[JRN 4100]
Specialized Reporting

 

Assignments and Grading

 

Story #1	20%
Story #2	30%
Peer Critique	10%
In-Class Assignments/ Attendance/Professionalism	10%
Mid-term Exam	15%
Final Exam	15%

 

All Assignments (except In-Class Assignments)

 

Multiple assignments will be given throughout the semester to help you prepare for writing the final story. Additional information and deadlines for these assignments will be posted on the Schedule page throughout the semester. Be sure to turn in these assignments at the scheduled beginning of class to receive full credit. For more information, please read the deadline policy.

 

In-Class Assignments

In-class assignments will be based on the course lecture material, class discussions, and CoursePack readings. You will find it most helpful to complete all reading assignments before coming to class and to listen carefully and participate during class. In-class assignments will be collected for grading, so it is important to do your best on every assignment.

 

Make-up assignments and extensions will not be given. If you miss a class, you miss the opportunity to turn in the in-class assignment for feedback and/or a grade. One in-class assignment grade will be dropped in the event that you miss class. If you do not miss class, your lowest grade will be dropped.

 

These assignments will be graded on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the high score.

 

Attendance/Participation

Regular class attendance is crucial for doing well on these and the other assignments for this class. Make-up assignments and extensions will not be given. If you miss a class, you miss the opportunity to turn in the in-class assignment for feedback and/or a grade.

In the event that illness, a death in the family, an excused campus/sports activity, an emergency, bad weather, a job interview, extended vacation plans, scheduling conflicts or any other event prevents you from coming to class, one absence will be excused without penalty. Additional absences will not be excused except when written documentation is provided for prolonged illness or court appearances.

Your In-class Assignments/Attendance/Professionalism grade will be lowered proportionately based on your attendance.

 

Exams

 

A mid-term and a final exam will be given. The exams will be based on the lectures, textbook readings, CoursePack readings, videotapes and in-class assignments. The final exam covers course content from the entire semester. Exams can not be made up if missed.

 

Class Attendance, Participation and Professionalism

 

Attendance will be taken at the beginning of every class. Regular attendance is required and is important for preparing for a successful career as a journalist. You will not be able to report the news if you are not there to cover the news.

Extended absences (missing a week or more of class) resulting from illness or other emergencies must be submitted in writing with appropriate documentation as close to the time of absence as possible.

 

If circumstances require that you miss five or more classes during the semester, it is highly recommended that you enroll in the course at a time when regular attendance is possible.

 

You are responsible for getting the notes and assignments from other class members whenever you miss class.

 

Please note that part of your final grade is based on attendance and participation. In order to earn a high grade in this class, you are expected to attend class and participate in class discussion and assignments on a regular basis.

 

Be sure to conduct yourself professionally when arranging and doing interviews. BE ON TIME FOR ALL INTERVIEWS! BE PREPARED WITH GOOD QUESTIONS! BE COURTEOUS WITH ALL SOURCES. Reports by sources of unprofessional conduct during interviews will be taken into account when determining this portion of your grade.

Your final letter grade will be calculated using the scale below.

 

Grading Scale

 

A	94 - 100
BA	88 - 93
B	83 - 87
CB	78 - 82
C	73 - 77
DC	68 - 72
D	63 - 67
E	62 and below

 

Lab Rules

 

Food and drinks are not allowed in the computer labs.
Cell phones may only be used in the hallway outside of the computer lab area.

 

Please keep the computers and lab in good condition. Please do not deface the computers or computer desks.

 

DO NOT LEAVE AT ANY TIME WHILE CLASS IS IN SESSION. This is EXTREMELY disruptive.

 

Computer screens are to be turned OFF during class lectures and discussions unless you are told otherwise. You may check e-mail and surf the Web before and after class.

 

Reading newspapers is strongly encouraged; however, please do not read newspapers DURING class lectures and discussions.

 

Please respect the rights of other class members. You are responsible for arriving to class on time and staying for the entire class period. Arriving late, departing early and moving in and out of the lab during class time is disruptive to other class members and your instructor. Please attend to any unrelated business either before or after class, not during class time.