Fall 2009 Syllabus...
COMS 104 Basic News Writing
| Instructor: Bob Stepno | Class section, time, days, room: |
| email: rstepno@radford.edu | 001, 11 a.m.,Tues-Thurs, Porterfield 173 |
| phone: 540-831-6220 | 002, 12:30 p.m., Tues-Thurs, Porterfield 173 |
| office: 704 Fairfax, K-202 | office hours: Monday & Wednesday 11 a.m-noon and 2-4 p.m. -- earlier morning meetings any day, by appointment |
For up-to-date information, check www.radford.edu/rstepno each week
PDF Version of original syllabus
Overview
In this course, you will practice clear, accurate, informative, entertaining writing. You will weigh facts, choose words carefully, pay attention to detail, keep your reader in mind, identify your sources, write concisely and meet deadlines. While essential for journalists, those skills benefit any writer, in any number of professions.
The reporterÕs skills of information gathering and news writing apply to products delivered online, over the airwaves or in print: You must know what news is, where to find it, how to check the facts and how to build a story that interests and informs readers.
In this course you may encounter problems similar to those working journalists face: time and space limitations, missing facts, legal and ethical issues, a sometimes-grouchy editor (one named Bob) – and less salary than you might like.
Whether your goal is to report for a newspaper, magazine, Web site or television stationÉ to learn more about how stories are writtenÉ to become a better Òcitizen journalistÓÉor to be a more informed Òcitizen news consumer,Ó I hope you will discover that news writing is challenging, importantÉ and can be a lot of fun.
Formal course description:
Basic News Writing (3)
Instruction and practice in the basics of writing for print and electronic media. Includes introduction to writing fundamentals, writing for all types of media, and use of expository, narrative, descriptive and persuasive approaches. (Students cannot receive credit for both MSTD 105 and COMS 104)
Texts, Equipment and News
Required:
Bring the textbook to every class. Bring the AP Stylebook on assigned days.
Recommended: A digital audio recorder and digital
camera to record interviews and scenes. A good dictionary of American English.
(WebsterÕs New World Dictionary is
the Associated PressÕs favorite.)
Supplementary texts and online resources will be listed at http://www.radford.edu/rstepno/09fall/104
Become a News Addict:
Read some of these every week: The Roanoke Times (http://roanoke.com) and its New River Current local new section, The Wall Street Journal (http://wsj.com), The New York Times (http://nytimes.com), USA Today (http://usatoday.com), The Washington Post (http://washingtonpost.com), The Radford News Journal, New River Voice (http://newrivervoice.com), The Collegiate Times at Virginia Tech (http://collegiatetimes.com), RU Today (http://rutoday.radford.edu), Whim (http://ruwhim.com) and The Tartan. (http://thetartan.com).
News-reading assignments are part of the class as described below. We will start most weeks with a discussion of recent stories. News quizzes are also possibility, if needed to raise your interest in current events. More importantly, go beyond the ÒCNN headlinesÓ level -- read lots of news stories and analyze their style. You cannot write in a style that you donÕt read.
Multimedia news tip: Set your clock radio to wake you up with the weekday (5 a.m. to 9 a.m.) and weekend (8 a.m. to 10 a.m.) news from National Public Radio (WVTF 89.1). If you get up too early or too late for that, try NPRÕs 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. All Things Considered. If you are never near a radio at news time, go to http://npr.org or http://www.wvtf.org and listen online. For a Òradio network,Ó NPR is doing impressive things with print-style news writing on the Web, along with podcasts, streaming audio, blogs and Twitter feeds.
The PBS News Hour, the BBC, CNN, Fox News, local television stations and all the major news magazines are online, too. Along with newspapers and wire services, most of them all feed into http://Yahoo.comÕs news pages and Google News (http://news.google.com), which aggregate the latest breaking news.
What You Will Learn
Some specific things you will be practicing and learning are:
Schedule changes & e-mail
Like the news itself, expect the class to change as we go along. The assignment calendar may be altered to take advantage of special campus events, speakers, breaking news and other opportunities. Changes in the schedule will be announced in class, by e-mail, and on the Web. Check your Radford.edu e-mail and my website often.
If you have questions of any kind, stop in during office hours or send me a note at rstepno@radford.edu. I have other e-mail accounts, but that is the one I use for all course-related mail. I check it several times a day, but rarely after 9 p.m. or before 9 a.m.
I may not be able to respond to all mail individually. If you have an especially good question, I may write back to the entire class or discuss it at our next class meeting.
