• Demonstrate, through tests and/or presentations, understanding of the professional, practical, political, economic, and cultural conditions that enable and constrain writing and the writer in different media writing contexts;
  
• Demonstrate, through tests and/or presentations, general knowledge of the broad range of media writing genres and formats and the uses of  these as blueprints for a variety of media productions;
  
• Identify appropriate sources and carry out research in preparation for a media writing project;
  
• Produce and be comfortable producing original, research-based writing for news, commentary, and fictional genres in radio, television, film, and emerging media.
• Become generally familiar with a set of digital tools that can allow for the editing of some of these media.
  

(Please review the weighted final grade percentages for each assignment in your student handbook, pp ix and xi)

Grade ranges in percentages (round down to closest integer)
A+	98-100%	C+	77-79%
A	93-97%	C	73-76%
A-	90-92%	C-	70-72%
B+	87-89%	D+	67-69%
B	83-86%	D	63-66%
B-	80-82%	D-	60-62%

The Department of Communication values student attendance in courses and expects attendance in all courses from the very first day of class.   You will be allowed 4 absences of any kind during the semester.  After four absences, your final grade will be penalized.

Attendance will be taken by sign-in sheet.  It is your responsibility to ensure your signature is on each day's sheet.  Ask for the sheet if you do not see it.  Tardies will be marked by the instructor. Three tardies (including leaving class early) equal an absence.

If for any reason you exceed four (4) absences and you have excused absences, you will need to provide your instructor excuses for each of your five or more missed days.  At this point, any unexcused absences remaining may immediately cause penalties to be assessed to your final, and even five excused absences may have grade consequences to be determined on a case-by-case basis.  

The university defines excused absences as sanctioned anticipated situations and documented emergency situations.  Anticipated situations (participating in an official university function, court attendance, religious observances, or military duty) must be submitted in writing at least one week prior to the anticipated absence.  Emergency absences (student illness, injury or death of immediate family member) must also be documented. It is your responsibility to obtain the appropriate documentation for your instructor on excused absences.

(In other words, if you find you will be forced to miss more than four days (two weeks!) of instruction and participation with your peers, you will need to contact me as soon as is humanly possible.  In even briefer terms, please come to class.)

If, after reviewing the syllabus, you anticipate or know you will miss 6 or more classes (excused or unexcused), I would strongly encourage you to drop this course. Your grade will be lowered by these absences.