MC2010 Syllabus
Instructor: Jay Perkins
Office: Johnston 207
Phone: 578-2381
Email: jrperk@lsu.edu
Webpage: http://www.lsu.edu/faculty/jperk
Office Hours:
Requirement: You must have a
PAWS Account.
Warning: This class will
determine whether you will be allowed to take any other mass
communication classes. You must make a B or better in this class
in order to even be considered as a mass communication major.
Statistically speaking, a good one-third of this class won't make
it. Monitor your
progress daily, don't skip class and don't blow off assignments.
And, above all, keep a close eye on the drop date.
Objective: To learn how to research and organize information in
print and broadcast format. These are the two styles used by
newspapers, broadcast outlets and public relations professionals.
We also will focus on learning how to use electronic forms
of communication for research that can supplement basic
interviews. At the end of this course, the student should be able
to (1.) recognize what is news and how to use that knowledge to
write a story for print or broadcast outlets (2.) gather basic
information needed for a story or a news release (3.) Do it all in
proper AP Style.
Word of Advice: In the immortal words of Ms.
Frizzle of Magic School Bus fame -- "take
chances, make mistakes, get dirty." It's the only
way to learn. This course is designed to let you make mistakes
early in the semester. But making mistakes toward the end will
ruin your grade in a hurry.
Text and other requirements:
-
Textbook.
-
The AP Stylebook by the editors
of the Associated Press.
-
One ream of standard typewriter or copier
paper, to be turned in to the computer people in Johnston 236
-
You also will be expected to keep up with
current events and to read USA Today and the New York Times
daily on the Internet. Both are free. However, the Times does
require you to register and to have an e-mail account in order
to access it.
Keys to passage: Clear
writing, solid researching, accurate facts. Good leads (those that
catch the essence of the story and present it clearly and in an
interesting manner). An ability to navigate the Internet and
gather information to make your research stronger. An ability to
get people to talk. Meeting deadlines. In short, the same skills
and practices that will make you successful -- or a failure --
should you end up working in media.
Grading: You will
have outside class assignments and in-class assignments. These
assignments will account for 80 percent of your grade. Your final
exam will count for 15 percent. You also will have four exams on
AP Style. These exams will total 5 percent of your grade.
Most assignments will consist of covering events and writing news
stories for publication.
Assignments will be graded on a 100 point scale
with 93 to 100 representing an A, 85 to 93 representing a B,
84 to 77 a C , 76 to 69 a D and 68 and below an F. There is no curve in this class so what you see is what you
get.
While the focus of this course is on writing --
that is, finding quality sources and quality information and
organizing it so that it is effective journalistic communication
-- grammar and style do count. Sloppy grammar will turn an A paper
into a C real fast. Factual errors -- an incorrect name or title
-- will turn any grade into a zero. Given that you'll have about
10 to 15 graded assignments, one zero kills any chance you had of
making an A. Bottom Line: Don't make mistakes unless you're
planning to change your major real quick.
You will take a standard grammar test in the first
week of class. This will not count toward your grade. It is
intended simply to give us an idea of your strength in basic
English grammar rules. You also will write a profile of yourself.
Again, this will not be graded but is intended to help us
understand you and your goals.
In Class Reading: You
will be expected to read a variety of articles and tip sheets
relating to basic communication. These will be linked to your
syllabus so that you can call them up from any computer that is
connected to the Internet. I expect you to read the articles prior
to class. You may be tested on the material at the start of a
class.
Attendance: It is
important for you to attend every class meeting. Makeup quizzes
and assignments will not be allowed unless you can prove that you
were ill or that you had a death in the immediate family. Documentation
will be required.
Deadlines:
Late assignments will not be
accepted. If you have an excused absence, late assignments will be
due the day following your return to class.
Plagiarism:
Journalists get fired for it, the university suspends you for it,
so don't do it. Any assignment suspected of being plagiarized will
be turned over to the Dean of Students for prosecution.
_________________________________________________
Aug. 25, Week 1
Monday: Introduction to the course, outline of
requirements, introduction to the computers and programs used in
the class, write a profile for the dean, visit from the Reveille
and the dean.
Wednesday:
________________________________________________________
Sept. 1, Week 2
Monday: Labor Day - no class
Wednesday: Assignment -
Write leads from information provided by the instructor.
This
assignment is due at the end of class.
____________________________________________________
Sept. 8, Week 3
Assignment: Find a story
of interest to the campus community, interview two experts on
the subject (no roommates or other students allowed), write it
and turn it in at the start of class on Monday, Sept. 15. By
experts, I mean administration officials or some other person
who has first-hand knowledge of the news event that you have
selected. Remember, this is a news story. It is not a feature, a
public interest campaign, an informative article about a dread
disease, or any other varient. It must have a NEWS angle. If you
still don't know what news is, consult your textbook. This story
is due before class on Monday, Sept. 22.
Monday -- First
AP Exam and writing continued
Wednesday: Introduction to Organization
___________________________________________________________
Sept. 15, Week 4
Monday:
Second AP Exam
Campus
Assignment I due
Wednesday: Assignment: Find another story
of interest to the campus community, interview two experts and
find two written sources on
the subject (documents, handouts, etc., but no media sources).
This story is due before class on Monday, Sept 29.
________________________________________________________
Sept. 22, Week 5
Monday: 3rd
AP Exam and Interviewing
Tuesday at 4 p.m.
Assignment:
Two national officials of the Society of Professional
Journalists will speak at 4 p.m. in the Curet Room, 2nd floor of
Hodges Hall. Cover their speech and write it for class on
Monday, Sept. 29. If you cannot make this assignment, see the
instructor for an alternative assignment.
Wednesday: Interviewing Techniques
_________________________________________________________
Sept. 29, Week 6
Monday: Fourth
AP Exam
Campus
Assignment II due
Leads and other good stuff
Wednesday: Assignment:
Write a newspaper article from a set of facts that has
everything a newspaper looks for in an article. Click
here
for the facts. Your assignment is to take these facts, which
were assembled in narrative form, and write them in an inverted
pyramid format for the daily newspaper known as the Jerusalem
Post. For purposes of this assignment, the activities described
in this narrative occurred today and you are writing for
tomorrow's paper. Remember, you are writing for the readership
of a specific newspaper so think-- what are they most interested
in? Remember also that you must attribute everything to a
particular source. If the source is not clear, you may attribute
it to soldiers on the battlefield. Also, one last clue to
improve your grade-- you may think God moves mountains but
newspaper reporters don't; You can quote someone as saying God
moves mountains or you can leave it out but you can't put your
opinion in the story.
Due
Date: End of Class TODAY.
_______________________________________________________
Oct. 6, Week 7
Monday: Mining the
Internet for secondary sources.
