MC 357
Issues in Mass Communication
Winter 2007
Prof. Sally Nesselrode Class
meets: MWF
Chapel B109 Classroom: Science 106
x6211
Course Description: A study of major ideas and issues in the development of professional standards in today’s media. Specifically, this course focuses on ethics in seeking truth, advertising, loyalty, public relations, privacy, and becoming a moral adult, just to name a few. Students will be exposed to a variety of case studies involving the responsibility of mass communication professionals. Students will also learn how to conduct and write original research involving one aspect of the course.
Required Text: Media Ethics: Issues and Cases by Patterson & Wilkins, 5th edition. 2005.
Course Design: Typically, this course covers one chapter per week. However, please keep in mind that discussion of certain issues/cases may take more time than others. Generally, Mondays & Wednesdays will be lecture days. Fridays are reserved for discussion of essays and cases printed at the end of each chapter. A research methods component is built into this course to help you become better at mass communication research.
Quizzes: There are 5 quizzes throughout the semester, each
worth 10 points covering a single chapter.
“Question of the
Week”: Each week until Spring
Break, each student must write a 2 page, position paper, taking either a PRO or
CON position on a given topic. Each
paper must have at least 2 sources other than the text. In order to form an opinion, you must have
some knowledge of the topic. Thus, you
must find and read material on the topic.
All papers must be double-spaced
and include a Title page and Works Cited page (4 pages total). The “Question of the Week” will be given on Fridays
and the paper is due the following Friday.
Each paper is worth 15 points and you will write seven. **One page = at
least ¾ page**
Group Research and
Presentations: Each student will be assigned to a research group consisting
of two students, who are responsible for selecting and researching an
issues/ethics topic from the text (due toward the end of April). Each student will write a 5-7 page paper
relating to his/her group’s topic.
Presentations are worth 50 points, are graded as a group (each student
will receive the same grade), and should last 15-20 minutes. Papers are worth 100 points, graded
individually, and due at presentation time.
Other Paper Requirements:
This course will utilize www.turnitin.com as a writing resource. All papers must be submitted to this website
prior to handing in the hard copy of your paper. You must also submit an originality report
(from turnitin.com) with each paper.
Instructions for first-time users, including course password, will be
provided by the professor.
Attendance: Simply put, each unexcused absence is a loss of 5 points from the attendance grade.
Late work: As a media professional in training, you must be prepared and learn to meet deadlines. Thus, all work must be submitted on time. Only under the most extreme circumstances will written work be accepted late without penalty. Otherwise, late work will receive a 20% penalty for each day late (work submitted more than 15 minutes after the deadline is considered 1 day late).
Electronic
Devices: All cell phones, iPods,
and other electronic devices must be turned OFF during lecture, discussion, and
writing class. Having a cell phone on
vibrate mode is not acceptable. Five
points will be deducted from your final grade each time your cell phone either
rings or vibrates during class. In addition,
I have the right to ask you to leave class.
GRADE
DETERMINATION:
Attendance 45
Discussion 50
Quizzes (5) 50
Question of the Week (7 papers) 105
Research Paper & Presentation 150
Final Exam (comprehensive) 100
TOTAL 500
QUIZ DATES:
Jan. 12 Quiz
#1
Feb. 2 Quiz
#2
Feb. 23 Quiz
#3
March 23 Quiz #4
April 4 Quiz
#5
“QUESTION OF THE WEEK” DUE DATES:
Jan. 19 Question
#1
Jan. 26 Question
#2
Feb. 2 Question
#3
Feb. 9 Question #4
Feb. 16 Question
#5
Feb. 23 Question #6
March 2 Question
#7
GROUP PRESENTATIONS & INDIVIDUAL PAPERS
DUE DATES:
April 16 Groups #1 and #2
April 23 Groups #3 and #4
April 25 Groups #5 and #6
FINAL EXAM:
April 30 @
NO CLASS THESE DAYS:
March 5-9
(Spring Break)
April 6 & 9 (Good Friday & Easter Monday)
April 18 & 20
(at a conference)
Helpful websites:
Any use of previously written assignments
will be interpreted as plagiarism and will result in failure of the project and
may result in failure of the course.
NOTE: The professor reserves the
right to change, alter or delete assignments.