COURSE OUTLINE

MSFP 261 Media Writing


Professor: Nicola Winstanley Voice mail: (416) 533-1858 (home)
Email: nwinstanley@sympatico.ca
Office: K107
Office hours: By appointment on Wednesday and Friday, or, if I happen to be in my office . . .
Blog: Please become a follower of http://mediawritingtwo.blogspot.com. All handouts and assignments will be posted there.

Course Description

Media Writing 2 builds upon the writing skills introduced in Media Writing 1, and we will have an emphasis on professionalism. You will develop your writing and research skills and you will learn to effectively analyze, summarize, paraphrase, and quote. You will develop a fictional monologue to be turned into a short film, review a book, television show, game, newspaper or magazine, and produce a research essay focused on your area of career interest. Finally, you will analyse Opinion writing and write and Opinion piece in class.

Required Text(s) / Supplies
• English Simplified Ellsworth, Blanche; Longman Publishers
• The Short Story – a handout available for purchase in the bookstore (the same red book as last semester).
• A recent book (fiction or non-fiction) OR one television show season on DVD, OR one month of a newspaper, OR one year of a magazine for magazine, OR games (talk to me about this . . .).
• USB handy key on which all assignments will be stored to later be saved on a hard drive or CD. Please remember to bring your handy key and English Simplified to every class.
• Other texts as assigned (will be provided, or online, or on reserve at the library)

Recommended Reading
• Everything you can get your hands on!


Where to get Help!

1. The Writing Centre: Room GH 202 (University of Guelph-Humber)
2. Peer Tutoring: Room D128. The tutoring program provides one-on-one help/support @ a fee of ten dollars for eight sessions and is well worth the price.


MSFP 261
Evaluation
Passing grade is 60%

In all media and in higher-level media-studies programs, the ability to meet deadlines is essential. Therefore, this semester, assignment deadlines must be strictly adhered to: Assignments are due when they are due. Only in the most extreme situations will extensions be considered. Late assignments will be penalized at 10% per day and will not be accepted over one week late. If there is a change in deadline, it will be announced in class. Please see your assignment calendar for deadlines.

Assignments

*FORMAT: Please include your name, the course name, and my name on all assignments. Assignments not submitted in class may be handed in at the Media Studies office, K107. All must be double-spaced and written in 12 point type. KEEP A COPY!!

FOR MID-TERM MARK (50%)

1. Job Description (2%) and Cover Letter (10%)
—the first time you submit your cover letter, you will not receive a grade, but will be edited. You must resubmit and edited version of your cover letter to receive your grade.
2. Editing test (8%)
3. Analysis of monologues (5%)
4. Monologue (for short film) (12%)
5. Analysis of reviews (8%)
6. Summary and citation test (5%)

FOR FINAL MARK (100%)

Mid-term mark plus:

1. Group edit of monologue (5%)
2. Review (15%)\
3. Research Essay plan and reading list (5%)
4. Research paper (15%)
5. In-class writing test: Opinion Piece (10%--half of the mark for content, half for grammar).