CJ429 Journalism Capstone
Reading Groups
Your Job: Generate and contribute to discussion regarding
themes found in your text, “Journalism: The Democratic Craft,”
edited by G. Stuart Adam and Roy Peter Clark.
Purpose: To help you make connections between themes raised in the text and your
role as a news professional, media consumer and private citizen.
Scope: You will participate weekly in a small group discussion of the reading selection.
As time allows, we will have all-class discussion as well. You will submit a portion of your
response to readings online.
Format: Chapter assignments and discussion dates can be found in your syllabus. You
will be expected to generate questions. Each week you will be assigned a different
discussion role including literary luminary, discussion director, and content connector.
Individual handouts detailing each role will be available in D2L.
Due Date: Consult Reading Schedule.
Evaluation: The Reading Discussions are worth 15 percent of your final grade.
Discussion sessions offer 10 points. 9-10 = A; 8 = B; 7 = C; 6 = D; 5 = F.
The following elements may be used to evaluate your participation:
 Is the student prepared for discussion?
 Does the student use the text effectively to share passages? Support
ideas/opinions?
 Does the student listen actively to others?
 Does the student ask relevant questions?
 Do the questions get a thoughtful response? Which are most effective?
 Does the student contribute thoughtful ideas?
 Does the student build on other people’s comments?
 Does the student keep the group on task?
 Does the student make appropriate personal connections to his/her life?
 Does the student make appropriate connections to other books, authors and
experiences?
 Does the student demonstrate critical thinking skills when discussing concepts?
Note: If you are not present in class on the day of discussion, you cannot earn reading
points. University sanctioned absences are the exception. In that case, your online
submissions will be used to determine points.