What's the oddest thing you've ever seen? How is writing a book different from writing a feature for television? How do you find what you write about?

Those are some of the great questions asked by students from Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy and Amity School, and answered by Neil Zurcher, author of Ohio Oddities and a journalist for Fox8TV, Cleveland. Mr. Zurcher showed some videotape of the work he does for television. He also talked about how he researches his books, writing and favorite topics both for television and for his book. You can obtain a copy of Mr. Zurcher's book at your favorite bookstore or through his publisher's website: www.grayco.com.

The 30-minute program aired on CET on Tuesday, December 3, 2002, at 11am. It is available to watch on this website - check out all the videos on the Learning Services website - or teachers throughout southwestern Ohio can request a Dial Access showing of Write Now, Ohio by calling Diane Smiley at (513) 345-6545. Dial Access requests can also be made online.

To get a dub of the program, teachers can call Sarah Horstmann at (513) 345-6566 or Diane Smiley at (513) 381-4033, ext. 327. Dub order information is also available on page 6 of the CET Education and Technology Resource Catalog. The order form can be photocopied from the print catalog or downloaded from the website. The completed order form may then be faxed or mailed to the attention of Sarah Horstmann or Diane Smiley. Fax and mail information is on the website and in the catalog.

Teachers are invited to show the program to students in their classrooms and use the lesson. The lesson also includes correlations to the state standards in reading and writing for grades 4-6.

The Oddities Trivia Quiz will help increase student understanding and retention. The Quiz is available throughout the winter quarter with a new question posted each week. The class with the most correct quiz answers will get an autographed copy of Ohio Oddities for their room!

Teachers: help your students improve their skills and get recognition for a job well done in the Ohio Writing Contest!