Skip to content

Course Syllabus

Course: COMM 1130

Division: Fine Arts, Comm, and New Media
Department: Communications
Title: Writing for Communications (formerly Media Writing)

Semester Approved: Fall 2020
Five-Year Review Semester: Summer 2026
End Semester: Spring 2026

Catalog Description: Students in this course will learn how to gather and evaluate information to craft stories for the broad public. This course teaches the core skills of news judgment, news writing, basic reporting and editing, feature writing, law and ethics, and covering news from diverse communities.

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 3; Lecture: 3; Lab: 0

Justification: Writing for Communications encourages students to read, discuss and write about current events, trends, and happenings on Snow College campus, in Utah, Nationally and Internationally. This course is designed to introduce students to career options in journalism, to help them become better writers for many aspects of Communications, and to prepare them to meet transfer requirements. Most of the other colleges in the state offer a similar course.

General Education Outcomes:
2: A student who completes the GE curriculum can read and research effectively within disciplines. Students will write at least twelve news stories using Associated Press (AP) style. The papers will demonstrate their comprehension and utilization of ethics, AP style, and will incorporate suggestions for improvement as the course progresses. Each paper will be returned with suggestions for improvement of the student's written, organizational and contextual skills. Students will demonstrate their ability to write for media through written assignments, class discussion, and essay exams.

4: A student who completes the GE curriculum can reason analytically, critically, and creatively. Students will research information for news stories through interviewing, data mining, and accessing printed and electronic data. They will measure the validity, accuracy, and applicability of information for inclusion in news stories. Students will demonstrate their ability to research and write through written assignments, class discussion, short answer and essay exams.


Student Learning Outcomes:
The core components of this course are the writing assignments, complemented by classwork, homework and news quizzes. Some of the stories are taken home for completion, others completed in class under deadline pressure. Additional assignments may be added as needed.  Assignment feedback will come in the form of written comments by the instructor, in-class oral critiques as well as peer evaluations in class. Students will demonstrate their ability to read, and write through written assignments, class discussion, short answer and essay exams.

Students will create a blog to demonstrate an understanding of writing for varies media outlets.  Students will demonstrate their ability to write and create their blog through their blog sharing, class discussions, short answer and essay exams.


Content:
The following topics will be covered in this course: understand the ethical foundations of Journalism and its values, including the importance of diversity. understand the basic elements of digital storytelling. understand and be able to write different types of leads. be able to write a basic news story of eight to 10 paragraphs and be able to meet deadlines. be able to write a short feature story, using appropriate description, detail and quotes.
The students will be taught to understand and be able to apply AP style to news stories. be able to find appropriate and diverse news sources, interview them and build the research necessary for strong news stories. be able to conduct interviews that elicit information and quotes for use in news and feature stories.

Key Performance Indicators:
Classroom assignments and participation 10 to 20%

12 (minimum) weekly writing assignments 20 to 40%

Quizzes and tests 20 to 30%

Blog 20 to 30%

Projects and presentations 10 to 30%


Representative Text and/or Supplies:
Writing and Reporting News: A Coaching Method (Current Edition). Author-Carole Rich


Pedagogy Statement:
Content will be taught through lecture, demonstration, and practical application of writing for Communications. Through practical application, assignments, exams, projects, presentations, and blog creation, students will learn about numerous aspects of writing for the media.

Instructional Mediums:
Lecture

Maximum Class Size: 20
Optimum Class Size: 18