August 28, 2014

Writing for Communication 

Class Overview

08/28/2014

1. USA.gov advertisement

• List three words (adjectives) that first come to mind when viewing the commercial. Class answers included: informational, glamorous, quirky, eye catching, stereotypical, whimsical, theatrical, and appealing. 

• Watch interview with investigative journalist and how her tone shifted through the commercial.

⌲Keep open minds when writing.

2. Discussion of personal writing challenges
3. Cross-training

•  This course will prep you for whatever you choose to do with your communication degree.

⌲You will learn to write cleanly, perfect clarity and thoroughness, translate jargon, and write on deadlines.
⌲PRACTICE!

4. Objective versus fair discussion 

⌲Tightening up writing: "totally destroyed" and "brand new pick up truck"

5. Self editing

• delete and omit
• become slice and dice editors 

6. Popular class complaints 

• too much time on print
• too many styles
• move too quickly/ curve balls 
• grammar
• accessibility to grades
• not following the syllabus
• odd deadlines

⌲Note on feedback given on work: There will be a lot given shortly after the assignment is due. Take note of said feedback and meet with the Professor at anytime.
⌲Professor's email= stevepiacente@gmail.com (do NOT email his AU email address)

7. Personal introductions
8. Discussion of syllabus

• Subscribe yourself to AP style of writing. https://www.apstylebook.com/ 
• Check blog weekly
• Current events quizzes are at the beginning of each class online http://quizstar.4teachers.org/indexs.jsp 
• Attendance is important

9. Write one sentence describing what you read in the handout "Rough Draft" by Joel Achenbach 

10. Assigned QuizStar login information

--BREAK--

11. James and Bryan read stories outloud 

• Do not "bury the lead" (important things go last)  
• We want to put the most important things first

12. Power point presentations

• A Date & 5W's

Who: Joyce Rollins

What: Met future husband

Where: Georgetown

When: Saturday

Why: Not yet clear, they connected quickly

Add attribution from an official source, usually "according to," in order to establish credibility

Keep yourself out of the story as much as possible. Preferably 100%.

• Defining the news...

Review news values:

Unusual
Immediacy
Conflict
Impact
Prominence
Proximity

13. Twenty-five word lead on scrambled sheet

• Rules for print leads:

Important information must come first

25 words or less

Use past tense

Do NOT reveal your personal opinion

Include attribution from official source

No spelling/ grammatical/ or AP style errors

CLASS HANDOUTS:

1. Rough Draft by Joel Achenbach
2. "Friday Morning" Blog Instructions
3. The five-minute stylebook
4. Writing for Communication Syllabus 
5. Email questions
6. Top 10 mistakes
7. Lead template sheet
8. Practice lead information
9. Quizstar Student Instructions

HOMEWORK (emailed to the class from Professor Piacente):

1. Read: http://www.journalism.org/2014/03/26/state-of-the-news-media-2014-overview/ 

• List the three findings you find most striking, and why.

2. Read Text, Chapters 1-4

For pages 9-11, do 1.1 (Autobiography), 1.4 (Incident), 1.10 (Shoelaces)

3 - Read the The Washington Post every day. 

Front pages of...

• Front page
• Metro section
• Sports section
• Style section

Each class will begin with current events quiz & discussion.The quizzes will cover from the Friday after class until Thursday of the next class.

4 - Accept my invitation to the class blog and read advice for success from last semester's students. (Let me know asap if you didn't receive an invite or are unable to sign on).

5 - Answer the short survey I passed out in class. Email this to me before next class.

6 - Be sure to check your email every day to make sure you don't miss any messages from Professor.

Reminder: Use stevepiacente@gmail.com for all our correspondence this semester.