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How to Fail a Class (Without Really Trying)

F by Leo Reynolds.Now that winter semester is well on its way, I took some time to reminisce about all the ways that students can do well in my classes. But instead of sharing those with you today, I’ll instead offer the flip-side: what you should do if your goal is to FAIL a class. I promise you that I’ve had a student at one time or another who has done every one of these things. Luckily, there is no one student who has done all of them . . . yet. (Please don’t take this as a challenge ) )

Assignments

  1. Think of the assignment guidelines provided by your professor as mere suggestions, not requirements for success.
  2. Consider each assignment as discrete entities. Don’t apply the constructive criticism you’ve received from your previous assignment to your next one.
  3. Since Microsoft Word will catch all your mistakes (grammar, APA style,Associated Press style, etc.), there’s no need to proofread your assignments before turning them in.
  4. Plagiarize often and flagrantly. After all, your professor won’t think to check the Internet (or other sources) to see if you’ve copied anything.
  5. Reading homework assignments before the class when they will be discussed? Why bother?

Grades

  1. Don’t bother to check your grades in GeorgiaVIEW (or your university’s online service), even though they’re posted in there throughout the semester. And don’t bother to keep your graded papers to doublecheck the grade’s accuracy.
  2. If you have a concern about your grade, wait until the last week of class to ask your professor for ideas on how to raise it.
  3. Ask in class every day, “Can we get extra credit for this?” Or, when or if extra credit is offered, turn it down. It won’t make that much difference in your final grade anyway.
  4. If you’re pretty sure you won’t pass the class (or get the grade you’re hoping for) before the Withdraw Date, go ahead and stay in the class anyway, but just don’t bother showing up anymore.

GeorgiaVIEW

  1. Wait until five minutes before an assignment is due on GeorgiaVIEW before trying to log in to submit it.
  2. When there’s a discussion question posted on GeorgiaVIEW, don’t answer it. Or answer it superficially with one or two sentences. Or say, “I totally agree with what Kyle said in his response.”

Classroom Decorum

  1. When in a class in a PC lab, check your Facebook or e-mail, or surf the web, while class is in session, even if your professor has said that it’s time to turn all monitors off.
  2. Wait until you get to your classroom to consider printing something that is needed for class that day.
  3. Be the first one to answer every question in class, every time. (I will tend to call this student Horshack, either behind or in front of his or her back.)
  4. Attend class only when you feel like it, and be sure that others know you have better things you could be doing with your time.

Communication

  1. Don’t check your e-mail for messages from your professor. Or mark your professor’s e-mail as that of a known spammer, so his or her messages automatically are delivered into your bulk mail or spam folder.
  2. When you’re confused, assume that you’re the only one, so don’t ask for clarification or explanation.
  3. Avoid your professor’s office at all costs.
  4. Only discuss grade-related information with your professor. Or even better, only talk to your professor to ask, “Did we talk about anything important in class the last time we met? I wasn’t here.”
  5. Don’t listen, and that means don’t listen to your professor, your classmates, your advisor . . . What you think and feel is way more important.

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/49968232@N00/13443727/
Chat Catcher

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The ONE job interview question

Last spring, I asked Edelman Digital’s Phil Gomes : “What’s the one question you almost always use in a job interview?” He not only shared his thoughts, he also interviewed several of his colleagues at Edelman Digital. Here’s what they had to say: 


Find more videos like this on PROpenMic

So, what’s the ONE question you almost always ask (or have been asked) in a job interview, regardless what the position is?

barbara_is_listening

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Public Relations Advising FAQs

If you are a Georgia Southern University student majoring in Public Relations, these frequently asked questions may help you in planning for advisement week. Thank you, Urkovia Andrews, for compiling this list.

After I finish my CORE, how long will it take to finish courses in my major?

Although major area F is only 40 hours, due to pre-requisites and a selective number of summer courses, students should be prepared to finish area F and their major in two years. Missing registration and not being advised during advising week will cause some students to take longer than two years to finish.

When do I register?

Classes fill quickly. Check WINGS and know when your registration time is. Register as soon as you’re able to! Set your alarm for 2:45 a.m. and be ready to register with the CRNs.

Grades?

In the core, students must earn a “C” or above in area A. This includes College Algebra.

In area F, students must earn a “C” or above.

Areas B, C, D, and E require a passing grade.

You cannot “double-dip” – each course counts only once on the curriculum sheet (COMM 1110 is an example, PRCA 3339 is another).

What if I don’t want to take a foreign language?

