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Syllabus*
for CM205
Writing for
Media
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Spring
Semester 2010
Monday & Friday —
Noon-12:50 p.m.
in Aaron 212
Other
content online
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Emmanuel
College
Franklin Springs, GA 30639
Instructor:
Joseph M. Slife, M.A.
E-mail:
jmslife@ec.edu
Always
available by e-mail;
personal consultation after class
or by appointment
Course
Schedule
CM205
Blog
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This
course examines the basics of writing and
reporting for print, web and broadcast
news (including lateral reporting for the
web as an adjunct of print and broadcast).
The course also focuses on commercial
advertising and promotions.
Students will study processes of
preparing, writing and editing copy, and
they will complete practical applications
of each.
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Course
goals and objectives
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Upon
completion of this course, students
should:
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understand of what makes each form of
media distinct, and know the commonalties
they share;
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understand the important role of ethics in
journalism, public relations and
advertising;
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know the difference between writing for
the eye and writing for the
ear;
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be able to research and gather information
accurately and adequately;
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be able to logically and clearly tell a
story to make readers feel as if "they
were there";
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be able to write articles following a
prescribed format, whether for print, web
or broadcast — this includes writing
in "inverted pyramid" style for print and
web and in "circle" style for
broadcast;
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be able use and recognize AP Style in
writing and editing;
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be able to edit articles for improved
clarity, flow, and length;
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be able to write public-relations articles
using the accepted conventions of
newswriting;
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understand the rudiments of print and
broadcast advertising
campaigns;
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be able to submit assignments by
deadline.
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Stovall,
James G. Writing
for the Mass
Media.
7th ed. Allyn & Bacon. You
must
bring this textbook to every class
meeting. (NOTE: The 7th edition of
this textbook differs significantly from
earlier editions in both pagination and
assignments. Therefore, you must have the
7th edition of the text.)
Olasky, Marvin. Telling the
Truth. (You are
not
required to purchase this book. Readings
from it are available online
here.
For easier-on-the-eye reading, I have made
larger-font-size PDFs of various chapters.
These PDFs are posted on the
NetLearn.)
A copy of The
Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on
Media
Law
will be available on reserve at the EC
library. You will use this resource for
completion of at least one assignment.
Other readings — both online and
print — may be assigned.
In addition, students
are expected to be knowledgeable about
current
events.
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The
instructor will distribute some
course-related material via e-mail. Each
student is expected to check his or her EC
e-mail account daily.
Other course-related content will be
distributed via NetLearn — EC's
NetLearn system at NetLearn.ec.edu.
Most student work will be submitted via
NetLearn.
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This
class involves many writing assignments
(most of them short).
These assignments offer students
opportunities to practice the skills and
techniques taught in the text and in
class.
The instructor will explain how to
complete these assignments and discuss
examples.
See Course
Schedule
for due dates.
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Two
tests will be given during the semester
and will constitute xx percent of the
overall course grade (see Course
Schedule
for tests dates).
In addition, a comprehensive exam at the
end of the semester will account for xx
percent of each student's final grade.
A student who anticipates an absence on a
test date should talk to the instructor
before
the scheduled date to arrange to take the
test early.
Any student unable to attend class on a
test date due to illness or family
emergency may be allowed, at the
discretion of the instructor, to complete
a late test. In most cases, a missed test
must be taken within 48 hours of the
original scheduled time.
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Class
participation is vital. Significant
portions of course material will be
presented through class discussions.
Students
should come to class having already read
the assigned
materials.
Readings are not a substitute for
attending class; attending class is not a
substitute for the readings.
Some quizzes related to readings and
current events are on the schedule. Other
"pop" quizzes may be given. Quiz grades
will constitute part of the Responsibility
Grade — see below.
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It
is the student's responsibility to sign
the attendance sheet upon arriving a
class. A student who fails to sign in will
be recorded absent.
An absence due to a college-sanctioned
event (singers, athletics, etc.) will be
recorded but will not carry a penalty.
(Submitting late work will, however, will
carry a penalty. Going to be absent on a
day work is due? Turn your work in
early!)
