Communications 207: Editing for Publication
Benedictine University - Springfield
Fall Semester 2009
www.sci.edu/faculty/ellertsen/comm207syllabus.html
"Remember the waterfront shack with the sign FRESH FISH SOLD HERE. Of course it's fresh, we're on the ocean. Of course it's for sale, we're not giving it away. Of course it's here, otherwise the sign would be someplace else. The final sign: FISH." -- Peggy Noonan, columnist, The Wall Street Journal
Communications 207 meets Tuesday and Thursday from 1 to 2:15 p.m. Monday in Dawson 220 (third-floor computer lab) on the SCI campus in Springfield. Instructor is Pete Ellertsen, 211 Beata Hall (old Ursuline convent), telephone 525-1420x519. e-mail: pellertsen@sci.edu. Office hours TBA. Home: 545 Feldkamp, Springfield, IL 62704. tel. 793-2587.
Course Description. Course Title: Editing for Publications. Course Number: COMM 207. Credits: 3.00. Introduction to the principles and practices of editing for books, magazines, and newspapers. Spring. Prerequisite: RHET 101 [English 111].
Textbooks. You have two: (1) "Modern News Editing" by Mark Ludwig and Gene Gilmore and (2) "The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual." Readings on the World Wide Web as indicated below in the Tentative Calendar.
Mission Statement: Benedictine University in Lisle is dedicated to the education of undergraduate and graduate students from diverse ethnic, racial and religious backgrounds. As an academic community committed to liberal arts and professional education distinguished and guided by our Roman Catholic tradition and Benedictine heritage, we prepare our students for a lifetime as active, informed and responsible citizens and leaders in the world community.
Goals, objectives and outcomes.
A. Goals. Students will understand the principles of editing for print media in an era of cross-platform convergence; editing as a management function; and publications design. Processing body copy and display type for maximum clarity and impact will be emphasized.
B. Student Learning Objectives. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
-- effectively edit stories without distorting them
-- write effective headlines and cutlines
-- use typography effectively
-- demonstrate the basics of publication design and the logic of packaging
-- apply AP stylebook rules.
Teaching Methods. Peer work, small group and whole classroom discussion (including participation in discussion on the Message Board linked to my faculty webpage), pre-writing, drafting and editing exercises; conferencing; and intervention in student writing processes.
Course Requirements.
A. Attendance Policy. Attendance is mandatory. To avoid class disruption, students in COM 207 must be on time. If a student misses class, is the student's responsibility to get class notes, assignments, etc., from classmates. Missed in-class work, by its very nature, cannot be made up. Absences will hurt your grade.
B. Reading Assignments. Please see the Tentative Calendar below. In addition to the readings outlined below, you will be responsible for readings posted to my weblog "The Mackerel Wrappper" at http://www.mackerelwrapper.blogspot.com/ and to our class blog, which I will create later on a web-based blogging service.
C. Written Assignments. You will do frequent in-class writing and editing exercises. Count on 1-2 per week. They must be written on deadline and completed by the end of that class period. Since speed, accuracy and being able to "think on your feet" are important values in the mass media, I will assign exercises without notice.
You will be required to post to the class web Log (blog), both in and out of class. I will create a blog titled "COMM207fall09" on Blogger and post assignments to it. The purpose of these exercises is to give you more experience with HTML (hypertext markup language) and publication to the World Wide Web.
Both the midterm and final exam will be a combination of essay and short definition questions; both are to be treated as deadline writing assignments in which accuracy, clarity and your ability to produce "clean copy" count toward your grade.
If you must be absent for good cause, I will whenever possible try to give you an opportunity to make up the work. But on some assignments, I simply will be unable to do so. especially if they involve editing "spot" news that cannot be repeated, e.g. a shooting or legislative debate. Please understand that absences will hurt your grade.
