J-374D ADVANCED FEATURE WRITING
FALL 2009
MONDAY/WEDNESDAY 9-10:30
CMA 4.310
Sam Gwynne
Lecturer, Journalism
512 413 8131 (cell)
Email: scgwynne@gmail.com
Mailbox: Journalism Department Office CMA 6.144.
Office Hours: By appointment.
Course Description:
The idea is that the students will begin to learn how to write feature stories. That means thinking them up, developing them, figuring out sourcing strategies, and then building the actual story in prose. Emphasis will be placed on learning how to pitch story ideas to editors. Though reporting is critical to the execution of any feature—reporting and writing can’t be separated—this course will place more emphasis on narrative, creativity, and voice than on the nuts and bolts of reporting. Students will use their reporting to tell stories that are longer, deeper, more complex and better written than the typical newspaper story. The instructor is a working journalist and will utilize elements of his working life—dealing with editors of various publications, pitching stories, reporting and writing stories, etc.—to help illuminate the subject for his students.
Required Work:
Students will write five feature stories during the semester, ranging in length from 1250 words to 2500 words. They will also write 250-word story proposals for each of these stories.
Stories are weighted as follows:
1. 1,000-word feature: 10 percent
2. 1,250-word feature: 10 percent
3. 1,500-word feature: 15 percent
4. 2,000-word feature: 20 percent
5. 2,500-word feautre: 25 percent
The remaning 20 percent of your grade will be determined by class participation and performance in classroom exercises.
Over the course of the semester, students will be required to read the book The Art And Craft Of Feature Writing by William Blundell. This will serve as both the principal text and also as a sort of organizing principle for the course. Additionally, students will read sections of Telling True Stories: A Nonfiction Writers’ Guide, edited by Mark Kramer and Wendy Call
Students will read 15-20 magazine stories by prominent writers. Six or more of those will be presented in class by the people who wrote them. The others will be discussed by the class. Students will write short critiques of some of these stories, and will also write short critiques of the guest speakers.
The classroom will be an interactive environment: students will brainstorm together and present ideas, listen to each other’s story pitches and stories, write story leads and other writing exercises on the fly. They will attempt to build narrative ideas out of breaking news events. Guest speakers will provide a lively forum for discussion.
STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO PURCHASE THE ABOVE TWO BOOKS. ALL OTHER READING MATERIAL IN CLASS WILL COME FROM HANDOUTS.
Grading:
Eighty percent of the student’s grade will be determined by performance on the five writing assignments. Twenty percent will be based on various in-class exercises and on class participation.
In evaluating your written work, I will use the following framework, all on a scale of 1-5
1. The work is vivid writing and is not cliched. (1-5)
2. The work contains the required number of quotes (1-5)
3. The work demonstrates a consistent theme, thread and plot. (1-5)
4. There is a powerful ending (1-5)
5. Grammar, spelling and punctuation are correct (1-5)
6. The work provides all necessary contact information (1-5)
7. The work has both intimate details and a larger “sweep” or perspective (1-5)
Attendance and Tardiness
Three unexcused absences are the absolute limit. After that, the assessment drops one full letter grade per absence.
Students who are more than 15 minutes late to class are credited with half an absence.
Students with any sort of extenuating circumstances are advised to call me in advance. In the event of religious holidays, by UT Austin policy, you must notify me at least fourteen days prior to the date of the observance of a holy day.
Late Papers:
All papers are due at the beginning of class. Late papers will be downgraded at the rate of 10 points per day. Extensions are granted only in the most dire circumstances. Journalism is a deadline business and meeting deadlines is part of what students are supposed to be learning.
Visits With Me
All students will meet at least once with me outside of class during the semester. Though I do not have an office at the university, I am always happy to meet with students privately at their request.
University of Texas Honor Code
“The core values of the University of Texas at Austin are learning, discovery, freedom, individual opportunity, and responsibility. Each member of the university is expected to uphold these values through integrity, honesty, trust, fairness, and respect toward peers and community.”
Plagiarism
In any form will not be tolerated and will result in an automatic grade of “F” for the entire course. This means any material that is taken directly from another source without attribution. Please also be aware that “manufactured quotes” –meaning that you made them up and did not really interview the source—are as serious a breach of ethics as plagiarism is.
Students With Disabilities
The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accomodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact Services for Students With Disabilities at 471-6259 or 232-2937 (video phone).
Tentative Schedule
WED AUG 26
First class: introductions. What is feature writing and how is it different from other types of writing?
First story is assigned. 250-word story proposal due on Monday August 31. Full 1,000 word story due Monday Sept 7.
MON AUG 31
Story proposals due.
Critique of selected story proposals.
Reading assignment: Chapter One of Art and Craft of Feature Writing, plus “From Idea To Published Story” (pp. 55-59) and “Finding Good Topics” (pp. 21-24) in Telling True Stories
WED SEPT 2
In-class work on story proposals. Students will break down into small groups.
Discussion of the assigned reading from both textbooks.
