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LECTURE SCHEDULE & READINGS
* Schedule is subject to change with appropriate notice
WEEK 1: WELCOME & INTRODUCTION: From the sofa to the press box
Tuesday, Aug. 31
What we will do in class: Introductions, syllabus & expectations
What is due next class: Read Gisondi, Preface & Chap. 1: From Sports Fan to Sports Reporter (pp. x-10) & Primer A (pp. 323-329)
Thursday, Sept. 2
What we will do in class: Discuss the reading, the different types of jobs in sports media/journalism
What is due next class (noon, Monday): Watch the App State-ECU game, prepare for it like you would if you were covering the game, list the top 10 most important things that happen; turn in via BlackBoard.
WEEK 2: GAME STORIES: The building blocks of sports writing
Tuesday, Sept. 7
What we will do in class: Discuss your assessments of the App State-ECU game. What was important? What wasn't really? How did you prepare? Discuss APSE Ethics guide, as well as Gisondi's suggestions.
What is due next class: Read Gisondi, Chap. 2; Read the following game stories:
Meadows, Rays rally from 6 runs down, beat BoSox 11-10 in 10, Kyle Hightower, Associated Press
Kansas State’s title dream ends, Ivan Maisel, ESPN.com
UW one win shy of third straight Final Four Trip, Molly Yanity, Seattle P-I
*Start to become familiar with the Sports section of the AP Stylebook (first quiz over A-E - commonly-used sports terms, numbers only)
Thursday, Sept. 9
What we will do in class: AP STYLEBOOK QUIZ (A-E). Discuss reading. GUEST SPEAKER: GARY WASHBURN, Boston Globe NBA writer
What is due next class: Read Gisondi, Chap. 3 & Primer E (pp. 255-358). Read the following game stories:
Kris Jenkins hits buzzer-beater..., Chuck Culpepper, Washington Post
Bellevue ends De La Salle's 151-game streak, Molly Yanity, Seattle P-I
Select a game story & break it down; submit via Blackboard and be prepared to discuss in class.
*It might behoove you to attend Saturday's 1 p.m. Quinnipiac-Dartmouth rugby match at QU (see Week 4 schedule). Study F-L in AP Stylebook.
WEEK 3: INTERVIEWS, HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS & PRESS CONFERENCES: Key pieces to the Gamer
Tuesday, Sept. 14
What we will do in class: AP Stylebook quiz; Discuss readings, go over your selected game story with a focus on the direct quotes
What is due next class: Read "Interview tips and advice for sports journalists" by Brian Moritz; Read Gisondi, Primer D (pp. 344-354)
**GAME STORIES CAN COMMENCE; Game story guidelines listed here**
Thursday, Sept. 16
NO CLASS - YOM KIPPUR
WEEK 4: MORE ON INTERVIEWS & WRITING ON DEADLINE
Tuesday, Sept. 21
What we will do in class: Discuss interviews; 11:30 a.m. press conference with Quinnipiac rugby coach Becky Carlson
What is due next class: Break down of press conference (10 most important things); Read & break down "Wild, rainy night in the Bronx..." by Pete Caldera
Thursday, Sept. 23
What we will do in class: Discuss your break down of the press conference & Caldera's gamer
What is due next class: Read Gisondi, Chap. 4 & TBD
WEEKS 4-7: Game story coverage & conversations (reading to be delivered via Bb)
**NOV. 5 ALL GAME STORIES MUST BE FINISHED**
WEEK 8: MORE THAN THE GAME: Features, news, business & the law
Tuesday, Oct. 19
What we will do in class: Discuss how sports writing is still news writing
What is due next class: Read the following stories on WSU coach Rolovich's firing & be prepared for discussion:
NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/10/sports/ncaafootball/rolovich-vaccine-status-washington-state.html
ESPN: https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32426315/nick-rolovich-washington-state-football-coach-refusing-state-mandated-covid-19-vaccine-source-says
Opinion (Jim Moore): https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/article255032982.html
Thursday, Oct. 21
What we will do in class: Policy, politics, health, opinions and sports
What is due next class: Read Gisondi, Ch. 5 & Read
*The Sixers are complicit in the Simmons mess
*Rob Gronkowski, ever the big kid, is aging gracefully
*The NCAA is a con
*Tallying up a year of loss
WEEK 9: OPINIONS ARE LIKE...: Not just giving hot takes, but writing strong columns
Tuesday, Oct. 26
What we will do in class: GUEST SPEAKER: Jerry Brewer, Washington Post
Thursday, Oct. 28
What we will do in class: Discuss the difference between hot takes and strong columns
What is due next class: Topics for your column, begin research
WEEK 10: OPINIONS ARE LIKE...: Not just giving hot takes, but writing strong columns
Tuesday, Nov. 2
What we will do in class: Read Jenkins and Benson columns (sent via BlackBoard); compare with radio/TV hot takes
What is due next class: Column topics
Thursday, Nov. 4
What we will do in class: Workshop columns
What is due next class: Write a column of no more than 750 words. Print & bring to class
WEEK 11: TELL STORIES: Sports features
Tuesday, Nov. 9
What we will do in class: Discuss and present your columns.
