These shows and others always show the jock that gets a lot of girls, and the girl who will do anything for a boy. After seeing these, both sexes are motivated and influenced to conform to the actions so they can experience the result on the show. If a guy dates a lot of girls and does things with them, he is looked upon as a “player.” Sometimes this is seen in a negative way, but most often he will gain respect from those around him. Although women should cautious, they tend to flock to these “players,” so the boys are basically being rewarded for their actions. On the other hand, if a girl dates around and explores her options, she is branded with the name “whore” or “slut,” and is alienated and humiliated. While her decisions might not be the best, she is doing exactly what the boy is, but receives double the slack. Even in these modern times, the double standard between boys and girls is still crystal clear. The media does a lot to enhance these double standards, and makes it even more unfair.

            The influence that media has on teenagers’ health is probably the most visible. Open any magazine and you will see tall muscular men and stick thin women. Paris Sanders, a 17 year old female, believes that the media insists on women being skinny and men being muscular. Images that flood the eyes of young males and females are sending mixed signals for each gender. The media has distorted body images and blurred the line of a healthy versus unhealthy lifestyle. The media puts pressure on boys to be fit, in turn urging them to be healthy. The stereotypical buff man is often seen gracing the pages of magazines and television commercials. The level of muscle and workout required to attain such physique is usually within a healthy realm. For girls, it’s a different story. They are showered with images of ribs and collarbones protruding, announcing it to be beauty. A message is being sent that states “the thinner you are, the prettier you are.” This drives some teenage girls to take drastic measures in order to look like stick-thin models. The media is a cause for many eating disorders among young teenage females, along with the horrible self-esteem that accompanies those who don’t achieve the unrealistic criteria. While it is true that both teenage boys and girls are manipulated by the media, the damage done to women’s health is more permanent. The media plants the seed creating a mess in girls’ lives but then they aren’t there to deal with the consequences. Health is an issue that should not be taken lightly, and it isn’t the media’s job to decide what body physique should be considered beautiful.

As if self-esteem isn’t already an issue for struggling teenagers, the media buries boys and girls with images and words that show and describe non-realistic expectations. After looking in the mirror and seeing that they do not possess the stereotypical buff arms, flat stomach, tan skin, or skinny nose, their self-esteem starts to decrease dramatically. The pressure embedded in the messages is often equal, but the message itself differs as it is communicated to each sex. Boys are taught to be strong, forbearing, and have an endless supply of confidence. Nick Taschner, an 18 year old male, was constantly influenced by his father’s athleticism. This role model in his life taught him to play sports because he wanted to be strong and fit just like his father. Girls on the other hand, are groomed to be sensitive, indecisive, and fragile. The phrase, “Boys don’t cry” is one every young man hears while growing up. Males who are expressive, emotional, caring, and conscious of their appearance are seen as different, branded with horrible names, and therefore become less desirable. This stereotype makes boys who possess these traits feel bad about themselves as if something is wrong with them. On the other side of the spectrum, young women who are confident know what they want, and maybe a little bit muscular, are seen as in need of refinement. They are primped to be “pretty” which is a narrow definition, one of which nobody really knows the exact meaning. Why is it up to the media to define beauty? Again, if teens are different than the typically seen girl that the media portrays, they may feel under par, depressed and their self-esteem plummets. Media affects the self-esteem of adolescent males and females by sending opposite messages, but the pressure is truly felt on both sides.

It is undeniable that the media pushes both boys and girls to form into the mold of the “perfect teenager.” Sanders characterizes this certain stereotype as being self-disciplined, outgoing, and pretty. Whether it is dealing with self-esteem or health issues, the media’s shadow of influence extends over the minds of teenagers alike. After analyzing the similarities and differences between the messages being sent to boys and girls, one can conclude that girls receive more pressure, and end up adjusting their lives in a negative way. For the most part, the self-esteem of all teenagers has decreased thanks to the ever present media, but between the two genders, the health aspect of females’ lives are most damaged. Girls read more fashion magazines that stress being pretty and having the perfect hair, skin, and body type. They show tiny clothes that require a stick thin body type. The media needs to realize all the power they have and how they are able to control the minds of teenagers. By advertising these images and generalizing characteristics of how boys and girls “should be,” they are causing many teens to feel unworthy. These same boys and girls are ostracized because they are seen as weird and different. The media needs to use this in a positive light and convert the attention to spreading positive messages about how everyone is different and should be content with their uniqueness.