MON SEPT 7
LABOR DAY HOLIDAY
WED SEPT 9
First story is due.
Students will bring to class newspapers and will craft narrative story ideas from the headlines of the dailies.
Second story is assigned. Story proposal due Monday, Sept. 14. 1,250 word story, quoting minimum four sources, due Monday Sept. 21
Reading assignment: Gary Smith’s Profile of Mia Hamm; Marc Singer’s profile of Ricky Jay
MON SEPT 14
Proposal for second story is due.
Class discussion of the two stories. How are they structured? How are they sourced? What are the main narrative techniques?
Reading assignment: “Lust In Space,” Texas Monthly. Also, Chapters 2 and 3 of The Art and Craft of Feature Writing
WED SEPT 16
Class discussion: The arc of narrative. How does it carry the story?
Reading assignment: Part IV of Telling True Stories. “Nuge,” Texas Monthly cover story by John Spong
MON SEPT 21
Second paper is due.
Guest Speaker: John Spong will talk about his Texas Monthly cover story on Ted Nugent.
Homework: 250-word critique of guest speaker.
Third paper is assigned. Proposal due Monday Sept. 28. 1500-word story, quoting minimum five sources, due Wednesday Oct. 7
WED SEPT 23
Critique of guest speaker due.
Selected student presentations of their stories.
In-class writing exercises and discussions.
MON SEPT 28
Proposal for third paper due.
Students will read these aloud and class will crtitique.
Reading assignment: Several stories (TBA) by Joan Didion
WED SEPT 30
In-class Point-of-View writing exercise.
Discussion of Didion pieces.
Reading assignments: Tom Wolfe’s “Right Stuff” story from the Atlantic. Calvin Trillin’s “Covering the Cops.” Also: Chapters four and five from The Art and Craft of Feature Writing.
MON OCT 5
Discussion of the Wolfe and Trillin stories in light of the ideas presented in the textbook chapters. Come prepared for intelligent discussion.
WED OCT 7
Third story is due
Selected students will present their stories to the class.
Interactive classroom.
Fourth story is assigned. Proposal due Wednesday, October 14. 2,000-word story quoting minimum 5 sources, due Wednesday October 28
Assignment for next class: use internet to frame story on “Interior”
MON OCT 12
In-class exercise. Working up the “Interior” proposal. Come prepared with ideas.
Reading assignments: “Longhorns Inc.” plus Chapter Six in The Art and Craft of Feature Writing. Also Part V (pp. 125-158) of Telling True Stories
WED OCT 14
Fourth story proposal is due.
Class discussion of the assigned reading. In-class exercises.
MON OCT 19
Reading assignment. Pam Colloff’s Texas Monthly story
WED OCT 21
Guest speaker: Texas Monthly’s Pam Colloff will talk about her story on subcultures.
Assignment: write 250-word critique of guest speaker.
Reading assignment: “Cabela’s and Whole Foods,” from Texas Monthly
MON OCT 26
Guest speaker critiques due. Discussion of subculture reporting.
Subject: The feature as reported essay: point and counterpoint.
Assignment: read Katy Vine’s story on the polygamists from Texas Monthly
WED OCT 28
Fourth story is due.
Guest speaker: Katy Vine
Students will read from and present their stories to the class.
Final (fifth) story is assigned: 2,500 words, quoting minimum six sources. Proposal due Wednesday November 4. Story due Wednesday Nov. 25 (The day before Thanksgiving, so plan ahead.)
MON NOV 2
Students will continue to read from and present their stories to the class.
Reading assignment: Nate Blakeslee’s “Tulia” story from Texas Observer
WED NOV 4
Story proposal is due.
Guest speaker: Nate Blakeslee will talk about his story about Tulia, Texas in the Texas Observer.
Selected students will present their story ideas for the final story.
Reading assignments: Part VI of Telling True Stories (pp. 163-193) on ethics, and “Dr. Evil” from Texas Monthly
Assignment: write 250-word critique of guest speaker.
MON NOV 9
Due: 250 word critique of guest speaker.
Class will be devoted to the discussion of the ethics of the journalism profession and how they apply to reporting and writing stories.
Reading assignment: Matt Taibbi’s “Inside the Great American Bubble Machine”
WED NOV 11
Discussion of reading assignment.
Students will bring in story ideas based on stories in the American Statesman, New York Times or other papers and be prepared to present them to the class.
Students will discuss problems they are having with the final story and solicit suggestions from other students on how to solve them.
MON NOV 16
Guest speaker: Senior Editor Kate Rodemann from Texas Monthly will talk about writing and editing.
WED NOV 18
Due: 250 word critique of guest speaker.
More discussion of student story proposals in class.
Reading assignment:
Several stories (TBA) by New Yorker writer Malcolm Gladwell
MON NOV 23
Discussion of Gladwell’s stories and why they are so different from the usual run of feature stories.
WED NOV 25
Fifth and final story due.
Students will present their stories to the class.
MON NOV 30
Students will continue to present their stories to the class.
WED DEC 2
Final class.