Course Form
(revised 5/1/12)
(Instructions: http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/documents/forms/courseform_instructionsX.aspx
)
I. Summary of Proposed Changes
Dept / Program Journalism JRNL 592-01
Course Title
Please check one or more of the following:
Independent Study: Feature
 New course  Delete course
Course Changes

Course Title

Description

Learning Outcomes
 Prerequisites  Cross-listing  Other

Credits from _________ to________
 Number / Level from _________ to________
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Repeatability from _________ to________
Justification / explanation (required for ALL proposals) For new courses please provide rationale for why the course is needed, how it fits with exiting curriculum and whether there are curricular adjustments.
This Independent Study allows journalism graduate students to, on an individualized basis, hone their featurewriting skills if essential to their Master’s work. By enrolling in the section, they will gain access to lectures and instruction in JRNL 362 (Feature Writing), while also receiving special face-time (e.g. story critiques; publication advice) with the instructors. The assignments for the course will focus on their area of expertise, namely, environmental science and natural resource issues.
Has the Department gone through common course Review?  Yes  No  In process
II. Syllabus/Assessment Information
Required for new courses, learning outcome changes and course change from U to UG .
and
Attach syllabus at the end of the document .
III. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature Date Approve
Requestor:
Phone/ email :
Program Chair(s)/Director:
Dean(s):
Henriette
Lowisch henriette.lowisch
@mso.umt.edu
Henriette
Lowisch
Denise Dowling


Yes
Yes


No
No
All other affected programs: None
Are other departments/programs affected by this modification because of
(a) required courses incl. prerequisites or corequisites,
(b) perceived overlap in content areas
(c) cross-listing of coursework
Signatory Comments (required for disapproval):

Yes

No

Yes

No
Please obtain signature(s) from the
Chair/Director of any such department/ program
(above) before submission

IV: To Add a New Course S yllabus and assessment information is required ( paste syllabus into section V or attach). Course should have internal coherence and clear focus.
Common Course Numbering Review (Department Chair Must Initial) :
Does an equivalent course exist elsewhere in the MUS? Check all relevant disciplines if course is interdisciplinary. ( http://www.mus.edu/Qtools/CCN/ccn_default.asp
)
YES NO

If YES: Do the proposed abbreviation, number, title and credits align with existing course(s)? Please indicate equivalent course/campus.

If NO: Course may be unique, but is subject to common course review. The course number may be changed at the system level.
Short Title (max. 26 characters incl. spaces) Independent Study: Feature
Exact entry to appear in the next catalog (Specify course abbreviation, level, number, title, credits, repeatability (if applicable), frequency of offering, prerequisites, and a brief description.)

JRNL 592-01 Independent Study: Feature 3 cr. Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., graduate standing and
C/I. Instruction and practical experience in applying feature-writing techniques to the coverage of news for print and electronic media. Students desiring to hone their feature writing skills will attend lectures and reviews in JRNL 362, and expand upon this base through assignments specific to environmental science and natural resource issues.
Complete for UG courses (UG courses should be assigned a 400 number).
Describe graduate increment - see procedure 301.30 http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/procedures/default.aspx
Complete for Co-convened courses
Companion course number, title, and description (include syllabus of companion course in section V)
See procedure 301.20
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/procedures/default.aspx
New fees and changes to existing fees are only approved once each biennium by the
Board of Regents. The coordination of fee submission is administered by
Administration and Finance. Fees may be requested only for courses meeting specific conditions according to Policy 940.12.1 http://mus.edu/borpol/bor900/940-12-1.pdf
.
Please indicate whether this course will be considered for a fee.
If YES, what is the proposed amount of the fee?
Justification:
YES NO

V. Change an Existing Course
1. Current course information at it appears in catalog
( http://www.umt.edu/catalog )

2. Full and exact entry (as proposed)
3. If cross-listed course: secondary program & course number
4. Is this a course with MUS Common Course Numbering? http://www.mus.edu/Qtools/CCN/ccn_default.asp
If yes, please explain below whether the change will eliminate the common course status.

