Course Snapshot for JOU241 - Feature and Magazine Writing
The information listed below is subject to change. Please review the course syllabus within your online course at the start of class.
Course Competencies
The competencies you will demonstrate in this course are as follows:
- Trace magazine history, trends and jargon.
- Determine effective methods to develop an article idea.
- Develop methods to work around writer`s block.
- Understand magazine categories.
- Understand similarities and differences in writing for a magazine versus a newspaper.
- Understand a publication`s audience.
- Develop effective magazine features for a specific market and article size.
- Understand principles of writing an effective query letter.
- Understand how to develop an effective working relation with an editor.
- Understand how to analyze a market.
- Develop research and interview techniques for producing fiction and nonfiction articles.
- Assess a variety of magazine article formats.
- Use these body parts: quotations, leads, transitions, anecdotes, and endings.
- Identify fiction techniques useful to writing a nonfiction piece.
- Recognize opportunities and challenges for the freelancer.
- Initiate a process to better organize an article.
- Prepare an article/manuscript for submissions.
- Understand the importance of selling an article to competing publications.
Module Outcomes Mapped to Competencies
Module 1 Learning Outcomes |
Mapped to Course Competencies (above) |
| Describe the characteristics of compelling articles. | 1, 7, 13 |
| Analyze an audience. | 6, 7 |
| Explain the differences in newspaper and magazine writing. | 1, 5 |
| Develop ideas for articles. | 2, 7 |
| Research a story using primary and secondary sources. | 11 |
| Identify plagiarism and understand copyright laws. | 1 |
| Employ tactics for organizing articles and avoiding writer’s block. | 3, 16 |
Module 2 Learning Outcomes |
Mapped to Course Competencies (above) |
| Summarize a story in one paragraph and in one sentence. | 8 |
| Write an introductory “power sentence” for a query letter. | 8 |
| Analyze one magazine as a possible market for selling an article. | 10 |
| Explain the difference between well written and poorly written query letters. | 8, 10 |
| Write a strong and polished query letter. | 8 |
| Construct an effective working relationship with an editor. | 9 |
Module 3 Learning Outcomes |
Mapped to Course Competencies (above) |
| Write different types of lead paragraphs. | 13 |
| Describe the difference between active and passive voice. | 14 |
| Use action words and concrete words. | 14 |
| Write a dramatic story, a story based on an occasion, OR a how-to article. | 1, 11, 14 |
| Respond to challenges and opportunities in freelance journalism. | 15 |
| Review different types of magazine articles. | 12 |
Module 4 Learning Outcomes |
Mapped to Course Competencies (above) |
| Review different types of articles. | 1, 4, 12 |
| Write a nonfiction “brief.” | 4, 16 |
| Write a trend or issue article. | 11, 13 |
Module 5 Learning Outcomes |
Mapped to Course Competencies (above) |
| Explain the importance of the writer’s “home base.” | 1, 15 |
| Evaluate and choose among categories of blog types. | 1, 4, 12, 15 |
| Develop curated collector content. | 1, 12, 15 |
| Describe the emergence of digital storytelling. | 1, 4 |
| Explain the production style of cinematic stories. | 13, 16 |
| Create a story-flow model of a long-form story. | 13, 16 |
Course Time Commitment and Expectations
For every credit hour, students should plan to spend an average of 2-3 hours per week for course-related activities in a 15-week course. For example, a 3 credit hour course would average an average 6-9 hours per week to read/listen to the online content, participate in discussion forums, complete assignments, and study the course material. For 10 and 6-week courses, the amount of time per week will be higher so all course competencies, module outcomes, and assignments will be covered.
Aside from typical reading assignments, this course has the following (Please Note: This list is subject to change based on the discretion of the instructor facilitating this course.):
| Assignment | Points |
|---|---|
| Discussions (14 @ 30 points each) | 420 |
| Writing Style Activities (4 @ 50 points each) | 200 |
| Journalist Assignments (7 @ 100 points each, 2 @ 50 points each) | 800 |
| TOTAL | 1,420 |
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