E-mail as news writing
Your first ÒnewsÓ writing lesson: When you send e-mail, think of the ÒSubjectÓ line the headline of your story. Make it informative, not just a vague label. Be specific. When you write to me, please put your name, course number (104-1 or 104-2) and topic in the ÒSubjectÓ line.
Not: ÒHey prof!Ó or ÒHelp!!!Ó or ÒWeekly assignmentÓ
Preferred: "JBrown, 104-2, darkside story worth Pulitzer?" or ÒISmith, 104-01, dog ate my computerÓ
Being here: Attendance, Assignments and Deadlines
My attendance policy is inspired by professional media organizations: You are expected to come to every class, arrive on time, and deliver your work on deadline. When youÕre here, be here: No e-mail, Facebook, texting, online gambline or off-topic Web browsing, please.
I know there are good reasons to miss class, so donÕt bother with doctorÕs notes or written apologies. BUT after the second week of class, when add-drop changes are over, if you have more than three absences for any reason come see me. Your grade for the course may be reduced by one letter for each absence after the third, unless you show that you have kept up with both the in-class and homework assignments. After four or five such absences, we should talk about your withdrawing from the class. In the event of a flu outbreak or other emergency that keeps classes from meeting, we will Òmeet in cyberspaceÓ using online systems and e-mail.
You will have online or on-paper exercises in almost every class. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to find out what they were and do them on your own.
If you know in advance that you will miss a class, see me to arrange a catch-up assignment. If you miss a class, check my website and contact a classmate for assignments. I may not have a chance to answer Òtell me what I missedÓ e-mails on Tuesday or Thursday, but I will attempt to update an Òexercises we did in classÓ list on my Web page. If an assignment was done in class or due as homework the day you were out, submit it electronically and bring a printed copy to the next class you attend for full credit.
Class Cancellations
If class is cancelled because of a winter storm, flu outbreak or other emergency, it is your responsibility to check my course Web page for any assignment and schedule changes – and do the work.
Want to know if a class is cancelled?
In addition to local television and radio stations, information about classes being canceled and administrative offices closing due to inclement weather will be available from the university switchboard by calling 831-5000 or on the universityÕs Web page.
If you are confused by conflicting announcements, you may call the switchboard for clarification. The switchboard will update information on the day of the closing by 6 a.m.
More info: http://www.radford.edu/weatherpolicy.html
Important Note About Disability Services
If you are seeking classroom accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, you are required to register with the Disability Resource Office (DRO).The DRO is located in Room 32, Tyler Hall, telephone 831-6350.To receive academic accommodations for this class, please obtain the proper DRO forms and meet with me at the beginning of the semester.
The Radford University Honor Code
By accepting admission to Radford University, each student makes a commitment to understand, support, and abide by the University Honor Code without compromise or exception.This class will be conducted in strict observance of the Honor Code, which reads as follows:
I do hereby resolve to uphold the Honor Code of Radford University by refraining from lying, from the stealing or unauthorized possession of property and from violating the Standards of Student Academic Integrity.
Those Standards of Student Academic Integrity are spelled out in the Student Handbook. McConnell Library has related material online.
Another honor code
See the Code of Ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists at http://spj.org/ethicscode.asp
Truth, accuracy and honesty are essential in news writing. Plagiarism, fabrication and dishonesty are not tolerated. While you are a journalism student, donÕt cut corners or make things up because a story is Òjust for class.Ó Clearly identify the sources of your information. Also be careful with electronic note-taking: Don't mistake something that you "cut and pasted" into a background-notes file for your own words when you get around to writing your story. It will look like plagiarism and you will not be able to prove it was an accident.
Assignments and Grading for COMS 104
The midterm editing test will be based on in-class and online exercises and the ÒTest YourselfÓ sections of the textbookÕs chapters 2 and 3, plus a general familiarity with the AP Stylebook. You will be allowed to use the Stylebook during the midterm and the final exam.
Exactly how many stories and exercises you do will depend on the pace of the class, opportunities for live assignments, special guest speakers, etc. Expect to write one or two out-of-class stories that involve attending a meeting or speech and conducting interviews. You will have an opportunity to revise longer stories for a final grade.
Homework: News reading and textbook reading assignments
A news-reading assignment is due every Tuesday, but only seven have to be done in writing.
A textbook-reading assignment is due every Thursday, but only five have to be done in writing.
Every Tuesday: Be prepared to report on interesting stories you have read in that weekÕs state, local, national or international news, and to relate them to the discussion topic of the week, listed on the ÒEvery TuesdayÓ assignment sheet. On seven of those Tuesdays, turn in a written news report on that weekÕs topic.
Every Thursday: Be prepared to discuss the chapter reading assigned for the current week of class. On five Thursdays, turn in a written report on the assigned chapter. See the ÒEvery ThursdayÓ assignment sheet.
