FO,rm,er Full @imc Writing For Radio-TV RTV 2100 ... - USF



FALL 2006 SYLLABUS

Writing For Radio-TV RTV 2100

"Words are sacred. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones,

    in the right order, you can nudge the world a little."     -- Tom Stoppard

Class: CIS 1023 T-R 8-9:15am Instructor: Dr. Marie Curkan-Flanagan

Office Hours: M, 8-12n, T/R 7-8a, 9:30-11am,Wed. 12-2p

Office: CIS 3082 Home Page:

Office Phone: 974-6789 E-mail: mflanaga@cas.usf.edu

Texts: Orlick,P.B.(2004) Broadcast/Cable Copywriting 7th. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon

Prerequisites: CRW 2100 Narration and Description OR ENC3310 Expository Writing

RTV3001 Introduction to Telecommunication

Course Description:

You will be required to write scripts and generate production ideas. Although we will not be using any technical equipment, the projects you create in this course should be airable broadcast television. Creativity is important in this course that is why it is important to read the text, handouts, and concentrate on class discussions and activity. The course will include building treatments for two non-fiction video projects. This means taking a product from proposal to treatment, including budget. IT will also include interactive or writing for web sites. One project, a public service announcement, will be produced on an individual basis. The other, a recruitment or informational video will be produced as a group with 4 to 5 members to each group. The second project will be put on a web site you will design. The course also includes two exams and various activities including:

1) Script readings in front of the class

2) Active participation in all class discussions and activities

3) The preparation of scripts that follow course-recommended formats

4) Viewing not-for-air production tapes

5) The presentation of scripts that follow correct rules of English grammar,

spelling, and recommended rules of broadcast writing punctuation

intended to provide oral reading ease.

6) Participating in web design labs…both during and outside of classroom time.

7) Meeting class activity requirements.

ALL ASSIGNMENT MUST BE TYPED. Hand written papers and scripts will

NOT be accepted.

1 COURSE OBJECTIVE

2 Upon completion of this course you be able to:

Understand that the greatest employment opportunities for scriptwriters are found

in creating informational programs for business, industrial, educational, medical, religious,

military and government organizations.

6 2.Describe the justification for a production, understanding the advantages and drawbacks

7 found in various copywriting environments.

8 3.Target the program/ project objective.

9 4.Understand the process and skills needed-- from initial concept to delivery of a completed

10 production in a NEW MEDIA environment.

Demonstrate basic skills in non-fiction writing.

Understand the meaning of continuity—the scriptwriters main product.

Demonstrate basic skills in formatting a script with script abbreviations

Demonstrate basic skills in identifying demographics and psychographics.

Demonstrate the basic skill in developing an entire informational treatment proposal.

Demonstrate the basic skills in budgeting for a production.

Demonstrate the basic skills in storyboarding.

Demonstrate an understanding of emotional, rational content appeal of a production.

Know the difference between auditory and visual imagery.

Demonstrate the ability to work utilizing a team approach in a cooperative environment.

Participate as a team member in a production from pre-production to production.

Understand the concepts of team building, personnel supervision, creative control and execution of product.

Upon completion of the eight web design class hours you will receive a certificate in

Web design you can place in your resume packet. However, all 8 hours must be completed.

●The USF School of Mass Communications complies with national accrediting standards designed to help prepare students to understand and relate to issues of interest to women and minorities in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-racial and otherwise diverse society.

ATTENDANCE:

●Class and computer lab attendance is mandatory in (RTV) 2100. No absences are excused.

●You are allowed two (2) acceptably documented excused absences/cuts for illness or transportation reasons, not for job or other class conflicts including meeting deadlines for other classes.

● The documentation must be presented to this instructor immediately following the missed class. ●Without acceptably documented excused absences for each individual cut, NO consideration will be given for the next cut. A third cut will result in lowering your FINAL semester grade by one FULL letter grade. Hence, if you have earned a B+ for the term, you will receive a C+.

●Four cuts will result in automatically FAILING THE COURSE regardless of documentation for any cut.

●You are allowed two tardy of not more than 3 minutes. Once class begins you are late. Three tardies will be equivalent to an unexcused absence.

(Attendance Continued)

●No early departures from class are allowed or excused. Early departures from class will be prorated similar to tardies. A departure at or before mid-class will be considered an unexcused absence.