Means of Evaluation. Your final grade will be based on assignments weighted as follows: (A) class participation and in-class editing exercises to be assigned without notice, worth 50 percent of the total grade; (B) out-of-class written and editing exercises,including the midterm, worth 25 percent of the total; and (C) quizzes and tests including the midterm and the final exam, worth 25 percent.
Academic Integrity Statement. Academic and professional environments require honesty and integrity, and these qualities are expected of every student at Springfield College in Illinois/Benedictine University. In accordance with such expectations, academic integrity requires that you credit others for their ideas. Plagiarism, whether intentional or not, is a grievous offense. Any time you use words or ideas that are not your own, you must give credit to the author, whether or not you are quoting directly from that author. Failure to do so constitutes plagiarism. Any incident of plagiarism and/or academic dishonesty may result in serious consequences. Penalties for academic dishonesty vary depending on the severity or extent of the problem but are always serious.
The following are consequences you may face for academic dishonesty:
· a failing grade or “zero” for the assignment;
·dismissal from and a failing grade for the course; or
·dismissal from the Institution.
Please refer to the Springfield College in Illinois/Benedictine University Catalog or the Student Handbook for a complete discussion of the Academic Integrity policy.
Professionals in the communications industry are held to higher standards of ethics than others. Plagiarism can result in immediate termination from a job; if published works are plagiarized, the offense often involves copyright infringement, which is a violation of federal law. A standard legal reference defines plagiarism as “[t]he deliberate and knowing presentation of another person's original ideas or creative expressions as one's own” and explains: “Generally, plagiarism is immoral but not illegal. If the expression's creator gives unrestricted permission for its use and the user claims the expression as original, the user commits plagiarism but does not violate copyright laws. If the original expression is copied without permission, the plagiarist may violate copyright laws, even if credit goes to the creator. …" 8 Black's Law Dictionary 1187 (2004).
The instructor's grading scale. The grading scale is as follows: A = 100-90. B = 89-80. C = 79-70. D = 69-60. E = 59-0.
Grade Appeal Process. According to the Springfield College in Illinois/Benedictine University Catalog, grade appeals must be initiated 90 days prior to the end of one semester after the course in question has been completed. The process for appealing a grade is outlined below.
1. A student must appeal to his/her instructor in writing (e-mail is acceptable) and provide specific reasons why his/her grade should be changed.
2. The instructor must respond to the student in writing (e-mail is acceptable) and provide a copy to the division chair.
Benedictine University - Springfield
Fall Semester 2009
www.sci.edu/faculty/ellertsen/comm207syllabus.html
"Remember the waterfront shack with the sign FRESH FISH SOLD HERE. Of course it's fresh, we're on the ocean. Of course it's for sale, we're not giving it away. Of course it's here, otherwise the sign would be someplace else. The final sign: FISH." -- Peggy Noonan, columnist, The Wall Street Journal
Communications 207 meets Tuesday and Thursday from 1 to 2:15 p.m. Monday in Dawson 220 (third-floor computer lab) on the SCI campus in Springfield. Instructor is Pete Ellertsen, 211 Beata Hall (old Ursuline convent), telephone 525-1420x519. e-mail: pellertsen@sci.edu. Office hours TBA. Home: 545 Feldkamp, Springfield, IL 62704. tel. 793-2587.
Course Description. Course Title: Editing for Publications. Course Number: COMM 207. Credits: 3.00. Introduction to the principles and practices of editing for books, magazines, and newspapers. Spring. Prerequisite: RHET 101 [English 111].
Textbooks. You have two: (1) "Modern News Editing" by Mark Ludwig and Gene Gilmore and (2) "The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual." Readings on the World Wide Web as indicated below in the Tentative Calendar.
Mission Statement: Benedictine University in Lisle is dedicated to the education of undergraduate and graduate students from diverse ethnic, racial and religious backgrounds. As an academic community committed to liberal arts and professional education distinguished and guided by our Roman Catholic tradition and Benedictine heritage, we prepare our students for a lifetime as active, informed and responsible citizens and leaders in the world community.
Goals, objectives and outcomes.
