Fall 2014 Syllabus

JOURN 300: NEWSWRITING and REPORTING, FALL 2014-- T/TH   4-6  p.m. – Integrative Learning Center S413

Journalism 300 is a hands-on, nuts-and-bolts news writing and reporting class in which we learn and discuss:

• What is news

• How to identify and pitch a good story

• How to report and conduct interviews

• The news story "formula," especially leads and nutgraphs

• Kinds of stories and how to tell them

• The journalistic principles of fairness, accuracy, telling the truth and serving the public good

Email me anytime at MARY CAREY maryelizacarey@gmail.com, 413-588-4274 (cell)

Class blog: Journ300.blogspot.com

REQUIRED TEXT: Melvin Mencher, News Reporting and Writing (latest edition)

ADDITIONAL REQUIRED READING

AP Style Guide online

Daily newspapers and news magazines. Try to scan online and in print at least one of the local newspapers including the Collegian, Daily Hampshire Gazette or Springfield Republican every day. Also be aware of what’s on the front page of, for instance, the Boston Globe and New York Times. Each class, one or more students will bring in a newspaper article and comment on some aspect of the news, news coverage, style, choice of stories or contrast between coverage. Being conversant with what is in the news is essential to writing it.

GRADES

Grades are based on timely and thoughtful completion of in-class and out-of-class writing assignments and quizzes, multi-media blog, attendance and in-class participation. Writing criteria include news judgment, clarity of writing, grammar, accuracy, organization, spelling, conciseness, use of AP style, and meeting deadlines. Although the big picture things like news judgment and solid reporting are important, misspelling names and other seemingly minor shortcomings can ruin a story and your reputation, so they will count. Numerical equivalent of grades: A=95, A-=92, A-/B+ =90, B+88 etc.

ATTENDANCE

Not making appointments or missing the action will also undermine your career and the class. You MUST tell me BEFORE class if you are going to be absent and it has to be a legitimate excuse. (I read my e-mail regularly and have a phone message machine at home.) Otherwise you will receive zeroes for the day’s assignments. Please do not be late or leave early. More than three absences and/or repeatedly being late or leaving early will result in a significantly lowered final grade, with the grade being lowered by a full half grade for each absence over three.

CELL PHONE RINGERS MUST BE TURNED OFF. NO TAPING WITHOUT PERMISSION – IT'S ILLEGAL. NO READING FACEBOOK, UMASS MEMES etc ONLINE DURING CLASS!

WRITING ASSIGNMENTS

In-class writing assignments usually won’t be longer than 2-3 (500-750 words) typewritten pages. Most major assignments are 1,000 words or 4 pages. First drafts must be in turned in on-time for credit. Not turning in a first draft or turning in an insufficiently complete first draft will result in a significantly lower final draft grade. Among your assignments are a profile (counts for 10 percent of final grade), feature (15 percent), coverage of a speech (10 percent), issue piece (15 percent)  analysis on deadline (10  percent), blog (5 percent), deadline assignments and quizzes. See schedule for complete breakdown of how the final grade is calculated.

HONESTY

Any instance of plagiarism or any other form of cheating is cause for course failure.

Fall 2014 schedule

SPRING 2014 Schedule

JOURN 300/CAREY/ FALL 2014

Tuesday/Thursday 4 – 6 p.m.

Integrative Learning Center S413

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 2 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. (One option could be Laverne Cox, transgender rights activist and Emmy-nominated actress from the Netflix series Orange is the New Black, who will kick-off the Common Read Program.)

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

SEPT 4 - Review leads, Chapters 5 and 15 and the class blog; discuss where and when we can go to a speech

SEPT 9 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 the class blog and analyze them.

SEPT 11  Analyze interviewing videos, Bring in  400-500 written piece with photo based on your interview of a classmate. (5 percent of final grade) ATTEND TALK BY LAVERNE COX

NEXT: READ: Chapter 16 on speeches.