Absences due to illness (physician's note
required) and serious life circumstances
(note from the Student Life office
required) may also constitute excused
absences. In most cases, written
documentation will be required within one
week of an absence. Any written excuses,
such as a note from a doctor, must be
given to the instructor within one week of
the absence.
Unexcused absences/tardiness will affect a
student's "responsibility grade" (see
below).
EC's college-wide Class Attendance Policy
can be found on page 10 of the
College
Catalog
(PDF).
Upon arriving at class, cell phones and
other personal electronic devices are to
be placed on the front table next to the
sign-in sheet. These items may be
retrieved at the end of class.
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In-class policy on phones, other
electronics, and laptop
computers
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Upon
arriving at class, cell phones and other
personal electronic devices (iPods, mp3
players, etc.) are to be placed on the
front table next to the sign-in sheet.
These items may be retrieved at the end of
the class period.
Students wishing to use a laptop computer
in class must sit on the the first row.
Any student found to be using a computer
for non CM205-related activity during
class time without specific permission
will forfeit the right to use a computer
in class for the rest of the
semester.
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The instructor expects each student to
attend class, read assigned material
before class, participate in classroom
discussions, work cooperatively with
others, communicate respectfully with both
the instructor and fellow students, and
generally conduct himself/herself in a
professional manner.
Accordingly, 10 percent of a student's
final course grade will be reflective of
his or her overall attitude, attendance,
attentiveness, effort, timeliness,
participation, and willingness to work
with others, as well as performance on
scheduled and "pop" quizzes.
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Because
of the nature of the communication
industry, and the importance of
time-management skills in any
field, no assignment or in-class exercise
will be accepted after the deadline/due
date without penalty.
Deadlines
for each assignment and exercise are
clearly outlined in the Course
Schedule,
plus the instructor usually reminds
students verbally about upcoming
deadlines. However, it is the
responsibility
of the
student
to keep up with deadlines and plan
accordingly.
If a student foresees a problem with
meeting a deadline — for example, an
absence for a college-sanctioned event on
that particular deadline date — he or
she should plan to submit that assignment
before
the deadline. Early submissions are always
welcome.
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Plagiarism.
The following is excerpted from EC's
Academic
Integrity
Policy
(PDF):
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"Plagiarism," as defined in the
Modern Language Association
Handbook for Writers of Research
Papers (6th ed.), is "Using
another person's ideas,
information, or expressions
without acknowledging that
person's work" and/or "passing
off another person's ideas,
information, or expressions as
your own."
As scholars who are part of a
community of intellectual and
Christian integrity, it is our
duty to acknowledge properly the
ideas and work of others. Failure
to do so, either knowingly or
accidentally, constitutes
plagiarism.
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Any student who fails to give appropriate
citation of written, visual, and/or audio
sources on any assignment will receive a
grade reduction on that assignment.
A student who commits "global plagiarism"
on any assignment (i.e., taking an entire
assignment from work done by another and
passing it off as one's own work) will
receive a zero for that assignment.
Additionally, any incident of global
plagiarism will be reported to the EC
Office of Academic Affairs. The Office of
Academic Affairs will determine if the
student should incur an additional
penalty.
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Integrity of online
submissions.
The following is from EC's Distance
Education Policy, as included in the
2009-2010
College
Catalog
(PDF):
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"Because of the nature of online
courses, if a faculty member has
any concerns that a
student’s work might not be
his/her own, the College reserves
the right to require any distance
education student to take or
retake any quizzes or exams in a
supervised setting.
"Furthermore, under such
circumstances, the College
reserves the right to base the
entire course grade upon the
results of a supervised
comprehensive exam. Students
refusing to take supervised
quizzes/exams will be subject to
administrative withdrawal from
the course(s).
"Attempts by any student to buy,
borrow, or steal work from
another individual for the
purpose of submitting that work
as one’s own will be treated
as the equivalent of actually
having submitted that work and
may result in failure of the
assignment, failure of the
course, and/or expulsion from the
College."