Every week: Do at least two of the textbookÕs 10
online grammar quizzes each week. They are short. Complete them before the
midterm editing test! (Ignore the fact that they are listed with chapters you
havenÕt read yet.)
Here they are: http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073526142/sitemap.html?Qui
The quizzes are self-grading; you do not have to send them all to me. Check the textbookÕs index, the AP Stylebook or an online grammar site to figure out the rule involved. If you are sure a quiz question is wrong, see me. (You might be right! The quizzes arenÕt perfect.) If you just canÕt figure out some of the rules, save the quiz to review with me or with one of the writing tutors at the Learning Assistance Resource Center. You can do the questions over until you get them all right, but understanding why they are right or wrong is the important thing. When you do get all 10 questions right, fill out the Òrouting informationÓ at the end of the answer sheet to send it to rstepno@radford.edu and get full credit for this assignment.
Note: These quizzes are all named ÒGrammar Quiz,Ó not the separate ones headed ÒMultiple Choice QuizÓ and ÒTrue or False Quiz.Ó(WeÕll do some of those when we get to the chapters.)
News Reading Assignments: Due on Tuesdays
The first of these is required for everyone and will use the textbookÕs ÒMorgueÓ section, the brown-edged anthology of stories in the back of the book. The rest of the Tuesday assignments will use Òbreaking newsÓ from your reading in newspapers or other major news Web sites.
First assignment, due on the second Tuesday of the semester: ÒPick your favorites from the Morgue.Ó
The ÒMorgueÓ– named after the room where newspapers kept their clipping files in the old days – has dozens of stories mentioned in various chapters of the book. For this assignment, skim the headlines all through the Morgue section; browse its photos, photo captions, and the first paragraph or two of as many stories as you canÉ then pick TWO substantial (one page or more) stories that ÒgrabÓ you and make you want to read all the way through. If there is a shortage of textbooks, do the same assignment using http://nytimes.com
Come to class on Tuesday prepared to talk about those stories: What was interesting and why?
Written assignment: On one sheet of paper, type the headline and page number for each story. Under each headline, write a short paragraph explaining how the storyÕs author caught and held your interest. Put your name, the course section number or meeting time, the date turned in, and the assignment topic, Òmorgue stories,Ó in the top left corner of the page.
Deadline: Tuesday, Sept. 8. Half-credit on Thursday; no credit after that.
Six More Tuesdays: News Reading Reports
Deadline: Flexible. You can do a written Tuesday news reading report any week before Thanksgiving, on the topic given for that week in the list below. Do six in all. Each report should be brief – no more than 200 words, plus the headline and Web address of the story.
Your goal is to read enough news to recognize good examples that fit the assigned topic, as well as to gain a general knowledge of current events. Since part of the purpose is to have you come to class prepared for a discussion, assignments turned in during the wrong week receive only half credit.Unclear, ungrammatical or inaccurate reports will get only half credit, or none.
Fresh news is best, but you may stockpile items that fit a later assignment. Remember to keep the Web address of the story so that we can find it for class discussion.In all cases, you should at least skim the indicated chapter in HarrowerÕs Inside Reporting before you write your report.
Reports: Include the name of the publication, the date and headline of the story, the URL of its Web version, and a brief explanation of how it meets the assignment. This may include copied-and-pasted sentences from the story. (If you read the story in print, go to the paperÕs Web site and search for the headline or key words from the lead sentence to find the URL.)
If some situation keeps you from reading ÒliveÓ news during the week, complete the assignment using stories from Òthe MorgueÓ and report their page numbers instead of a URL.
Electronic Text Preparation & Format
For all your writing in this class, work should be typed, double-spaced, with your name, the date submitted and a brief identifying ÒslugÓ at the top left corner. ÒSlugÓ is news jargon for a short identifier, such as ÒFloyd fireÓ or, for one of the reading assignments, ÒCh. 2 Report.ÓSave the story in RTF or PDF format, and name the file with your name and the slug. (RJones-FloydFire.rtf)
To save paper, you will turn in assignments online. Procedures will be announced in class and on the Web site.
Due on TuesdaysÉ (continued)
Do one of these assignment every week, but submit only seven of them in writing, counting Week 2. You get to choose the rest:
Due on Thursday: Textbook-reading reports
On at least five Thursdays before Thanksgiving, you must turn in a brief textbook-reading report as described below. The goal is to point out especially helpful, surprising or difficult parts of the material. The report should be on one of the chapters listed on the calendar for that week.
The first report is due from everyone on the second or third Thursday of the semester, on chapters one and two.
