COM 268

Public Relations Writing and Production

Spring 2016

Section 01 - Tuesday/Thursday 12:35 – 1:50 p.m. Fell 102

Section 02 – Tuesday/Thursday 3:35 – 4:50 p.m. Fell102

Instructor:Chelsey Eimer

Office:405 Fell

E-mail:

Office Hours:Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., or by appointment

Course Objective:

Learn and apply basic public relations writing and production skills to current and future communication situations. These skills include, but are not limited to, audience analysis, message design, media relations, news writing and design principles.

Required Textbook:

Bivins, T. (2013). Public Relations Writing (8th ed). McGraw Hill: Chicago.
2015 AP Stylebook

Also Required:

One portable jump drive/USB key

The grading scale is a standard ten-percentage point scale:

90%-100% = A; 80%-89% = B; 70%-79% = C; 60%-69% = D; below 60% = F

** Additional assignments and handouts will be distributed throughout the semester.

Course Policies

In this course I challenge you to strive for perfection (or at least near perfection) in your work. Why? The answer is that your bosses, peers and, especially, clients will expect that from you throughout your career. This course is designed to extend your knowledge, strengthen your technical skills, and refine your work habits. It will build the foundation for your portfolios are you work through the PR curriculum – it provides the stepping-stones for not only PR Campaigns, but also your career. This course, then, challenges you to think, work and produce discourse that would rival that of full-time professionals. To manage matters in this course, the several policy areas given below.

You also are expected to be familiar with ISU’s Code of Student Conduct. Concerning online course content, you also are expected to be familiar with and apply principles of Communication/Netiquette.

Class Meetings

The following are policies about specific matters for class meetings.

  • Starting On Time — The official starting time for class meetings is not your arrival time. Come early! We will begin on time, and this is why your assignments are due before/by the official starting time of class as stated in the semester schedule. Remember this and act on it: “Early is on time. On time is late. Late is unacceptable.”
  • Finishing Early — Whenever we finish our class meetings early, this still can be important time for you to help your own learning at an individual level. Visit with me, talk with each other, or get things organized for yourself in that time. You may leave, if you wish. But remember that because we all have our class meetings already blocked off inour schedules, the time can be used well for your individual needs. And you can still visit with one of us during office hours and make appointments.
  • Late Start to Class — On the very rare possibility that I am not in class promptly at the official starting time (or early), rest assured that I am on my way. Please remain in the classroom until I arrive. I will take attendance. We'll cover what material we can that is scheduled for that day. Any homework that is due will be collected. Any exam scheduled for that day will be given as planned.
  • Class Cancellation — Only two conditions are likely to exist when classes are cancelled: (1) ISU’s president has closed the university for a weather-related or another reason, or (2) I am unable to make it to ISU because of an illness, jury duty or another situation. Either way, if class is cancelled, you will receive an official notice by e-mail. If I must cancel class, a notice will be posted in the classroom and/or on the doorway. Any assignment due or exam scheduled for a day when class is cancelled will be due or done at the next class meeting.

Additional Policies and Procedures:

1)Reggie Net: Assignments, power point presentations, exams, materials and examples will be placed on Reggie Net. All assignments (unless otherwise noted) are to be posted to Reggie Net by the assigned date and time. If you are registered for the course, you are automatically enrolled in Reggie Net. Use of Reggie Net will be discussed in class, but additional assistance can be found at:

2)Late work: Late work will not be accepted, unless it is tied to a previouslyexcused absence.

3)Plagiarism: Evidence of plagiarism or cheating will result in an F on the assignment and possible dismissal from the University. The University Handbook contains the plagiarism policy that will be followed in this course and all ISU courses. Read it and understand it.

4) Grading: There are both objective and subjective criteria I use when grading your writing and layout designs. Objective criteria include style “rules” that you will learn and will be expected to follow. Subjective criteria include my overall impression based on my experience and how well you perform compared to your fellow students. If you ever have a question about one of your grades please feel free to speak with me during my office hours (not in class or through email).

5) Cell Phones, Laptops, Voice Recorders, iPods, MP3 Players, Text Messaging, etc.:You will have access to lab computers throughout the course (especially for lab assignments), but please use them only to help you in your learning this class’ content and not surf the Web or do any other non-class-related stuff. If you find something useful, please share it with the class. Turn off the volume, and no earphones are allowed.

6)Attendance: I expect that you are all adults and will attend every class, however I will be taking attendance each class. You will receive 5 points for every class attended (losing points, should you miss class). Bare in mind that you will NOT be able to make up AP Style Quizzes. For an absence to be considered “excused” you must inform me prior to class, if at all possible. Excused absences include participation in a university-sanctioned event, the death of a family member (see University Policy and Procedures 2.1.27 Student Bereavement Policyonline), incapacitating illness, and natural disaster. Other absences (e.g., cold/flu, weddings, babies, car trouble, house/apartment problem, etc.) will be considered individually.As an added incentive to attend every class, those that have perfect attendance will receive 20 extra credit points at the end of the semester.

