Name: __________________________
Date: ___________________
Journalism 2015 Midterm Exam Study Guide
JOURNALISM I
Date of Exam: ______________________________________
Your midterm exam will cover the following:
 Constitution Day/First Amendment PowerPoint and Notes
 Journalism Boot Camp packet
 Modified AP Style (Parts I and II)
 SASsy Journalism PowerPoint and Notes
Sections to be included on your midterm exam:
 Matching.
 Fill in the blank with a word or phrase.
 Short answer.
 Correct the sentences for grammar and modified AP style.
 Read the article and respond to the following questions.
 Essay
THE ESSAY INSTRUCTIONS AS THEY APPEAR ON THE EXAM:
Write a well-developed essay of five paragraphs in response to the following essay
prompt. You will be graded on how well you articulate your ideas and how well you are
able to connect them to your work on “The Lighthouse.” You are encouraged to reference
any content from journalism class as well as your own experiences working as a student
journalist.
ESSAY PROMPT:
Consider your experiences as a student journalist on the staff of “The
Lighthouse.” What specific goals do you have for yourself, your editing team
and/or the entire staff to improve accuracy, balance and objectivity (the three
components of the “credibility formula”) for the student newspaper? In other
words, how can “The Lighthouse” become a stronger newspaper with regard to
accuracy, balance and objectivity? Outline a specific plan and put forth
innovative, yet realistic, proposals.
Remember: This is formal writing. You may utilize the first person perspective, but DO
NOT use contractions, “thing” words, cliché statements or rhetorical questions.
You may use the space below to plan your essay. The rubric is located on the opposite
side of this paper for your reference.
1
2015 MIDTERM EXAM ESSAY RUBRIC
Element
1. Basic
Requirements
Requirements
-- The essay is five paragraphs in length.
-- The essay clearly addresses the essay prompt.
-- Paragraphs begin with indentations.
2. Organization -- The last sentence of your introductory paragraph is a
clear (preferably three, or more, pronged) thesis statement.
-- Each body paragraph begins with a clear topic sentence.
-- Information and assertions are presented in a logical
order.
-- Every argument is bolstered by well-reasoned supporting
3. Supporting
evidence from journalism class or personal experiences.
Details
-- Supporting evidence is specific and factually correct.
-- The writing style is formal. Therefore, there are no
4. Writing
contractions, “thing” words, cliché statements or rhetorical
Fluency
questions.
-- Word choice is effective and appropriate.
-- There are no run-on sentences or sentence fragments.
-- Transitional words and phrases are incorporated
throughout.
-- Arguments and ideas go beyond the obvious.
5. Higher
-The student’s arguments are sophisticated.
Level
-- The student’s arguments evidence critical thinking.
Thinking
-- The student connects the material in this unit to the
world, other “texts” and/or his/her personal experiences.
-The writer has edited carefully for errors in spelling,
6. Mechanics
capitalization, punctuation and grammar.
Comments
Score (1-5)
x 1.5=
2
Name: __________________________
Date: ___________________
Journalism 2015 Midterm Exam Study Guide
JOURNALISM II-IV
Date of Exam: ______________________________________
Your midterm exam will cover the following:
 Constitution Day/First Amendment PowerPoint and Notes
 Journalism Boot Camp packet
 Modified AP Style (Parts I and II)
 SASsy Journalism PowerPoint and Notes
Sections to be included on your midterm exam:
 Matching.
 Fill in the blank with a word or phrase.
 Short answer.
 Correct the sentences for grammar and modified AP style.
 Read the article and respond to the following questions.
 Essay
THE ESSAY INSTRUCTIONS AS THEY APPEAR ON THE EXAM:
Write a well-developed essay of five paragraphs in response to the following essay prompt. You will be graded on
how well you articulate your ideas and how well you are able to connect them to your work on “The Lighthouse.”
You are encouraged to reference any content from journalism class as well as your own experiences working as a
student journalist.
ESSAY PROMPT:
In a 1989 book entitled “Editing for Today’s Newsrooms,” Author Carl Sessions Stepp observes that journalists
are generally rewarded for their good work by being promoted to management roles as editors. Stepp asserts that,
unfortunately, the training for editors is very poor. In his book, he writes:
“Too many editors are forced to learn on the job, relying on hunch and guesswork, rather than proper
preparation.”
He follows up with this statement in an article in a May 2014 article published in the “American Journalism
Review,” in which he writes:
“Too often we treat editing as if it were intuitive work that a bright person can quickly master. It isn’t. Managing
people and overseeing news quality require skills, finesse, experience and competencies that few of us have
automatically and that journalism doesn’t naturally develop.”
Consider your experiences and observations as a veteran journalist or editor on the staff of “The Lighthouse.”
Then, write an essay in which you respond to the following question:
How can “The Lighthouse” help its editors and veteran staff members to be successful leaders? In other
words, what lessons, skills, or experiences do you (or your veteran teammates) need in order to thrive as
leaders at “The Lighthouse”? Be specific, honest and realistic in your observations and proposals.
Remember: This is formal writing. You may utilize the first person perspective, but DO NOT use contractions,
“thing” words, cliché statements or rhetorical questions.
You may use the space below to plan your essay. The rubric is located on the opposite side of this paper for your
reference.
3
2015 MIDTERM EXAM ESSAY RUBRIC
Element
1. Basic
Requirements
Requirements
-- The essay is five paragraphs in length.
-- The essay clearly addresses the essay prompt.
-- Paragraphs begin with indentations.
2. Organization -- The last sentence of your introductory paragraph is a
clear (preferably three, or more, pronged) thesis statement.
-- Each body paragraph begins with a clear topic sentence.
-- Information and assertions are presented in a logical
order.
-- Every argument is bolstered by well-reasoned supporting
3. Supporting
evidence from journalism class or personal experiences.
Details
-- Supporting evidence is specific and factually correct.
-- The writing style is formal. Therefore, there are no
4. Writing
contractions, “thing” words, cliché statements or rhetorical
Fluency
questions.
-- Word choice is effective and appropriate.
-- There are no run-on sentences or sentence fragments.
-- Transitional words and phrases are incorporated
throughout.
-- Arguments and ideas go beyond the obvious.
5. Higher
-The student’s arguments are sophisticated.
Level
-- The student’s arguments evidence critical thinking.
Thinking
-- The student connects the material in this unit to the
world, other “texts” and/or his/her personal experiences.
-The writer has edited carefully for errors in spelling,
6. Mechanics
capitalization, punctuation and grammar.
Comments
Score (1-5)
x 1.5=
4