BASIC CAMPUS JOURNALISM

An eight (8) week online course

A grasp on News Writing, Feature Writing, Editorial/Opinion Writing,
Editorial Cartooning and Literary Writing.

By

JENNIELOU G. PIGAO
lulupigao@yahoo.com
jennieloupigao@yahoo.com

I.

BASIC CAMPUS JOURNALISM

Course Description:
This eight (8) week course engages aspiring Campus Journalists in becoming skilled writers and
critics in the different areas of journalism for a variety of purposes. Their writings should make
them aware of their interactions among writing purposes and audience expectations as well as
the way generic conventions and the resources of language contribute to effectiveness in
journalism. Campus Journalists should be able to write effectively and confidently as writers
across their personal lives, to apply effective strategies and techniques in their own writings and
to demonstrate understanding and mastery of standard written English as well as stylistic
maturity in their own writings.

II.

Course Objectives
At the end of the eight (8) week online course, the students are able to:
1. Apply critical reading and thinking skills to the writing process through analyzing and reacting
on reading materials.
2. Follow the conventions of standard written English, in sentence structure, punctuation,
grammar and spelling.
3. Identify and develop styles appropriate to varied writing situations.
4. Analyze other writers motives in reasons for writing.
5. Relate writing motives to internal features of their texts including different genres and
expectations of different audience.
6. Write well-organized articles with a firm thesis and a clear introduction, body and conclusion
Syllabus in Basic Campus Journalism by Jennielou Pigao

III.

References
Cruz, Ceciliano- Jose B. Campus Journalism and School Paper Advising. Rex Book Store, 856
Nicanor Reyes St. Manila Philippines, 2000.
Malinao, Alito L. Journalism for Filipinos. National Book Store Inc., Mandaluyong, Philippines,
1991.
Malinao, Alito L. Campus and Community Journalism Hand Book. National Book Store Inc.,
Mandaluyong, Philippines, 2005.
Cruz, Ceciliano- Jose B. Advanced Campus Journalism. August 3, 2011
Ferguson, Donald L. Journalism Today. August 3, 2011

Syllabus in Basic Campus Journalism by Jennielou Pigao

TIME
FRAME

TOPIC
I.

Campus
Journalism- A
Better
Understanding
A. Definition of
Campus
Journalism
B. Responsibilities
of a Campus
Writer

OBJECTIVES

RELATED LEARNING
ACTIVITY

At the end of the

lesson, the students
should be able to:

Quiz: ( Essay) Answer the

following questions in no
less than five sentences
to be posted on the online
class forum. (10 points
each)

1. Define Campus
Journalism.
2. Explain why a
Campus Journalist
should be
responsible in
his/her writings.

-Lecture
-Discussion
-Brainstorming

C. The Dos and

Donts in
Campus
Journalism

3. Enumerate the
different Dos and
Donts in Campus
Journalism.

-Reading
Assignment

D. A review of the
Journalism
Creed

4. Discuss the
Journalism Creed.

-Library research

E. Killing of
Journalists/
Journalism
issues

5. Reflect on the
importance of
Campus Journalism
in the society.
6. Describe the
qualities a Campus
Journalist should
possess.

Reference:
7. Display interest in

EVALUATION

-Criticizing an article

1. State and explain one

responsibility of a
Campus Journalist.
2. Define Campus
Journalism in your own
point of view.
3. Why do Campus
Journalists need to be
responsible in their
writings?
4. Do you believe in the
saying Pen is mightier
than sword? Explain.
5. In your own opinion,
why do journalists need to
stand for the sake of
justice and truth despite
personal threats?

Syllabus in Basic Campus Journalism by Jennielou Pigao

Cruz, Ceciliano-Jose B.
Advanced Campus
Journalism. August 3, 2011

writing as well as
criticizing an article.

Syllabus in Basic Campus Journalism by Jennielou Pigao

II.

News Writing

At the end of the

lesson, the students
should be able to:

Write a news article

regarding the
following topics: ( 25
points each)

A. What is News
Writing?
B. The pyramid
structure in
News Writing

1. Explain the
importance of the
Pyramid Structure
in News Writing.

C. Types of News
Writing

-Lecture

2. Analyze the process

in News Writing
through using
simple words rather
than of obscure
words.

3. Write quality news

articles observing
the rules In News
Writing.

-Justice
Coronas
Impeachment Trial

- Review of news
articles
-Reporting
-Library research

Reference:
Cruz, Ceciliano-Jose B.
Advanced Campus
Journalism. August 3, 2011

Year

- Discussion
-Brainstorming

D. Simple vs.
Obscure Words

-Chinese
New
Celebration

Criteria for grading:

Lead -10 points
Body
5 points
Conclusion 5 points
Title
-- 5 points
25 points

Syllabus in Basic Campus Journalism by Jennielou Pigao

III.

