COM 101
Media and Society, 3 credits
Spring 2016
Required to certify in Communication
Instructor: Dr. Richard Taflinger
Email: taflinge@wsu.edu
Office location: Murrow 241BC
Phone: 335-1530 (email is generally the fastest way to get a hold of me)
Go to this site
for links to other information like studying and test-taking hints and PowerPoints
*Dr. Taflinger is
responsible for all class content. If you have a content question, please
contact Dr. Taflinger. I'm responsible for grading papers and entering grades
on Blackboard. If you have a question about how a paper was graded, or when a
grade will be posted, you should contact me.
Course
Purpose
This course is designed to introduce you to the role that media plays in modern society and how scholars determine what that role is. We will begin the semester by examining the historical origins of media and how media are currently being shaped. The majority of the semester is designed to introduce you to the various theories that describe how mass media is expected to influence society – both individually and structurally – and how to interpret evidence of those presumed effects.
Course focus: This course is an introduction to mass communication and mass media, with a strong focus on media literacy, the history and development of mass media, and the effects of media on individuals and society. The following points are central to our approach.
1. Democracy depends on informed citizens, and citizens depend on media for information. Therefore, it’s crucial that we understand where the media came from, how media institutions function, and the roles they play in society.
2. Culture, ideology, reality are socially constructed through both interpersonal and mass communication. Media play important roles in these processes. Therefore, it’s important to recognize the motivations and rewards of societies, media institutions and media professionals through both an historical and modern day lens as media were developed and influenced the societies that possessed them, and as societies are continuing to be influenced today.
3. An important part of life today is the media and their effects on their audiences. However, many people simply absorb media messages without considering potential consequences of those messages themselves or their societies. By developing media literacy skills and critical thinking it is possible to evaluate messages, not just be affected by them, and that will be a part of this class. Specifically, this class will advance students in the following course objectives:
a) understand methods of inquiry used in the field of communication
b) understand the effects that media have had and continue to have on societies
c) demonstrate through exams and papers an understanding of and ability to apply critical thinking to media and their effects on societies
4. The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication has proudly adopted the name of its most famous alumnus because we believe that his influences on journalism and the media, especially radio and television, has profoundly, and positively, affected them. An understanding of his legacy will provide insight into what is valid and useful, and invalid and of little use, as the media and society impact each other, and will be a part of this class.
Other course related information and material will be available on the course website (http://public.wsu.edu/~taflinge/com101home.html) [please note the spelling of my name in this URL (and in my email address) – it’s t-a-f-l-i-n-g-e. There’s no “r” at the end. I’ve been online so long that I go back to when a filename could only have 8 letters, and my name has 9 – so sue me.]
Course
Materials
Crotaeu & Potter (2015). Media and Society + Media Effects, Sage. (Custom text, available at the Bookie)
UNIVERSITY POLICIES:
Students with disabilities
Reasonable accommodations are available for students with a
documented disability. If you have a
disability and may need accommodation to fully participate in the class, please
visit the Disability Resource Center (DRC).
All accommodations must be approved through the DRC (
Tolerance
This is a college class. The purpose of a college class is to explore ideas and think about them. So lectures and discussions may, and should, illuminate differing ideas and opinions. Regardless of differing opinions or perspectives, students are required to treat all classmates with courtesy and respect. You may not agree with someone – fine. That does not give you license to go after that person with ad hominem attacks, belittling, or yelling. Students who do not treat others, including the professor, with respect will be dismissed.
Cheating/Plagarism
Academic Integrity: Cheating and academic misconduct are defined in WSU's Academic Integrity Policy,
which can be found in the WSU Student Handbook (WAC 504-26-202—Acts of
Dishonesty and WAC 504-26-010--Definitions). It is your responsibility to read and
understand these definitions. Lack of knowledge is not an excuse for
academic misconduct. One of the common violations is plagiarism, which is
misappropriation of intellectual property without giving due credit to the
author. Instructors in the
The minimum penalty for
a violation of WSU's Standards of Conduct for Students is a zero on the
assignment or test without an option to make up the points lost. In addition, a
full letter-grade will be deducted from the final grade earned in the class.
Penalty ranges from this minimum to an F in the course. Instructors may
consider mitigating circumstances and have some latitude in assigning
sanctions. In addition, the Office of Student Standards and
Accountability may impose other punishments, including expulsion from the
University.
It is your responsibility to 1) not cheat, 2) not help anyone else cheat, and 3) not to give the appearance that you are cheating. University policy allows that students caught cheating may 1) receive an F on the exam, 2) receive an F for the course, and 3) may be expelled from the University for a second offense or for a particularly egregious offense. The policy of this course is to seek the most severe punishment from the University as a first response and to put the burden of appeal on the student. Behaviors that will lead to prosecution include, but are not limited to, looking at another student’s test or scoring sheet during an exam or quiz, having open notes during an exam or quiz, being dishonest about a missed exam, talking to anyone but the instructor or a TA during the exam, or using an unauthorized electronic device during an exam.
Safety. Please familiarize yourself with information regarding campus emergencies/school closings by visiting this website: http://oem.wsu.edu/emergencies
Communication with Students must occur via designated university channels. We will use the Blackboard and the wsu.edu platforms. If you write from an external address, I will not reply. [1]
Academic Complaint Procedures include the following prescribed steps:
1) Contact the course supervisor (Richard Taflinger) for additional direction. If unresolved,
2) Contact the Associate Dean
for Academics, The
Course Withdrawal
If you want to withdraw or need other important dates, please consult the Academic Calendar. [2]
General Course
Policies
Blackboard: This class will use the university’s Blackboard system (learn.wsu.edu) as our online portal. That means you will need to log into the class website daily and check for updates, assignments, readings, and grades. Supplemental course readings will be posted on the site, and we might have online discussions as well. Make sure to check it!