What is due next class: Read the following:
"The unbreakable bond" by Mina Kimes, ESPN
"There might be a family secret" by Jayson Stark, The Athletic
Thursday, Nov. 11
What we will do in class: Discuss features
What is due next class: Read the following:
"The power of Layshia Clarendon" by Katie Barnes, ESPN
WEEK 12: TELL STORIES: Sports features
GUEST SPEAKER TBA
Tuesday, Nov. 16
What we will do in class: GUEST SPEAKER: Katie Barnes, ESPN
What is due next class: Your feature topic
Plus, read the following:
"Dak Prescott's heal turn" by Greg Bishop, Sports Illustrated
Thursday, Nov. 18
What we will do in class: Outline and prep work
What is due next class: First draft due by Monday, Nov. 22
WEEK 13: THANKSGIVING WEEK
No classes
WEEK 14: WORKSHOPPING FEATURES
Tuesday, Nov. 30 Outlines, drafts & interviews
Thursday, Dec. 2 What else do you need?
WEEK 15: WORKSHOPPING FEATURES
Tuesday, Dec. 7 Individual meetings
Thursday, Dec. 9 Individual meetings
WEEK 16: FINALS WEEK
Feature stories due no later than 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 14 via Blackboard
* Schedule is subject to change with appropriate notice
WEEK 1: WELCOME & INTRODUCTION: From the sofa to the press box
Tuesday, Aug. 31
What we will do in class: Introductions, syllabus & expectations
What is due next class: Read Gisondi, Preface & Chap. 1: From Sports Fan to Sports Reporter (pp. x-10) & Primer A (pp. 323-329)
Thursday, Sept. 2
What we will do in class: Discuss the reading, the different types of jobs in sports media/journalism
What is due next class (noon, Monday): Watch the App State-ECU game, prepare for it like you would if you were covering the game, list the top 10 most important things that happen; turn in via BlackBoard.
WEEK 2: GAME STORIES: The building blocks of sports writing
Tuesday, Sept. 7
What we will do in class: Discuss your assessments of the App State-ECU game. What was important? What wasn't really? How did you prepare? Discuss APSE Ethics guide, as well as Gisondi's suggestions.
What is due next class: Read Gisondi, Chap. 2; Read the following game stories:
Meadows, Rays rally from 6 runs down, beat BoSox 11-10 in 10, Kyle Hightower, Associated Press
Kansas State’s title dream ends, Ivan Maisel, ESPN.com
UW one win shy of third straight Final Four Trip, Molly Yanity, Seattle P-I
*Start to become familiar with the Sports section of the AP Stylebook (first quiz over A-E - commonly-used sports terms, numbers only)
Thursday, Sept. 9
What we will do in class: AP STYLEBOOK QUIZ (A-E). Discuss reading. GUEST SPEAKER: GARY WASHBURN, Boston Globe NBA writer
What is due next class: Read Gisondi, Chap. 3 & Primer E (pp. 255-358). Read the following game stories:
Kris Jenkins hits buzzer-beater..., Chuck Culpepper, Washington Post
Bellevue ends De La Salle's 151-game streak, Molly Yanity, Seattle P-I
Select a game story & break it down; submit via Blackboard and be prepared to discuss in class.
*It might behoove you to attend Saturday's 1 p.m. Quinnipiac-Dartmouth rugby match at QU (see Week 4 schedule). Study F-L in AP Stylebook.
