EUGENE, Ore. -- (Dec. 1, 2009) -- How does the Dating Game relate to good grammar?
At least one team of UO students who submitted their multimedia project to the American Grammar Idol contest at UO School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC) is hoping it does. In fact, they are hoping to bring clarity to the issue of subject-verb agreement through a spoof of the Dating Game, where a grammar-loving bachelor is looking for an equally grammar-nerdy bachelorette.
In all, 27 student projects were submitted in J101 Grammar for Communicators taught by adjunct assistant professor Tracy Ilene Miller, but only six will be finalists this Thursday, Dec. 3, during a one-hour special event that includes judging by SOJC professors Duncan McDonald and Tom Wheeler and instructor Melissa Hart.
For the past three weeks, student teams approached all matter of subject-verb agreement, word usage and pronoun errors as multimedia projects that should not only entertain but educate and inform. Similar to the Academy Awards, the class of nearly 120 students is responsible for voting on the six finalist projects that will be judged by the panel of expert grammarians.
"Multimedia projects offer an effective platform for students to unpack and repack technical problems such as grammar in a creative way," says Miller, who has taught grammar for three years at SOJC. "The students are expected to be experts in technology, and they are expected to know the rules of grammar and clear communications. If anything, their work on these projects magnifies the technical aspects of grammar even more."
The J101 American Grammar Idol event also highlights the recent reworking of the SOJC curriculum, which recognizes that media professionals of the future will need to know how to relay news stories in multiple, technological platforms, even as they master the basics of good communication, grammar and storytelling.
"As the media professions continue to evolve, our students need to be innovative and creative to meet the challenges they'll face in the real world and to prepare to lead the industry," says Tim Gleason, Edwin L. Artzt Dean of the School of Journalism and Communication. "But as ever, they still need to be grounded in the fundamentals of good journalism and good writing. This event is a great illustration of how our faculty helps students to do both. And, it will be fun."
About the University of Oregon
The University of Oregon is a world-class teaching and research institution and Oregon's flagship public university. The UO is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), an organization made up of the 62 leading public and private research institutions in the United States and Canada. The University of Oregon is one of only two AAU members in the Pacific Northwest.
Contact: Julie Brown, UO media relations, 541-346-3185, julbrown@uoregon.edu
Source: Tracy Ilene Miller, adjunct assistant professor, 541-556-3699, tmiller6@uoregon.edu.
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