The purpose of this assignment is to develop skills in reporting and writing a biographical sketch, a common type of article in print journalism.
Using what you have learned from the Stovall text and in class, choose a person who would interest most UWB community members, interview the person (in person, not by telephone or e-mail) at least one time, and write an article of 600 to 800 words in proper journalistic style. The story must be timely and of interest to the UWB community, especially to students. You may use any additional information-gathering techniques available to journalists.
You and your peers will have an opportunity to critique each other's articles in class on the due date. Meeting deadlines is crucial in journalism, so articles that are not in class on the due date at 8:45 a.m. sharp, by the classroom clock, will not get the benefit of peer critiques. You must bring three copies of your double-spaced article to class on the due date. Remember to type -30- at the end of your story to indicate "the end."
You then will revise your article and submit it electronically in your final learning portfolio, which is due no later than 8:30 a.m. sharp on Monday, March 10.
The final portfolio version of your article be graded according to these criteria:
Timeliness (how
current) Likely interest to readers Depth of coverage Accuracy Structure and organization Prose TOTAL
10%
15%
25%
20%
20%
10%
100%
This assignment is worth 15 percent of your final course grade.
This page last updated January 22, 2008.
