Writing for Mass Media, a gateway course into the Gaylord College of Journalism, is a three hour credit course that is required for all students who wish to advance in the journalism school at the University of Oklahoma.
The class meets Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 10:30-11:20 am. Students are required to attend a lab section for the course, in which they practice their newly acquired "Associated Press" style of writing. The lab sections meet twice a week, for two hours each meeting.
Most students prior to this class have solely written academic papers, which incorporate a completely different style of writing than that of the AP (Associated Press). The AP style enforces the use of shorter sentences, smaller paragraphs, less ambiguous words, and specific rules for spelling, grammar, and punctuation, than that of academic writing.
There are approximately 165 students in the lecture portion, and 15 in each lab section. Professor Kathryn Jenson White provides power-point based lectures, and assigns quizzes every week. The quizzes cover topics ranging from media and news outlets (The New York Times, The Daily Oklahoman) to language skills (grammar, spelling, etc.).
The lecture portion of the course makes up 50% of each student's overall grade, while the lab consumes the other 50%. The quizzes make up 25% of the lecture, while the three exams make up the other 25%. The 50% from the lab portion is determined by many writing and grammar assignments completed over the course of the semester.
Attendance is mandatory for success in this course. Students are allowed 4 absences in the lecture and 4 in the lab. If that number is exceeded, the student fails the course. It is possible for confusion to arise if not clarified, so if you miss 4 days in lecture, and 1 day in lab, you will still fail the course. Any illness preventing a student from attending class, should be accompanied by a doctor's note and the student should notify Sarah, the teaching assistant, or their lab instructor as soon as possible.
Failure to complete JMC 2033-Writing for Mass Media, with a C average or better, will prevent students from continuing on in the Gaylord College of Journalism.
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