BASIC CAMPUS JOURNALISM

An eight (8) week online course

News Writing, Feature Writing, Editorial/Opinion Writing, Editorial Cartooning and Literary Writing.

By

JENNIELOU G. PIGAO

I.

BASIC CAMPUS JOURNALISM

Course Description:
This eight (8) week course engages aspiring Campus Journalists in becoming skilled writers and
critics in the different areas of journalism for a variety of purposes. Their writings should make
them aware of their interactions among writing purposes and audience expectations as well as
the way generic conventions and the resources of language contribute to effectiveness in
journalism. Campus Journalists should be able to write effectively and confidently as writers
across their personal lives, to apply effective strategies and techniques in their own writings and
to demonstrate understanding and mastery of standard written English as well as stylistic
maturity in their own writings.

II.

Course Objectives
At the end of the eight (8) week online course, the students are able to:
1. Apply critical reading and thinking skills to the writing process through analyzing and reacting
on reading materials.
2. Follow the conventions of standard written English, in sentence structure, punctuation,
grammar and spelling.
3. Identify and develop styles appropriate to varied writing situations.
4. Analyze other writers motives in reasons for writing.
5. Relate writing motives to internal features of their texts including different genres and
expectations of different audience.
Syllabus in Basic Campus Journalism by Jennielou Pigao

6. Write well-organized articles with a firm thesis and a clear introduction, body and conclusion

III.

References

Cruz, Ceciliano- Jose B. Campus Journalism and School Paper Advising. Rex Book Store, 856
Nicanor Reyes St. Manila Philippines, 2000.
Malinao, Alito L. Journalism for Filipinos. National Book Store Inc., Mandaluyong, Philippines,
1991.
Malinao, Alito L. Campus and Community Journalism Hand Book. National Book Store Inc.,
Mandaluyong, Philippines, 2005.
Cruz, Ceciliano- Jose B. Advanced Campus Journalism. August 3, 2011
Ferguson, Donald L. Journalism Today. August 3, 2011

Syllabus in Basic Campus Journalism by Jennielou Pigao

TIME
FRAME

TOPIC
I.

Campus Journalism- A
Better Understanding
A. Definition of Campus
Journalism
B. Responsibilities of a
Campus Writer
C. The Dos and Donts in
Campus Journalism

OBJECTIVES

RELATED
LEARNING
ACTIVITY

At the end of the

lesson, the students
should be able to:

Quiz: ( Essay) Answer the

following questions in no
less than five sentences
to be posted on the online
class forum. (10 points
each)

1. Define Campus
Journalism.
2. Explain why a
Campus Journalist
should be
responsible in
his/her writings.

-Lecture
-Discussion
-Brainstorming

D. A review of the
Journalism Creed
E. Killing of Journalists/
Journalism issues

3. Enumerate the
different Dos and
Donts in Campus
Journalism.
4. Discuss the
Journalism Creed.

Reference:
Cruz, Ceciliano-Jose B. Advanced
Campus Journalism. August 3,
2011

5. Reflect on the
importance of
Campus
Journalism in the
society.
6. Describe the
qualities a

EVALUATION

-Reading
Assignment
-Criticizing an
article
-Library research

1. State and explain one

responsibility of a Campus
Journalist.
2. Define Campus
Journalism in your own
point of view.
3. Why do Campus
Journalists need to be
responsible in their
writings?
4. Do you believe in the
saying Pen is mightier
than sword? Explain.
5. In your own opinion,
why do journalists need to
stand for the sake of

Syllabus in Basic Campus Journalism by Jennielou Pigao

Campus Journalist
should possess.

justice and truth despite

personal threats?

7. Display interest in
writing as well as
criticizing an
article.

Syllabus in Basic Campus Journalism by Jennielou Pigao

II.

News Writing

At the end of the

lesson, the students
should be able to:

Write a news article

regarding the following
topics: ( 25 points
each)

A. What is News
Writing?
B. The pyramid structure
in News Writing
C. Types of News Writing

1. Explain the
importance of the
Pyramid Structure
in News Writing.

-Lecture

-Chinese
Celebration

New

Year

- Discussion
D. Simple vs. Obscure
Words

-Brainstorming
2. Analyze the
process in News
Writing through
using simple
words rather than
of obscure words.

- Review of news
articles
-Reporting
-Library research

Reference:
Cruz, Ceciliano-Jose B. Advanced
Campus Journalism. August 3,
2011

3. Write quality
news articles
observing the
rules In News
Writing.

-Justice
Coronas
Impeachment Trial

Criteria for grading:

Lead -10 points
Body
5 points
Conclusion 5 points
Title
-- 5 points
25 points

Syllabus in Basic Campus Journalism by Jennielou Pigao

III.