7)Online Communication: Proper formatting and good language use is necessary in every written document you prepare, including e-mail. Electronic communication should be complete with a greeting body text, salutation, and signature. I understand that we are all very busy people, however, you will not be taken seriously (in school or in your career) if you cannot properly communicate through e-mail. I will only open and respond to your e-mail when:

  1. A clear and simple subject line is given that, within 10 words or less, says exactly which class you're in and what topic(s) you're writing about. Don't be lazy and leave an old subject line from a previous e-mail I sent that has nothing to do with your e-mail's content. I will not reply to e-mail that uses a subject line that is not directly related to your e-mail content.
  2. Your e-mail text is written effectively and concisely, and it should be as free of errors as possible.

By the way, I will apply these rules when I send e-mail to you.During the weekdays, I will respond to emails within 24 hours. On the weekends, I will respond within 48 hours.

**InDesign: You will be using Adobe InDesign to produce your newsletter and certain items of your press kit. You will be required to use this program in this computer lab. Other labs have InDesign but not the same version and you will be unable to transfer your documents back and forth.

**Any student needing to arrange reasonable accommodations for a documented disability should contact Disability Concerns, Fell 350, (voice) 438-5853, (TDD) 438-8620.

COM 268 SCHEDULE

** NO FINAL EXAM. WE DO NOT MEET DURING FINALS WEEK.

Date

/

Week

/

Topic

/

Readings Due

/

Assignments Due – items are due ON THE DATE they are listed

1/12 / 1 / Introduction to the course
1/14 / The Essential tools for PR Majors & AP Style Rules / “Essential tools for PR Majors” / Visit ReggieNet.
1/19 / 2 / Writing for PR / Bivins Chapters 1 & 3 / AP Quiz #1
1/21 / Research & Planning
1/26 / 3 / Message Strategy / Bivins Chapter 4 / AP Quiz #2
1/28 / Choosing a Medium
2/2 / 4 / Media Relations and Placement / Bivins Chapter 5 / AP Quiz #3
2/4 / Cont.
2/9 / 5 / News Releases / Bivins Chapter 7 / Direction Sheet/Pitch Letter
AP Quiz #4
2/11 / Cont.
2/16 / 6 / Exam #1 Review / News Release
2/18 / Exam #1 (In Reggie-Net) / No Class Meeting
2/23 / 7 / Writing for the Web and Social Media / Bivins Chapter 6 / AP Quiz #5
2/25 / Cont.
3/1 / 8 / Television and Radio / Bivins Chapter 10 / Social Media
AP Quiz #6
3/3 / Cont.
3/8 / 9 / SPRING BREAK – NO CLASS MEETING
3/10 / SPRING BREAK – NO CLASS MEETING
3/15 / 10 / Controlled Publications / Bivins Chapter 8 / Public Service Announcement
AP Quiz #7
3/17 / Cont.
3/22 / 11 / Design, Printing, Desktop Publishing / Bivins Chapter 9 / Feature Writing
AP Quiz #8
3/24 / Exam #2 (In Reggie-Net) / No Class Meeting
3/29 / 12 / InDesign
3/31 / Lab – Newsletter
4/5 / 13 / Lab – Newsletter
4/7 / Lab – Newsletter / Newsletter Assignment
4/12 / 14 / Lab – Press Kit
4/14 / Lab – Press Kit
4/19 / 15 / Lab – Press Kit
4/21 / Lab – Press Kit / Press Kit
4/26 / 16 / Presentations
4/28 / Presentations

*** This course schedule is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor. I will announce any notable changes in class, through email and/or on ReggieNet. You are responsible for noting any such changes,

NO FINAL EXAM AND NO MEETNG TIME DURING FINALS WEEK

The exam may cover items not covered in the daily lesson plans but are in your textbook.

Assignments/Exams – subject to change

Assignment #1 Direction Sheet/Pitch Letter (25 points)

Assignment #2News Release (25 points)

Assignment #3 Social Media Assignment (25 points)

Assignment #4Public Service Announcement (25 points)

Assignment #5 Feature Story Assignment (25 points)

Assignment #6 Newsletter Design Assignment (25 points)

Assignment #7 Final Project Proposal (50 points)

Assignment #8 Press Kit (150 points)

QuizzesAP Style Quizzes (80)

Exam #1 Reggie Net, Objective, Multiple Choice/True False (100 points)

Exam #2 Reggie Net, Objective, Multiple Choice/True False (70 points)

Attendance150 Points

Total Points750

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