COM 376 - Public Relations Writing and Strategies
|
Professor: Dr. Scott Sochay |
Department of Communication |
|
Office: HC 327F |
Spring Semester, 2020 |
|
Office Hours: MWF 9-10am and by appt. |
Location: CC426B |
|
|
Time: MWF 8-8:50 |
|
Office Phone: 638-6199 |
PO Box 51 |
|
Home Phone: (517) 648-7759 |
homepage: www.bethel.edu/~socsco |
|
email: scott-sochay@bethel.edu |
Prerequisite: COM 248, COM350 |
|
|
Required Text:
Newsom, Doug (2016). Public Relations Writing: Strategies and Structures, (11th Edition), Boston: Cengage.
Course Objectives:
Students will learn to:
1. Write clear, concise copy that is accurate, logically organized, and persuasive.
2. Use professional formats, correct grammar, spelling, punctuation and AP Style.
3. Find and use reliable and credible sources of information.
4. Use attributions from all sources.
5. Understand and apply laws, regulations, and ethical standards governing public relations materials.
6. Develop proficiency in public relations professional skills
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. The University policy on attendance can be found in the Bethel catalog.
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.
Any/all assignments should be submitted in hard copy form. Any exceptions to this will be announced in class.
Student work will be evaluated according to the guidelines laid out in the Bethel University catalog. To receive an "A," work should be "exceptional". "B" work is considered "good," and "C" "work "satisfactory" and so on. If you have any questions about assignments, ask! If there are concerns about grading, the Complaint and Appeals Procedure can be found at: http://cas.bethel.edu/academics/catalog/.
Students seeking accessibility-related accommodations should review policy information at the Bethel Disability Services page. You may email accessibility-services@bethel.edu for further, detailed information. Accessibility-related accommodations are determined by the Office of Disability Resources and Services (OARS). Students are responsible to contact the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services. Once OARS determines that accommodations are to be made, they will notify the student and the instructor via e-mail. Students choosing to use the accessibility-related accommodations must contact the instructor no later than five business days before accommodations are needed. The instructor will provide accommodations, but the student is required to initiate the process for the accommodations.
The Bethel policy on academic honesty applies in this course. (see Bethel University catalog)
| Grades will be awarded for the course as follows: | |
| Individual Writing Assignments | 65% |
| Group Writing Assignment | 25% |
| Attendence/Participation | 10% |
| 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 |
| 2/3 | Introduction | Writing Assignments will be announced |
| 2/5 | Ch. 1 | as they become relevant, due dates will appear |
| 2/7 | Ch. 1 | in this column |
| 2/10 | Ch. 2 | |
| 2/12 | Ch. 2 | |
| 2/14 | Ch. 3 | |
| 2/17 | Ch. 3, Ch. 7 | |
| 2/19 | Workday | |
| 2/21 | Ch. 7 | |
| 2/24 | Ch. 4 | Position paper due |
| 2/26 | Ch. 4 | |
| 2/28 | Ch. 5 | |
| 3/2 | workday | |
| 3/4 | organization presentations | |
| 3/6 | Ch. 6 | |
| 3/9 | Ch. 6 | |
| 3/11 | Ch. 6 | |
| 3/13 | Ch. 8 | |
| 3/16-20 | SPRING BREAK | |
| 3/23 | ||
| 3/25 | ||
| 3/27 | ||
| 3/30 | Ch. 8 | |
| 4/1 | Ch. 8 | Ch. 6 interview assignment due |
| 4/3 | work on backgrounder | |
| 4/6 | Ch. 9 | |
| 4/8 | Ch. 9 | |
| 4/10 | EASTER BREAK | |
| 4/13 | EASTER BREAK | |
| 4/15 | Ch. 10 | Ch. 8 backgrounder due |
| 4/17 | Ch. 10 | |
| 4/20 | Ch. 11 | |
| 4/22 | Ch. 11 | Ch. 9 newsletter assignment due |
| 4/24 | work on newsletter | |
| 4/27 | Ch. 12 | |
| 4/29 | Ch. 12 | |
| 5/1 | Ch. 12 | Ch. 11 newsletter assignment due |
| 5/4 | work on brochure | |
| 5/6 | Ch. 13 | |
| 5/8 | Ch. 13 | Ch. 12 brochure assignment due |
| 5/11 | Ch. 14 | |
| 5/13 | Ch. 14 | |
| 5/15 | work on Ch. 14 assignment | |
| 5/19 | Final Exam period | 11:30 - 1:30 Ch. 14 assignment due |
|