Fall 2014
Journalism 332, Section 021
Sports Writing
Western Illinois University
Heating Plant Annex, Room 305
M, W, F - 1 p.m. to 1:50 p.m.
Instructor:
Email:
Office:
Mailbox:
Office Hours:
Richard Moreno, 309-298-1876, ex. 7
R-Moreno@wiu.edu
305 Heat Plant Annex (Western Courier Office)
Simpkins 122 (open M-F 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
Call to make an appointment – 298-1876, ext. 7
Course Description: This course is designed to develop your familiarity with and talent
in covering sports at all levels. You will be assigned a sports beat and expected to cover
that beat.
Required Book:
• The Essentials of Sports Reporting and Writing by Scott Reinardy and Wayne
Wanta, 2009, Routledge
Course Requirements:
I.
Assigned Readings: Students are required to read the assigned chapters from
the text prior to coming to class so they can actively participate in class
discussions. Class participation will be counted in determining the course
grade. Additional reading materials will be assigned from time to time.
II.
Main Writing Assignments: There will be four Main Writing Assignments
due during the course. The assignments will include: a Season Preview; a
Game Story; a Precede Story; and a Profile. They will be related to your beat.
(Each worth 25 points/Total of 100 points)
III.
In-Class Assignments: Periodically you will have in-class assignments,
including writing stories based on guest speaker presentations. (Total of 100
points)
IV.
Blog: You will set up a sports blog to cover your beat. You will be expected
to post on your blog a total of five entries related to your beat. (Total of 50
points)
V.
Final Paper: There will not be a final examination. Instead, you will write an
In-Depth Feature (1,500 to 3,000 words) that is due on December 12. I will
handout details about the final paper in early-November. (Final worth 100
points)
VI.
Attendance and Class Participation: In regards to Attendance, each
unexcused absence costs 5 points from your overall grade point total. Seek
“excused” status for any absences within a week of the absence. As far as
Class Participation, a total of 50 points will be awarded for participating in
class discussions, including discussing the assigned readings. (Total of 50
points)
These components total 400 points. Grades will be calculated by percentage using the
following scale:
A 92 percent or above
A- 89-91 percent
B+ 86-88 percent
B 82-85 percent
B- 79-81 percent
C+ 76-78 percent
C 72-75 percent
C- 69-71 percent
D+ 66-68 percent
D 62-65 percent
D- 59-61 percent
F 58 percent or less
368 points or above
356-367
344-355
328-343
316-327
304-315
288-303
276-287
264-275
248-263
236-247
235 or below
OTHER:
• Decorum—Students will use respectful classroom etiquette toward both the instructor
and your classmates.
• Cheating and Plagiarism—Plagiarism will not be tolerated in this course. Any student
caught plagiarizing will receive an automatic “0” on that assignment. Plagiarism is
defined as the use of another’s ideas, data, and statements with little or no
acknowledgement. Additionally, it is not acceptable to turn-in an assignment completed
for another course. For more details, please read the “Academic Integrity” policy at
www.wiu.edu/provost/student.
• Useful Resources:
University Writing Centers:
Malpass Library
3rd Floor, West Side
Open Monday-Friday 9
a.m. to 4 p.m.
309-298-2815
mwcenter@wiu.edu
Simpkins Hall, Room 25
Open Monday-Friday 10
a.m. to 3 p.m.
(Walk-ins Welcome)
309-298-3512
• Assistance
Students with special learning needs requiring pedagogical accommodation should let me
know as soon as possible. The University’s policy is that, in accordance with the
Americans with Disabilities Act, academic accommodations may be made for any student
who notifies the instructor of the need for an accommodation. It is imperative that the
student takes the initiative to bring such needs to the instructor’s attention, as he is not
legally permitted to inquire about such particular needs of students. Students who may
require special assistance in emergency evacuations (i.e. fire, tornado, etc.) should
contact the instructor as to the most appropriate procedures to follow in such an
emergency. Contact Disability Support Services at 298-2512 for additional services.
Web address for student rights & responsibilities:
(http://www.wiu.edu/provost/students.php)
Web address for Academic Integrity Policy:
(http://www.wiu.edu/policies/acintegrity.php)
About the Instructor:
I am the Adviser to the Western Courier and Director of Student Publications. If you’re a
Journalism major/minor (or even if you’re not), you should think seriously about writing
for the Courier. I also serve as the Adviser to Western Illinois Magazine, a student-run
twice-annual general interest magazine. You should be working for one or the other if
you are serious about writing.
Prior to coming to Western in 2006, I worked for 14 years as the Publisher/Editor of
Nevada Magazine, a bimonthly travel and tourism publication. From 2004 to 2006, I
taught Travel Journalism at the Donald Reynolds School of Journalism at the University
of Nevada, Reno.
Additional Background:
• I am the author of twelve non-fiction travel and/or history books including “The
Roadside History of Nevada,” “A Short History of Carson City, Nevada,” and “Illinois
Curiosities.” My newest book, “Myths and Mysteries of Illinois,” was published last
August.
• In 2007, I was honored with the Nevada Writers Hall of Fame’s “Silver Pen Award.”
• From 1985 to 1992, I was Director of Advertising and Public Relations for the Nevada
Commission on Tourism and created the “I Survived Highway 50, the Loneliest Road in
America” promotion, which was awarded best state tourism public relations campaign by
the National Council of State Travel Directors.
• From 1980 to 1985, I worked as a reporter at several newspapers including the Reno
Gazette-Journal, the Davis Enterprise and the Montclarion in Oakland. Calif. I also
wrote a travel-history column for more than two decades for several Nevada newspapers.
• I have a master’s degree (M.S). in journalism from Columbia University’s Graduate
School of Journalism in New York and an undergraduate degree in political science from
the University of California at Davis.