Reading

I liked how he talked a lot about natural sound to tell the stories and accent the dramatic build in the story. I thought it was very interesting how he said silence can be so powerful and it is worth to have in a story even though it is so hard to write it. I liked how he said you should pick a good scene or soundbite in your story and use the entire story to build up to that moment to make it the most important and relevant.

2. What is the name of the story, and on what date did it first air?

Breast cancer fundraiser gains relevance in Austin February 4, 2013

3. List and describe four instances of natural sound. 

1. the wind outside
2. the talking in the nail room
3. background noise in the interviews
4. the hugs

4. List and describe (including the type and what they are showing) four camera shots that you find interesting.

1. the picture of her family is like a rotating tight shot
2. the tight shot of the flag flapping in the wind
3. the depth shot of women getting their nails painted during the interviews
4. tight shot of painting the nails

5. Write a possible focus statement for the story (strong verbs; no “-ing” words)
Fundraiser leader's breast cancer story
6. How does this story utilize Dotson’s “Building Blocks” (from Page 68)? Discuss a few of them, please. (100 words)
The story "Breast cancer fundraiser gains relevance in Austin" uses Dotson's "Building Blocks" in several ways throughout the story. The reporter picked a scene, when the women reveals she has cancer once again, and builds the rest of the story around that. The beginning talks about the fundraiser and what a large part she plays in it and then reveals how much more of a personal matter it truly is for her and the rest of the community. Silence is used fittingly when she talks about not only her own cancer but her husbands as well. the silence between her words and phrases shows her emotion as she chooses her words and what all to tell.