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Writing-across-curriculum
policy
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Consistent
with Emmanuel College's goal of developing
a Composition
Culture
that expects proficient writing in all
classes, all written assignments in CM205
will be graded for correct grammar and
spelling. Points will be deducted for
writing errors.
Any
written work containing multiple spelling
or grammatical errors will not receive an
"A" regardless of strength of
content.
For writing assistance, visit EC's
Student
Success
Center
in Aaron 207.
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Students
are expected to comply with the
clothing-related provisions found in the
Student
Handbook
(PDF).
From the Handbook:
The following actions are prohibited
and constitute a violation of the
Emmanuel College Code of Student
Conduct:...
1. Presenting oneself in dress and
appearance that is not modest,
appropriate, or conducive for a
Christian living, learning
environment.
2. Drawing inappropriate or undue
attention to one’s self or any
part of one's anatomy.
3. Wearing skirts, shorts, etc., that
are above finger tip length when arms
at one's side.
4. Wearing clothing that is revealing
due to holes, cut, style, or fit.
5. Wearing clothing with inappropriate
advertising, designs, and/or logos that
are contrary to the mission of the
College including alcohol and cigarette
ads, sexually explicit and/or
drug-related sayings or designs.
6. Not wearing shirts and shoes to
class, chapel, convocation, and any
other College facility.
7. Not wearing shirts in outdoor, on
campus public areas.
8. Participating in or attending
college functions in dress that is not
appropriate for the occasion (CAP
events, formal college functions,
leading worship, etc.).
Additionally, it is recommended that if a
student is researching an article "on
location" (e.g. conducting an in-person
interview for a story), the student wear
"business casual" attire (no shorts, no
ball caps, no T-shirts, no
flip-flops).
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Calculation
of course grade
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- A-
= 90-92.9 | A = 93-100
- B-
= 80-82.9 | B = 83-86.9 |
B+
= 87-89.9
- C-
= 70-72.9 | C = 73-76.9 |
C+
= 77-79.9
- D-
= 60-62.9 | D = 63-66.9 |
D+
= 67-69.9
- F
= 0-59.9
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Tests
- 12%
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Test
One (chapters 1-3) = 6%
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Test
Two (chapters 4-8) = 6%
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Comprehensive
Exam - 12%
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Assignments
- 66%
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Four
simple assignments on Rewriting (1.12),
Wordiness (1.15), Punctuation (2.3), Word
Choice (2.8) = 1% each (4%
total)
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Two
Stylebook assignments (3.1 and 3.4) = 1%
each (2% total)
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News
values (4.2)= 2%
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Paraphrasing
(4.7) = 2%
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Writing
leads and second paragraphs (5.3 and 5.4)
= 2% each (4% total)
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News
stories (5.9) = 3%
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Story
based on Feb. 15 CAP event =
5%
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Meeting
stories (6.1 or 6.2)= 3%
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Obituaries
(6.5) = 3%
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Weather
stories (6.12) = 3%
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Feature
stories (6.14) = 4%
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Linking
exercise (7.2) = 2%
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Weblogs
(8.5) = 3%
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Headlines
and summaries (7.3) = 3%
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Lateral
Reporting (8.3) = 2%
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Writing
Radio News (9.1 and 9.2) = 3% each (6%
total)
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V/S/V
(9.6)= 3%
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Print
Advertising Critique (10.1) =
3%
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Developing
an Advertising Strategy (10.14) =
3%
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News
releases (11.1)= 3%
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Letters
(11.3)= 3%
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Responsibility
grade (see
section on this
above)
- 10%
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Biblical
multicultural objective
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It
is expected that students will
demonstrate, by their words and actions, a
biblical understanding of the inherent
value of all
human beings as persons created by God in
His own image.
In classroom discussions and
presentations, as well as during any break
times that may occur during class,
students are expected to show respect for
all, without regard to a person's sex,
ethnicity, cultural background,
disability, or religious viewpoint.
"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a
manner worthy of the gospel of Christ"
(Phil. 1:27).
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