WEEK 3: INTERVIEWS, HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS & PRESS CONFERENCES: Key pieces to the Gamer
Tuesday, Sept. 14
What we will do in class: AP Stylebook quiz; Discuss readings, go over your selected game story with a focus on the direct quotes
What is due next class: Read "Interview tips and advice for sports journalists" by Brian Moritz; Read Gisondi, Primer D (pp. 344-354)
**GAME STORIES CAN COMMENCE; Game story guidelines listed here**
Thursday, Sept. 16
NO CLASS - YOM KIPPUR
WEEK 4: MORE ON INTERVIEWS & WRITING ON DEADLINE
Tuesday, Sept. 21
What we will do in class: Discuss interviews; 11:30 a.m. press conference with Quinnipiac rugby coach Becky Carlson
What is due next class: Break down of press conference (10 most important things); Read & break down "Wild, rainy night in the Bronx..." by Pete Caldera
Thursday, Sept. 23
What we will do in class: Discuss your break down of the press conference & Caldera's gamer
What is due next class: Read Gisondi, Chap. 4 & TBD
WEEKS 4-7: Game story coverage & conversations (reading to be delivered via Bb)
**NOV. 5 ALL GAME STORIES MUST BE FINISHED**
WEEK 8: MORE THAN THE GAME: Features, news, business & the law
Tuesday, Oct. 19
What we will do in class: Discuss how sports writing is still news writing
What is due next class: Read the following stories on WSU coach Rolovich's firing & be prepared for discussion:
NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/10/sports/ncaafootball/rolovich-vaccine-status-washington-state.html
ESPN: https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32426315/nick-rolovich-washington-state-football-coach-refusing-state-mandated-covid-19-vaccine-source-says
Opinion (Jim Moore): https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/article255032982.html
Thursday, Oct. 21
What we will do in class: Policy, politics, health, opinions and sports
What is due next class: Read Gisondi, Ch. 5 & Read
*The Sixers are complicit in the Simmons mess
*Rob Gronkowski, ever the big kid, is aging gracefully
*The NCAA is a con
*Tallying up a year of loss
WEEK 9: OPINIONS ARE LIKE...: Not just giving hot takes, but writing strong columns
Tuesday, Oct. 26
What we will do in class: GUEST SPEAKER: Jerry Brewer, Washington Post
Thursday, Oct. 28
What we will do in class: Discuss the difference between hot takes and strong columns
What is due next class: Topics for your column, begin research
WEEK 10: OPINIONS ARE LIKE...: Not just giving hot takes, but writing strong columns
Tuesday, Nov. 2
What we will do in class: Read Jenkins and Benson columns (sent via BlackBoard); compare with radio/TV hot takes
What is due next class: Column topics
Thursday, Nov. 4
What we will do in class: Workshop columns
What is due next class: Write a column of no more than 750 words. Print & bring to class
WEEK 11: TELL STORIES: Sports features
Tuesday, Nov. 9
What we will do in class: Discuss and present your columns.
What is due next class: Read the following:
"The unbreakable bond" by Mina Kimes, ESPN
"There might be a family secret" by Jayson Stark, The Athletic
Thursday, Nov. 11
What we will do in class: Discuss features
What is due next class: Read the following:
"The power of Layshia Clarendon" by Katie Barnes, ESPN
WEEK 12: TELL STORIES: Sports features
GUEST SPEAKER TBA
Tuesday, Nov. 16
What we will do in class: GUEST SPEAKER: Katie Barnes, ESPN
What is due next class: Your feature topic
Plus, read the following:
"Dak Prescott's heal turn" by Greg Bishop, Sports Illustrated
Thursday, Nov. 18
What we will do in class: Outline and prep work
What is due next class: First draft due by Monday, Nov. 22
WEEK 13: THANKSGIVING WEEK
No classes
WEEK 14: WORKSHOPPING FEATURES
Tuesday, Nov. 30 Outlines, drafts & interviews
Thursday, Dec. 2 What else do you need?
WEEK 15: WORKSHOPPING FEATURES
Tuesday, Dec. 7 Individual meetings
Thursday, Dec. 9 Individual meetings
WEEK 16: FINALS WEEK
Feature stories due no later than 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 14 via Blackboard