Please note that these assignments are separate from daily extra credit opportunities. Duplication will not be tolerated. You must weigh whether or not you�re willing to wait until the end of the semester to see what these assignments yield. These assignments are due on the last day of class.
1.) Find three examples of passive structure from each of the following publications: The Daily Cougar,
Houston Chronicle and Houston Press. Rewrite the sentences using active constructions. See �When
Words Collide� about active and passive construction.
2.) Cut or print out 10 examples of subject-verb agreement problems in at least three different publications
or news services. Type up each corrected sentence. You should have 10 pages. Paste each
corresponding clip to its respective page.
3.) Find and print or cut out different stories from the same day about the same news event from three
different publications. Compare and contrast different approaches, background information, sources
and news judgment. Critique must be at least one page long.
4.) Scavenger hunt
Collect two examples of each kind of hard news story in the list below. The two examples of each type
must have been printed on different days. Only one example of each type can come from the campus
newspaper. Tape each clip on a separate piece of paper. Write on the paper the name of the publication,
the publication date and the page on which it was found.
local government
international news
crime/police
local schools taxes/government spending
sports
environment
weather
traffic accident
religion
science
courts
state government
federal government
natural disaster
prominent death (obituary)
the economy
5.) Compile a list of 25 Web addresses that offer media job boards. Give brief description of the resource.
Make 20 copies to be distributed to your classmates at the end of the semester.
6.) Visit the Museum of Printing History, 1324 W. Clay. It is free on Thursdays. Check the Web site for
admission information for other days. Take notes on exhibits that you found interesting. Write a one-
page report on the experience. Bring some form of proof that you actually visited � a pamphlet, receipt, etc.
7.) Attend a meeting of a local media association and write a one-page news story about it. Treat it the
same as the outside meeting story earlier in the semester. Find the news and get powerful quotes.
8.) Rent or buy and watch the DVD or VHS of Bowling for Columbine. Write a one-page essay on how
Michael Moore's points on the faults of the media will change or not change the way you will present the news.