FALL 2013 Schedule

JOURN 300/CAREY/ FALL 2013—Tuesday/Thursday 4:30- 6:25/ 1667 Dubois 

This is a tentative schedule of topics subject to revision to accommodate the news, campus goings-on that we’ll attend and classroom visitors. Check the blog (Journ300.blogspot.com) for updates and changes. Note: Each day two or more students will bring in an article to discuss and post an "AP Style tip" to the blog.

SEPT 3 Introduction, In-class reporting and deadline writing assignment #1: Hand in 500 words with LEAD and NUTGRAPH about first day of class. NEXT:  read Chap. 5; write 300-word summary for next class. Bring  in three or more written ideas of speeches/events to attend, ideally during class time, at UMass or nearby in the coming days.

SEPT 5  Discuss Chap. 5 and speech options, discuss first-day pieces. NEXT: Read Chap. 16 on speeches, write 200-word summary for next class.

SEPT 10 Discuss chapter on speeches, how to write a speech story. In-class work on blogs. NEXT: Read Read Chap 15 on Interviewing Principles to discuss. Write 6 "bullet points" based on information in chapter.

SEPT 12 Discuss Chap 16; in-class interviewing/(multimedia)/writing exercise  #2 : In groups of 3, one person interviews a classmate after determining a topic that person is an expert on while the third person films the exchange to be posted on the class blog (or class Facebook page?) to analyze. Repeat until all three class members have been recorded. (5 percent of total grade)

NEXT: Write a brief profile pitch to present next class.

SCHEDULE CHANGES:

SEPT 17  Present profile pitch; talk about questions for Anaridis Rodriguez; if time, work on blogs.
NEXT: Read Chaps. 2 and 3. Write 500 word “pre-first draft” profile with lead, nutgraph and quote(s).

SEPT 19 Turn in pre-first drafts. Interview class visitor NEXT: Read Chap. 7 on the Writer's Art.

SEPT 24 Turn in 600-word pieces on class visitor Attend speech/event at 4 p.m. in Campus Center

SEPT 26 650-750 word speech story due
In-class, deadline writing assignment #3: In pairs, interview 4 people on campus on subject TBA; write 500 word story on-deadline with quotes from each of your sources.

NEXT  Read Chap. 8 on Features.

OCT 1 FIRST DRAFT PROFILE DUE (INCLUDE WORD COUNT) Discuss feature stories.
In-class work on profiles: write 100-200 words related to the subject of your profile SHOWING something (vs TELLING) , post it on the blog and critique.Have read Chapter 8 on features to discuss. PEER EDIT first draft profiles. NEXT: Read Chapter 18 on Accidents and Disasters and Chapter 19 on Obituaries. Write Feature Pitch

OCT 3 FEATURE PITCH

OCT 8 Discuss chapters on accidents and obituaries. In-class deadline assignment #4/obituary writing exercise  NEXT: read Chapter 21 on Courts.

OCT 10  In-class work on feature and blogs, discuss Chap. 21 on Courts

OCT 15 VETERANS DAY -- NO CLASS

OCT 17  FINAL DRAFT PROFILE DUE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) In-class work on feature drafts. Discuss Issue paper requirements, including interviews with 2-3 "experts." NEXT: read Chaps. 11 on layered reporting. and 14 on sources.

OCT 22 MID-TERM QUIZ /  In-class deadline assignment #5: In pairs, interview 4 people on campus on topic TBA. (5 percent of total grade)

OCT 24  FIRST DRAFT FEATURE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE. PEER EDIT. 

OCT 29 Discuss Feature drafts, issue ideas, experts. NEXT: Issue pitch

OCT 31 Issue pitch.

NOV 5 In-class work on Issue papers. NEXT: read Chap 20 on police 

NOV 7 FINAL FEATURE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE. Work on Issue papers/blogs

NOV 12  FIRST DRAFT ISSUE (1,000 words with 4 voices, 2 of whom are "experts") due PEER EDIT Discuss Police chapter. In-class work on issue, blog. Next: read Chaps. 26 on Taste in Journalism and 27 on Morality.

NOV 14 Discuss Chapters 26 & 27/ In-class deadline assignment 6: TBA

NOV 19 END OF SEMESTER QUIZ In-class work on Issue paper. Discuss Chapters 24 and 25,

NOV 21 NEXT: Discuss Chaps. 24 and 25 on Government and Reporters and the Law; Summary/analysis writing. FINAL ISSUE (1,000 words INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE Discuss Open Meeting, definitions of slander etc.;

NOV 26 – In-class deadline assignment 7: Watch film and write SUMMARY/ANALYSIS with quote(s) from someone in class (10 percent of final grade) on deadline, due at end of class.

NOV. 28 - THANKSGIVING/NO CLASS

DEC 3 Final blog presentations

DEC 5  LAST DAY OF CLASS/RECAP 

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In-class deadline writing assignments and due dates:

SEPT 3:  In-class reporting and deadline writing assignment #1:  500 words with LEAD and NUTGRAPH about the first day of class. 
SEPT 5: 300 word-summary of Chapter 5 on leads; written list of three events we could attend on or near campus in the next couple of weeks. Should include 1) name of event/speaker 2)subject of presentation/event 3) Time and place 4) short explanation of what it's about 5) cost, if any.

SEPT 10: 200 word summary of Speech chapter

SEPT 12:  6 bullet points on Interviewing chapter.  In-class reporting and deadline writing (multimedia) assignment #2: In groups of 3, one person interviews a classmate after determining a topic that person is an expert on while the third person films the exchange to be posted on the class blog (or class Facebook page?) to analyze. Repeat until all three class members have been recorded. (5 percent of total grade)

SEPT 17: SPEECH PAPER MAY BE DUE, DEPENDING ON WHICH SPEECH/EVENT WE ATTEND Written profile pitch: Who is your subject, why would this person be a good subject of a profile? What is the angle of your profile, who do you plan to interview about your subject?
SEPT 19: 500 words profile "Pre-first draft"

SEPT 24: in-class 100-200 words SHOWING (vs telling) to be posted on blog

SEPT 26:  FIRST DRAFT PROFILE DUE In-class reporting and deadline writing assignment #3: In pairs, interview 4 people on campus on subject TBA; write 500 word story on-deadline with quotes from each of your sources. (5 percent of total grade)

OCT 3: Written feature pitch: What is your feature about? Why is this a good subject for a feature? Who do you plan to interview (4 sources minimum)

OCT 8:  In-class deadline assignment #4: Obituary writing exercise -- Write a fake obituary according to the standard obituary formula, including a quote from a person in the class and post on blog. (Make sure if it's clear it is fake.)

OCT 17: FINAL DRAFT PROFILE DUE

OCT 22: In-class deadline assignment #5: In pairs, interview 4 people on campus on topic TBA. (5 percent of total grade)
OCT 24: FIRST DRAFT FEATURE DUE

NOV 7: FINAL FEATURE DUE

NOV 12: FIRST DRAFT ISSUE DUE

NOV 14: In-class deadline assignment #6: TBA (5 percent of total grade)

NOV 21: FINAL ISSUE DUE

NOV 26 – In-class deadline assignment 7: Watch film and write SUMMARY/ANALYSIS with quote(s) from someone in class (10 percent of final grade) on deadline, due at end of class.