JOURNALISM

Course Syllabus: 2020-21 School year

Mission: The mission of the Harts Bluff Early College High School is to create students who become part of something bigger by providing a rigorous, innovative, and supportive learning experience.

 Vision: Provide the foundation for students to be big thinkers by giving them the hope and power to shape their lives and impact their family, the community, and the world in a positive way.

Instructor: Tracy Farr

Room: 433 or Media Center

Phone: The school number is 903-577-1146. 

Email: farr@hbisd.net

Office Hours: Tuesday and Friday, 7:30-7:50 a.m.

This syllabus serves as the documentation for all course policies and requirements, assignments, and instructor/student responsibilities.

Information relative to the delivery of the content contained in this syllabus is subject to change. Should that happen, the student will be notified.

Course Description: Students learn the basics of journalism principles through newspaper reporting and creating content for the yearbook.

Prerequisite(s): None

Student Learning Outcomes: Become competent creators of content suitable for publication in a variety of media. 

Evaluation/Grading Policy:   Daily Grades 40%, Test grades 60%. Daily grades will be based on participation and journal writing. Test grades will be based on the ability to apply certain journalism skills and concepts.  

Students will take at least 3 tests per 9 week grading period.  Tests will account for 60% of a student’s grade.  All tests will be graded by the teacher.  Peer grading/reviewing will not be used for summative assessment.

Within three days of the receipt of a failing test grade, students may request an opportunity to improve their grade.  Students will have no more than two opportunities to improve their grade. 

Daily work will account for 40% of a student’s grade. Within three days of the receipt of a failing daily work grade, students may request an opportunity to improve their grade.  The type of opportunity (correction, redo, alternate assignment) is at the teacher’s discretion.

Required Instructional Materials: MacBook, Internet access, camera or cell phone.

Optional Instructional Materials: None

Minimum Technology Requirements: None

Required Computer Literacy Skills: None

Course Structure and Overview:

Students will learn writing and photography concepts in order to create publishable works.

Communications: School email with 24-hour turnaround

Institutional/Course Policy: To be determined

Northeast Texas Community College and Harts Bluff Early College High School Academic Honesty/Ethics Statement:

NTCC and HBECHS uphold the highest standards of academic integrity. The college and high school expect all students to engage in their academic pursuits in an honest manner that is beyond reproach using their intellect and resources designated as allowable by the course instructor. Students are responsible for addressing questions about allowable resources with the course instructor. Academic dishonesty such as cheating, plagiarism, and collusion is unacceptable and may result in disciplinary action. 

ADA Statement:

For those students who are having difficulty in the regular classroom, all school districts must consider tutorial, compensatory, and other academic or behavior support services that are available to all students, including a process based on Response to Intervention (RtI). The implementation of RtI has the potential to have a positive impact on the ability of districts to meet the needs of all struggling students.

If a student is experiencing learning difficulties, his or her parent may contact the students instructor to learn about the school’s overall general education referral or screening system for support services.

This system links students to a variety of support options, including making a referral for a special education evaluation or for a Section 504 evaluation to determine whether the student needs specific aids, accommodations, or services. A parent may request an evaluation for special education or Section 504 services at any time.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA): 

Refers to the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, which grants specific privacy protections to student records. The law contains certain exceptions, such as for directory information, unless a student’s parent or a student 18 or older directs the school not to release directory information.

Non-Discrimination Statement

The Harts Bluff Independent School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, gender, national origin, religion or disability in educational programs, admissions / enrollment decisions or activities which it operates, as required by Title II, Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504.

Tentative Course Timeline (*note* instructor reserves the right to make adjustments to this timeline at any point in the term): To be determined.