COM 300 - Online Journalism

 

Professor: Dr. Scott Sochay

Department of Communication

Office: HC 327F

Interim, 2010

Office Hours: most afternoons

Location: AC203

                            

Time: MTWRF 8-10:45am

Office Phone: 638-6199

PO Box 16

Home Phone: (651) 646-1521

www.bethel.edu/~socsco/WritingWeb.html

email: scott-sochay@bethel.edu

Prerequisite: COM 213

 

  Back to Sochay home page

 

Required Text:

Foust, James C. (2009). Online Journalism (Second Edition). Holcomb Hathaway Publishers.

 

Course Objectives:

Students will learn to:

1.  Write news copy in various web formats following proper web writing guidelines;

2.  think critically about how news is gathered, reported and disseminated; and

3.  apply legal, ethical and Biblical standards to goals one and two.

 

Grading and Expectations:

Participation is important and is part of your grade.  Students are expected to have read the required chapters for each class session and be prepared to discuss its contents.  A lack of preparation not only hurts your grade it also takes away from the quality of the in-class discussion and makes the learning experience less enjoyable for your classmates.  Attendance is also a part of your participation grade. Excessive absences and/or tardiness will be reflected in that generally, three or more unexcused absences will result in a minimum one grade lower participation grade.

 

Projects are due at the beginning of the class period noted in the course outline.  Late projects or missed exams will not be accepted without a legitimate excuse such as medical illness or emergency.  If you have a situation that may present difficulties in turning a project in on time or making an exam date the proper procedure is to discuss this with me before the due date.  I'm flexible and understanding when students talk with me before an assignment or exam is due.  I'm much less flexible if a student tries to explain their situation after the due date has passed.  In short, if you think you're going to have a problem turning in an assignment on time, talk with me before the due date.  The same also applies to attendance.  Excused absences are at my discretion.  I am far more likely to grant them when students let me know ahead of time (when possible) or contact me as soon as possible after the missed class.

 

  Student work will be evaluated according to the guidelines laid out in the 2009-2010 Bethel College catalog (see p. 39). To receive an "A," work should be "exceptional". "B" work is considered "good," and "C" "work "satisfactory" and so on.

 

Handouts/explanations will be provided with the criteria for all assignments. If you have any questions about these assignments, ask! Students seeking disability-related accommodations should review policy information at the Bethel Disability Services page.

The Bethel policy on academic honesty applies in this course. (see pp. 42-43 in the 2009-2010 Bethel College catalog)

 

 

 

Grades will be awarded for the course as follows:  
In-class exercises/assignments/blogs/participation 60% of total grade
Individual project 25%
Group project 15%
Total 100%

 

 

 

 

Final grades will be based on the weighted percentages of grades earned.  Grades will be assigned based on the following scale:

 

A

=  93-100%

C+

=  77-79

A-

=  90-92

C

=  73-76

B+

=  87-89

C-

=  70-72

B

=  83-86

D+

=  67-69

B-

=  80-82

D

=  60-66

 

 

F

=  below 60

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tentative Course Outline and Assignments:

 

Date

Topic

Assignments

Jan. 5

Introduction/Dreamweaver Ch. 1, 12

Writing Assignments will be

Jan. 6

Dreamweaver Ch. 3,6 (reference)

announced in class

Jan. 7

Ch. 4

throughout the interim

Jan. 8

Ch. 11

 

Jan. 11

Ch. 5

 

Jan. 12

Ch. 7, 8, 9

 

Jan. 13

Ch. 7, 8, 9

 

Jan. 14

Ch. 7, 8, 9

 

Jan. 15

Ch. 7, 8, 9

 

Jan. 18

NO CLASS - MLK Jr. DAY

 

Jan. 19

Ch. 7, 8, 9

 

Jan. 20

Ch. 7, 8, 9

 

Jan. 21

Ch. 7, 8, 9

 

Jan. 22

Prep for Individual Projects

 

Jan. 25

Individual Project Day

Individual Project due

Jan. 26

Group Project Day 1

 

Jan. 27

Group Project Day 2

Group Project due