SEPT 16  SPEECH PAPER ON LAVERNE COX DUE. We will attend a talk by an outdoor journalist  and alumnus Kevin Riley. Take detailed notes, interview 2-3 audience members about the talk and write a 600 word speech/event story, due Thursday.

SEPT 18 FIRST ASSIGNMENT DUE (600 words event story on Tuesday’s speakers, worth 5 percent of final grade) In-class work on blogs; NEXT: Write a brief profile pitch to present next class.

SEPT 23  Present profile pitch; 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 25:  Turn in pre-first drafts. Peer edit. NEXT, READ: Chap. 7 on the Writer's Art.

SEPT 30  Depending on which speech we attend, 650-750 word speech story may be due (10 percent of total grade)

OCT 2 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)

READ: Chap. 8 on Features.

OCT 7 FIRST DRAFT PROFILE DUE (INCLUDE WORD COUNT) 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.

OCT 9   FEATURE PITCH; if time, work on blogs.

OCT 14 NO CLASS/UMASS follows MONDAY SCHEDULE READ: Chapter 21 on Courts.

OCT 16 Discuss chapters on accident, obituaries and courts. In-class deadline assignment/obituary writing exercise (5 percent of total grade)

 OCT 21  FINAL DRAFT PROFILE DUE (1,000 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT, 10 percent of total grade) In-class work on feature drafts. Discuss Issue paper & interviews with 2-3 "experts." Review for MIDTERM QUIZ. Next: READ: read Chaps. 11 on layered reporting. and 14 on sources.

OCT 23 ***MID-TERM QUIZ *** If time, work on blogs; do advance work on your features as a pre-first draft is due next class (5 percent of total grade)

OCT 28   PRE- FIRST DRAFT FEATURE (500 words, INCLUDE WORD COUNT) DUE. PEER EDIT.

OCT 30   FIRST DRAFT FEATURE DUE (1,000) words. In-class work on features, issue, experts.

NOV 4  Issue pitch.

WRITE: 500-word Issue PRE-First Draft to peer edit next class.

NOV 6  In-class work on Issue papers.  Peer edit Issue pre-first drafts. Final FEATURE DUE (1,000 words, include word count, worth 15 percent of total grade)

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.

NOV 11 NO CLASS/VETERANS DAY 

NOV 13   FIRST DRAFT ISSUE (1,000 words with 4 voices, 2 of whom are "experts") due. READ: Chaps. 26 on Taste in Journalism and 27 on Morality.

NOV 18  Discuss Chapters 26 & 27; in-class work on issue paper, blogs

NOV 20  In-class work on Issue paper.  Review for FINAL QUIZ.

NOV 25 FINAL ISSUE PAPER DUE. (1,000 words; include word count, 15 percent of total grade)/END OF SEMESTER QUIZ  Discuss summary/analysis writing.

NOV 27 NO CLASS/ THANKSGIVING

DEC 2 – 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.

DEC 4 -  LAST DAY OF CLASS/RECAP Final blog presentations

How the final grade is calculated:

Sept. 16 talk paper – 5 percent

Articles/AP tips – 5 percent

Blog – 5 percent

Interviews with your classmate (video and written) 5 percent

Speech paper – 10 percent

Oct. 2 deadline assignment – 5 percent

Oct. 16 obituary assignment – 5 percent

Profile – 10 percent

Midterm – 5 percent

Feature – 15 percent

Issue – 15 percent

Film Analysis – 10 percent

Final – 5 percent

Welcome to Fall 2014

Interesting article about why taking notes by hand (rather than with a keyboard) improves your recall of the information: http://m.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/05/to-remember-a-lecture-better-take-notes-by-hand/361478/

Last day of class

Thanks for a great semester!