A. Goals. Students will understand the principles of editing for print media in an era of cross-platform convergence; editing as a management function; and publications design. Processing body copy and display type for maximum clarity and impact will be emphasized.
B. Student Learning Objectives. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
-- effectively edit stories without distorting them
-- write effective headlines and cutlines
-- use typography effectively
-- demonstrate the basics of publication design and the logic of packaging
-- apply AP stylebook rules.
Teaching Methods. Peer work, small group and whole classroom discussion (including participation in discussion on the Message Board linked to my faculty webpage), pre-writing, drafting and editing exercises; conferencing; and intervention in student writing processes.
Course Requirements.
A. Attendance Policy. Attendance is mandatory. To avoid class disruption, students in COM 207 must be on time. If a student misses class, is the student's responsibility to get class notes, assignments, etc., from classmates. Missed in-class work, by its very nature, cannot be made up. Absences will hurt your grade.
B. Reading Assignments. Please see the Tentative Calendar below. In addition to the readings outlined below, you will be responsible for readings posted to my weblog "The Mackerel Wrappper" at http://www.mackerelwrapper.blogspot.com/ and to our class blog, which I will create later on a web-based blogging service.
C. Written Assignments. You will do frequent in-class writing and editing exercises. Count on 1-2 per week. They must be written on deadline and completed by the end of that class period. Since speed, accuracy and being able to "think on your feet" are important values in the mass media, I will assign exercises without notice.
You will be required to post to the class web Log (blog), both in and out of class. I will create a blog titled "COMM207fall09" on Blogger and post assignments to it. The purpose of these exercises is to give you more experience with HTML (hypertext markup language) and publication to the World Wide Web.
Both the midterm and final exam will be a combination of essay and short definition questions; both are to be treated as deadline writing assignments in which accuracy, clarity and your ability to produce "clean copy" count toward your grade.
If you must be absent for good cause, I will whenever possible try to give you an opportunity to make up the work. But on some assignments, I simply will be unable to do so. especially if they involve editing "spot" news that cannot be repeated, e.g. a shooting or legislative debate. Please understand that absences will hurt your grade.
Means of Evaluation. Your final grade will be based on assignments weighted as follows: (A) class participation and in-class editing exercises to be assigned without notice, worth 50 percent of the total grade; (B) out-of-class written and editing exercises,
Academic Integrity Statement. Academic and professional environments require honesty and integrity, and these qualities are expected of every student at Springfield College in Illinois/Benedictine University. In accordance with such expectations, academic integrity requires that you credit others for their ideas. Plagiarism, whether intentional or not, is a grievous offense. Any time you use words or ideas that are not your own, you must give credit to the author, whether or not you are quoting directly from that author. Failure to do so constitutes plagiarism. Any incident of plagiarism and/or academic dishonesty may result in serious consequences. Penalties for academic dishonesty vary depending on the severity or extent of the problem but are always serious.
The following are consequences you may face for academic dishonesty:
· a failing grade or “zero” for the assignment;
·dismissal from and a failing grade for the course; or
·dismissal from the Institution.
Please refer to the Springfield College in Illinois/Benedictine University Catalog or the Student Handbook for a complete discussion of the Academic Integrity policy.
Professionals in the communications industry are held to higher standards of ethics than others. Plagiarism can result in immediate termination from a job; if published works are plagiarized, the offense often involves copyright infringement, which is a violation of federal law. A standard legal reference defines plagiarism as “[t]he deliberate and knowing presentation of another person's original ideas or creative expressions as one's own” and explains: “Generally, plagiarism is immoral but not illegal. If the expression's creator gives unrestricted permission for its use and the user claims the expression as original, the user commits plagiarism but does not violate copyright laws. If the original expression is copied without permission, the plagiarist may violate copyright laws, even if credit goes to the creator. …" 8 Black's Law Dictionary 1187 (2004).
The instructor's grading scale. The grading scale is as follows: A = 100-90. B = 89-80. C = 79-70. D = 69-60. E = 59-0.