INTS 2130 is the course students most often take to fulfill the foreign language requirement if they don’t pursue a foreign language. There are also other options with significant international content in the catalog. Language courses MUST be at least 2000 level to count in this area. If a language class at the 1000 level has been taken, it counts toward the 14 general elective credits.

Is Photography (ART 1335) a good elective to take?

Check with the Art Department on availability for ART 1335 (Photography). Have a backup plan for this section of the curriculum. It’s a popular course.

What’s the recommended order of taking courses in the major?

Take JOUR 2331 (Introduction to Journalism) & COMM 2330 (Introduction to Mass Communication) as soon as possible. The only pre-requisites for these classes are ENGL 1101.

PRCA 2330 (Introduction to Public Relations) is the next course to take. It’s the gateway to the major. Students must take COMM 2330 before taking this class.

PRCA 3330 (PR writing) should be taken next. It’s a pre-requisite for many of the upper division PR courses. It’s also a non-negotiable pre-requisite for campaigns, practicum and internships. PRCA 2330 (Introduction to Public Relations) and JOUR 2331 (Introduction to Journalism) are pre-requisites for this class.

PRCA 3330 (PR writing) and PRCA 4330 (PR research) must be taken before PRCA 4339 (campaigns).

MKTG 3131 (marketing) must be taken before MKTG 3132 (advertising). Students cannot sign-up to take MKTG 3131 until they have completed 55 hrs.

In general, take one theory course at a time. These courses require a significant amount of reading and a research paper. It’s manageable to take a theory course and an applied theory course at the same time.

Read the format of the courses you are interested in prior to signing up for them. For example, it is not advisable to try and take campaigns, pubs, and events in the same semester as each of these courses require significant time commitments outside of class.

What’s the Senior Seminar?

Senior seminar is typically offered in the spring semester and serves as a substitution for an internship. If a student wants to complete an internship AND senior seminar, the senior seminar would count as an upper-division PR elective (it also could count in the “any upper-division comm arts elective” area).

What’s the Practicum?

The one-hour practicum course is designed to prepare you for life after graduation, whether that is graduate school or job placement. The student must complete PRCA 3330 (PR Writing) prior to taking the practicum course.

Where’s the list of “Upper Division Comm Arts Electives”?

Any upper-division comm arts elective means just that – anything with PRCA, JOUR, FILM, BRCT, THEA, COMS, or COMM as long as it starts with a 3 or a 4. Students just need to make sure they meet any necessary pre-requisites (which are defined in the catalog).

What about a Minor?

Consider using your general elective hours for a minor. Descriptions and requirements for minors are located in the catalog. One of the most common minors is business. Students also might be interested in communication studies, marketing, political science, English, art, print management, international studies, a foreign language, women’s and gender studies, and sport management.

What should I do about General Electives?

In general, save the elective section for times when you’ll have a heavy load or are unable to get courses in the major. There’s no need to fill that area up right away unless you’re interested in a minor.

Take any writing courses you can – feature writing (JOUR 3332), offered by journalism is a good course for PR students. Also, photojournalism is a good option, JOUR 3333.

Consider what you would like to do with your degree upon graduation and find electives that will provide you with additional knowledge of interest. General electives are anything offered on Georgia Southern campus.

What are the Upper Division PR Electives?

Students MUST take at least one upper-division PR elective. Upper division is anything at the 3000 or 4000 level. Examples include PRCA 4332 (PR Crisis Communication), PRCA 3331 (Corporate Public Relations), PRCA 3333 (International Public Relations), PRCA 4335 (Senior Seminar in Public Relations), and PRCA 3339 (Public Relations Publications).

What’s Offered When?

PRCA 3332 (PR Event Management) is offered only in the Spring semester.

PRCA 3330 (Public Relations Writing) is offered every Fall and Spring semester.

PRCA 4330 (Research) is offered every Fall and Spring semester.

PRCA 4339 (Campaigns) is offered every Fall and Spring semester.

PRCA 3339 (Public Relations Publications) is offered every Fall and Spring semester.

PRCA 3711 (Public Relations Practicum) is offered every Fall and Spring semester.

Summer is a good time to intern, take general electives or core courses, but do NOT plan on taking specific, upper-division courses in the major. What’s offered in the summer varies each year.

The other upper-division PR courses are offered on a varying schedule, depending on the professors’ expertise and students’ interest level.

Currently there are no PR courses offered online, as many require a hands-on approach. Courses have been offered online in the past, such as PRCA 2330 (Intro to PR), but this is not, as of now, an every semester occurrence.

What About Internships?

