Magazine Analysis

The InStyle magazine was written intended for a fifth grade reading level. This magazine portrays much more advertisement pages than content pages; the ratio between the two is well over half. Though this magazine could be for anyone, it is more directed for women due to the fact that it focuses mostly on fashion and cosmetology. Also, though it was intended for a fifth grade reading level, it contains qualities that are for a more mature level. I think that this magazine is best fit for upper teens and young adults. The comparison between my magazine and other students' in the class is the fact that other magazines tend to have a lot more content pages rather than pictures and advertisements. This magazine is good for people who are interested in beauty and fashion without reading long articles on it. Instead, it shows you pictures and gives you simple tips. Also, having a magazine that portrays more advertisements makes it easier to introduce and sell products.

Lauren MacGray

Hockey vs. Soccer

            Being an active player of the game of soccer, I love both watching and playing the game. The suspense and fast pace sport is deceiving to most, but I understand the game through and through. A question raised in my mind however, and it is what do people like more hockey or soccer? Being around people that like both sports I have been inclined to having my own opinion, but I wanted to know other person's perspectives as well. I asked "what sport do you like to watch on television and in person, soccer or hockey? Why?"

            I interviewed a variety of people, and get different responses. I first interviewed Nicole, and she had a very strong opinion. She stated, "I like to watch soccer in person, and hockey on television. Hockey is way too loud in person, and confusing. Although, on T.V. it all makes sense." I personally agree with the loud aspect of hockey. The fans are very enthusiastic and believe in yelling for the team will create some sort of advantage. I also agree with watching soccer in person because watching a teams chemistry and awareness towards the game is a thing of beauty. I believe a lot of people feel the same way that Nicole does because hockey is very fun to watch on T.V. with a group of people. Being able to watch the Bruins in the comfort of your own home is a very nice thing to do. The intensity of being at a soccer game is definitely the reason why I agree with Nicole, and think watching it in person is entertaining.

            My last interview was Keenan, and he had a lot to say about hockey. He said, "I like to watch hockey in person, and also watching it on T.V. It is an intense game that no one could hate." I think the masculinity of the sport is more appropriate to being a male dominated one. The checking and hitting of players tend to make more American guys excited apposed to soccer. He agreed with me when I said soccer is the most popular sport in the world, but he said he just has never been a big fan. Asking a large group of people, I concurred that 75% of the surveyors said they'd prefer hockey on T.V, and 25% said they liked soccer on T.V. For in person, it was around 50/50 in results for both sports. In using my data I collected that more people like hockey to watch on T.V., and that half like to watch hockey in person, and the other half like to watch soccer in person.

MLA Format

http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=ac-6965750

Pare, Darren. "Seven Reasons Ice Hockey Is Better than Soccer." Yahoo Sports. N.p., 15 Oct. 2010. Web. 03 Oct. 2013.

 

http://pikimal.com/sport/vs/hockey-2/soccer

"Hockey vs Soccer." Hockey and Soccer Compared. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Oct. 2013.

 

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_opinions_about_whether_soccer_is_better_than_hockey

"What Are Opinions about Whether Soccer Is Better than Hockey?" WikiAnswers. Answers, n.d. Web. 03 Oct. 2013.

Interview Question

What are teenagers viewing preferences when it comes to watching soccer or hockey?

Lauren MacGray

September 23, 2013

Journalism F period 

Student Interview

Casey Holmes, a 14 year old girl whom is a freshman at Norton High School, has many interesting things about her. For instance, she is a triplet and has one other older sibling. One of the other triplets is a girl and the other is a boy and their birthdays are April 26th. She stated that "me and my triplet sister don't get along the best, my brother is my favorite". She also has another sister who is 27 years old. One word that best describes Casey is athletic. She made the varsity volleyball team as a freshman and along with volleyball she dances, runs track, and plays basketball. Also, she is "most nice of the time" and tends to be on the more quiet side. She does not have a job at the moment but once she gets out of high school she wants to teach special needs kids. She said she wants to teach them because, "my brother has special needs kids and I want to help people". Casey also listens to basically every type of music but Taylor Swift is her favorite. Though she has many favorite types of music, she has one favorite television show. Casey said that she loves Big Brother because "it is interesting and I love to watch the people fight." Casey's biggest pet peeve is cocky people because they annoy her. I think that they tend to annoy her because she comes off as a more laid back person. Though Casey and her triplet sister may not get along the best, she comes across as a very caring and nice individual.

Controversy

                       

A controversy is a major dispute that often causes people to address their opinion and disagreements about a certain topic. For instance, not wearing a seatbelt while you’re in a car is not only a controversy but it is dangerous and life risking. It is considered a controversy because some people agree with the law that you should always be wearing a seatbelt, while on the other hand, others totally disagree with it. Though you should always follow the law, some people don’t believe that they should be told what to do. Some people are just lazy and others just think that nothing bad will ever happen to them so they don’t even bother.

            It is in fact very important to wear a seatbelt in a car whether you’re driving or someone else is driving. Many people think that if you were to get in a car accident while not wearing your seat belt and you got hurt, that is your own personal fault, which is true. Also, they just don’t think they should ever be told what to do because if they want to do something, they’ll do it on their own, not just because someone is forcing them to do it. That causes a major controversy because even though some people don’t like being told what to do or enjoy wearing a seatbelt, they deal with it and do it because it is the law.