Grade Appeal Process. According to the Springfield College in Illinois/Benedictine University Catalog, grade appeals must be initiated 90 days prior to the end of one semester after the course in question has been completed. The process for appealing a grade is outlined below.
1. A student must appeal to his/her instructor in writing (e-mail is acceptable) and provide specific reasons why his/her grade should be changed.
2. The instructor must respond to the student in writing (e-mail is acceptable) and provide a copy to the division chair.
Second, contact the Division Chair.
3. If the student wishes, he/she may then appeal to the division chair in writing (e-mail is acceptable) and provide specific reasons why his/her grade should be changed without the instructor’s permission. The student should understand that overwhelming evidence must be presented to the division chair to prove that the current grade is incorrect.
4. The division chair must respond to the student in writing (e-mail is acceptable) and provide a copy to the academic dean.
Lastly, contact the Academic Dean.
5. If the student wishes, he/she may appeal to the academic dean in writing (e-mail is acceptable) and provide specific reasons why his/her grade should be changed without the instructor’s or the division chair’s permission. The student should understand that overwhelming evidence must be presented to the academic dean to prove the grade is incorrect.
6. The academic dean must respond to the student in writing (e-mail is acceptable). The academic dean’s decision is final.
Incomplete Request. To qualify for an “I” grade, a minimum of 75% of the course work must be completed with a passing grade, and a student must submit a completed Request for an Incomplete form to the Registrar’s Office. The form must be completed by both student and instructor, but it is the student’s responsibility (not the instructor’s) to initiate this process and obtain the necessary signatures.
Student Withdrawal Procedure. It is the student’s responsibility to officially withdraw from a course by completing the appropriate form, with appropriate signatures, and returning the completed form to the Advising Office. Please refer to the Student Handbook for important financial information related to withdrawals.
Add/Drop Dates. Last day to add courses is Aug. 28. Last day to drop a course without a "W" is Aug. 28. Last day to drop courses is Oct. 24.
VII. Course Outline and Calendar. The course outline is as follows:
A. Principles of print media editing across platforms
1.Editing in an age of convergence
2. News value, accuracy and objectivity
3. Journalistic values in PR and advertising
4. Management and copy flow
B. Editing -- getting it right
1. The "AP Stylebook" a basic tool
2. Getting it right -- working with words
3. Processing body copy and headlines
4. Editing wire service copy
C. Visuals in print media
1. Editors, words, text, art and design
2. Processing artwork for publication
D. Doing the right thing -- ethics
1. Imagination, accuracy and breaking news
2. Law and ethics
3. Policy and responsibility
The schedule of assignments below is tentative, and departures from it will be announced at the class meeting prior to the change -- or via the Message Board. Students who miss class are responsible for keeping up with rescheduled assignments.
VIII. Americans with Disabilities Act. Springfield College in Illinois/Benedictine University provides individuals with disabilities reasonable accommodations to participate in educational programs, activities, and services. Students with disabilities requiring accommodations to participate in campus-sponsored programs, activities, and services, or to meet course requirements, should contact the Director of the Resource Center as early as possible.
If documentation of the disability (either learning or physical) is not already on file, it may be requested. Once on file, an individual student’s disability documentation is shared only at that individual’s request and solely with the parties whom the student wishes it shared. Requests are kept confidential and may be made by emailing jharris@sci.edu or by calling 217-525-1420, ext. 306.
IX. Assessment. Goals, objectives, and learning outcomes that will be assessed in the class are stated in this syllabus. Instructor will use pre-tests and post-tests, background knowledge probes, directed paraphrasing, reflective essays or other Classroom Assessment Techniques as deemed necessary in order to provide continuous improvement of instruction. Students are required to take part in all assessment measures.
Tentative Calendar
Week 1. Read Ludwig and Gilmore, Chapter 1. Editing across platforms in an electronic era.
Week 2. Read Ludwig and Gilmore, Chapter 2. Deciding what's news; news ethics and other communications careers.
