Instructor: TOM
DAVIS (www.tom-davis.net)
Period 1, Mondays and Thursdays, 8:10 to 9:30 a.m.
O:
201-646-4524/H: 732-548-3656
Coping with Life (www.coping-with-life.com)
Objectives:
ACCURACY,
CLARITY, FOCUS
Teaching how to gather and write news for print
media.
Mastering the principles of organizing and writing a story.
Identifying story ideas and useful information.
Rules:
DEADLINES,
DEADLINES, DEADLINES
Homework
that’s late – but not more than 24 hours late – gets a half-grade deduction.
Homework
that’s more than 24 hours late is not accepted, and receives an F.
Thorough
stories must be submitted with source attribution, objectivity and style.
A
complete understanding of English grammar and spelling is expected.
Homework must be submitted either in-person or via email, as a typed, double-spaced document.
Attendance is required – failure to attend without a legitimate excuse could affect your class participation grade.
Grades:
Homework: 70 percent
Class Participation: 25 percent
Quizzes: 5 percent
From News Reporting and Writing and the Associated Press stylebook
Due date/assignment
Jan. 31/chapters 1, 2 and 7; stylebook A-E
Feb. 7: chapters 4, 5 and 8; stylebook F-N
Feb. 14: stylebook O-Z
Feb. 21: chapters 3 and 12
Feb. 28: chapters 22 and 23
March 13: chapters 15, 19 and 20
April 3: chapter 13
April 10: chapter 9
April 17: chapters 6 and 14 and municipal meeting reading
Assignments (500 to
800 words):
(First half – count
once)
Due date/assignment
Feb. 4/Interview your neighbor story
Feb. 18/Workbook pages 52 to 55, handout (no rewrite)
Feb. 21/Interview your neighbor story – rewrite
Feb. 25/Class-created story
March 10/News briefs
March 13/Class-created story – rewrite
April 3/News briefs - rewrites
(Second-half –
count twice)
March 31/Bill Borden-assigned story
April 7/Guest speaker story
April 10/Bill Borden-assigned story – rewrite
April 21/“Live” story
April 24/Guest speaker story – rewrite
May 1/Meeting story (no rewrite)
May 5/“Live” story – rewrite
(Final – counts
four times)
May 2 (at noon)/Rough draft for final assignment
May 5/Final assignment
Conferences:
March 6, Room 109
Extra credit:
1. Write up to two OBJECTIVE news stories on ANY topic (no reviews or opinion pieces).
Students will receive a half-grade higher on a regular homework assignment for each story that is considered B-level quality.
2. Get at least one byline in ANY section of The Daily Targum (can include reviews or opinion pieces). Students receive a half-grade higher on a homework assignment if they can present a story with a byline.