COMM 3350 Syllabus
|
COMM 3350 Syllabus
|
|
|
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 10-10:50 a.m. Room 226, Humanities Building Prerequisite: COMM 1154 Spring 2000 GENERAL INFORMATION Instructor: Bradford L. Yates Office: Humanities 308 Department of Mass Communications and Theatre Arts State University of West Georgia Office Hours: M/W/F 9:00-10:00 a.m. M/W 3:30-4:30 p.m. T/R 9:00-11:30 a.m. By Appointment Telephone: (770) 836-4564 E-mail: byates@westga.edu Web site: http://www.westga.edu/~byatesImportant Note: Read this entire course syllabus carefully. You are responsible for all the information contained herein. Ignorance of the policies of the class will not be an acceptable excuse. OFFICE HOURS I am available to address matters of concern during my office hours. If those hours are not convenient, please schedule an appointment with me. If you visit my office at other times, I may not be available because of other duties I must attend to. If you have problems in the class, it is YOUR responsibility to initiate contact with me. I cannot help you if you do not communicate with me. Let me know of any problems early in the semester. I will not accept excuses for poor performance or missing exams, especially late in the semester. TEXT & ADDITIONAL READINGS Dominick, J. R., Sherman, B. L., & Messere, F. (2000). Broadcasting, cable, the Internet and beyond: An introduction to modern electronic media (4th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. Additional readings from selected trade magazines and web sites will be assigned throughout the semester. *It is not possible to successfully complete the requirements of COMM 3350 without reading the textbook and additional materials. ABOUT THE COURSE COMM 3350 is a continuation of COMM 1154-Introduction to Mass Communications and examines contemporary industry and social issues facing telecommunication and electronic media. Particular attention will be given to the analysis of structure and process, revenue sources, programming and services, audience research, and effects. Objectives: You should have general knowledge of the following subjects by the end of the course:
You are expected to analyze and respond to issues through discussions, research, and role-plays. Assigned readings should be completed prior to class. Informed participation in class discussions is expected. Lectures will expound on central concepts in readings, introducing information from sources other than assigned text(s). You are responsible for learning all material presented in class and assigned text(s). It is also your responsibility to make use of office hours to discuss lecture and reading material that is unclear to you. GRADING POLICY Grades earned in this class are based solely on the following: Mid-term Exam 125 points Final Exam 125 points Research Report 125 points Role Play 75 points Attendance/Participation 50 points Total 500 points Grading Scale: Points needed to receive grade A 450-500 B 400-449 C 350-399 D 300-349 F 299 and below ATTENDANCE Here is the general policy for the course. You need to attend every scheduled class session. Please be on time. I’ll take attendance. If you miss more than fifteen (15) minutes of a class session or are not present, I’ll need to consider you "absent." Your final grade in the course will be reduced by 15 points if you have more than 3 unexcused absences. In other words, you have three personal days, so use them judiciously and sparingly (i.e., car trouble, minor illness, job interview, etc.). You may not use your personal days on examination days or on days on which you are scheduled for a role-play. An unexcused absence from an examination will result in zero credit on the missed exam. Attendance is required on role-play days. An unexcused absence on a role-play day lowers your final grade by 15 points. Note: It is your responsibility to be aware of your attendance. You should see me at any point during the semester if you have any questions whatsoever about this policy or your attendance – the sooner the better. Excused absences: Absences may be excused when due to unavoidable situations substantiated with documentation. Acceptable situations include a serious incapacitating illness or a death in your family, among others. Requests for excused absences will not be considered unless made in writing prior to the absence in question unless there are extreme circumstances that did not allow for a prior request. I certainly understand that unforeseen things can happen to anyone. Please try to work things out with me in advance if at all possible. Handouts: You are responsible for collecting all handouts at the time they are distributed. If you are absent, you have ONE WEEK to collect the materials. After one week, do not ask me for copies of handouts. I will not keep extra copies! It is also YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to take notes and take exams as scheduled, especially if you are a graduating senior. EXAMINATIONS Exams: There will be a mid-term and final exam based on lectures, class discussions, and assigned readings. The format of the exams will be a combination of objective (multiple choice, true/false, fill-in-the-blank) and subjective (essay) questions. The date and time of the final exam has been scheduled by the University and generally is not subject to change. You are expected to be on time for each exam. No one will be allowed to begin an exam after one student in the class has completed the exam and left the room unless you are late due to an unavoidable situation substantiated with documentation. No one is allowed to leave the room for any reason during an exam unless he or she becomes too ill to complete the exam. Therefore, all needs (water, restroom, etc.) should be taken care of before entering the exam room. Early and make-up exams are administered ONLY in cases of absence due to unavoidable situations substantiated with documentation. Requests for early exams must be made at least one week prior to the exam, and requests for make-up exams must be made within two hours of the exam. Contact the professor or leave a message, including a contact number, at 770-836-4564. Make-up exams must be completed during the current semester at a time determined by the professor. Examination Material: You are responsible for bringing two No. 2 pencils, a scantron, and an exam book (blue book) to class on exam days. Purchase two blue scantron forms No. 19641 and two exam books (8 1/2 x 7) at the university bookstore. RESEARCH REPORT/ROLE-PLAY To illustrate the complexity of TEM issues, you will author a research report on an assigned issue. During a role-play as an expert panelist, you will share your research report. Guidelines and grading criteria for the role-play and research report will be provided. ACADEMIC DISHONESTY Academic dishonesty is NOT tolerated. It will result in failure on assignment(s) as well as possible disciplinary sanction(s) as stipulated by university rules. State University of West Georgia Student Conduct Code defines academic dishonesty as cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, and facilitating or allowing academic dishonesty in any academic exercise. Cheating using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information or study aids Fabrication falsification or unauthorized invention of any information or citation Plagiarism representing the words or ideas of another as one's own. Direct quotations must be indicated and ideas of another must be appropriately acknowledged. Academic dishonesty in any form compromises your grade and lowers the quality of your diploma. A fellow student who cheats may actually lower your grade, sometimes causing unfair and inflated grading scales. I hope each of you values your college education enough to protect yourself from dishonest classmates. If you are aware of cheating taking place, please contact me or Dr. Chester Gibson, chair of the Department of Mass Communications and Theatre Arts, and proper action will be taken. SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS I will make special arrangements for students with special needs. Don’t wait until after the first exam to talk with me! Don’t try and "wing it" without telling me about your particular problem or needs. If you need special accommodations for exams, let me know early, not a few days before the exam. I am here to facilitate your learning, but I need to be informed to do so. BEHAVIOR IN THE CLASSROOM You do not need me to tell you how to behave in a classroom environment. However, I want you to know what I expect from you in order to avoid embarrassing situations.