YES NO
5. If co-convened course: companion course number, title, and description
(include syllabus of companion course in section V) See procedure 301.20 http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/procedures/default.aspx
6. Graduate increment if level of course is changed to UG.
Reference procedure 301.30:
Have you reviewed the graduate increment guidelines? Please check (X)

http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/procedures/default.aspx
(syllabus must be attached)
7. Other programs affected by the change space provided.
8. Is there a fee associated with the course?
VI Department Summary
(Required if several forms are submitted) In a separate document list course number, title, and proposed change for all proposals.
VII Copies and Electronic Submission.
After approval, submit original, one copy, summary of proposals and electronic file to the Faculty Senate Office, UH 221, camie.foos@mso.umt.edu.
Prof. Henriette Lowisch
Don Anderson Hall 431
(406) 243-2227
Office hours: TW 1:30-3:30 p.m. and by appointment
Henriette.Lowisch@umontana.edu
The Point
Features tell the stories behind and beyond the news. Like all forms of journalism, they require accuracy, clarity and judgment. But feature writers also use voice, pacing, tone, mood, narrative and dialogue to effectively engage, entertain and enlighten audiences.
Through this independent study course, graduate students wishing to further develop their long-form storytelling skills will become better writers by reporting numerous features, with editing to focus on detail, storytelling and style. They will cover the human side of environmental science and natural resource issues. They will also learn from masters of the craft, by reading and critically evaluating their work.
The Theme
As a student enrolled in J592-01, you will participate in lecture and critique sessions of J315 Feature
Writing. This upper-division skills class revolves around a theme that changes from year to year. Former class themes have been ‘Night Vision’ and ‘Trespass.’ Stories of publishable quality are routinely featured in the Montana Kaimin.
Graduate students taking J592-01 will not be bound to the J315 theme in pursuing story ideas. They will meet separately with the instructor every other week (time TBD), for an in-depth critique and discussion of story ideas and publication venues.
The Works
In addition to giving you the opportunity to build your portfolio, this course will help you become a better feature writer in three ways: o You will do more long-form writing in a short time span than you can imagine. o You will receive close and detailed feedback from a professional editor - me. o You will learn from master feature writers by reflecting on their secrets.
Story assignments
Your writing will improve with feedback and practice. Expect to write a draft or pitch a week, resulting in
six story assignments for this class.
Each story must be based on a minimum of three sources, two of which must be 'live' sources, while the third can be a set of data, a court record or historical material.
You will do one mandatory rewrite for each story. A written pitch must be submitted for Story 5 and 6. In addition, you may submit a third draft of one story of your own choice.

Feel free in your choice of story ideas, as long as they’re fresh and fit the theme. You’re also expected to cover a variety of subgenres: news feature, reportage, trend, profile, service. Clear each story idea with me, to avoid having several people working the same angle. First come, first serve.
For the purposes of this class, consider yourselves professionals and act accordingly. Note contact data
(phone or e-mail) for each source you use. Also, every time you submit a story, suggest a headline, links, illustrations or multimedia elements.
To ensure that you get all the feedback you pay for and to avoid ruining your grade, use the checklist for
submitting stories at the end of this syllabus.
Reading assignments
To grow as a writer, you must read. If you do not read, you will not grow as a writer.
That's why much of class time will be devoted to hearing about the best feature writers around. You will contribute by delivering a short presentation on a favorite author. o Select a feature writer for your class presentation: This must be a journalist whose work is primarily published in newspapers or on the Web. o Print out and read at least three signature stories penned by that author. o Report the writer's background and where he/she publishes his/her work. o Discover the writer's secret. o Prepare to read an excerpt of his/her work aloud in class.
Grading
Story assignments: 60 percent
Pitches: 10 percent
Class presentation: 15 percent
Discussion: 15 percent
Professionalism
To learn is your responsibility. It is imperative that you follow all instructions closely and completely.
Otherwise, you risk squandering the opportunities this course affords. o Don't be late. Class doesn't start at 11:11 a.m. It starts at 11:10 a.m. o Notify me in advance if you are ill or need to miss a class for other valid reasons. o You are granted one free absence, as long as you notify me ahead of time. o To act professionally at all times will positively affect your final grade. o Unexcused absences and late shows will negatively affect your final grade. o Missing one third of classes will automatically result in failing the course.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the semester, successful students will: o Write feature stories of publishable quality in a variety of formats. o Develop their eye for detail and their command of language and style. o Seek out diverse sources and learn how to interact with them. o Improve their capacity to build captivating stories, from lead to kicker. o Hone their ability to work on deadline for a "live" Web publication. o Practice developing story ideas appropriate to target audiences.
After Hours Access
For after hours access to Don Anderson Hall, complete and submit this form online: http://jour.umt.edu/after-hours/ by Friday, Feb. 3. Complete only one request form per semester – be sure to list all courses you are taking. Codes will remain active until the last day of the semester.

