COM 300 - Writing for the Web
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Professor: Dr. Scott Sochay |
Department of Communication |
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Office: HC 327F |
Interim, 2005 |
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Office Hours: most mornings |
Location: AC203 |
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Time: MTWRF 1-3:45pm |
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Office Phone: 638-6199 |
PO Box 16 |
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Home Phone: (651) 646-1521 |
www.bethel.edu/~socsco/WritingWeb.html |
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email: scott-sochay@bethel.edu |
Prerequisite: COM 213 |
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Required Text:
Craig, Richard (2005). Online Journalism, Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth.
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 2004-2005 Bethel College catalog (see p. 24). To receive an "A," work should be "exceptional". "B" work is considered "good," and "C" "work "satisfactory" and so on. Criteria for each of the graded assignments will be given via handout and/or in-class description.
Students seeking disability-related accommodations, or students seeking to appeal a grade, should review policy information at: http://bethelnet.bethel.edu/collegefaculty/Policies/index.htm
The Bethel policy on academic honesty applies in this course. (see pp. 27-28 in the 2004-2005 Bethel College catalog)
| Grades will be awarded for the course as follows: | |
| In-class exercises/assignments/participation | 40% of total grade |
| Individual project | 30% |
| Group project | 30% |
| Total | 100% |
Final grades will be based on the weighted percentages of grades earned. Grades will be assigned based on the following scale:
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A |
= 93-100% |
C+ |
= 77-79 |
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A- |
= 90-92 |
C |
= 73-76 |
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B+ |
= 87-89 |
C- |
= 70-72 |
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B |
= 83-86 |
D+ |
= 67-69 |
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B- |
= 80-82 |
D |
= 60-66 |
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F |
= below 60 |
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Tentative Course Outline and Assignments:
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Date |
Topic |
Assignments |
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Jan. 4 |
Writing Assignments will be |
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Jan. 5 |
announced in class |
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Jan. 6 |
throughout the interim |
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Jan. 7 |
Ch. 15 |
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Jan. 10 |
Ch. 14, 16 |
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Jan. 11 |
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Jan. 12 |
Ch. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
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Jan. 13 |
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Jan. 14 |
Ch. 6, 7 |
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Jan. 17 |
NO CLASS - MLK Jr. DAY |
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Jan. 18 |
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Jan. 19 |
Ch. 8, 9 |
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Jan. 20 |
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Jan. 21 |
Individual Project due |
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Jan. 24 |
Group Prep Day |
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Jan. 25 |
Group Project 1 due |
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Jan. 26 |
Group Project Day 2 |
Group Project 2 due |
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