journalism final exam jenna k
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Table Of Contents 1. Keystone Requirement
This article was published to The Playwickian website. It was one of my first pieces
written, and it’s about the Keystone Requirement being postponed to my graduating class.
2. Spring Poem
This creative writing piece is one of my favorite things I have written all year. I had a
fun time writing it knowing there weren't all these guidelines limiting my writing.
3. Letter to Virginia
This was an assignment we did as a class, returning a letter to a little girl named Virgin-
ia who wanted to know if Santa was real. Once again the immense freedom we had with the as-
signment made me really enjoy it.
4. Biography
Starting off in Journalism already 5 days into the year I was so panicked I would have
no idea what to do. This first assignment of the year helped me to calm my nerves and break
down that wall keeping myself from writing freely.
5. Literary Journalism
For my ABSOLUTE favorite writing assignment I have my literary journalism where I
was a fly in the ointment at a Speed and Agility program called Parisi. I had a blast writing the
article as well as participating in the fitness class.
6. Same Sex Marriage
Very different from my other writing this piece is very serious and something I’m ex-
tremely passionate about. I wrote this fro my English class but loved it so much I had to include
it here.
7. Because of Anya
My book review for Because of Anya is from 8th grade but is still a writing assignment
that I love so much because of the amount of time I put into it.
8.Pink Out Game
The pink out game article was published to the Playwickian website and is one I includ-
ed because sports writing is a little out of my comfort zone and I was proud of myself for trying
something new.
The Keystones, a set of tests that supposedly
determine whether or not a student can gradu-
ate in Pennsylvania, place a great deal of
weight upon the shoulders of students and
teachers.
The Keystones are state mandated ex-
ams that test the proficiency of students in
several academic subjects. The testing sub-
jects are currently Algebra 1, Biology, and
Literature. The tests, split into two sections
taken separately, are provided mainly to high
school students, but can be taken by middle
school students currently enrolled in Algebra
1.
Along with the immense stress the
tests put on students and teachers, schools as
a whole are affected by the tests, as they are
judged by the results of their students.
Previously, it was decided that as a
graduation requirement, students must place
proficient in all three subjects. If the student
could not place at a proficient level after tak-
ing the exams twice, they were to be enrolled
in remediation classes.
While the assessments are said to be a
requirement for the graduating class of 2017;
the state Senate unanimously signed off on a
bill on Jan. 20, 2016, pushing back the re-
quirement by two years, meaning it will re-
sume for the class of 2019.
"I still support the concept. I just think in roll-
ing out the implementation of this graduation
requirement we ran into a lot of problems,"
Sen. Lloyd Smucker said, the majority chair
of the Senate Education Committee. “The
purpose of this bill is to reset that decision
and see whether there’s a better way to place
requirements around graduation," said
Smucker, in a Jan. 20, 2016 Notebook.org
article by Kevin McCorry.
The Keystones are still to be taken,
however failure to pass, will not hold a stu-
dent back from graduation. As of right now,
the class of 2019 is due to resume the require-
ment, but in the meantime, the Department of
Education is set to propose a redesign plan
within the next six months.
As summer fast approaches we all know what that must mean
It’s the time of year to be surrounded, by tiny bodied teens.
While you don't have to be a skinny girl to be beautiful,
it's important that you try
To eat healthy and exercise for a much longer life
Spring is the time to get in that habit
Of working out and bringing the snacks to an end
The time to start is now or you will procrastinate again
Spring is a beautiful time to cleanse your body
And eat some healthier finds
Pick up your tea it’s much better for you and drop those coffee grinds
It’s as simple as that, one small choice a day
Take it little by little and that unwanted chub will go away
But hey, be smart and don’t go overboard
Losing yourself to be a size 0 is a price you can’t afford
21 September 1897
Virginia O’Hanlon
115 W. 95th Street
Dear Miss. Virgina,
Of Course there is a Santa Claus! Santa Claus is the person who loves you most, and
give you the greatest gift of all, joy. Though Santa Claus may not be who we picture, as the big
bearded man in the North Pole, s/he still exists. In fact, there is even more than one! Santa
Claus lives in the homes of all children disguised! That’s right Virginia, your own parents are
Santa Claus.
I hear your friends do not believe in Santa Claus, but this may mean they are not as for-
tunate as you. You see Virginia, not all kids have a Santa, because not all kids have parents who
are in their life anymore; or maybe their Santa just isn’t as capable to get them all they hope for
like your Santa does.
So here is what you must do. Because I have shared with you the truth to Santa Claus, I
am requesting a favor in return. Whenever you see a kid who hasn’t had a Santa as giving as
yours, be EXTRA nice to them. I need you, Virginia, to spread as much cheer as you possibly
can, because of another little secret. YOU are truly Santa’s helpers. You
have the power to help Santa in spreading the greatest gift as I mentioned before, joy. Please do
not forget, you are one of the lucky kids who has an excellent Santa, and I recommend you be
especially appreciative this Christmas.
As always, Happy Holidays!
