SYLLABUS

WRITING FOR NEW MEDIA

ENG 309; Spring 2010

M-W-F  2 p.m.-2:50  GUILFORD 317

Lecturer:  Stuart Warner                                                      Office hours:  Guilford 318

                                                                                                Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

                                                                                                and by appointment               

E-Mail:  warnercorn@msn.com                                                                                                   Web page: www.thewritecoachonline.com

Blog: www.thewritecoach.wordpress.com

COURSE OUTLINE

            Journalism is changing as rapidly as I write this syllabus.  A newspaper closes.  A hundred new bloggers began reporting the news.  This course will not focus on the traditional platforms of presenting the news, i.e., newspapers, radio, TV, magazines.  Instead, the focus will be on writing for new media – and maybe even creating some of our own. The  emphasis will be experimentation.  Every student will be required to keep a blog and to report on an even using Twitter.  We will also try to create a class Facebook page on writing for new media.  We will also study Search Engine Optimization.   Through it all, though, we will continue to emphasize what is good journalism, including libel and ethics. Each student’s blog will be covering a specific area of campus life.  Fridays will be devoted to reporting on that beat.  Students who miss class without a doctor’s excuse must arrange for make-up quizzes.  More than two unexcused absences  will result in a lowered grade.   Class participation will also factor heavily in grades.  Journalists, whatever medium, must be curious and learn to ask direct questions.  Quizzes may be given on the reading material at any time without notice.

READINGS (PARTIAL LIST)

Elements of Journalism, Kovach and Rosenstiel

Journalism Next, Mark Briggs

Elements of Style, Strunk and White (recommended by not required)

Other assigned readings

GRADING

Grades will generally be based on the following scale

Final project– 25 percent

Mid-term  – 20  percent

Blogs – 20 percent

Twitter assignments – 15

Quizzes – 10 percent

Class participation – 10 percent

                                                RULES OF THE CLASS

Deadlines cannot be compromised.  Assignments turned in late without a doctor’s excuse will not be accepted.  Students will be held to professional standards with regard to spelling and factual errors, both of which will result in grade reductions.  Students will also be expected to adhere to the grammatical rules outlined in Elements of Style. Plagiarism, fabrication or any other egregious ethical breach of professional standards shall be dealt with most severely.

                                    SCHOOL POLICY ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

All forms of academic dishonesty including cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation, and obstruction are violations of academic integrity standards. Cheating includes copying from another’s work, falsifying problem solutions or laboratory reports, or using unauthorized sources, notes or computer programs. Plagiarism includes the presentation, without proper attribution, of another’s words or ideas from printed or electronic sources. It is also plagiarism to submit, without the instructor’s consent, an assignment in one class previously submitted in another. Misrepresentation includes forgery of official academic documents, the presentation of altered or falsified documents or testimony to a university office or official, taking an exam for another student, or lying about personal circumstances to postpone tests or assignments. Obstruction occurs when a student engages in unreasonable conduct that interferes with another’s ability to conduct scholarly activity. Destroying a student’s computer file, stealing a student’s notebook, and stealing a book on reserve in the library are examples of obstruction.

OVERVIEW

This is a rough outline of the topics will be covered and subject to change.  We may take a trip to a non-traditional news rooms, based on availability.  Individual reading assignments will be updated  weekly .   And Unannounced quizzes on reading assignments will also be given.

Week 1 – Introduction: Does journalism matter anymore? (No class Friday, Jan. 15)

Week 2 – What is good writing.  (No class Mon., Jan. 18)

Week 3 – More on writing style, developing an online attitude.

Week 4 – Getting started on your blog, Facebook page.

Week 5 – How to blog covering a beat (guest speakers)

Week 6 – Microblogging (Twitter, et al)

Week 7 – Discussion of Elements of Journalism

Week 8 – Mid-term exam on Elements of Journalism (3 essay questions, in class)

Week  9 –  (after spring break) Search Engine Optimization

Week 10 –  Using video, audio, etc   (Twitter project due)

Week 11 – Going Mobile

Week 12 – Social networking … how can we use it more.

Week 13 – Drafts of final paper due … will schedule individual review sessions

Week 14 – Polishing final papers, blogs completed

Week 15 – Final papers due