Feature Writing

At the end of the

lesson, the students
should be able to:

Write feature articles

regarding the following
topics: ( 50 points
each)

A. What is feature
writing?
1. My Favorite Teacher
B. Different kinds of
feature writing

1. Differentiate
feature writing
from other types
of writing

-Discussion
-Brainstorming

C. Rhetorical Acts for

Paragraph
Development
2. Reflect from other
feature writers
motives through
reading their
works.

- Reading
Assignment
-Reporting

2. My First Love

3. My first experience
to read a full novel
4. Am I Team Twilight
or Team Harry
Potter?

Criteria for grading:

Reference:
Cruz, Ceciliano-Jose B. Advanced
Campus Journalism. August 3,
2011

3. Write feature
articles from the
different types of
it.

Clarity of ideas
Conciseness
Grammar
Title

-- 15 pts
-- 15 pts
-- 15 pts
-- 5 pts
50 points

Syllabus in Basic Campus Journalism by Jennielou Pigao

IV.

Editorial/ Opinion
Writing
A. What is an editorial?
B. Parts of an Editorial
C. Different techniques
in writing an effective
editorial
D. Different types of
Editorial
E. Controversial Issues
in our Country

Reference:
Cruz, Ceciliano-Jose B. Advanced
Campus Journalism. August 3,
2011

At the end of
the lesson, the
students should be
able to:

The following topics are

the hottest issues in
our country nowadays.
Choose three topics
and write an opinion
article observing the
rules in opinion writing.
Make sure that your
title can catch your
readers interest. ( 50
points for each article)

1. Define the
different types of
an Editorial
2. Compare and
contrast Editorial
Writing from
Opinion Writing
3. Enumerate the
current issues
locally and
globally
4. Develop interest
in writing
opinionated
articles
expressing their
sides regarding a
certain topic
5. Write an effective
editorial/ opinion
article for
different
audiences
6. Compare their
ideas with other
peoples ideas by

-Brainstorming
Criticizing
articles
-Debate
- Discussion
-Reading
Assignment

1. Coronas
Impeachment
Trial
2. PGMAs
House/Hospital
Arrest
3. RamGen
Revillas Murder
4. SK Abolition
5. Underground
river as one of
the New Seven
Wonders of the
World
Criteria for grading:
Point of Argument --- 20
pts
Stand of the writer ---10
pts
Grammar and Spelling-10
pts
Lead
-- 5

Syllabus in Basic Campus Journalism by Jennielou Pigao

including counter
arguments and
acknowledging
multiple
perspectives on
any topic.

pts
Title
5 pts

-50
points

Syllabus in Basic Campus Journalism by Jennielou Pigao

V.

Editorial Cartooning

A. What is an editorial
cartooning?

B. Different symbols
used in Editorial
Cartooning

At the end of
the lesson, the
students should be
able to:
1. Explain the
importance of
editorial
cartooning in an
editorial page
2. Analyze the
cartoonists
motives in
drawing an
editorial cartoon
3. Consider their
audiences
expectations and
perspectives on
their drawings

Reference:
Cruz, Ceciliano-Jose B. Advanced
Campus Journalism. August 3,
2011

Draw an editorial
cartoon on the
following topics: ( 50
points)

-Lecture

1. Coronas
Impeachment

-Brainstorming
-Games

2. PGMAs hospital
arrest

-Discussion

3. SK Abolition

-Ed.Cartoon
review

4. Interpret the
messages of their
drawings

Criteria in grading:

5. Draw an editorial
cartoon regarding
issues governing
our society

Message
--- 30 points
Symbols
--- 10 points
Visual Impact 10 points
50 points

Syllabus in Basic Campus Journalism by Jennielou Pigao

VI.

Literary Writing
A. What is Literary?
B. Different literary
techniques/ devices
C. Short Story writing
D. Poem Writing
1. Haiku
2. Sonnet
3. Free verse

Reference:
Cruz, Ceciliano-Jose B. Advanced
Campus Journalism. August 3,
2011

At the end of
the lesson, the
students should be
able to:
1. Plan and carry
out multiple
stages in writing
short story from
drafting, revising
and writing the
final output
2. Enumerate the
different
techniques/
devices often
used in literary
writing
3. Relate their
motives to
internal features
of their texts
including content,
word choice,
structure, style
and approach to
their audience
4. Write effective
stories and poem
that can capture
the interest of
their readers

I. Write a story with no

less than 1000 words. It
could be a love, tragic,
drama, comedy or
horror story. ( 100
points)

-Discussion
-Lecture
-Brainstorming
-Games

Criteria for grading:

Originality
--50 pts
Grammar
--20 pts
Point of the story-20 pts
Title
--10 pts
100
points

-Movie review
-Book review
-Reading
assignment

II. Write a 15-stanza

free verse poem with
the topic of your choice
Criteria for grading:
Originality
--20 pts
Grammar
--10 pts
Point of the view-10 pts
Word choice
-- 5 pts
Title
--5 pts
50
points

Syllabus in Basic Campus Journalism by Jennielou Pigao

Syllabus in Basic Campus Journalism by Jennielou Pigao