MC2010 Syllabus
Instructor: Jay Perkins
Office: Journalism 203 B
Phone: 388-2381
Email: jrperk@lsu.edu
Webpage: http://www.jour.lsu.edu/perkins
Office Hours:
Requirement: You must have a
PAWS Account. Now. If you do not have one, get one before you come
back to this class. You will not be allowed to continue in this
class without a PAWS account and a MassComm logon account. You
won't be able to take any of the exams or to store your writing
assignments without these accounts.
Warning: For most of you, 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 advance. That's not going to be easy. 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.
Text and other requirements:
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News Writing and Reporting for Today's
Media by Bruce Itule and Douglas Anderson.
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The AP Stylebook by the editors
of the Associated Press.
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You also will need a headset that can be
plugged into the back of a computer so that you can get sound
(about $15 at Office Depot). Portable CD player headsets work
fine usually so long as the cord is long enough.
-
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 10 percent. You also will have four exams on
AP Style. These exams will total 10 percent of your grade.
Most assignments will consist of covering events and writing news
stories for publication.
All assignments will require you to write a story
both in print and broadcast format. Assignments will be graded on a 100 point scale
with 90 to 100 representing an A, 80 to 89 representing a B
and so forth. AP Style exams will be graded on a 25 point
basis. There is no curve in this class so what you see is what you
get.
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.
_________________________________________________
Jan. 23, Week 1
Introduction to the course, outline of
requirements, introduction to the computers and programs used in
the class.
Read Text: pages
14-25 - What is News
________________________________________________________
Jan. 28, Week 2
Monday: Introduction to Media Writing
Grammar
test
Personal
Essay
Wednesday: Read before class today:
Chapters 3 and 4 (leads and specialty leads)
____________________________________________________
Feb. 4, Week 3
Monday: Introduction to Organization
Wednesday: Assignment #1: 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 by next Monday, Jan. 30, at the start of
class. REMEMBER:
You will write the story for print and for broadcast outlets for
this and all other stories.
Read before class today: Chapter
5 (Organizing a News Story) and Chapter 7 (Quotes and
Attribution)
___________________________________________________________
Feb. 11, Week 4
Monday: Mardi Gras Holiday today:: Chapter 10 (Computer Assisted Reporting)
Wednesday:
Assignment #2: Lab Day. You will use this class time to complete
an assignment given you by the instructor.
___________________________________________________________
Feb. 18, Week 5
Monday: Read before class
today:: Chapter 10 (Computer Assisted Reporting)
Using the Net for Research
Wednesday:
Assignment #2: To be
assigned.
Read before class today:
Chapter 6 (Developing a News Story)
________________________________________________________
Feb. 25, Week 6
Monday: Exam on AP Style A
through E.
Assignment
#3: click here
Wednesday: Interviewing Techniques
Read before class today:
Chapter 9 (Interviewing)
___________________________________________________________
March 4, Week 7
Monday:
Leads and other good stuff
Read before class today:
Chapter 8 (Qualities of Good Writers)
Wednesday: Assignment #4:
click here
_______________________________________
March 5, Week 8
Monday: Read before class today:
184-197 (Covering speeches)
Assignment
#5: Cover Mark McKinnon's speech
Tuesday afternoon, March 6, from 2:30-3:30 p.m. in the
Atchafalaya Room of the Union. McKinnon was media adviser to
George Bush's presidential campaign this past year.
Wednesday: AP#2 Exam
on AP Style
F through M
______________________________________________________
March 18, Week
9
Monday: Writing
Read before class today:
163-224
Wednesday: Assignment #6:
Cover the Breaux Symposium at 7 p.m. at the Lod Cook Center.
______________________________________________________________
March 25, Week 10
AP
Style Exam # 3 - L through R
Monday: Writing
Read before class today:
read all tips sheets connected to this page - click here
Wednesday: Assignment #7:
Click here
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