CLASS SCHEDULE (This schedule is subject to change in order to accommodate guest speakers and maintain some flexibility. Additional reading and viewing assignments will be made throughout the semester. You are responsible for all material assigned.) January Week One Mon. 10 Syllabus Review/Introduction Wed. 12 Chapters 1, 2, 3 (background) Ch. 5 – Broadcast TV Today
Fri. 14 Ch. 5 – Broadcast TV Today (skip cable sections) Week Two Mon. 17 No Class! Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Wed. 19 Research Report/Role-Play Guidelines Fri. 21 Library Research Workshop Week Three Mon. 24 Ch. 9-TV News Programming (pp. 185-196) Wed. 26 Ch. 9-TV News Programming (pp. 185-196) Fri. 28 Ch. 9-TV News Programming (pp. 185-196) Week Four Mon. 31 Ch. 9-TV Entertainment Programming (pp. 196-202, 204-211) Research Topic Approved February Wed . 02 Ch. 9-TV Entertainment Programming (pp. 196-202, 204-211)Fri. 04 Ch. 9-TV Entertainment Programming (pp. 196-202, 204-211) Week Five Mon. 07 Ch. 4-Radio Today Reference List Due (APA Format) Wed. 09 Ch. 4-Radio Today Fri. 11 Ch. 4-Radio Today Week Six Mon. 14 Ch. 8-Radio Programming Wed. 16 Ch. 8-Radio Programming Fri. 18 Ch. 8-Radio Programming Week Seven Mon. 21 Ch. 2-Cable History (pp. 27-31) Wed. 23 Ch. 5-Cable TV Today (pp. 104-08, 113, 115-116) Fri. 25 Ch. 9-Cable Network Programming (p. 203) Week Eight Mon. 28 Catch-up/Review March Wed. 01 Mid-term Exam Thur. 02 Last Day to Withdraw with a W Fri. 03 Ch. 2-Alternatives to Cable (pp. 31-36) Week Nine Mon. 06 Spring Break Wed. 08 Spring Break Fri. 10 Spring Break Week Ten Mon. 13 Research Report Coaching Wed. 15 Research Report Coaching Fri. 17 Research Report Coaching Week Eleven Mon. 20 Ch. 2-Internet (pp. 37-45) Wed. 22 Ch. 6-The Internet and New Media Today Fri. 24 Ch. 6-The Internet and New Media Today Week Twelve Mon. 27 Ch. 7-The Business of Broadcasting and Cable Wed. 29 Ch. 7-Advertising Marketplace Fri. 31 Ch. 7-Advertising Marketplace April Week Thirteen Mon. 03 Ch. 12-Ratings and Audience Feedback Wed. 05 Ch. 12-Ratings and Audience Feedback Fri. 07 Ch. 12-Ratings and Audience Feedback Research Report Due (at beginning of class) Week Fourteen Mon. 10 Ch. 13-Effects Research Wed. 12 Ch. 13-Effects Research Fri. 14 Ch. 13-Effects Research Week Fifteen Mon. 17 Role-Plays Wed. 19 Role-Plays Fri. 21 Role-Plays Week Sixteen Mon. 24 Role-Plays Wed. 26 Role-Plays Fri. 28 Role-Plays May Week Seventeen Mon. 01 Last Day of Class Tues. 02 Reading Day Fri. 05 Final Exam-8-10 a.m. Note: I wish to acknowledge and thank Dr. Camilla Gant, Dr. Millie Rivera-Sanchez, Dr. Michael Hoefges, and Mr. David Halpern for allowing me to use parts of their syllabi to design this one. Their materials and advice are greatly appreciated! © B.L. Yates 2000 |