Yearbook

Yearbook Course Description

Yearbook is a year-long class that produces the school yearbook. Members of the staff are expected to have a high level of maturity and the ability to work independently. Students will be responsible for the production, design, and publication of the school yearbook. This product based course requires both in class and after school time. This is a wonderful opportunity for members of the team to exercise their creativity, while developing new skills in computer design, photography, copywriting, and project management. Creating the yearbook is a fun process and the end result of all the effort is a product the students can be proud of.

Advanced Journalism Production, Editing & Design is a two-semester course, combining high-level critical thinking, reading and writing skills of print journalism with the artistic, creative and aesthetic skills of visual and graphic arts. Students master the writing and editing of the most common forms of journalistic stories, read and analyze relevant literature through expository writing. They will demonstrate an understanding, both written and verbal, of the principles of design using their knowledge. Students will learn the principles of design including the following: balance, unity, emphasis, contrast, variety, proportion, movement, rhythm, and pattern/repetition through direct instruction, note-taking, analysis of current graphic design products (i.e. magazines, book covers, advertisements), and reading. 

Students will master writing and editing journalistic reports and narratives, read and analyze literature through expository writing, learn how to build and create editorial layouts, analyze journalistic photography, portrait photography, and sports photography, and learn to communicate, manage and evaluate within small teams. Students will evaluate images based on a set of given values, learn communication, business and time management, and evaluation skills for individuals and small teams, use of state-of-the-art word processing and design software including Adobe Photoshop software. Students will demonstrate knowledge and put into practice journalism ethics and communications law. Students will learn to communicate and manage projects in a self-directed learning environment. This course sharpens student thinking and expression, widens their experience with people and communication, provides an environment for self-directed learning and gives them confidence in their ability to see their creative ideas to completion.

This course will serve several purposes on campus, primarily as an arts credit course. Students will be able to demonstrate their mastery of technical skills including photography, editorial layout design, typography, infographics utilizing the Elements of Art and Principles of Design. Secondly, this course will serve as a production class using state of the art and industry software and equipment to create a portfolio of writings, designs and photography that will be published. Students will document events, people and the community of the school by researching, conducting interviews, and utilize various types of digital story-telling. Students will learn journalism skills by reading and analyzing nonfiction texts, increase listening and speaking skills, and conduct accurate and trustworthy research, demonstrating their understanding and mastery of a professional publication. All work for this course must be professionally and accurately executed for publication. Writing for this course seeks to meet the standards for professional publication in accuracy, clarity and in proofreading.