San José State
University
School of Journalism and Mass Communications
MCom 100W – Writing Workshop
Course #48060, Section 05, Fall 2012
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Instructor:
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Ralph Nichols
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Office:
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Dwight Bentel Hall 135
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Telephone:
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Office:
408.924.3247
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Email:
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RalphNicholsSJSU@gmail.com
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Office
hours:
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Before and after class and by appointment
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Class Days/Time:
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Friday 9 a.m.-11:45
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Classroom:
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DBH 226
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:
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Course Description
Advanced writing across the
media -- advertising, journalism and public relations. The focus is on writing
and research for an increasingly convergent media with multiple media formats,
from the Web to print and broadcast. This class is designed for students who
plan careers in media-related fields.
Required Texts/Readings
The Associated
Press Style Book (any
recent edition)
When Words
Collide, or a similar
grammar/style text
When Words
Collide, workbook
Note: If you have little or no prior news writing experience, you
may also want to refer to one of the following texts: Inside
reporting: A practical guide to the craft of journalism by Tim Harrower (2006) or Writing for the
Mass Media by James Glen Stovall.
Required equipment: Laptop and flash drive
Course Goals
The emphasis in
this class is on good clear writing. Exercises and projects are related to journalism,
advertising, public relations and broadcast writing. For example, you will
write a news story, press release, broadcast copy, query letter, feature and a
final research paper. In-class assignments include peer editing, memos and an
opinion piece.
To satisfy
university GE requirements, you must write a minimum of 8,000 words for this
class. Regardless of your final grade, you must demonstrate that you have met
the 8000-word minimum to pass. You must also successfully complete the Student
Learning Outcomes listed below to pass this class.
Please come to
every class prepared to write an in-class assignment. I expect your writing to
be of entry-level professional quality (and if it isn’t there yet, it should be
by the end of the semester). Correct use of the English language is a standard
in this industry so be mindful of spelling and grammar. Poor grammar and
misspelled words will result in dramatically reduced grades.
Media writers
also need to stay on top of current events and trends. You should follow the
news -- in print, broadcast and online. Expect some current events quizzes.
Student Learning Objectives
·
Write
correctly and clearly in forms and styles appropriate for the communications
professions, audiences and purposes they serve.
·
Critically evaluate
your own work and that of others for accuracy and fairness, clarity,
appropriate style and grammatical correctness.
·
Conduct
research and evaluate information by methods appropriate to the communications
professions in which you will work.
·
Demonstrate an
understanding of the diversity of groups in a global society in relationship to
communications.
·
Demonstrate an
understanding of professional ethical principles and work ethically in pursuit
of truth, accuracy, fairness and diversity.
·
Think
critically, creatively and independently.
Grading
Written assignments will be graded on organization,
accuracy, clarity and style, as well as on grammar, punctuation and spelling.
To help you understand how we will assess your work, here is an overview of our
grading standards:
To receive an "A," your written work must comply
with all requirements of the assignment, be well organized and well developed,
and demonstrate a clear understanding of audience and purpose. Your writing
should contain no logical or factual errors, and demonstrate your ability to
use language and construct sentences effectively and correctly. It should also
display a measure of creativity, and be essentially free of grammatical,
mechanical, usage and AP Style errors.
"B" work demonstrates the same competence as "A"
work, but with some slight weaknesses. It may fall short on one of the assigned
tasks, show less facility with language, or contain some minor grammatical,
mechanical, usage or AP style errors.
"C" work completes all tasks set by the assignment, but shows
weaknesses in the fundamentals (e.g., organization and development,
understanding of audience and purpose). The sentence construction may be less
mature, and the use of language may be less correct than in "B" work.
Failing work neglects one of the assigned tasks and may be noticeably
superficial in its treatment of the assignment -- that is, it is too short or
simplistic, or has problems in logic or development. It also contains serious
grammatical, mechanical, and/or usage errors that may render some sentences
incomprehensible. It may also demonstrate a striking underdevelopment of ideas
and organization, and contains serious grammatical, mechanical, and/or usage
errors that render some sentences incomprehensible.
