Journalism 417

2005-01-15T17:51:00.000-08:00

Journalism 417 Freelance Feature Writing
Spring 2005 Tuesday & Thursday 2 until 3:15 pm
Communications Building Room 1213
Textbook: Students are required to purchase, by Jan. 20, materials available in the Journalism office and bring them to every class.
Instructor: William Recktenwald
Office: Communications 1234 J-School Mailbox: # 11
Office telephone: 453-3289 (equipped with answering machine)
E-Mail: teacherofnews@aol.com put YOUR name and 417 in subject line
Office hours: Tuesday & Thursday 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. and by appointment
Attendance
Attendance at every class mandatory. Attendance is taken; if you miss classes for any reason it will be factored into your final grade. If you are unable to attend a class, you must inform the instructor before the class is scheduled to end; this can be done by e-mail or telephone message. Notification will not assure an excused absence, but failing to inform the instructor will result in an unexcused absence. Classes will start on time; do not be late to class. To be counted as present it is the responsibility of each student to sign the attendance sheet.
Three unexcused absences will result in a failing grade.
Your final grade will be dropped one grade point for every three time you are late.

Objectives: Identification, research and application of creative writing techniques in producing feature news articles for various media. We will analyze reader appeal as well as feature story structure and methods of marketing features to various audiences and publications. While the primary focus will be on better writing, use of internet resources and AP style will also be stressed.

Conduct of Class: We will discuss various ways to improve your writing and complete a number of exercises designed to reinforce what we have studied. We will discuss various methods to identify media outlets that will be interested in your stories and will prepare pitch letters for them. We will write two major stories during the semester. As this is an upper level class you will need to locate some of your old stories for use in various exercises.

Grading: Class participation will account for 30 –percent of your grade. If you attend class, and complete all assignments, but do not take part in class discussion you should expect a grade of C. Your mid-term project will account for 20-percent of your grade; your final project, a story, 30-percent; The other story you write will account for 10-percent; quizzes, oral and written 10-percent.

Class Schedule
Jan. 18—Class overview
Jan. 20--- All students must have class materials and have read “Tool #1”
Jan. 25—Have read “Tool #2 and #3”
Jan. 27—Have read “Tool #4”
Feb. 1—Have read “Tool #5 and #6”
Feb. 3—Locating the ‘right’ publication.
Feb. 8--- Preparing the pitch
Feb. 10--- Refining the pitch letter
Feb. 15---Have read “Tool#7”
Feb. 17---Have read “Tool #8 and #9”
Feb. 22--- Have read “Tool #10”
Feb. 24--- Have read “Tool # 11”
March 1--- Discuss you first story pitch
March 3--- Turn in First story have read “Tool #12”
March 8--- Have read “Tool #13 and #14”
March 10---Turn in pitch letter for first story, discuss final project story.
March 22 Guest speaker
March 24 TBA
March 29--- Have read “Tool #15, #16 and #17”
March 31---Have read # 18
April 5---Have read # 19 & #20
April 7---Discussion of Pitch Letter for final story
April 12---Have read #21 & #22
April 14---Have read #23 & #24
April 19---Have read #25
April 21---Have read #26 & #27
April 26---Have read #28 & #29
April 28---Have read #31 & #31
May 3--- Final project and pitch letter discussion
May 5---Projects due at end of class

You can be sure that there will be changes from time to time in this schedule that will include speakers and telephone conference calls with notable writers. These will be announced and each student will be responsible for taking note of changes.

Freelance Feature Writing J 417

Journalism 417