1. Goals and Objectives: Writing and reporting in this course focuses on advanced skills. Objectives include learning alternative structures for news feature stories. Emphasis is given to news and magazine feature writing, highlighting narrative method.

2. Text: Edward Jay Friedlander and John Lee: Feature Writing: The Pursuit of Excellence, 7th Edition.

3. Course Description: Award-winning feature stories will be read and critiqued. Students will write stories in newspaper and magazine styles. The stories will be edited, evaluated, discussed and rewritten. Stories may be submitted for local, state, regional or national publication. Local magazine and newspaper editors will be encouraged to participate in classes and mentor students.

4. Office Hours: UCOM 1109 Adjunct Office: Appointment Only

5. Attendance: To be successful in this class, attend every class. Absences deprive students of class work and participation grades. Excused absences for family emergencies or medical reasons require documentation. Medical excuses are accepted with a physician’s letter, or other document confirming dates of illness. A note from a medical office, or dispensary, where you registered, is not adequate. Emergencies will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Students who miss class, without an excused absence, will receive no credit for the day’s assignment(s). Absences for a religious observance must be arranged at least a week in advance. Any assignments due in class on that particular day must be submitted in advance.

6. Exams: Students will prepare a background feature story for magazine or newspaper as a midterm exam. The story will be edited and graded for audience suitability, credibility, accuracy, narrative style, grammar, and spelling. The student will then expand the background story through local research and interviews, rewrite and correct all background story errors or weaknesses and submit a final complete feature story as a final exam.

7. Make-up Exams: There will be no make-up examinations. Stories submitted after deadlines will receive no better than an average grade.

8. Assignments: Reading and writing assignments will be scheduled well in advance, including five feature stories to be written and rewritten during the semester. Special midterm and final features will be assigned. In-class assignments will include style and vocabulary quizzes and story segment exercises.

9. Late Copy: Since deadlines are strictly enforced in the real world of publishing, deadlines will be enforced in this class. Assignments that miss deadline will receive no better than an average grade and may receive a failing grade.

10. Final Grade:
5 Writing Assignments: 50 percent
Attendance and Participation: 20 percent
In-Class work: 10 percent
Midterm Background Feature: 10 percent
Final Feature: 10 percent

11. Note: Since all classes do not progress at the same rate, the instructor may wish to modify the above requirements or their timing as circumstances dictate. For example, the instructor may wish to change the number and frequency of exams, or the number and sequence of assignments. However, the students must be given adequate notification. Moreover, there may be non-typical classes for which these requirements are not strictly applicable in each instance and may need modification. If such modification is needed, it must be in writing and conform to the spirit of this policy statement.

12. Disabilities: If you have a specific disability that qualifies you for academic accommodations, please notify the instructor/professor and provide certification from Special Student Services. (OSSS is located at the corner of Jaguar Drive Old Shell Road, 5828 Old Shell Road, phone – 460-7212.) It is the student’s responsibility to register with the OSSS and to give the faculty member a copy of the notification sheet containing information concerning the student’s needs. Students who have not notified the OSSS of a disability may not contest an instructor’s grading in a course based on the instructor’s failure to provide accommodations for his/her disability. Each student registered with the OSSS is expected to inform all of his/her instructors of the need for classroom accommodations. Accommodations are provided with the support of the OSSS.

13. Academic Disruption Policy: The University of South Alabama’s policy regarding Academic Disruption is published annually in The Lowdown, the student handbook. It is recommended that instructors cite this policy in the syllabus and state that students are expected to be cordial, courteous, and respectful of faculty members and fellow students.

14. Student Academic Conduct Policy: The University’s policy on academic conduct is also published annually in The Lowdown. Standards of academic conduct are set forth in the Student Academic Conduct Policy. By registering at the university, you have acknowledged your awareness of the Academic Conduct Policy, and you are obliged to become familiar with your rights and responsibilities as defined by the code. Please see The Lowdown for the complete Student Academic Conduct Policy. Each instance of academic dishonesty will be reported to the chair of the department. The student involved will receive written notification describing the alleged violation and the recommended penalty, along with a copy of the policy. The written notification will inform the student that if it is determined that previous incident(s) of Academic Misconduct have occurred, an additional or higher level charge may be brought. The student involved has ten (10) Class days from receipt of the written notification to submit a written response to the instructor and request a conference with the department chair and the instructor.

15. JagSuccess: Jag Success is a program intended to help students be successful in 100-200 level courses. It is not available for students in this course. But, if a student feels the need for concentrated help, The University Writing Center is an instructional facility with writing consultants who focus on teaching writers. Students and others may receive help on any type of writing task at any stage of the writing process from idea generation, development, and revision, to grammar and editing strategies. Consulting sessions are held in the University Writing Center (207 Alpha Hall East).To make an appointment with a writing consultant, call the Writing Center (460-6480) or schedule your own appointment by clicking on the "Schedule" button in the menu on Writing Center site.

16. Diversity: The Department of Communication is committed to preparing students to work in a diverse society. As such, our classes will include lectures and activities, which promote an awareness of and sensitivity towards differences of race, ethnicity, national origin, culture, sexual orientation, religion, age and disabilities. Such an environment will contribute to the growth and development of each member of the class, as it will encourage students to embrace diversity as a positive aspect of learning and scholarship.

The assignment schedule is online at http://www.dibbs.net/under the CA370 link. This schedule will be handed out at the beginning of the semester, but because of various assignments for breaking news and events, it will be updated often, first on line, then printed and handed out as soon as possible. Reading and homework should be completed by assigned dates. Readings are primarily from Friedlander's Feature Writing text, except where chosen stories from the Associated Press Reporting Handbook will be linked online. mailto:jis301@jaguar1.usouthal.edu