Academic Honesty
All students must practice academic honesty. Academic misconduct is subject to an academic penalty by the course instructor and/or a disciplinary sanction by the University. All students need to be familiar with the Student Conduct Code. The Code is available for review at http://life.umt.edu/vpsa/student_conduct.php
Same Work for Multiple Classes in J-School
You may not submit for this course any assignment that has previously or will be concurrently submitted for another class, unless you receive prior approval from the professor for this course. To do so without permission will result in an "F" for the assignment, and could result in an "F" for the course.
Accommodation for Students with Disabilities
This course is accessible to otherwise qualified students with disabilities. To request reasonable program modifications, please consult with the instructor. Disability Services for Students will assist the instructor and student in the accommodation process. For more information, visit http://life.umt.edu/dss .
Submission Checklist
 All assignments must be submitted to Henriette.Lowisch@umontana.edu
via e-mail, as an attached document file ending .doc or .docx.
 You must also hand me a hard copy or leave it in my mailbox in DAH 416.
 Meet deadlines to the minute. I will deduct points for late entries, and you won't get feedback on late assignments.
 Don’t forget to submit contact information for sources with each draft. Without the ability to factcheck, I can give you no feedback.
 Include a proposed headline and your byline.
 Failure to complete an assignment will result in an "F" for that assignment. There will be no makeup assignments to erase that “F.”
Tentative Deadline Schedule (Spring 2012)
Story 1, first draft: Jan. 27, noon.
Story 1, second draft: Feb. 3, noon.
Story 2, first draft: Feb. 10, noon.
Story 2, second draft: Feb. 17, noon.
Story 3, first draft: Feb. 24, noon.
Story 3, second draft: March 2, noon.
Story 4, first draft: March 9, noon.
Story 4, second draft: March 16, noon.
Story 5, written pitch: March 23, noon.
Story 5, first draft: March 30, noon.
Story 5, second draft: April 13, noon.
Story 6, written pitch: April 16, 11:00 a.m.
Story 6, first draft: April 20, noon.
Story 6, second draft: April 27, noon.

Third draft, story of choice: May 4, noon.
Award-Winning Feature Writers
Moni Basu, CNN Wire
Dan Barry, The New York Times
Tony Bartelme, The Post and Courier
DeNeen Brown, The Washington Post
Tim Carman, Washington City Paper
Jo Ciavaglia, Bucks County Courier-Times
Thomas Curwen, LA Times
Lane DeGregory, Tampa Bay Times
Andrea Elliott, The New York Times
Christopher Goffard, LA Times
Tom Hallman Jr., The Oregonian
Lee Hancock, Dallas Morning News
Kate Harding, Salon.com
Mark Johnson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Julia Keller, Chicago Tribune
Colleen Kenney, Lincoln Journal Star
Meg Laughlin, St Petersburg Times
Thomas Maier, Newsday
Amy Ellis Nutt, The Star-Ledger
Gene Weingarten, The Washington Post
Roy Wenzl, Wichita Eagle