EXPECTATIONS:

Classes will include discussions, workshops, research, presenting/sharing, group and individual meetings, writing, revising, and online publishing. Periodically, you will read and discuss recently published articles that have appeared in print or online.

The practice of journalism should keep you pretty busy. You may find yourself with several days to accomplish any number of things before deadline: conducting an interview outside of class, editing a draft of an article you have written, submitting a draft for online publication, researching your next story, meeting with other students to brainstorm ideas, and so forth. Students are expected to make use of the class time for journalism projects only. If you find yourself “done,” you should move on to a new project. If you are unsure what to do next, ask the teacher.

Journalism is, among other things, an exploration of the world outside oneself. As you generate writing topics, avoid focusing on things about which you have already formed an opinion. Generate assignments that will force you to learn about things you don’t already know, or see things in a new way, from a new perspective.

ASSESSMENT:

• Weekly points: Students can earn up to 50 points a week for daily/weekly contributions to class, cooperation, on-task behavior, and attendance.
• Daily Assignments: Wednesday Warm-ups and other classroom activities or homework
• Portfolio completion each term
• Advertising requirements for each quarter
• Research: Completion and presentation of journalist research each semester
• Advertising

Essentially, your grade reflects a combination of the work you’ve done (number and quality of articles written), the way you’ve used your class time (multitasking instead of wasting time), and additional assignments throughout the year.

PORTFOLIO and DUE DATES:

Throughout the year, you will compile a “digital” portfolio of articles. At each grading period (midterm and quarter), an article (determined by teacher) from the previous 4 weeks will be considered for the portfolio grade.