J103 Article Writing Syllabus
©2001 by Rich Cameron
Rich Cameron
Issue date: 2/20/01 Section: 103-Article Writing
Journalism 103 - Newspaper Article Writing is the class that produces articles for the school newspaper, the Talon Marks.
The class meets Monday and Wednesday from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. In addition, you are expected to put in an additional hour of lab by arrangement. In reality, you probably should plan on a minimum of 10 hours a week working for this class. That includes interviews and writing, which are considered homework.
In addition, you should become familiar with :
There are three parts to your final grade for the semester:
Assignments (60 percent), Critique (30 percent) and Activity (10 percent).
Assignments:
Editors will make content assignments. You will be expected to research and write stories and enter them into the Talon Marks computer system in a timely fashion. You earn credit by submitting a “publishable” story. A story need not be published to earn points.
Remember, you usually are the only person assigned to cover a particular assignment. If you don't do it when you are assigned it often cannot be reassigned to someone else in time for publication.
In general, you are responsible for a minimum of one regular news, sports or non-opinion feature assignment each issue. Opinion stories and breifs may count only as extra credit. Stories must be relatively free of spelling, grammar, factual and style errors.
You are encouraged to work with production students to suggest photo or infograph possibilities for your assignments.
Critique:
You are also required to participate in the critique of the paper that will normally be held the first hour of the Monday after the paper comes out. You must also be on time for critiques.
Activity:
Putting together the paper involves more than simply writing stories and taking pictures and putting together pages. You are expected to be a part of the Talon Marks team. You can do this by participating in a number of Activities.
Sample approved activities include:
The Article Writing class is one of three classes that work together to produce the Talon Marks. The other two classes are Newspaper Production and Editorial Board.
The Newspaper Production class includes page designers, graphic artists and photographers who actually put the paper together.
You should plan to be at the beginning of each class period for announcements. Most class periods after the first week will be work sessions after announcements/critiques.
Editor Selection and Responsibilities:
The adviser of the paper will select the best qualified staff member who is interested to serve as editor-in-chief of the paper. The editor is responsible for selecting and dismissing other editors as needed. Because editors must be accessible to staff members, all editors must be enrolled in either Journalism 103 or Journalism 105.
The editors are responsible for content and policy decisions of the paper. The adviser is responsible for providing a learning atmosphere, evaluating of your work on the paper and determining your grades.
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
R i c h C a m e r o n
Office hours = MW 9:00 a.m.- 11 a.m.
Phone = (562) 860-2451, x2619 -- Fax (562) 467-5044
E-mail = rcameron@cerritos.edu
The class meets Monday and Wednesday from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. In addition, you are expected to put in an additional hour of lab by arrangement. In reality, you probably should plan on a minimum of 10 hours a week working for this class. That includes interviews and writing, which are considered homework.
In addition, you should become familiar with :
- Talon Marks Policies
- Talon Marks Publication Schedule
- Journalism Lab Rules
- How to get an Automatic F
- What is "Publishable?"
- What can a writer do to help an editor?
- What an editor can do to help a writer?
- How reporters hinder editors
- How editors hinder reporters
- How do you find the lead?
- How do you write a good story when there is not enough time
- Your assignment is BBS (boring but significant)
- High percentage tips for scoring a great interview
- Talk to you? A reporter? Do I look like a fool?
There are three parts to your final grade for the semester:
Assignments (60 percent), Critique (30 percent) and Activity (10 percent).
Assignments:
Editors will make content assignments. You will be expected to research and write stories and enter them into the Talon Marks computer system in a timely fashion. You earn credit by submitting a “publishable” story. A story need not be published to earn points.
Remember, you usually are the only person assigned to cover a particular assignment. If you don't do it when you are assigned it often cannot be reassigned to someone else in time for publication.
In general, you are responsible for a minimum of one regular news, sports or non-opinion feature assignment each issue. Opinion stories and breifs may count only as extra credit. Stories must be relatively free of spelling, grammar, factual and style errors.
You are encouraged to work with production students to suggest photo or infograph possibilities for your assignments.
Critique:
You are also required to participate in the critique of the paper that will normally be held the first hour of the Monday after the paper comes out. You must also be on time for critiques.
Activity:
Putting together the paper involves more than simply writing stories and taking pictures and putting together pages. You are expected to be a part of the Talon Marks team. You can do this by participating in a number of Activities.
Sample approved activities include:
- Participate in a Journalism Club activity
- Attend a JACC conference
- Enter a JACC contest
- Win a JACC contest award
- Recruit new staff members
- Visit a high school journalism program
- Apply for a journalism scholarship
- Apply for a Falcon award
- Help distribute the Talon Marks around campus
- Evaluate another college newspaper
The Article Writing class is one of three classes that work together to produce the Talon Marks. The other two classes are Newspaper Production and Editorial Board.
The Newspaper Production class includes page designers, graphic artists and photographers who actually put the paper together.
You should plan to be at the beginning of each class period for announcements. Most class periods after the first week will be work sessions after announcements/critiques.
Editor Selection and Responsibilities:
The adviser of the paper will select the best qualified staff member who is interested to serve as editor-in-chief of the paper. The editor is responsible for selecting and dismissing other editors as needed. Because editors must be accessible to staff members, all editors must be enrolled in either Journalism 103 or Journalism 105.
The editors are responsible for content and policy decisions of the paper. The adviser is responsible for providing a learning atmosphere, evaluating of your work on the paper and determining your grades.
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
R i c h C a m e r o n
Office hours = MW 9:00 a.m.- 11 a.m.
Phone = (562) 860-2451, x2619 -- Fax (562) 467-5044
E-mail = rcameron@cerritos.edu
