Critical Perspectives on the News
1
COM 385 – Editorial & Feature Writing
Instructor: Dr. John Huxford
Spring 2017
MonWeds: 4.00pm-5.15pm
Fell Hall 108
OFFICE HOURS
Mon & Weds: 2.45pm-4.00pm
406 Fell Hall
Email:
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Feature writing demands a unique combination of talents - the accuracy and techniques
of the busy reporter and the literary skills of the creative writer. This course is designed
to help students achieve those abilities with theoretical and practical training in writing
feature articles for newspapers, magazines and online outlets. You will learn to develop ideas for articles, carry out research, conduct interviews and write the articles themselves. Along with news features related genres will also be surveyed, including profiles andcomment. If you have a passion for the written word, a fascination with news and the determination to improve,this is the course for you.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
This class aims to:
1. Expose you to well-written and produced features from newspapers, magazines, and online sites.
2. Help you to nurture a deep fascination with, and respect for, the English Language.
3. Ensure you have a firm grasp of basic journalistic skills.
4. Provide you with a realisticview of your writing abilities and identify those areas in
which improvement is required.
5. Provide a comprehensive understanding of the way features are structured and created.
6. Understand how, in features, certain literary techniques can be used to enhance
journalistic skills, and offer opportunities to master these techniques.
7. Provide an introduction to specialist formats handled by those on a Features desk.
8. Encourage you to CHALLENGE yourself and to LEARN through classparticipation, course assignments and active reading.
REQUIRED READING
The following course texts are available from the campus bookstore:
1. The Essential Featureby Millicent V. Hay, Columbia University Press.
2. The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law, Basic Books.
These will be supplemented by Class Handouts and assigned readings available on the ReggieNet site under “Resources.”.
ASSIGNMENTS
There will be three main papers, each aimed at helping the student to develop their information collection/interviewing and writing abilities. You will also be required to complete a range of important in-class writing assignments and pass/fail exercises,along with quizzes designed to improve your vocabulary. Other requirements will include the creation of a feature portfolio and presentation, a reflection paper and a final exam.
GRADING
Feature presentation10% of grade
Portfolio10%
In-Class Assignments 10%
Vocabulary Quizzes10%
Profile Article10%
Feature Article 10%
Opinion Article10%
Reflection Paper5%
Final Exam25%
NOTE:Failure to complete any of the course requirements satisfactorily mayincur an additional grade penalty, as well as the loss of the percentage points allocated here.
COURSE POLICIES
REQUIREMENTS
Reading a daily newspaper and watching TV news are a necessary part of this course. Assigned readings should be read BEFORE class discussions, so as to facilitate student participation. Class attendance and participation are both expected and required. Students missing more than three classes without a satisfactory explanation will receive a grade penalty, as will students who repeatedly come late.
Students should be diligent in taking notes on class discussion. Assignments must be completed and turned in at the beginning of the class period on the date they are due. If you turn in an assignment late you will receive a zero for that assignment unless an alternate due date has previously been approved. Penalty points may also be taken from your overall score.
ELECTRONIC DEVICES
When in class, students should be engaged with the discussion. To this end, cell phones and other devices should be turned off. Computers may be used for class assignments only…. no game-playing, email, texting, browsing or chatting. Taking photographs in class is strictly forbidden, unless given permission by the instructor to do so.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Students are expected to accomplish their own work and submit work that is original for this class. All students are also responsible for reading and understanding the university’s position on academic integrity as outlined in the ISU Student Code of Conduct as found in the Student Handbook, Policy IIIB. It is not acceptable to claim “I didn’t know it was plagiarism” or “I didn’t know plagiarism was prohibited” as a defense.
There are no circumstances in whichfabrication in a submitted story or handing in the work of others as your ownis permissible, and this class will adhere to a policy of zero-tolerance on these issues. If a breach of academic integrity is discovered, I will assign a penalty appropriate to the severity of the offense. Note that the most lenient response will be an automatic F for the paper involved. Other penalties may include failing the entire course, and/or reporting the incident for resolution at the university level.
ASSISTANCE
Students who are having difficulty with readings, class material or assignments are encouraged to talk to me at the earliest opportunity. Time will be set aside in class for question and answer sessions, and I will be available to discuss questions or difficulties either after class, during office hours or by e-mail.
Any student needing to arrange a reasonable accommodation for a documented disability should contact Student Access and Accommodation Services at 350 Fell Hall. Website: StudentAccess.IllinoisState.edu
Please note: further details and guidance are available on the course ReggieNet site.
SYLLABUS
PART ONE: PREPARATION
WEEK ONE: INTRODUCTION
1/16NO CLASS – MLK Day
1/18 Introduction
WEEK TWO: DEFINING THE FEATURE
1/23Individual Meetings
1/25Defining the Feature
Reading: Hay, Ch 1.
WEEK THREE: INTERVIEWING & QUOTING
1/30Preparing for interviews
Reading: Hay, Ch 4.
2/1Conducting the Interview
Reading: Hay, Ch 5.
WEEK FOUR: NARRATIVE & LANGUAGE
2/6 Using Narrative
Reading: Hay, Ch 7.
Paper #1 assigned
2/8Wording a story
Reading: Hay, Ch 8.
WEEK FIVE: COLLECTING INFORMATION
2/13 Finding Features
Reading: Hay, Ch 2.
2/15 Searching for Information
Reading: Hay, Ch 3.
PART TWO: WRITING FEATURES
WEEK SIX: STRUCTURING THE FEATURE
2/20 Basic Structures I
Reading: Hay, Ch 6.
2/22 Basic Structures II
Reading: Hay, Ch 16.
WEEK SEVEN: OFFERING DESCRIPTION
2/27 Uses of Description
Reading: Hay, Ch 9.
Paper #1 due
3/1Ladder v Vista
Reading: Hay, Ch 12.
Paper #2 assigned
WEEK EIGHT: USING PERSPECTIVE
3/6 Point of View writing I
Reading: Class Handout.
3/8Point of View writing II
Reading: Hay, Ch 17.
WEEK NINE: SPRING BREAK
No Classes
WEEK TEN: ELEMENTS OF WRITING I
3/20 Tone & Rhythm I
Reading: Class Handout
3/22Metaphors & Similes
WEEK ELEVEN: ELEMENTS OF WRITING II
3/27Pathetic Fallacy & Foreshadowing
Reading: Hay, 11.
3/29 ThemesTransitions
WEEK TWELVE: ELEMENTS OF WRITING III
4/3 TensesAnthropomorphism
Reading: Class Handout.
4/5 Feature Writing v Documentaries
PART THREE: FORMATS & TOPICS
WEEK THIRTEEN: FORMATS I
4/10 Columns
Reading:Writing Commentary - ReggieNet
Paper #2 due
4/12 Editorials
Reading:Class Handout
Paper #3 assigned
WEEK FOURTEEN: FORMATS II
4/17 ReviewsI
Reading: Hay, Ch 23.
4/19 Reviews II
WEEK FIFTEEN: FORMATS III
4/24 Writing for the Web
Paper #3 due
4/26 Blogging
Reading: Blogging for Better Journalism - ReggieNet
WEEK SIXTEEN:GOING FREELANCE
5/1 Freelance Writing I
Reading: Hay, Ch 13
5/3 Freelance Writing II
Reading:Hay, Ch 14
Portfolio Due
WEEK SEVENTEEN: FINAL EXAM
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