Your Friend,
Jenna Kaufman
Jenna Kaufman is currently a freshman
at Neshaminy High School. She aspires to be-
come Editor in Chief of the Playwickian some-
day, as she follows in her sister’s footsteps to
write about issues and controversial topics
circulating around Neshaminy High School.
“Of all the things I have been
looking forward to in the High
School, joining the Newspaper was definite-
ly what I’m most excited for. My sister had
some of her best High School moments in the
newspaper office, and I know I will too,” she
said.
Although the Playwickian is Kauf-
man’s main focus this year, she expects to
become actively involved in as many events
as possible. While she is already involved in
freshman field hockey, she also hopes to be-
come Class of 2019 president, Gym Night cap-
tain, and a participant in Neshaminy’s first
“Mini-Thon.” Her first year at Neshaminy is
No pain, No Gain! As I got in my lines for the first set of warm ups i
could feel my heart already pounding in my chest. No, not
out of fear, but pure excitement. It was eight o’clock on a
monday night and there was no place I would rather be.
“Ready, GO!” Barked Doug, and I started my eight
squats, ten jumping jacks, seal jacks, and crossovers. That’s
nothing I thought on my first night at the Parisi Speed and
Agility clinic. But after four repetitions of it I could see how
this was definitely going to do wonders on my body.
“Switch,” “Again,” “GO,” Doug yells, but not in an
intimidating voice, but a motivational one.
Having gone to the NAC only seven times for this
cross fit training, I am already in much better shape. In or-
der to make it through JV field hockey try outs, and survive
pre-season, I’ll be at the NAC every Monday and Wednes-
day night for an hour until mid summer. The program con-
sists of 19 sessions and costs just over two-hundred dollars.
When we conclude our warm ups we always move
on to some dynamic stretching. This warms up our bodies
even more, so we are prepared for our intense work outs.
We do 10 yard sprints, as well as drill with ladders, lateral
jumping, and long distance jumps.
I am not the tallest girl in the group, (of course there
are close to 80 Neshaminy Field Hockey girls in the pro-
gram) but when I tested me distance jump that very first
night, I felt pretty good about my 5’7 jump. Yes that’s right
they test us. They test us on simple sprints and jumps on the
first night and show us our improvement on the last night.
I get on the ground at the end of the session, sur-
rounded by sweaty--and I’m just gonna come out and say it-
- foul-smelling, girls. The turf scratching my elbows and
hands isn’t the greatest feeling but it give me something to
focus on while I plank for one minute. Just barely, it dis-
tracts me from the pain in my abs, even while I do my star-
fish on my back extending alternate feet and hands in the air
until they meet. Core workouts are by far my favorite part
of the night. They cool me down while also tightening my
soon to be abs.
The hour is an intense one of working out, but it is-
n’t always so serious. Monday at the end of the session we
all did the #RunningMannChallenge for the Parisi instagram
and danced around the gym before leaving. I enjoy those
sessions so much and can feel the positive impact they are
having on me.
Same-Sex Marriage &
Homophobia
I would like everyone to close
your eyes and imagine your dream wed-
ding. Now this may be difficult for some
of you, but the important thing isn’t
your flowers, or your venue, it’s who you
want standing next to you. Picture that
wedding being ripped away from you,
because of a simple characteristic of the
person you are choosing to marry. That’s
what happens all the time to people who
live in one of the 13 states where gay
marriage is not legalized. The fact that
people feel gender should be capable of
taking away someone’s happiness is ab-
surd. Same- Sex marriage is a 100% fair
right that I support and so should you.
I’d like to tell you about a gay
couple who were assaulted this past Sep-
tember. Two men who asked the police
to remain unnamed, were assaulted by
Philip R. Williams, 24; Kathryn G.
Knott, 24; and Kevin J. Harrigan, 26,
who shouted homophobic slurs at the
two men, then beat them on the streets
near Rittenhouse Square in Philadelph-
ia. The men were both hospitalized with
severe injuries. As you can see this is an
act of homophobia, hate or prejudice
acts against homosexuals. These two
men were just married.
According to the Williams Insti-
tute in a study in 2013, a survey showed
approximately 3.5% of Americans were
either homosexual, or bisexual. That
means anyone apart of that 3.5% who
happens to live in Arkansas, Georgia,
Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missis-
sippi, Missouri, North Dakota, South
Dakota, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, or Ne-
braska; cannot get married. 13 may seem
like a small number but when you
list off those 13 states, it adds up much
more quickly.
People say that same-sex couples
should be forbidden to marry because
they divorce more often. This is com-
pletely false. Most Same-Sex marriages
have had to wait for each other for years
proving how strong their love is. On av-
erage the percentage of Same-Sex cou-
ples divorcing per year is 1% less than
straight couples. In addition people who
are against same-sex marriage believe
that people chose to be gay. I disagree
with this statement as well. I don’t think
you have control over whom you love.
You can hide who you love but that
doesn’t obliterate your feelings for them.
Still, even if people chose to be gay; peo-
ple chose to be obnoxious and hateful
and THEY can get married.