Class visit to Amherst Police Station

Good example of an Issue story

Ethan's Story, Part 1: http://www.masslive.com/news/worcester/index.ssf/2014/04/ethans_story_part_1_heroin_addiction_massachusetts.html#incart_river#incart_maj-story-2

Part 2 (with video); http://www.masslive.com/news/worcester/index.ssf/2014/04/from_pills_to_heroin_ethan_rom.html#incart_river_default#incart_maj-story-2

Part 3
http://www.masslive.com/news/worcester/index.ssf/2014/04/ethan_romeo_day_3.html#incart_river_default#incart_maj-story-2

News "brief" about how a food blogger caused Subway to remove an ingredient from its bread:

Subway ‘yoga mat’ ingredient will be removed in a week

After a spate of bad publicity over the use of an ingredient also used in the making of yoga mats, Subway confirmed that the chemical will be removed from all of its breads in a week.

The sandwich chain earlier this year drew criticism after a food blogger launched a petition urging the company to remove azodicarbonamide, an ingredient used as a bleaching agent and dough conditioner.

A spokeswoman confirmed an Associated Press report in which Subway’s chief marketing officer Tony Pace said the chain will have phased out the ingredient from its bread in the next week.

Azodicarbonamide is found widely in other products, including foods served at McDonald’s and Burger King. The chemical, however, is banned from use in foods in Great Britain, the European Union and Australia. A 1999 World Health Organization study found it induces asthma in humans.

In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration says the ingredient can be “safely used” if it is intended for use as an “aging and bleaching ingredient” used in flour in an amount that doesn’t exceed 2.05 grams per 100 pounds of flour. It can also be used as a dough conditioner. The use of the ingredient was the subject of blogger Vani Hari’s petition earlier this year.— LOS ANGELES TIMES 

AP style points to review

1) What is AP style for movie titles, TV shows, novels? Newspapers and magazines? Newspaper articles? 2) When do you capitalize formal titles? 3) After mentioning sources by first and last name, do you then refer to them as Mr. Smith, Ms. Jones, Dr. so-and-so? 4) How do you handle percentages? Height and dimensions? 5) How do you write addresses?

Good parody of cliched, empty and abstract language and images intended to distort meaning and manipulate:

Feature assignment/Midterm quiz Spring 2014 answers

Journalism 300, Spring 2014 Feature assignment – Should be about a trend, group, phenomenon, event etc. First Draft due March 26, Final: April 7

·        1,000 words (include word count)  with photo(s).

·        Interview and quote a minimum of four (4) sources. You must include their complete names. Don’t quote people who won’t tell you their names.

·       Write your story with the idea of getting it published. Don’t include dated information. If you’re writing about an event that already happened make sure that the story is still relevant.

____________________________________________________________
Journalism 300 – Spring 2014 midterm answers

1)     B is a better quote because it includes specific information, details and an example of why Mary is an admirable person. A just has general, clichéd comments.

2)     A standard obituary should include: name, age, occupation and address of deceased; Date and place of death, Cause of death, Date of birth and birthplace; Survivors in the immediate family; Memberships, military service; Awards and achievements, funeral arrangements, Where to send donations in the deceased's honor.

3)     The reporter should always prepare as much as possible in order to understand an event, not waste a source’s time with questions the reporter can easily find the answers to ahead of time and to assure the source that the reporter is interested and professional.

4)     The lead is the most important sentence in the story and should get to the heart of the event. There is no need to cram in every who, what, when, where and what time detail.

5)     “Remarkable” is not a reporter’s word. It adds judgment and is “editorializing.”

6)     Words like progress, freedom, liberal and conservative are too abstract. They mean different things to different readers and could be considered biased or “loaded” with insinuations.

7)     A is not a good lead because it is way too gory. B is not good because it includes a cliché (beating a dead horse) and is a question.

8)     Calling an oil rig a an “oil farm” is an example of a euphemism and is designed to obscure meaning.

9)     Always use “said” vs. other words like “exclaimed,” “expounded,” “propounded” and other words like them.

10)  Direct quotations must always be the speaker’s exact words. Otherwise, a reporter could start saying whatever he or she wants and saying a source said it.

11)  On-the-record means you can quote a source saying something. Off-the-record means you cannot attribute this information to this source.

12)  Journalism IS the reporting of the visible and verifiable – not the speculative, hearsay, or unobserved.

13)  The reporter cannot report what a subject is thinking, unless the subject tells the reporter he or she is thinking this.

