Friday, October 26, 2007

2 Favorite Infographics

My two chosen infographics woudn't load on my blog. I tried it on a couple of computers but it still didn't load on ; here are the links to my two selected infographics:


  1. http://www.newsdesigner.com/gallery/archives/000556.php
  2. http://www.newsdesigner.com/gallery/archives/000573.php

I really liked these infographics because they were really detailed and very intricate. You could look at the infographic and get a very good idea of what the article is about.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Interview Questions

Questions for Senior who is looking into going to college in Texas:


  1. How are you feeling right now about college expenses in Texas?
  2. How confident are you that you will have enough money for college?
  3. How much have you looked into college expenses?
  4. What are your opinions about the college expenses?
  5. How do you think that you will be saving money now due to the sky-rocketing college expenses?
  6. (If they plan to stay in a dorm) How do you feel about knowing that you are having to pay for college, books, and a dorm at the same time and what are you doing about it?
  7. How do your parents feel about the college expenses?
  8. Is it better to go to a private college and pay more or to go to a public college and pay less?
  9. How much have you looked into scholarships?
  10. How hard is it to apply and receive a scholarship?
  11. How many scholarship opportunities are there and how are you taking advantage of them?
  12. In what way do you suppose the college expenses are unfair to most students?
  13. How are most students managing their money and their time nowadays?
  14. Where do plan to go to college and why?
  15. Is your college choice based on expenses?
  16. How do you regret now saving money for college in the past if you haven't?
  17. What is your advice to freshman right now who are planning to go to college, especially in Texas where the prices are dramatically increasing?
  18. Most people just think -oh, when college comes, I'll figure out a way to pay for it- What do you have to say about that?
  19. What are your opinions about college and college life?
  20. What, if anything, are you excited about for college?
  21. What to do you think will go through your mind as you walk the stage on graduation day?
  22. What do you have to say to those students who don't want to go to college?
  23. What has inspired you to go to college?
  24. Anything else you would like to say?

Questions for CCC:


What is the CCC and what are some of the things that you do here?


How does it feel to help so many seniors and watch them reach their goal and succeed?


What are some of the things you help the seniors with?


How do you deal with seniors and financial aid?


What are your opinions about the sky-rocketing college prices and that too in Texas?


How many scholarship opportunities are there our there and what do most of them require?


What do you have to say to those students who do not want to go to college?


Any words to those who are scared of not getting the available financial aid for college?


Are there any recent programs going on around here at Akins for college?


What are some of the most top college picks for seniors?

Do you have any good websites or contacts that provide college money?

As the years have been rolling by, do you think that Akins, as a whole, is progressing or going down the dumps?

Recently, Akins has just been announced as the number one school in our area to have the highest dropout rates. What do you have to say about that?

What do you think it will take to convince students to quit gangs, drugs, violence, etc.?

Is there anything else you would like to say?

I will be interviewing on November 2, 2007 during 8th period.


My Story Idea

I have decided to write my news story about how much 4 year colleges are costing these days in Texas. I think what makes it newsworthy is that it's happening in Texas, which is where we happen to live (duh), and many of our seniors will most likely go to college in Texas, parcticulaly UT. We all know how riduclously expensive college can be, but this time they have really pushed the limits. Students who aren't seniors may be interested in how expensive college will be in the future. Somenody I can interview for this is mabybe a senior who is looking into going to college in Texas, and I could also interview people who give out scholarships in texas and the people who accept people in their colleges and look at the college applications.
Here is a link to the news story : http://www.kvue.com/news/top/stories/102207kvuecollegetuition-cb.196a77796.html

Monday, October 22, 2007

Brainstorm Ideas

Stories from my observations:
  • Cold front coming up.
  • The benches from the cafeteria courtyard were removed.

Stories from Akins website:

  • Blue and Gold Night.
  • Special visit to Akins high school by proffessional yoga master.

Local story:

  • State leaders agree to community college funding. I could localize this story by interviewing a student who is receiving college funding right now.

Austin American Statesman story:

  • Police find drugs, guns at home of man in shooting. I could localize this story by interviewing someone who has recently had experience with being involved with drugs or gun shootings.

Friday, October 12, 2007

Next fall, the School Board will be enforcing a new rule stating that all students, including seniors and athletes, must complete two semesters of physical education in order to graduate.

The rule was passed based on a national survey done among teens, stating that teens are turning obese and into "couch potatoes."

"Obesity has become a national embarrassment. Students must learn how to take care of themselves or they won't be around long enough to use the mental education we are giving them," Principal Carl Lewis said.

Students wanting to be exempt will be denied, no matter what the reason is.

"Any doctor who asks for a waiver must come up with an alternative program that will guarantee the student have a physical conditioning program. We are not going to allow easy waivers like has been done in the past," School Board President Arnold Schlister said.

Some disagree and think that this rule is not fair for athletes.

"My kids get a good workout everyday. Football should be exempt. They can't give 100 percent on the football field if they're going to have to take part in this physical education class. That might wear them out,"Head football coach Barry Switzerland said.

Students are also complaining about this requirement.

"This is going to be hard. I've been working three years to graduate next year and now I may have to take summer classes..I think it's unfair to ask those of us who weren't expecting it," Junior Becky Gordon said.

However, there are those who agree with the requirement.

"The school board should be applauded for the stance they are taking," Principal Carl Lewis said.

The board has also modified the new physical education course.

"Tests will include running or walking a mile in less than 12 minutes; complete 25 sit-ups; 10 push-ups and successfully negotiate an abstacle course in 15 minutes or less. They will also have to pass a written test on different sports," P.E teacher Shawna Washington said.