San Antonio College -- 1300 San Pedro Ave. -- San Antonio, TX, 78212-4299

Credit Hours: 3-2-4

Instructor: See Faculty for instructors teaching the course.

Office: Loftin 204 for department -- Instructors are usually in Loftin 212   Phone Number: (210) 733-2872 (Abrego)  
FAX: (210) 733-2868

Email: email to iabrego@accd.edu  http://www.accd.edu/sac/j-p/Abrego.html

I. Catalog Description: COMM 2315 - News Gathering and Writing 2 -- Prerequisite: COMM 2311.

This course focuses on departmental reporting. It includes lectures in specialized areas by professional reporters. Police and crime, politics, city, state and federal governments, religion, fine arts, sports, science, medical, obituary, education, meetings, conventions and speeches are also covered. Students cover off-campus events in these areas and report for the campus newspaper. This is a Writing-Intensive course.

As a writing intensive (WI) course, 60 percent of the course grade is based on writing assignments which consist of stories, essay exams and other types of written work.

II. Pre-requisites, co-requisites and other requirements:COMM 2311

III. Texts:

"News Reporting and Writing" by The Missouri Group (Brian S. Brooks, George Kennedy, Daryl R. Moen and Don Ranly) "The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual" by the Associated Press (Christopher W. French, editor) Supplemental Reading: "Best Newspaper Writing" current year The Poynter Institute for Media Studies: Current newspapers, including The Wall Street Journal SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS: San Antonio College Bulletin 2004-05 and Spring 2005 Class Schedule; four-month subscription to the San Antonio Express-News (half-price student discount to be arranged by student).

IV. Instruction will consist of: Much of the learning in this course depends on reading and understanding course materials. We will survey the course information through class discussions and lab experiences. Learning to meet deadlines and developing the ability to manage time also are part of the course.

V. Course Content: - This course is designed to give you a reporting experience that is as realistic as possible. Content, assignments and evaluations reflect current standards and practices of the journalism profession.
While the writing techniques in this course primarily are geared to print journalism, the news-gathering principles, ethics and legal concerns apply to all media.

Writing: Most of the writing will be done during the lab. However, the student will need to gather information as well as write some stories outside the lab or class setting. However, it is important the student learn to write quickly under deadline.

Special Project or Series: The student must submit a written proposal on the topic of the special project or series as well as a general outline. The project or series allows students an opportunity to research a topic, study the signifiance of the issue and write about the topic in human terms.

Meetings of the board of trustees: Because reporters must learn to cover meetings of governmental groups, the students must attend and write stories of at least three meetings of the board of trustees.

VI. Learning Outcomes and Performance Objectives with their methods of measurement as used to determine the students' mastery of those outcomes.

Learning Outcome 1: The student will demonstrate a more advanced knowledge of reporting for a publication.

Performance Objectives/Method(s) of measurement for each objective

1. The student will demonstrate knowledge of reporting on boards of trustees, city councils and other public entities and public affairs writing by writing stories on the subjects, class discusson and written examinations.
2. The student will demonstrate and understand the importance of laws, rules, self-regulation and ethical decisions in reporting by completing written examinations, participating in case studies and examination of ethical and legal dilemmas.
3. The student will demonstrate understanding of how to research a topic and gather information and write for a special project or series by graded stories, class discussion and written examinations.
4. The student will demonstrate continued learning on how to cover a beat as demonstrated by the ability to develop sources and regularly write advance stories and follow-up stories as well as feature stories concerning the beat

Learning Outcome 2: The student will demonstrate knowledge and understanding of public agencies (because a possibility exists that the student will be assigned to one of these beats without time to prepare) and improve skills learned in News Gathering and Writing 1.

Performance Objectives/Method(s) of measurement for each objective

1. The student will demonstrate knowledge of the machinations of various public agencies by writing stories more difficult than those in COMM 2311 and class exercises using appropriately a variety of kinds of leads for grades and taking written exams.
2. The student will continue to develop proficiency in using Associated Press style by writing stories, class discussion, rewriting stories and taking written exams.
3. The student will demonstrate knnowledge of methods of searching public documents by writing stories based on such documents, class discussions and written exams.
4. The student will continue to master principles of libel and privacy laws as well as Texas laws on open meetings and open records.
5. The student will develop people skills by working on a student publication, often as an editor, under pressure of a weekly deadline and by demonstrating those skills in stories, staff meetings and written exams.

Learning Outcome 3: The student will demonstrate knowledge of various career opportunities in public affairs reporting such as police and crime, politics, city, state and federal governments, religion, fine arts, sports, science, medical, obituary, education, meetings, conventions and speeches.

Performance Objectives/Method(s) of measurement for each objective

1. The student will demonstrate knowledge of his/her chosen career path by completing an assignment of at least 30 minutes with a professional in the student's chosen career path and reporting on that interview with a written report, a class presentation and questions on a written examination.
2. The student will demonstrate knowledge of techniques of a job search by completing written examinations, participating in organized group discussions of techniques such as writing a résumé, preparing for a job interview, building a portfolio and finding his/her Unique Selling Proposition.
3. The student will demonstrate knowledge of professionals in journalism and photography by exposure to speakers in the department from various measurable media, by visits to commercial media operations and by end-of-course evaluations.

VII. Course requirements and grade computation: Methods of instruction include lecture, discussion, videotapes, slides and group activities as well as readings.

Lab: Fifty percent of your grade will be based on the first copies of a minimum of 12 publishable byline stories for The Ranger. You must write at least 12 to considered for a C in the course, 14 to be considered for a B, and 16 to be considered for an A. Additional considerations in your lab grade include an evaluation by the instructor of your progress, ability to meet deadlines, ability to follow instructions, reliability, persistence, willingness to tackle more complex and vital stories, diligence in turning in news tips and calendar items, and other qualities on which professional reporters are evaluated.

