Writing for Mass Media (JMC 2033) encompasses all of the styles of writing that will be faced throughout the career of a journalist within the modern mass media environment. This class is meant to transform the students' writing styles from the wordy academic writing most are accustomed to into the concise writing of a journalist. The class work is divided into two separate sections: the lab portion, and the lecture. Each of these is worth 50% of the overall grade.
The lab portion of the class is where the writing is done, and meets twice a week for two hours at a time. Each of the lab instructors is a highly gifted writer and is there for the purpose of coaching the students. Students are taught the importance of the journalistic writing process and the importance of meeting deadlines in the journalism business.
The lab is also a means of discovering the punishments for mistakes within journalistic writing. A factual error within any piece written will automatically lower the writers' grade 25%-50%. Mistakes in grammar, style, and spelling seen in any piece will also significantly drop the writers' grade.
The lecture portion of the class meets three times a week for 50 minutes at a time. The lectures teach the skills and ideas that are needed to succeed in the lab. There is a quiz every lecture class. Quizzes make up 25% of the overall grade. There are three exams during the duration of the semester that account for 25% of the overall grade.
Attendance is essential in both portions of the class. Having over four absences in either will result in an automatic F. In lecture no outside electronics are to be used, and anyone caught using them will be asked to leave the room immediately.
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