Blog #3: Finding Great Ideas

First, read "Finding Great Ideas." Your assignment is to go on another “journalistic walkabout” on the BYU campus and surrounding community. You should be getting used to these. Go explore something you have never seen before or visited. Talk to at least one person you have not previously met. Channel your inner Mike Kelly. Don’t come back until you have at least three good story ideas. I want you to write a 500-word blog about your experience. Use this blog to pitch your story ideas to us. And I want you to be prepared to share your ideas in class. We’re going to talk about them.

Due: Jan. 20 @ 5 p.m.

Blog #2: Avoiding Rookie Mistakes

OK, I’m sending you out on your first journalistic walkabout. This one will be relatively short. I want you to wander your neighborhood (or campus) until you observe a scene of some kind that might be of interest to your readers (yes, think like that). You are going to write the first three paragraphs of this story in two different ways: First, write it (three paragraphs worth) using as many clichés and trite phrases as you can work in. Next, write it again (three paragraphs worth), this time channeling your inner Gay Talese (or favorite writer of your choosing). Finally, give me a paragraph that tells me what you have learned about your own personal writing style from this assignment and how you can improve.

Due: Jan. 13 at 5 p.m.

Blog #1: Identifying Great Writing

Who is your favorite feature writer and why? I want you to write a 500-word blog that addresses this. Tell me about your favorite writer, his or her writing style. Why is this person your favorite? What is unique about his or her writing style? The types of stories he or she tells? Give an example or two from his or her writing and explain.

Due: January 11 @ 5 p.m.