Dr. Lisa Muller oversees the internships. Approved internship listings are posted outside Dr. Muller’s office door, Room 3010.
If a student takes 3 credit hrs. of internship, the 3 hrs. go toward PRCA 4791.

If a student takes 6 credit hrs. of internship, 3 hrs go toward PRCA 4791 and 3 hrs go toward one upper-division PR elective

If a student takes 9 credit hrs. of internship, 3 go toward PRCA 4791, 3 go toward one upper-division PR elective and 3 go toward the 14 hrs. of general electives.

If a student takes 12 credit hrs. of internship, 3 go toward PRCA 4791, 3 go toward one upper-division PR elective and 6 go toward the 14 hrs. of general electives.

Students may not complete internships for degree credit until AFTER they have successfully completed PRCA 3330 (PR Writing).

On-site hours to receive internship credit is as follows:

3 hrs=200 hrs at the job site

6 hrs=300 hrs at the job site

9 hrs=400 hrs at the job site

12 hrs=500 hrs at the job site

Students are welcome to submit proposals for their own internship site; however, these proposals are due the 30th day of the first month of school the semester prior to interning. For example, if a students wants to intern in the summer than his or her proposal is due Jan. 30, the semester prior to their internship.

Students should look for informational meetings concerning internships the semester prior to the semester they wish to intern. At this meeting, questions regarding the internship process will be addressed, along with paid and non-paid sites, and students can pick-up an internship application.

When Should I Do Graduation Clearance?

Students can clear for graduation four semesters (including summer) prior to their expected graduation date. Clearing provides a triple-check on a student’s academic program of study in that the student, the advisor, and the graduation counselor review all the courses remaining for a student to take. It is NOT recommended that a student complete this process his or her last term.

Students should pick-up a graduation clearance packet from the Registar office, make an appointment to meet with their advisor outside scheduling week, bring their unofficial transcript from Wings, and their folder from the main office. Once graduation clearance is complete a copy of the form should be placed in the students’ folder and the student should return the completed form to the Registar’s office.

Photo Credit: “THAT is the question”: http://www.flickr.com/photos/torley/2726594777/

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Wag the Dog :: A Critical Analysis (for PRCA 2330)

On Monday, February 16, before class,  your critical analysis of the movie Wag the Dog is due. You will need to answer the following questions as fully as possible. Questions can also be referenced in your book in Chapter 3.

Questions:

  • Of the three basic value orientations (discussed in Chapter 3 of your textbook), what basic value orientation does the PR practitioner embody? Provide at least one example.
  • According to the PRSA Code of Ethics, how is the PR practitioner unethical?
  • What is the logic behind the phrase Wag the Dog, and how is it relevant to the situation involved?
  • In your opinion, what positive or negative stereotypes has the PR practitioner confirmed in his role in this movie?

Additional Information:

  • If you paraphrase or quote another source, give credit to the original writer. (Not doing so is plagiarism, just like it would be in a traditional paper.)
  • Use hyperlinks in your blog post, where applicable.
  • Assign the category of Assignments to this post.
  • This assignment is worth 30 of the “Instructor Discretion” points in this class.
  • If you haven’t already done so, look at the Blogging Feedback: Take One that was posted on February 9 for more tips.
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PRCA 2330 :: Blogging Feedback, Take One

I feel good! by Pulpolux !!!.In my PRCA 2330 class, students have created their blogs and have started blogging. Here are some tips for them based on  me reading their One Week of Twitter posts.

Things Done Well

  • You wrote conversationally.
  • You spoke your minds.
  • You backed up your assertions with examples.

Things to Watch Out For

  • Typos: Avoid at all costs. 
  • Avoid LOL and other acronyms. (That’s fine for text messages and Twitter, but not for blog posts.)
  • Long paragraphs: Especially when writing for the web, it’s important to keep your paragraphs short. Long paragraphs are hard on the eye and make things much more challenging to read.
  • Create new Posts, not new Pages, for your assignments. (And if you already have your assignments on Pages, simply copy the text from the page, and add a new Post.)

Things to Try Next Time

  • When you mention a website, provide a hyperlink to the site.
  • Consider adding a complementary image to your posts. I tend to find the images I use at Flickr, using the CompFight service to find ones that are licensed for use through Creative Commons.