Please Note: Factual errors will also result in a failing grade for the
assignment.
Classroom Policies
·
All writing assignments submitted for this class must
be original work, written by you for this class (see Academic Dishonesty
section below).
·
All papers must be typed (or posted on your blog);
handwritten papers will not be accepted.
·
Please be on time. In-class assignments and tests are
distributed only to those present -- no make-ups.
·
Papers will be collected at the start of class on the
due date; late papers are never accepted.
·
Please do not check your e-mail, text or surf the Web
during class time.
·
Check your e-mail and the class blog regularly.
Instructors often respond to questions on assignments and/or give a heads-up on
quiz questions by e-mail or in a post on the class blog.
·
If you are unable to attend class on a day when a
hard-copy assignment is due, send it in with a trusted classmate. Hard copy
assignments are never accepted via email.
·
This class is no longer graded ABC/nc. Students taking
this class will now receive regardless. You must receive a “C” or better in
this class. If you receive a “C-“ or below, you will need to take the class
again. Incompletes are not given in this class. It should be noted that 30
percent of 100w students across the campus do not pass the first time.
·
Anything you e-mail your instructor should be within
the text of your e-mail; no attachments, please unless instructed specifically
to do so
·
Make sure you understand the details of the homework
assignments before leaving class.
·
Please save all of your written assignments, tests,
quizzes, etc. You’ll need them as proof that you’ve met the 8,000-word minimum
for this class.
·
If you get a “C” or below on an assignment, you should
plan to rewrite it. Rewrites are the only effective way of improving your
writing.
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Include a word count on all papers.
·
You are responsible for all material covered during
class, whether you attend class or not. If you are absent, it is your
responsibility to get notes and assignment information from a classmate. Specifics
of assignments are discussed in class, not via e-mail.
·
Extenuating circumstances need to be communicated on
the first day of class.
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Your presence is expected at every class and at the
final exam.
·
Please exercise good manners and good judgment. Discourteous
and impolite behavior will not be tolerated.
Department Policies
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Please turn off your cell phone, or set it to
“vibrate,” while in class.
·
Clean up after yourself and pick up debris before
leaving class.
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No food in classrooms.
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No late arrivals.
Grade Checks
I don’t do grade checks but I’m happy to show you how to do
one for yourself. Simply take the total points you’ve received and divide that
into the total points possible for a percentage. It’s your responsibility to hang on to every paper returned
to you. Blog assignments will receive periodic email responses with remarks
and/or grades.
Final
grades for this course will be given as follows:
|
grade
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A+
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A
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A-
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B+
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B
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B-
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C+
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C
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C-
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D+
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D
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D-
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F
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total
points
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1001+
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940-1000
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900-939
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870-899
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835-869
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800-834
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770-799
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735-769
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700-734
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670-699
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635-669
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600-634
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0-599
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San Jose
State University’s grade point system is as follows:
|
grade
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A
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A-
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B+
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B
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B-
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C+
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C
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C-
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D+
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D
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D-
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F
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grade
point
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4.0
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3.7
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3.3
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3.0
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2.7
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2.3
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2.0
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1.7
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1.3
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1.0
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0.7
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0
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CYA
Save your work.
Email yourself a copy of your paper, both as an attachment and within the text
of an email. Then, if your printer, computer or any other technology crashes,
you can go to a commercial copy center, such as Kinko’s, to print out your
assignment.
MLK Library Liaison
Paul Kauppila, Librarian
(408) 808-2042
Word to the Wise
If you feel that
writing is one of your weaknesses, get help early.
Writing resources at SJSU
The SJSU Writing Center is in Room 126 in Clark Hall.
It is staffed by professional instructors and upper-division or graduate-level
writing specialists from each of the seven SJSU colleges. Writing
specialists have met a rigorous GPA requirement and are well trained to
assist students to become better writers. For more information, visit http://www.sjsu.edu/writingcenter
or call 408-924-2308.
Dropping and Adding
Information on adding and dropping classes is available at http://info.sjsu.edu/web-dbgen/narr/soc-fall/rec-324.html.
Information on late drops is available at http://www.sjsu.edu/sac/advising/latedrops/policy/.
