Sports Writing
ENGL/MCOM 0395

Professor Henry Wefing
Office: E316H (Off the temporary Mac lab)
Office Hours: MWF, 10:30-11:30; Also by appointment
Phone and voice mail: 572-5754
E-mail: hwefing@wsc.ma.edu;
Web page: http://geocities.datacellar.net/henrywefing/Index.htm

TEXTS
Conrad C. Fink. Sports Writing: The Lively Game. Iowa State University Press, 2001. (Required)
The Associate Press Stylebook (Recommended)

DESCRIPTION
This course will introduce students to the basics of reporting on sports. Students will write hard-new stories on games and other sporting events and feature stories on people and issues involved in sports. They will also read examples of professional sports writing in newspapers, magazines, and books.

POLICIES
1. It's clear that no one could work as a sports writer without meeting deadlines. I'll expect you to meet deadlines for assignments and penalize you if you don't.
2. I think it's important that you attend class regularly. You'll be penalized for missing more than two classes.
3. Using the computers for anything not related to sports writing distracts me and your fellow students. I'll insist that you avoid the temptation to check your e-mail or otherwise employ the computers inappropriately.

GRADES
We'll have weekly quizzes on the reading, a number of stories, and a midterm and a final. Here, tentatively, is a rundown of how your grades will be determined:

Quizzes: 15 percent
Midterm: 20 percent
Final: 25 percent
Stories: 40 percent
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