As always, if you have questions  . . .

barbara_is_listening

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Blog Checklist for PRCA 2330 :: Week of 2 February

checking them off the list by numstead.There have been several questions about what’s expected with the blogs for our PRCA 2330 class up to this point (4 February). Here’s a checklist for you:

  • Create blog at WordPress.com
  • Let me know your blog URL. (Note: Most of you have already done this.)  
  • Visit my PRCA 2330 Blogroll to ensure I have noted your name.
  • Replace the blog title of your blog with something else. (For example, if your blog’s address is bnixon13.wordpress.com, the default blog title would be “bnixon13’s Weblog.) 
  • Replace the default tagline “Just another WordPress blog” with something else.
  • Create or edit the About page to have a brief bio of you.
  • Post your “One Week of Twitter” assignment; this should have been at least 250 words. Remember to use the category of Assignment. (Due 2 February)
  • Post your PR History recap. Use the category Reading Notes. (Due 4 February)
  • Check your Dashboard and check for comments you wish to approve.

Questions? Check this blog first, then if you’re still unsure, ask. Please.

barbara_is_listening

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Ethics & Professionalism in PR

In the Wednesday, February 4, PRCA 2330 class, we’ll be discussing ethics and professionalism in public relations. 

The Ethical Public Relations Practitioner  

(Note: Information in this class presentation was gleaned from various sources, primarily the textbook for the Introduction to Public Relations course, Public Relations: Strategies & Tactics.)

Something that has intrigued the students in the past was this image. What do you see here?

What do you see in this image?

Now tilt your head to the right . . . do you see anything different?

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The Evolution of Public Relations :: A Discussion Exercise

Tony Michetti at Watson Cafe by eqqman.Before our class discussion on the Evolution of Public Relations

In class on Monday

In Era Groups

  • Break up into groups based on your chosen (or assigned) era.
  • Each person states one important thing to know about the era, one person speaking at a time. Continue round-robin style until you no one has something unique to bring up.
  • As a group, come to a consensus on five or six important things from the era.
  • Each group member should write down the group’s consensus. You’ll need this for the next part of the activity.

In Mixed Groups

  • Break up into groups so that there’s one era representative for each era. We may end up with as many as 15 groups in our class.
  • Each era rep should hold a brief discussion on the 5 most important things/people from their eras.
  • Remember to take some brief notes on what your classmates mention from their eras.

After class, create a blog entry of about 250 words regarding the evolution of public relations, using these three questions to guide you:

  • What did you learn?
  • What surprised you?
  • What do you want to know more about?

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/91273409@N00/260394731/

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Blogging Guidelines :: PRCA 2330

This post explains the types of content I expect you to write about in your blog for PRCA 2330. Please add a category for each type (listed below), and make sure each post is categorized appropriately.

1. Reading notes – brief notes or key ideas from the reading assigned for that week’s class. Jot down 3-5 ideas that you believe are the most important & wish to remember. Be very brief, but write enough so someone who can’t read your mind understands what you mean and I am convinced that you actually did the readings. Remember to cite your source(s) when you paraphrase or quote materials from the readings.

2. Responses – commentary, reflections and thoughts about class material, whether it is class discussion, reading, case studies, etc. These should be your own thoughts and opinions.

3. Assignments – I’ll post specific blog post assignment instructions  here and if necessary I’ll suggest sub-categories and tags.

4. PR Connections – commentary, reflections and opinions about PR issues/examples that were not addressed in class. These can be responses to other PR blogs you read, links to interesting posts or articles, etc. The main difference between this category and “Responses” is that here YOU identify the material to respond to, whereas in “Responses” you write about class material.

5. Blog comments – whenever you comment on someone’s PR blog (whether it’s a PR professional or a PR student), create a brief post with a link to your comment so I can assess your online participation. Do this only for PR-related blogs.

6. Personal – optional category. Use it for any posts not related to public relations.

You may add other categories and sub-categories of your choice. Please keep in mind that when I evaluate your blog I will pay special attention to these categories, but I will not ignore other posts. I will perform a wholistic evaluation of your blog, looking for:

  • professionalism: Clear, correct, thoughtful writing
  • frequency: Sufficient posts in categories 1, 2, and 4 (Assignments will be graded separately). I expect you to jot down reading notes for every class reading and to post at least once a week in category 6, as well as comment on others’ blogs (category 5).
  • linking: Identify other PR blogs (use PR Open Mic or my blogroll in my Delicious bookmarks as starting points) and link to them. Respond to others’ posts. Become a part of the blogosphere. Blogging should not be lonely.
  • readability: brief & concise writing style, use of white space, bold characters, images, bullet points

Questions? Just let me know. 

barbara_is_listening

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE: Many thanks to Dr. V at Clemson University, who allowed me to use her blogging guidelines from her PRinciples class. They were so well-written that I made just a few tweaks for my own class. Dr. V knows that Blogs Matter.

Photo Credit: http://www.aoddesign.com/blog/resources/xmas-wordpress-logo-icons/