WRITING FOR THE MEDIA
WRIT 361.001
NOTE: This is representative of the syllabi for this course. It is not necessarily the syllabus being used in any one semester.
TEXTS: Writing for the Media: The Textbook
Beginning Broadcast Newswriting (Wulfemeyer)
Miscellaneous handouts and library reserves.
BY THE END OF THE COURSE, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO--
q Identify, define, explain, and demonstrate the proper notation and use of common audio and video production elements.
q List, explain, and use several techniques for creating mental images via audio scripts.
q List and use several methods for developing characters.
q List, explain, and use several techniques for recreating experiences in video scripts.
q Translate real or fictional events into media scripts.
q Write behavioral (performance) objectives.
q Identify and use common instructional and persuasive techniques in the creation of effective scripts.
q Write in two-column, audio, teleplay, and screenplay formats.
q Write news releases.
q Create a flowchart and a script for an interactive video program.
q Write media copy under time constraints.
ATTENDANCE
q If you miss more than two classes, your grade is likely to suffer.
q You may not make up missed assignments.
q Should class be canceled for any reason, be prepared, at the next class, to cover the work from both classes.
GRADES
1. Each script will be graded according to the following criteria (in this order):
a) fulfillment of the assignment;
b) proper use of form and technical elements;
c) creativity and originality.
2. Because there are so many papers in this class (for each one you have to write, I have to read a whole class's worth); because many of them are cumulative, each leading toward the next assignment; because I'll need to grade and return scripts so fast; and because media-related businesses are built on tight deadlines, I will not accept late papers. If you can't get to class, send your paper with someone.
3. I will assign grades as follows:
F unacceptable.
D acceptable; below average
C average; turned in on time; fulfilled assignment; adequate use of creative and technical elements.
B either one element was outstanding or the script in general was better than average.
A entire script exceptional!
0 assignment not turned in; counts as TWO "F"s.
4. I will weight assignments as follows:
Small Assignments and reading quizzes: 1x
Information script, interactive script, and test: 3x
Participation will count as a borderline determiner.
PRESENTATION OF ASSIGNMENTS
Because this is a professional communication course,
q All out-of-class papers must be typed.
q All papers must reflect mechanical writing competence:
q if there are more than three mechanical errors per page (average) --spelling, punctuation, subject-verb agreement, etc.-- your grade will drop one letter;
q if there significantly more than that, your grade will drop two letters.
q You may revise three short assignments, the instructional script, the commercials, and the interactive script. The revision is due at the next class meeting after the original script has been returned to you. [NOTE: I will not grade a revision unless the original script --with grade and comments--accompanies it.] Your final grade for that assignment will be an average of the original and revised grades.
PLAGIARISM
It's illegal and unethical to use someone elseI?Ls work without properly crediting the source. If you are not sure where that line is between needing to credit a source or not or between quoting, paraphrasing, and original language, please ask me in advance or err on the side of over-citing. If I discover that youI?Lve plagiarized material for this class, I will ask you to withdraw from the course and may submit the case to the University's disciplinary board for action up to and including expulsion from the University of Baltimore.
OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION
q My classroom manner tends to be casual and easygoing, loose, and seemingly disorganized. Don't let those cues mislead you! I am very serious about this course and about the caliber of your work. Anything short of excellent will be graded accordingly.
q Occasionally, students take some of my remarks as sarcastic. And some of those students take it personally. Please know that I have high regard for each of you as students and as human beings and don't mean anything by it.
Writing For the Media
Assignments and Due Dates
Monday, January 26 COURSE OVERVIEW
Wednesday, January 30 THE GRAMMAR OF SCRIPT WRITING
Intro, p.1
Ch.1: Visual Terminology, 3-10
Ch.2: Audio Terminology, 11-22
Scripts, 164-165
DIALOGUE --2:00
Write down --verbatim-- two minutes of overheard conversation between two people. It needn't be clever; it needn't have a beginning or an end. Do not use dialogue you heard on TV or radio.
Monday, February 2 THE GRAMMAR OF SCRIPT WRITING, cont'd.
Wednesday, February 4 GRAMMAR, TERMINOLOGY, FORMATS, ETC. (cont'd)
Ch.3: Formats, 23-36
Scripts, 129A, 129E, 130A-B
Langsdale: On pp.129B-D of the textbook is a list of scripts available from the Langsdale Library circulation (reserve) desk. Read one professional two-column script, one professional teleplay script, and one professional screenplay script, and be able to talk about their format conventions.
p.22 "Microphone Positions"
Identify the television sitcom for which you'll be writing a treatment (which is due March 29).
Identify the nonprofit organization for which you'll be writing a needs assessment (which is due March 17) and public service announcements (which are due beginning April 5.
Monday, February 9 INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN
Intro: Presenting Information, 38
Ch.4: Instructional Design, 39-44
Scripts: 131-139
TECHNICAL ELEMENTS TEST (3x)
Wednesday, February 11 GATHERING and ORGANIZING INFORMATION
Ch.5: Research, 45-52; Ch. 6: Organization, 53-71
Scripts: 283
p.38 "Make up one fact sheet..."
p.42 "Determine whether each..."
Monday, February 16 INFORMATIONAL SCRIPTS (cont'd)
p.38 "Choose a simple policy..."
p.69 "Improve the following paragraph..."
