Abbreviations: IR = Inside Reporting; WWC = When Words Collide

Week 1: Course introduction, news values, leads

Week 2: Basics of news writing

  • In lab: Basic writing assignment.
  • Lecture: Week one corrections, copy editing marks, quiz
  • Exercises: [1] [2]
  • Readings: Inside Reporting (IR) pp. 6-44;
    • IR pp. 52-59, 201 ("Openers");
    • Lab manual, 4-7, When Words Collide (WWC) chapter 8;
  • No class Monday

Week 3: Using quotes and attribution

Week 4: Profile stories

  • Lab: Personality profile and interviewing subject.
  • Lecture: Using transitions and interviewing.
  • Profile example [another].
  • Readings: IR, pp. 46-49, 118-119
    • Lab manual, organization
  • AP QUIZ: Burglary (etc.), citizen (etc.), church, city council, closed shop (etc.), compose (etc.), disabled (etc.), every one, fractions, geographic names

Week 5: Usage

Week 6: Restaurant review

Week 7: Ethics, libel, speech stories

  • Readings: IR, 136-148, and review 118-119 & 102-103; WWC 11, 12;
    Also, guide to speech coverage
  • WWC QUIZ (p. 187-204): adverse, affect, aholic, aid, allude, anxious, censor, collective nouns, complement, council, dash, discreet, elicit
  • Midterm preview
  • Restaurant review due

Week 8: Midterm

Week 9: Independent reporting, writing

Week 10: News release

Week 11: Cover letters

  • In lab: Cover letters
  • Researching using the Web
  • Orion Stylebook, 2-17.
  • ORION QUIZ: (PT. ONE) Academic courses, academic titles, arrested/charged, class standing, grades, police departments, students(identifying); (PT. TWO) bars in Chico, CAVE, California Faculty Association, residence halls, Thurs. night mkt.; UC and CSU schools. (Plus current events bonus)

Week 12: Slice of life story

  • Writing the slice-of-life story
  • Readings: IR, chapter 10
  • Hourglass structure [related article]
  • Due: Final project proposal [guidelines from CP]
  • Quiz: Grammar exercises from p. 54-59 in the course packet

Week 13: Feature story

  • Lab: Court case story
  • Due: Final draft of slice-of-life story
  • Readings: IR 102-103, Lab manual, speeches, final exam assignment
  • AP QUIZ: Legislative titles, long time, months, pardon, people/persons, principal, second reference, Shariah, toward, times, who/whom

Week 14: Thanksgiving

  • Thanksgiving break

Week 15: Conferences

  • Student conferences with Blake during assigned time
  • Readings: Review IR 66-73; profile lead example about GaryTrudeau

Week 16: Final project

  • In-class story composition and revision
  • Due: Final project

Finals week

  • The final exam takes place in the lab (THMA 312)
    • Section 03 (morning): 10-11:50 a.m., Monday, 12/15
    • Section 06 (afternoon): 6-7:50 p.m., Wednesday, 12/17
  • In-class writing activity is worth 10 percent of your final grade

 

Contact

I am available to meet with you or to help you when you need it. Do not hesitate to call my office or my home. But I cannot help you unless YOU ASK FOR HELP.

Please, do not wait until the semester is nearly over before meeting with me. If you have a physical problem or disability that affects your participation in this class, please see me immediately in private so that we can reach a reasonable accommodation.

 

Office: 530-898-3608
Cell: 352-225-1440
mdblake (at) csuchico.edu

 

Design © 2006 Matthew Blake