Editorial Writing
(
Fall 2004
M/W:
214 Willard Hall
318 Willard Hall
832-2776
Office Hours:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
E-mail: martinv@mail.ccsu.edu , vbmartin@aol.com
Website: http://www.english.ccsu.edu/martin/
Group Blog:
Mixingitup
Editorial Links
I will post some readings at: http://pipeline.ccsu.edu
n Effective writing of informed opinion on public issues.
n An appreciation for the role of the Editorial page and other opinion functions of journalistic publications, particularly during a presidential election.
n Increased knowledge of the role of the U.S. Constitution in public affairs.
n An appreciation for the broader realm of journalistic commentary found in newspapers and magazines.
You will get experience writing various types of opinion. Editorial conferences will allow you to discuss issues of the day with a small group of students with whom you will work on a few assignments. Using the presidential campaign and the related issues of partisan polarization in the public sphere, we will try to understand what relevance and influence opinion pages have. We will ask questions about the accessibility of the public square to different voices; the role of journalistic objectivity; and the accountability of editorial and opinion pages. Do these pages do enough to foster vigorous debate? What alternative models might enhance public discourse and participation in democracy?
Required:
Beyond Argument: A Handbook for Editorial Writers (Casey
and Zuzel)
Regular reading of The New York Times and Hartford Courant.
Each class member will subscribe to the New York Times twice a week at the student rate ( 40 cents a copy). You need to read the NYTs Week in Review (Sunday) regularly
The Nation. The class will study one issue of The Nation. Date TBA.
To achieve ideological balance, we will read excerpts from The New Republic, National Review, and The Weekly Standard for that designated week. The Internet will help facilitate the reading of the commentary magazines.
Newspaper Editorial page. Students will be responsible for monitoring the Editorial page for a newspaper. TBA
You are expected to attend every class. Habitual absence or tardiness will result in a lowered final grade.
Grading:
Your final grade will be based on written assignments,
class participation (discussions and formal oral reports), attendance and a
final exam. All assignments must be completed on time. A late assignment will
cost one letter grade for that assignment.
Missing the deadline by more than a week will mean an automatic F for
that assignment. This rule will be
strictly enforced in this class.
Academic
Misconduct:
Disruptive classroom behavior, cheating, and plagiarism can
jeopardize your standing in this class. Plagiarism, the use of work ( ideas, words, images, tables, code,
mathematical formulas) other than your own without appropriate
attribution, will result in an automatic
F for the course, and possibly further disciplinary action. Do your own work.
If you do not know what plagiarism is, educate yourself. Ignorance of the rules is not justification
for plagiarism. Make sure you understand how to attribute work from printed and
online sources.
Schedule of
Topics
Topics
for late August/September
Introduction to the Editorial Page
Reporting the Editorial
Making an Argument
The Writing Process
Topics
for October
The Editorial Page in History
Presidential Endorsements
Op-ed Writing
Readings related to issues of objectivity in journalism
Topics
for November and December
Writing other forms of Commentary
Letters to the Editor: A Public Square?
Other forms of opinion: cartoons, radio talk shows,
political humor
Trends in Opinion-Writing
(columns, the Internet and opinions, syndication)
Eng 381: Editorial Writing Fall 2004
Deadlines for Assignments:
Assignments are subject to change if current events warrant. You are also expected to participate in discussions of assigned readings and make informal reports on editorials you read. The assignment weighting is approximate; the need for news quizzes or other syllabus revisions might require midterm readjustments. The way to decrease the need for news quizzes is to show that you are on top of the news during class discussions and in your written work.
Sept. 15 Editorial.Topic TBA. 500 words. 5 % of final grade.
Sept. 29 Editorial. Topic of your choice. 600 words. 10%
Oct. 15 Op-ed. Topic of your choice. 800 words. 15%
Oct. 25- Vote for Endorsements. 700-800 words. 10%
Nov. 1 Group Editorial Endorsements. 500-600. 5*
Nov. 22 Letter to the Editor (you must mail it!)
NPR Radio Commentary (200-250 words)
A news-opinion humor monologue 10%
Dec. 6/8. Final Commentary piece. Topic of your choice. 20%
An op-ed (750-800 words) or magazine-style perspective/analysis piece (1,000)
Class discussion and writing: 15%
Final Exam: 10%
*I will not accept individual editorials in lieu of participation with the Editorial Board. Make sure you are a full participant in the group effort.