There is such a simple solution to
this issue. GIVE THESE PEOPLE
THE FREEDOM TO MARRY! The
marriage of others in no way affects you,
or harms your life. So why are we so
against it? You may say “affection for
those of the same sex as you is a sin.” If
that’s the case I’m sure you are aware of
all other sins. For example: a lying
tongue. Who’s to say anyone who has
ever lied cannot marry. The right to
marry shouldn’t be fought for as a “gay
right,” but as a human right that all
people should retain.
In conclusion, I know everyone
has their beliefs. But I say it’s about
time to separate our religious beliefs,
from what’s morally right. I hope you’ve
considered my viewpoint on same sex
marriage, and how homophobia is
wrong. Thank you.
Quick Summary
The novel Because of An-
ya is about a young girl named
Anya who has Alopecia Areata,
which makes all of her hair fall
out. One day in gym, she was
tumbling and her wig fell off.
She left school because she was
embarrassed and didn’t return.
One girl named Keeley does eve-
rything she can to help Anya;
even if it means putting Anya
first.
Identify Point of View
The novel Because of An-
ya is told in 3rd person, which
means the narrator was not in the
story. I know this because the
characters were described with
words like she, or they; for ex-
ample, the narrator wrote, “She
said to Anya,” rather than, “I told
Anya,” or “She told me.”
Identify Setting
The setting in the novel
Because of Anya is mainly An-
ya’s room, which, “when she
was younger her mom had made
it into a pink paradise, but Anya
had finally made it her own.”
However there are a few mo-
ments on the school playground,
inside the gym, and classroom.
Anya’s house is evident to the
plot because it’s where she goes
to “hide.”
Describe the Main Character
The main character in the
novel Because Of Anya is Anya
Seaver. Keeley describes her as
“plain looking,” except she used
to have long shiny brown hair
and now she is bald due to her
Alopecia Areata. Some may say
this is what makes her unique but
I disagree. What makes her
unique is her immense amount of
bravery; which is important to
the plot because it’s what gets
her to school everyday to move
on with her life. This of course is
the one word I would use to de-
scribe her. She’s so brave for be-
ing able to except in the end that
she is different, but it makes her
beautiful, and unique.
Identify Irony
One irony in the story
Because Of Anya, is in the begin-
ning of the story one of the girls
said, “It’s not like we are going
to shave our heads,” but in a way
that’s exactly what they did.
Keeley & Steff both cut their hair
so Anya could have a better qual-
ity wig. This made the story bet-
ter because I wasn’t expecting
them to cut their hair for Anya.
Identify the Moral
The moral in the novel
Because Of Anya is that some-
times you need to put others be-
fore yourself. Keeley and her
friends did something extraordi-
nary for Anya. They gave her
their hair, so Anya could have a
better wig. They didn’t just give
her their hair though; they made
her feel like she belonged. These
girls gave Anya a better chance
at confidence.
Neshaminy Defeats Bensalem at Pink-Out Game
It was a game to remember; a game that will stay with many of us forever. Friday Night, Octo-
ber 23rd, was our annual Pink-Out for breast cancer awareness football game at Neshaminy High School,
and also Senior Night. Neshaminy showed no mercy to Bensalem High School, winning 41-8.
We started the first quarter strong in just the first four minutes; with a nine yd. touchdown (TD)
run by #7 Will Dogba, followed by a successful PAT by #26 Dylan McDonald. Neshaminy turned over
possession on downs with three minutes on the clock, but quickly recovered a fumble by Bensalem.
With two minutes on the clock another touchdown was scored by Dogba; yet again, followed by a good
PAT from McDonald.
Neshaminy fans were going wild; we had a minute on the clock and possession at Bensalem’s
nine yd. line. A pass from #9 Kyle Tees was completed to #16 Denzel Hughes for a TD. McDonald
took the PAT, and you guessed it, it was good. It was 21-0 when the quarter ended.
Neshaminy couldn’t be stopped though; two more TD’s were scored in the second quarter, the
first from #17 Jack Spingler completing a pass from Kyle
Tees. Five minutes left in the quarter, Neshaminy recov-
ered a fumble by Bensalem; Dogba scored a 12 yd. rush-
ing TD with four minutes to go in the second. Good
PAT’s followed both touch- downs from McDonald. The
first half ended with a score of 35-0.
The third quarter took an unfortunate turn for
Neshaminy fans. Bensalem recovered a fumble by
Neshaminy and had the ball on their own 44 yd. line.
Bensalem scored a TD on a 56 yd. run by Gerald Whea and a two-point conversion is good.
The final quarter of the game sealed Neshaminy’s victory. Bensalem turned over possession,
giving Neshaminy the ball on the 35 yd. line, #19 Kevin Lutz with a 35 yd. rushing TD.
Senior Jack Spingler said in an interview by WBCB Broadcast after the game, “I really just
wanted to go out there, do my best because I know this was going to be my last time playing on The
Heatbreak Ridge, and I just wanted to go out there and give it my all.”
When asked how it felt to catch his first touchdown of the season he responded, “It felt great,
you know it’s just the rush of the moment, and I realized I was in [the end zone] after I got tackled, but it
was a great experience.”
The game ended with a score of 41-8, and a very rowdy (and very pink) student section. There
couldn’t have been a better game for the senior’s last time playing on Heartbreak Ridge.