WALTERS STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE COURSE SYLLABUS

Writing for Mass Media - MCOM 1040                                                                      

Spring 2001

Anne Armstrong Wing - Instructor

OFFICE:  Evening & Distance Education or HUM 148               

PHONE:  865-588-5215   CELL:  865-680-6409   FAX:  423-585-2605

E-mail:  cabinannie@aol.com

Required Text:   Writing for the Mass Media, 4th Edition, James Glen Stovall

• Strongly Recommended (you will need these for writing and editing assignments):   The Associated Press Style Book and Libel Manual, a good dictionary and thesaurus

 Course Description:

Information gathering and writing under deadline for print and broadcast media. Preparation of news, advertising and public relations text.  Correct grammar, usage, punctuation and style will be an integral part of the course. 

Course Objectives:

• To understand proper grammar, style, punctuation and usage for writing informative and persuasive text.

• To understand news story structure.

• To comprehend the seven traditional news values.

• To be able to write a lead paragraph.

• To be able to write print and broadcast news stories in an acceptable manner under deadline.

• To make effective use of the seven elements of a print ad in designing newspaper ads.

• To be able to write a radio commercial.

• To construct news releases for public relations applications.

Evaluation Methods:

Grades will be based on two exams, writing assignments and weekly website            participation.  Specifically, your grade will be determined as follows: 

Ø      20% for the mid-term examination

Ø      20% for the final examination

Ø      40% for writing assignments

Ø      20% for weekly website participation 

Grading Scale: 

            A = 90% or higher              B = 80 – 90%              C = 70 – 79%

            D = 60 – 69%                          F = Below 60%

Outside reading: 

Students are required to read the online versions of the Morristown Citizen Tribune, the Knoxville News-Sentinel, the New York Times, CNN and NPR to get examples of good media writing.  A weekly five-question quiz will be posted and the answers can be found on these news sites.  Students also will participate in web discussions of current events on major local, national and international stories.   

Writing assignments:

Points taken off assignment grade for:

• misspelled words,

• errors in grammar and style,

• major factual errors,

• misspelled or incorrect proper names, and

• failure to follow writing guidelines presented by the instructor, text and/or stylebook.

Students may use their home computers or  the campus computer labs for class assignments.  Keep all of your assignments and tests in a two-pocket folder and on a disk.  The instructor will periodically ask for folders during the semester.

Deadlines: 

The media business adheres to strict deadlines and I will expect you to do  the same in this class.  Failure to submit a writing assignment on time will result in zero.  Should unavoidable circumstances cause you to miss a weekly web assignment, you will be allowed one make-up writing assignment.

Weekly web class participation is required.  Failure to post and participate may result in a failing grade for the course

Class participation is part of the final grade.

The web classroom will consist of a combination of posted lectures, discussion and writing assignments.  Students are expected to keep up with all reading assignments.

 Professional Conduct:

All students are expected to learn and adhere to professional standards of conduct and ethics in all communication.  Honesty is foremost among these.  Relevant facts, quotes and background material are never fabricated.  Listening skills and an attitude that is open to new ideas are expected.  Questioning and skepticism in a civil manner are always encouraged.

 Policies on Exams, Assignments, and Plagiarism:

Exam Policy:  Exams will be drawn from the readings, web lectures, writing and editing exercises.  ALL EXAMS MUST BE TAKEN ON THE DAY SCHEDULED.  If a student misses an exam due to illness the student should contact the instructor immediately upon his/her return to campus to schedule a make-up exam.  Make-up exams will include additional essay questions.  No makeup exams will be given except in cases of documented personal illness or emergencies.  Exams will not be given early.  Make-up exams must be completed within five days of absence.

 COLLEGE POLICY ON ATTENDANCE AND CLASSROOM CONDUCT

ATTENDANCE REGULATIONS:

Students must attend the first day of class or contact the instructor prior to the first class if they intend to remain in the class.  If this procedure is not followed, the students may be administratively dropped from the class, and other students will be allowed to take their positions.  Students who are withdrawn from classes under this policy will receive a drop form marked “attendance withdrawal.”

 Attendance at classes and other official appointments is required.  A student’s schedule is considered a contract and constitutes a series of obligated appointments.

 Absences are counted from the first scheduled meeting of the class.  An explanation for the cause of all absences should be given the instructor.  If possible, students should inform their instructor in advance of planned absences. 

IMPORTANT:  Non-attendance does not constitute a withdrawal from classes or from the College.  Procedures to formally drop a course or to withdraw from the College must be followed.  Following these procedures may prevent the student from receiving an undeserved “F” on his or her transcript.

Academic and Classroom Misconduct:

The instructor has the primary responsibility for control over web classroom behavior and maintenance of academic integrity and can order the temporary removal or exclusion from the web classroom of any student engaged in disruptive conduct or conduct violative of the general rules and regulations of the institution.  Extended or permanent exclusion from the web classroom or further disciplinary action can be affected only through appropriate procedures of the institution.

Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited.  Students guilty of academic misconduct, either directly or indirectly through participation or assistance, are subject to disciplinary action.  In addition to possible disciplinary sanctions, which may be imposed through the regular institutional procedures as a result of academic misconduct, the instructor has the authority to assign an “F” or a zero for the exercise or examination, or to assign an “F” in the course.

 Please e-mail me when you have read and understood the MCOM 1040 course syllabus.