CUNY Graduate School of Journalism Jour72311 Video Storytelling for the Web, 3 credits
Bob Sacha_Thursday, 9.30-12.20 room 436 +++ Almudena Toral_Fridays, 9.30-12:20, room 434
Instructor class 1
Bob Sacha, bio and examples of work email: bob.sacha.journalism.cuny.edu
Bob Sacha Office hours: Thursday, 1.30-5.00, in the cubicle farm near West 40th ( or by appointment or Skype.) Please sign up for an available appointment here. And if you need to cancel, please update this doc. If you’re completely desperate, my mobile is 1.917.969.0201 BUT please text first, then email and then call. I’ll answer text or email before voicemail.
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Instructors class 2
Almudena Toral, bio and examples of work. Email: almudena.toral@journalism.cuny.edu
Almudena Toral office hours: Friday, 1.30-5.30PM in the cubicle farm (or by appointment or Skype). Cell phone: 917.602.2002.
Adjunct instructor class 2:Samantha Stark. Email: samantha.stark@journalism.cuny.edu
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*** Please view this syllabus as a work in progress. Things can change but the assignments, exercises & deadlines will not change.***
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COURSE OBJECTIVES
This is a class firmly rooted in journalism.
Students will learn to research, report, shoot, and edit short, focused video stories designed specifically for the web. This class will build on the basic video concepts and skills taught in first semester interactive and broadcast craft classes — using video cameras and editing in Final Cut Pro, shooting, transcribing and editing video for compelling visual journalism, telling successful stories through strong characters, and basic interview skills — and move on to more advanced techniques in these areas.
Because web viewers demand highly engaging material, with a fast start, sharp focus, short narrative, and natural voices, students will focus on capturing stories with strong visuals and ambient audio of people personally affected by issues. We will focus on the concept of subjects telling their stories in their own voices, without heavy narration and without a reporter on camera.
Students will work in pairs at the beginning but solo by the end, to prepare them for the major shift in journalism requiring one journalist to be highly skilled in many jobs. They will also learn how to market freelance pieces to meet the growing demand for professional-quality video for a growing number of websites.
We’ll be using Canon DSLR cameras to shoot HD video, to keep up with the industry trends.
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COURSE OUTCOMES
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
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Identify current and future trends in web video
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Report and research topic to strengthen the video capture, edit and presentation
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Find the voice of the story and understand story structure
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Produce tightly focused video pieces with compelling narratives arcs
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Write short summaries of their stories and provide web links to additional info
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Write effective headlines and subheads following the 60/160 length of SEO
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Effectively edit video stories using several forms of media
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Create strong video stories of several styles
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Write title cards that are concise and clear to help move a story forward without narration
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Develop editorial judgment to critique their own work and the work of others in the industry for video storytelling
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Instruct and supervise fellow journalists in choosing stories that can become effective video stories and guide them in the production of those stories for the web.
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Freelance refined video pieces for the web.
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EXERCISES & ASSIGNMENTS
In the class you will produce five exercises and two assignments, all done outside of class time.
Exercises : all are pass/fail, extra points may be earned for creativity.
Exercise 1; due week 2—Document a location that will be in Assignment 1 and edit it in ten shots. NO interview. (important elements are shots that tell a story, sequence, good clean composition, focus, exposure, and proper white balance)—(pass/fail; a pass will earn 10 points; extra points may be earned for creativity) THINK OF THIS AS A SILENT FILM.
Exercise 2; due week 3 —Light and Mic two different subjects for interviews. These should be potential subjects for assignment ONE: 1 must be done with artificial lighting using three different frames. The final piece should be less than 2 minutes. (important elements are lighting; clean audio)—(pass/fail; a pass will earn 10 points; extra points may be earned for creativity)
Exercise 3; due week 5—Create a a Sight & Sound piece in ten shots related to Assignment 1 (important elements are composition, focus, exposure, white balance, strong ambient audio) and edit (you need to include at least one matched action, shots tell the story; NO interview)— (pass/fail; a pass will earn 10 points; extra points may be earned for creativity)example> https://vimeo.com/80971420#at=0
Exercise 4; due week 11— Create a Visual Poem with no interview related to Assignment 2 , told predominantly through visual storytelling. Can have ambient sounds of conversation. (important elements include good composition, lighting, clean audio, and original sound design and music, edit for pacing and rhythm. (pass/fail; a pass will earn 10 points; extra points may be earned for creativity)
Exercise 5; due week 15 — Profile a Relationship related to Assignment 2 with action shots in natural lighting and create a natural sound design (important elements include good composition, lighting, clean audio, and original sound design and music, edit for pacing and rhythm. (pass/fail; a pass will earn 10 points; extra points may be earned for creativity. NO INTERVIEW allowed. Think visual poem.
