Course Schedule All class periods are tentative: Thinking people change their minds. Com 161 Course Module Outline Convergent Media Writing Weeks or thematic units Module Learning Objective(s) Assessments and Learning Activities Instructional materials 1 May 19 Demonstrate knowledge of responsibilities of this course. Demonstrate knowledge of media convergence . Demonstrate knowledge of media writing structural considerations. Demonstrate knowledge of characteristics of quality writing. Preview Assignment 1: Straight News Quiz Discussion post Read Syllabus Read McHale Preface McHale, Ch. 1: Telling a Good Dramaturgical Theory and Narrative Theory Chapter Lecture at Review Prezi Outline 2 May 20 Demonstrate knowledge of transactional communication model. Demonstrate knowledge of media theories. Quiz Discussion post McHale, Ch. 2: Theoretical Consideration of Mass Media Writing Transactional of Communication and Convergent Media Writing Chapter Lecture at http://my.ilstu.edu/~jpmchal/ Review Prezi Outline: Theoretical Considerations of Mass Media Writing, McHale Ch. 2. COM 161 3 May 21 Demonstrate knowledge of the writing process. Quiz Discussion post McHale, Ch. 3: The Writing Process Chapter Lecture at http://my.ilstu.edu/~jpmchal/
Demonstrate knowledge of research. Demonstrate knowledge of actualities. Demonstrate importance of revising, rewriting and repeating. Review Outline 4 May 22 Demonstrate knowledge of grammar. Demonstrate knowledge of proper convergent media vocabulary. Demonstrate knowledge of appropriate sentence structure. Quiz Discussion post AP Exercise 1: Please me your answers McHale, Ch. 4: Writer’s Toolbox Grammar, Punctuation, Vocabulary, and Sentence Structure, etc. Chapter Lecture at http://my.ilstu.edu/~jpmchal/ Review Prezi Outline 5 May 23 Demonstrate knowledge of basic writing style. Demonstrate knowledge of proper Associated Press style. Demonstrate understanding of double-speak. Quiz Discussion post McHale, Ch. 5: Style: Telling It Well: Associated Press and Strunk & White Chapter Lecture at http://my.ilstu.edu/~jpmchal/ Review Prezi Outline 6 May 27 Demonstrate knowledge of News Elements. Demonstrate knowledge of inverted pyramid organization. Quiz Discussion post McHale, Ch. 6: Straight Print News Chapter Lecture at http://my.ilstu.edu/~jpmchal/ Review Prezi Outline
Demonstrate writing skills sufficient to write in a straight news print format. 7 May 28 Demonstrate knowledge of ethical issues in convergent media writing. Demonstrate knowledge of critique of consumer culture. Demonstrate knowledge of Quiz Discussion post McHale, Ch. 7: Ethics and Mass Media Writing Theory and Ethics in Writing Chapter Lecture at http://my.ilstu.edu/~jpmchal/ Review Prezi Outline: Ethics and Mass Media Writing, McHale ch.7 COM 161 8 May 29 Demonstrate knowledge of difference between straight news writing and feature news writing. Develop writing skills sufficient to feature print news. Due: Assignment Straight Print News: Deliver to me through Reggienet email Quiz Preview/Begin Feature Print Writing Assignment Discussion post McHale, Ch. 8: Feature Print and Web Writing Chapter Lecture at Review Prezi Outline 9 May 30 Demonstrate knowledge of main legal issues in convergent media writing. Demonstrate knowledge of copyright. Demonstrate knowledge of Libel. Quiz Discussion post McHale, Ch. 9: Legal Issues in Mass Media Writing Chapter Lecture at http://my.ilstu.edu/~jpmchal/ Review Outline 10 Demonstrate knowledge of the difference Quiz McHale, Ch. 10: Broadcast Media Writing
June2 between print and aural communication. Demonstrate knowledge of broadcast A.P. style. Demonstrate knowledge of characteristics of communication. Demonstrate knowledge of phonetic spelling. Discussion post Mid-term exam Chapter Lecture at http://my.ilstu.edu/~jpmchal/ Review Prezi Outline 11 June 3 Demonstrate knowledge of agenda setting theory. Demonstrate knowledge of radio news scripting. Develop writing skills sufficient to write radio news. Due: Feature Writing Assignment Preview/Begin Due: Radio News Assignment Quiz Discussion post McHale, Ch. 11: Radio News Chapter Lecture at http://my.ilstu.edu/~jpmchal/ Review Prezi Outline 12 June 4 Demonstrate knowledge of telling stories with pictures. Demonstrate knowledge of visual transitions. Demonstrate knowledge of camera position and movement. Quiz Discussion post McHale, Ch. 12: Telling a Visual Story Theory: Jacobson’s Poetic Function and Visual Sequence Composition Chapter Lecture at Review Prezi Outline 13 June 5 Demonstrate knowledge of visual script formatting. Quiz Discussion post McHale, Ch. 13: Scripting the Visual: Split Page Television Format and Single Column Formats
Chapter Lecture at http://my.ilstu.edu/~jpmchal/ Review Prezi Outline 14 June 6 Demonstrate knowledge of components of television news writing. Quiz Discussion post McHale, Ch. 14: Television News Writing Television News View TV News Examples Chapter Lecture at Review Outline 15 June 9 Demonstrate knowledge of television announcement organization. Demonstrate knowledge of persuasive appeals. Demonstrate knowledge of the use of drama in television announcements. Due: Radio News Assignment Television Announcement Quiz Discussion post McHale, Ch. 15: Advertising Chapter Lecture at Review Outline 16 June 10 Demonstrate knowledge of basic principles in public relations writing. Demonstrate knowledge of PR Demonstrate basic knowledge of image restoration rhetoric. Quiz Discussion post McHale, Ch. 16: Public Relations and Story Defining Public Relations as a Public Communication Tools Public Relations and Advertising Restoration Discourse Chapter Lecture at Review Outline
17 June 11 Demonstrate knowledge of television entertainment structure. Demonstrate knowledge of ways to get into the television entertainment writing business. Quiz Discussion post McHale, Ch. 17: Television Entertainment Programming Chapter Lecture at Review Prezi Outline 18 June 12 Demonstrate knowledge of documentary writing. Quiz Discussion post McHale, Ch. 18: Documentary Writing Chapter Lecture at http://my.ilstu.edu/~jpmchal/ Review Prezi Outline 19 June 13 Demonstrate knowledge of dramatic principles. Demonstrate knowledge of the dramatic Demonstrate ability to apply dramatic theory to a particular film. Due: Television Announcement Deliver under door (451 Fell Hall), send PDF through Reggienet mail, or send through snail mail (must be postmarked no later than June 14): Dr. John McHale, 451 Fell Hall, ISU, Normal, IL 67190-4480 Quiz Discussion post McHale, Ch. 19: Feature Film Writing Chapter Lecture at http://my.ilstu.edu/~jpmchal/ Review Prezi Outline Day 19 and 20 are combined due to Memorial day, but I will give you the weekend to get it all done. 20 June 16 (Optional: You can turn it all in on June 13 if you wish.) Demonstrate knowledge of Quality social media writing. Develop writing skills sufficient to in the genre of students’ choice.. Quiz Final Exam Discussion post Final Project: By June 22 Deliver under door (451 Fell Hall), send PDF through Reggienet mail, or send through snail mail (must be McHale Ch. 20: Writing for the Web: Twitter, Social Media, and emerging forms Chapter Lecture at http://my.ilstu.edu/~jpmchal/ Review Prezi Outline