Claire

=__Newsvine __= []

__**Introduction:**__

 * Newsvine is an online news source that posts articles about current events going on around the world, in our nation and on a local level. The various categories of articles range anywhere from politics to health to entertainment. The website allows viewers to sign up for a free account so that they can contribute their own articles to the site as well. Account users can also bookmark favorite feature stories so that Newsvine alerts them when similar stories are published. They can comment on others' articles and create groups for those with common interests to their own. The content is not delivered simply through news articles, but also through pictures relating to those articles.**
 * I picked this site because I think it is important for students to stay informed about what is going on in the world around them, not only in the United States but across the globe. What makes Newsvine stand out from other media sites is that it encourages viewers to add commentary to the articles, thus promoting cognitive interaction with the issues we face today. It gives students a voice and allows them to be heard in issues that adults typically consider too mature for adolescents. By creating an account on Newsvine, students have an outlet for developing personal opinions based on facts about hot topics as well as refine their writing skills in a journalistic manner.**

**__Using Newsvine in the classroom:__**
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 * With a little bit of creativity, teachers can create many uses for Newsvine in the classroom. My favorite feature is the Publish option:**

**__Publishing original articles on Newsvine:__**

 * A great way to get students interested in current events is by allowing them to locate an article of interest for them from a different source. Then they can take the information they gathered from several different reputable sources on the same issue and publish their own article about it. They will naturally want to add personal opinion and commentary, transitioning the issue from a detached news story to a story that becomes their own. In this way, we can teach them the key elements of journalistic writing while encouraging creative thinking in the process. They may even acquire a following or start their ownn group, which leads me to my next favorite feature...**

__Interacting within common interest groups on Newsvine:__
[|http://www.newsvine.com/_nv/accounts/global/groups?affiliate=newsvine.com&uri=accounts%2Fglobal%2Fgroups#accountSettingsModule=global_Groups]

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 * Account users are able to invite others to newsvine through email addresses and essentially create their own group. Groups can be public or private. Teachers can use this tool in the classroom to set up an interactive online newspaper created only by students. If teachers want students to interact with others they can make the group public. But this way, students can log on and post their original work while also commenting on the articles of other students. The work published in this group can lead to excellent in-class discussions and essay prompts.**=====
 * Overall, I like Newsvine best for adolescents because it gives them a sense of ownership over the issues that we face everyday. They gain confidence in their ability to understand and relate to current events, which leads them to deeper more analytical thinking. They also get to practice their writing skills by incorporating personal voice into journalistic writing.**