Monday, Aug. 24: Launch assignment and set into groups by due date
Monday, Sept. 14: Round 1 due (Kaylin Carpenter, Miranda Foster, Jett Johnson, Steven Plaisance)
Monday, Oct. 12: Round 2 due (Blake Douglas, Hogan Gore, Jonathan Kyncl, Parker Primrose)
Monday, Nov. 9: Round 3 due (Chandler Engelbrecht, Christian Hans, KaraLee Langford, Vic Reynolds, Mary Catherine Wells)
Monday, Dec 7: Round 4 due (Ari Fife, Jordan Hayden, Sydnee Lyons, Cassandra Snow)

The assignment

You will research and interview one of your favorite writers to understand the story behind a great story.

Due the Monday of your turn: An approximately 10-15 minute podcast directing us to the piece in question, and edited into a compelling conversation that covers the writer’s path to their current job, the backstory to the piece, how and why they elected to write it that way and any other key takeaways that could apply to our work in this course.

In class: Each student will lead an approximately 15-minute discussion on his or her piece.

Rubric (250 points total)

Interview and podcast | 50 percent
- Reached reporter of feature story and interviewed them in significant depth
- Asked compelling and probing questions that unearthed challenges of the particular story as well as the reporter’s writing process
- Asked questions about any reactions to the story from sources or public
- Podcast minimum is 10 minutes
Presentation and discussion | 50 percent
- Leads a 10-minute recap of the story, its backstory and key takeaways that could apply to our work
- Covers the reporter’s career experience and advice
Deductions
- Fact errors: -50 percent
- Miss deadline: -Letter grade

June 22, 2020June 22, 2020 Seth Prince JMC 3023

JMC 3023: Class tools tutorial

Where we’ll work

Google Drive

We will write our stories or scripts in Google docs, set the share settings to “CAN EDIT” and then share them in a public folder for peer and instructor editing. If the folder is being wonky, also share the file via email. Edit by leaving comments, questions and suggestions as you see fit.

Every piece can be improved. Be constructive. Be real. But don’t be a jerk.

Remember, part of your participation grade will account for how engaged you are in providing genuine feedback to help your peers succeed.

Doodle polls

I’ve set these up for each individual writing conference in my office or via Zoom. Look for them on each assignment post. Sign up to schedule when you want to meet with me to discuss your story. Do so as we progress through the semester, or sign up for your preferred time now for all the assignments. It’s first come, first served.

Questions on any of these? Let me know.

June 22, 2020June 22, 2020 Seth Prince JMC 3023

JMC 3023: Profile/obituary assignment

Goal

Explain a person and his or her significance at a moment in time in photographic detail, not portraiture.

Key dates

Monday, Sept. 21: Launch + be familiar with reading list
Wednesday, Sept. 23: Individual story conferences. (Sign up)
Monday, Oct. 5: Peer-review day; draft shared via Google Drive
Wednesday, Oct. 7: Individual story conferences (Sign up)
Wednesday, Oct. 14: Final version turned in

Reading list

For each style of feature I will ask you to complete I will provide some examples that we can discuss in class to help jog your creative muscles and that you can refer to for inspiration while you work on yours. Please read, listen or watch at least three of them — some by the pros, some by the students — before we launch each segment.

Margalit Fox on Longform Podcast #43
The strange and beautiful life of Katherine Dunn, Portland’s beloved geek by Aaron Mesh, Matthew Korfhage and Beth Slovic, Willamette Week
The barber: Portland man’s big dreams hit gentrification’s hard reality by Casey Parks, The Oregonian
OU’s longest serving professor reflects on 50-year career by Anna Bauman, The OU Daily
OU student, mother pursues career while embracing true gender identity by Ali Stratton, The OU Daily

The assignment

A well-done profile explains a person at a moment in time. Ours will be fully developed photographic profiles, rather than more portrait-like exercises focused solely on a subject’s flattering qualities. Although profiles regularly focus on newsmakers, society’s overlooked members often can make more compelling subjects. Universal themes and transformational moments may re-appear in profiles, but are not required for success. Some students may choose to pre-write a deeply sourced obituary on a notable figure in the university’s history such as President David Boren, professor George Henderson or former football coach Barry Switzer that could run in the event of their deaths.

You will

Write a minimum 1,000-word (digital) or 4-minute package (broadcast) piece that…
Explains a person who is either in the news or has a compelling and newsworthy story…
Is fully-developed in examining the subject in depth via research and at least three sources (more may be necessary to be successful)…
And is relatable to a clearly defined audience.

You will not

Write a biography

Rubric (250 points total)

Topic | 50 percent
- Clearly explains a newsworthy subject at a moment in time
- Is explored in significant depth via research and at least three sources (more may be necessary to be successful)
- Is relatable to a broad audience
Writing | 50 percent
- Meets the word-count or script-length minimum
- Uses clear, conversational language
- Fully examines the subject
- Does not resort to biographical tendencies
Deductions
- Fact errors: -50 percent
- Spelling: -10 points
- Grammar, punctuation, AP style: -1 point each

Profile writing tips

40–40–20 rule
- 40 percent research
- 40 percent reporting
- 20 percent writing
Types of profiles
- Portrait profiles are positive.
- Photographic profiles are fully developed.
- In this class we will write photographic profiles.
What makes a profile candidate newsworthy?
- Prominence
- Perseverance
- Oddity
- Achievement
- Experience
- Vocation/avocation
- Anniversary

June 22, 2020June 22, 2020 Seth Prince JMC 3023

JMC 3023: Essay assignment

Goal

Explore a landmark moment, experience or influence that informs who you are or aspire to be.

Key dates

Monday, Aug. 31: Launch + be familiar with reading list
Wednesday, Sept. 2: Individual story conferences (Sign up)
Monday, Sept. 7: Labor Day, no class
Wednesday Sept. 9: Peer-review day; draft shared via Google Drive
Wednesday, Sept. 16: Final version turned in, in both written and podcast format

Reading list

Ta-Nehisi Coates and Chris Jackson on Longform Podcast #360
Remembrance: A life with Prince by Lesa Kastanas
One year later, overcoming the loss of a parent by Noor Jaffery
My lost home by Adam Burnett
In praise of Latin Night at the Queer Club by Justin Torres, The Washington Post
Gail Westry: The essential mentor I never met by Seth Prince

The assignment

A poorly done essay is a trite waste of time. When done well, however, this style of writing can be among the most resonant and transcendent types of professional work, and be devoured by audiences accordingly. Two common elements of this style of writing when done well: Great storytelling rooted in universal themes and transformational moments.

You will

Write a minimum 750-word (digital) or 3-minute package (broadcast) piece that
Explores a landmark moment, experience or influence that informs who you are today or aspire to be in the future…
Is unflinching in its critical self-evaluation…
And is relatable to a clearly defined audience.

You will not

Write a journal entry that lacks appeal to a broad audience
Write an autobiography (these bore even your parents)

Rubric (250 points total)

Topic | 45 percent
- Clearly informs who the writer is or aspires to become
- Explored in significant depth
- Has a universal theme or transformational moment, making it relatable to a broad audience
Writing | 45 percent
- Meets the word-count or script-length minimum
- Uses clear, conversational language
- Unflinching in critical self-evaluation
- Does not resort to journal-like style or autobiographical tendencies
Formats |10 percent
- Turn in both a written version and a podcast version
Deductions
- Fact errors: -50 percent
- Spelling: -10 points
- Grammar, punctuation, AP style: -1 point each