The
School of Humanities and Graduate Studies
COURSE PROPOSAL, March 17, 2006
Department of English and Mass Communications
Lincoln University, PA
COM 334 Advanced News Writing and Reporting
Instructor: TBA
Office Hours: TBA
Office Telephone: TBA
E-mail: TBA
PREREQUISITE: ENG 330 News Writing or permission of the instructor
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Advanced News Writing and Reporting challenges students to develop newsreporting skills beyond those identified in ENG 330 News Writing. These skills include profile writing, and opinion writing (editorials, columns and reviews). In addition, students will study international and specialty reporting.
REQUIRED TEXTS
- The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual.
- Fink, Conrad C (2004). Writing Opinion for Impact Blackwell Publishing, Flashing, NY.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
- Pop quizzes on current affairs. These quizzes will constitute 50 points of the course grade. This is because one of the keys to excelling as a journalist, as a writer and, for that matter, as a citizen is to keep on top of the news. As always, you can consult traditional media or a variety of online media sources located on the course links page.
- Five major writing assignments (projects) as follows:
- An in-depth, multi-source news story on a trend or issue affecting the members of the Lincoln University community.
- A personality profile on a newsworthy or otherwise notable individual.
- A light and entertaining feature story.
- An op-ed piece suitable for submission to local media.
- A review of a contemporary arts and entertainment event or product.
Each project must be proposed in writing to the instructor via professional memoranda. Discussion of the memorandum format will be conducted on the first night of class.
- Multiple workshop drafts of the above stories. Stories may be rewritten for grade improvement if they are submitted on deadline.
- Midterm and Final Exam
COURSE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
As an advanced writing course, Advanced News Writing and Reporting emphasizes reading and writing. Several class periods will be conducted as a "writer's workshop" in which the responsibility for quality discussions will fall on the shoulders of students. As a result, students will be expected to have read assigned materials ahead of class and be ready to use those materials in the classroom.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Lincoln University’s policies regarding academic dishonesty are outlined in the Catalog and are available on the Web. With regard to this course, acts of dishonesty include, but are not necessarily limited to, cheating on tests, plagiarizing material from other sources, making up material or sources of information, and/or submitting work for this course originally completed for other courses without the permissions of the instructors involved.
GRADING
- Midterm Exam 20%
- Quizzes (5): 25%
- Major Writing Assignments (5): 25%
- Final Exam: 30%
Superior
Excellent
Average
Poor
Unthinkable! F |
A 94-100
A- 90-93
B+ 87-89
B 84-86
B- 80-83
C+ 77-79
C 74-76
C- 70-73
D+ 67-69
D 64-66
F 59 and below
|
COURSE SCHEDULE
In addition to the following schedule, students will be assigned readings from the Wall Street Journal and from other traditional and online media. The readings listed below serve as the beginning points for the course.
Week 1: Introduction
- Lecture: Course Introduction, including review of basic News Writing concepts and roadmap of advanced News Writing projects. Standards of professional behavior.
Week 2: In-Depth News Writing and Reporting
- Lecture: The layers of reporting; researching and writing depth and analysis pieces; working with and interviewing sources; assembling longer pieces of writing.
- Reading and Discussion: Best Newspaper Writing, pp. xi-91 and 396-403; other readings as assigned.
Assignment #1 due
Week 3: In-Depth News Writing and Reporting
- Writing: In-depth story on a trend or issue confronting the Lincoln University community.
Quiz#1
Week 4: Profile Writing
- Lecture: Looking for a profile subject; keeping your objectivity; finding the "truth" about your subject.
- Reading and Discussion: Profile stories as identified by the instructor.
Assignment#2 due
Week 5: Profile Writing
- Writing: Profile of a newsworthy or otherwise unique or interesting subject.
Week 6: Feature Stories
Lecture: The importance of feature writing; finding your feature peg; experimenting with alternative forms of reporting and writing.
- Reading and Discussion: Feature stories as identified by the instructor.
Assignment#3 due
Week 7: Feature Stories
- Writing: Feature story on a light or entertaining subject.
Quiz#2
Week 8: Opinion Writing
Lecture: The role of editorials, columns and reviews in the journalistic tradition; research and reporting as the backbone of good opinion writing; finding your editorial "voice".
- Reading and Discussion: Best Newspaper Writing, pp. 235-318; other stories as assigned by the instructor.(Photocopies of the chapter will be distributed among the students)
Midterm
Week 9: Opinion Writing
Lecture: The role of editorials, columns and reviews in the journalistic tradition; research and reporting as the backbone of good opinion writing; finding your editorial "voice".
- Writing: Editorial on a significant social issues.
Week 9: Opinion Writing
- Writing: Editorial on a significant social issues.
Quiz#3
Week 10: Opinion writing on political issues
Assignment#4 due
Week 11: Legal Issues
- Lecture: Legal media issues
- Writing: Writing on legal issues
Week 11: Discussion on media law and ethics
Quiz#4
Week 12: Discussion on media law and ethics
Week 13: International News
Writing: Writing on international issues
Assignment#5 due
Week 14: International News Writing
Quiz#5
Week 15: Specialty Reporting: Environmental issues. Review for exam.
Week 16: Final Exam
