ENG 308/COM 402 Feature Writing for Print and Web

Fall 2002, T 6:15–8:55; Olney 127
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Dr. John Beatty
Olney 151
beatty@lasalle.edu
http://www.lasalle.edu/~beatty/
(215) 951-5004
Office Hours: M 2–5.; TR 12:30–1:30; R 5–6
Home phone (610) 433-5339

Course description:

 

 

Learning outcomes:

· To provide experience in analyzing, researching and writing feature articles for newspapers, magazines and the Web including submission to existing publications and creation of a Web Zine centered on profiles of people of La Salle.

· To develop expertise in a communication-process approach to creating articles, from the identification of story ideas, through audience analysis, competition and market assessment, story research, interviews, appropriateness of writing style, rewrites, selling articles with query letters, and critiques of others’ articles.
· To develop an understanding of the changing nature of the journalism profession and of journalistic outlets with emphasis on comparisons of print and Web delivery systems.
· To provide refinement of essential communication skills including Associated Press style, spelling, word usage, grammar and story structure, computer techniques including word processing, database and Internet searches and data manipulation.

Textbooks:

 

 Friedlander, Edward J. and Lee, John. (2000). Feature Writing for Newspapers and Magazines. The Pursuit of Excellence. Fourth Edition. New York, N.Y.: Longman. (F&L in schedule)

Kilian, Crawford. (1999). Writing for the Web, Writer’s Edition. Bellingham, Wash:: Self-Counsel Press. (CK in schedule)

Recommended:
Brogan, Katie Struckel and Robert Brewer. (eds.). (2002). 2003 Writer’s Market. Online. Cincinnati, Ohio: Writer’s Digest Books.
Goldstein, Norman (ed.) (2000). The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law. Cambridge, Mass.: Perseus.
A pocket dictionary is recommended, preferably Webster’s, as is a reporter’s notebook for interviewing.
Assignments: You will take one test covering material in the texts and in lectures.
Writing will include five major feature assignments done mostly out of class, with two query letters, at least one of which is ready to be sent with a draft to a publication, and short homework and in-class writing, critiquing and research exercises. The profile features must be re-submitted incorporating comments on the first drafts, and the second draft edited for posting on the site.
Some homework will be handed in on disk, double-spaced. You must buy at least one disk for use in this course only.
Requirements: Class participation is required and can be the determining factor in grade decisions. Journalism is a public profession and you should get used to interacting in public settings. Some of the class will involve presentation, discussion and written critiques of stories and story ideas, to which a portion of the grade is allocated. You will also work in teams to create issues of the Zine, again under the realization that media are produced through group effort.
Policies: Attendance is important. Those present will sign a roll at each class meeting. For any absence to be excused you must contact me beforehand and provide documentation of your excuse or have a friend do so if you are unable. Given normal extenuating circumstances, you are allowed a total of two unexcused class absences. Further unexcused absences, or excessive excused absences will lower your final grade.

Assignments or tests missed due to excused absences can be made up, but those missed due to unexcused absences cannot.
Adjustments to the schedule and requirements listed in this document are to be allowed for, if not expected.

You are responsible for following the University’s and this class’s policies on submission of original work and acknowledgement of direct quotations or paraphrases from others’ writings (see the La Salle University Student Handbook). Plagiarism “consists of passing off the ideas, opinions, facts, words—in short, the intellectual work—of another as your own” (Prentice Hall Handbook for Writers). Clearly plagiarized work will result in a grade of “F” for the paper
Grading:

Feature stories, analysis, queries 60%
Test 10%
Web project (groups) 20%
Class participation, in-class, 10%


Grade assignment: A = 94 and above; A- = 90-93; B+ = 87-89; B = 84-86; B- = 80-83; C+ = 77-79; C = 74-76; C- = 70-73; D+ = 67-69; D = 64-66; D- = 60-63; F = below 60.

In other words: A = All major and minor goals achieved; B = All major goals achieved, some minor ones not; C = All major goals achieved, many minor ones not; D = A few major goals achieved but not prepared for further advanced work; F = None of the major goals achieved

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