14)  Reporters use the word “disaster” when there have been many deaths, damage, destruction and displacement.

15)  A nutgraph lets the reader know what the story is about, why it is relevant, what its context is and it gives the reader a “roadmap” to the rest of the story.

16)  The nutgraph in the story begins, “Conversations with area law enforcement…” as this paragraph puts the story of a particular overdose victim into broader perspective and tells us why her story is relevant and what other points the story will cover.

17)  The meeting begins at 6 p.m. and should be over well before midnight.

18)  University of Massachusetts Police Chief John Horvath explained to neighbors that there aren’t enough police officers to stand around in neighborhoods on weekend nights to deter people from trampling on all the residents’ lawns.

19)  My birthday is in September, and my niece, who is from Waltham, Mass., turns 15 on Oct. 1.

20)  President Barack Obama said there was a 43 percent reduction in obesity in young children.

FYI:  An interesting food safety and fitness blog: http://foodbabe.com/

Speech assignment

Due Wednesday, Feb. 19: Hard copy of 750-word speech story, with quotes from the speaker Omar Dahi and two or more audience members (put these at the end of the piece). Include a word count.

Prepare in advance:

Omar Dahi, a Hampshire College professor of economics, will give a talk titled "The Crisis of Syria's Refugees in Lebanon," in the Commonwealth College Building, Events Hall -East, beginning at 4 p.m., today, Feb. 12. 

Some info and links to websites and videos:

A good, recent video interview with Dahi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMxFgGBZnGA

Article Dahi wrote: http://www.merip.org/syrian-cataclysm

Video interview from a year ago: https://vimeo.com/47525682

Notes:

Dahi  talks in a recent video about how reporting on the subject of the humanitarian crisis in Syria has not been critical enough, that is that it has not been well-enough informed about the many dynamics involved -- the various sides, the role of foreign governments, the history of the conflict etc.  One challenge is to make sure that your pieces ARE well-informed about the crisis, based on Dahi's summary and analysis. 

What you'll be trying to do in a relatively short piece is to present a brief overview, as related by Dahi, of the crisis, where it stands now and what he thinks needs to happen. (He talks about four things he thinks need to happen in one of the videos I've linked to below.)  Your tone must be objective. Do NOT use the first person.

You will be writing for a general audience -- of people who, for the most part, are not very well-versed in what is going on in Syria, or what our government's role has been, is now, or should be, according to Dahi. Make sure that you totally understand what it is you're writing. (If you don't your reader won't.) Write as you would speak. Don't use abstract words, like "neoliberalism," for instance.

Your goal is to write a piece that clearly explains the main points of Dahi's talk to an audience that you can pretty much assume doesn't know much about Syria or the current crisis. So, think about what a typical reader might want to know, for example -- Is this a civil war? Who is fighting who? How many sides are there?  How many people are estimated to have died and how many displaced? What are the main things the sides disagree about? Has the United States taken sides, and is our government supporting one side with military assistance or money? Did the United States government or some other government(s) help cause the current crisis? Should other countries intervene? What does Dahi think the United States should do about this? Can average citizens like us do anything?