●In computing your final grades in addition to the considerations stated above you will automatically lose 10 points for each missed class, 5 points each time you arrived late for class. These additional points will be deducted from your final grade.

●Students who anticipate the necessity of being absent from class due to the observation of a major religious observance must provide written notice of the date(s) and event (s) to the instructor by the second-class meeting.

While this attendance policy may seem severe, understand that it absolutely mirrors current industry standards. If telecommunications is your career choice, NOW is the time to understand the parameters in which you will be working.

* Any student with a disability is encouraged to meet with me privately during the first week of class to discuss accommodations. Each student MUST bring a current MEMORANDUM OF ACCOMMODATIONS from the Office of Student Disability Services that is a prerequisite for receiving accommodations. Accommodated examinations through the Office of Student Disability Services require two weeks notice.

SCRIPT DEADLINES:

*No exercises, scripts, projects or exams can be made-up. Working in telecommunication means meeting deadlines. Each assignment turned in past deadline will result in a zero 0 for a grade.

*Assignments turned in to other venues will not be graded (This means in class only).All assignments are due on day and time stated on this syllabus unless changes are made IN class prior to assignment.

*Additionally, two copies of each script and treatments are to be turned in: one to return to the student, one for the instructor to keep to evaluate your progress. Failure to turn in two (2) copies of a script will result in the loss of 25 points for each omission.

*Other than the assignments, and exams you do not have the option to submit extra work to gain bonus credit.

*Any class you miss will NOT be offered or summarized afterwards at a one-on-one basis-you are entirely responsible for any class you miss. I am assuming that you can grasp the material covered on the day (s) you miss. Therefore, you are strongly advised to follow the schedule and the handouts distributed in each class.

*All scripts and papers left with the instructor at the end of the semester will be discarded one week after the grades are posted.

SALE OF NOTES / TAPING OF CLASS LECTURES:

Lectures given in this class are the property of Dr. Marie Curkan-Flanagan and notes may not be sold, nor taped, nor used for purposes other than the academic (non-commercial) needs of each registered student. Taping class lectures is allowed only by individual permission of the instructor, and only if the student formally agrees to all the following conditions:

1) Tapes are for the sole use of the individual student to whom permission is given in order to allow that student to enhance traditional note taking in class.

2) Tapes may not be transcribed, nor may they be sold nor loaned to any other person or organization.

3) Tapes may not be kept indefinitely ( use the same cassette and tape over each lecture with the next one)

Please see the professor outside of class time to secure formal permission for taping class lectures.

2 Participation:

Participation is expected and you will be called on randomly to answer questions related to the readings and the assignments and to deliver your scripts. In this class you will not earn additional points for participation…you will lose them if you do not.

Web Design:

This class includes an eight-hour training mini course for Internet production/streaming presentation. Five of those hours will be conducted during class hours. The remaining 3 classes will be completed outside of classroom hours on your own time. Your term grade rests on your team’s ability to put your final project on the web. Not completing these lab hours will preclude your ability to receive the training certificate; if all the training hours are not met your “web” grade will be lowered by 15 points for each class not completed. The due dates are on the syllabus.

●Unless you specifically advise the professor that you object, material submitted for this course may be used at the discretion of the USF School of Mass Communication web site as an example of student work.

PLAGARISM:

In the communication industry anyone found to be stealing, fabricating or misusing information looses his or her job. Since this course lays the foundation for a potential career within the industry

the rules will be the same. Any student found plagiarizing or misusing information will not only loose their job but they will…fail this course. Cheating on examinations will result in the same loss of class standing as reported above. Students, who don't do their own work, don't deserve a break. Please refer to the academic handbook, which clearly specifies how the university views this type of behavior.

If you would like to see what students produced last term please visit this site.

   

GRADES

1 Individual course project 15%, Group project 15%, Group presentation 5%, group member assessment 5%; Exams 20%, script writing 30%, Web Design 10%. (A "no participation" score will be applied for each class in which you make no relevant contribution or minimal to negligible contribution to class discussion or activity. Points will also be deducted for all tardy arrivals and cuts). Please note the final Treatment Package and presentation is worth 35% of your grade.

Grading Consistency:

●In grading your scripts you will lose 25 points if you only submit one copy of the script or treatment (always TURN IN TWO/ 2 COPIES).