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Assignments will be graded. You will have one week to revise. Late assignments will be automatically lowered a grade.
This is a class that values good research and smart reporting. Visual storytelling is also key in the form of capturing compelling scenes and sequences and “visual evidence” of your story. We want to capture “present tense” storytelling.
Each assignment will consist of a short video (1-3 minutes) for the web.
Assignment 1; due week o8— A Person with an Odd Job. (some of these would qualify)
Assignment 2; due week 13— An Issue.
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One of these projects must be done only with visual storytelling and with an “active” interview, that is, without a sitdown, formal interview.
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You must work as a team of two for the first assignment, but you will share ALL assets and each person must cut their own version in FCP.
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You must work solo for the other assignment.
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One of your two projects must use some still photography.
Do not be deceived into thinking that short visual journalism is easy. Think of how difficult it is to write a brilliant headline or the ideal tweet, or condense a 90 minute documentary perfectly into 2 minutes. That’s because these short messages are designed to stand out above the crowd, to cut through hundreds of visual messages each day and to say to someone ”click here and be wowed.”
Simple is hard. It takes time and effort to make it good. That’s our goal.
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FILM FESTIVALS
Also in class we’ll have five “film festivals”
Here’s how they work:
Before Sunday at 8.00 pm (for Bob’s class) or Monday at 8.00pm for Almudena class you will post the URL of your submission for the film festival to the class VSW page. Your submission = an inspiring short doc video you find on the internet. Submission should be no longer than 10 minutes.)
Everyone must watch the videos and cast their vote for the strongest submission before 5 pm the day before class.. We will start the class by watching the winning short film. Submission should be no longer than 10 minutes. The voting form is here…
You can not use a video that we have seen in class or that’s on my class notes or has been on the VSW blog. However, you are encouraged to find work that is compelling or experimental or different from the usual run-of-the-mill garbage we see online.
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REQUIREMENTS FOR WRITTEN JOURNALISM & DELIVERY OF EACH PROJECT
Each final project must be posted on Vimeo before the class starts. If I log on at the deadline and I can’t watch your video, for whatever reason, I’ll consider it a missed deadline and you’ll be automatically dropped a grade to start.
Remember it takes time to upload your video and it takes time for Vimeo to process you video, depending on the time of day, the traffic at Vimeo and the speed of your connection. This process might take several hours.
Each piece must be accompanied by the following EIGHT written journalistic elements which must be placed on Vimeo with the video. Vimeo has a 5,000 character limit to accomplish all of these so use your words them wisely ..remember , a tweet is 140 characters so 5,000 characters should be no problem.
1) – a 240 character description of the story. (For use in TubeMogel)
2) – a longer 250 word description of the story. Details like name, age, addresses are important here. This must contain a sentence about the newsiness of your story; or “why now?”
3) – a compelling headline and subhead that are SEO optimized plus at least 5 tags
4) – a word for word accurate transcript of the final piece
5) – at least three suitable links to the subject, story or theme from other sources
6) – audience engagement is crucial: on the vimeo page you’ll need to show links to two out of three: a tweet, facebook post and blog post/tumblr . You can create a short behind-the-scenes story about how you found the character, something interesting that happened that’s not in the final piece, why you created this story, etc . Try to engage your audience.
7) – a custom poster frame that includes your title and your name. (this improves click ability)
8) – list Two potential outlets that might publish this video.
Your name MUST be included in the title of the video you post on Vimeo.
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REQUIRED EQUIPMENT
You will need your own portable hardrive that is at least 500 gb, 7200 rpm and at least firewire 400 or even better, firewire 800.