Article/AP tip schedule Spring 2015

FEB 3   FEB 5  ATTEND SPEECH at Campus Center FEB 10 Khadija, Afton, Jha'nai FEB 12  Kelly, Dan  FEB 17- NO CLASS/Monday scheduled followed FEB 19  Luis, Cole FEB 24     Nickole, Carson FEB 26    Afnan, Jacqueline MARCH 3  Sam, Erica MARCH 5 Matt, Khadija MARCH 10  Afton, Kelly MARCH 12  ***MID-TERM QUIZ ***  MARCH 17-19 SPRING BREAK MARCH 24    Dan, Tori MARCH 26    Luis, Cole MARCH 31  Nickole, Avalon APRIL 2  Carson, Patricia APRIL 7  Afnan, Richard APRIL 9  Jacqueline, Jha'nai APRIL 14  Sam, Erica APRIL 16  Matt APRIL 21 END OF SEMESTER QUIZ   APRIL 23  - Watch film and write SUMMARY/ANALYSIS (10 percent of final grade) on deadline APRIL 28 –  APRIL 30 - LAST DAY OF CLASS/ Final blog presentations Class interviews links: Erica, Kelly, Jacqueline https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZeSTVelQkw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqDx7Tz6aGs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVmDZRpDceY Retail life :): http://youtu.be/M4w3aKRJJ_4 "Hipster" interviews "artist": http://youtu.be/nz9d3a1RGd4 Patricia's Passion: http://youtu.be/rLvHIQ4PW9U Afnan  interviews Nickole https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccuVqBD-K4I  Cole Interviews Dan:  Cole interviews Dan  Dan Interviews Richard -- Journalism 300 Richard interviews Cole  http://youtu.be/AnedaYqWdLs https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj5dN4APBPQ&feature=youtu.be http://youtu.be/7UFkfOqPPw0 Sam interviewing Luis Matt interviewing Sam Jah’nai http://youtu.be/HYkAgRLe10I  Tori and Afton: Paranormal fun: http://youtu.be/ZGHHC211fNo Passion for Travel: http://youtu.be/O7M2AzxcEJ0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QryXZlypMbg&feature=youtu.be Avalon

Article and AP tip

1) Article title, publication and date.

2) Shortest possible summary of what it’s about.

3) Reasons for picking this article. What is interesting about its content? Its form?

4) Great quote from the article and why it’s great.

5) AP Tip and example of how it is used. For example -- TIP: In general, write out numbers one through nine and use numerals for 10 and above. EXAMPLE: There are 15 people in the class, three of whom are from Connecticut. (Tip does not have to be related to the story you’ve chosen.)

ESPN writer Brendan Hall visits class

ESPN reporter Brendan Hall at UMass

By: Nicole B. Dotzenrod

Be it putting into words the unforgettable atmosphere of the Boston Bruins game two days after the Boston Marathon bombing, capturing a coach’s emotional and inspiring speech to his team following their devastating loss in the Division 1 state championship basketball game, or sharing in the enthusiasm of a special needs team manager who scored his first basket at TD Garden in the final seconds of the game, ESPN reporter Brendan Hall has made a life of capturing special moments in sports.

 “Once the moment is gone, it’s gone forever and there’s no getting it back … when moments like that happen you just become a fly on the wall and let it roll,” he said.

Hall, a 2007 University of Massachusetts Amherst grad, returned to his Alma mater last Monday to speak to current journalism students about his experiences as the high school sports editor and reporter for ESPN Boston since 2010.

 With his easy-going demeanor, Hall shared many stories with the students about the day-to-day life of a sports reporter and his passion for creating new ideas and ways to cover sports.

 “I’m never going to have this much creative autonomy in my life,” he said. “I use this as a cool thing to give to the kids. It’s not a bad way to live.”

Prior to joining ESPN, Hall has worked for a series of news organizations, including the Sentinel in Fitchburg, the Telegram and Gazette in Worcester, and The Boston Globe. The veteran reporter shared some advice with the college students: “You can have all the practice you want, but if you don’t know your subject, you’re gonna suck,” he said.

He also told students the importance of being a tough editor on yourself, and surviving in a changing field of journalism. “If you’re worried about your future, as there’s a lot of change as we morph into an online medium, you have to cast a wide net,” he said.

Hall shared with students that as a young reporter, he did everything necessary to stay afloat, picking up substitute teaching positions during the day, working as a basketball coach in the afternoon, and then driving to Boston to cover the Celtics at night.

Still, “It’s not a bad way to live,” he said. “One hundred years from now when people are looking at this in history, they’re going to pull up your account of it.”

Hall’s dreams go further than covering high school sports – he said his ultimate goal since playing football as a child has been to work covering the NFL.

“It’s been my biggest passion since I was five years old. As soon as I was heavy enough to be eligible, I was on the field. I’ve always been attracted to it.”