●You will lose 5 points for ANY omitted portion of the script format. This means if your scripts do not include: one inch margins, page number, title, headings, instructions in capital letters, text in upper lower case, all scripts texts are double spaced, and all must meet time restrictions. In grading treatment packages all of the above will hold true, however, you triple space between modules.

●When grading text each time you use the passive voice in ANY script you will also lose 5 points FOR EACH USE. Passive voice refers to using any form of the verb to be (is, are, was, were, be, being, been, are).

●In grading treatments you will lose 10 points for ANY element not included in the presentation (Title, Personnel, Audience, Justification, Description, Central Idea, Theme, Talent) and 5 points for each analysis portion missing from that element or if the analysis/element is not used correctly.

*While these designations may appear complicated they will be thoroughly explained at the start of the term and through the learning process.

ELECTRONIC DEVICES: Non-essential electronic devices (phones, beeping watches, beepers, etc.) may not be activated in class. Turn off your cell-phones. If you leave the classroom to answer your phones I will consider it a cut. Ringing phones and getting up during a lecture is disruptive, unprofessional, and rude. I will not tolerate it.

●YOU ARE NOT TO BRING FOOD INTO THE CLASSROOM AND THE LAB. Unfortunately, trash pickup in our building is sporadic and some of our classrooms smell terrible. Let’s help keep our learning environment clean. Should you have food and trash outside of class please place your leftovers in a rubbish receptacle.

GRADED ASSIGNMENTS

Examinations and Quizzes:

There are two examinations. Each is worth 100 points. The exams will be made-up of a combination of any of the following: true and false questions, fill in the blank questions, short answer questions, short essays, and multiple choice questions. Each examination will be graded on its own merits.

3 INDIVIDUAL CLASS ASSIGNMENT/ breakdown

Exam 1 100 pts.

Exam 2 100 pts. Term Team Project 100 pts (joined to Script 7)

Script 1 50 pts. Group Presentation 50 pts

Script 2 50 pts. Web Design Project 100 pts

Script 3 50 pts Group Evaluation 50 pts.

Script 4 50 pts.

Script 5 50 pts. TOTAL 1000

Script 6 50 pts.

Script 7 (final paper) 50 pts

Individual Package 150 pts (treatment 50/script 50/board25/budget 25)

(note final project is 35% of your grade)

GRADE SCALE: Grading standard for final grade:

A = 970- 1000 4.0 C+ = 780 2.33 D- = 600 .66

A-= 930 3.67 C = 740 2.00

B+ = 890 3.33 C-= 700 1.66

B = 850 3.0 D = 640 1.00 AUTOMATIC F ON A LATE

B- = 810 2.67 D+ = 670 1.33 ASSIGNMENT = 0

● In computing your final grades and in addition to the considerations stated above you will automatically lose 10 points for each missed class, 5 points each time you arrived late for class. These additional points will be deducted from your final grade.

Incomplete Grades:

An "I" grade cannot be used to make up for frequently missed script deadlines or to salvage failing grades for the course. Incomplete grades are awarded only when a small portion of a student's course work is incomplete and the student is earning a passing grade.

According to University policy, student may choose to withdraw from the course through

November 3, 2006 with a grade of “W” (without academic penalty). After this date NO “W” grades will be granted.

"It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself".       -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE-RTV2100

(Will vary as needed)

| | |ASSIGNMENTS |

|8/29, |Introduction/ |Syllabus handed-out and keep up with it. Read |

| | |Ch. 1 & 2 |

|8/31 |What is a producer? Videotape | |

|9/5, |Meet Rob Cooksey |Read Ch. 3, 10 |

| |Background/basic communication model |For Thursday select a public service group for|

| |Assumptions/perceptions re: data Information vs. |project I. |

| |Entertainment/ Scriptwriter's Arena |Hand-out treatment |

| |Presentation elements: |(Maslow, handout), |

| | |(Morley hand-out, |

|9/7 |Introduce Treatment Proposal, process, and why do them. Tell about your | |

