Assigned outside reading: You are required to read one book from the recommended list or another of your choosing with instructor approval. A two-page summary of what you learned about non-fiction writing from this reading will be required. Your book report will answer the questions on pp. 208-209 of "Words' Worth." The book report is due ®¢®¢®¢®¢®¢®¢®¢.

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 be cognizant of the role, purpose and importance of features as distinguished from news stories to attract, inform and entertain readers in newspapers, magazines and new media. .

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

1. The student will demonstrate an understanding of the role, purpose and importance of features in publications by recognizing and critiquing quality feature writing in respected newspapers and magazines in organized class discussions and in graded assignments.
2. The student will demonstrate an understanding of the importance of features to attract readers by deconstructing features in respected newspapers and magazines to analyze the concept, writing techniques and structure that appeal to readers of varying interest levels in organized class discussions and graded assignments.
3. The student will demonstrate an ability to collect ideas and maintain an idea file to develop into stories for publication in student media and other appropriate markets for graded assignments.
4. The student will demonstrate an appreciation and understanding of the techniques of professional feature writers by submitting a review of a nonfiction book for a class presentation and graded assignment.

Learning Outcome 2: The student will be cognizant of the the information-gathering process, story structure and writing techniques employed in the types of features common to modern publications.

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

1. The student will demonstrate an ability to expand news-gathering skills and basic journalism writing skills to write a variety of types of feature stories, including profiles, informative features, seasonal/holiday features, sports-health features and opinion pieces, targeted to student media or other appropriate markets for graded assignments.
2. The student will demonstrate an ability to make outlines and write a variety of feature leads, transitions, description, story structures and conclusions by using them in features targeted to student media or other appropriate markets for graded assignments.
3. The student will demonstrate an ability to expand on basic reporting and newswriting skills to gather information through research, interviews and observation and use selective detail, literary techniques and figures of speech in classroom exercises and features targeted to student media or other appropriate markets for graded assignments.

Learning Outcome 3: The student will understand the role of the freelancer in modern publications and new media and and the copyright issues, rights and ethics practiced in the journalism profession.

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

1. The student will demonstrate an ability to identify potential markets as sources for freelance stories, including use of Writer's Markets, tip sheets and research of previous issues, to develop ideas for a feature targeted to a particular professional publication for a graded assignment.
2. The student will demonstrate an ability to write query letters and telephone editors to suggest story ideas targeted to their publication and an ability to work with editors through researching, writing and submitting a feature by deadline to a freelance market for a graded assignment.
3. The student will demonstrate the ability to compile source lists with information sufficient for fact-checking to accompany a feature submitted to a freelance market for a graded assignment.
4. The student will demonstrate an understanding of ethical considerations and copyright law as related to freelance writers as evidenced by organized class discussions of case studies and a performance on a written examination.

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 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.

TIPS:

Be here and on time.

Be prepared. Read your textbook before class. You are responsible for material in each chapter assigned whether or not we discuss it in class. The information in the text teaches you how to do what you are expected to do in lab each week. Our class time is insufficient to cover all the textbook material plus supplemental material.

Keep up with current events. Read The Ranger and the San Antonio Express-News as a minimum, and watch radio and television news.

Join in class discussions.

Find out what happened in class if you have to miss. Ask a classmate for notes, assignments, etc. You are responsible for all material and assignments whether or not you are here.

Take responsibility for your transcript. Do not simply stop coming to this class or any other. If you stop coming without dropping the course, you likely will receive an F. If you want to drop, please discuss it with me.

Be a team player. Help your classmates and fellow Ranger staffers.

Come up with your own story ideas.

Jump at the chance for extra assignments and opportunities to get involved on The Ranger staff. The more you do in this class the more you learn.

Study the editing of your stories. You should not make the same mistakes week after week.

Take responsibility for improving your skills in spelling, grammar, punctuation, sentence structure and word usage. If you haven't mastered all of these areas, now is the time to do it.

Get in the habit of delivering more than is required.

Assume new challenges. Tackle more complicated stories as the semester progresses. You may surprise yourself.

Remember that the person who benefits most from all your work in this class is you.

Realize that the ability to find, report and write news stories is the foundation for all journalism careers. Being able to cover any news story (as evidenced by your stringbook) gets your foot in the door for a media job. This class, possibly the most valuable course you will ever take, is the springboard to all upper division sequences in journalism/mass communications.
Good luck!

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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