COMM 337: Advanced Journalism Writing
Benedictine University at Springfield
Fall Semester 2010
"There are no dull subjects. There are only dull writers." -- H.L. Mencken
Communications 337 meetings TBA. Much of the communication between instructor and students will be on line, and students are required to check their email on a daily basis. Instructor is Pete Ellertsen, 2125 S. Lincoln Ave., Springfield, Ill. 62704, email: pellertsen@sci.edu. tel. 793-2587.
I. Course Description.
Course Title: Advanced Journalism Writing
Course Number: COMM 337
Credits: 3.00
Description
Students practice the major styles of journalistic writing beyond newswriting: public affairs reporting, feature writing, magazine writing and editorial writing. Periodically.
Prerequisites
COMM 209
II. Textbooks . You have three: (1) Donald M. Murray, "Writing to Deadline" ISBN 978-0325002255; (2) "The Writer's Digest Handbook of Magazine Article Writing" ISBN 978-1582973340; and (3) "The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual" ISBN 978-0465012626 or any recent edition. Also required are the readings on the World Wide Web linked below in the Tentative Calendar.
III. MISSION STATEMENT
Benedictine University 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.
IV. Goals, objectives and student learning outcomes.
A. Degree Program Goals
The Communication Arts degree program goals are as follows:
1. Prepare graduates for careers in advertising, electronic and print media, journalism, public relations, publishing, writing or other careers requiring sophisticated communications skills;
2. Prepare graduates for continued study in graduate or professional school;
3. Develop the student's critical and imaginative thinking, reading and writing skills;
4. Develop skills to empower the student to communicate ideas effectively, through speaking, writing and the use of technology;
5. Develop skills for critical interpretation of the media;
6. Foster aesthetic understanding in both production and interpretation of media texts;
7. Develop knowledge of the methods to make responsible social and personal decisions;
8. Develop primary and secondary research methodologies;
9. Develop an understanding of the history, structure and operation of the mass media;
10. Provide an understanding of the impact of mass media industries and messages on the individual, society and culture;
11. Develop professional-level skills in written and oral communication for a variety of media and audiences;
12. Develop professional-level production skills for both print and electronic media;
13. Encourage the development of creative expression; and
14. Help the student develop a professional media portfolio.
Course Goals: Students will understand the techniques, attitudes, values and craft agenda of professional writers, and practice their mastery of the craft by preparing a publishable article and by publishing their analysis of current published writing in a Web log of their own creation.
B. Course Objectives/Outcomes
As a course requirement within the degree program, COMM 337 was designed with the above goals in mind. Thus, upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to demonstrate mastery of the following objectives and student learning outcomes:
1. To write a publishable feature, news-feature or opinion article
2. To research markets for a free-lance article and write a query letter
3. To explain the attributes of and criteria for judging newspaper and magazine feature writing, public affairs writing and social/political commentary.
4. To create a Web log and publish their analysis of current journalistic writing on the blog, using the criteria and attributes referenced above.
V. Teaching Methods. Small group and whole classroom discussion (including participation in discussion on the Message Board linked to my faculty webpage and my teaching blog), pre-writing, drafting and editing exercises.
VI. Course Requirements.
A. Attendance Policy. Attendance is mandatory. To avoid class disruption, students in COMM 337 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.
B. Reading Assignments. Please see the Tentative Calendar below.
C. Written Assignments. (1) Students will write a 1,500- to 2,000-word article on a current political, social, cultural or artistic issue, research potential markets for it and write a one-page query letter tailored to a specific market. (2) Students will create a web Log (blog) and write analyses professional writing of 1,000 words each of: (a) a newspaper feature story, (b) a magazine feature, (c) a piece of public affairs reporting and (d) an opinion or op-ed piece on the blog. (3) Both the midterm and final exam will be take-home essay examination. (4) Students also will be assigned to cover public gatherings on campus (which tend to happen during the noon hour) without notice. These assignments, by their nature, cannot be made up; missing deadlines will hurt your grade.
The instructor's grading scale is as follows: A = 100-90. B = 89-80. C = 79-70. D = 69-60. F = 59-0. Please note, the letter grade of “E” has been changed to a letter grade of “F.”
Benedictine University at Springfield Student Academic Honesty Policy
The search for truth and the dissemination of knowledge are the central missions of a university. Benedictine University at Springfield pursues these missions in an environment guided by our Roman Catholic tradition and our Benedictine heritage. Integrity and honesty are therefore expected of all University students. Actions such as cheating, plagiarism, collusion, fabrication, forgery, falsification, destruction, multiple submission, solicitation, and misrepresentation are violations of these expectations and constitute unacceptable behavior in the University community.
