6. Assignments

The whole course is based on 500 points.

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 high 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, that means it works out to a B. (I'll use Turnitin.com to report your grades on an ongoing basis, so you'll always be able to see the letter grade that represents your work so far.)

On Oct 2, Seton Hill is sponsoring a bus trip to Washington D.C.

• Cost is $20 for students. Sign up in the Student Activities office. (The bus fills up, so sign up early.)
• The bus leaves at 5am.
• From about 9-1, EL200 students will visit the Newseum.
• From about 1-5, you'll be free to do whatever you like (but I ask you to take photos and write about your experiences).
• The bus will drop us all off back at SHU around 10pm.
• An assignment due on Monday, Oct 4 will ask you to reflect on your experience.
  

If you have a conflict, and won't be able to attend, let me know as soon as possible, so that we can explore an alternate activity.

Exercises (300pts)

• Ex 1 (40pts)
• First-timers: Goals and Journalism Basics
• Editors: Goals and Instructions 1 Draft
  
• Ex 2 (40pts)
• First-timers: Peer Interview
  
• Editors: Instructions 1 Revision
  
• Ex 3 (50pts)
• First-timers: Layout 1
  
• Editors: Leadership Portfolio 1
  
• Ex 4: (50pts)
• First-timers: Center spread pitches
  
• Editors: Instructions 2 Draft
  
• Ex 5: (60pts)
• First-timers: Center spread articles
  
• Editors: Instructions 2 Revision
  
• Ex 6: (60pts)
• First-timers: Center spread layout
  
• Editors: Leadership Portfolio 2
  

Participation Portfolios (200pts)
A lab report (submitted to Turnitin.com), online discussion of assigned readings, plus other brief items as specified (for example, I might ask you to respond to a breaking news story).

Portfolios (50pts each) are due:

• 04 Oct
• 25 Oct
  
• 08 Nov
• 06 Dec
  

No Final Exam.
Present Ex 6 (your final center spread layout) during the 2-hour time slot reserved for the final exam, 8-10 on 07 December.