| |public service announcement. |Read 4,6,9) |

| |a. Organization, needs, audience, b. Objectives | |

| |c. Premise, central idea, theme, recurring words/ | |

| |Phrases, content outline d. Presentation | |

|9/12, |SCRIPT FORMAT/Structure |Read Chapter 5, Read Ch. 14 |

| |Determine the audience: Demographic, Geographic, Psychographics, Vals. | |

| | | |

| |WEB SCHEDULE ONE | |

|9/14 |Script One/psa is Due.* |Meet in LIB618A |

|9/19, |Hallmark of successful PSA campaign-Ch.14 |Overhead presentation. |

| | |View videos and discuss |

|9/21 |Writing grammar and punctuation for oral Interpretation.Corporate |Speaks Tape |

| |Recruitment Video. |Thursday. Read Ch 10 |

|9/26, |Video Strategy/ story boards, Ch 10 |Example: Morley handout |

| |Research Interview | |

| | |Hand-out script format |

|9/28 |Project Premise Central Idea and theme, key words and phrases | |

|10/3, |Elements of Writing Structure, Writing Tips I |Annual Report Tape |

| |Script Two /psa is Due.*(It is to be completely |Web Training Card I Due |

| |Different than the original. | |

| | | |

|10/5 |Treatment proposal I finalized and reviewed review for exam./Non-verbal |Graham’s tape |

| |cues for presentation |Bruck’s Tape |

|10/10, |EXAM 1 | |

| | | |

|10/12 | | |

| |WEB SCHEDULE TWO: HTML, Cascading style |LIB618/ INTERMIDIATE |

| | | |

| |Syllabus continued | |

|10/17, |Turn-In project I, Treatment package. Form groups of 5/6, develop |Clients will be handed out. You are to collect |

| |ideas/approach for group project, a recruitment or informational proposal|primary data and interview the client. |

| | | |

| |Copywriting tools/Project II, question review |Laura’s tape |

|10/19 |Hand-out script, rewrite to :30 for Tuesday | |

|10/24, |Script Three/Advertising is Due.*You are to mark it for delivery. Deliver| |

| |and time script. | |

| | | |

|10/26 |Web Class #3 meet in lab/photoshop |LIB618/Begin web design |

|10/31, |Writing Tips II/ Budgeting/ Annual Report | |

| | | |

| |Rational and emotional appeals | |

|11/2 |For next class select any item from atop your dresser or kitchen counter.| |

| |Write :30 rational (simple) appeal | |

|11/7, |Script Four is Due.*Deliver and time rational appeal scripts. |View Tapes |

| | | |

| |Emotional Appeal | |

|11/9 |For next Tuesday take the same script and write a :30 Emotional appeal |WEB TRAINING CARD II |

| |script. | |

|11/14, |Script Five is Due.* |Complete delivery and review |

| |Deliver and time simple appeal script. | |

| |(be ready to identify key words, phrases out loud) | |

| | | |

|11/16 |Web Class #4 meet in lab |Final project design |

| 11/21, |Review draft of Treatment Package |In class review by groups. |

| | | |

|11/23 |THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY | |

|11/28, |Script Six Due* Each student is to have their own draft/version of |feedback. wrap-up, review |

|11/30 |Project II(audio only). This is NOT a group project it is an exercise | |

| |designed to get each person involved in the scripting of this product. | |

| | | |

| |Second draft of treatment proposal for Project II | |

| |Review for final Exam SCHEDULE OFFICE | |

| |APPOINTMENT WITH GROUP. | |

|12/5, |1. Present projects to class / 20 minutes per group. |Consider your content and |

|12/7 |2. Video's targeted audience |non-verbal Cues. |

| |3. Behavior, 4. Video's central idea, premise, theme |Web Training Card III Due |

| |5 Project's strategy 6. Cost of the project. | |

| |7. Presentation performance | |

Writing For Radio-TV RTV 2100

Marie Curkan-Flanagan

Fall 2006

STUDENT INFORMATION

Name: ____________________________________

Local Phone: ____________________________________

Cell Phone: ____________________________________

E-Mail Address: ____________________________________

Web Page: ____________________________________

USF Video Classes: Broadcast News: completed ____ /currently enrolled ____

TV News: completed ____ /currently enrolled ____

TV Production & Direction: completed ____ /currently enrolled ____

EFP completed ____/ currently enrolled ____

Video or Related _________________________________________________________

Experience:

_________________________________________________________

Web Design Level of _________________________________________________________

Experience

_________________________________________________________

Career Interest: _________________________________________________________

To what Professional or Industry related groups do you belong? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Have you scheduled/completed a production internship or practicum? What kind?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What do you expect to get out of this class?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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