            There are many reasons as to why people don’t believe in wearing a seatbelt. Some people use excuses such as “it’s uncomfortable”, “it will wrinkle my shirt”, “I’m only going right across the street”, “I have air bags, I don’t need a seat belt”, or even just because they think it is “uncool” to wear one. But the question is, is it “cool” to get in a car accident and risk your life just because you think wearing a seat belt makes you lame? That is the question you have to ask yourself because if you’re in the car and you’re driving your little kids or anyone for that matter, you’re setting a bad example for them.  The others in your car will get influenced and think that just because you’re not wearing a seat belt that they don’t have to either. You never know what can happen even if you’re really just going across the street. Just because you trust yourself as a driver, it doesn’t mean you should trust anyone else. You could easily get rear ended by another driver and go right through your wind shield. Never trust anyone else with your life besides yourself. Whether or not you should wear a seatbelt in a moving vehicle is a major controversy.  You may not think that it is the coolest thing to do or you just don’t need it, but you’re risking your own life and setting a bad example for everyone else.



                                                                                                            Lauren MacGray

                                                                                                            September 16, 2013

                                                                                                            Journalism F Period

                                                                                                            Jahar’s World

 

The Rolling Stone Controversy

            Terrorism within the United States has been a major threat to millions of people for a long period of time. The most recent terrorist attack involved bombing one of the greatest cities in the United States and caused many people to suffer from hysteria and panic. The article, Jahar’s World, written by Janet Reitman described Jahar’s life and how it had taken a turn for the worst. The Rolling Stone’s magazine cover portrayed an image of Dzhokar Tsarnaev and made it out to seem like he was this innocent man who had played the role as a victim in this attack. This cover and article of the magazine illustrating Dzhokar Tsarnaev as an innocent victim was a major controversial topic that left an abundance of people very unhappy.

            This jaw-dropping Rolling Stone’s magazine cover portrayed a picture of Jahar that he had taken himself on his own computer. Not only did they put this picture as the cover, but it happened to be a picture that made him look innocent because of the good quality and promising captions. “How a popular, promising student was failed by his family, fell into radical Islam and became a monster.” Instead of the author of this article writing that this attack had been his fault, he stated that it was basically all his family that influenced him to do this. I strongly disagree with the fact that Jahar had blatantly been manipulated by his family because he clearly made the decision to do what he did, him and his brother, not anyone else. Also, usually making the cover of the Rolling Stone’s magazine is a huge deal and something you should be proud of because you did something great. In that case, is this in some way giving Jahar credit for doing something so awful? In no way do I think that Jahar should have been put on the cover of the Rolling Stone’s, and not only that but it happened to be a good picture of him with positive captions underneath. No one should ever even be given opportunity to question whether this kid had done something so horrible, and I feel as if this magazine cover made some people second guess it. My opinion on “The Bomber” is very strong in the sense that this kid should have never done something so drastic yet made the cover for a magazine that is usually given to people who achieve something great.

            Not only do I have a very strong opinion against this magazine cover, but thousands of others do just as well. Carmen Rasmusen Herbert  mentions, “You know what’s even more heartbreaking? How Rolling Stone can even think about turning an alleged murderer into a rock star by plastering his “soulful brown eyes” on the front page and claiming it’s all in the name of journalism…” (Decision to glorify bomber is what’s truly ‘heartbreaking’). The fact that people would try to even convince others that this guy is innocent is beyond everyone because only people who are psychologically crazy would go through with a terrorist attack. Even Jahar’s former wrestling coach was left speechless when he woke up at 4 a.m. on the morning of April 19^th. “I felt like a bullet went through my heart, To think that a kid we mentored and loved like a son could have been responsible for all this death. It was beyond shocking. It was like an alternative reality.” Even the people who had once loved Jahar do not support his decision or his appearing on the cover of the magazine. Mayo Thomas Menino, another man just as against this as everybody else, “wrote a letter of protest to Rolling Stone and several retailers with Boston ties said they would not sell the controversial issue”. Because this had caused such anger in people, Boston magazine had posted their own photos of Mr. Tsarnaev being arrested and covered in blood. A man named Sean Murphy had described this controversial issue of “accusing the magazine of “glamorizing the face of terror”. Many people throughout the United States have been negatively affected by this because it almost seems like this one man can just blow up our city and he gets credit and fame for it. “The Bomber” also known as Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, has ruined thousands of people lives and has angered millions whether he believes it or not. Whether this kid did it for the fame or not, he got it. As if people weren’t upset with him enough, him making the cover of the Rolling Stone’s magazine set people off the edge even more.

            Terrorism is easily one of the worst things that a person could do or even think about doing. The United States has always tried to be very aware of this but this but now we are even ten times more careful. This has always been something that we feared and it is something that we simply will never be able to stop, people will do what they have to do. The Boston Marathon bombings has been one of the worst things that has happened in the world along with the 9/11 attacks. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and his brother have ruined millions of people’s lives with such a horrible act of violence. I very strongly disagree with Jahar’s act of terrorism and his appearance on the Rolling Stone’s cover, and so does the rest of the United States.