|
|
JOUR 21B CurriculumDE ANZA COLLEGE
LANGUAGE ARTS DIVISION
COURSE OUTLINE
Degree Applicable
JOURNALISM 21B Effective Fall 2004
I. Catalog Information
JOUR 21B Feature Writing and Reporting 3 Units
Prerequisites: ability to keyboard; English 1A
Three hours lecture
Fundamentals in feature writing for newspapers and magazines with instruction and practice in profile, human interest, consumer and interpretive news features. Practical experience in interviewing, writing special story types and revising. Freelancing a story for publication.
II. Course Objectives
The student will:
A. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the fundamentals of feature writing and the organization and structure of feature stories.
B. Gather, organize and synthesize information to compile into feature stories, and write these stories.
C. Prepare feature stories for diverse and converging audiences.
D. Create plan for submitting story to freelance market.
III. Essential Student Materials
Computer with word processing software and access to the Internet, portable tape recorder
IV. Essential College Facilities
Computer lab with access to the Internet
V. Expanded Description: Content and Form
A. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the fundamentals of feature writing and the organization and structure of feature stories
1. The news peg
2. Feature leads
3. Analysis of examples of good feature writing
4. Recognizing important, compelling details
5. Types of features
6. Difference between hard news story, soft news or feature story, opinion story
7. The complex, multi-source feature story
8. Non-sexist, non-biased language
B. Gather, organize and synthesize information to compile into feature stories, and write these stories
1. Provide innovative story ideas
2. Gather information from diverse sources
3. Practice interviewing, note-taking and fact-checking
4. Research and develop stories
5. Conduct professional interviews
6. Organize notes
7. Practice revision and editing
C. Prepare feature stories for converging audiences
1. The profile
2. The consumer feature
3. The human interest story
4. The opinion piece
5. The me-story (emotional, touching or humorous)
D. Create plan for submitting story to freelance market
1. Identify markets for freelance opportunities
2. Write query letter and submit story to appropriate market
4. Unusual and minority markets
VI. Assignments
A. Assigned readings from textbook and daily newspaper
B. Writing five feature stories
C. Quizzes and in-class assignments and exercises
D. Final exam
VII. Methods of Evaluating Objectives
Evaluation will be based on students’ demonstration of factual knowledge and ability to write feature stories suitable for publication
A. Five feature stories turned in on deadline
B. Quizzes on AP style and other areas of feature writing
C. In-class and/or homework assignments
D. Class participationv
E. Final Exam
VIII. Texts and Supporting References
A. Required texts (one of the following):
1. Blundell, William. The Art and Craft of Feature Writing. Plume, 1988
2. Bugeja, Michael Guide to Writing Magazine Nonfiction. Pearson Allyn & Bacon, 1997.
3. Friedlander, Edward Jay and John Lee Feature Writing for Newspapers and Magazines: The Pursuit of Excellence, 5 ed. Pearson Allyn & Bacon, 2003.
4. Kennedy, George. Beyond the Inverted Pyramid. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins. 1993
5. * Sova, Dawn. How to Write Articles for Newspapers and Magazines. New York: Thomson Learning 2002
6. Stepp, Carl Sessions. Writing as Craft and Magic. McGraw-Hill, 2000.
B. References
1. American Society of Magazine Editors. The Best American Magazine Writing 2002. Perennial, 2002.
2. Arnold, George T. Media Writer's Handbook: A Guide to Common Editing and Writing Problems, 3rd ed. McGraw-Hill, 2002.
3. Garlock, David ed. Pulitzer Prize Feature Stories: America's Best Writing, 1979-2003. 2 ed. Iowa State University Press, 2003
4. * Kessler, Lauren and Duncan McDonald When Words Collide: A Media Writer's Guide to Grammar and Style, 6th ed. Thomson, 2004.
5. * Goldstein, Norm. Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual. New York: The Associated Press, 2003.
|
|
|
