News writing classes search for news on campus

SACRAMENTO, Calif., USA - Thanks in large part to the textbooks for the classes being two weeks late, two basic news writing classes at CSU, Sacramento took to the campus as part of a news-gathering exercise this afternoon.

The idea?

News does not happen in the classroom (or newsroom) but out in the world. And if you never leave your desk or computer, you will miss what's going on.

The exercise is generally called a "news walk" and the students are generally good at ferreting out what's going on.

What did they find? A lot.

And what will be interesting for the students will be to see what The State Hornet publishes - or doesn't publish this fall.

Here is a list of stories the students in the early news writing section think should be pursued:

• Recruitment for sororities and fraternities and clubs (and hazing)
• World-record dodgeball tournament at The Well (1,200 people participated)
• Why do parking construction this week? (Just as school starts...)
• Math and history department policy changes
• Four-year-plan to graduate? Adios!
• Unit cap was lifted too late for students to enroll in more units
• Sept. 20-24 is Constitution Week - events, guest speakers
• Bikes on campus - locked? Unlocked... What's the deal?
• Blood drive (Oct. 19-20)
• Anchor Blue on campus... (underground clothing sales???) Clyde T. Hinkenson spokesman
• Eco-Grounds Coffee place feature (recycled everything, except coffee, maybe)
• Panda Express vs. Burger King (long line at Panda, no people at Burger King)
• Atmosphere concert in University Ballroom Sept. 28
• Expanded library area with couches and computers
• PRSSA fundraiser Sac Skate Sept 17
• Sandwich guy on campus - why is he so quiet this semester?
• Different places to eat on campus
• Mellow-me-out massages (how many students use?)
• The Well - experiences... Fingerprints required to enter (24-hour Fitness, too?)

The second news writing class came up with these stories:

• Muslim Student Association - its take on Florida minister and Ground Zero mosque
• Hazing among sororities and fraternities, plus discrimination in selection process
• Sidewalk hazards on campus
• Jaywalking tickets issued - around the dorms especially
• Possible food poisoning reported at Panda Express (orange chicken, cashew chicken)
• Anchor Blue tour (clothing) Arty and Eric were there (B-list actors)
• Beginning of a Sac State mall?
• The Well, open and, well, students pay $118 per semester for access to rooms
• Student dropping other gym memberships?
• Club, sororities and fraternities - why join?
• Financial aid, problems with gaps in coverage at beginning of semester
• Transfer rate - impact of impaction
• Bookstore prices - out of line?
• Parking lot torn out before school starts
• No furloughs this semester for faculty
• Riverfront changes in food service
• Peak Adventures bike repair shop has bike-sized door (NOT)
• The Well usage and registration (5954 active) 800 - 1000 per day... register early
• 176 students employed at Well
• Adding classes a problem? Sociology said no mas. Geography classes are empty.
• Writing intensive classes are overflowing
• Well doesn't allow guests????
• Freshmen get the old dorms - not the new dorms
• Effects of weather on students
• Dodgeball world record broken
• Apple store at bookstore - big discounts for students, faculty

First columns are up from Column-Writing class

SACRAMENTO, California, USA - The first set of columns have been posted (the links are to the right) for the fall 2010 semester.

For the first semester in memory, the majority of the class posted their columns way ahead of time.

Ahead of time?

Yup.

And so today, my task is to continue reading through the columns, making notes for Wednesday's class at which I will be doing a critique of the work and talking about the next set of columns.

Also on tap, is a discussion of how to plan before writing, using a technique called a 'tornado outline,' favored by writers and detectives.

Detectives?

Yup again.

Elementary my dear Watson, elementary.

First column from Column-Writing class hits the in basket

SACRAMENTO, Calif., USA - The first column of the fall 2010 semester appeared in my email inbox Friday, a piece by Leia Ostermann about the first week of school.

By getting her column in when she did, she has broken all existing column-writing records for getting the first column of the semester turned in ahead of deadline.

The link to her column is at the right, called Cardboard File.

Hooray!

Leia Ostermann

At the same time, as column writers are ruminating on the first day of school, they are also sending along their ideas for areas about which they would like to write.

Half the class, it seems, wants to write about restaurants. (Perhaps they think restaurant reviewers eat for free. Sorry, they don't.)

But in addition, there have been a number of excellent ideas put forth that will make for interesting columns. One person has asked to write about alternative-to-automobile transportation. And he will.

Friday in Alameda, I saw this fellow pedaling by, obviously enjoying being out of his car. He had a pretty good view, too.


Big wheels keep on rollin'

First columns due Tuesday on the 'first week of school'

SACRAMENTO, Calif., USA - The columnistas of CSU, Sacramento's column writing class have their first writing assignment ahead: write a 500-650 word column on their experiences of the first week of school.

Only a few people groaned when that turned out to be their assignment. It could have been a lot worse. I was pondering having them write about the Tea Party, or Sarah Palin, or even the new Arizona immigration law that has so many knickers in a twist.

After turning in this column, the class will be churning out one or two columns per week, one assigned, the other on their specialty area.

The specialties students talked about Wednesday included close looks at college life, clothing fashions, restaurant and food reviews, and soccer.  One columnist wants to write about art and design.

And the entire class swears they will make their deadlines.

Honest.

Four classes down, all writers at the ready for assignments

SACRAMENTO, Calif., USA - Two sections of basic news writing, one column-writing class and a magazine writing seminar all met on Monday - officially launching the semester for fall 2010.

The column-writing students are constructing their column/blogs (the links to which will appear on this page later this week); the magazine writers are coming up with ideas for their first articles: a how-to story. And, no, a how-to story on how-to-write-a-magazine story is not one of the possibilities.

All four classes had more students than the classrooms can accommodate, so in terms of classroom space, it will be another Sacramento State sardine semester.

Still, lots of bright lights among the students in the classes. In magazine writing, one student was familiar with the concept of hydro-fracking, a topic from some writing earlier this summer, linked here.

What the frack is going on?

In the meantime, by the noon deadline today, all but a relative handful of students in my four classes successfully completed their first assignment: getting me an email for class email lists.