Student’s Responsibility
Though there is no formal honor code at Benedictine University at Springfield, students are expected to exhibit academic honesty at all times. Violations against academic honesty are always serious and may result in sanctions that could have profound long-term effects. The final responsibility for understanding the Academic Honesty Policy of the institution, as well as the specific policies for individual courses normally found in syllabi, rests with students. If any doubt exists about what constitutes academic dishonesty, students have the responsibility to talk to the faculty member. Students should expect the members of their class to be academically honest. If students believe one or more members of the class have been deceitful to gain academic advantage in the class, students should feel comfortable to approach the faculty member of the course without prejudice.
Violations of the Academic Honesty Policy will be reported to the Office of the Dean of Academic Affairs. Along with a verbal warning, the following are consequences a student 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.
VII. Means of Evaluation . Your final grade will be based on assignments weighted as follows: (A) class participation and journals, including the four analyses of professional writing, worth 50 percent of the total grade; (B) reporting assignments, including coverage of noontime events as well as the 1,500-word article and query letter, in total worth 25 percent of the total; and (C) quizzes and tests including the midterm and the final exam, worth 25 percent.
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.
Grade Appeal Process
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.
First, contact the Instructor.
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.
Add/Drop Dates. Please refer to the current Academic Calendar for add/drop dates.
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.
VIII. Course Outline and Calendar. Please see Tentative Calendar below. The schedule of assignments 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.
IX. AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA)
Benedictine University at Springfield 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.
X. ASSESSMENT
Goals, objectives, and learning outcomes that will be assessed in the class are stated in this syllabus in Sections IV and VI. Instructor will use background knowledge probes, one-minute papers, reflective essays and/or other Classroom Assessment Techniques as deemed necessary in order to provide continuous improvement of instruction.
Tentative Calendar
Week 1. Read Murray, Chapters 1-2, on craft and process; "Writer's Digest Handbook," foreword, intro and Chapter 1 on free-lancing and finding ideas; Chapter 2 on querying; and Chapter 4 on finding markets (which are an integral part of finding ideas if you want someone to buy your story). Choose a name and open your Web log. Post your reaction to the reading assignment in Murray, plus questions I will post to the blog.
Week 2. Re-read "Handbook" Chapter 5 and 6 on research and interviewing. Read Murray, Chapters 3-4, on "reporting for surprise" and finding the flow (Murray calls it "tension," among other things) of a story. As you read Murray, try to figure out what he means by "surprise." It's almost impossible to explain, but it's important. It may be the single most important thing that makes your work stand out in the crowd. Post your reaction to the reading assignment in Murray, plus questions I will post to the Mackerel Wrapper.
Week 3 Read Murray, Chapters 5-6, on pre-writing (much of which you do in your head) and writing a story. Post your reaction to the reading assignment in Murray, plus questions I will post to the Mackerel Wrapper.
Week 4 Read "Handbook" Chapters 8-9 on writing and revision; Murray, Chapters 7-8, on writing, editing and revising so readers will want to read what you wrote. (Hint: How do you do that? Surprise them.) Post your reaction to the reading assignment in Murray, plus questions I will post to the Mackerel Wrapper.
Week 5 Read "Handbook" Chapter 10 on working with editors; and Murray, Chapter 9, on how to think like a professional -- i.e. like an apprentice! Post your reaction to the reading assignment in Murray, plus questions I will post to the Mackerel Wrapper.
Week 6 Midterm. Post your 1,000-word analysis of a public affairs (politics, government, society or cultural) story to your blog, plus questions I will post to the Mackerel Wrapper.
Week 7 Post your 1,000-word analysis of an opinion article or op-ed piece to your blog, plus questions I will post to the Mackerel Wrapper.
Week 8 Post your 1,000-word analysis of a newspaper feature story to your blog, plus questions I will post to the Mackerel Wrapper.
Week 9 Post your 1,000-word analysis of a magazine article to your blog, plus questions I will post to the Mackerel Wrapper.
Week 10. Work on feature story. Readings from Writer's Digest and internet TBA.
Week 11 Work on feature story. Readings from Writer's Digest and internet TBA.
Week 12 Work on feature story. Readings from Writer's Digest and internet TBA.
Week 13 Work on feature story. Readings from Writer's Digest and internet TBA.
Week 14 Review and assessment.
Final exam schedule TBA.
