COMM 334 Feature Article
Writing
Spring 2002
10:00 11:30 a.m. Tuesday & Thursday
Room CP 127
Course Objective:
This course is designed to introduce you to the world of feature writing. By
building on some of the basics you learned in Comm. 101, you will learn about
the similarities and differences between news and feature writing. You will also
be encouraged to use your creativity and storytelling skills in order to develop
your own style as a writer.
Through a combination of in-class discussion and out-of-class writing
assignments, you will be given the opportunity to learn the basics of effective
feature writing by reading and analyzing a variety of feature stories and
writing different types of features. These may include news features,
personality profiles, human interest stories, and personal essays.
Required Texts:
The Essential Feature, by Vicky Hay (Columbia University Press).
The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual.
There will also be occasional handouts provided by the instructor.
Course Requirements:
The class meets twice a week for one hour and 15 minutes per class session.
Class meetings will involve a combination of lecture and discussion about
specific types of feature writing, where you will be encouraged to contribute
your own comments, ideas, and observations to this discussion. There will also
be occasional guest speakers.
I am a very hands-on instructor and encourage a high level of participation in
the classroom. I am interested in hearing what you have to say about the topics
at hand and in having you share your own observations and insights with your
classmates. It is therefore expected that you will read the assigned material
before class and come prepared to talk about it.
Assignments:
Throughout the term you will be given a variety of writing and research
assignments that will enable you to hone your skills as a feature writer. Some
of these assignments will familiarize you with the steps that go into crafting a
feature article, such as conducting interviews and gathering facts, while others
will involve researching and writing full-blown feature stories.
Part of becoming an effective feature writer is to learn how to work with
editors and market your work so others can read it. As a result, at least one
article should be published in the Daily Titan, ProComm, or another campus
publication before the end of the semester. This can be an article you write as
part of the class assignments or a story you do on your own.
Unless otherwise specified, assignments should be typed and double-spaced on
white bond paper. All assignments should include your name, the due date, and an
identifying slugline. There is no final examination for this course; instead
there will be a final feature article assignment. More specific information
about these writing assignments, including the final feature, will be given out
in class.
Attendance and Participation:
Attendance and class participation are required for this course. Since much of
the course will be based on in-class discussion, it is important that you be
there to contribute your own input. If everyone is willing to participate in
class activities, the course will be much more interesting and informative for
all of us. If you are ill or have an emergency, please let me know in advance of
class.
Grades:
Your grade for this class will be based on several factors. These include:
writing and research assignments, attendance and class participation, and the
final feature assignment. The breakdown for grades is as follows:
Writing and research assignments 45%
Attendance and participation 20%
Final feature project 30%
Published story in campus publication 5%
Your grade will be determined by the quality of your work and your ability to
turn the work in on time. Here is an overview of the guidelines I use when
grading papers:
A Assignment is error-free, well-written and organized, and reflects careful
research.
B Needs minor editing, contains a few spelling or grammar errors, and may
need some rewriting or reorganization.
C Hard to follow, contains a number of errors, reflects insufficient
research, and needs substantial rewriting and restructuring.
D Needs to be completely rewritten, has numerous errors, and does not meet
the requirements of the assignment.
F Reflects little effort on the part of the writer, is filled with errors,
and does not meet the requirements of the assignment.
Basic Rules of Journalism:
One of the most important aspects of journalism is the ability to meet
deadlines. I take deadlines very seriously, and I expect you to do the same. All
work will be due at the beginning of class unless otherwise announced. Late
assignments will be marked down one grade for each day they are late.
In addition, this is a communications class, and accuracy counts. If your
writing is filled with mistakes, readers will question your credibility as a
writer. It is your responsibility to make sure what you turn in reflects careful
research, fact-checking, and proper spelling. You will lose points on
assignments for misspelled words, improper grammar, factual mistakes, and basic
typing errors. I strongly encourage you to proofread your work carefully before
turning it in.
Honor Code:
It is expected that the work you turn in to me will be your own and will reflect
your own singular efforts in researching and writing the material contained in
each assignment. All writing done for this class should be original and should
not be used in conjunction with any other course. Please refer to the Universitys
policy on Academic Dishonesty for information about plagiarism and cheating,
which will be enforced in this class.
Office Hours:
I will hold regular office hours during the week, and I encourage you to stop in
and see me to discuss any questions or observations about the course you may
have. If my posted hours conflict with your schedule, you are welcome to
schedule an appointment at a time that is more convenient. For the record, I
really enjoy seeing students during office hours, and I encourage you to take
advantage of that.
Email:
You are welcome to email me with any questions or comments you might have, and I
will do my best to respond within 24 hours during the school week.
For the purposes of turning in assignments, you may use email only if you cannot
be in class because of an emergency. An emailed assignment must reach me by the
beginning of the class when it is due, or it will be counted as late.
Classroom Etiquette:
Out of respect for your fellow classmates and for the instructor, please do not
talk with your neighbor, read the newspaper, or work on assignments for other
courses during class. In addition, all cell phones and pagers should be turned
off.
Course Outline and Assignments:
The following is a list of topics we will cover during the class in the
approximate order we will cover them. Once in awhile, I may switch things
around, but you will be given ample warning if I do. We may also have occasional
guest speakers.
Week 1: (Feb. 5, 7) Introduction to feature writing (Chapter 1)
Week 2: (Feb. 12, 14) Idea development and research (Chapter 3)
Week 3: (Feb. 19, 21) Ethical and legal issues (Chapter 11)
Week 4: (Feb. 26, 28) Interviewing and note-taking (Chapter 4)
Week 5: (March 5, 7) Interviewing and note-taking (Chapter 5)
Week 6: (March 12, 14) Story structure and development (Chapters 6, 7)
Week 7: (March 19, 20) Query letters (Chapter 2)
Week 8: (March 26, 28) News features (Chapter 8)
Week 9: (April 2, 4) Spring break no class
Week 10: (April 9, 11) Human interest stories (Chapter 9)
Week 11: (April 16, 18) Personality profiles (Chapter 16)
Week 12: (April 23, 25) Communications week
Week 13: (April 30, May 2) Personal essays (Chapter 17)
Week 14: (May 7, 9) Marketing your writing (Chapters 10, 12)
Week 15: (May 14, 16) Freelancing (Chapters 13, 14)
Week 16: (May 21, 23) Wrap up/final feature stories