Course Objectives

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate accurate research, proper professionalism, and clear, concise, specific and error-free writing.
2. Demonstrate competency in Associated Press style, punctuation and basic composition standards.
3. Write effectively and ethically for diverse audiences using news, public relations, business, narrative, social media and advertising styles.
4. Increase awareness of local, national and international current events and trends.

Required Materials

1. Reaching Audiences, by Katherine McAdams and Jan Yopp. This is available online. See the "About Your Textbook" in the course for more info.
2. Writing to Serve, by Lane Williams. The full text is available through the BYU-Idaho Library. Links to specific chapters will be available in the lesson materials as needed.
3. The latest edition of The Associated Press Stylebook is available for free through a link that will be made available in the class for the digital version. It is optional to purchase a print copy (available on Amazon.com, APStylebook.com, or the University Store).
4. A subscription to The Wall Street Journal. You can access  The Wall Street Journal subscription for free through the BYU-Idaho Library.

5. Access to The New York Times. You can access this through the BYU-Idaho library.

Prerequisites

No official prerequisites. This class is meant for freshman-level students. It is recommended that students should at least be concurrently enrolled in COMM 100. To be successful, you will need basic English grammar, knowledge of how to use a dictionary and keyboarding skills.

Expectations

• Keep track of current events; there will be a discussion each week on current events.
• Be professional; there is no excuse for disrespectful communication, lazy work or a complacent attitude. As some of you will one day hope to be employed in a communication department, consider this like a job interview.
• Keep within deadlines when completing assignments.
• Participate in discussions.
• Never plagiarize in your work.

Grading

Grading is largely subjective, especially on your writing assignments. However, here is the general criteria that will be used to evaluate your work:

1. Is your lede appropriate?
2. Does the story develop logically? Is it interesting? Does it follow the prescribed structure?
3. Have you attributed information to sources correctly?
4. Is your information accurate and ethically constructed?
5. Have you been balanced in your approach? Were you fair and objective?
6. Does the story meet its audience?
7. Have you corrected spelling, grammar and punctuation errors? Is it in AP style?
8. Have you corrected the spelling of all proper names?
9. Is the story clear and concise? Is it in news style when appropriate?
10. Does it have correct news sense?

Grading Categories

AP Quizzes:	325 pts
Assignments and Assignment Review Quizzes:	456 pts
Weekly Topic Quizzes:	169 pts
Blog Project:	120 pts
Inverted Pyramid Stories:	340 pts
Final Project:	145 pts
Current Events Discussions:	130 pts
Total	1685 pts

Current Events Assignments

Each week will include a discussion on current events you have read over the previous week.

Writing Skill Quizzes

Throughout the semester we will discuss different techniques to improve your writing. You will be quizzed on each technique in the week in which you learn it.

Weekly Topic Quizzes

Each week will include a quiz on the material covered in readings and videos.

Blogging/Marketing Assignment

The Blogging/Marketing assignments contain various assignments related to blogging, social media and marketing. Together, they are worth 12% of your final grade.

AP Style Quizzes

Each week you will be quizzed on the material learned in the AP Stylebook, and you may take those quizzes as many times as you wish.

AP Style Final Exam

This is completed at the end of the semester. This exam is closed book. It will behoove you greatly to be studious in your AP section exams throughout the semester.

Inverted Pyramid Story Assignments

Throughout this semester, you will be responsible for contacting the appropriate sources to find and write three inverted pyramid stories. These stories must have several news values present and should be good enough quality to be published.

Final Project

For your final project, you will write a 1,500-word feature story in the top approach. You must include five sources, two of which must be from a live interview, one narrative and one expert interview. More details will be given in the course materials.

• The Topic assignment is due at the end of Week 07.
• The Three Sources assignment is due at the end of Week 09.
• The Interviews assignment is due at the end of Week 11.
• The Peer Review assignment is due at the end of Week 12.
• The Instructor Review assignment is due when your online instructor says it is due for you, but the Dropbox is located in Week 12.
• The Final Submission assignment is due at the end of Week 14.

We are currently in Week 01, which means the next assignment due for the final project is Topic Selection in Week 07.

University Policies

Students with Disabilities

Brigham Young University-Idaho is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere that accommodates qualified persons with disabilities. If you have a disability and require accommodations, please contact the Disability Services Office at (208) 496-9210 or visit their website and follow the Steps for Receiving Accommodations. Reasonable academic accommodations are reviewed for all students who have qualified documented disabilities. Services are coordinated with students and instructors by the Disability Services Office.

This course may require synchronous meetings. If you are currently registered with the Disability Services Office and need an interpreter or transcriber for these meetings, please contact the deaf and hard of hearing coordinator at (208) 496-9219.

Other University Policies

Student Honor and Other Policies

Please read through the document called University Policies. It gives important information about the following topics:

• Student Honor
  • Academic Honesty
  • Student Conduct
    • Sexual Harassment
• Student with Disabilities
• Complaints and Grievances
• Copyright Notice

Go to the Student Resources module to review further resources and information.

Collaboration

There is nothing wrong with discussing, tutoring and helping each other to better understand course material. However, once you sit down to complete quizzes and weekly assignments, these should represent what you have studied and know at that time; they are not intended to be collective works. Inappropriate collaboration is cheating and will receive zero points.

Late Work

Late work will not be accepted — welcome to the world of deadlines. Please allow enough time for malfunctioning or backed-up computers if you choose to finish your work at the last minute.