Fall 2015 schedule

FALL 2015 Schedule

JOURN 300/CAREY

Tuesday/Thursday 4 – 6 p.m. - Integrative Learning Center S413

This is a tentative schedule of topics, assignments and assignment deadlines 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 share an AP Style tip. We’ll develop a schedule for this.

SEPT 8 - Introduction - discuss leads, effective interviewing, AP Style and (briefly) the nutgraph. Email to me at maryelizacarey@gmail.com TONIGHT 500 words about the first day of class. Should have a good lead and at least one direct quotation.

FOR NEXT CLASS: To hand in next class, a WRITTEN 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 about whichever speech we attend.) In the written list that you bring into class on Thursday, include 1) who is giving the speech and 2) 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. READ: Chapter 5 on Leads and Chapter 15 on Interviewing Principles

SEPT 10 -  TOPIC: The Lead and the Nutgraph Review leads, Chapters 5 and 15, class blog; determine where and when we can go to a speech; determine which classmate you will interview on what subject and prepare questions.

SEPT 15 TOPIC: The Interview: In groups of 3-4, one student will interview another on a subject of his/her choice while a third student videotapes it using a phone or camera. Keep it around 3 minutes or under. We’ll upload them to YouTube and analyze them.

SEPT 17 TOPIC: Kinds of Stories  Analyze interviewing videos, FIRST ASSIGNMENT DUE: 400-500 written piece with photo based on your interview of a classmate. (5 percent of final grade) NEXT: READ: Chapter 16 on speeches.

SEPT 22 Analyze interview videos. Discuss Speech chapter. Depending on which speech we attend, 650-750 word speech story may be due (10 percent of total grade) NEXT: Write a brief profile pitch to present to class.

SEPT 24  Profile pitch. NEXT: Read and complete Chapters 2 & 3 worksheets (on blog, under worksheets tab) WRITE and BRING IN TO PEER EDIT A HARD COPY of 500 word "pre-first draft" profile with lead, nutgraph and quote(s).

SEPT 29 TOPIC: Cliches, stereotypes, euphemisms, conscious & unconscious bias: Turn in pre-first drafts. Peer edit. NEXT: read and complete worksheet on Chap. 7 on the Writer's Art.

OCT 1 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. (5 percent of total grade) NEXT: Read Chap. 8 on Features.

OCT 6 -  TOPIC: Attribution, quotations, summary FIRST DRAFT PROFILE DUE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) PEER EDIT. Discuss feature stories.

NEXT: Read and complete worksheets for Chapter 18 on Accidents and Disasters and Chapter 19 on Obituaries. Write Feature Pitch for next class.

OCT 8 FEATURE PITCH If time, work on blogs. NEXT: write 500-word feature PRE-first draft to peer edit next class. Read Chapter 21 on Courts

OCT 13 NO CLASS/ Monday class schedule

OCT 15 TOPIC: accidents, obituaries and courts Peer edit PRE-first draft Feature stories. Discuss chapters on accidents, obituaries and courts.

OCT 20 In-class deadline assignment/obituary writing exercise (5 percent of total grade) Next: Read Chaps. 11 on layered reporting and 14 on sources.

OCT 22  TOPIC: "Layered" reporting FINAL DRAFT PROFILE DUE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT, 10 percent of total grade) Discuss Chapters 11 and 14. In-class work on features.

OCT 27 Review for MID-TERM QUIZ. Discuss potential Issue paper topics & interviews with 2-3 "experts." 

OCT 29  ***MID-TERM QUIZ *** If time, work on features and blogs

NOV 3 In-class work on features and blogs.

NOV 5 TOPIC: Massachusetts Open Meeting Law FIRST DRAFT FEATURE DUE (1,000) words. Firm up issue story ideas. NEXT: Write issue pitch to present next class. Read and complete worksheets for Chap 20 on police, Chap 24 on Government and 25 on Reporters and the Law. Review Massachusetts Open Meeting Law.

NOV 10 Issue pitch. Discuss chapters. WRITE: 500-word Issue PRE-First Draft to peer edit next class.

NOV 12 Peer edit Issue pre-first drafts. Final FEATURE DUE (1,000 words, 15 percent of total grade)

NOV 17 FIRST DRAFT ISSUE (1,000 words with 4 voices, 2 of whom are "experts") due. Discuss chapters, Massachusetts Open Meeting Law. NEXT: Read and complete worksheets on Chaps. 26 on Taste in Journalism and 27 on Morality.

NOV 19 - TOPIC: Ethical reporting Discuss Chapters 26 & 27; in-class work on issue paper, blogs

NOV 24 In-class work on Issue paper; continue chapters discussion.

NOV 26 - NO CLASS/Thanksgiving

DEC 1 FINAL ISSUE PAPER DUE. (1,000 words 20 percent of total grade) Review for FINAL QUIZ.

DEC 3 END OF SEMESTER QUIZ Discuss summary/analysis writing.

DEC 8 - In-class deadline assignment: Watch film and write SUMMARY/ANALYSIS (10 percent of final grade) on deadline, due at end of class.

DEC 10 - LAST DAY OF CLASS/ recap/ Final blogs presentations

Graded assignments and how the final grade is calculated:

Articles/AP tips/worksheets/blogs 5 percent – You will be responsible for all information on the chapter worksheets posted on the blog. Several times a semester you will present an article to the class as well as an AP Tip. A written summary of these is due on the day you present them. Classmates will create blogs in Wordpress.

Interviews with your classmate (video and written) 5 percent – You will interview a classmate and the class will analyze a videotape of the interview. A short written piece is due using material from the interview and other reporting.

Speech paper – 10 percent – A well-organized 650-750-word speech story based on a presentation that the class attends, including comments from 2-3 audience members. Must have a strong lead, nutgraph and direct quotes from the speaker.

Deadline assignment – 5 percent – Pairs of classmates will conduct interviews on campus on a topic to be determined and write a 600 word piece with photos on deadline. Due by the end of class.

Obituary/deadline assignment – 5 percent – You will write a standard 500-word obituary on deadline. Due by the end of class.

Profile – 10 percent – A well-researched, multi-voice, 1,000-word profile of a local person. Mandatory pre-first draft and first draft in addition to the final draft.

Midterm – 5 percent

Feature – 15 percent – A lively 1,000-word piece, most likely with a scenario lead about a place, group, trend or event with four voices minimum and photos. Mandatory pre-first and first draft in addition to the final draft.

Issue – 20 percent - A well-researched 1,000 word piece on an issue of concern to the public. Must have a minimum of four voices, two of whom are "experts" on the subject, for instance a doctor, researcher or professor.

Film Analysis/deadline assignment – 10 percent – You will watch a short film and write an analysis of in on deadline. Not a simple summary. Due by the end of class.

Final – 10 percent