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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.
* 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.