Week 3 Read Ludwig and Gilmore, Chapter 3-4. Newsroom management and editing.
Week 4. Read Ludwig and Gilmore, Chapter 5. Working with stories; AP style.
Week 5. Read Ludwig and Gilmore, Chapter 6-7. Working with words; headlines; more AP style
Week 6. MIDTERM EXAM.
Week 7. Read Ludwig and Gilmore, Chapter 8. Art and design.
Week 8. Read Ludwig and Gilmore, Chapter 9. Art, graphics and editing.
Week 9. Read Ludwig and Gilmore, Chapter 10. Wire copy.
Week 10. Read Ludwig and Gilmore, Chapter 11. Imagination.
Week 11. Read Ludwig and Gilmore, Chapter 12. Breaking news.
Week 12. Read Ludwig and Gilmore, Chapter 13-14. Law and ethics.
Week 13. Read Ludwig and Gilmore, Chapter 15. Law and responsibility.
Week 14. Review and assessment.
Final exam schedule TBA.
1.Editing in an age of convergence
2. News value, accuracy and objectivity
3. Journalistic values in PR and advertising
4. Management and copy flow
B. Editing -- getting it right
1. The "AP Stylebook" a basic tool
2. Getting it right -- working with words
3. Processing body copy and headlines
4. Editing wire service copy
C. Visuals in print media
1. Editors, words, text, art and design
2. Processing artwork for publication
D. Doing the right thing -- ethics
1. Imagination, accuracy and breaking news
2. Law and ethics
3. Policy and responsibility
The schedule of assignments below is tentative, and departures from it will be announced at the class meeting prior to the change -- or via the Message Board. Students who miss class are responsible for keeping up with rescheduled assignments.
VIII. Americans with Disabilities Act. Springfield College in Illinois/Benedictine University provides individuals with disabilities reasonable accommodations to participate in educational programs, activities, and services. Students with disabilities requiring accommodations to participate in campus-sponsored programs, activities, and services, or to meet course requirements, should contact the Director of the Resource Center as early as possible.
If documentation of the disability (either learning or physical) is not already on file, it may be requested. Once on file, an individual student’s disability documentation is shared only at that individual’s request and solely with the parties whom the student wishes it shared. Requests are kept confidential and may be made by emailing jharris@sci.edu or by calling 217-525-1420, ext. 306.
IX. Assessment. Goals, objectives, and learning outcomes that will be assessed in the class are stated in this syllabus. Instructor will use pre-tests and post-tests, background knowledge probes, directed paraphrasing, reflective essays or other Classroom Assessment Techniques as deemed necessary in order to provide continuous improvement of instruction. Students are required to take part in all assessment measures.
Tentative Calendar
Week 1. Read Ludwig and Gilmore, Chapter 1. Editing across platforms in an electronic era.
Week 2. Read Ludwig and Gilmore, Chapter 2. Deciding what's news; news ethics and other communications careers.
Week 3 Read Ludwig and Gilmore, Chapter 3-4. Newsroom management and editing.
Week 4. Read Ludwig and Gilmore, Chapter 5. Working with stories; AP style.
Week 5. Read Ludwig and Gilmore, Chapter 6-7. Working with words; headlines; more AP style
Week 6. MIDTERM EXAM.
Week 7. Read Ludwig and Gilmore, Chapter 8. Art and design.
Week 8. Read Ludwig and Gilmore, Chapter 9. Art, graphics and editing.
Week 9. Read Ludwig and Gilmore, Chapter 10. Wire copy.
Week 10. Read Ludwig and Gilmore, Chapter 11. Imagination.
Week 11. Read Ludwig and Gilmore, Chapter 12. Breaking news.
Week 12. Read Ludwig and Gilmore, Chapter 13-14. Law and ethics.
Week 13. Read Ludwig and Gilmore, Chapter 15. Law and responsibility.
Week 14. Review and assessment.
Final exam schedule TBA.
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