JRN374: Newspaper Feature and Opinion Writing
Semester: Fall 2006
Time: TR 3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Room: 407 PUMM
Professor: Andrew R. Cline, Ph.D.
E-mail: acline@missouristate.edu
Office: 419 Siceluff Hall
Office hours: TR 12:30 to 3:30
Office phone: 836-4923
URLs
IMPORTANT: You are responsible for all the information and instructions in this syllabus. Please read it carefully. Please ask questions about anything you do not understand.
Prerequisites: JRN270 Introduction to Journalism.
Required Texts: The Associated Press Stylebook
Other required texts: The Wall Street Journal; The New York Times
Additional required materials: One USB jump drive. Bring it to every class so that you may store your work. Do not store your work on a lab computer.
Course Description and Goals
JRN374 gives students practice in writing newspaper features and columns. The purpose of JRN374 is to build upon the skills you learned in JRN270 by giving you the opportunity to practice journalism at a level above the basics. Further, this class will acquaint you with excellent models of journalistic reporting, writing, and editing. The following competencies will be the focus of this class and must be demonstrated by you in order to pass with a grade of ‘C’ or better:
1. the ability to report and write a complex feature story that includes elements of news, human interest, personality profile, and background;
2. the ability to use fact-based reporting to write an opinion essay;
3. the ability to make an effective argument in an opinion essay;
4. the ability to report and write a news analysis or review;
5. the ability identify and use multiple sources, including non-experts, public records, and databases;
6. the ability to write with accuracy and fairness as defined by professional standards;
Educational Philosophy
JRN374 is a discussion/lab course. This class is a public forum. I will rarely give lectures. Instead, I expect the class, as a community of learners, to engage in intelligent and critical discussion about the topics listed in this syllabus and other topics as they may arise based on your interests. Cogent verbal participation is critical to your success in this class.
Because I rarely give traditional lectures, it is important that you read all assigned material carefully.
Attendance
The Missouri State attendance policy says: “Because class attendance and course grade are demonstrably and positively related, the University expects students to attend all class sessions of courses in which they are enrolled.”
Excellent attendance is necessary to pass this course. I do not, however, have a specific attendance policy designed to penalize you for lack of attendance. As far as I'm concerned, you attend at your choice (i.e. you reap the rewards or suffer the consequences of your choices).
Regarding attendance and illness: If you have symptoms of a communicable illness (e.g. fever or a severe cough), for the sake of your health and the health of your classmates, please stay home and take care of yourself. I will excuse you from class work. Make arrangements with me to make up missed in-class activities. I will grant no excuse unless you contact me that day by any appropriate means. I also excuse for family emergencies.
Regarding sports and other official Missouri State functions: You are excused to attend events sponsored by Missouri State in which you play an important role, e.g. an athlete traveling to play a sport. Please let me know about your participation before your absence.
Grading
Many students think grades are painful to receive. Trust me, they are just as painful to give. So we're in this together. Considering the current structure of the academy and our society, it is necessary for me to rank your performance by assigning you letter grades based on my assessment of your work. Grades do not reflect your worth as a human being or even your potential to become a successful media professional (however you define that). A grade is a sign of a single performance in a class--nothing more.
A 'C' signifies average work/accomplishment. A 'C' is not a bad grade. But I know some of you think so. And if you're one of those students who absolutely must earn an 'A' (for whatever reason), then I suggest you do excellent work.
I believe you are largely in control of the grade you earn in my class. Certainly, outside pressures intrude. You will find that I am happy to work with you so that you may achieve the level of success you seek. But this is important for you to understand: I place a much higher priority on learning and understanding than I do on grades. This means that if you approach this class with enthusiasm and a genuine desire to learn, your grade should take care of itself.
Okay, now for the standard line:
Your work must be accurate (AP Style, usage, grammar, content), correct in form and content, relevant, rich in reporting detail, and on time. I will evaluate your articles primarily on these five criteria. The following errors should never be made: 1- misspell a proper name (e.g. person or company) or misstate a title, 2- misstate a fact or make a factual error. Committing any one of these errors will be costly.
I will grade you for the course in these areas:
Assignment #1: 20 percent
Assignment #2: 20 percent
Assignment #3: 20 percent
Publication of one assignment: 20 percent
Final (take-home analysis): 20 percent
The final word on grades: I think the mark of a serious student is the willingness to seek help, assessment, and advice in person. That means if you hope to be a serious student of the mass media and journalism (and if you expect me to think of you that way), then I expect to see you in my office. I expect to converse with you regularly about class, Missouri State, our local community, and the world at large. If you show interest and desire, I will not let you fail.
Deadlines: Journalism is a deadline-driven business. You cannot hope to succeed unless you train yourself to meet deadlines. Missed deadlines result in the loss of one letter grade for an assignment. If you suspect you may miss a deadline for some reason, hand in your work early. I will grant exceptions only in extraordinary cases.
Grievance Procedure: Missouri State is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution, and maintains a grievance procedure available to any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against. At all times, it is your right to address inquiries or concerns about possible discrimination to Jana Estergard, Equal Opportunity Officer, Siceluff Hall 296, (417) 836-4252. Other types of concerns (i.e., concerns of an academic nature) should be discussed directly with your instructor and can also be brought to the attention of your instructor’s Department Head.
