Susan Gassen, of the Arizona Daily Star, presented today on High School Opinion Writing. As a beginning journalism teacher, it was very valuable for me to get the basics of the differences between commentary and editorials. I also benefited from the Q&A between Susan and the other teachers in attendance. Their thoughts, ideas, questions and her responses were invaluable in helping me to begin fermenting my ideas for our editorial page next year. I also intend to quote her for those kids who insist they should be allowed to write an opinion piece on whatever they want.
I love hearing the speakers, but I agree with the comment that we are getting so much from each other. Hearing what works in classrooms all over the nation is a benefit that I did not even really think about when coming here. I have many new ideas to try with my staff based on what people said.
ReplyDeleteSusan was really candid and I appreciate that in a presenter. It has been really refreshing to get such an unpretentious feel to all the speakers
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