Course: Spcom 12 Mass Communication Spring 2006
Instructor: Dr. Timothy S. Elizondo
Tamarack 215
Contact Information telizondo@yosemite.cc.ca.us (209) 588-5210
Office Hours: Monday 10:00-11:15
Monday 4:45-6:00
Wednesdays 10:00-11:15
Thursdays 10:00-11:15
Required Materials: (Things you will need for this course)
Mass Media in a Changing World by George Rodman
Recommended Materials: (Things I would highly suggest that you obtain for this course)
-Student Subscription to New York Times (Available at bookstore)
-access to cable television
-access to the internet
Course Description
This course designed for
students who have grown up in a rapidly changing global multimedia
environment and want to become more literate and critical consumers and
producers of culture. Through an interdisciplinary comparative and historical
lens, the course defines "media" broadly. This includes oral, print, theatrical,
photographic, broadcast, cinematic, and digital cultural forms and practices.
The course looks at the nature of mediated communication, the functions of
media, the history of media and the institutions that help define media's place
in society.
Over the course of the
semester we will explore different theoretical perspectives on the role and
power of media in society in influencing our social values, political beliefs,
identities and behaviors. Students will also have the opportunity to analyze
specific media texts and explore the meaning of the changes that occur when a
particular narrative is adapted from print to visual forms in different time
periods. Through the readings, lectures,
and discussions as well as their own writing, students will have multiple
opportunities to engage with critical debates in the field as well as explore
the role of media in their own lives.
Policies
Policies are clearly an
inadequate substitute for personal responsibility. Therefore, the following
policies will serve to augment your own responsibility for learning in this course:
Assignments. All assignments are due when
collected by the instructor during the due date class period. For known
assignment schedule conflicts (including university sanctioned activities or
religious holidays), arrangements must be made prior to the assignment due date
to avoid a point deduction for a late assignment. Late written assignments due
to unexpected emergencies must be accompanied by legitimate documentation to
avoid a point deduction. Late written assignments due to non-emergencies, or without
documentation of an emergency, will receive a deduction of 10% of the total
grade possible for each class period they are late.
Attendance. Missing class will affect
your grade. Your presence and participation will enhance the learning
experience for both you and others in the course. Missed lecture material,
assignment instructions, class discussions, and in-class exercises will degrade
your own learning experience, as well as decrease your performance on graded
assignments and tests. If you miss class(es), expect your grade to be affected. If you are absent,
please do not ask, "Was anything important covered in class?"
Instead, assume that the class was conducted to cover important material, and
then arrange an appointment with a classmate to cover the class material. After
you have obtained the missed material, I can answer any questions you might
have during office hours, by e-mail, or by appointment. Arriving
late for class is rude and disruptive, so plan ahead to arrive on time.
If you stop attending (i.e., "drop") the class, it is your
responsibility to complete course withdrawal paperwork in a timely manner. Attendance is expected and required. Each
absence in excess of two will result in a lower participation grade (I do not
distinguish between '"excused" and "unexcused" absences.) Eight or more absences in one semester will
be considered grounds for an automatic failure from the course Similarly, habitual lateness will lower your course grade.
Under no circumstances, enter the classroom late when one of your peers is
speaking. Please note you are responsible for all announcements and information
which you miss.
Academic
Integrity. Plagiarism is using the ideas or statements of others without giving
them proper credit. Please do not exercise these opportunities. If you borrow
an idea from anyone, you MUST identify the source of that idea. Every
information source you use during oral presentations in this course must be
verbally identified. Fabricating information or evidence sources is also a form
of plagiarism. Cheating and plagiarism are essentially stealing what belongs to
another and/or lying about its authorship. Any cheating on tests, or plagiarism
on written or oral work, will result in a course grade of "F," and a
report of the incident will be filed with the school. It is each student’s responsibility to be
familiar with what
Appropriate
Interaction. This is a course about the mass
communication and the ways it inter-relates to culture. University settings require that the
classroom serve as an extension of the public forum-a place for idea exchange. The material in this course will include
films and media texts intended for adult viewing. This class will cover controversial films and
topics. Films shown in this course will
include depictions of violence, sexual acts, obscene language, and/or
alternative lifestyles. These films
often have “R” ratings.
Consequently, all oral
presentations and class discussions must maintain an appropriate balance
between the responsibility to be evaluative toward the ideas of others and the
responsibility to be respectful toward the ideas of others. Class discussions
must maintain an appropriate balance between the responsibility to be zealous
about our own ideas and the responsibility to be teachable about our own ideas.
We should not disregard one out of enthusiasm for the other. By keeping these
important communication responsibilities in a constructive state of tension, we
will be able to foster a positive (albeit sometimes uncomfortable) learning
environment. Anyone who demonstrates a persistent unwillingness to shoulder
these dual tensions will be dropped from the course.
Grading Criteria
Midterm: 100 pts
Final exam 250 pts
Classroom Leadership: 50 pts
Journal entries: 25 pts each (4 x 25 = 100)
Total: 500 pts
|
Points Earned |
|
Letter Grade |
|
>89 |
= |
A |
|
80-89 |
= |
B |
|
70-79 |
= |
C |
|
60-69 |
= |
D |
Midterm Exam: Test material will be drawn
from assigned readings as well as class lectures, discussions, and material
shown in class. Class meetings will not comprehensively cover the assigned
reading material. Instead, additional material will be introduced during class
meetings that spring from the assigned readings. Individual test items may take the form of
true-false, multiple choice, matching, fill-in-the-blank, short answer, or
essay questions.
Classroom Leadership: Classroom leadership involves the overall
attitude you express: the acceptance of alternative points of view on
controversial issues (you do not have to agree, but you have to respect
another's right to her/his point of view), providing relevant examples, and
participation in activities and discussion. Constant moaning and groaning,
reading the paper or other materials in class, resistance to course activities,
talking to your friends while others are speaking, falling asleep, arriving
late to class, and continuously asking if we are going to get out early are
examples of poor leadership.
Final Exam: Final Exam will be a take
home exam. The exam will be in an essay
form. Questions will be given at least
four weeks in advance.
Journal entries
These are short 2-4 page writing assignments. Topics will be assigned throughout the
semester. These assignments must be
typed, double spaced, spell checked, and use 12-point font. Failure to adhere to formatting standards
will cause the paper to be rejected by the instructor. Topics for these assignments will be given at
least two weeks before the expected due date.
Course Schedule
Week Subject Due/Readings
1 (1/9-1/14) Introduction to Course Journal #1a
Introduction to Media Studies
2 (1/16-1/21) Introduction to Media Studies Rodman 1
No Class on 1/16 Narratives/Semiology
3 (1/23-1/28) Narrative/Movies Rodman 5
Journal #1b
4 (1/30-2/3) Viewing Week
5 (2/6-2/10) Media and Realty/Realism
6. (2/13-2/17) Ideology and Political Economy Rodman 4
7. (2/20-2/24) Identity Politics and the Media Journal 2
8. (2/27-3/3) Midterm
9. (3/6-3/10) Television Rodman 8
10. (3/13-3/17) Media Effects Rodman 13
11. (3/20-3/24) News Rodman 10
Journal 3
12. (3/27-3/31) Advertising Rodman 12
13. (4/3-4/7) Public Relations Rodman 11
14 (4/10-4/14) Viewing Week Journal 4
15. (4/17-4/21) Prepare for Final
16. (4/24-4/28) Finals Week Final
Exam Due