Journalism II

 

Instructor:            Ms. Carol Hemmerly                                                             E-mail:            chemmerly@uaschools.org

Office:               Room 222 Journalism Office                                                Phone:            487-5240 ext. 131

 

Overview

Journalism II is primarily a publication preparation course designed to teach students how to produce print journalism.  Students will concentrate on journalistic style guidelines throughout the course while covering layout and design principles, photojournalism, desktop publishing, advertising, and business; this knowledge will culminate in the production of the spring supplement of Arlingtonian and activities in other UA publications

 

The course will also cover column writing, investigative reporting and survey writing techniques, and review press law & ethics.

ISSUED TEXT                      Journalism Today!, by Donald Ferguson and Jim Patten

SUPPLEMENTAL TEXT           Newspaper Designer’s Handbook, by Tim Harrower (class set)

MATERALS           (same as Journalism I)

Handheld digital voice recorder

 

Assessment

Major Assignment Points: 50 percent of each nine-week grading period

All writing is scored based upon the Holistic scoring guide made for that writing genre. Assignments will receive both a holistic score and a thorough edit for instructional purpose and revision.

 

Most, though not all, tests are performance-based in structure.  For example, to evaluate journalistic writing knowledge, students compose a news story from a set of interviewing notes. 

 

Deadline Points: 10 percent of each nine-week grading period

In addition to the points earned for the quality of their Major Assignments, students will receive points for completing and turning in Major Assignments on the assigned due date. All students will receive all 10 of their Deadline Points at the beginning of the quarter. For each day a Major Assignment is late, 1 point will be deducted from their Deadline Points (1 percent of the quarter’s grade).

 

If a student’s Deadline Points go down to 5 points at any time throughout the quarter, the student must report to Wednesday office hours in Room 221 throughout the remainder of the quarter; during this time we will work together to mitigate any further Deadline Point deductions.

 

Developmental Assignment Points: 30 percent of each nine-week grading period

Quizzes will be administered occasionally.  Homework normally consists of reading and research, but mainly of writing assignments.

 

Classroom Participation Points: 10 percent of each nine-week grading period

Reading discussions, Arlingtonian critiques, and other group work will be conducted and assessed.  Through such participatory activities, students become better able to express their views and opinions of the world around them.

 

Exam

The examination for Journalism II students is the final assignment of the course: a complete redesign of the publication using Adobe Indesign, including cover, contents, masthead and all stories the student wrote for Journalism I & II.

 

Optional Supplemental Activities

To gain a complete understanding of the print process, students should tour a printing facility.  Some years J-II students take a field trip to S. Beckman Printing to understand the printing process, usually during production of the spring supplement. 

 

Students might want to experience college level journalism through one-day seminars at respected journalism schools.  OSMA, at Kent State University, is April 2009.  All J-students are welcome to attend for a fee of approximately $20. 

 

Technology

Students use the latest technology in computer word processing, image scanning, digital image manipulation, desktop publishing, and web publishing to complete their assignments.

 

Behavior and Participation Expectations

Behavior is a part of your ability to function in the world and, as such, will be assessed as a part of your class participation grade. Severe behavior problems will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. Below is a simple list of my expectations:

                        Be Respectful of Others: Listen when others are speaking. Be kind, honest, and accepting of others.

                                    Be Prepared for Class: Be in your seat when the bell rings.  Bring your materials.  Complete assignments on time.

                                    Participate Positively in Class: Use time wisely. Contribute to discussions. Take an active role in your learning.

                                    Maintain an Atmosphere Conducive to Learning: No mp3 players, please.  Follow school rules & regulations.

 

Make-Up Work

If you have an excused absence, you are eligible to make-up any work done or due in class the day(s) you were absent.  Please make a point to conference with me on the day of your return to arrange when you will hand in and/or make-up any work.

 

If you have an unexcused absence, you are eligible to make-up tests and/or hand in papers/projects.  There will be 10 points deducted from your total score for each day that passed since the original test date or due date.

 

Late Work

Major assignments will be accepted late; however 10 points will be deducted from your total score for each day that passed since the original due date and/or test date.

 

Developmental work is not accepted late.

Journalism II Course Outline*

*Please note this is a tentative outline, and subject to change

 

Week 1-4: Preparation for

 Spring Supplement

            Overview of J-II

Review the four major kinds of stories covered in Journalism I and stylebook rules.  Stylebook quizzes will be every other Friday beginning Week 2.

Layout & design, headlines and photojournalism

                        Read Chapters 13, 14, 19, Harrower and handouts. 

            Desktop publishing

Use iMac computer to produce publications with word processing and Adobe Indesign software.  Read all handouts to prepare for hands-on work on the computers in order to publish Spring Supplement.

            Advertising and business principles for journalists

Read Chapter 15 and handouts.  Start selling ads for Spring Supplement

 

Weeks 5-8: Production of Spring Supplement

            Newsmagazine production (Spring Supplement)

Hands-on: Students will sell ads, choose and write stories, edit copy, take photos and design pages–with headlines and art–on the computer. 

                        NOTE: Out-of-class time will be required to complete the Spring Supplement.

 

Week 9-12: Podcasting and Multimedia Reporting

Column writing

Read Chapter 12 and handouts.  Each student will write a series of columns.

 

Week 12-18: Investigative Reporting

Investigative research & reporting

Read Chapter 9 and handouts. 

            Survey writing techniques / Internet research & reporting

Study sample surveys.  Create a survey and “test” questions on other members of the class–check question wording for clarity and bias.

Ethical issues in journalism

Read handouts. 

All the President’s Men

Movie & notes, with discussion

Press law (with an emphasis on Freedom Of Information Law, Ohio Shield Law, Copyright Law, etc.)

Review handouts.  Discussion on potential legal situations.

 

???: The Publication

Layout & design: Redesign

Redesign of Arlingtonian

 

 

OTHER ASSIGNMENTS:

1.               Students will complete biweekly style quizzes.  Each student will take nine (9) style quizzes, approximately three letters at a time.  The student will retake each quiz until mastery (i.e. 80%) is achieved.  (Repeated style quizzes will be averaged together for a grade.)

2.               Students will have the extra credit option of writing short news stories for Arlingtonian as needed throughout the semester.  Stories will be published with their own headlines and bylines.  Students will also work to produce both the copy and the layout for full pages in the publications as time permits.