            In our current world, media influence is just a part of life, especially for this generation’s teenagers. They are continuously overrun with images from the media that portray both boys and girls in a “perfect” light. This causes pressure to fit in, which decreases the self-esteem of teenagers, and causes them to change their bodies, whether it’s in a healthy way or not.  Both sexes receive swaying messages, but females are most impacted by these reoccurring ads. It’s hard enough to be a teenager these days, and the added pressure from the media isn’t helping assisting them to reach their full potential.

Feature News Story

I am changing my topic to explaining stereotypes for teenagers.

Interview #1: Paris Sanders
1. What is the body image that you believe is most acceptable in the media? For girls, skinny, big boobs and pretty and for guys, muscular.
2. What are characteristics of the "perfect teenager"? responsible, smart, organized, outgoing, self disciplined, pretty
3. How are the representations different from boys and girls? girls are held to higher standards to be good looking and guys are expected to be athletic

Interview #2: Nick Taschner
1. What makes someone pretty? good figure, likeable personality, nice, funny, attractive
2. What are characteristics of the "perfect teenager"? gets along with everyone/popular, good looking, athletic, intelligent, rich
3. What TV shows model lifestyles that teens look up to? Jersey Shore, SportsCenter, Entourage, Family Guy

Interview #3: Taylor Sabrowski
1. What is the body image that you believe is most acceptable in the media? skinny, athletic, big boobs
2. What are characteristics of the "perfect teenager"? responsible, trustworthy, hardworking, honest, sexy
3. What TV shows model lifestyles that teens look up to? Jersey Shore, Real World, Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars

Feature Story Interview

I plan on talking to my parents and other family members that were close to my great grandma to get a perspective as to what kind of women she was from their individual view. I will ask about her childhood, her teenage and 20's, her marriage, and her children. These events will be different from everyone's separate point of view and i can also include my individual opinions and feelings.
I also plan on asking similar questions about the death of Osama bin Laden on the same day. How my family have been affected by that death and what it means to them. I will compare that to the death of my Great Grandma and how two different deaths stir up totally different emotions.

Feature Story Topic

The Death of my Great Grandma on May 1st, the same day the death of Osama bin Laden was announced to America

Hard News Final

               During the first two weeks in May, Eastview High schools students and other schools around the country will be participating in AP testing to test the knowledge they have accumulated over the course of the school year. The AP courses have a wide variety of options ranging from Psychology to Economics to Studio Art to many more.

Throughout the four years in high school, students have the option to enroll in AP classes. At Eastview, US History is typically taken during ones sophomore year of high school if a student chooses to take the advanced course.

AP testing is scored on a five point scale. Different colleges require different scores but a three is passing. Depending on the test, college credit is given for a passing score. The format of most tests consists of a multiple choice section and free response questions or frq’s.

People typically partake in between one and eight AP tests over the course of their high school careers. Amanda Beckman, a senior at Eastview, has taken four tests beginning with US History her sophomore year. During her junior year, she took AP European History and AP Language and Composition. Finally as a 12^th grader, she is going to take the AP Psychology test next week.

There are many advantages of AP testing. All the money you could possibly save is one reason Beckman enrolled in the class. Jenna Dockter, another senior at Eastview, described her AP testing benefits in another way. She believes that it is a good way to learn how to study for a cumulative test. She has learned to understand the concepts the first time so it is easier to remember when studying for the AP test. This skill will be beneficial for college classes as well.

With these advantages come the disadvantages. Beckman explained the independence of these types of courses. AP test scores rely on the amount of effort students are willing to put into it. During the course, studying and reading are optional but recommended as they help in the long run for students. Although studying and reading seem ideal for a guaranteed passing score, Beckman went on to explain that all this preparation takes a lot of time out of your night. You have to prioritize with other assignments and classes to pick where you want to succeed. Another disadvantage of AP testing is the lack of recognition based on the grading scale.

“As AP classes have a more rigorous coursework, you still receive the same grade as students in a non AP class,” complained Dockter.

 It seems irrational and unfair. Many schools tried to solve problem by creating an honors rank. Students enrolled in two or more honors classes during the school year are compared separately on scale.

Rebecca Lieffort, an AP Psychology teacher at Eastview High School enjoys teaching the elective, a non-required class.  Her students are eager to learn about the course material because they chose to take the class. After teaching this course for 6 years, she has figured out the proper procedures for preparation for the AP tests. She refers to herself as the “vocab drill sergeant” making her sure her students know every definition in the book.

Lieffort also includes a free response section on every unit test. This helps students become familiar with this type of testing format on the AP test.  Dockter is a student of Lieffort’s and she believes that the constant essays have helped her and prepared her for the overall test.

Throughout the course of the school year, AP student’s final test occurs during the first two weeks in May. This can add a lot of pressure and work for these students but can result in college credit that saves money.  Overall, the variety and advantages of AP testing can be very beneficial for high school students.