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For All Time MSA 2000 Yearbook

I.          Course description

Although everyone will have specific memories of his/her time at the Missouri Scholars Academy, nothing can preserve those memories better than a written account of the events. Scholars in this course will produce a booklet telling the story of the Academy through pictures and words. Students will not only write the copy and complete the artwork for the publication, but will also design and typeset it using modern desktop publishing.

II.        Instructor’s educational preparation and current employment

          Teacher’s Name:        Nancy R. Singer

            Education:                 University of Missouri—Columbia, B.S. Ed., 1986.

                                                University of Missouri—Columbia, M.Ed., 1992.

            Current Position:       Instructor and English Department Chair

                                                Boonville High School

                                                1690 W. Ashley Rd.

                                                Boonville, MO  65233

            Courses Taught:       College Prep English (college-bound, grade 12)

                                                Newspaper Publication (grades 10-12)

                                                Yearbook Publication (grades 10-12)

            E-Mail Address:        nsinger@boonville.k12.mo.us

III.     Rationale for inclusion in a program for gifted students

Although the Missouri Scholars Academy strives to offer its participants coursework they might not normally have in their high schools, a “yearbook” experience is still a justified one. Many gifted students find themselves working hard for College Prep or Honors certificates; they have no time for elective courses such as journalism. Therefore, a course like this at MSA allows gifted students to explore, to try his or her hand at something he or she would not be able to “fit into their schedules” at their sending school.

IV.     Major topics covered

Students will plan, write and produce a 32-page yearbook covering the events of the Academy.

V.        Pre-requisite knowledge

None, although students familiar with computers and desktop publishing will have a leg up.

VI.     Learning objectives

          At the conclusion of this course students should be able to:

Reporting/Copy Editing Skills

• Recognize a news opportunity.
• Create an effective lead.
• Prepare and conduct him or herself properly in an interview.
• Edit copy for completeness and style.
• Write effective headlines.
• Meet deadlines.
• Use correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Check accuracy of names, dates, and places.
• Read and comprehend proofreader’s marks.

Design Skills

• Develop an overall theme for the yearbook.
• Plan cover and divisions to depict the theme.
• Design attractive, cohesive sections.
• Demonstrate innovative uses of text design in copy.
• Demonstrate innovative placement of text, graphics, and photos.
• Demonstrate use of appropriate headings, subheadings, and lead-in sentences.
• Desktop Publishing Skills
• Create and manipulate documents using PageMaker software.
• Demonstrate use of advanced features such as drop caps, kerning, text wrap, and other commands as required.
• Edit document to exact specifications for columns, folio tabs, copy, captions, headings and subheadings.
• Print out publisher-ready copy.

VII.  Primary source material

There is no primary text for this class.

VIII. Supplementary source material

Teacher Handouts

XI. Computing and the Internet (if applicable)

Students will use computer lab facilities for writing/layout of the publication.