COURSE OUTLINE

UNIT I – DEVELOPING GRAMMAR AND COMPOSITION SKILLS
(Parsing and Writing Activities)

A. Eight Parts of Speech
B. Verbals
C. Four Kinds of Sentences According to Function
D. Four Kinds of Sentences According to Structure
E. Other English Grammar Terms

ACTIVITIES

1. Parsing Activities
2. Personal Essay Writing


UNIT II – A HISTORY OF PRINT JOURNALISM IN THE PHILIPPINES
(Quiz Bee and Historical Analysis)

A. Early Years
B. Revolutionary Period
C. American Colonial Regime
D. Japanese Imperial Occupation
E. Post Liberation Period
F. Period of Nationalism and First Quarter Storm
G. Martial Law Days
H. EDSA Revolution
I. Contemporary Period

ACTIVITIES

1. Voluntary Guided Tour in Intramuros (Students to secure Release and Waiver of Liability, Assumption of Risk, and Indemnity and Parental Consent)
2. Group and Inter-section Quiz Bee


UNIT III – THE SCHOOL PAPER
(Lecture and Show and Tell)

A. Brief History of Campus Journalism in the Philippines
B. Functions of School Papers
C. Sections and Parts of School Papers
1. News Section
2. Sports Section
3. Editorial Section
4. Features Section
5. Literary Section
6. Entertainment Section

ACTIVITIES

1. Group Clippings of Parts of Newspapers
2. Identification of Parts of Newspapers


UNIT IV – RULES ON CLEAR AND EFFECTIVE JOURNALISTIC WRITING
(Reporting and Application)

A. Think First, Then Write (Student 1)
B. Get to the Point (Students 2)
C. Use Familiar Words (Student 3)
D. Omit Verbal Deadwood (Student 4)
E. Shorten Your Sentences (Student 5)
F. Shorten Your Paragraphs (Student 6)
G. Use Specific and Concrete Language (Student 7)
H. Prefer the Simple to the Complex (Student 8)
I. Be Positive (Student 9)
J. Use the Active Voice (Student 10)
K. Write as You Talk (Student 11)
L. Use Adjectives Sparingly (Student 12)
M. Revise and Sharpen (Student 13)
N. Write to Express, Not to Impress (Student 14)
O. Odds and Ends (Student X)

ACTIVITIES

1. Individual Guided Writing Exercises
2. Individual Documented Essay on One of the 15 Rules on Clear and Effective Journalistic Writing using the Modern Language Association Documentation Format


UNIT V – NEWSPAPER STYLE SHEET
(Reading and Application)

A. Abbreviations
B. Capitalizations
C. Spellings
D. Use of Numbers
E. Use of Punctuation Marks
F. Use of Titles
G. Other Rules

ACTIVITIES

1. Individual Guided Writing Exercises
2. Gathering and Critiquing of Manuals of Style and Usage


UNIT VI – THE WRITING PROCESS
(Lecture and Discussion)

A. Prewriting
1. Talking
2. Freewriting
3. Brainstorming
4. Journal Writing
5. Reading

B. Organizing
1. Grouping
2. Outlining

C. Drafting

D. Revising
1. First Revision
2. Second Revision
3. Third Revision

E. Editing

ACTIVITIES

1. Individual Guided Writing Exercises
2. Library and Online Researches


UNIT VII – NEWS WRITING
(Lecture and Discussion)

A. Definition of News
B. Source of News
C. Elements of News
D. Categories of News
E. Qualities of Good News Stories
F. Types of News Stories
G. Definition of Lead
H. Types of Leads
I. Classifications of Leads
J. Writing the Body of a News Story

ACTIVITIES

1. Individual Guided Writing Exercises
2. Group Media Tour


UNIT VIII – WRITING SPECIAL NEWS STORIES
(Lecture and Discussion)

A. Book Review
B. Movie Review
C. Play Review
D. Interview Story
E. Personality Sketch
F. Speech Report

ACTIVITIES

1. Art Immersion Activities
2. Book, Movie, or Play Review Writing Exercises


UNIT IX – COPY READING AND HEADLINE WRITING
(Lecture and Demonstration)

A. Definition of Copy Reading
B. Copy Reader’s Marks
C. Definition of Headline
D. Mechanics of Headline Writing
E. Counting the Headline

ACTIVITIES

1. Copy Reading Exercises
2. Headline Writing Exercises


UNIT X – SPORTS WRITING
(Lecture and Discussion)

A. What Sports Means to Sports Journalists
B. When to Draw the Line: Impartiality vs. Partisanship
C. Covering a Basketball Game
D. Covering a Boxing Bout
E. Three Anchors in Sports Journalism
F. Research: The Backbone of a Career as a Sports Journalist
G. Challenge of the Times
H. Tips in Sports Writing
I. Common Errors in Sports Writing

ACTIVITIES

1. Live Sports Coverage
2. Sports Writing Exercises


UNIT XI – EDITORIAL WRITING
(Lecture and Discussion)

A. Nature and Purpose of the Editorial
B. Sources of Editorial Topics
C. Structure of the Editorial
D. Writing the Editorial
E. Editorial Leads
F. Types of Editorial
G. Checking the Editorial
H. Cartoons and Photographs

ACTIVITIES

1. Editorial Writing Exercises
2. Letter to the Editor Writing Exercises


UNIT XII – FEATURE WRITING
(Lecture and Discussion)

A. Characteristics of the Feature Article
B. Kinds of Feature Articles
C. Sources of Feature Article Ideas
D. How to Keep the Readers Interest
E. Writing the Feature
F. Possible Assignments for Feature Articles
G. Steps in Writing the Feature Article
H. Characteristics of a Good Feature Writer

ACTIVITIES

1. Required Individual Metropolitan Manila Tour
2. Travelogue Writing Exercises