Feature Writing

At the end of the

lesson, the students
should be able to:

Write feature articles

regarding the
following topics: ( 50
points each)

A. What is feature
writing?
1. My Favorite Teacher
B. Different kinds
of feature
writing

1. Differentiate feature
writing from other
types of writing

-Discussion
-Brainstorming

C. Rhetorical Acts
for Paragraph
Development

2. Reflect from other

feature writers
motives through
reading their works.

- Reading
Assignment
-Reporting

3. Write feature
articles from the
different types of it.
Reference:
Cruz, Ceciliano-Jose B.
Advanced Campus
Journalism. August 3, 2011

2. My First Love

3. My first experience
to read a full novel
4. Am I Team Twilight
or Team Harry
Potter?

Criteria for grading:

Clarity of ideas
Conciseness
Grammar
Title

-- 15 pts
-- 15 pts
-- 15 pts
-- 5 pts
50 points

Syllabus in Basic Campus Journalism by Jennielou Pigao

IV.

Editorial/
Opinion Writing
A. What is an
editorial?
B. Parts of an
Editorial
C. Different
techniques in
writing an
effective
editorial
D. Different types
of Editorial
E. Controversial
Issues in our
Country

At the end of the

lesson, the students
should be able to:
1. Define the different
types of an Editorial
2. Compare and
contrast Editorial
Writing from
Opinion Writing
3. Enumerate the
current issues
locally and globally
4. Develop interest in
writing opinionated
articles expressing
their sides
regarding a certain
topic
5. Write an effective
editorial/ opinion
article for different
audiences

Reference:
Cruz, Ceciliano-Jose B.
Advanced Campus
Journalism. August 3, 2011

6. Compare their ideas

with other peoples
ideas by including
counter arguments
and acknowledging
multiple
perspectives on any
topic.

-Brainstorming
- Criticizing articles
-Debate
- Discussion
-Reading
Assignment

The following topics

are the hottest issues
in our country
nowadays. Choose
three topics and write
an opinion article
observing the rules in
opinion writing. Make
sure that your title can
catch your readers
interest. ( 50 points
for each article)
1. Coronas
Impeachment
Trial
2. PGMAs
House/Hospital
Arrest
3. RamGen
Revillas Murder
4. SK Abolition
5. Underground
river as one of
the New Seven
Wonders of the
World
Criteria for grading:
Point of Argument --- 20
pts
Stand of the writer ---10
pts
Grammar and Spelling-10
pts

Syllabus in Basic Campus Journalism by Jennielou Pigao

Lead
5 pts
Title
5 pts

--50
points

Syllabus in Basic Campus Journalism by Jennielou Pigao

V.

Editorial
Cartooning

A. What is an
editorial
cartooning?

B. Different
symbols used
in Editorial
Cartooning

At the end of the

lesson, the students
should be able to:
1. Explain the
importance of
editorial cartooning
in an editorial page
2. Analyze the
cartoonists motives
in drawing an
editorial cartoon
3. Consider their
audiences
expectations and
perspectives on
their drawings

Draw an editorial
cartoon on the
following topics: ( 50
points)

-Lecture

1. Coronas
Impeachment

-Brainstorming
-Games

2. PGMAs hospital
arrest

-Discussion

3. SK Abolition

-Ed.Cartoon review

4. Interpret the
messages of their
drawings

Reference:
Cruz, Ceciliano-Jose B.
Advanced Campus
Journalism. August 3, 2011

5. Draw an editorial
cartoon regarding
issues governing
our society

Criteria in grading:
Message
--- 30 points
Symbols
--- 10 points
Visual Impact 10 points
50 points

Syllabus in Basic Campus Journalism by Jennielou Pigao

VI.

Literary Writing
A. What is
Literary?
B. Different
literary
techniques/
devices
C. Short Story
writing
D. Poem Writing
1. Haiku
2. Sonnet
3. Free verse

Reference:
Cruz, Ceciliano-Jose B.
Advanced Campus
Journalism. August 3, 2011

At the end of the

lesson, the students
should be able to:
1. Plan and carry out
multiple stages in
writing short story
from drafting,
revising and writing
the final output

I. Write a story with no

less than 1000 words.
It could be a love,
tragic, drama, comedy
or horror story. ( 100
points)

-Discussion

2. Enumerate the
different
techniques/ devices
often used in
literary writing

-Lecture

3. Relate their motives

to internal features
of their texts
including content,
word choice,
structure, style and
approach to their
audience

-Movie review

4. Write effective
stories and poem
that can capture the
interest of their
readers

-Brainstorming
-Games

Criteria for grading:

Originality
--50 pts
Grammar
--20 pts
Point of the story-20 pts
Title
--10
pts
100
points

-Book review
-Reading
assignment

II. Write a 15-stanza

free verse poem with
the topic of your
choice
Criteria for grading:
Originality
--20 pts
Grammar
--10 pts
Point of the view-10 pts
Word choice
-- 5 pts
Title
--5 pts
50

Syllabus in Basic Campus Journalism by Jennielou Pigao

points

Syllabus in Basic Campus Journalism by Jennielou Pigao