You are responsible for understanding
policies and procedures relating to adding and dropping classes, academic
renewal, etc.
University Policies
Academic integrity
I take the issue of academic integrity very seriously. I
have flunked students for submitting plagiarized papers. I consider plagiarism
to be the “kiss of death” for a student in a writing class, and for any student
who aspires to work in one of the writing professions.
The University’s Academic Integrity Policy is available at
http://www.sa.sjsu.edu/download/judicial_affairs/Academic_Integrity_Policy_S07-2.pdf.
Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your
enrollment at San Jose State University and the University’s integrity policy,
requires you to be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty members are
required to report all infractions to the office of Student Conduct and Ethical
Development. The website for Student Conduct and
Ethical Development is available at
http://www.sa.sjsu.edu/judicial_affairs/index.html.
Instances of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated.
Cheating on exams or plagiarism (presenting the work of another as your own, or
the use of another person’s ideas without giving proper credit) will result in
a failing grade and sanctions by the University. If you would like to include
in your assignment any material you have previously submitted or plan to submit
for another class, please note that SJSU’s Academic Policy F06-1 requires the
instructor’s prior approval.
Campus Policy in Compliance with the American Disabilities Act
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of
a disability, or if you need to make special arrangements in case the building
must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible (or
see me during my office hours). Presidential Directive 97-03 requires that
students with disabilities who request accommodations must register with the
DRC (Disability Resource Center) to establish a record of their disability.
Student Technology Resources
Computer labs for student use are available in the
Academic Success Center located on the 1st floor
of Clark Hall and on the 2nd floor of the Student Union. Computers
are also available in the Martin Luther King Library.
A wide variety of audio-visual equipment is available for
student checkout from Media Services located in IRC 112, including: Camcorders,
slide projectors, DVD and CD players, sound systems, wireless microphones,
projection screens, and monitors.
MCom 100W, Fall 2012
Course Schedule
Please Note: This class schedule is subject to change to
accommodate guest speaker schedules, campus events, etc. You will be notified
by email and on the class blog of any significant changes. Bring this
schedule to every class.
Due Dates: Hard copies of assignments are due at the start
of class; blog assignments must be posted on your blog AND link emailed to your
teacher before the start of class on the due date. Late assignments receive no
credit.
WEEK 1
August
24
Focus: Course introduction.
Focus:
Writing with clarity; start blogging (set up your blog, write your first blog
post: “All About Me”)
Due: Email your new blog’s URL (web address) to the
instructor by the end of class.
Due: Word of the Week #1 (post on blog).
WEEK 2
August 31
Class will not meet
WEEK 3
September
7 - Focus: Library/Online Research
Focus: Library/Online Research – in-class research project
Focus:
Writing persuasively, resumes & cover letters.
WEEK 4
September
14
Focus: Your favorite writing; Copy Edit the World; peer
editing of resumes
Due: Blog Post #2 - My Favorite Writing; first draft of
resume & cover letter (bring 2 copies to class for peer editing).
Focus: Writing leads, 5Ws &1H, leads exercise, AP Style
Due: Word of the Week #2
WEEK 5
September
21
Focus: Writing leads & news stories, news values, AP
Style Quiz #1
Due: Final draft of Resume & Cover Letter (hard copy)
Focus: More on writing news stories, news writing exercise
Due: Word of the Week #3; Blog Post #3 – Comparing Media;
news writing exercise (please note that this is both a blog assignment AND a
hard copy assignment and you will need to follow the appropriate formatting and
protocol for each assignment)
WEEK 6
September
28
Focus: Writing News Releases; news release exercise, AP
Style Quiz #2 (take home)
Due: News Story (on blog)
Use class time to complete today’s “A Fly on the Wall”
assignment.
Due: Word of the Week #4, Blog Post #4 – A Fly on the Wall
WEEK 7
October
5
Focus: Writing memos, reports & summaries; in-class memo
exercise; AP Style Quiz #3
Due: News Release and AP Style Quiz #2.
