Written Communication:  Print/Visual Media (PVM)

Who should take this course?  Sophomores interested in journalism who have successfully completed (with A’s and B’s) Patterns of Communication

Course focus/umbrella questions: 

• What is my role in a variety of communities?
• What are the skills necessary to become an effective writer, specifically of journalistic stories?

Non-negotiable assignments required of all students who take this course:

• Literary analysis paper
• Lead writing
• Original news story
• Original feature story
• Original review
• Grammar and economical language lessons; AP Style usage
• Final exam

Required reading:

• Textbook:  Scholastic Journalism
• Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
• The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Course-specific policies:

• Because students must be accurate in journalistic writing, any error in accuracy (a  misspelled name, a misquote, or incorrect information) found in a FINAL draft of a journalistic story (news, feature, sports, review) will earn the draft no higher than a 65 percent.
• Students must have a subscription to the Central Times, as it is used in the course.

Student expectations:

• Read and analyze a variety of professionally written stories and articles in newspapers.
• Conduct research to gather background prior to interviewing.
• Interview a variety of sources to gather information and quotes for stories which may be published in the Central Times.
• Read newspapers and watch television news broadcasts to stay abreast of local, state, national, and international stories.
• Learn and practice techniques for making language economical, clear, and grammatically correct.
• Utilize the AP Style Guide for editing copy.

What makes this course different from other companion courses?

The major difference between this course and Written Communication is the emphasis  on journalistic writing.  It is different from Enriched PVM in the amount of material covered and the pace at which it is covered.  Some of the reading assignments are also different in PVM as opposed to EPVM.

Any other relevant and important course-related information:  Students who elect this course MAY NOT take Written Communication.  Students may use this course as a stepping stone to editor positions on The Central Times or Flight.