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SCHEDULE, 
READINGS & ASSIGNMENTS

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LECTURE SCHEDULE, READINGS & ASSIGNMENTS
* Schedule is subject to change with appropriate notice
* Current events/Reading quizzes each Monday, AP Stylebook quizzes on Wednesdays
* Quizzes will be given at the beginning of class, no makeups (lowest score is dropped)


KEY DATES
WRITING ASSIGNMENTS
#1 Autobiography                             Wed, Jan. 27 (Rewrite Wed Feb. 10) - Ungraded/Points only
#2 Reaction Piece                             Mon, Feb. 29 (Rewrite Wed March 2)
#3 In-Class Interview News Story    Fri, April 1 - email by 11:59 p.m.
#4 Observation Piece                       Fri, April 15 - email by 11:59 p.m.
#5 News Release                              Fri, April 22 - email by 11:59 p.m.
#6 Obituary                                       Sun, May 1 - email by 11:59 p.m.
MIDTERM                                         Mon, March 7
FINAL ESSAY/PRESENTATION     Mon, May 9


WEEK 1: WHAT WE ARE DOING & WHY WE ARE DOING IT 
Mon, Jan. 25             Introduction, syllabus and overview
                                    In class: Read "Thanksgiving with Grammy Hall" by Diane Keaton
                                    Discuss: Writing a mini autobiography
FOR NEXT CLASS: Reading: Chap. 1, Yopp & McAdams, Assignment #1 Due: Mini autobiography (300 words)
                                   
Wed, Jan. 27             Understanding Today's Audience 
                                    In class: Discuss Chap. 1, Ex. 4, p. 14; Grammar diagnostics quiz
                                    Due Assignment #1: Mini autobiography
FOR NEXT CLASS: Reading: Chap. 2, Yopp & McAdams

WEEK 2: GRAMMAR SLAMMER, PART I
Mon, Feb. 1             Tools for Writers: Spelling, Grammar & Math   
                                 In class: Chap. 2 & exercises
FOR NEXT CLASS: Reading: Chap. 3 & 4 (pp. 61-79), Yopp & McAdams

Wed, Feb. 3             In class: Chap. 3 & 4 & exercises

WEEK 3: GRAMMAR SLAMMER, PART II 
Mon, Feb. 8             NO CLASS             SNOW DAY

Wed, Feb. 10           In class: Chap. 3 & 4 (pp. 61-79) & exercises  
FOR NEXT CLASS: Reading: Active/Passive voice handout & Chap. 4 (pp. 80-91), Yopp & McAdams

WEEK 4: NEWS VALUES & NEWS ELEMENTS 
Mon, Feb. 15          ​In class: Lecture on Chap 4 & exercises
                                 Due Autobiography rewrite
FOR NEXT CLASS: Reading: Chap. 5 (pp. 92-107)

Wed, Feb. 17          In class: Lecture on News Values & Elements
FOR NEXT CLASS: Reading: Chap. 5 (pp. 107-119) & Chap. 6, Chap 10 (pp.204-212), Yopp & McAdams, Due: Lead-writing exercise & Choose a recent major news event and bring to class a complete clip from an online or print source. Consider how the story is organized and how the writer attempted to reach the desired audience. 

WEEK 5: THE LEAD 
Mon, Feb. 22             In class: Discuss inverted pyramid structure and leads
FOR NEXT CLASS: Do Exercises 1-5 on pp. 116-119

Wed, Feb. 24            In class: Review exercises 
FOR NEXT CLASS: Assignment #2: Reaction piece. Interview three or four different people to report their reactions to the major news event selected by the class. Follow the writing process, type and print this Reaction Story. Bring to class on Monday.

WEEK 6: THE REACTION PIECE  
Mon, Feb. 29              In class: Workshop the Reaction Piece
FOR NEXT CLASS: Rewrite your Reaction piece using input from class workshop, add links. Email it to Professor Yanity (molly.yanity@quinnipiac.edu) by class time Wednesday.

