Quizzes or Editing Exercises? In Teaching AP Style, Both Methods Work Equally

Abstract

Journalism educators train students on Associated Press (AP) style, helping them navigate grammar, accuracy, and ethical issues. However, there is little peer-reviewed research testing which methods are most effective. This article used a quasi-experimental pretest/posttest methodology over six semesters to test three common methods: timed, closed-book, in-class quizzes; timed, open-book, in-class editing exercises; and take-home exercises. No one method proved statistically superior. All types moved students from high Fs to Cs. This study showed that learning AP style needs constant reinforcement.

Who Is Worthy of a Name? Identity, Naming, and Social Difference in News Images’ Captions

“…AP Style is often considered the standard of journalistic writing (Vultee, 2012) and is the most often taught style in journalism education (Littlefield, 2022). Historically, there was a section on photo captions in the print edition of the AP Stylebook (Angione, 1977) but this was removed in 2018 (“Ask the Editor,” 2018).…”

What Style Guides Tell Secular Journalists about Muslims and Islam

“…As trainees are socialised into the norms of the profession, conformity to a standard style such as that used by the Associated Press (ap) is seen as a vital skill (e.g. Christ and Henderson, 2014;Littlefield, 2021). These studies are pedagogical, examining how style is taught rather than interrogating the content of guides.…”