Faculty Designed Independent Study

Faculty: Doug Murphy
Email: doug.murphy@depaul.edu

Description: Working on a newsletter gives students the opportunity to lean and demonstrate communications competence that can have real value in the world of work.  Students have the opportunity to plan, write, edit, and produce an issue of a newsletter on a subject of their choice, After registering, students should contact the instructor for an initial conversation.

Competence Statement (Sample): Can compose, edit, and produce a newsletter that conveys information, which is pertinent to (       ).

Learning Experiences:  Students will work individually with the instructor to agree on a competence statement (see sample above) and then follow the functional outline below.  Within the functional parameters, students can choose to emphasize writing or editing and work in the software package of their preference.   Students will be directed to newsletter resources on the Internet to enhance their development skills.  After the initial meeting, students will interact with the instructor via telephone, fax or email.  Students may submit working drafts for comments and corrections.  As a course outcome, each student will submit for grading a copy (either an electronic copy sent as an attachment to an email, or a hard copy) of a newsletter of at least 3 double-sided pages, along with a journal that reviews the newsletter creation process by following and answering the questions below and related reflections on the process.

Assessment Criteria

Establish Objectives: Why publish this newsletter? Are the objectives clear and accomplishable?

Identify Audience: Who is the primary audience and why are they primary? Are there secondary audiences?

Set Schedule: When will the different parts of the newsletter be completed?

Gather Information: How and when will interviews occur? When will the articles be written?

Select Content: What are the subjects of the different stories? Why?

Select Lead Story: What is the most important story and why is it important? 

Select Images: What pictures and other graphic images will enhance the stories and why?

Write Articles: Are the articles grammatically correct? Are they written in the most appropriate style for this newsletter?

Initial Layout: What is the order of other stories and why are they in that order?

Select Headlines: Are

Select Summary Decks: These are the text boxes that tease the reader into reading more. 

Proofread Text & Visuals:

Finalize “Dummy”:

Submit Copy.

Students who enroll in this independent study will be expected to comply with the University policies on academic honesty and plagiarism as outlined in the DePaul Student Handbook. 

This course will be graded on a  A – F basis.  A student will receive an F if they do not complete and submit the primary project within two quarters after the quarter in which the student is enrolled.  A student will receive an A – C depending on the quality of work submitted and its connection to the competence statement as agreed upon.