The profession demands stories that are complete, accurate, show attention to detail and are free of spelling and style errors. Your stories should improve as the semester progresses, and so should your grades. Your goal is to write stories that require little editing. I will grade the first copy you submit in lab each week, but you will revise each story until it is in publishable form.

Your stories will be evaluated on the news value as well as depth, content, form and news style of the first copy. Story grades also include credit for calendar items, news tips and photo/art requests.

The grading key is:
A, publishable quality:
B, publishable with editing:
C, substantial editing required;
D, marginal quality;
F, unacceptable.
Stories receive an automatic F if they contain a fact error or misspelled name. Ten points are subtracted from stories not submitted by deadline. Correct spelling is based on Webster's New World College Dictionary and the The Associated Press Stylebook 2004.

You will turn in a string book at the end of the semester containing clips of all your published stories and any publishable stories. Only the stories in the string book will be counted toward your total requirement.

Class: The remainder of your grade will be 30 percent for tests, including weekly tests on current events, textbook readings and news style;
5 percent for the master style test;
5 percent for the final exam;
and 10 percent for the beat shadowing report.

Performance criteria: Students may be dropped from the course at any time during the semester if their work or work habits fail to meet reasonable expectations of journalistic standards. To pass the course with a C or higher, you must write a minimum of 12 publishable stories, pass the comprehensive style test with a grade of 70 or higher, and demonstrate on the final exam your ability to write a publishable news story. You must also complete all assignments. Please note: Weekly tests cannot be made up if you are absent.

A. College Requirements: A written, comprehensive final examination, not to exceed two and one-half hours in length, shall be given at the end of each semester for each course at the regularly scheduled time. Any exceptions to these requirements must be approved by the appropriate dean. Other examinations are given at the discretion of the instructor.

A student who must be absent from a final examination should petition that instructor for permission to postpone the examination. A student absent without permission from a final examination is graded "F." Postponed examinations result in a grade of "I." The final exam must be taken within 120 calendar days from the end of the semester or the grade automatically becomes an "F." (San Antonio College Bulletin, Faculty Handbook - January 1995)

B. Departmental Requirement: A student wishing to withdraw from this class during the semester must process a formal withdrawal through the Office of Admissions and Records. Failure to withdraw formally will result in the assignment of a failing grade (F) for the  course.  You may drop by going to the Office of Admissions and Records, or you may send me an e-mail requesting that I drop you from the class. If you do the latter, please be sure to type your full name at the bottom of your request. You also may drop by Room 204-a of Loftin Student Center to pick up a drop slip.

The college bulletin allows absences for the equivalent of two weeks of class, but you will be dropped after that number. After the drop date, each absence over six will take three (3) points off your final grade.

C. Instructor Requirements:

To be eligible for an A in the class, you must write at least 225 publishable inches; to be eligible for a B, you must write at least 200 publishable inches; and to be eligible for a C, you must write at least 175 publishable inches. To complete the course, you must write at least: # meeting story # speech story # interview story # event story # news story and followup (two stories) # enterprise story The other 40 percent of your grade will be based on class assignments and quizzes: 10 percent for a comprehensive test on style; 10 percent for class assignments including pop quizzes; and 20 percent for major exams. To pass the course with a C or higher, you must pass the comprehensive style test with a grade of 70 or better and demonstrate on the final exam your ability to write a publishable news story. ATTENDANCE POLICY: Students are expected to attend all classes and arrive on time. Students arriving after roll call may be refused admittance or counted absent. Students who miss the equivalent of two weeks (10 absences from lab or lecture in any combination) may be dropped from the course. Students will have two points deducted from their final average for each absence beginning with the 11th.

. VIII. College Policies:<p> A. San Antonio College does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability with respect to access, employment programs or services.

B. Students are urged not to bring children to either a class or a lab. Minors under the age of twelve (12) must not be left unattended on campus. College Academic Council - April, 1998

C. ADA Statement: "As per Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, if accommodation is needed contact the Office of DisABILITY Support Services, CAC 124C, Phone: (210) 733-2347.

D. A Rapid Response Team exists for the purpose of responding to emergencies. If you have a disability that will require assistance in the event of a building evacuation, notify Disability Support Services, Chance Academic Center 124C, Phone: (210) 733-2347.

E. Academic Dishonesty: Students may be subject to disciplinary proceedings resulting in an academic penalty or disciplinary penalty for academic dishonesty. Academic Dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism and collusion. For additional information refer to the "Student Code of Conduct" in the San Antonio College Bulletin.

F. Students are required to silence all electronic devices (e.g., pagers, cellular phones, etc.) when in classrooms, laboratories and the library. College Academic Council, 01/ 2000.

G. San Antonio College Attendance Policy: Regular and punctual attendance at all classes and laboratories, day and/or evening, is required. A student absent for any reason is responsible for all work missed. Both tardiness and early departure from class are forms of absenteeism. The instructor establishes the policy with regard to each.

Absences of each student are recorded without exception. The counting of absences begins on the first day of class. A student absent the equivalent of two weeks of instruction in a 16-week semester may be dropped by the instructor. If a student is dropped from a class for excessive absences, the instructor will record a grade of "W' (withdraw). It is the student's responsibility to ensure that the withdrawals have been submitted.

H. San Antonio College is a smoke free campus.

I. ACCD DPS Emergency Phone Numbers:

ACCD DPS Emergency Phone (210) 222-0911
ACCD DPS General Phone (210) 208-8099
ACCD DPS Weather Phone (210) 208-8189 (For information on college closures)

J. Students must also abide by the policies, procedures, and rules set forth in the "Student Code of Conduct" and all other policies set forth in the San Antonio College Bulletin.

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