Journalism and Design

Instructor: Mrs. Nichole Haub

Work period: 5 (11:19-1:24)

Preparation period: 6 (11:19-1:24)

E-mail: nhaub@greensburg.k12.in.us

Phone number: 663-7176 Ext. 1212 (This will automatically go to my voice mail during the school day, but please leave a message).

Course Description

This is a demanding course involving a great deal of extra hours put into completing assignments and meeting deadlines.   I like to think of this course as a small business which is responsible for producing a product to their clients (students, faculty, etc.), rather than a class.   If a student is not performing to their ability then they are costing the business money.   If they are not meeting deadlines then they are costing the business money.   The goal is to produce a product that the client will be pleased with.

Materials

Three-ring binder

Folder

Paper

Pen/pencil

Student Guidelines

1. RESPONSIBILITY is the most important term to remember in this class.   Each student is responsible for meeting all deadlines and completing a specific number of yearbook pages.
2. Students in this class are helping to produce a product which other students are willing to purchase.   This product will stay in people's homes for the rest of their lives.   With this in mind, this product is expected to meet the highest standards.   Mediocrity and below-average effort is not acceptable.   A very small percentage of people ever have their work published so journalism students should take advantage of their opportunity and create a book they will be proud of publishing.    
3. PROCRASTINATION is a grade killer in this class.   Students should not approach the workload in this class like they might in other classes.   Students have learned they can complete virtually all high school assignments by starting a day or two before the assigned date.   However, that type of approach is disastrous in this class.   All journalism students need to understand one thing-THEY ARE GIVEN WEEKS TO COMPLETE CERTAIN ASSIGNMENTS BECAUSE IT TAKES WEEKS TO PREPARE AND COMPLETE THESE ASSIGNMENTS CORRECTLY.
4. Since each spread takes hours to complete, it is not possible for a student to complete all of his two or three yearbook spreads during class time. Students should take the number of hours they think it will take them to complete the assignment and then multiply it by four.   This number will be closer to the amount of time it will take to complete a spread.   Since a student's yearbook spreads are on a computer program which students do not have at home, a journalism student has to be willing to work in the journalism room outside class hours.   This means either coming in during seminars, before or after school, or on the weekends.   All students must come in during the summer if they do not have everything completed.  A student who is unwilling to devote many hours outside of class to writing articles, shooting photographs, and completing yearbook pages should not be in the class.   

Student Expectations

1. I expect students to be attentive during class and participate in group discussions.
2. I expect students to show respect not only to the teacher, but to any faculty/staff member that may enter the room, any substitute teacher that may be in the room, as well as their fellow classmates.  
3. I expect students to keep the room clean by not writing on the desks or any other furniture and by keeping the floors free of trash.  
4. I expect students to remain in their seats until dismissed.
5. I expect students to keep food and drinks away from the computers.

Grading

Grades are determined by the total points earned, divided by the total points possible and then applied to the schools grading scale.   Points come from quizzes, in-class assignments, homework assignments, projects, etc.   The most important thing for students to remember is to MEET ALL DEADLINES, by not procrastinating.

Grading scale:

A            100-93                                C            76-73

A-           92-90                                  C-           72-70

B+          89-87                                  D+          69-67

B             86-83                                  D            66-63

B-           82-80                                  D-           62-60

C+          79-77                                  F             59 or below

Curriculum ( Subject to change with notice)

1.  The Yearbook (Teamwork and Responsibility)                                                          1 day

2.  Advertising                                                                                                               1 week

3.  Finances/Campaign/Distribution                                                                                 2 days

4.  Brainstorming (Content, Coverage, Concept, Production)                                          1 week

5.  Photography                                                                                                              2 weeks

6.  Interviewing/Reporting                                                                                               2 weeks  

7.  Writing                                                                                                                       2 weeks

8.  Headlines/Typography                                                                                                2 weeks

9.  Captions/Editing                                                                                                         2 weeks