Course Description:

This course is an examination of print and electronic media.  Each medium is analyzed.  The possible effects of the media are also examined.

Course Objectives:

Course Objectives: 
1. Develop skills in analysis and critical thinking by examining mass communication from the perspectives of consumer and producer;
2. Learn about the history of mass communication in the United States and, to a lesser extent, the world;
3. Understand ethical issues in mass communication;
4. Understand the role of mass communication in the democratic process (as the 4^th estate);
5. Understand the role of the media in development and perpetuation of ethnic/gender stereotypes and culture;
6. Develop oral and written communication skills.

None

• Mass Media Industries
• Mass Media Support Industies
• Media Issues and Global Outlook

This course is designed to introduce you to the various mass media with a brief overview of the impact of each on our lives.  The course explores the history and role of the media in American culture and provides media literacy and criticism skills.  You will examine how various media operate, the business side of media, social responsibilities of media and the impact of media on society.
Today, we have "grown up with the media".  Media have evolved in a technological revolution.  Movies are mobile, music is downloadable, books are available in electronic or paper format.  Play Station 2 is old hat.  We are the embodiment of our mass media.  The focus of this course is to explore our mass media and society

• You should check and use the course e-mail feature regularly to communicate with me and other members of the class, especially your assigned team members.  If you would like help or a "refresher," see me or click on "Help" when the e-mail page opens.
• In this "electronic age," with new resources becoming available almost daily, you should be familiar with web searches, using electronic databases and the like.  A "Library Tutorial" has been built into the course assignments to give you the skills you need for researching your course assignments.
• Discussions and/or message board-use is becoming more common for education and business and professional communication and the sharing of files.  You are expected to learn how to use the course discussions feature, especially since some assignments require you to communicate with a team member outside class meeting times.  An assignment has been constructed, with directions, to familiarize you with this communication tool.  See me for additional help or use the "Help" feature on the Discussions page.

 

Please visit the Virtual Bookstore to obtain textbook information for this course:
http://rodp.bkstr.com

Impact/Interactive CD Rom provided with each copy of the text

The minimum requirements can be found at http://www.rodp.org/students/hardware_software.htm. Specific hardware requirements for this course include...

The minimum requirements can be found at http://www.rodp.org/students/hardware_software.htm. Specific hardware requirements for this course include...(A list of software the student is required to purchase or download for the course, Real Player, Media Player, Acrobat Reader, Microsoft Office, etc).

Please see the separate page inside the course to find instructor contact information as well as a statement of virtual office hours and other communication information.

Examinations will be delivered "online".  If you require or desire a traditional paper exam, contact the instructor for arrangements.

Course grades are measurements of student achievement of course objectives.  You will accumulate points, based on your performance on written assignments, examinations, and oral presentations.  The activities in this course are designed to assist you to develop an understanding of the role of the media in American culture and to increase your media literacy and criticism skills.

Assignments need to adhere strictly to the directions given for each assignment.  High quality work on written assignments, oral presentations, the examinations and class participation will receive the top scores on the grading scale.

Assignments must be submitted on or before the due date listed.  Assignments that are incomplete, incorrect, or late will receive grades that reflect the level of commitment and competence exhibited. 

Late assignments will receive a ten (10) percent point reduction for each calendar day late.
 

There are 1000 possible points to be earned in this course.  Accumulated points will be assessed, according to the following grading scale:

         A:   896-1000 points
         B:   796-895   points
         C:   696-795   points
         D:   596-695  points
         F:   595 points or below
         I:    Incomplete will be assigned at the discretion of the Instructor.

A student must have demonstrated the willingness to meet course requirements by participating scheduled meetings and by submitting course assignments on time.  An Incomplete will only be assigned if, in the opinion of the Instructor, course work has been completed to a point allowing the student to reasonably expect to satisfactorily complete remaining course work within a reasonable time period.

Quizzes and Exams:  250 points total
     There will be 4 "checkup quizzes" and 2 exams in this course.  Each quiz is 25 points and each exam is 75 points.  Practice quizzes are also available via various publishers.

Written Assignments:  (These assignments will be made via the course assignment tool)

Media Log assignment  (50 points)
Keep track of your actual media exposure for a week with media log sheets.  (You may copy the log sheet and use other sheets as necessary.)  Log all activities, such as listening to the car radio, reading the newspaper (including the campus student newspaper), reading textbooks and surfing the web.  You are tracking your media exposure.  See web page for details.

Final Project:  250 points total

     -Written report
          In the final project you will conduct research on some aspect of the mass media or media effects OR construct a message or medium plan.  The final written report for the research project will be a minimum of 6 pages. Proper spelling, grammar and punctuation are expected and you will receive point deductions for errors. Source citations are required.

