English for Journalism MOOC Syllabus

Winter 2022 – January 2 – March 28, 2022

I NST RUCTO R INFO RMATIO N

Instructor Email
Jessamyn Embry [email protected]

CO URSE OV E RVI EW
Description
English for Journalism is a self-paced massively open online course (MOOC). This course was designed for English
learners at or approaching level B1 on the Common European Framework (CEFR).
This course is designed for non-native English speakers interested in developing the skills needed for a career in
modern journalism.
This course was developed by the University of Pennsylvania and adapted by FHI 360 for the Online Professional English
Network (OPEN) Program, a program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding from the U.S.
government. We are excited to have you in the class and look forward to your contributions to the learning
community.
Dates:
This course will be active from January 3 to March 28, 2022
The orientation module and Module 1 will open on January 3 at 12:01 AM ET. This orientation is designed to help you
get familiar with Canvas and how to get help. It is not mandatory.
Once you finish a module, the next one will automatically unlock. All coursework must be completed by March
28, 2022. No late submissions will be accepted.

Learning Objectives and Learner Outcomes

· Demonstrate understanding of the history and principles of journalism.
· identify strategies to research, pitch, and interview for a news story.
· Identify the unique features of broadcast journalism.
· Identify elements of print journalism and effectively proofread following a style guide.
· Analyze how digital technologies have changed journalism.
· Build your English vocabulary and develop your reading and writing skills
· Review and practice useful verb tenses and select grammar topics
· Use English to discuss course topics with classmates around the world
Expectations and Grading
Course Schedule: This course runs from January 3 to March 28, 2022. In order to complete the course, participants
shouldwork online and offline for 3-5 hours per module. This is a self-paced course and assignments can be completed
at any time. This is a self-paced course and assignments can be completed at any time before the close date on March
28, 2022
How to pass this course: There are five modules in the English for Journalism MOOC:
1. Introduction to Journalism
2. How to Research, Pitch, and Interview
3. Words in Print
4. Broadcasting the News
5. New Media Journalism
Each module will have one or more quizzes. Participants who satisfactorily complete all of the required quizzes with a
score of 70% or above before the course close date will receive a digital badge and certificate of participation.
Along with graded quizzes, each module also has other opportunities to check your understanding and practice your
language skills. These activities are labeled “OPTIONAL” in the course. These tasks are not graded nor required.

Course Policies
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is using someone else’s words instead of your own. In this course, you are expected to use your own words
and ideas, and to acknowledge any sources you use to gather ideas. Plagiarism is not allowed in OPEN courses.
CO URSE S CH EDU L E
Module Topic Learning Objectives Resources Activities and Assignments Time Required
1 Introduction to Identify historical Video: The History of Journalism 1: The Early Days Private Journal 1: The History of Journalism 75 min.
Journalism developments and Video: The History of Journalism 2: 1690 - Present Quiz 1: History of Journalism
milestones in Quiz 2: History of Journalism
journalism.
Use the simple past Video: Language Focus: Talking about the Past Quiz 3: Talking about the Past 75 min
and past progressive Private Journal 2: The Interrupted Past
to report and describe OPTIONAL Discussion: The Interrupted Past
past events.

Identify word formsto Video: Language Focus: Word Families Quiz 4: Language Focus: Word Families 30 min
expand your
vocabulary.
Identify the core Video: Principles of Journalism 1: Gathering Quiz 5: Principles of Journalism 90 min
principles of journalism Sources Private Journal 3: Case Study: Principles of Journalism
Video: Principles of Journalism 2: Telling the Discussion: Case Study: Principles of Journalism
Story
Video: Principles of Journalism 3: Making an
Impact
2 How to Identify the Video: Choosing a Topic Quiz 6: Choosing a Topic 75 min
Research, strategies to Video: Researching an idea Private Journal 4: Choose Your Topic
Pitch, and research a news Discussion: Choose Your Topic
Interview story.
Identify the strategies Video: Pitching a Story to Newspapers and Quiz 7: Research, Pitch, and Interview 75 min
to pitch a Magazines Private Journal 5: Make Your Pitch
news story. Video: Pitching a Radio Story Discussion Make Your Pitch
Identify and Video: Language Focus: Asking Questions Quiz 8: Asking Questions 30 min
practice question
forms in order to
conduct an
interview.

