Schedule: 2-3:15 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, Kane A

Instructor: Jennifer Aquino

Office hours: 2-3:15 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, Kane A

650-508-3677

Email: jaquino@ndnu.edu or jenchristgau@gmail.com

Recommended texts:

Associated Press Style Book and Libel Manual, Associated Press

ISBN: 978-0-917360-54-1

PRE-REQUISITE: It is strongly suggested that you complete with a C or better:

REQUIRED READING:

IT IS REQUIRED THAT YOU READ THE ARGONAUT MANAUL ONLINE AT http://argonautclass.wordpress.com/. You must also read a metropolitan daily newspaper; a national daily such as the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal; a community daily or weekly newspaper; and The Argonaut.

This course satisfies NDNU’s upper-division writing requirement (formerly the

Writing Proficiency Requirement).

PREMISE:

In this class you will work together to put out a publication reflecting the campus community. THIS IS YOUR PAPER. As such, I expect you to own it and nurture it. It’s a unique opportunity to see the inner-workings of a publication and take part in the exciting and complex decision-making that goes into publishing a paper on a regular basis. You have the opportunity to affect change and participate in democracy. This will require your time and dedication. You will be required to participate in formulating story ideas, reporting and writing for each edition of the paper and helping produce it. Students will be expected to rewrite each assignment until it’s acceptable. Rewriting and editing are critical to the process of good writing, and students should not be discouraged by the need for it. You are expected to show up every class period and be ON TIME.

MECHANICS:

Every student will have assignments for each issue of The Argonaut. Those assignments are to be completed by deadline with no excuses. If a story doesn’t pan out or if you cannot make it to an assignment, you must contact the editor or me and explain the situation so we can arrange alternative coverage. If you fail to meet expectations, you cannot expect to pass this class. Failure to meet a deadline in this class (as it is in the real newspaper world) is a grave issue. Although this is a lab class and intended for you to work on the production of the paper, there will be instruction and guest speakers. Please be sure to show up ON TIME. Tardiness will be noted and affect your grade.

GRADING: You will be graded in the following three areas.

Objectively, your grade in this class will be based on the number of articles produced or other tasks completed for The Argonaut in its monthly production cycle. Subjectively, your grade will be determined by your enthusiasm for and contribution to The Argonaut. I will be happy to discuss where you stand in the class and how you can improve that standing at any time during the semester. Proper spelling and grammar are expected in this class. Your editors will evaluate once at the end of the semester.

To receive a grade in this class students will maintain a loose-leaf binder portfolio of their work in this class and their contributions to The Argonaut. Your portfolio should include:

  1. 1. A copy of every story or ad you sold or photo you shot or a disc with your multimedia contributions. If you are a Web editor keep a log of everything that you do for the site.
  2. 2. It must be neatly presented and organized. Think of it as the portfolio you will show a prospective employer.
  3. 3. You must include a list of all ways in which you contributed to the Argonaut and it must be signed by an editor.

Job task                                              150 POINTS TOTAL

PARTICIPATION/ATTENDANCE: Did they help on production night, participate in brainstorming sessions? Work diligently on work days? Show up to class regularly? 10 POINTS
PRODUCT: Did they produce the required number of ads, photos, assignments or stories? Did they strive to improve between assignments?

 20 POINTS
DEADLINE: Did they meet the deadlines? Did they complete the assignments after rewrites, etc., on time?

 10 POINTS
ATTITUDE/COMMUNICATION: Did they address peers with professionalism? Did they respond when communicated with in a timely manner? Did they respond professionally? Did they follow through with instructions and, if not, explain why they did not?

 10 POINTS
EDITOR ASSESSMENT: The editors will review your work and provide their input on your grade 25 POINTS
TEST: Every student will be tested on their understanding of the Argonaut manual. The test will be administered during midterm week and will consist of 25 questions. You must pass with an 80 percent to continue to receive stories. Repeat Argonaut students DO NOT HAVE TO TAKE THIS TEST. PASS OR FAIL

FOR SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS ON EACH POSITION AND PARTICIPATION, SEE ARGONAUT MANUAL.

GRADE/POINT CONVERSION: Shown in percents.

A+ 100-97 A 96-94 A- 93-90
B+ 89-87 B 86-84 B- 83-80
C+ 79-77 C 76-74 C- 73-70
D+ 69-67 D 66-64 D- 63-60 F 59 or <

Attendance:

Because students are working at different times, it is necessary for every student to log in and out on the sign-in sheet on the clipboard in the office. Absences are noted and will be taken into consideration in grading.  Students are also expected to be in The Argonaut office for at least two hours on production night. That schedule will be provided the first week of school.  Please arrange your schedules to be present on those evenings.

Expectations:

By the end of this semester, I expect that you will be able to:

• Conduct a professional and productive news interview.

• Write an accurate and inviting lead on a news story.

• Compose an accurate and complete news story on several kinds of news events.

• Edit a news story using Associated Press news style.

• Write an accurate and inviting headline.

• Use attribution appropriately.

• Understand and apply the elements of good newspaper design.

• Behave according to the accepted ethics of journalism.

• Acquaint yourself with the journalistic provisions of the First Amendment.

• Meet deadlines absolutely!

Plagiarism — including cutting and pasting from the Internet — will cause

you to fail this class!

Topics and Assignments (subject to change)

Wed., Aug. 31: First class/beat assignments/story assignment

Mon., Sept. 5: Holiday

Wed., Sept. 7: NEW STUDENTS: Learn how to use the lab.

Mon., Sept. 12: Work day

Wed., Sept. 14: Content due

Mon., Sept. 19: Final drafts due

Wed., Sept. 21: PRODUCTION NIGHT (12 p.m. to 4 p.m.)
Mon., Sept. 26:  PRODUCTION NIGHT (2 p.m. to 10 p.m.)

Wed., Sept. 28: Argonaut comes out/assign stories
Mon., Oct. 3: NEW WRITERS: Sources, beat coverage and writing

Wed., Oct. 5: NEW EDITORS: The ins and outs of editing

Mon., Oct. 10: NEW PHOTOGRAPHERS: How to edit photos

Wed., Oct. 12:  Content due

Mon., Oct. 17:  Final drafts due

Wed., Oct. 19:  Midterm test/portfolios due PRODUCTION NIGHT (12 p.m. to 4 p.m.)

Mon., Oct. 24:  PRODUCTION NIGHT (2 p.m. to 10 p.m.)

Wed., Oct. 26:  Argonaut comes out/review class/brainstorming for next semester

Mon, Oct. 31: Lecture

Wed., Nov. 2: Lecture

Mon., Nov. 7: Work day

Wed., Nov. 9: Work day

Mon., Nov. 14: Work day

Wed., Nov. 16: First drafts due

Mon., Nov. 21: No class

Wed., Nov. 23: No class

Mon., Nov. 28: Final drafts due

Wed., Nov. 30:  PRODUCTION NIGHT (12 p.m. to 4 p.m.)

Mon., Dec. 5: PRODUCTION NIGHT (2 p.m. to 10 p.m.)

Wed., Dec. 7:  Final Argonaut comes out/review class/brainstorming for next semester

Learning and Other Disabilities

§ If you have a learning disability or other condition or circumstance that requires

accommodations in this class, you must bring it to the instructor’s attention as soon as

possible. Appropriate accommodations (evidence of a disability must be in writing)

can be written through the office of PASS. Please contact Peggy Koshland-Crane at

508-3670. The student will bring letters to each instructor specifying the accommodations.

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