SPRING 2014 Schedule

SPRING 2014 Schedule

JOURN 300/CAREY/ SPRING 2014
Monday/Wednesday 3:35 – 5:30 p.m. / 767 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.

JAN 22 Introduction - discuss leads, effective interviewing, AP Style and (briefly) the nutgraph.

Due by Friday: Read story examples that I will give you and email me by Friday, Jan. 24 (maryelizacarey@gmail.com) 2 questions that you plan to ask next week’s guest teacher/visitor, Brendan Hall

READ: Chapter 5 on Leads and Chapter 15 on Interviewing Principles

JAN 27 ESPN sportswriter Brendan Hall guest-teaches class. Interview him; take notes; email me by Friday, Jan. 31, a 500-word news story about his visit. Pay special attention the lead; include 2-3 direct quotes and 1 or 2 meaningful, direct quotes from fellow students about his visit. This is assignment #1.

JAN 29 We will NOT be meeting during class time. Instead, arrange to meet in groups of 3-4 at a time and place you determine. One student will interview another on a subject of your and his/her choice while a third student videotapes it using a phone or camera. Keep it around 3 minutes or under. Bring video to class so I can upload them to the class blog and we’ll analyze them in class next week. This is assignment #2

READ: Chapter 16 on speeches.

WRITE: to hand in to class on Monday, Feb. 3, a list of three potential speeches/presentations we can visit on campus, ASAP in the next couple of weeks preferably during class time. (We will be writing the 650-word SPEECH paper which is assignment #3 about whichever speech we attend.)  In the written list that you bring into class on Feb. 3, include who is giving the speech and the topic, where/when it is being held, a brief couple of sentences of background information about the speaker and, if possible, the topic.  We’ll pick one of the speeches you’ve identified to attend.

FEB 3 Discuss chapters on leads, interview principles, speeches and your lists of upcoming speeches that we may be able to attend. In-class work on interview videos.

FEB 5 In-class work on blogs; write a 400-500 blog piece with photo based on your interview of a classmate. This is assignment #4.

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

FEB 10  Present profile pitch; if time, work on blogs.

READ: Chaps. 2 and 3.

WRITE: 500 word “pre-first draft” profile with lead, nutgraph and quote(s). This is assignment #5

FEB 12:  Turn in pre-first drafts. Peer edit.

READ: Chap. 7 on the Writer's Art.

FEB 17  NO CLASS PRESIDENTS DAY

FEB 19  Depending on which speech we attend, 650-750 word speech story may be due

In-class, deadline writing assignment #6: In pairs, interview 4 people on campus on subject TBA; write 500 word story on-deadline with quotes from each of your sources.

READ: Chap. 8 on Features.

FEB 24 FIRST DRAFT PROFILE DUE (INCLUDE WORD COUNT) This is assignment #7. Discuss feature stories.

PEER EDIT first draft profiles. 

READ: Chapter 18 on Accidents and Disasters and Chapter 19 on Obituaries. Write Feature Pitch for next class.

FEB 26  FEATURE PITCH; if time, work on blogs.

MARCH 3 Discuss chapters on accidents and obituaries. In-class deadline assignment #8/obituary writing exercise  

READ: Chapter 21 on Courts.

MARCH 5  In-class work on feature and blogs, discuss Chap. 21 on Courts

MARCH 10  FINAL DRAFT PROFILE DUE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) This is assignment #9 In-class work on feature drafts. Discuss Issue paper requirements, including interviews with 2-3 "experts." Review for MIDTERM QUIZ.

READ: read Chaps. 11 on layered reporting. and 14 on sources.

MARCH 12 ***MID-TERM QUIZ *** If time, work on blogs; do advance work on your features as a pre-first draft will be due the Monday after you return from Spring Break. 

                          ***NO CLASS MARCH 17, 19: SPRING BREAK***

MARCH 24  PRE- FIRST DRAFT FEATURE (500 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE. This is assignment #10.PEER EDIT. 

MARCH 26  FIRST DRAFT FEATURE DUE (1,000) words. This is assignment #11. In-class work on features, issue idea paper ideas and experts. 

NEXT: Issue pitch

MARCH 31  Issue pitch.

WRITE: 500-word Issue PRE-First Draft to peer edit next class. This is assignment #12.

APRIL 2  In-class work on Issue papers.  Peer edit Issue pre-first drafts.

READ: Chap 20 on police and Chapters 24 on Government  and 25 on Reporters and the Law. Review Massachusetts Open Meeting Law. Discuss progress on Feature and Issue papers.

APRIL 7  FINAL FEATURE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE. This is assignment #13. Discuss Chapters 20, 24, 25, Open Meeting Law, definitions of slander etc

Work on Issue papers/blogs

APRIL 9  FIRST DRAFT ISSUE (1,000 words with 4 voices, 2 of whom are "experts") due. This is assignment #14.. PEER EDIT.

READ: Chaps. 26 on Taste in Journalism and 27 on Morality.

APRIL 14  Discuss Chapters 26 & 27; in-class work on issue paper, blogs

APRIL 16  FINAL ISSUE PAPER DUE. (1,000 words; include word count)  Assignment #15.  In-class work on Issue paper.  Review for FINAL QUIZ.

APRIL 21 NO CLASS PATRIOTS DAY

APRIL 23:  END OF SEMESTER QUIZ  Discuss summary/analysis writing. 

APRIL 28 – In-class deadline assignment 16: 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.

APRIL 30 -  LAST DAY OF CLASS/RECAP Final blog presentations