3
Module Topic Learning Objectives Resources Activities and Assignments Time Required
Identify the elements Video: Interviewing Sources – Reliability, Facts, Quiz 9: Reliable Sources 90 min
of an effective and Opinions Private Journal 6: Write Your Interview Questions
interview. Video: Interviewing Sources: Listening Strategies Private Journal 7: Predict Responses
and Opinions
Identify and Video: Language Focus: Quoting Sources and Quiz 10: Reporting Verbs 90 min
practice quoted and Reporting Verbs Practice Quiz: Using Reported Speech
reported speech in Video: Language Focus: Using Reported Speech Private Journal 8: Post-Interview Reflection
order to conduct an Quiz 11: Reported Speech
interview.
3 Words in Print Identify the process Video: Print Media: From Topic to Article Quiz 12: The Process and the Front Page 120 min
of writing a story in Video: Writing Articles Using the Inverted Private Journal 9: Create Your Outline
a newspaper and Pyramid Style Private Journal 11: Write Your Article
the general Video: Reporting Accurately Private Journal 12: Edit Your Article
structure of an Discussion: Publish Your Article
article.
Identify types of Video: Types of Leads Quiz 13: Leads and Lead Types 75 min
leads and how to Video: Creating a Lead Private Journal 10: Write Your Lead
create a lead. Discussion: Write Your Lead
Be able to ensure Video: Language Focus: Subject-Verb Agreement Quiz 14: Subject-Verb Agreement 30 min
that the subject of a
lead agrees with its
verb.
Be able to form a Video: Language Focus: Structure of Active and Quiz 16: When to Use Passive Voice 45 min
lead using both Passive Voices
active and passive Video: Language Focus: Use of Active and
voice. Passive Voices
Be able to Video: Writing Using Associated Press Style Quiz 15: Applying AP Style 30 min
proofread and apply
elements of
Associated Press
Style (capitalization,
numbers, and
dates)
4 Broadcasting the Identify the Video: The Language of Broadcast Journalism Quiz 16: Broadcast Journalism Vocabulary 60 min
News features of Video: The People of Broadcast Journalism
broadcast Video: Types of Stories for Broadcast Journalism
journalism

4
Module Topic Learning Objectives Resources Activities and Assignments Time Required
Compare broadcast Video: Ratings in TV News: How Journalists Quiz 17: Print vs. Broadcast Journalism 90 min
journalism and print Compete Private Journal 13: Transform Your Article for a TV
media. Video: Sensationalism in TV News News Segment
Video: The 24-Hour News Cycle Discussion: Transform Your Article for a TV News
Segment
Identify and practice Video: Using Conversational Style Quiz 18: Stress and Pausing 90 min
using stress, rhythm, Video: Present Tense and Active Voice Self-Evaluation: Orally Present Your Story and
and intonation to Video: Stress and Pausing Evaluate Yourself
show meaning and
emphasis when
delivering a news
story.
5 New Media Identify the ways Video: Origins and Current State of the Digital Quiz 19: Origins and Current State of the Digital Age 120 min
Journalism digital technology Age Quiz 20: New Media Language and Structure
has impacted print Video: New Media Language and Structure
and broadcast Video: Types of New Media Stories
journalism. Video: The Impact on the Journalistic Process
Video: The Impact on Traditional Media
Use the present Video: Language Focus: Present Perfect Form Quiz 21: Present Perfect Form 30 min
perfect to discuss the
impact of digital
technology in
journalism.
Use data Video: Language Focus: Data Commentary Quiz 22: Choose the Appropriate Data Commentary 90 min
commentary and Video: Challenge One: The Digital Divide
new vocabulary to Video: Citizen Journalism
evaluate the digital Video: Challenge Two: Ethics in the Digital Age
revolution and Video: Challenge Three: Intellectual Property and
describe data. Censorship