After that, itÕs up to you which weeks to turn in the additional written reports. We will be working on some chapters for several weeks, and weaving in and out of others. (See the class calendar.)
After the combined report on chapters 1 & 2, do separate reports on chapters 3 and 4. All the rest are up to you.
Each chapter of the textbook has an online quiz, flashcards and tutorials and a Òself testÓ in the book. We will use only a few of these resources in class, but all of them are available to help you learn from the chapter.
Your Thursday reports should answer question 1 and either question 2 or 3. Answer each question in three or four grammatical sentences.
1. What is the most memorable and valuable thing that you learned from the chapter(s) and related exercises?
2. What major problem did you have with your latest reading & exercises?
(ÒFitting it into my busy scheduleÓ is not an acceptable answer.)OR
3. What topic from the readings would you like reviewed more in class?
For full credit, your report should show some thought, not be a last-minute exercise in saying, Òoops, I forgot my homework and have to write a report.Ó
Electronic Text Preparation & Format
For all your writing in this class, work should be typed, double-spaced, with your name, the date submitted and a brief identifying ÒslugÓ at the top left corner. ÒSlugÓ is news jargon for a short identifier, such as ÒFloyd fireÓ or, for one of the reading assignments, ÒCh. 2 Report.ÓSave the story in RTF or PDF format, and name the file with your name and the slug. (RJones-FloydFire.rtf)
To save paper, you will turn in assignments online. Procedures will be announced in class and on the Web site.
COMS 104 Basic News Writing -- Fall 09 Schedule
date |
general topic |
chapters |
||
Week 1 |
9/1 |
T |
Introductions to the course, the lab and each other |
1 |
9/3 |
Th |
Defining news todayÉPublication types and story types |
2 |
|
Week 2 |
9/8 |
T |
Reading news leads & styles; vocabulary & values |
2 |
9/10 |
Th |
Words, sentences and (short) paragraphs. |
3 |
|
Week 3 |
9/15 |
T |
Grammar, AP Stylebook, punctuation (GASP) |
3 |
9/17 |
Th |
GASP II |
3, AP |
|
Week 4 |
9/22 |
T |
News events & reporterÕs role |
3, AP |
9/24 |
Th |
In-class event or press conference |
3, AP |
|
Week 5 |
9/29 |
T |
Story structure |
3, 4 |
10/1 |
Th |
Editing for grammar, spelling, style – and accurate facts! |
4 |
|
Week 6 |
10/6 |
T |
Midterm review; editing techniques |
3, 4, AP |
10/8 |
Th |
Midterm exam |
3, 4, AP |
|
Week 7 |
10/13 |
T |
Research & reporting |
4, 5, 7 |
10/15 |
Th |
Speeches & meetings |
4 & 5 |
|
Week 8 |
10/20 |
T |
Beats & sources |
4,5,10 |
10/22 |
Th |
Public affairs reporting |
5,7 |
|
Week 9 |
10/27 |
T |
Public affairs reporting |
3,4,5,6 |
10/29 |
Th |
Story review meetings (tentative) |
3,4,5,6 |
|
Week 10 |
11/3 |
T |
Story review meetings (tentative) |
5,6,7 |
11/5 |
Th |
features & enterprise |
6 |
|
Week 11 |
11/10 |
T |
convergence & broadcast |
8,9 |
11/12 |
Th |
convergence & broadcast |
8,9 |
|
Week 12 |
11/17 |
T |
convergence & enterprise |
8,9,6 |
11/19 |
Th |
civic & citizenj |
5,6,8 |
|
11/21-11/29 |
Thanksgiving break |
|||
Week 13 |
12/1 |
T |
ethics & law |
7, 10 |
12/3 |
Th |
the newest journalism |
8 |
|
Week 14 |
12/8 |
T |
editing, rewrite & follow |
3,4, AP |
12/10 |
Th |
editing, rewrite & follow |
3,4, AP |
|
DATES BELOW |
final exam (story in class) |
FINAL EXAM: Usual room, different day and time
104-01 normally meets TTh 11 a.m.; EXAM at 10:15 Dec.
17 (Thursday)
104-02 normally meets TTh 12:30 p.m.; EXAM at 2:45
Dec. 16 (Wednesday)
Final exam periods are two hours long.There will be another class scheduled in our room at 12:30, so both exams must end on deadline – which is appropriate for a news writing class.
If you have an examination conflict or if you are scheduled to have THREE exams on one day, see the instructors to make alternative arrangements.
To double-check the times for this class or other classes: http://www.radford.edu/~registra/web_2009/exams_info_fall09.htm
Grading scale for story assignments
A: 90-100 percent. Story assignment approaches professional-quality work (e.g., excellent reporting & writing; almost no errors for the copy desk to catch).
