course syllabus

Course Syllabus
Course: Journalism
Instructor: Mr. Roark lance.roark@staff.spartaschools.org

Prerequisites:
Students enrolled in Journalism class should be sophomores, juniors or seniors in good academic standing who have passed their previous grade level English classes and who have followed the application procedure (which includes 2 teacher recommendations).

Course Description:
This course is designed to foster growth in the areas of fundamental journalism, with focuses on writing for newspapers, newsletters, press releases, web sites and other periodicals. This class will include an introduction to newspaper production and layout. All students will serve on the staff of one or more of the following:

The Lo Down (which includes the Sports newsletter)
The Sparta Community Newsletter - through Liz Gorski's office
The Bell Ringer
The SHS Yearbook

Course Objectives:
A major part of the class will be the mastery of the fundamentals of journalism – leads, story organization, quoting and credit, the interview, sources, ethical treatment and an integrated understanding of the four basic types of articles:

News
Features
Sports
Opinion/Editorial

When students achieve a satisfactory conceptual overview of this basic journalistic format, he/she will be assigned a beat. Each student will have 2 student editors to oversee their work, as well as the instructor who will serve as the Senior Editor.

Learning to work in an editorial group is also a part of the class objectives. This means that each student will peer edit stories before those pieces are submitted for approval. Editors will also collaborate on page design and graphics. Editors will be in place to streamline the writing process, so the senior editor’s paper load isn’t so daunting a task, which reinforces the writing process.

Working a beat is a universal expectation of any journalism student. The objective is that each student would conceptualize the importance of self-direction and professionalism, as well as skill development, for success in the world of work. Students may, or may not, be working with other writers depending on their particular area. A beat could be Sports, Drama, Youth Advisory, Student Affairs, Administration, Bell Ringer, Special Interest, School Promotion, Staff Information, Field Trips, etc…

Course Expectations: Each student will submit a concept on a weekly basis. Each student will submit an article for publication on a weekly basis. Quizzes or tests may be given unannounced. Students are responsible for note-taking and all information covered in class.

Chapter Work: There are 26 chapters in the textbook. Chapter work requires written, or word processed responses to blog posts, questions in the textbook, or quiz exam questions for Journalism III students.

Journalism I - consult the blog
Journalism II - answer questions at the end of each chapter (3-5 sentences per question)
Journalism III - create 10 exam questions from the major themes of each chapter. Major themes only.

Students will earn points for the following: approximate percentage points
1. Writing Assignments 40 percent
2. Class Participation/Editing 30 percent
3. Tests and Quizzes (3 major tests) 20 percent
4. Final Exam 10 percent of total grade