The narrator in this story is Alia Wong. She has obviously done research about the school district and she knows what she is talking about. She represents all the people in the district wether they are teachers and staff or students and families because they are all affected by whats going on.
"No public schools in the country are deep in a crisis as Detroit, drop out rates are twice the national rate"
"Detroit has closed more than 2/3s of its building since 2000"
"Nearly as fast as Detroit grew, it collapsed. Many families went to the suburbs, and white flight emerged."
"From 1999 to 2012, district spent 100's of thousands of dollars renovating schools that closed years later"
The story unfolds by Alia first stating all the downfalls that have happened in Detroit and how bad of shape the public school system is in. Then she goes into background information about Detroit and how it used to be booming and then it crashed as people moved to the suburbs. Then she goes to talk about how they are trying to fix it, and it ends by her talking about how a school has not closed in 2 years, and how Detroit is making slight recovery to survival.
This story is in expository mode. It is told by Alia and a few people she interviews for just a few seconds. The camera pans, and there are extreme wide shots, birds eye views, wide shots, and high angles. All these shots are used to show the shape of the town, they show the shape of all the buildings which was really interesting because they talk about how bad of shape they are in, but then you see pictures and you're like 'omg it really is bad'
There are no specific quirky tricks, but they found some footage from early ages which really helped show Detroit how it grew and collapsed and illustrated while Alia talked about Detroit's past. The way they used the pictures to show the distress was also attention getting and made me wanna watch.
We care because Detroit was a big part of our economy, and these kids deserve to be getting good education and fair educations. The school district needs to revive and be able to give the kids quality educations so they can grow up to be successful, because without quality education, no matter how smart the kid is, its still hard to learn from bad educational experiences.

​Lombroso, Daniel, Alia Wong, and Michael Bloom. "Inside Detroit's Failing Public Schools." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 18 May 2016. Web. 19 May 2016.

The narrator in this story is David, he is the main guy who helps rectorate and bring these corals new lives. He is significant because he tells of how the science works and what he's doing to restore the corals. He is someone who loves his job, and loves the coral, and you can tell by the way he talks about it, how proud he is of how much he has changed and grown and starting restore the corals.

"To say you're growing a century old coral back to life sounds like science fiction"
"Florida coral reefs is a multibillion dollar worth"
"Now we have an alternative... new technology for restoration, producing 100 of corals by microfragmintation"

The story unfolds by stating facts about the coral reefs inf lord and how they are disappearing and how they are restoring them to be new and fresh, then he goes on and talks about the science behind it and what exactly they are doing with the coral. He then goes on to how this will help the coral reefs in the future, and ends on a positive note saying that this science could potentially restore all corals in the future.
This story was in expository mode. David was the only one talking and he told about everything that was happening. The camera panned, there were mid shots, wide shots, extreme side shots, and two shots. My favorite were the extreme wide shots and the camera pans because you really got to see the beauty of the coral from the angles these were taken at.
There was not a quirky storytelling trick the producer did, but it was cool to learn the science and get to see it in acton, and to also be able to see the coral reef and the natural beauty of that. It was really interesting to hear the science behind the coral science, and learning how it can make a impact.
We care because we are destroying our environment with our carbon footprint. Things in the ocean like coral reefs are hard to notice because most people don't go scuba diving and therefore don't even notice what they are doing. We need to care about this because science has helped find a way to repair our damage and help this wildlife heal and become whole again.

​Price-Waldman, Sam. "A Coral Reef Revival." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 12 Jan. 2016. Web. 19 May 2016.

The main character in this blog was a tree, even though the tree couldn't physically speak for itself, it was the focal point of the story and it stood for so much. The tree is a survivor of the 911 attacks, and it has recovered from being almost killed and moved back to the 911 memorial. You can see on the tree where it has grown after being burned, and how it has become a big healthy thing again, and how it has overcome its obstacle.
"This pear tree was not the only pear tree down there, this tree just haooened to be very close to the trade center when it collapsed, the branches were shattered and came off, the tree was considered mortally wounded" and "I was a corrections officer and i was hurt in the attacks, and the tree was too, and we both bounced back" These quotes show how strong the tree is and how it symbolizes for the other survivors out there.
The story started with talking about the 911 attacks, which draws attention because they are a touchy subject. The it talks about how the tree was injured and they compare the tree to a officer who was also hurt. Then they talk about the tree and how it has progressed and really come full circle fro the shape it was in before the attacks. They end wth the tree happily being planted back in the city where it belongs for everyone to enjoy its beauty.
The film is told though the narrators who physically speak, and they tell whats going on, but the tree also tells a story of how it survived, what its overcame, and how its become stronger.
This film is in expository mode. The story is told by the narrators and the tree. The camera pans, uses wide shots, extreme wide shots, mid shots, and two shots. These all help show something, The pan is used to show the beauty unclose and also to see how big the tree has grown, because panning the camera means the tree can't fit in just one shot close up.
There were no 'quirky' storytelling tricks, but using 911 and having the tree be a symbol for that really made it real and intriguing. Its very interesting to see how the tree has grown, and also that its been so long since the attacks, and how if the tree has recovered, who does the tree symbolize.
We care because 911 was a tragedy, and not a lot of people can actually comprehend the people that were hurt in the attacks. A lot of people died, and a lot of people were injured, we read stories and we see videos, but the tree was a nice symbolism. It makes you think because the tree is beautiful and strong, and so is everyone else who survived the attacks.

