Mid-Term Exam Study Guide

This material was handed out in class on Monday, Oct. 17.

CA 500: MEDIA WRITING / MIDTERM STUDY GUIDE
Instructor: Adjunct Professor Jeff Rapsis
E-mail: jeffrapsis@gmail.com • Phone: (603) 236-9237

Date of Mid-Term: Monday, Oct. 31. Halloween!

Time needed: 60 minutes.

Here's a summary of what you should be familiar with for our class mid-term exam. The exam will be open book and you're free to consult all material in print or online. Please, no communication with anyone (online or otherwise) during exam. Do your own work.

Format: The mid-term will consist of two parts. The first part will be multiple-choice answers to questions about the material we've discussed in class and in the textbooks. In the second part, you'll choose two out of four essay topics and respond as completely as you can to the topic or question. You will be graded based on how completely and effectively you respond to the question.

Class material to review:

Basic concepts to keep in mind:
- Good writing starts with clear thinking. Writing is thinking on paper.
- The reader has a really hard job, and is easy to lose. Your job is to make it easy for the reader.
- Strive for simplicity. Short sentences with only one subject and one verb.
- Say specifically what you mean in the first sentence. All the rest will in some way support it.
- The importance of format and platform. Postcard vs. Web page vs. Twitter. How best to use each?
- Kurt Vonnegut handout about Writing with Style, and Ogilvy handout on Print Advertising.

Dynamics of Media Writing: Chapter 1 / Know Your Audience
- Different ways to define an audience: Demographic, Geographic, Psychographic. Pages 3-5
- Know the ways to attract an audience: Fame, Oddity, Conflict, Immediacy, Impact. Pages 8-12

Dynamics of Media Writing: Chapter 2 / Being Accurate, Relying on the Facts
- The “Making Sure You're Sure” material: Pages 24-26

Dynamics of Media Writing: Chapter 3 / Grammar, Style, and Language Basics
- Go over everything! It's all good. We'll talk about this in class on Oct. 17.

Dynamics of Media Writing: Chapter 4 / Basic Media Writing
- Be familiar with the six 'Killer B's' of good writing: Pages 58-60
- Know the material about the different kinds of leads. Pages 64-69
- Know the 'How to Order the Rest of Your Pyramid' material. Pages 69-72

Dynamics of Media Writing: Chapter 5 / Interviewing
- Review whole chapter, but nothing specific on the exam. Pages 74-87

Dynamics of Media Writing: Chapter 6 / Writing on the Web
- Review the 'Write in Easy-to-Use Pieces' about online copy. Page 92-93
- Know the 'Keys to Good Digital-Media Writing' content in the box. Page 95
- Know the material on social media. Pages 98-104

Dynamics of Media Writing: Chapter 7 / Law and Ethics in Media Writing
- Consider Donald Trump's recent claims vs. the material about what constitutes libel. Pages 112-117
- Know 'How To Avoid Copyright Infringement' material. Pages 117-118
- Review 'A Quick Look at Various Ethical Standards' material. Page 124

Ben & Jerry's: The Inside Scoop
- Be ready to use elements of the company's story to answer some of the essay questions.

Any questions? Please get in touch with me at jeffrapsis@gmail.com or (603) 236-9237.