20801246Investigative Journalism
Course Information
Description
Students develop skills of reportage and story development to create feature articles appropriate to journalism, freelance writing, etc. Reading assignments allow students to become familiar with principles and practice of feature writing. Class meetings follow a newsroom format where deadlines, correspondence, and interview skills are learned and practiced.
Total Credits
4
Course Competencies
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Cultivate formats and non-fiction formsAssessment Strategiesby writing features from 500-1000 words for The Clarion and local freelance marketsCriteriause five to ten kinds of feature article openers or leadsidentify in others' work and own work the use of first, second, and third person narrative in feature reportingbuild bridges between paragraphs which flow easily for the reader from one idea, topic or character to anotherdevelop story endings leaving readers with a message, a take-home value, an action stepconceive of ideas for ready-to-publish featuresconduct research for ready-to-publish featureswrite ready-to-publish featuresedit ready-to-publish featuresmeet word guidelines from course guidelines and student publications editors
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Cultivate information gathering and interviewing skillsAssessment Strategiesby writing features from 500-1000 words for The Clarion and local freelance marketsCriteriaprepare questions reaching sources for facts, processes, and open-ended responsesdesign interview question scenarios for varying sources and story typestake notes during live and telephone interviewsmake critical decisions about which material gets used in stories and which doesn't
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Practice style, mechanics, and good usageAssessment Strategiesby writing features from 500-1000 words for The Clarion and local freelance marketsCriteriafollow Associated Press Stylebook guidelines for copywritingproofread draft and final copy using both computer spellchecker on screen and working with hard, paper copy to identify errorsrewrite before and on deadline after editing alone and with workshop classmatesrespond positively to questions and suggestions student/readers make in the workshop
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Generate story ideas alone and with othersAssessment Strategiesby participating in group discussion with workshop matesby writing features from 500-1000 words for The Clarion and local freelance marketsCriteriadevelop feature story ideas from your project guidebrainstorm possibilities for stories openly with workshop matesuse storyboard possibles from Clarion editorsbring published stories you have read as models for idea-building in content and approach
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Write a single source interview or personal narrativeAssessment Strategiesby writing a 300-500 word essay by specified dateCriteriaassess model personal narrative articlescreate autobiographical tension by creating conflict between characters or within the narrator him/herselfdevelop the literary elements of plot, character, setting, and theme through the use of organization, description, dialogue, and reflectioninterview one source to help develop the details of the story
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Write an essay on something, someone, or someplace you loveAssessment Strategiesby writing a 600-750 word essay by specified dateCriteriawrite about a person, place, event, issue, or cultural phenomenon they would rather write about than anything else on earthprovide summary, paraphrase, and quoted material from two live interviewsprovide summary, paraphrase, and quoted material from two reading sources
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Write an essay on something you abhorAssessment Strategiesby writing a 750-800 word essay by specified dateCriteriawrite about people, organizations, cults or culture, religion, or activity they abhor, are ignorant about, hate, fear, become enraged aboutinclude at least three live interviews attributed in manuscriptinclude at least three reading sources attributed in manuscript
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Write an essay about a campus or community issueAssessment Strategiesby writing a 800-1500 word essay by specified dateCriteriawrite an essay that explores illuminates or helps solve a serious campus or community issueinclude at least three live interviews attributed in manuscriptinclude at least three reading sources attributed in manuscript
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Write a profile of a person at MATCAssessment Strategiesby writing a 500-1000 word essay by specified dateCriteriawrite an essay about a student, teacher, mentor or other worker at Truax or other MATC campusinclude at least three-five interviews beyond the one with the subjectdevelop knowledge and voices around the chosen person through the use of interviews