7HUM2022: Writing a longform article and blogging.
Assignment Brief
This assignment is worth 60% of the module grade.
You will write a 1,000 word feature for an online magazine or website for a publication you have discussed with your tutor.The publication must be in English and free to access for at least some of the material.
The feature will include a strong angle, be written in features structure, be Search Engine Optimised, and use backlinks where appropriate. It will include one piece of visual material e.g. photo taken by you, an infographic, table or other item that will engage the audience and be relevant to the article.
To create a strong feature, you should be guided by Google`s Guide to Creating Content, which you can find hereLinks to an external site..
The assignment must contain at least one original interview conducted by you that is relevant and adds to the feature,with contact details provided at the end of the article and secondary information from reputable sources, referenced in journalism style. You will ensure that there is a name and link to the publication as well.
In addition you will provide two blog posts of 600 words in total, for both posts together, each aimed at an audience of academics wanting to learn more about the teaching of journalism:
Blog post 1: This will demonstrate reflection of what you have learned through undertaking this assignment.This will include: what went well, what went less well, and at least one legal or ethical challenge you faced. Please use the ipso code as a guide.
Blog post 2: This will detail how you would extend this article across a different platform e.g. video, audio, social media. You do not have to create the reel, insta story or audio, just say how you might do this. You can write this as a word blog, or create a 2 minute video or audio.
By submitting you are declaring that your submission is entirely your own work. If you have cited from other sources or in any way included material that was not produced by yourself, those sources must be acknowledged. Failure to acknowledge where work is not your own may result in an allegation of academic misconduct. For more information, see Assessment Offences and Academic MisconductLinks to an external site. on Ask Herts, together with the following guidance from Library SkillUP:
Referencing: Why do it? Introduction
Academic Integrity
Why bother to acknowledge the work of others?
Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Proof Reading Tools
Generative AI tools: These may only be used in an assessment when you have been given explicit and specific permission in the assignment brief (see below).If you have not been given such permission, you must not use generative AI tools – to do so will constitute academic misconduct. Even where permission has been given, you must still reference clearly any use of generative AI in the development of your submitted work. If you do not reference any use of generative AI tools, this will also constitute academic misconduct. If in any doubt, you should ask your tutor for advice.
Proofreading tools: Increasingly, proofreading tools are being embedded into standard packages e.g. Word, Grammarly, and becoming more sophisticated. A proof-reader or proof-reading tool must only be used to identify and draw attention to possible changes which you can then choose to accept or reject. Neither a proof-reader nor a proof-reading tool (whether genAI or not) can ever be used to make changes to your work directly; this will ensure that you remain the author of your work.
Full information on the University’s policy and guidance on use of generative AI and proofreading tools can be found here on Ask HertsLinks to an external site..
For this Assignment, the following applies:
In this assessment, you are permitted to use genAI tools (or a proofreader or proofreading service) to proofread your work, but not permitted to use AI tools in the creation of your work. This category will apply irrespective of the fact that the grading criteria include credit for English and grammar.
Third-party assets
Your feature may draw on material produced by others. This includes:
Direct quotes from interviews, speeches, or public statements (must be attributed in the text). Paraphrased or summarised material from reports, articles, or press releases (acknowledge the source in the text). Statistics and data from government, NGOs, think tanks, or company reports (make clear where the figures come from). Facts and background information from official websites, reference works, or earlier reporting (attribute the source). Public records such as court documents, regulatory filings, or parliamentary reports (identify them clearly in your story). Ethics
The Ethics Committee must approve all coursework that involves ‘human participants’ (such as interviews, questionnaires, or surveys, even where these are conducted among family/friends).
The Module Leader for this course has gained class-wide approval for interviews for this assignment; however, your work will not be marked if you do not complete the Student Agreement to abide by the Ethical Protocols. You will find this on the module Canvas page in Assignments.
The protocol number for this assignment is: TO BE CONFIRMED
The email address for the UH Ethics Committee, which granted ethical approval, is: ssahecda@herts.ac.uk
Please quote this protocol number if any of your participants ask if you have been granted ethical permission and give them the email address if they wish to verify this independently before agreeing to be interviewed.
If students undertake work that involves human subjects without the prior approval of the Ethics Committee they may incur an academic penalty. Guidance on how to make an application can be found on Ask Herts under More Information hereLinks to an external site..
Risk Assessment
A risk assessment exercise may be required to be completed prior to undertaking some assignment work. You can find information about Health and Safety on Ask Herts hereLinks to an external site..
How to Submit your work
Submit an MS Word Document (not pictures) via the Canvas Assignments page. Your Word document should contain a links to the post you made on x.com.
How your work will be assessed
Your work will be assessed against the assessment criteria in the rubric below