Disabilities:
To request academic accommodations for a disability, contact Katheryne Staeger-Wilson,
Director, Disability Services, Plaster Student Union, Suite 405, (417) 836-4192
or (417) 836-6792 (TTY), http://www.missouristate.edu/disability. Students are required
to provide documentation of disability to Disability Services prior to receiving
accommodations. Disability Services refers some types of accommodation requests
to the Learning Diagnostic Clinic, which also provides diagnostic testing for
learning and psychological disabilities. For information about testing, contact
Dr. Steve Capps, Director, Learning Diagnostic Clinic, (417) 836-4787, http://www.missouristate.edu/contrib/ldc.
Academic Honesty: Missouri State is a community of scholars committed to developing educated persons who accept the responsibility to practice personal and academic integrity. You are responsible for knowing and following Missouri State’s student honor code, Student Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures, available at http://www.missouristate.edu/acadaff/AcademicIntegrity.html and also available at the Reserves Desk in Meyer Library. Any student participating in any form of academic dishonesty will be subject to sanctions as described in this policy.
Professor's addendum: If you commit an act of plagiarism that I determine to be intentional cheating, I will fail you for the class with a grade of XF.
Dropping the Class: It is your responsibility to understand the University’s procedure for dropping a class. If you stop attending this class but do not follow proper procedure for dropping the class, you will receive a failing grade and will also be financially obligated to pay for the class. To drop a class anytime after the first week of classes, you must complete and turn in a drop slip at an authorized registration center (see http://www.missouristate.edu/recreg/chnsched.html). You do not need to obtain any signatures on the drop slip. It does not need to be signed by your instructor, your advisor, or a department head. If you wish to withdraw from the University (i.e., drop all your classes), contact the Registration Center, Carrington 320, 836-5522.
Syllabus (subject to change)
Note: I'll add detail to the syllabus according to your needs and desires as class progresses.
Week 1: 21 August
Class introduction
Week 2: 28 August
The elements of good features, essays, and reviews
Week 3: 4 September
How to get started on your assignments
Week 4: 11 September
Week 5: 18 September
Fact-checking Olbermann
Rhetoric and opinion writing.
Week 6: 25 September
Tony Messenger on Tuesday. Topic: Elements of good opinion writing.
More about reviews and analyses.
Week 7: 2 October
All about reviews.
Week 8: 9 October
No class 12 October
Week 9: 16 October
No class this week: Professor out of town and Fall Break
Week 10: 23 October
Assignment #1 Due: 26 October
Week 11: 30 October
Week 12: 6 November
Opinion and blogs
Week 13: 13 November
Opinion and blogs continued
Assignment #2 Due: 15 October
Week 14: 20 November
Thanksgiving break: 22-24 November
Week 15: 27 November
Week 16: 4 December
Assignment #3: 5 December
Final Exam: TBA
Assignments
Article Assignments
You will complete 3 writing assignments for this class. You may complete them in any order. Further details for all assignments will be discussed in class.
1. A feature story
2. A column/essay
3. An analysis or review
The choice of topic is yours for all assignments. I'm happy to discuss ideas with you. And I encourage you to bring your ideas to class for open discussion. You'll find that class discussion can help jump-start your assignments.
Feature assignment
I've designed the feature assignment to give you experience producing the kind of work regularly published in the the best newspapers. You will learn the feature model of The Wall Street Journal--arguably the best written/edited newspaper in America.
We will spend a lot of time in class reading and discussing WSJ features. You will learn the WSJ model of arrangement. This model will allow you to learn and practice the elements of good feature writing.
Details
Length: 2,000 to 2,500 words
Sources: appropriate to the length and content
Column/essay assignment
I've designed the column/essay assignment to give you experience writing the kind of columns and essays commonly published in major newspapers such as The New York Times.
We will spend a lot of time in class reading and discussing columns and essays--especially those published in The New York Times.
Details
Length: 1,500 to 1,750 words
Sources: appropriate to the length and content
Analysis or Review
I've designed the analysis or review assignment to give you experience in writing features that require good reporting and your personal experience. Please choose one of the following:
Analysis: Write an analysis of a current news situation in Springfield or the Ozarks. Your analysis should rely on excellent reporting and your own experiences or observations regarding the news situation.
Review: Write a review of an artistic performance. Your review should rely on excellent reporting and your own experiences or observations regarding the performance.
Details
Length: 1,000 words
Sources: appropriate to the length and content
IMPORTANT FOR ALL ASSIGNMENTS: Quality and publication
Good reporting is the foundation of all good features and essays. If you don't do the reporting, don't expect to do the kind of writing that earns an A. Your models are the WSJ and the NYT. The professional reporters who write for these newspapers report and write their features and essays in a matter of days. You will have many weeks. So I expect quality that approaches the professional.
To encourage you to produce that quality, and to help your career along, I will require that you publish one of your assignments. This requirement is worth 20 percent of your course grade. Here are the details:
To earn a D: Publish on a web site (e.g. a personal blog).
To earn a C: Publish on any open-source or citizen-journalism web site (see the list on Rhetorica).
To earn a B: Publish in the print edition of The Standard, in any print publication distributed for free, or on the web site of any print publication with a paid circulation.
To earn an A: Publish in a newspaper or magazine with a paid circulation, or publish in the Springfield Citizen-Press.
Note: I have recently established a citizen-journalism project called the Springfield Citizen-Press. I will be very picky. I'll only publish the very best work. So don't think of this option as easy or automatic. Think of it as difficult. If you choose this option (and I hope you do), I'll work closely with you, as your editor, to make your story a success.
Assignments and class attendance: We will discuss more details about these assignments in class.
A note on composition process: Reporters routinely ask editors for help during the processes of reporting and writing. If you are serious about a profession in the mass media, then I expect to see you in my office to discuss your work before you hand it in for a grade. I can help you improve your skills by working with you one-on-one far more than I can working with you in class.