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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "JRN 325"
COURSE NAME: "Feature Writing"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring Semester 2012
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Mancini Rosamaria
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MW 17:30-18:45
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: EN 110 with a grade of C or above; Recommended: DJRN 221
OFFICE HOURS:
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course offers you practical experience researching, writing and marketing feature articles for print or online magazines. The topics covered include how to develop a good idea, analyze a target audience, gather information, write a feature article and sell your story.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
Your previous news writing classes provided a solid journalism foundation to help move you to the advanced writing techniques of this course, where you will learn how to successfully write longer, feature stories and how to pitch them to the appropriate publication. The class time will include some lectures where we will discuss voice, style, use of language and story structure techniques. But most of the time will include in-class writing and discussion. We will be reading and critiquing industry work - good reading makes good writers!
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
After completing this course you will be able to:
-conduct research
-develop article ideas and themes that fit target audiences
-write a story proposal
-improve your interview techniques, source gathering and management
-improve your writing skills
-conduct efficient web research
-critically evaluate your own writing and that of others
-understand the professional and ethical principles that apply to magazine journalism
NEIGHBORHOOD FOCUS:
This
class will focus on neighborhoods. This semester each of you will become an
expert on a neighborhood in Rome by researching its history and demographics
and interviewing residents, shop owners, community leaders, politicians and
other members of the community.
What
makes the neighborhood tick? What are its chief assets? What are its biggest
problems? Who is in power? Who is left out? And how has it survived in a period of
economic downturn.
You
will be required to write 3 feature stories: A short news feature - An in-depth
personality profile - A long, in-depth neighborhood feature.
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| Words' Worth: Write Well and Prosper | Terri Brooks | | 978-1577666776 | | | | | |
| Floating Off the Page: The Best Stories from the Wall Street Journal's Middle Column | Ken Walls | | 978-0743226639 | | | | | |
| Somebody Told Me: The Newspaper Stories of Rick Bragg | Rick Bragg | | 978-0375725524 | | | | | |
| Associated Press Stylebook | Associated Press | | 978-0-917360-55 | | | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Class Participation | | 25 percent |
| Attendence | | 25 percent |
| Research | | 10 percent |
| Neighborhood Assignments | <p>
</p>
<p><br />
</p> | 40 percent |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
Assessment Guidelines for assigning main letter grades: A, B, C,D, and F.
A: Work of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensiveknowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
B: This is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.
There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
C: This is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
D: This level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.
Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
F: This work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
This class is about talking about ideas, feedback and listening, which means you need to be here every class and be on time. More than three absences makes your maximum grade a B.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
This class is about ideas, feedback and listening, which means you need to be here every class and be on time. More than three absences makes your maximum grade a B.
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
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STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
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SCHEDULE
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Week
1
16, 18 January
Course Introduction
Week
2
23, 25 January
The Lede - Words’ Worth, Chapter 1
Week
3
30 January, 1, 3 February
Transitions - Words’ Worth, Chapter 2
Week
4
6, 8 February
Verbs - Words’ Worth, Chapter 3
Week
5
13, 15 February
Description - Words’ Worth, Chapter 4
Week
6
20, 22 February
Quotes - Words’ Worth, Chapter 5
Week
7
26, 28 Febraury
Voice - Words’ Worth, Chapter 6
Week
8
5, 7, 9 March
Weave - Words’ Worth, Chapter 7
Week
9
12, 14 March
Lab
Week
10
26, 28 March
Doing It - Words’ Worth, Chapter 8
Week
11
2,4 April
Freelancing - Words’ Worth, Chapter 9
Week
12
11 April
Writing for the Web - Words’ Worth, Chapter 10
Week
13
16, 18 April
Lab
Week 14
23 April
Lab/Review
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