SMC Traveler

DEADLINES ARE CRITICAL  FOR JOURNALISTS. ALL ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE BY CLASS TIME AND SUBJECT TO MARKDOWNS IF NOT POSTED BY DEADLINE.

Week One:

Tue. Jan 3:   Introduction to travel writing and WordPress. Set up individual WordPress websites. Discussion of Winter Whale Watching by Don George. Assignment for Wed: Read pages 1-53 in Lonely Planet’s Guide to Travel Writing.Write a 600 wd. narrative (first person) travel article and POST on the front page of your site by class time.

Wed. Jan 4: Class writing exercises – your favorite trip. 10:00 guest: Don George – author of Lonely Planet’s guide to travel writing. Assignment for Thur:  Post an approx. 600 wd. blog on your GUEST page (with google image photo of George) on what you learned from Don George’s visit.  Assignment for Friday: Read Into the heart of the Himalaya http://www.geoex.com/recce/recce_sub.asp?ArticleTypeID=2&EzineID=38 and email me (before class time) three observations for Friday’s discussion on the reading. Read pages 54-112 in Lonely Planet’s Guide to Travel Writing and prepare for QUIZ on Friday.

Thur. Jan 5: El Camino Trailways coach picks us up at front entrance by the kiosk. We leave promptly at 9:20. It is your responsibility to make it on time or you will miss the bus. Itinerary: We will be dropped off at Redwood Park, where we will begin a two hour llama trek. Box lunch will be provided. Return by 1 pm. Assignment due Monday: Write and post (on the front of your website) a 600 word narrative on our trip with photo[s]and video you’ve taken on the trip .

Fri. Jan 6: Crafting your story. Discuss Heart of the Himalaya. QUIZ ON PAGES 1-112 IN LONELY PLANET GUIDE). 10:00 guest speaker: Travel Journalist Lisa Alpine: Travel writing boot camp. Assignments for Monday:  Post approx. 600 wd.  blog (with Google image photo) on what you learned from Lisa Alpine. First travel articles, photos and video due on Monday.

Week Two:

Mon. Jan 9: First travel articles due. In class exercises.  Assignment for Tuesday: Read Tim Cahill’s This Teeming Arc  and email me three observations you’d like to discuss  in class. Prepare for Tuesday’s guest, Spud Hilton.

Tue: Jan 10: Roundtable discussion of This Teeming Arc. Guest speaker: Spud Hilton, SF Chronicle Travel Editor. Assignment for Thursday: Post an approx 600 wd.blog and photo on what you learned from Spud Hilton. Read pages 113-163 in Lonely Planet’s Guide to travel writing. 

Thur. Jan 12: Pickup at St. Mary’s guard shack at 9:20 am. Arrive at 10:30 at Sonoma Visitors Bureau (453 1st st. east) for welcome talk and press packets then walk to the Sonoma Mission for a 10:45 tour. At 11:45, we’ll get a walking tour of other historic properties on the square. Lunch at 12:15 on the plaza with time to explore on your own. At 1:15 the bus leaves for a tour of Cline Cellars  (the site of the original Sonoma Mission). Writing exercises on bus trip home. Return to St. Mary’s by 3 pm. Assignment for Tuesday: Write a 600 word article on Sonoma – with photos AND video posted on your site. QUIZ TUESDAY.

Fri. Jan 13: Day off. No class.

Week Three:

Mon.  Jan 16: MLK HOLIDAY no class.

Tue. Jan 17:  QUIZ ON pages 113-163 in LONELY PLANET’S GUIDE TO TRAVEL WRITING.  Audio postcards and radio trvel vignettes.  Guest speaker 10-11:30:  NPR broadcaster and author Tom Wilmer. Assignment for Wednesday:Post by class time a 600 wd. (approx) blog on Tom Wilmer with google image photo.  Assigned reading: (including email with 3 observations before class time) Pico Iyer “Why we Travel”. http://www.worldhum.com/features/travel-stories/why-we-travel-20081213/N2/.

Wed. Jan 18: Discussion of Pico Iyer. Audio Postcards. Podcasts and radio travel vignettes.  Final class assignment: Radio travel vignette.

Thur. Jan 19: El Camino Trailways coach picks us up at front entrance by the guard gate at 9:15 for 9:20 departure.  Itinerary: 90 minute Duck Boat tour leaving from Fisherman’s Wharf at 11:00 am.  Return by 1 pm. QUIZ FRIDAY on pages 166-225 in textbook. Assignment for Monday: write and post on your website a 600 word first person narrative on our duckboat trip with video AND photos.

Fri. Jan 20: . Audio postcards.  Garageband tutorial for help with final projects.

Week Four:

Monday Jan 23: No formal class. Outside time to work on your final projects.

Tue. Jan 24:  QUIZ ON PAGES 166-225 IN LONELY PLANET’S GUIDE TO TRAVEL WRITING. Work on final projects.

Thur Jan 26:  El Camino Trailways coach picks us up at front entrance by the kiosk. We leave promptly at 9:20. It is your responsibility to make it on time or you will miss the bus. Itinerary: We will make the 60 minute drive south to the charming coastal town of Half Moon Bay on the rugged San Mateo coast.  Includes lunch at Camerons.

Friday Jan 27: Last day of class. Air podcasts and showcase individual websites. Radio vignettes due. See grading page for instructions.