News 201

DUE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7

Turn in a double-spaced report on the following information-gathering assignment. You should try to tie this assignment in to your proposed final project. The minimum length will be a paragraph for each requested area of information. See samples.

The purpose of this assignment is to have you explore some sources of information that you may not be used to using. Pick a topic or subject area. Almost any will do, but it makes a lot more sense to choose the topic you think you want to work on for the final project. You’re to find information that falls into 3 of the following categories:

Historical

Biographical

Statistical

Geographical

Novel (first, last, only)

Economical

Instructional (how to)

You must find information on these topics from at least 3 of the following research materials. These sources MUST be off-line. You MUST provide photocopies of the materials you have cited from these sources:

Almanac

Encyclopedia

Biography

Plat Book

Statistical Abstract

Facts on File

Encyclopedia of Associations

You must also find information on these topics from at least 6 REPUTABLE websites or computerized databases, such as:

Lexis/Nexis

EBSCO

WebSPIRS

For websites, you must include the URLs of each site you use. The URLs are to be emailed to your professor of record as well. Note that you cannot email URLs for Lexis/Nexis, EBSCO and WebSPIRS. For those, photocopy the information, and turn in the photocopy.

Upon finding this information, write up a block of information for each category you’ve researched. These blocks are to be typed, double-spaced and take up no more than 3 pages.

A well-done project will include depth in each topic area. Example:

Topic: Knuckleballs

Category: Instructional

The knuckleball is a pitch used in baseball. The ball is not, contrary to the pitch’s name, held by the knuckles, but rather by the fingers. Traditional knuckleball pitchers hold the ball near the seams with two or three fingers and a thumb, which sits on the opposite side of the ball from the fingers. The pitcher then throws the ball toward the batter, releasing all the fingers and the thumb at the same time, forcing the ball to travel through the air with no spin. If thrown properly, the ball will “float” and it will be pushed about by the wind currents, forcing it to move erratically and making it difficult for the batter to hit.

Topic: Knuckleballs

Category: Statistical

The knuckleball is 3.2 times more likely to strike out a hitter than a 95 mph fastball, according to the Almanac of Exciting Stuff. The average knuckleball pitcher retires 10 batters on strikes, 2 on flyballs and 15 on ground balls out of every 9 innings pitched, it also stated. Robert Adair, who studied knuckleballs as the official physicist of Major League Baseball, found that the average knuckleball never exceeded speeds of 68 mph. Phil Niekro holds the record for most wins by a purely knuckleball pitcher: 318 games in his 24-year major-league career.


	Assignment 3 ... News Judgment ... Research
	DUE TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7 Turn in a double-spaced report on the following information-gathering assignment. You should try to tie this assignment in to your proposed final project. The minimum length will be a paragraph for each requested area of information. See samples. The purpose of this assignment is to have you explore some sources of information that you may not be used to using. Pick a topic or subject area. Almost any will do, but it makes a lot more sense to choose the topic you think you want to work on for the final project. You’re to find information that falls into 3 of the following categories: Historical Biographical Statistical Geographical Novel (first, last, only) Economical Instructional (how to) You must find information on these topics from at least 3 of the following research materials. These sources MUST be off-line. You MUST provide photocopies of the materials you have cited from these sources: Almanac Encyclopedia Biography Plat Book Statistical Abstract Facts on File Encyclopedia of Associations You must also find information on these topics from at least 6 REPUTABLE websites or computerized databases, such as: Lexis/Nexis EBSCO WebSPIRS For websites, you must include the URLs of each site you use. The URLs are to be emailed to your professor of record as well. Note that you cannot email URLs for Lexis/Nexis, EBSCO and WebSPIRS. For those, photocopy the information, and turn in the photocopy. Upon finding this information, write up a block of information for each category you’ve researched. These blocks are to be typed, double-spaced and take up no more than 3 pages. A well-done project will include depth in each topic area. Example: Topic: Knuckleballs Category: Instructional The knuckleball is a pitch used in baseball. The ball is not, contrary to the pitch’s name, held by the knuckles, but rather by the fingers. Traditional knuckleball pitchers hold the ball near the seams with two or three fingers and a thumb, which sits on the opposite side of the ball from the fingers. The pitcher then throws the ball toward the batter, releasing all the fingers and the thumb at the same time, forcing the ball to travel through the air with no spin. If thrown properly, the ball will “float” and it will be pushed about by the wind currents, forcing it to move erratically and making it difficult for the batter to hit. Topic: Knuckleballs Category: Statistical The knuckleball is 3.2 times more likely to strike out a hitter than a 95 mph fastball, according to the Almanac of Exciting Stuff. The average knuckleball pitcher retires 10 batters on strikes, 2 on flyballs and 15 on ground balls out of every 9 innings pitched, it also stated. Robert Adair, who studied knuckleballs as the official physicist of Major League Baseball, found that the average knuckleball never exceeded speeds of 68 mph. Phil Niekro holds the record for most wins by a purely knuckleball pitcher: 318 games in his 24-year major-league career.