Focus: Opinion writing, exercise: write a letter to the
editor (bring topic to class)
What’s Due: Word of the Week #5, letter to the editor (due
by end of class)
WEEK 8
October
12
Focus: Gathering info, interviewing tips, conveying
character, AP Style Quiz #4
Due: Blog #5 - Mystery Character
Focus: Writing profiles, working w/quotes and anecdotes
Due: Word of the Week #6, Blog #6 - IMHO #1
WEEK 9
October
19
In-class assignment: Interview a classmate for your
classmate profile
What’s Due: Hard copy assignment - NPR Radio Interview
Analysis
Focus: Writing features & trend stories; finding
features in the news exercise
Due: Word of the Week #7;
Home work: Research story-telling techniques. Also read
several features and break down the technique used in telling these stories.
Which techniques work best for you and why? Write one to two pages and plan to
share your findings – Favorite Writings (story-telling
techniques)
WEEK 10
October
26
Focus: Writing query letters, in-class exercise, AP Style
Quiz #5, review for Midterm.
Due: query letter exercise
Focus: Field trip to Japanese Internment Memorial
Due: Word of the Week #8, Classmate Profile
WEEK 11
November
2
MIDTERM EXAM
Focus: Crediting your sources; cites exercise.
Due: Word of the Week #9, Query letter for your Final
Feature (hard copy)
WEEK 12
November
9
Focus: Draft scholarly journal article summary #1 in class.
(Bring journal article to class.)
Due: Blog #9 - Japanese internment memorial essay,
scholarly journal article summary #1 (by end of class)
Focus: Focus story structure, Audiences & advertising;
ad retargeting exercise, your Fish Out of Water stories
What’s Due: Word of the Week #10 (the last one!), Focus
story structure exercise (by the end of class)
Focus: Several assignments are due next class.
November 16– Focus:
Structuring longer stories: feature story analysis; Writing with style: similes
& metaphors, parallelism, in-class exercise
Due: Scholarly journal article summary #2, similes &
metaphors exercise (by end of class) Blog #10 - Fish Out of Water, Targeting
Audiences (advertising analysis) & ad retargeting exercise
WEEK 14
No class …. Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving
WEEK 15
November
30
Focus: Writing for broadcast, in-class exercise
Due:
Broadcast writing exercise (by the end of class)
Focus: Peer editing of your final feature
Due: Blog 11 - IMHO #2, draft of your final feature (bring
two copies for peer editing)
November
30
Focus: Peer editing and fine tuning your final feature
In class: spreadsheet
December
Focus: Review for final exam; grade checks using your Word
Count spreadsheet
Due: Draft of your Word Count spreadsheet
Focus: Wrap-up, present broadcast version of your final
feature
Due: Your final feature, sidebar and 60-second broadcast
script
Final Exam: The final exam for this class is scheduled
by the university for Monday, Dec. 17 at: 7:15 a.m. or at 10:30 a.m. on Friday,
December 14. It is your responsibility to double check times and dates of all
your final exams and ensure there is no time conflict. Use the following link
to check the final exam schedule for all fall 2012 classes.
Assignments
Journal Entries and Blog Posts
Word of the Week: Add
10 new words to your vocabulary -- one per week, starting in the second week of
class.
For this assignment, you can use any word that’s new to
you … from reading a book, newspaper, magazine or web site. (Note: Words that refer to diseases or medical
conditions are not eligible.) Please post
these assignments on your blog. Here’s the format to use:
Word #1 (make the title of the assignment the title of
your blog post)
1.
Your Word
2.
Where you read it (source info).
3.
The entire sentence in which you found this word.
4.
Dictionary definition for this word; part of speech (noun,
verb, etc.).
5.
Use the word in a new sentence. Your sentence should make it
clear that you understand the meaning of this word and know how to use it.
Blog Post #1 -
All About Me (200 words): Tell me a bit
about yourself: Your background, your major, your professional aspirations …
your strengths and weaknesses as a writer … your favorite color and what you
like to do in your spare time (if you have any).
Blog 2 - Your Favorite Writing (200 words): Select a short piece of writing you
enjoy and admire and explain why you like it and why you think it’s an example
of good writing. It can be any kind of writing: news, fiction, non-fiction, ad
copy, poetry -- whatever appeals to you. Be sure to list source information (author,
publication, etc.) to identify your piece of writing, including: the author,
the title of the book or publication in which it appeared, page number, and
date of publication.
