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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "COM 221-2"
COURSE NAME: "Writing Across the Media"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Fall 2016
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Rosamaria Mancini
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
M11:30 AM 1:20 PM M1:30 PM 2:20 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: EN 110 with a grade of C or above
OFFICE HOURS:
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course introduces students to the various kinds of writing they will encounter in the media professions and in digital multimedia production, and prepares them for more advanced media courses in the Communications and Media Studies program. Students will also be introduced to basic legal and ethical issues, such as libel, copyright, privacy. Activities include writing for online media, press releases, strategic campaigns, and short scripts for visual and audio media as well as exercises to pitch their ideas. They will also explore issues concerning style, communicability, and effective storytelling.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This is a course in which students will transfer the fundamental skills of reporting, writing, critical thinking and ethics to create works combining text, images and other features of digital journalism and media.
The class will include different projects including writing stories; a press release, media kit, short scripts (audio and visual) for a public service announcement, strategic spot among other things, along with discussions on emerging media themes, such as the ethical and legal implications of publishing online and aggregating content in a 24/7 environment; the impact of social media on the mainstream media; and the importance of web analytics. The students will build create a portfolio of their work online using a content management system.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
-Learn legal and ethical principles of writing for the media;
-Demonstrate an understanding of the history and role of writing for various media professions;
-Understand the basic skills to work in multimedia communication, including writing for the web [headlines, teasers, stories, captions], blogging, telling stories with images and creating a news package;
-Apply tools and technologies appropriate for different communications professions;
-Critically assess institutional and individual media practices;
-Understand how build communities, interaction and entrepreneurship online;
-Conceive, draft, edit and finalize a basic script for visual and audio media.
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| Online Journalism, The Essential Guide | Steve Hill and Paul Lashmar | Sage Publications | 978-1446207352 | | | | | |
| How To Podcast 2016 | Paul Colligan | Createspace | 978-1522995562 | | | | | |
| Out on the Wire: The Storytelling Secrets of the New Masters of Radio | Jessica Abel | Broadway Books | 978-0385348430 | | | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Class Participation/Preparedness | This class requires students to not only attend class but also be active in the class discussions, and that means exercises, readings and assignments must be done on time. Students should be curious and should ask questions - there are no stupid questions. Be prepared to pitch your ideas for the various assignments.
| 20 percent |
| Writing Portfolio | This class requires students to write a series of stories from a news beat. These stories will reflect the style learned in class and will include multiple visual elements. The students will also create a professional press kit for a band, film or a book, a proposal for a project and a short script for a digital storytelling platform (gaming, video narration, podcast, etc.) of your choice
There will be NO late assignments accepted and note everything must be in digital format only.
| 40 percent |
| Final project/exam | There will be a final project/exam that will require extensive research and writing.
| 30 percent |
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| Writing Exercises | There will be a series of exercises to be completed both in and outside of class. | 10 percent |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge 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
BThis 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.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis 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.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
In order to do well in this class you MUST come to class. More than three unexcused absences will result in the automatic loss of a letter grade.
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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
Course Introduction/ Working online - journalism/writing across the media
WEEK 2
Essential skills/Understanding your users
WEEK 3
Skills for the Multimedia Journalist: Writing for the web/Telling stories with images
WEEK 4
Lab: Writing for the web/Multimedia
WEEK 5
Building communities, interaction, entrepreneurship: social media
WEEK 6
Blogging/citizen journalism
WEEK 7
Becoming a thinking communications professional: ethics and good practice/law and regulation
WEEK 8
Corporate & Educational
WEEK 9
Lab
WEEK 10
Games and Convergence Media
WEEK 11
Audio scripts/Drama
WEEK 12
Pitches
WEEK 13
Lab/Evolving world of media, freelancing /Final exam review
WEEK 14:
Final Exam
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