Hall’s laidback temperament shined through when he described one of his experiences interviewing New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. “His eyes have a way of piercing through your soul,” he said, laughing.

Student Katie Bowler said, “I thought Brendan Hall was hilarious. He didn’t hold back and gave great advice, especially on broadcasting your horizons and writing about a range of subjects. It was really cool to have him come in for the day.”

Hall told the students that the biggest reward of his job as a reporter is seeing other writers come along.

Link to Brendan Hall stories etc

Hi Everybody -- Don't forget to email me by this Friday 2 questions for Brendan Hall based on your reading of his stories at https://www.dropbox.com/s/swo4flk55zu3ih4/Brendan%20Hall%20stories%202.docx Email me by NEXT Friday a 500-word piece on his visit with a good lead, quotes from Brendan and from two students in the class. Due the following Monday: a list of 3 events/speeches we could possibly attend in the near future, so you can write a speech paper about it and your taped interviews.

Interviewing skills

SPRING 2014 Syllabus

JOURN 300: NEWSWRITING and REPORTING, SPRING 2014-- M/W 3:35-5:30 p.m. -- DuBois 767

Journalism 300 is a hands-on, nuts-and-bolts news writing and reporting class in which we learn and discuss:

• What is news

• How to identify and pitch a good story

• How to report and conduct interviews

• The news story "formula," especially leads and nutgraphs

• Kinds of stories and how to tell them

• The journalistic principles of fairness, accuracy, telling the truth and serving the public good

Email me anytime at MARY CAREY maryelizacarey@gmail.com, 413-588-4274 (cell)

Class blog: Journ300.blogspot.com

REQUIRED TEXT: Melvin Mencher, News Reporting and Writing (latest edition)

ADDITIONAL REQUIRED READING

AP Style Guide online

Daily newspapers and news magazines. Try to scan online and in print at least one of the local newspapers including the Collegian, Daily Hampshire Gazette or Springfield Republican every day. Also be aware of what’s on the front page of, for instance, the Boston Globe and New York Times. Each class, one or more students will bring in a newspaper article and comment on some aspect of the news, news coverage, style, choice of stories or contrast between coverage. Being conversant with what is in the news is essential to writing it.

GRADES

Grades are based on timely and thoughtful completion of in-class and out-of-class writing assignments and quizzes, multi-media blog, attendance and in-class participation. Writing criteria include news judgment, clarity of writing, grammar, accuracy, organization, spelling, conciseness, use of AP style, and meeting deadlines. Although the big picture things like news judgment and solid reporting are important, misspelling names and other seemingly minor shortcomings can ruin a story and your reputation, so they will count. Numerical equivalent of grades: A=95, A-=92, A-/B+ =90, B+88 etc.

ATTENDANCE

Not making appointments or missing the action will also undermine your career and the class. You MUST tell me BEFORE class if you are going to be absent and it has to be a legitimate excuse. (I read my e-mail regularly and have a phone message machine at home.) Otherwise you will receive zeroes for the day’s assignments. Please do not be late or leave early. More than three absences and/or repeatedly being late or leaving early will result in a significantly lowered final grade, with the grade being lowered by a full half grade for each absence over three.

CELL PHONE RINGERS MUST BE TURNED OFF. NO TAPING WITHOUT PERMISSION – IT'S ILLEGAL. NO READING FACEBOOK, UMASS MEMES etc ONLINE DURING CLASS!

WRITING ASSIGNMENTS

In-class writing assignments usually won’t be longer than 2-3 typewritten pages. Most major assignments are 1,000 words or 4 pages. First drafts must be in turned in on-time for credit. Not turning in a first draft or turning in an insufficiently complete first draft will result in a zero for the first draft and a significantly lower final draft grade. Among your assignments are a profile (counts for 15 percent of final grade), feature (15 percent), coverage of a speech (10 percent), issue piece (20 percent)  analysis on deadline and deadline writing assignments (20 percent), blog (10 percent), minor assignments, quizzes, participation (10 percent).

HONESTY

Any instance of plagiarism or any other form of cheating is cause for course failure.