Blog 3 – Comparing Media(300-500 words): Compare the news coverage of a single national news
story by examining its same-day coverage in different types of news media
(compare at least three), as follows: Please note that this
assignment is to be turned in as a hard copy AND as a blog assignment. Follow
the proper formatting rules for each.
· Newspaper: How long is/are the article(s) on this issues? How
many sources are quoted? How many articles are there? Are the stories
accompanied by charts, graphs or photos?
· Television: How many minutes is the story? How many sources are
quoted? How does the detail provided on television news compare to the
newspaper?
· National
Public Radio (or another radio program
that includes national news): How long is the story? How many sources are
quoted? How is the coverage on radio and television similar? How are they
different? Does the radio story use background sound and/or interviews to
change “the scene” in the listener’s mind?
· Online
News: How does online news coverage of
this issue compare? How long is the story? How many sources? Is it more like print
or broadcast coverage? Or different from both?
Blog 4 – A Fly on the Wall (200-250 words): Go out
into the world, pick an interesting spot, and act like a fly on the wall.
Observe the scene around you and take copious notes. Think in terms of all five
senses: sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste. Feel free to include snippets of
nearby conversations, if applicable. Later, go through your notes and decide
which details are the most “telling details” – that is, which would help
someone visualize this. Then use those details to write your “Fly on the Wall”
vignette. If you can give it the feel of a very short story … even better.
Blog 5 -
Mystery Character (150-250 words): Your
mystery character can be any well-known entertainer, athlete or politician -- someone
living or dead -- even fictional. The catch? You must describe your mystery
character without actually saying who it is. Instead, make your description do
the work by using telling details that will help readers recognize your
character from your description alone. You may want to show how your character
moves, sounds, gestures, talks, dresses -- focus on whatever you think are the
most telling details about that person. Omit any personal or professional
information that would be a “dead giveaway” for this person. Remember, I’ll be
looking for description, not a biography.
When you send the email with the URL for this
assignment, put the mystery character’s name in the text of the email.
Blog 6 – IMHO (In My Humble Opinion) #1: For this assignment, you’ll pick a current news
story that really get you fired up and write a 350-400-word blog post. For
example, if the health care debate really lights your fuse, write an opinion
piece about that. Of course, to make your opinion pieces credible, you’ll need
to be organized and back up your points … not just rant. That means you’ll need
to do some research and provide links to the original article and to any other
sources you use.
Blog 7 - Japanese Internment Memorial essay (500 words): Before our field trip to the Japanese
Internment Memorial, you’ll need to do some online research and answer the
following questions:
· What
was the Japanese Internment and why did it happen?
· Who
is Ruth Asawa?
· What
happened locally (San Jose) during the internment?
· How
did SJSU factor in?
During the field trip, take careful notes on the vignettes
at the memorial. Afterward, write an essay describing two or three of the
vignettes that you found most compelling. Draw upon your research to explain
their significance. Consider: Do you think something like this could happen
again?
Blog 8 - IMHO #2 (see Blog #6 for details)
Assignments
1. Resume
& Cover Letter: Scan internship or
employment listings (newspaper, monster.com, craigslist.com, jmcjobs blog) for
the kind of job you’d like for this summer or when you graduate. Write a cover
letter (approx. 150 words) and one-page resume applying for the most
interesting position. Staple a copy of your want ad to your letter and resume.
2. NPR Radio interview analysis (350-500 words): Listen to and analyze an interview
on an NPR program such as Fresh Air or All Things Considered. Your professor will give you a choice of two or
three current interviews to analyze. In your analysis, please consider the
following
What did the interviewer know about the subject before the
interview?
What kinds of questions did they ask?
How did they build up to questions? How did they follow up
to questions?
Did the interviewer appear to have a strategy?
How were inadequate or evasive answers (if any) handled?
What was the apparent relationship between the interviewer
and interviewee?
What did you learn about interviewing from this interview?
