writestufflj20

[writestufflj20]

Moving to Canvas

Dear Students,

I decided to shut down this blog for now and place all links and assignment instructions on the class canvas site. You still want to use your syllabus for an overview of due dates and assignments. Thanks

[writestufflj20]

Cost of Caring

For Friday Oct. 18, please read The Cost of Caring. Your choice on what to discuss in your RR. (Do not summarize the article)

[writestufflj20]

Conversion by Twitter (aka Unfollow) for Monday

Please read Unfollow (which I believe was called Conversion by Twitter in print) and as your RR, draw and label a narrative arc that captures key conflicts, turning points and ultimate resolution in the story. Read carefully and have fun with the RR. And as always, write your favorite sentence.

[writestufflj20]

Students presentation guidelines

Every student in the class will do a presentation on a topic related to journalism – these will be scheduled throughout the quarter, week by week. I’m looking for something informal and informational.

I’m thinking the presentation will last about 15 minutes. Be careful not to rush through it, as these will be graded.

Pick a story that interests you from one of these three journalism industry websites. Please avoid stories that are obviously years old and outdated (“Covering the Obama Administration” or “What is Twitter?”)

Columbia Journalism Review, https://www.cjr.org/ Nieman Journalism Lab, http://www.niemanlab.org/ Poynter Institute, https://www.poynter.org/

Read the story a few times. Look up terms and references. Go to links in the stories for better understanding and possibly more information for your presentation. You may need to google around to get up to speed on the topic as well.

Then begin planning your presentation. I’m asking for you to cover the following items:

Why you picked it/why it’s interesting to you Explanation of terms, references and background that are needed to understand the story A summary of what the story is revealing/showing/explaining/finding. Some things to consider: what in the story is new, interesting or relevant? what does it say about what’s important in journalism and how it’s changing, and what are some of the different debates and perspectives highlighted in the article? Take us through some of the article’s key points!

Feel free to show us related visuals if it’s helpful. Provide your own views, if appropriate IMPORTANT: Pose discussion questions for students, building on the issues or events highlighted in the story. (Student views, experiences) You want open-ended questions they can answer, not a quiz on the material.

[writestufflj20]

An LJ profile of an “American man”

For Monday, please read Susan Orlean’s legendary “American Man at Age 10” article.

In your RR, identify an effective example of dialogue, scene and description (SUCCINCTLY!). Cite your favorite sentence and say why you chose it. 1 page

Two ways to read this article: online at Esquire or in a PDF version.

If you’re inclined, check out this feature on Orlean reflecting on the story.

[writestufflj20]

Words that stay in your head

An exposed, beating human heart looks frantic and angry. Clench and release, clench and release. Because it is sheathed in a protective layer of fat, it’s more yellow than red. It’s only the size of a big man’s fist, but it will dominate any operating room. You can’t look away.

- The Beating Heart, by Gene Weingarten. You can find it on Longform.org

[writestufflj20]

Writing tip

Free indirect discourse is a big clunky phrase that describes a special type of third-person narration that slips in and out of characters' consciousness. ... The narrator is reporting to us the thoughts and dialogue of the character. It's almost as if he is the character, except he's still that third person.

[writestufflj20]

Welcome LJ20 Fall 2019 students:

Please read the story linked above (which is now a Netflix program). 

Write a reader response (RR) of no more than a page in which you list 2 or 3 literary elements or devices from the article, preferably in bullet points. Literary elements or devices might include character, plot, point of view, setting, foreshadowing, scene, dialogue, suspense, flashback and style, among others that you can think of.

Type the response (1.5 to double spacing), print it out and bring it to class Monday. 

[writestufflj20]

For Monday, please read this essay by Roxane Gay, which includes discussion of sexual assault. In your RR you can comment on her writing style. Also, (adding this Sunday), please tell me your favorite sentence and why.

[writestufflj20]

Coming your way

I will email you your homework reading, an interview with literary journalist Jon Krakauer in which he discusses his reporting methods, among other things. In your RR, can you list some of the reporting tips you can take away from this reading?

[writestufflj20]

For Monday, please read the essay above and comment on what you like/don’t like about journalistic essay writing, drawing specifically from the piece.

[writestufflj20]

For Wednesday 11/21, just read Chua’s article, not the book review stuff included in the pdf file. In your RR, feel free to comment on whatever you want.

[writestufflj20]

You get some extra time on your second writing assignment, which is now due Monday Nov. 19. So I’m moving up a reading assignment for Wednesday Nov. 14, which is linked above (Ariel Levy’s article, Lesbian Nation). In your RR, what does this article show you about writing about a group/subculture? Also, your favorite sentence and why.

[writestufflj20]

Please read the article linked here for Wednesday. You can choose how you respond in your RR. No more than a page.

[writestufflj20]

Second writing assignment

Your second graded writing assignment  is a choice:

A) a DIY (do it yourself) article in which you participate in an activity, profession, pursuit, etc. that is new to you and write about the experience, giving us a window into the workings, rewards and challenges of the activity. Use the Ted Conover piece for inspiration and technique. To find interesting activities, consult Meetup.com and listings of UCI clubs. B) A first-person narrative account from your own life, drawing from the lessons of Alex Tizon's example, which included strong reporting and featured scenes, characters, a plot, and a resolution.

Stories must be factually accurate; you can take 750 words or more if your reporting warrants it. For either option you'll be rewarded points for including perspectives/quotes/information from people you interview.

I want to give you a bit more time to complete your first draft, so take until Monday Nov. 19 (rather than the original deadline of Wednesday, Nov. 14).

I will add some reading assignments between now and the new deadline.

[writestufflj20]

Please read the story linked above for Monday. In your RR, please note your favorite sentence and why. Additionally, please describe what this article teaches you about how to write a first-person narrative successfully, being specific.

[writestufflj20]

Next week’s readings

For Monday, please read The Way of All Flesh from Harper’s magazine. The article showcases the power of firsthand observation, a staple of LitJ reporting that makes for vivid reading. 

In your RR, please pick 3 memorable examples of a scene (action unfolding) or a descriptive passage (physical/sensory) and explain how they enliven the article. Be specific and succinct (1,2,3). And tell me your favorite sentence and why

You can get a start on the Wednesday reading, A Most American Terrorist,where your assignment will be to answer the question: how is this article organized? And please provide your favorite sentence and why.