ENG 399LEC
Journalism

The content of this course is variable. For example: J. K. Biehl, Features In this class, students will read, discuss and write (and rewrite) the kinds of lively, instructive feature stories that appear in the better newspapers, magazines and online publications. Features is the grab-bag term for stories that are deeper and more human than hard news stories. They require more reporting, more nuance, more style. Done right, features can be the most moving and best-read parts of a newspaper or website. Students will learn advanced researching and writing techniques as they hone skills as reporters and thinkers. Students will study some of the best reporting and non-fiction literature produced in the past 100 years and dissect what makes each text remarkable. Readings will include some of journalism's greatest profiles, sports stories, war correspondence and human interest stories. In class, students will dissect what makes each text great, how each could be better and why authors chose specific quotes, description and narrative structure. Students will apply these lessons to their own pieces. For example: C. Anzalone, Editing for the Conscientious Writer Behind every great book or article lies a great editor. This advanced writing course is intended for students who have demonstrated proficiency in basic college composition and who hopefully have some experience with the basics of journalism. The course will teach students both how to edit and improve other writers' drafts, and how to incorporate those good writing techniques into their own writing. We will become familiar with basic copy-editing symbols, and learn how this shorthand can speed up basic editing communication and avoid common mistakes. Students will take turns writing stories and having their classmates edit their articles; they will alternate each role throughout the semester. All students will hopefully leave the class with extensive experience both in writing stories and editing their peers' work. So the editing techniques they learn will help them become better writers, as well as become the kind of editor the smartest writers crave to be a part of their writing process. Editing for the Conscientious Writer combines editing exercises, writing and reporting stories used for editing in class, and studying articles that illustrate memorable writing and editing. Editing for the Conscientious Writer will be an object lesson on how becoming a good editor makes you a better writer, and learning the skills of good writing enhances your ability to be a valuable editor.

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