3.
News Release (200
words)
4.
Scholarly journal article summary (250-500 words): Locate and photocopy a scholarly
article of at least eight pages or more, preferably on a topic that interests
you (even better, find articles that are related to your final feature so you
can use them for that assignment too). Be sure the article is not a review or
summary, since that is what we’re asking you to do. Read the
article and summarize it in your own words. Staple your photocopy of the
original article to your summary.
5.
Classmate
Profile (A) or Personal Obit (B): (instructor’s choice; for either option, write
350-500 words) A. Interview a classmate and write a short profile of that
person. During your interview, look for themes and “common threads,” not just
good quotes. Remember to observe and describe…show me your classmate, don’t
just tell me about him or her. B. Write your own 350-to-500-word obituary. Make
sure to lead a full life and fulfilling life…and have some fun with this
assignment. (Also, be sure to write an “editorial style obituary,” not a
family-style obituary notice. To see the difference, check out the SFGate obits
page at http://www.sfgate.com/c/obituaries/
and compare some “editorial obituaries” to “obituaries placed by family
members.”)
6.
Targeting Audiences
(250-350 words): Find two full-page advertisements in a magazine (include a
copy of each in your journal), and use the following factors to analyze it:
· Study
the magazines and the ads to determine the intended target audience’s
demographics: age, gender, occupation, education level, income, marital status.
Based on the ads, describe the target audience’s lifestyles, attitudes and
values.
· Next,
describe each advertisement’s key message(s). Is it information rich and
directed at an involved audience, or does it feature more peripheral qualities,
such as graphics or pictures, to attract a less-involved audience? Is there a
source (celebrity or expert) in the advertisement? If so, why do you think the
source might influence the target audience?
7. – Fish Out of Water (350-500 words): Attend a political, cultural, or social event focused
on a racial/ethnic group to which you do not belong, and write a critical
review of the event, including an analysis of the experience of being an
outsider. Consult the Spartan Daily, local newspapers, bulletin boards, etc.,
for free events. You may attend with another student, but you should each write
your own review. Describe the event and its impact on you; analyze your
participation/observation as an outsider to this culture. By definition,
reviews are subjective – it’s your opinion. However, a review should include a
summary of the event so the reader can learn about the event as well as the
author’s response to it.
8. Final Feature (1250
words, plus 250-word sidebar and short broadcast script): This feature, profile
or trend story is your major outside writing project for this class; you must
successfully complete this assignment to pass the class. This project has four
deliverables, as follow:
· Your
pitch letter – see notes below
· your
feature or trend story
· a
sidebar to accompany your feature or trend story
· a
60-to-90-second broadcast script version of your feature or trend story
(125-200 words). You’ll record your script using iMovie, upload it to YouTube
or another video hosting site, and post it on your blog. (You’ll find
instructions on how to record a broadcast/video and put it on your blog on the
Texts/Resources page of this blog under “Other Resources.”)
· Notes
and considerations -- Final
Paper a.k.a. Feature/Trend Story): This is your major outside
writing project for this class; you must successfully complete this assignment
to pass. This project has three deliverables: a pitch letter, a research memo,
and your feature or trend story. Here are some considerations for selecting a
topic:
§ Why
does this topic interest you? Why is it worth writing about?
§ Is
this topic broad enough so that you can find ample information on it, but
narrow enough to be manageable?
§ What
makes this story newsworthy? What is the hook or the news peg? What publication
would be interested in it?
§ Assess
what you already know about this topic and possible resources: popular
(newspapers/books/magazines/web), scholarly (academic journals), first person
(interviews). What qualifies you to write on this topic?
§
Can you tell this story in an interesting way? What
makes your approach different?
a.
Pitch Letter/Proposal (200 words): Write a one-page letter
"pitching" your idea for your final paper -- a feature-style news or
trend story. Be sure to address your pitch letter to a specific publication of
your choice, such as the Daily, Access
Magazine or the Mercury News. As you write your pitch letter, remember to use an
attention-getting lead, include a local angle, highlight two or three key
points about your proposed topic, and very briefly explain why this topic will
interest the publication's target audience.
·