You will also need your own digital media for the cameras. A 16 gb sdhc high speed card is a good start but it’ll will only capture 30 minutes at full HD (1920×1080) resolution. Be sure the speed of the card is at least class 10.
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CLASSES
Class ONE: 30 January, 2014 (bob), 31 January 2013 (almu)
Conversation Syllabus, web video, a good web video, story structure, FILM FEST, choose a doc,
Hands On Video with the DSLR, controls, tripods, BBC Five shot rule
Student work SEQUENCE, shoot simple sequence of creating a paper airplane, all CU, work in pairs
Turn In In-class sequence
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Class TWO: 06 February, 2014 (Bob), 07 February 2014 (Almudena)
Conversation Reporting, Audio Basics, interviews, dual audio, 3 point lighting demo
Hands On shoot 2 truths and a lie interview of classmate,
Student Work play interviews, discuss story arc of interviews
Turn In Film Festival One vote by 5pm the day before class, Exercise One uploaded BEFORE class
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Class THREE: 13 February, 2014 (Bob), 14 February 2014 (Almudena)
Conversation 7 Basic Plots, Story Arc, Power of Characters/ the Shot list, Review basic FCP X
Hands On FCP X review, Cut Docs in class,
Student Work Show 2 minute story cuts of docs
Turn In Film Festival Two vote; Exercise Two uploaded BEFORE class
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Class FOUR: 21 February 2014 (Almudena) , 27 February, 2014 (Bob)
Conversation Capturing Visual; Evidence, shooting and speaking in sequences, Matched Action
Student Work Shooting in Sequences, Paper edits
Hands On Everyone= 2 min. story pitch in class, shot list for Assignment One, choose best 7 stories
Turn In Film Festival Three vote; Pitch Assignment One and shot list in class
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Class FIVE: 28 February 2014 (Almudena) , 06 March, 2014 (Bob)
Hands On Writing cards Exercise
Conversation Spork, Context and Text, Paper Edits & Radio Cuts,
Student Work Watch Cards Exercise
Turn In Exercise Three uploaded BEFORE class
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Class SIX: 07 March 2014 (Almudena) , 13 March, 2014 (Bob)
Conversation Advanced Final Cut: Sound Mix & Graphics, Cut on Action, The Poster Frame
Hands On Present Radio Cut and print transcript for Each person
Student Work Timed Critique of each Radio cut & transcript
Turn In Radio Cut Assignment One uploaded BEFORE class
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Class SEVEN: 14 March 2014 (Almudena) , 20 March, 2014 (Bob)
Conversation Written journalism, web video as part of a package
Hands On Present Rough Cut Assignment One
Student Work Critique Rough Cut Assignment One
Turn In Rough Cut Assignment One uploaded BEFORE class
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Class EIGHT: 21 March 2014 (Almudena) , 27 March, 2014 (Bob)
Conversation Journalism ethics of the edit,Fair Use laws,
Hands On Shooting a Sequence Camera Exercise Using Smartphone for 1 Minute story
Student Work Review edits of exercise
Turn In Assignment One Fine Cut uploaded BEFORE class
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Class NINE: 28 March 2014 (Almudena) , 03 April 2014 (Bob)
Conversation Better Visual Journalism,
Hands On Pitch assignment Two in 2 minutes
Student Work Feedback on pitches
Turn In Pitch Assignment Two and shot list
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Class TEN: 04 April 2014 (Almudena) , 10 April 2014 (Bob)
Conversation Guest: Music Good and Bad and Free and Not
Hands On Present Radio Cut with copy of Transcrit for all
Student Work Critique Radio Cut and give notes on the Transcript
Turn In Film festival 4 vote the night before before 5PM. Radio Cut Assignment Two uploaded BEFORE class
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Class ELEVEN: 11 April 2014 (Almudena) , 24 April 2014 (Bob)
Conversation SEO, representing video on the web, Delivery , mobile
Hands On Present Exercise 4Radio Cut & complete transcript of radio cut in class
Student Work Sound Exercise
Turn In Exercise 4 uploaded BEFORE class
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Spring Break 14 April 2014- 22 April 2014
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Class TWELVE: 25 April 2014 (Almudena) , 01 May 2014 (Bob)
Conversation Web context, delivery services, advanced exports, mobile
Hands On Present Assembly edit of THREE scenes
Student Work Show and critique three scenes
Turn In Film Festival 5 voting the night before at 5PM. Assembly edit of three scenes for Assignment Two uploaded BEFORE class
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Class THIRTEEN: 02 May 2014 (Almudena) , 08 May 2014 (Bob)
Conversation Working in the real World, Guest, Portfolio
Hands On Present Rough Cut
Student Work Critique Rough Cut
Turn In Rough Cut of assignment TWO Uploaded BEFORE class
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Class FOURTEEN: 09 May 2014 (Almudena) , 15 May 2014 (Bob)
Conversation From Specific to the Universal
Hands On Present Exercise Five
Student Work Present Fine Cut
Turn In Fine Cut Uploaded BEFORE CLASS
Class FIFTEEN: 16 May 2014 (Almudena) , 22 May 2014 (Bob)
Conversation Where do we Go from Here?
