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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "JRN 325"
COURSE NAME: "Feature Writing"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Fall Semester 2012
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
di Robilant Andrea
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MW 13:30-14:45
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: EN 110 with a grade of C or above; Recommended: DJRN 221
OFFICE HOURS:
By appointment
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course aims at teaching students how to develop and sell a story idea, conduct research in the field and write a feature-length article for print or online magazines.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
While previous writing classes gave a solid foundation in news-driven journalism, this course will teach you to write longer features. In class we will discuss ways to develop ideas, to learn research techniques, to hone interviewing skills. We will be looking at various genres of feature writing: profiles, travel pieces, political/social stories, and also light, humorous articles. We will work on finding a voice and a style, and giving solid structure to one's writing. In addition to writing assignments, students will be asked to read feature articles extensively from magazines such as The New Yorker, The Atlantic, Harper's and others as well as from our textbooks.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of this course you will be able to:
- identify a potential story for a given audience
- conduct relevant research and interviews
- write and pitch a story proposal
- write a long feature story (3000 to 4000 words)
- develop a personal writing style
- read feature writing with a constructive and critical eye.
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| Floating Off The Page: The Best Stories from the Wall Stret Journal | Ken Walls | | 978-0743226639 | | | | | |
| Somebody Told Me: The Newspaper Stories of Rick Bragg | Rick Bragg | | 978-0375725524 | | | | | |
| The Art and Craft of Feature Writing | William Blundell | Plume | 978-0452261587 | | | | | |
| Telling True Stories: A Non Fiction Guide from the Nieman Foundation | Mark Kramer | | 978-0452287556 | | | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Short pieces | | 40% |
| Long pieces | | 40% |
| Research, Participation, and Attendance | | 20% |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
Assessment Guidelines:
A: Original ideas, effective research and excellent writing skills in addition to high-level class participation.
B: Highly competent level of performance. Good story ideas, good quality of research, solid writing, high level class participation
C: Acceptable though limited level of research and writing and a lackluster performance in class
D: Poor level of research and writing, poor level of class participation
F: A failure to provide an acceptable level of research, writing and class participation
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
This class is about ideas, feedback, listening and participating, which means that the student needs to be present in every class and be on time. More than three unjustified absences will make 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
3,5 September
Introduction, development of story ideas, first assignment
Required readings from textbooks and other
Week 2
10,12 September
Discussion of first assignment, focus on research techniques
Required readings from textbooks and other
Week 3
17,19 September
Developing ideas for second assignment, focus on importance of voice and style
Required readings from textbooks and other
Week 4
24,26 September
Discussion of second assignment, developing ideas for in class lab
Required readings from textbooks and other
Week 5
1,3 October
In class lab
Week 6
8,10 October
Focus on travel writing, developing ideas for fourth assignment
Required readings from textbook and other
Week 7
15,17 October
Focus on profile writing, discussion fourth assignment
Required readings from texbook and other
Week 8
22,24 October
Focus on political/social stories, developing ideas for major feature story
Required readings from textbooks and other
Week 9
29,31 October
Focus on light, humorous feature, developing major feature story
Required readings from textbooks and other
Week 10
5,7 November
In class Lab on major feature story, turn in first draft
Required readings from textbook and other
Week 11
12,14 November
Focus on rewriting and editing
Required readings from textbook and other
Week 12
19,21 November
Focus on rewriting and editing
Required readings from textbook and other
Week 13
26,29 November
Focus on final rewriting and editing and submission of feature stories
Required readings from textbook and other
Week 14
3,5 Dec
Late submissions and critical reading of students' feature stories
Required readings from textbook and other
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