B: 80-89 percent. Above average; almost ready to go, a thorough and balanced report with good use of sources; publishable with minor editing.
C: 70-79 percent. Shows a grasp of basic principles, meets deadline, but needs more reporting or heavy rewriting -- more facts, better grammar, more or better sources and attribution.
D: 60-69 percent. Poor grasp of principles, serious problems with deadlines, grammar, factual errors, etc.
F: Fails to meet basic standards. For example, work is inaccurate, libelous, dishonest or missing.
Time Requirement
Although this is a "lab" class, expect to work on projects outside of the classroom (but on campus). Some stories will require that you attend meetings or events in the evening or on weekends. If you have a long commute, a job, or other commitments that make fulfilling such requirements difficult, or if you want to substitute an out-of-town weekend assignment, see me well in advance of your deadline.
Digital Media Essentials
á Save documents early and often. They are your responsibility. Always have a backup of your work. Use your Radford network server space (Òdrive HÓ), e-mail or a USB memory stick.
á If you need to move back and forth between Macs and Windows computers, or send a document by e-mail, use Ò.rtfÓ format to avoid trouble with Microsoft Word's occasionalformat changes. Apple Pages, Microsoft Works and other programs can read and write .rtf
á Give documents clear, specific names, including your own last name, especially if you e-mail them or submit them online. (Example: "Romanov-banjo.rtf" NOT "homework" or "story.")
á If you e-mail a Microsoft Word document as an attachment or put it on the server, follow these steps: Save an RTF copy of the document onto your desktop. Quit Microsoft Word. Create your e-mail message. Attach the document, making sure to use the version you just saved. Send a copy to yourself. Check to make sure it arrived and opens correctly.
á Be careful with Radford lab equipment and be considerate of other users. Report computer problems as soon as they occur and put a note on the computer to alert the next user.
á Use the computer to take notes in class or look things up, but do not drift into Facebook, IM, e-mail, texting, online gambling and unassigned Web browsing.
Your Teacher (this seems to require the third person):
Bob Stepno joined the Radford faculty in fall 2007 after more than 20 years as a writer and editor, then seven years as a teacher. He has worked for the nationÕs oldest (print) newspaper and one of its first online Ònewspapers.Ó Despite the thinning gray hair, he received his doctorate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill so recently (December 2003) that calling him "doctor" still makes him look around for someone wearing a stethoscope.
A note for you
Thank you for choosing this class.If you have questions that arenÕt addressed in this document—or in any class—come talk about it, or at least send me e-mail (which I usually check several times a day, seven days a week). After all, youÕre the reason IÕm here!
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
Fight viruses. Wash your hands before and after using any public computer.
From the RU administration
Radford University Students:
Novel H1N1 Flu: Virus Information
Novel
influenza A (H1N1) is a new flu virus of swine origin that first caused illness
in Mexico and the United States in March and April, 2009. ItÕs thought that
novel influenza A (H1N1) flu spreads in the same way that regular seasonal
influenza viruses spread, mainly through the coughs and sneezes of people who
are sick with the virus, but it may also be spread by touching infected objects
and then touching your nose or mouth. Novel H1N1 infection has been reported to
cause a wide range of flu-like symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat,
body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. In addition, many people also have
reported nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea.
As you may know, flu can be spread easily from person to person. Therefore, steps are being taken to prevent the spread of flu at Radford University for as long as possible, but we need your help to accomplish this.
We are working closely with the regional and Commonwealth of Virginia health departments to monitor flu conditions and make decisions about the best steps to take concerning our institution. We will keep you updated with new information as it becomes available to us through links through your course faculty member using various virtual communication portals.
For now, we are doing everything we can to keep our institution operating as usual. The following information is provided by the Center for Disease control including general preventative care that you can take to lessen the impact of the flu season on the campus:
Over the next few weeks you will see additional hand sanitization stations in many Radford University academic buildings, residence halls, food service locations, computer labs, and student centers. We encourage you to use the hand sanitizers frequently and especially when you are working at computer stations or using restroom facilities. Remember, hand sanitizers do not replace hand washing with soap and water.
If you become ill please access the Student Health Web Site through the RU Portal for detailed information and guidance from the Student Health Center.
ThereÕs more!
All the flu prep news thatÕs fit to print:
http://oep.asp.radford.edu/PrepGuideflu.htm
HereÕs wishing you a safe, healthy and happy semesterÉ
Bob Stepno
http://www.radford.edu/rstepno
-- 30 --
(which means Òthe endÓ)