Wed, March 2               In class: Review for midterm examination       *MIDTERM STUDY OUTLINE HERE*         
                                       DUE Reaction piece rewrite    
FOR NEXT CLASS: STUDY FOR YOUR MIDTERM 


WEEK 7: MIDTERM REVIEW & EXAM  
Mon, March 7              MIDTERM EXAM        
FOR NEXT CLASS: Read Chap. 10, Yopp & McAdams, "The Art of the Interview," Ann Friedman, CJR

WEEK 8:     SPRING       BREAK         NO CLASSES
​         

WEEK 9: INTERVIEWING & GETTING INFORMATION
Mon, March 21          In class: What makes a good interview? What's a bad one? 
                                    Listen to the "perfect interview." Watch & assess interviews. Read "John Sawatzky is highly questionable"
                                    Research QU Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), student leader Abby Cook
FOR NEXT CLASS: Read "Loosening Lips" by Eric Nalder, come up with questions

Wed, March 23           In class: More on interviewing and setting up the In-Class Interview
FOR NEXT CLASS: Prepare questions for news conference 

WEEK 10: RESEARCH & OBSERVATION
Mon, March 28           In class: NEWS CONFERENCE with Abby Cook                
FOR NEXT CLASS: Reading TBD

Wed, March 30          In class: Organizing a news story
Assignment #3: In-Class Interview News Story is due via email (molly.yanity@quinnipiac.edu) by 11:59 p.m., Friday, April 1.
FOR NEXT CLASS: Read Chap. 9, review Chap. 10, Yopp & McAdams; Read Character Study: “An Old-Fashioned Bartender…” by Corey Kilgannon, NYT
​

WEEK 11: WRITING WHAT YOU SEE: SHOW, DON’T TELL
Mon, April 4            NO CLASS - Professor speaking in Ohio

Wed, April 6            In class: Observation and descriptive writing, discuss article, ideas
FOR NEXT CLASS: FOR NEXT CLASS: 1.) Read “The Chimney Sweep” (Kilgannon) and “The Education of Alex Rodriguez” by J.R. Moehringer, ESPN the Magazine. Should have your subject observation appointment set up


WEEK 12: MORE ON OBSERVATION
Mon, April 11        Discuss Denver Post article 

Wed, April 13        In class: Workshop the observation piece
DUE FRIDAY, APRIL 15 
Assignment #4: Observation piece via email
FOR NEXT CLASS: Read Chap. 11, Yopp & McAdams, ; “Kurt Cobain: Hesitant Poet” by Timothy Egan, NYT; “Jean S. Harris:  Headmistress Turned Killer” by Joseph Berger, NYT; Conduct interviews for profiles
​
               

WEEK 13: STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION 
Mon., April 18          In class: What is Strategic Communication? 
FOR NEXT CLASS: Read Chap 20 (here) & Chap 14, Yopp & McAdmas

Wed., April 20          NO CLASS - Work on Assignment #5 - News release (Burger King Info) 
DUE FRIDAY, APRIL 22 Assignment #5: News release via email by 11:59 p.m.
FOR NEXT CLASS: Read Chap. 11, Yopp & McAdams
​

WEEK 14: WRITING ABOUT PEOPLE 
Mon., April 25           In class: Discuss bias & stereotypes      
FOR NEXT CLASS: Read "Eyes of the Storm" by Gary Smith, Sports Illustrated; “Kurt Cobain: Hesitant Poet” by Timothy Egan, NYT; “Jean S. Harris:  Headmistress Turned Killer” by Joseph Berger, NYT

Wed., April 27           In class: Discuss Features, obituaries & articles        
DUE SUNDAY, MAY 1 Assignment #6: Obituary via email by 11:59 p.m.

WEEK 15: MEDIA LAW BRIEFING: LIBEL, PRIVACY & COPYRIGHT/ETHICAL DILEMMAS IN PRACTICE
Mon., May 2              In class: Examining our ethical toolbox; workshop dilemmas. You will receive your prompt for the Final essay and instructions for the presentation.
FOR NEXT CLASS: Begin work on the Final Essay

Wed., May 4           In class: Begin presentations, work on essay; Course conclusion, professor evaluations 
FOR NEXT CLASS: Read Chap. 6 - Ethics and do Final Essay (see directions here) 

FINAL SESSION                                   10:30 a.m.                               Monday, May 9 
Attendance mandatory. Students will present their final ethics presentations. Course celebration with bagels & coffee/juice.
 

 



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  • Home
  • COM340: Exploring Women's Sports
    • COM340: Schedule
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    • JRN275: Schedule
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