​Elliott, Scott. "The Journey of a 9/11 Tree." The New York Times. The New York Times, 2015. Web. 19 May 2016

          There was no dominant main characters in this blog. All the women who spoke seemed to share the main character role, they all talked about the same time, their didn't seem to be a woman who talked more than another women. These women represent just a fraction of all the women who work in combat and are deployed in Afghanistan. These women are much different then men. They stand for different things. They want to prove the stereotype that women aren't strong enough.
        "We want to show that women are just as suitable for certain jobs as men. Sometimes a man can't do a woman's job(in combat) and sometimes a woman can't do a mens job" They are trying to say that you can't tell women she can't have a job because she's not strong enough, before you even try and sometimes a man can't do a women's job, but you can't define it before. Another quote was "On December 2015, Ash Carter opened all combat roles to women" I think this shows a step in the right direction, letting women be women.
        The story starts by talking about how women were told they can't do this and how they aren't strong enough. Then it begins to transition into how they have tried to change that and the things that women have done to prove that they are strong enough. There was a program started just for women to help women in Afghanistan that these women had to be selected for, trained for, and they had to be strong enough to do it. Then they went to how now things are opening up for women in combat, all roles in combat women are legible for. 
        This was in expository mode. The women all spoke and narrated it together. Shot types used were pans, extreme wide shots, wide shots, mid shots, and two shots. All these were used to help capture everything around them. They used images of women in combat in the field which really helped show the intenseness.
        What they did to really capture my attention was show images of women in the field. You really realize that its real and that people are out there. You also get to see what they are talking about and not just picture in your head women holding guns. These women are strong, bold, and brave.
        This is important because women are oppressed in our society. People just don't think women are strong enough, which isn't true. This film was showing that women are more than just housewives, women are there and they are strong and bold, just like men.

Lombroso, Daniel. "Why Public Schools Should Reinvent Mentorship." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 13 Jan. 2016. Web. 05 May 2016.

        The major character in this is Jessica. She is the one who invented the dream program. She gives kids who need the guidance and support the things that they need to keep going. The kids she works with are kids that are losing hope in school and don't try. She started this program because she had an experience in high school that made her realize she does matter because she used to be one of those kids. She represents all the kids that she works with. 
       Jessica is a great role model for these kids. "I'm creating a space for students where, regardless of what setbacks they have, they can be a leader." This quote is basically the entire documentary. They talk about how Jessica is there for them, she's their mentor, their leader and then they turn that to be a leader to other people.
       The story unfolds by first telling the background of how this program started and then what it does. Then it goes to tell the success of the program and how these kids have changed, and how its helped them. Then it goes on to Emauni, and describes in a full example about how this program has changed her, she almost dropped out of high school and now she's on track to be the first in her family to graduate, and she has made a collection of artists to speak to the community about whats going on through poetry, spoken word, etc...
       The story is told though the characters. Jessica is a narrator and Eumani is a narrator. They both tell the story and some other students for a little, but they are the ones that tell about what is going on and all tell everything. 
       The mode is expository. The audience hears straight from the narrators about everything. The camera produces pans, wide shots, extreme wide shots, mid shots, and two shots. The mid shots and two shots are used mostly in the interview style when they are talking directly to the camera. The camera pans to show everything thats going on. Extreme wide shots are used to show places and surroundings.
       There were no quirky story telling techniques, but the story was moved along by first giving background info that makes you want to keep listening to hear how this program has progressed and helped the kids. 
       We care because there are kids all around us who struggle with the same things as the kids in this. Maybe if central had a program like this some kids would be effected positively. Maybe if schools all around the country had a program like this it would benefit all schools who have kids facing the same struggles.

Lombroso, Daniel. "Why Public Schools Should Reinvent Mentorship." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 13 Jan. 2016. Web. 05 May 2016.