Hands On Present Exercise Five
Student Work Critique Exercise Five
Turn In Exercise Five Uploaded BEFORE class
Since this is graduate school, I assume all of you are adults and I will strive to help you succeed in whatever way I can.
However, there are two areas where this class will reflect the real world so the following two problems will not be tolerated: missing or late assignments and arriving late to class.
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HUMAN RESOURCES
Bob Sacha office hours: Thursday, 1.30-5.00, in the cubicle farm near West 40th ( or by appointment or Skype.) Please sign up for an available appointment here. If you need to cancel, please update this doc.
Almudena office hours: Friday, 1.30-5.00, in the cubicle farm. Please sign up for an appointment here. If you need to cancel, please update this doc.
If you’re completely desperate, my mobile is 1.917.969.0201 BUT please text first, then email and then call. I’ll answer text or email before voicemail.
also available to help you: Wonbo Woo- CUNY’s own rockstar video coach and NBCNews producer.
Office hours :check with Wonbo via email for an appointment wonbo.woo@journalism.cuny.edu
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ONLINE RESOURCES
The History of Online Video ok, the last 5 years (or here)
National Film Board of Canada:
Capturing Reality, the Art of the Documentary
check out their amazing interactives too
Ira Glass on storytelling
#1 the basics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loxJ3FtCJJA
transcript http://public.youtranscript.com/zs/868.html
#2 finding great stories
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW6x7lOIsPE&feature=channel
transcript:http://public.youtranscript.com/zs/869.html
#3 on good taste
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI23U7U2aUY&feature=channel
transcript: http://public.youtranscript.com/zs/864.html
#4 on common pitfalls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baCJFAGEuJM&feature=channel
transcript: http://public.youtranscript.com/zs/870.html
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SUGGESTED READINGS: these are in our CUNY J School Library
In the Blink of An Eye, by Walter Murch
by the brilliant Oscar winning editor and sound designer, with great advice for all visual storytellers.[$8.43….ISBN-13: 978-1879505629]
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The Visual Story, Second Edition: Creating the Visual Structure of Film, TV and Digital Media
Bruce Blockhas written the classic book that explains how to relate visuals to your story by understanding visual structure. If you’re lacking an education in visual storytelling, this book will bring you up to speed.[$22.95… ISBN-13: 978-0240807799]
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Writing for Story, Craft Secrets of Dramatic Non-Fiction [$9.17….ISBN-13: 978-0452272958]
by Two-Time Pulitzer Price Winner Jon Franklin. Best book ever for thinking about stories, characters and dramatic story structure in print, video, radio. No high brow theory, just practical stuff. [$9.17….ISBN-13: 978-0452272958]
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DSLR Cinema, Crafting the Film Look with Video
by Kurt Lancaster. Geeky, tecky and right on the money. Uses all the same tools and work flows we do but explains them in depth. Also has excellent case study chapters. [$24.86 …. ISBN-13: 978-0240815510]
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Telling True Stories, A Non Fiction Writers Guide
edited by Mark Kramer & Wendy Call, Nieman Foundation, Harvard
A huge well of great insight into non-fiction storytelling. Just substitute “video storyteller” everytime they use the word “writer. Probably 99% of what makes a great dramatic nonfiction print story works in video.[$9.52 … ISBN-13: 978-0452287556]
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DEADLINES
In the fast paced world of online journalism, deadlines seem to come constantly and repeatedly. They are also very serious business (check the first citation in Merriam Webster) So please regard them with awe and don’t even think of missing them. If you are late on a deadline, even by a minute, your grade will automatically be lowered by a half grade. Your grade will drop a half grade for every day you are late. Late assignments, exercises or interim cuts will not be reviewed nor critiqued. I will not chase you down for your work as I assume you’re an adult.
