The Paw Print

Course Syllabus 2009-2010

Ms. Butler, Advisor
email: cbutler@psd202.org

        Course Description:

    This course is designed for those students who have completed Advanced Writing: Journalism and wish to improve their journalistic writing skills by working on    
    school publications. Students enrolled in this course serve as editors of the school newspaper and work on in-depth reports for class projects. Readings include daily
    newspapers and news magazines. This course may be taken for elective credit only and does not count toward English credit for graduation.

        Objectives and Responsibilities

•       Students are responsible for every photo, graph, advertisement, and printed word in the school newspaper.
•           Students learn leadership skills and practice collaborative efforts as they work together as a news team.
•      Students must interview proper sources and meet every deadline.
•     Students must behave as professional journalists and adhere to strict ethical standards.
•     Students must arrive daily with creative and open minds.
•     Students must be willing to have a little fun.
  

                Paw Print Goals

        *Students will work cooperatively to produce the school newspaper.

                …How?

    A.      Students will produce at least seven issues of the school paper.

1.                          Plan and assign stories according to news value and audience interest.

2.               Discriminate between available sources and conduct interviews or surveys thoroughly.

3.               Compose original stories based on research and interviews using the appropriate writing style.

4.               Edit and implement revisions of original pieces.

5.               Design an original page for a specific section.

6.               Create artistic elements to enhance the visual appeal.

7.               Evaluate each issue to identify areas of strengths and weaknesses.

      B.       Students will work cooperatively as a staff to produce the paper.

1.                     Meet assigned deadlines.

2.                  Work on task without supervision.

3.                  Accept assignments.

4.                  Assist and support other staff members.

5.                  Display appropriate work place skills.