The Major characters were the Los Diablos. They are the Mexicans that are joining forces with the Americans to make the border nicer. They create fires to get rid of plants they don't want. All the men have been doing this for almost 30 years, and they all love what they do. They represent the Mexicans that aren't stereotyped, the ones that work, the ones that make a living, aren't drug dealers, they have a direction in life and are doing everything they can to just live.
They had some notable quotes in this, they talked about how dangerous their job was and how the name came to be. "The name Los Diablos was born because we said, if you give us this job we'll work like the devil" and "were Mexicans fighting fire in the United States." These were both notable because you when hear these you get so confused, it sounds like the US is hiring them to do their dirty work, but thats not the case. These men work with US men and together they work at restoring the Rio Grande river on the border.
The story starts with the men talking about what they do and then it goes to what they do and how they fix it. They Start with the attention getter of talking about how dangerous their job is and how they fight fire and you get intrigued because you want to know what they do. Then they describe what they do, you meet some Americans they work with, you watch them do their job, and thats how they end, showing a fire going out.
The story is told through many many people. It is narrated by a lot of the guys in Los Diablos and the American men who work with them. They all take turns narrating and telling the story.
They used Direct Expository, it was told by narrators to the audience. They used a variety of angles and shot types like: pans, wide shots, extreme wide shots, two shots, and mid shots. I liked the extreme wide shots of the land because they really helped capture the beauty of the river and the border, the part that the media doesn't show. They also panned the camera so you could see everything around which was nice.
They used the theme of danger to keep the story going along. They kept talking about how dangerous their job was and that really kept me intrigued because i kept wanting to see them in action and what they do, not just them describing it. That was smart because it really makes you wanna watch it till the end.
We care because this is another side of what goes on around the border that the media doesn't show. They don't show the beautiful landscape, or how the Mexicans and Americans work together, and how the Mexicans aren't these 'aliens' people perceive them to be. they are just like us, and I think that is very important for people to understand.

Raff, Jeremy, and Sam Price-Waldman. "The Mexican Citizens Fighting America's Fires." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 28 Apr. 2016. Web. 04 May 2016.

          The major characters in this documentary are Shawn Knight, Sam Shurley, Dave Austin, and John Current. All these men were high in ranks for the ALERRT training program, they were all managers or instructors. They were the ones that talked about how the program works, what they do to keep the program going, and what they do to make the experience work. They all said how they were surprised that it would come to having to train police officers to respond to school shootings, that they were used to the thought of criminals at banks or something, but not school shootings. 
       There were definitely some notable quotes. "We can't sit back and wait, we have to take action." and " people were waiting for the medics to come help save them." These 2 quotes show how some officers are unprepared. Saying they can't sit back anymore means they have to get out there, and that the officers don't know enough medical aid to be able to save victims from bleeding out before the medics arrive. There was also a notable quote at the end "There are approximately 18 active shooting incidents every year." This quote makes it sad, because thats a large number and that shouldn't be happening.  
         The story unfolds by at first telling some background information about how the company started and what made them start. Then it went to show the officers in action and how the program works, and what they go through and what they have to do. Finally they closed the documentary off by interviewing some of the volunteer victims they shoot at and then close the scene by showing the victims laughing after a stunt was over, I thought that was a nice touch to end the film in a positive way.
         The story is told with a bunch of narrators. Kind of like Detropia, there are a bunch of people and no one central main character. Each person has a different position and talks about different things. The story still flows from one person to the other, one scene to the next.
        The mode of the film in direct expository, it is told directly from the narrators to the audience. They used a lot of wide shots and pans to show everything that was going on and they also used mid shots and two shots when the narrators were talking, so you could see them. They also used extreme wide shot to show the plot of the land where the action was taking place. These all helped show the action and to really get a feel for everything that was going on.
        The film had the sound of gun shots quite frequently, which definitely got and kept my attention. A gun shot sound is always something thats going to attract attention because its scary and even if you know its a sound on a screen, you still want to see whats happening to make that sound. They also kept the yelling of instructions and banging of doors, which really helped capture the intenseness and seriousness of the subject.
        We care because shootings are becoming a more frequent thing now a days. its sad that they have to train officers how to respond to shootings at school, school is supposed to be a safe place, many kids go to school to feel safe, and if kids don't feel safe at school, they won't want to go. Its very surreal that when you hear about a new school shooting on the news its not as surprising as it would be if it happened 5-10 years ago. School shootings are becoming more frequent and bigger of an issue.

The Editors. "How America Trains Its Officers to Respond to School Shootings." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 22 Jan. 2016. Web. 26 Apr. 2016.
       

