J-Skills is an
extensive package of Web-based, interactive exercises along with a
printed, ready reference handbook.
Its innovative direct explanations help students learn basic news and
PR writing, including basic grammar. The students learn by doing, and the
instructor may focus on personal mentoring, instead of lecturing.
WEB EXERCISES
Some journalism students use just the grammar and stylebook Web
exercises.
Other students use the 10-or-13-week pick-all-or-some complete J-Skills Web exercise
package for a basic journalism writing class. The exercises include
leads, news stories, detailing, headlines, observation and interviewing
skills, leading to a comprehensive "big project."
For grammar, for example, students work at their own pace in three
two-hour homework assignments covering the ten most-common problems, as
determined by journalism professors. Results showed a change in a grammar
test from 25 percent passing before the grammar unit to 75 percent passing
afterwards.
The Web exercises at Grammar Matters provide instant feedback, with explanations.
PRINT HANDBOOK
Both students and instructors/trainers may also use the fresh,
innovative explanations in the optional, companion printed handbook, "The
Journalism QuickGuide,"
In the handbook, the
directions for "that/which" eliminate the student-unfriendly terms of
restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses and say to look directly "at the
words immediately preceding the that/which choice."
The handbook also has the J-Stylebook, which is "The Associated Press
Stylebook" restructured into sections on capitalization, abbreviations, numbers, words,
and punctuation.
The 44-page complete handbook, "The Journalism QuickGuide," with
ten chapters, has replaced a traditional textbook in some classes. It
is also being used in newsroom training. ($4.95 with online and bulk
discounts)
An 26-page excerpt, "Journalism QuickRules,"
focuses on the grammar and J-Stylebook sections. ($2.95 with online and
bulk discounts)