6. Assignments

The whole course is based on 500 points, simply because that number happened to make the various components work out to nice whole numbers.

All assignments are marked on a 4-point scale, just like your official university transcript. Every year, some students panic because they see their grade hovering in the 70s, and they worry they are going to get a C.  But with a four-point system, if a particular exercise is worth 40 points, and you get 30 on it, you got 75%, or a B.

• Exercises (240 pts)
  
• Ex 1: Professional Goals (500 words) 40pts
  
• Ex 2a: Editorial (400 words; script for a practice editorial) 20pts
  
• Ex 2b: Audio Recording (3min) 20pts
• Ex 3a: Peer Profile (audio recording; 2.5min) 20pts
  
• Ex 3b: Intro, Profile, & Outro text (aim for 3 min package) 20pts
  
• Ex 4: 2-min NCCHE feature (40pts)
  
• Ex 5: 3-4 min audio feature (with intro/outro text) 40pts
  
• Ex 6: 3-4 min audio feature (preferalby an update of Ex 5; with intro/outro text) 40pts
  
• Portfolios (160 pts) -- Four collections of reflective writing, including
• A lab report (a 400-word news article, written in the third person, following all the principles of good journalism)
• A richly-linked blog entry (collecting your thoughts on the readings and other class activities)
  
• Other brief items as specified (I may ask you to respond to a discussion question, or react to a breaking news event, or provide an update on an ongoing project.)
• Due on the Monday after each issue (except for the first issue of the year, which will come out on 27 Aug).  Accordingly, the four portfolio due dates are scheduled for
  • 28 Sep
    
  • 19 Oct
  • 09 Nov
  • 30 Nov
    
• Online Journalism Portfolio (100 pts) -- a portfolio that documents your contribution to the Setonian Online. Exactly what this portfolio entails will depend on what the class project turns out to be. (Self-reflection essay, 25pts; oral presentation, 25pts; my assessment -- supported by your documentation -- of the ambitiousness and success of your project, 50pts)
  
  
• No Final Exam. Class will meet for final presentations, during the final exam slot.