Kim Pearson

© 2003-4. All Rights Reserved

 

English 307: Topics in Journalism

Feature Writing
Kim Pearson
Class: 153 Bliss Hall
TF 2:00 - 3:20
Office Hours:
MR  9:00 -- 12:00 or by appointment
Office: 217 Bliss Hall
x2692

Syllabus Pages For Kim Pearson

 

PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCES
The Signal
unbound
Journalism Resource Page
New Jersey Online: Links to local newspapers

 

This man has a Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing. In a few years, maybe this will be you!

Tom Hallman Jr., 2001 Pulitzer Prize Winner for Feature Writing

This course will allow you to become proficient in writing short features for newspapers and magazines. We begin with a foundation in hard news reporting: the classic inverted pyramid. Then, we examine the kinds of stories below the fold on page one, and throughout the rest of the paper: the news analysis pieces, opeds, profiles, lifestyle stories and investigative stories. These are all common types of feature stories. Every writer who hopes to make a living in print or electronic media needs to know how to create these kinds of stories.

Grading Policies Class Policies Class Covenant Message Board

Texts

Lapsing Into a Comma

Companion website

 Telling the Story: Writing for Print, Broadcast and Online Media Style Guide

Newswatch

Supplies

Headphones for computer
PC-compatible disks

Major Assignments and Grading Breakdown

Beat background memo (due September 11): Feature writers are subject matter specialists. They are able to spin feature angles on subjects about which they are already knowledgeable, whether the subject is a geographic area (or state of mind associated with a type of geographic areas, such as "The Suburbs." For a great collection of articles from that beat, check out William Geist's Toward a Safe and Sane Halloween)  or subject, such as the environment.  Your task is choose a potential beat, develop as much background as possible (I've listed some questions to consider), and present me with a concise background memo that includes 5-7 possible story ideas. VALUE: 15 %
Four feature stories, (Due: October 2 October 26, November 13, December 4.) Details are provided on the accompanying workshop schedule. I will be available for consultative editing of drafts before the due date. VALUE:60%
Participation in workshop sessions, which includes:
Supplying the class with 15 copies of your story on the assigned date (Note: We are required to charge a $.05 per page copy fee for any copying we do, aside from syllabi and exams) and
Adhering strictly to the workshop schedule, unless: 1) an emergency has occurred and you have informed me promptly, or, 2) I have approved a change in the schedule. Unless I have approved it, you may not workshop if you miss your assigned date. You may workshop earlier than the assigned date, if you have discussed it with me in advance. VALUE: 15%
 Message Board Participation: VALUE:10%
August/September Schedule of Readings and Assignments October Readings and Assignments November Readings and Assignments December Readings and Assignments