Mass Communication 117

Journalism 117

INTRODUCTION TO MASS COMMUNICATION / MEDIA IN SOCIETY

SEMESTER 1 2007-2008

 

MWF 8-8:50 A.M.

 

 

 

 

 

Prof. Fred Berger                                                      Required Text:

Office:  Chapel B108                                                MEDIA & CULTURE:  An Introduction to

866-6118                                                                   Mass Communication.  6th ed. Campbell, etal

Office Hours:                                                             

            MWF 9-9:50 a.m. TTH 2-2:50 p.m.

            WF10-10:50 a.m.

 

 

The course examines the role and impact of American print and electronic media including newspapers, books, magazines, radio, motion pictures, television, and the Internet.  Students who are interested professionally in the various fields of mass media should receive a solid foundation for more advanced coursework.  For those who plan to go into other fields, the course should provide a basic understanding of the American mass media and of the issues that should interest citizens generally.  

 

At the conclusion of this course, students should be able:   to recognize the cultural importance of mass media in America; to understand the development of various American media in historical terms; and to discuss controversies in the various mass media as they relate to audiences in general and media ethics in particular.

 

 

 

 

The work of the course breaks down into five elements:

 

1.      assigned textbook readings for each class meetings, including regular quizzes.

 

2.      in-class and on-line discussions based on readings and on any discussion topics.

 

3.      lectures expanding on material in the text, especially updated material covering recent developments.

 

4.      a written report based on a group “media content” project.

 

5.      five tests, including a comprehensive final examination.  The tests cover the textbook material and information furnished in the lectures.

 

 

 

 

Discussion.  You will be expected to read and discuss the material that each chapter presents.  Two types of discussion will count toward your grade:  in-class (20 pts) and on-line (20 pts).  The on-line discussion will be through the course Moodle site, and will be explained early in the semester. 

 

Group Report.  The group project necessitates your having access to print media, magazines, movies, radio or television, etc. under conditions suitable for careful tabulation of content items.  Schedules vary widely with topic, but you ought to count on being able to devote about ten hours to the data collection itself in addition to analyzing the data and writing the paper.  Please decide at the outset whether you can meet these requirements, and discuss with the instructor if this is a problem.  The group report must be submitted via the course Moodle site, and through Turnitin.com.  More information about this resource will be provided later in the semester.

 

 

Attendance is Required.  Please be seated in the classroom by 8 a.m..  Turn off all cell phones and other electronic devices (not simply on “silent” mode.)   Events may occur which force you to miss class.  Except in emergencies, the instructor should be notified BEFORE the class is missed.  It is at the instructor’s discretion whether a missed class is excused or unexcused, and whether work missed can be made up.  

 

Three (3) unexcused absences will be allowed.  After three unexcused absences, five points will be deducted from the “attendance” portion of the final grade for each absence.

 

 

Academic Honesty.  The College 2007-2008 Academic Catalog describes the College Academic Honesty policy.  It is requested that students become familiar with that policy, a portion of which is included here:  “... Students are expected to be truthful in all academic relationships on campus; in all courses, each student has the responsibility to submit work that is uniquely the student’s own.  Cheating, plagiarism, willful violation of personal or collegiate computer security, misrepresentation of rightful ownership of academic property, falsification of data, theft or mutilation or library or reserved materials, unauthorized or misrepresented copying of print/media information or copyrighted computer program of any kind are expressly forbidden at the College.  The use of commercial term-paper companies or preexisting files of term papers to produce assigned class work is considered a violation of the Academic Honesty Policy. ...“  (Catalog 52 )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grades are based on the following scale: 

 

 

 

A          93-100 %

A-                      90-92

B+         88-89

B           83-87

B-                      80-82

C+         78-79

C           73-77

C-                      70-72

D+         68-69

D           60-67

F     below 60 %

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The final grade is based on a numerical aggregate of the scores awarded for attendance, discussion, the written report and achievement on the quizzes and tests.  The total number of points is listed below.

 

 

Discussion………….…………………40

Attendance ………….…………….….50

Chapter Quizzes…(12@ 5pts)……..60

Group Report……….……………….150

Tests:

         4 @ 100 pts…...…………..….400

         Final @ 200 pts………….…...200

 

Total Points ………………………..900