321 Final Instructions

8/12/2019 321 Final Instructions

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ALL REMAINING ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE JUNE 16

In-depth story

Portfolio

Beat history

In-depth Story AssignmentSubmit a hard copy to Prof. Campbell and place the story in WordPress with the words

Final Story in the headline fieldand save as Ready Professor.

Proposal by May 27 by midnight

Final due June 16 by midnight

THIS STORY CANNOT HAVE BEEN EDITED BY A LAB INSTRUCTOR OR EDITOR.

Word count 800 words (no less, and not a whole lot more.) Please turn in a hard copy

post the story as Ready Professor in Wordpress

Step 1) Brainstorm by mapping a topic.

Step 2) Send a short memo to Prof. Campbell outlining the topic, the news peg,

framing and sources by May 27.

News that informs with an emphasis on the human interest angle, with less emphasis ?

or no emphasis -- on the immediacy of hard news.. Stories that focus on issues,

problems and trends that affect readers lives; pro and con stories, stories that can

improve readers lives (but not how-to articles).

Ideas can come from recent events (spin-off topics) as well as the localization of a

national issue or trend. It could even be an historical feature based on a majoranniversary coming up during next semester. Please try to focus on stories that could be

printed at the beginning of next semester.

The other techniques used in creating an in-depth news feature do not differ from what

you normally do to write a good breaking news story. You just interview more people

and spend more time on it. Other important characteristics include:

Sources: Five sources

Soft lead: Generally anecdotal, descriptive or narrative.Fully developed Nut graph

Context/Impact: That provides a reason for the story that relates it to our readers:

relevance. This may be part of, or adjacent to, the nut graph.

Ancedotal lead structure.

Improved middle of story structure:

Multiple source types: Expand source types, on and off campus (actors, observers, facts,


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etc.) A generic senior from ______, majoring in ______ thrown in simply because it was

convenient is well below expectations.

Kiss-off technique: This not only keeps your sources more organized but also forces you

to use more sources and to compartmentalize your story a bit more as suggested by the

WSJ form

Use of Writing ToolsUnderstanding of Frame: Again, this relates to the nut graph and how the story is

approached.

Information graphic and photo: Plan ahead to have an information graphic created and

a photo taken to illustrate your story. You will need to show these via computer as part

of your in-depth story presentation.


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IN-DEPTH STORY GRADING RUBRIC

150 points possible

Please note that having arranged and provided photo/graphics for your article is

pass/fail. Without it you can only receive a C on the story.

Soft Lead

Outcome 1.1.4,

1.1.5

Uses strong

anecdotal,

descriptive or

narrative lead that

pulls reader towards

nut graph and

supports overall

theme.

20

Soft lead is too

short, too long, or is

of a weaker type;

does not support

theme or focus as

well. Needs some

editing.

Uses a summary

lead where an

anecdotal or

descriptive, etc.,

lead would have

worked. Or uses an

even weaker lead

type: quote or

question lead. May

need significant re-writing.

Nut Graph Area

Outcome 1.1.1,

1.1.4

Nut graph is fully

developed, in the

right place, setting

up and telegraphing

the news value of

the article (context

and impact) while

also acting as a roadmap. Demonstrates

focus and direction.

20

Nut graph does not

fully reflect your

story, does a

weaker job of

telegraphing the

rest of the story, is

overly simple or

two-dimensional innature. Has some

focus, but not

enough. Lacks

context or impact.

Nut graph is non-

existent or spread

out over too much

of a space. Never

succinctly stated

what your story is

about. Never

established focus.Reader doesnt

know where the

article will take him.

News Value

Outcome 1.1.1,

1.3.3

The subject matters

to the publications

readers. It examines

a significant,

important or

substantial trend or

issue. Definitely

front page material.

20

Subject a trend or

issue, but not as

important. Subject

is treated more like

something that

belongs on a

feature page than

on the front page.

Subject or

treatment lacks

sufficient news

value for this

assignment.

Structure and

Organization

Outcome 1.1.2,

Uses either the WSJ

or Sections

approach to

Use of the WSJ or

Sections approach is

somewhat apparent

There is little

underlying structure

to this article. Does


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1.1.3 structure the story.

Parts are easily

identifiable through

logical grouping of

subject matter as

well as the use oftransitional

techniques. Includes

an ending.

