Northeastern State University

College of Arts and Letters

Department of Communication

Tahlequah, Okla.

INSTRUCTOR:

Dr. Dana Eversole, Associate Professor of Mass Communication. Office: Leoser Center.

Office hours are 11:30 a.m.- noon, daily, 2 p.m.-3 p.m. daily and by appointment.

Office phone is 456-5511, Ext. 2891 or call the newsroom at Ext. 2890. Home phone is 456-4491.

Fax: (918) 458-2359

e-mail: eversole@nsuok.edu

COURSE TITLE AND NUMBER: CLASS TIME AND DAY:

Publication Editing, MC 32333 MTWTH Noon- 1:15 p.m. SH 227

MAJOR GOALS:

This course will articulate classroom discussion and activities. After completion of this course, the student will be able to:

A. Function at a copy desk.

B. Know the correct editing style for print and electronic media

C. Be able to identify the parts of speech and the parts of a sentence

D. Know what makes a good story

INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS: (Required Textbook)

Working with Words textbook and workbook by Brooks, Pinson and Wilson and an Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual.

Final Examination: Sometime during the last week of class

STUDENT PERFORMANCE ACTIVITIES: (Attendance/Punctuality)

Consistent and punctual class attendance is both expected and required; absences will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Death or grave illness in the family, childbirth, impassable roads are of course, beyond our control. Decisions to celebrate anniversaries, for example, or attend concerts, go on hunting safaris, float the river or participate in a variety of extra-curricular affairs are not. Students will be expected to make up any work missed as a result of an absence, whether or not the absence was justified, Excessive absences will reduce the final grade for the course. Four absences will result will result in an automatic “F” for the course.

TIMETABLE FOR COMPLETING ASSIGNMENTS AND ACHIEVING

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Assignments are due at the beginning of the class period on the due date indicated when the assignment is given. Reading assignments are considered preparation for the lecture period. The student is responsible for all material assigned even if not discussed in class. Quizzes over assignments may be given without prior announcement.

THE RULES:

Misspell three words on any assignment or fail to catch them in an editing assignment and it will be an Automatic F. This is an editing class. Misspelled words and other errors are what we are trying to correct. Use a dictionary or any other reference material, but make certain the assignment is correct.

If you are absent you are NOT allowed to turn in homework for a grade or receive the homework for the next class .

Forget your homework, forget your grade. Again, this is what editing is all about: Meeting deadlines. Outside assignments will involve research. Learn to be resourceful: Use reference books, the library, anything that will help you. Some outside assignments will require you to define terminology for sports, business, cooking, etc. Before you can tell if a reporter got it right, you must be familiar with the terms the reporter is using.

This is a journalism class, not an English class. Use your journalistic resources. I will not tolerate constant arguing and outbursts. Do not waste classmates’ time.

Copying homework before class is forbidden.

Each person is required to wear clothes and shoes to class. Turn off cell phones. Be responsible for your own actions.

OUTLINE OF ASSIGNMENTS 

Every Thursday, class will begin with a stylebook quiz.

Approximately six homework assignments will be given each class period. Some homework will be taken up and graded, and other homework will be gone over in class. Each person is responsible for all the homework assigned.

Each person will be responsible for keeping a notebook. The notebook should contain all class material. This will be graded throughout the course.

GRADING:

Grades will be determined by cumulative points.

Quizzes, class and homework assignments will be worth 50 percent

Two test, a mid-term and a final will be worth 25 percent each

4.0 - 3.5 = A 3.4 - 3.0 = B 2.9 - 2.5 = C 2.4 - 1.8 = D

Students with the most points will make the best grades. I will also consider class participation, effort and attitude with borderline grades.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:

If any member of the class feels that he/she has a disability and needs special accommodations please advise the instructor of such disability at the first class attended.