Over view:

Welcome to Introduction to Journalism. This class is an English elective in which students will learn the
basics of mass communication. Students will primarily focus on journalistic writing and editing, along with
learning the basics of publication creation, including photography and yearbook and newspaper design.
Journalists who do well in this class will receive top consideration to be on the school newspaper (The
Northern Star) and/or yearbook (Aurora) stafs.
Topics, Key Concepts, and Units of Study:
Interviewing/reporting
Journalistic writing: this includes news, feature, opinion, headlines and captions
AP style (Grammar for journalists)
Photojournalism
Basics of InDesign
Basics of newspaper and yearbook design and production
Ethics/Mass Media Law
Materials:
Notebook, folder, pen/pencil and paper every dayany materials specifcally requested by teacher
Assignments:
The grades in this class will be determined based upon a points system. Forms of assessment recorded in
the gradebook will include articles, quizzes/tests, projects, presentations, and design creation.
Your participation in class is vital. Although not every assignment will be graded, these practice
assignments are designed to prepare you for your assessments; therefore, it is important that you complete
all assignments, regardless of whether a grade is involved.
Students are to follow directions on assignments given. Grading rubrics for articles and designs will be
available in advance. Just like in the real journalism world, assignments are due at the beginning of the
hour on the due date unless otherwise specifed.
If an assignment is turned in afer the deadline, it will be accepted, but it will not be eligible for revisions.
In the real journalism world, if you do not hit your deadline, your article, photo, design, etc., would
not make the next days newspaper, broadcast, web page etc.
You will be given a fnal exam at the end of the trimester, which is worth 10% of your overall grade.
Journalism
Introduction to
Room 406
Ms. Kathryn Dodge
kathryn.dodge@farmington.k12.mi.us
Class website: dodgeclassroom.weebly.com
Ofce Hours 2:40 - 3 p.m. every day. Before school or afer 3 p.m. by appointment only.
Revisions:
Journalism articles will be returned with a grade and suggestions for revision.
Any article that has received below a 90% and was turned in on time is eligible for revisions. You may
revise the paper as many times as necessary until you get an A, until three weeks past the original due date.
You must turn in all previous versions of the paper with your revisions.
Revision scores are based on the level of improvement in the paper as recommended by the teachers
corrections and comments. If only grammar, spelling and punctuation mistakes are corrected, but the
paper still contains clarity and content issues, the grade will not improve signifcantly.
Attendance:
You are expected to be on time and in your seat when the bell rings.
Continued tardiness and unexcused absences will result in action from the administration ofce.
If you have missed a class, consult your classmates immediately upon your return. Once informed of any
work you missed, you may request any necessary assignments or materials from me. If you go the website:
dodgeclassroom.weebly.com and look under the Journalism tab, you will fnd digital versions of any
notes or assignments I can provide for you. These are available for your to download and use. You must
complete the assignment in the time I allotted for the rest of the class, beginning on the day you return.
If you know that you will be missing class ahead of time for any reason, please see me to receive your
assignments prior to your absence.
If something was assigned prior to your absence and you miss the day it was due, the assignment should
be turned in immediately upon your return.
If you miss a quiz or a test, you must schedule a make-up time with me. In some cases you may take the
make-up during the regular class period, but in others you may need to schedule a time to meet with me
before or afer school.
Classroom Rules:
The #1 rule for our classroom is respect, meaning that you respect your classmates and your teacher at all
times. Consistent cases of disrespect will result in consequences including detentions and ofce referrals.
This is a computer lab. No food or drink is allowed in the classroom, with the exception of bottled water,
which cannot be near the computers.
All policies established by the Farmington Public Schools apply, and must be followed, in this class.
When a substitute is here in my place, I expect students behavior to be as good as, if not better than,
when I am here. Whether or not you agree with the substitute, you are to follow his/her instructions.
Consequences:

Improper classroom behavior will result in specifc disciplinary actions; i.e. call to guardians, detention, loss
of participation points, etc.
Improper use of technology will result in loss of privileges, along with replacing, in full, any broken
equipment.
Any form of plagiarism committed in this class will be handled according to the English departments
plagiarism policy, which allows for revision of work but includes administrative referral and parent contact.