         The Major character in this documentary was Umm Salam. Her family is sunni muslim. One day shiite militiamen came to their house and murdered 7 people claiming her family were ISIS sympathizers, in the murders she lost her 3 sons, her brother in law and his 3 sons. She has 1 son left and her husband who is disabled. Umm represents many women and families who have gone through this. Who's family have been brutally murdered and they were forced to give up their life. 
        I think almost everything in this grabbed my attention. This is not familiar to me, such violence, and its astonishing to me how brutal people are, and the horrible things these people face. When she said they tied all the men up in ne room, put the women and children in another room and then took all the money, and later found out the men had been executed, thats horrible, no one should have to go through that. 
        The story unfolds fast, talking about how one day the militiamen came and killed the men and took the money after claiming the family were ISIS sympathizers. Then it went into the aftermath and how they were forced to move from their home and how they don't know when they'll be able to go back home. The last quote at the end "some allege that, in certain areas of Iraq, anti-isis forces may have killed as many sunni's as ISIS has." The story started quickly with the climax and ended slower, but the last quote really makes you think.
        The story is told by Umm Salam and her relative. They both survived the massacre, lost their family members and were forced to move out of their homes and become refugees.
​       This film is told through direct expository. There weren't very many shot types, they were mostly mid shots of Umm and her relative. They had a few extreme wide shots of the land at the beginning and the family. In one there was a two shot of Umm and her husband, and there was a point of view of a mom and child walking, but over all the film was very simple and not a lot of different shot types and camera movements. They had a text track because Umm and the relative didn't speak english so the text track was a translation.
        The story didn't need to do much to keep me interested. I was already intrigued because what was going on was something that I could never imagine, I was just so intrigued about how cruel people can be. At the end a quote popped up that just blew my mind (quote is in the 3rd paragraph at the end). If the film was longer that definitely would have intrigued me to watch more.
       We care because we need to understand what is going on in the world. We hear these stories in the news, but its so hard to grasp because something so horrible would never happen in the US. Yes we do have mass shootings, but its nothing like whats going on in Iraq and the other countries down there. Hearing and seeing people who have gone through this really helps show its real, because you see their emotion their pain and you realize its more than just a story, its real life, and they are real people.

Lombroso, Daniel, and Greyson Korhonen. "Testimony of a Massacre." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 15 Apr. 2016. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.

          The major character in this documentary is the owner of the sea turtle hospital. She works everyday to try and help the sea turtle population. She rescues many turtles at a time and does research to help save the turtles from contracting virus'. She loves to save the turtles, and the ones she can't save, she uses as inspiration to help the many other turtles who need saving. She represents all the other workers at the hospital who help save the turtles.
​            What really helped get my attention was when she said "When dinosaurs were roaming our planets, sea turtles were in the oceans just like they are today"it made me think about how long they've been around,and all they have survived, yet us humans are just killing them all so fast. When I heard this "all species of sea turtles in the united states are either endangered or threatened", it really made me sad because most of this has to do with humans, and its amazing how we can ruin other species without even acknowledging or really caring. The fact that all species in the US are endangered is very very sad.
        The story unfolds by talking about how the hospital started and how it works, then it goes into what problems they face with the turtles and what they do to help the turtles, like the virus that gives them tumors on the outside they preform surgery to remove them. Then they talk about the turtles that don't end up making it and how its sad, but then they end the documentary on a happy not talking about the turtles that do survive and showing a recovered turtle being put back in the wild.
        The story is told through the main character, she's the one that runs the hospital. she talks about what she does and what the hospital does and what they do to save the turtles.
       This documentary is in direct expository, told by and guided by the narrator. The camera did extreme close ups, when panned with the turtle movement, wide shots, extreme wide shots, and mid shots. All these camera shot types and movements really helped show the turtle. My favorite was the extreme close ups on the turtle when you could see the texture and details of the turtle, it was really cool. They also would move the camera with the turtle as it swam and i thought that was cool as well.
      To keep the story moving along the narrator kept telling new interesting facts about the turtles, and how they handle them. They kept showing images of different turtles an their issues and what they were doing to fix it and so on. They would show stats that were written on white boards of how many turtles they have in and how many are really sick and so on.
     My biggest take away from this story was how humans have impacted the world. its amazing to me how long these sea turtles have survived yet we are just making them extinct. Humans have a very big imprint on animals lives, and many people do not seem to care. However, due to a few good ones, they are there to help the animals that we have hurt, in this case the sea turtles, and make it into something good. 

Price-Waldman, Sam. "The Sea Turtle Hospital." The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, 4 Apr. 2016. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.