Discussion Postings {16 chapter discussions}:  (320 points - 20 points each)
    The WebCT course has a Discussion Board.  Discussion Postings are entered for each chapter topic in the text.  You should respond to questions or comments initiated by you instructor for each chapter.  Your responses are evaluated and graded.  Go to the Discussion board from the course menu or from the course Home page.  As a minimum you should respond to each Chapter Discussion topic with at least 3 paragraphs of comment unless otherwise directed.  

Self-Introduction and Replies - Found on the Discussion Board (60 points)
After assessing your media use and affects on your life, how do you see yourself?  How have different media affected you.  In part 2 of this assignment, you will read the self-introductions of others in class and respond to a few other members of your class.  See web page for details.

Class Participation: (70 points)
     Participation is based on noted criteria: Your engagement in the web course, your participation in discussion board activities, email correspondence and in regular engagement with the course material.  The WebCT course management system records your activity in the course and tracks your actions in each section.  (While I cannot determine if you actually read course content, I can determine if you have visited the page and for how long.)
          You should be prepared to participate fully.
 

You should use the course calendar to stay on schedule and determine specific deadlines

All written work must be  word-processed and submitted within the webcourse (You will be directed to either submit via email or the asignment box.  The college offers several student computer labs with modern equipment and laser printers.  Use them!

Any written work submitted in the course must be in .doc, htm, html or rtf formats.  Contact me if you need directions on how to do this.  Assignments must be submitted by deadline.   Electronic documents must be spell checked and formatted in the same way as a paper document.  See the paper writing guidelines.

Extra credit work is not accepted.

 

Academic Honesty:
Don't plagiarize!  Plagiarism is defined as taking another person's ideas, thoughts, words, music, quotes or answers without citing or crediting them.  This is not only prohibited in my class but is against the rules of the College.  Academic dishonesty will result in a grade of "F" on the relevant assignment.

 

Class Participation and Attendance:
Ten percent of your grade is class participation.  You're online participation via email (student to student and student to instructor) and discussion boards is expected and rewarded.   Regular discussion posting will be offered by the instructor and other students.  Respond and participate

 

Participation is required.  Use the assigned WebCT course e-mail, as opposed to a personal e-mail address. 

Time Management:  You are responsible for what they achieve in this course.  Students must be ?self-starters? and good time managers.  Keep on schedule because, procrastination is the worst enemy of any student.

Class Participation:  You are expected to communicate with other students.  Actively seek suggestions, get reviews of your work, and share ideas.  To encourage participation, this course is designed to encourage regular and active communication between students.  Use e-mail and the course Discussions feature regularly.  Check the Schedule/Calendar and Assignments pages weekly to be prepared to participate in class.

Grammar and Spelling:  Avoid poor grammar and spelling errors in your electronic communication, whether, e-mail or Discussions board.  Check your grammar and spelling, then review for errors, before sending or posting messages.

Course Netiquette:  Be respectful and tolerant of others.  Visit the ?Netiquette? website listed below, under ?Web Resources.?  I have zero tolerance for failing to use netiquette and simple politeness.

E-Mail:  Each student has a WebCT course e-mail account.  Use this account for all correspondence.

Communication with your Instructor:  I cannot know what help you need unless you ask.  Be specific.  Also use your course mail account.  E-mails sent to the instructor under another name or using an e-mail account outside the course will not always be read or answered in a timely fashion. 

Plagiarism, cheating, or other forms of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated.  To present another's work as one's own (ideas or words) is considered academic dishonesty.  The minimum penalty is a zero for the assignment.  You may seek advice and opinions from peers concerning assignments, but the final product must be your own.  You may also use your text and notes for the Learning Quizzes, but the completion of a Learning Quiz should be your own individual effort

• Columbia Guide to Online Style by Janice R. Walker and Todd Taylor
• Citation Styles Online http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/online/cite6.html

Library

The Tennessee Virtual Library is available to all students enrolled in the Regents Degree Program. Links to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases, interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by learners to complete online assignments and as background reading must be included in all courses. 

Students With Disabilities

Qualified students with disabilities will be provided reasonable and necessary academic accommodations if determined eligible by the appropriate disability services staff at their home institution. Prior to granting disability accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written verification of a student's eligibility for specific accommodations from the disability services staff at the home institution. It is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with their home institution's disability services staff and to follow the established procedures for having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor.

Syllabus Changes

The instructor reserves the right to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. If changes are necessitated during the term of the course, the instructor will immediately notify students of such changes both by individual email communication and posting both notification and nature of change(s) on the course bulletin board.

Technical Support

If you are having problems logging into your course,
timing out of your course, using your course web site tools, or other technical problems, please contact the AskRODP Help Desk by calling

1-866-550-7637 (toll free)

or go to the AskRODP website at:

http://help.rodp.org