Journalism 419: Food Writing
Syllabus
Class description
In this workshop, we’ll look at the many options available to a budding food writer, everything from a business story on the trade practices of Trader Joe’s to a profile of an eccentric “fruit detective,” from an investigative piece into the overfishing of tuna to an essay on the power of an orange to redeem. Each student will identify, report and write several smaller pieces and one long piece. These may include journalistic features/profiles, news stories, essays and reviews. Guests (in person and by Skype) will include a cookbook author, a magazine editor and a handful of food writers.
Goals for the course
By the end of this course, you should have developed the skills necessary to find, report and write compelling stories about food. You will have several stories/essays written and edited, and you will pitch that story to at least one editor at an appropriate publication.
Topics covered in this course
Reporting with the senses; structuring a feature/essay/review; revising a piece of short food-related nonfiction; writing and editing recipes; the ethics of food blogging and restaurant reviewing; writing a pitch letter.
A note on attendance
Since we meet only 12 times, attendance is crucial. Nearly every class will involve some workshop component, and we’ll have frequent guest speakers who, I hope, will help you develop as a writer. Therefore, any absence not cleared with me ahead of time or accompanied with a verifiably dire excuse after the fact (see below for what does and doesn’t qualify as “verifiably dire”) will bring your final grade down half a letter grade.
What you’ll need to succeed in this course
I’ll supply all reading materials as hard-copy handouts in class or as links on the class blog. So the only the things you’ll need are:
- A commitment to practice good, ethical journalism (see SPJ Code of Ethics)
- An interest in food
- A willingness to share your writing and to give and accept constructive criticism
- A red pen, a pencil and a notebook
- A Google/Gmail account
- Your Action Card or a print card, with cash on it
Breakdown of your final grade in this class
Your final grade in this class will be determined as follows:
Contributions to class blog 10%
In-class participation, assignments 15%
Short stories on deadline 40%
Long story on deadline 35%
All assignments are graded on a percentage basis. You start with a 100, and points are taken off for technical errors, gaps in narrative, inaccuracies, poorly sourced facts and so on. For some homework and in-class assignments, I’ll give a letter grade rather than a number grade, as errors and problems have to be judged within a score range rather than a specific number.
Grading scale
Letter grades match number grades as follows:
A+ = 97-100, A = 93-96, A- = 90-92
B+ = 87-89, B = 83-86, B- = 80-82
C+ = 77-79, C = 73-76, C- = 70-72
D+ = 67-69, D = 63-66, D- = 60-62
F = 59 or lower. (If you’re given only a letter grade “F,” this will be calculated as a 55.)
A note about the grade requirement
Students must earn a “C” or better in all required and elective courses in the major. A “C” or better is required in all external courses required by the major whether they serve as a prerequisite to a major or are simply required by the major. This means a “C” of any kind. The College of Communication & Information Sciences requires that all students enrolled in upper division courses (300/400 level) have a 2.0 GPA overall. Students who do not have a 2.0 may be administratively disenrolled on or before the first day of classes.
Class policies: Absences and tardiness
- If you do not attend the first two meetings of this course, you may be administratively disenrolled. If you miss the first two classes, I will urge you to withdraw from the class.
- You cannot make up in-class assignments and homework unless you have verifiably dire circumstances, including a severe illness (colds and hangovers don’t count) or other emergency. In order to allow you to make up the work, I must have a doctor’s note or some other credible documentation. Doctor or dentist visits that are routine or scheduled in advance will not be excused. Plan these around your classes. Missed classes due to deadlines in other classes or with student media will not be excused. No exceptions.
- One unexcused absence will drop your final grade by one-half a letter grade (from an A- to a B+, or from a B+ to a B, etc.). Each additional unexcused absence will drop your final grade by one-half a letter grade.
- Assignments turned in late will be lowered one letter grade for each day they are late. Assignments turned in late on the day they are due will be considered one day late. Those of you who have had me in other classes will know that I’ve been flexible about this in other courses. Given the circumstances around and enrollment for this class, I cannot be flexible when it comes to turning in assignments late.
Class policies: Code of academic conduct
All students in attendance at the University of Alabama are expected to be honorable and to observe standards of conduct appropriate to a community of scholars. The university expects from its students a higher standard of conduct than the minimum required to avoid discipline. Academic misconduct includes all acts of dishonesty in any academically related matter and any knowing or intentional help or attempt to help, or conspiracy to help, another student. The Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Policy will be followed in the event of academic misconduct.
Paying for printing in Reese Phifer labs
The College of Communication and Information Sciences requires students, faculty and staff to pay for laser printing in labs. Students will need to swipe their Action Cards or Community User Cards (also known as “print cards”) to print. Black-and-white printing is 5 cents per page, and color copies are 40 cents per page. Printing tabloid size (11X 17) doubles this cost. Color printing is available in Room 338, and black and white printing only is available in Room 341. Everyone pays for printing with Bama Cash, so it is important that you remember to come to class with cash on your cards. You can add money to cards in Gorgas, Bruno, McLure, Rodgers Library, the Ferguson Center and Rose Towers. The College is looking into getting a card dispenser for Reese Phifer.
Diversity statement
The University of Alabama and the College of Communication and Information Sciences are intentionally inclusive communities that strive to have faculty, staff, students and course instruction that reflect the diversity of our society. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, class, linguistic background, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, age, or physical ability.
Classroom decorum
The Code of Student Conduct requires that students behave in a manner that is conducive to a teaching/learning environment. Students who engage in behavior that is disruptive or obstructive to the teaching/learning environment will be subject to disciplinary sanctions outlined by the Code of Student Conduct. Disruptive/obstructive behavior is not limited to by may include the following: physical abuse, verbal abuse, threats, stalking, intimidation, harassment, hazing, possession of controlled substances, and possession of alcoholic beverages.
Students with disabilities
To request disability accommodations, please contact the Office of Disability Services (348-4285). After initial arrangements are made with that office, contact your professor.