UNIVERSITY OF GUAM – UNIBETSIDAT GUAHAN

COURSE OUTLINE

Course Number: CO 227 College (or sponsoring Unit): CAS/Communication

Course Title: Writing for Radio and Television Credit Hours: 3

Date of Final Approval: Semester Offered: Fall

Course counts as: [ ] general education requirement

[ x ] part of Communication major program

[ x ] elective

1. CATALOG DESCRIPTION:

This course covers basic theory and practice of writing radio and television scripts, including documentary drama, and advertising copywriting.

2. COURSE CONTENT:

This course introduces the student to the unique requirements of writing for radio and television. Students learn the technical standards required for writing radio and television scripts. Students also learn how to employ the elements characteristic of each area of writing: sound effects, music, continuity, mood, pace, etc.

3. RATIONALE FOR THE COURSE:

The course is a required course of anyone majoring in the field of mass communication/broadcasting. Radio-Television writing is unlike any other type of writing and requires specific skills and abilities.

4. SKILLS AND BACKGROUND REQUIRED OR EXPECTED:

Students are expected to have passed EN110 requirements.

5. TEACHING METHODOLOGIES AND ANTICIPATED CLASS SIZE:

The methodology is one of lectures and writing projects which will be critiqued and discussed enmasse. The anticipated class size is 24.

6. ADDITIONAL COURSE DESCRIPTORS:

This course is intended for serious radio-television students, or for those who have an interest in public-relations and business. Some teachers might be interested in employing elements of this course in their student projects or reports.

7. LEARNING OBJECTIVES FOR STUDENTS:

Student are to become aware of the specific requirements of Radio-Television writing. Students will develop the ability to create scripts in several Radio-Television script formats.

8. METHODS OF EVALUATION:

Students will be evaluated on the basis of the performance on tests, quizzes and individual writing project.

9. REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED TEXTS AND/OR STUDY GUIDES:

“Broadcast Copywriting”, 3^rd edition

by Peter B. Orlik

10. SUBSEQUENT COURSES:

This course is an ideal preparation for any other course in the broadcast core:

CO106, CO226, CO230, CO236, CO336, CO286, CO386 and CO426. This course is also valuable for anyone majoring in Public Relations or Journalism.

THE CALENDAR OF ASSIGNMENTS, ATTENDANCE AND GRADING POLICIES ARE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE COURSE SYLLABUS.

CO-227 Writing for Radio and TV

Class Meets: Tue/Thur 12:30-13:50am --- E/C – 110

Textbook: Peter B. Orlick, Broadcast/Cable Copywriting, 6^th Edition

Instructor: T. Howe Email: lianz@kuentos.guam.net

Office Phone: 735-2701 Office: E/C -- 213-A

This course is designed to train students in the various elements of writing for broadcast situations. Students will be expected to write scripts in appropriate formats, using broadcast notation, on deadline. Students will develop a portfolio of work that will be refined throughout the semester. This will be accomplished through a series of individual conferences and assigned rewrites. Prerequisite: CO-106

Policies and Procedures:

1. Students are expected to develop their own portfolios, and to present them to the instructor at various times during the semester.

2. Timeliness and dependability are of extreme importance when working in professional groups. Tardiness and absences will result in lower grades.

3. Assigned readings should be read prior to class discussion.

4. All writing assignments must be submitted in double spaced, typewritten form.

5. It is the student’s responsibility to arrange individual conferences with the professor -- a minimum of three times during the semester.

6. Deadlines are an inescapable component of broadcast writing. Writing projects must be completed on time. Credit will be deducted for each late day.

7. Plagiarism in the writing profession is a criminal offence and will not be tolerated. Students will be asked to testify to the originality of their work.

Grading:

Class Participation 10pts A = 90-100

Business Writing Samples 15pts B = 80-89

Radio Scripts 15pts C = 70-79

TV Scripts 15pts D = 60-69

Long-format Script 15pts F = 0-59

Exam One 15pts

Exam Two 15pts

TOTAL 100pts

CO-227 Writing for Radio & TV

SPRING 1999 CALENDAR

Jan. 21 Introductions

Jan. 26 & 28 Business Writing

Feb. 2 & 4 Chapters 1 & 2: Marketplace & Process

Feb. 9 & 11 Chapters 3 & 4: Tools & Attractions

{ Business Writing Due: Thur., Feb. 11 }

Feb. 16 & 18 Chapters 5 & 6: Audience & CDVP

Feb. 23 & 25 Chapters 7 & 8: Radio Commercials

Mar. 2 & 4 Chapter 9: Radio Promos, etc.

{ Radio Scripts Due: Thur., Mar. 4 }

Mar. 11 Exam One (in-class)

Individual Conferences: sign-up

Mar. 16 & 18 Chapters 10 & 11: TV Commercials

Mar. 24 & 26 Chapter 12: TV Promos, etc.

{ TV Scripts Due: Thur., March 26 }

Mar. 30 & 1 no classes - Easter break

Apr. 6 & 8 Individual Conferences: sign-up

Apr. 13 & 15 Chapter 13 & 14: Campaigns

Apr. 20 & 22 Class Handouts: Long Formats

{ Rewrites Due: Thur., April 22 }

Apr. 27 & 29 Class Handouts: Long Formats

{ Long Format Scripts Due: Thur., April 29 }

May 4 & 6 Individual Conferences: sign-up

May. 11 & 13 Individual Conferences: sign-up

{ Exam Two Due: Thur., May 13 }

CO-227 Writing for Radio & TV

Spring 1999

Assignment Deadlines

Business Writing Samples DUE: Feb. 11

Memorandum

Letter

Radio Scripts DUE: March 4

Radio Commercials

Radio Promos

Radio Shared Ids

Exam One (in-class) March 11

TV Scripts DUE: March 26

TV Commercials

TV Promos

TV Shared IDs

Required Rewrites DUE: April 22

Long-format Scripts DUE: April 29

Radio, TV or video program