Plan ahead. It almost always takes more time than you think to complete these assignments, so please don’t leave this to the last minute. If you’re encountering difficulties reaching a source or finding information or shooting or editing come see me or contact me via email at least 48 hours before the deadline.I can help guide you.
I want you to succeed but I will not tolerate last minute excuses.
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ATTENDANCE
Attendance is mandatory and unexcused absences will be reflected in your final grade.
Job interviews, work obligations, computer problems, routine medical appointments, meetings with advisers, transportation issues, and even scheduled source interviews are not valid reasons for missing class.These excuses, err, reasons will be considered an unexcused absence. Only a severe personal illness or family emergencies are valid reasons for missing a class—and you’ll need to provide a written excuse and documentation before I’ll consider them.
If you miss two classes without a written excuse or documentation, you will drop a grade.
I will hold you to the same standard as your editor at the New York Times: that is, missing class for a wedding or because you feel crummy is not excusable in the real world and it won’t work in class either.
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PROFESSIONALISM
We’re all adults here so I feel silly saying this:
Please be on time. A sign in sheet will be passed around when class begins. If you have not signed in, I will assume it was because you were not in class and you will be marked absent.
Please don’t take phone calls during class. It’s insulting and will not be tolerated.
Also, I suggest you don’t post to Facebook or Twitter or answer your email during class because those will be the first things I remember when you ask me for a job recommendation or when your employer asks me about your work habits.
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GRADING
I will grade each assignment on the 100-point scale:
A+ 97.1-99.9 A future Online Journalism Award winner perhaps?
A 93.0-97.0 Publishable quality, with minor edits or questions.
A- 90.0-92.9 Nearly publishable, with just a few minor issues.
B+ 87.1-89.9 Better than just good…w/ more work, it could possibly be published.
B 83.0-87.0 Good, solid work with several minor issues or a single major problem.
B- 80.0-82.9 Decent work with several bigger issues.
C+ 77.1-79.9 Gaping holes in reporting and severe issues with the product
C 73.0-77 Poor
C- 70.0-72.9
F 0.0-69.9
Each Assignment will be graded:
50% storytelling,
30% Technical,
20% written materials
Final grade will be
80% assignments and exercises (each exercise 10%, each assignment 20%)
20% attendance, in-class participation
Revisions: You’ll have exactly 1 week from the day you receive the fine cut feedback to revise your fine cut. Your final grade will be the average grade of the fine cut and the revised cut. If you miss the fine cut deadline, you will also forfeit your chance to revise. YOU MUST SEND ME AN EMAIL WHEN YOU POST YOUR REVISION otherwise I won’t know you’ve revised.
this is the worksheet I use when I’m grading your pieces
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DIVERSITY
Please consider how you might include topics of diversity in your reporting and visual storytelling.
Consider covering under-reported communities and stories that are out of the mainstream press.
We can give voice to the voiceless who have important and compelling stories to tell; we should strive to discover and explore communities that might never see a journalist.
It is our role to raise questions that have not been thought of before. Let’s embrace this challenge.
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PLAGIARISM & ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
All work in this class must be your own. Plagiarism is the use of another’s ideas or words, video or recordings or ideas without properly and clearly acknowledging the source of the information.
Using other people’s work, video, audio, music, text or ideas without attribution and their written permission will result in an F for the assignment or potential dismissal from the course depending on the severity of the infraction.
Other forms of academic dishonesty include:
Unauthorized collaboration.
Fabrication of information, quotes or sources.
Impeding the work of others.
If you are still unsure whether you’re about to cross over to the dark side, PLEASE COME SEE ME. Again, I want you to succeed and academic dishonesty is the worst kind of failure.
If you have any other questions, please check the student handbook or ask me.
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