20

but not developed

or tight enough. The

parts bleed into one

another or are not

easily identifiable.

Transitions arelacking somewhat.

May not include an

ending.

not display a

sufficient

understanding of

organization or has

attempted to

employ insufficientorganizational

strategies -- ie.,

basic threading or

inverted pyramid

structure only.

Sources, and Use of

Quotes, Balance

Outcome 1.4

Demonstrates a

well-researched and

accurate story using

multiple sources andsources typesdata

and people. Quotes

capture emotional

essence. Kiss off

technique was used

well. Balanced use

of sources and

source types.

\20

While a barely

adequate number

of sources are used,

there are stillsources and types

that could have

been use. Possibly

inaccuracies.

Quotes are not used

enough, too much,

or lack personality.

One or two sources

used too much.

Does not adhere

sufficiently to thekiss-off technique.

Insufficient number

of sources and or

source types used.

Lacks authorityand/or humanity.

Insufficient use of

quotes, way too

many quotes. Too

many secondary

sources. Way too

much of one or two

sources. Includes

significant

accuracies or

balance problems.Spirit of the kiss-off

technique was not

followed.

Foundational issues that help or destroy overall ethos or viability of your article

Flow, Rhythm &

Clarity

Outcome 1.1.2,

1.1.5

Reads fluidly and

quickly. Writing is

succinct and clear. A

combination of

writing devices are

used to createrhythm and pacing.

Forward momentum

is sustained.

Appropriate length.

(Positive ethos)

20

Writing is good or

okay, but there are

still some places

that require

rewriting (as

opposed to justediting) for clarity

and flow. Article

falls short or

exceeds word

count. (Some

Annoying Noise)

Requires significant

rewriting for flow

and/or clarity. Drags

enough to affect the

overall grade (value

of othercharacteristics.) Not

publishable without

extensive rewriting.

Substantially too

long or too short.

(Errors Destroy

Ethos)


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Web-based Portfolio/Beat History, Due June 16, midnight.

Use an online site to create an online portfolio. Send Prof. Campbell a link. You need to

have the site with a story log posted by midterm,

321 Portfolio Contents

An intro page which highlights your career goals and serves the purpose of a cover

letter.

Resume

Story section

Profile storyProvide lead and link

In-depth news story. Photos need to have been submitted to Prof. Campbell

6-10 Four to five of your best stories of the semester with links.

Semester log of all stories written in chronological order. This can be scanned and

pasted into the document or entered on a spreadsheet.

Good examples

http://makeitwright.wordpress.com/

http://sugenelee.wix.com/sugenelee

-1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6

-7 -8 -9

-10 -11 -12 -13 -

14 -15

Grammar,

Punctuation and

AP StyleOutcome 1.1.3,

1.1.2

This writer makes

virtually no

grammar,punctuation, typos,

or style errors.

(Positive ethos)

20

The writer makes

just a few grammar,

punctuation, typosor style errors. The

errors are quickly

fixed without

extensive re-

writing. (Some

Annoying noise)

-1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6

-7 -8 -9

Includes too many

grammar,

punctuation errors.Reads too much like

a rough first draft.

Requires too much

editing and writing

to get to

publishable

condition. Affects

overall grade.

(Errors Destroy

Ethos)-10 -11 -12 -13 -

14 -15
http://makeitwright.wordpress.com/http://makeitwright.wordpress.com/http://sugenelee.wix.com/sugeneleehttp://sugenelee.wix.com/sugeneleehttp://sugenelee.wix.com/sugeneleehttp://makeitwright.wordpress.com/


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http://kristenwillden.wordpress.com/

Beat historyHARD COPY TO PROF. CAMPBELL AND ONLINE AS PART OF YOUR

PORTFOLIO

The contact information must be entered with your name and update date on the

online beat contacts. You must also include a page in your online portfolio with thefollowing information.

a. Your name, beat name(s) and desk

b. Overview of your beat, what it comprises, who the major players are, the issues that

have been covered

c. Names and phone numbers of major contacts for the beat, as well as other resources

like Web sites.

d. Easy story ideas that a new reporter could pick up on right away as well as longer

term story ideas.
http://kristenwillden.wordpress.com/http://kristenwillden.wordpress.com/http://kristenwillden.wordpress.com/

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321 Final Instructions