Online Magazine Writing

PRWR 4003 MWF 2:00-2:50 NB 2001

Fall 2007

Dr. John Hodgson NB 2033 581-2934 johnh@cameron.edu

Office Hours: TTH 10-12 and by appointment

Course Description

The purpose of this class is to develop skills in the publication of an online literary magazine. Students will practice reading and editing contemporary fiction, nonfiction and poetry, and will publish a body of selected works in The Oklahoma Review.

Objectives

In this course, students will:

• Develop advanced skills in reading and critiquing contemporary literature;
• Gain a greater appreciation of the editing process, especially as it is impacted by the special needs of an electronic publication;
• Select from a mass of submitted content those works which best typify the artistic voice and vision of The Oklahoma Review;
• Plan for, create and publish an effective and elegant website with content-appropriate graphics, photos, fonts, and navigational elements;
• Work with other student editors in a creative, dynamic, energetic and friendly environment.

Course Requirements

• For each submission distributed, students will post a thorough, articulate, evaluative critique in the online discussion board;
• Students will complete all assigned editorial duties completely and on time;
• Students will read all assigned works and complete all assigned critiques before the day they are to be discussed in class;
• Each student will participate in all class discussions and activities, including copy editing and website design.

Grading

Grading will be based on each student’s completion of assigned editorial tasks.

Readers

Each student enrolled in this course, or in a directed reading/writing associated with this course, will read all submissions distributed—poetry, fiction, and nonfiction—and will post critiques as noted above. Each student who actively participates and completes the course will be credited as a “reader” (not “editor”) in the online publication.

Attendance

Class begins promptly at 2:00 p.m. and will continue until 2:50 p.m. each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday unless otherwise noted. If family, job, or other commitments prevent you from attending this entire time, I recommend that you withdraw from the class.

An absence is defined as missing 15 or more minutes from any single class period.

3 absences = reduction by one letter grade

4 absences = reduction by another letter grade

6 absences = failure

Class Meetings

The class will meet each Monday, Wednesday and Friday in NB 2001 at 2:00 to discuss the week’s readings and keep everyone up to date. Students will post critiques and recommendations to the Blackboard discussion boards no later than 12:00 on each Monday.

Accommodation

It is the policy of Cameron University to accommodate students with disabilities, pursuant to federal and state law.  Students with disabilities who need classroom accommodations must make their requests by contacting the Office of Student Development at (580) 581-2209, North Shepler Room 314.

Important Dates

Monday, August 20: Class Introduction; syllabus and editorial assignments

Wednesday, August 22: Norming exercise—fiction to be assigned. Come to class prepared to discuss the story and defend your evaluation of it.

Friday, August 24: Norming exercise—read the assigned poems. Come to class prepared to discuss the poems and defend your evaluation of them.

Friday, September 28: submission deadline. Any submissions after this date will be considered for the Spring Issue.

Friday, November 2: Editors’ Bios are due.

Friday, November 9: All final editing of accepted submissions completed.

Monday, November 19: Volume 8.2 complete and online.