Journalism/
Yearbook/Newspaper Syllabus
Mrs. Zimny
(940) 235-1084 ext. 32056
Welcome to journalism (yearbook/newspaper). This is a fun but challenging class. Being a member comes with great responsibility—but keep in mind—you are helping to produce a piece of history valued by your classmates, WFHS staff and the surrounding Wichita Falls community.
Description:
Journalism (yearbook/newspaper) is an elective course that gives students marketable experience in print media publishing. This course solely works toward the completion and selling of a large finished product, Wichita Falls High School’s yearbook/newspaper. Participation in the examination of legal and ethical issues of medial law and copyright is essential in order to maintain professional and ethical application of journalistic skills.
Students enrolled in Journalism write in a variety of forms for a variety of audiences and purposes. Students enrolled in this course are expected to plan, draft, and complete written compositions on a regular basis, carefully examining their papers for clarity, engaging language, and the correct use of the conventions and mechanics of written English. In Journalism, students are expected to write in a variety of forms and for a variety of audiences and purposes. Students will become analytical consumers of media and technology to enhance their communication skills. Published work of professional journalists, technology, and visual and electronic media are used as tools for learning as students create, clarify, critique, write, and produce effective communications. Students enrolled in Journalism will learn journalistic traditions, research self-selected topics, write journalistic texts,learn the history of journalism, the first amendment,and the principles of publishing.
In class, students compose, construct and edit all elements of computerized text, layout, graphic art and digital photography. Students work on many clerical operations, make announcements, maintain signs, and conduct student polls. Yearbook/newspaper in turn covers many of the content standards and objectives encountered in English courses, as it also does for objectives in art, speech, business and computer technology courses. Because yearbook/newspaper is a monetary business, students must cooperatively work with others, must be industrious, and be eager to be creative. Out of class and after school, students will shoot digital photos, sell and design advertising and disseminate yearbook order forms. Students are responsible for the proper care and handling of WFHS’s digital cameras. Students should expect to spend some of their lunch breaks and/or after school in room 100A working on computerized yearbook/newspaper layouts and designs.
(Camera use agreement and permission to leave campus agreement are attached.)
Course Schedule:
Note:Journalism is considered a semester-long elective; however, some journalism students will choose to stay in the class throughout the school year. Because students have a variety of skills and knowledge in each class, collaborative learning is essential. Allstudents will gather news and photos, create layouts, and design spreads to contribute to the publication of the school yearbook and newspaper throughout the entirety of their time in the classroom.
Materials:
You must bring the following items to class each day: A pen, pencil, and notebook/composition book.
Grading:
Journalism and beginning newspaper students will be graded on class participation/working as a team, classwork, and tests/quizzes.
More advanced journalism students, newspaper, and yearbook gradesare primarily based on your spreads. Your spreads will be evaluated based on photographs (are they present? appropriate?), development of story, deadline (either you meet it or you don’t), and captions. You will also get a production grade based on effort, quality, and professionalism. Grades are calculated on a total point basis.
Your grade will be determined by the following categories.
Spreads:
Spreads will be assigned throughout the semester, and specific grading sheets for each spread will be available at the time the spread is assigned. Because our yearbook is directly tied to specific deadlines set by our publisher, any spread that fails to meet deadline will only be eligible for half credit. Any spread that is not complete by the second class after deadline will receive no credit and will be reassigned. Missing deadline is extremely costly for the yearbook and can severely hurt your grade.
Participation:
Production of the newspaper and yearbook is a team effort. Without everyone’s participation, we will not be able to turn out a quality newspaper/yearbook on time. Both the teacher and your editor will determine your participation grade; however, the teacher will have the final say in your participation grade.
Expectations:
All students are expected to be seated at the time the bell rings. No one is to leave the classroom for any reason without permission of the teacher. If your work requires you to leave the classroom during class, you must first obtain a pass before leaving. Yearbook is both a class and a club. It requires a considerable amount of work to be done outside of class time. From time to time you will be required to stay after school to work on the yearbook spreads, and assist students who may be falling behind. If you have any concerns about the time commitment that yearbook requires, please see me immediately.
Behavior:
I expect the highest level of good behavior at all times in my class room. If your behavior becomes unsafe at any time you will be asked to leave. If you are asked to leave during class, this will negatively impact your participation grade. In addition you will be subject to any punishment imposed by administration.
Staff Responsibilities:
•Store work in progress and tools or supplies in the appropriate areas
•You are responsible for meeting EVERY deadline of your assignments
Use of technology(digital cameras, computers, software, etc.):
Students are expected to use equipment responsibly. No consumption of food or drink will be tolerated around computers.
Academic Dishonesty or Plagiarism:
Any student found using the work, ideas, or language of another writer or student without giving credit to thesource will receive a “0” for his or her grade. Plagiarism is a serious offense.
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Equipment Checkout Contract for 2016-2017
I, ______, agree to assume financial responsibility for the equipment my child, ______, has checked out. I will pay for any repairs needed, due to negligence, when the equipment is in my son or daughter’s control. I also agree to pay for, or replace with comparable equipment, any items lost or stolen while in my child’s care. I understand that my son or daughter’s grades, transcript and diploma will be held until this debt is paid.
Parent Signature: ______
Student Signature: ______
Date: ______
Permission to Leave Campus
______
(Student Name) (Grade) (Date of Birth)
Selling advertising space is a major component of the newspaper/yearbook class. Our students will be selling ads to businesses in Wichita Falls in order to help pay for the cost of the yearbook. Ad sales will be done during the yearbook classes and often during lunch (if student is able to leave campus according to school rules). Please fill out the following permission slip and have your child return it to Mrs. Zimny in room 221 as soon as possible.
I understand that my child cannot participate in newspaper/yearbook ad sales unless given permission by their parent/guardian. Furthermore, I understand that my child cannot drive from campus unless they have auto insurance.
Please initial where appropriate:
____ I give my child permission to use his/her personal vehicle to sell ads for the HHS yearbook.
____ I give my child permission to ride in cars with other yearbook students, provided that the driver is legally allowed to carry passengers.
____ I do not want my child leaving campus at all, and I will help my child sell yearbook ads during non-school hours.
Parent / Guardian
Signature: ______Date:______