Wednesday, February 18 INFORMATIONAL SCRIPTS (cont'd)
Ch.7: Manipulating Tech Variables, 71-79
p.56 "Identify a process..."
p.60 "Choose a topic..."
p.66 "Write an outline for a script..."
Monday, February 23 NEWSWRITING TEST (3x)
Wednesday, February 25 NEWS RELEASES
Ch.12: News Releases
Monday, March 1 DRAMATIC SCRIPTS
Ch.8: Elements of Drama, 81-90
Scripts: 168-186, 193-204, 284-287
NEWS RELEASE #1: Write a 150-250 word news release (for an organization) that announces an upcoming event.
CHARACTER SKETCH, PART ONE: Write a sentence which states a single personality trait: for example... "Higgins was an insensitive manager" or "You could always count on Sandy Andrews to get the job done," or "Carl Dopkin doesn't trust anyone," or "GinaRae Smoot is the most charitable person I've ever known. (The other parts of this assignment are due March 3 and March 5.)
Wednesday, March 3 DRAMATIC SCRIPTS (cont'd.)
Scripts: 161-163, 166-167, 187-192
CHARACTER SKETCH, PART TWO --one page-- Prose
Write a one paragraph description of a person, concentrating on the character trait you submitted last week. Begin the paragraph with that topic sentence. Spend the rest of the paragraph developing that characteristic. NOTE: Turn in TWO copies of this paper.
Monday, March 8 INFORMATIONAL SCRIPTS
Ch.9: Formats/Genres, 91-109
Scripts: 209-214b
Write two audio-video scripts (each about 1:30) about the identical scene. Your purpose in one is to make the viewer feel relaxed and peaceful by minimizing the level of activity; in the other, to make the viewer feel tense and excited by maximizing the level of activity.
INFORMATIONAL SCRIPT PROPOSAL --One page
Write a proposal for the informational script which is due March 31. That assignment, by the way, is to write a script for a ten minute instructional program, the purpose of which is to teach something to someone. The choice of medium/media is yours. The proposal should contain a behavioral objective; target audience; media to be used; and a description of the content and format.
Wednesday, March 10 INFORMATIONAL SCRIPTS (cont'd.)
Scripts: 140-142, 249-256
NEWS RELEASE #2: Write a 150-250-word news release which announces a personnel change (hiring or promotion) within [your] organization.
Monday, March 15 INFORMATIONAL SCRIPTS (cont'd.)
CHARACTER SKETCH --3:00-4:00-- Audio/Video
Adapt [somebodyI?Ls] prose character sketch to television.
Wednesday, March 17 EX POST FACTO SCRIPTING
p.104 Needs Assessment "Using the form on page 108..."
NEWS RELEASE #3: Write a 150-250-word news release which announces [your] organizationI?Ls position on a political or social issue.
MARCH 22 AND MARCH 25 SPRING BREAK!!!!!
Monday, March 29 PERSUASION
Intro: Persuasion, 111
Ch.10: Psychology of Persuasion, 112-118
Ch.11: Persuasive Organization, 119-128
Scripts: 143-160, 205-208
Over the next two weeks you will be developing and writing a package of public service announcements for the same organization for which you wrote your needs assessment. Details will be forthcoming.
DRAMATIC TREATMENT
Write a two to three page [after-the fact] treatment for an existing episode of a currently popular prime time television series.
Wednesday, March 31 PERSUASION (cont'd)
Scripts: 227-233, 237-238, 242-243
INFORMATIONAL SCRIPT --10:00 [See March 8] (3x)
Monday, April 5 PERSUASION (cont'd)
Scripts: 234-236, 239-241, 244-248
COMMERCIALS 1,2,3
.
Wednesday, April 7 PERSUASION (cont'd)
Scripts: 247-248, 257-262, 288-289
Monday, April 12 INTERACTIVE SCRIPTING
COMMERCIALS 4,5,6
Wednesday, April 14 WRITING FOR VIDEO DISPLAY BOARDSINTERACTIVE SCRIPT CONCEPT
Monday, April 19 --NO CLASS
INTERACTIVE SCRIPT FLOWCHART
Wednesday, April 21 --NO CLASS
Monday, April 26 --NO CLASS
INTERACTIVE SCRIPT, PART ONE
Wednesday, April 28 --NO CLASS
EXTRA CREDIT LIBEL TEST (Jerome, LIBEL, KF1266.Z9N4)
Monday, May 3 --CLASS WILL MEET--
INTERACTIVE SCRIPT DUE
Bring three copies to class. Two people will read and comment on your script. You may ignore their suggestions and turn in your script, make minor corrections on your copy of the script and turn it in, or U?Nif they convince you that there need to be bigger revisions?you may take the script back with you and turn it in Tuesday, May 4, by noon.
I will grade your script and return it to you by noon, Friday, May 7. At that point you have two choices: you may accept the grade, or you may revise and resubmit your script by noon on Wednesday, May 12.
1. I WILL NOT ACCEPT A REVISED SCRIPT UNLESS YOU TURN IN THE ORIGINALLY-GRADED SCRIPT WITH IT.
2. If I do not receive your script by May 4, I probably will not be able to grade it in time for you to revise it. Therefore, assume that any script turned in between May 4 and May 7 may count as your final submission. I will not accept scripts after Friday, May 7.
Wednesday, May 12 --NO CLASS
FINAL SCRIPTS DUE BY NOON.
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