Molly Jackson-JMC Overview

To Inform, Persuade, and Entertain.

These are the first words a student would read on the current Writing for Mass Media (JMC 2033) syllabus. It is the focus of this course to develop writing skills with the motivation to either inform, persuade, and/or entertain a reader.

JMC 2033 is a prerequisite for any other class within the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. The course teaches students to improve writing skills to become a more effective communicator. This is not merely a journalism class. The objective is for a student entering any field of mass media to be able to use writing to obtain professional goals.

The structure of Writing for Mass Media coordinates a lecture class with a lab section. The lecture is where concepts are taught. Grading is divided between quizzes and exams (each 25% of overall grade). There are three exams for this course with the last one occurring on finals week. Quizzes are given at the beginning of each class meeting and are derived from multiple news and grammatical topics.

The remaining 50% of the grade comes from the lab. In the lab students learn to take the knowledge learned within lecture and apply it to their writing. These sections consist of approximately fifteen students. The size allows for really individualized attention and coaching of student's writing.

A minimum final grade of a C is required for admission into the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communications.