Class Format: Most days I will try to mix it up with
lecture, in-class activities/clips, and guests. There will be three
multiple-choice/true-false exams, based on lecture and readings, and two
outside assignments. Exams are based on the assumption that you have done the
reading and absorbed the material.
Computer Use: You are required to use your WSU email account to receive course updates. I encourage you to take notes by hand rather than via an electronic device. Recent research has demonstrated that information is better retained with hand-written notes in comparison to typed notes.
Confidentiality of
Student Records
Information is available at: http://www.registrar.wsu.edu/registrar/apps/ferpa.aspx
Email policy: The
subject line of any email you send me should be Lastname,
COM101 (i.e. If I were sending an email, the subject
line would be: Taflinger, COM101). I get a lot of email and there are a lot of
you in this class. Using this will insure that I actually open your email and
respond in a timely fashion. Do not expect an instant response. Sending the
same email multiple times if you do not get an instant response will not speed
up my response time. I will respond within 24 hours, and I tend to respond more
quickly than that.
As a
state employee, my email is considered a public record, and can be requested
via an open-records request. Because of this, federal privacy laws prevent me
from discussing grades or other personal matters via email, and you must visit
me in my office to discuss these matters. In general, face-to-face meetings
tend to take less time, and result in less confusion than emailed
conversations. While you are welcome to email me, I may indicate that you need
an in-person meeting.
As a
side note, email is formal communication and you should pay attention to how
you present yourself via email. Spelling, grammar, punctuation,
appropriate greetings and conclusions are all elements that should be present.
Sending “yo, did i miss
anything? Thx c u l8r” to a professor, or any sort of supervisor is not appropriate.
The time to start good habits is now.
Late
Work/Make-up Work: All written assignments must be turned in to the Blackboard
dropbox on the day the assignment is due. Your
assignment will be marked as late if they are uploaded even one second after
the due date has ended. You have 24 hours after the due date to turn in your
assignment for a 10% grade reduction. After
24 hours has past, you will receive a zero for the assignment. I will
not be checking to see if you've handed in your paper in the 24 hour grace
period. It is your responsibility to make sure you properly uploaded
your paper. There are no make-ups for exams, for any reason. Please see the
exam section below in the “How you Get Points” section for more details.
Possible Offensive Content: This class is a free-speech zone because I believe the free exchange of ideas is important as citizens and as college students. Additionally, the exchange of ideas plays an important role in the world of communication. We will address current media issues in this course. That means you may hear discussions about news coverage that could be offensive to you, such as ugly crimes, political controversies or conflicting religious beliefs. At times you may hear me or other students criticize government and institutions, but my criticisms are not partisan. Dipsticks and heroes are represented in all political parties and all walks of life – and at times we are all dipsticks and other times heroes! If you have a thought germane to the course material and discussion, speak up, and if we all respect one another and discuss with intelligence and decorum, then classes will be productive and educational. As the former U.S. senator from Idaho, William E. Borah, said: “If the press is not free; if speech is not independent and untrammeled; if the mind is shackled or made impotent through fear, it makes no difference under what form of government you live, you are a subject and not a citizen.” So speak up, citizen, and cheer this great country’s belief in an open and vibrant exchange of ideas!
How You Get Points
A maximum of 670 points is possible for the semester, awarded on the following basis:
Exams* 500
Historical Innovation Written Assignment** ; or 75
Theory in Action Written Assignment** 75
Library Tutorial completion 10
TOTAL POINTS 670
There is a handout on Blackboard to help you keep track of your grades and to help you calculate your final grade. I suggest you use this form rather than just looking at what Blackboard auto-calculates for you.
Letter grades will be calculated using this formula:
|
Letter |
Percentage |
|
A |
93+% |
|
A- |
88 - 92% |
|
B+ |
84 - 87% |
|
B |
79 - 83% |
|
B- |
75 - 78% |
|
C+ |
71 - 74% |
|
C |
67 - 70% |
|
C- |
63 - 66% |
|
D+ |
59 - 62% |
|
D |
55 - 58% |
|
F |
55- |
I don’t round up. I will keep grades posted on Blackboard and the Com 101 website - it is your responsibility to check it and make sure you know where you are at by comparing it to this chart.
Incomplete Grade Policy (Academic Rule 90h)
Incompletes are granted only
with permission of the instructor and are subject to the following guidelines:
If an incomplete is granted,
the standard WSU policy applies (i.e., ALL work must be completed within one
full year from the end of the enrollment semester at issue, unless a shorter
time is specified by the instructor. Otherwise, an automatic grade of
"F," or failing, will be entered on the student’s transcript).
The essence of education is exposure to diverse viewpoints.
In your discussion posts you’ll meet students with vastly different opinions
and backgrounds. When you don’t agree with their views, pause a moment. Weigh
their words. You’re encouraged to disagree with the substance of others’ ideas
and opinions, but do so with an active sense of respect for one another, and
without losing focus on the topic at hand. Personal attacks, inflammatory
statements, flaming, trolling, and disruption of the discussion do not have a
place in academic discourse.
Your instructors will promote high-quality academic
discussions by removing any posts they view as disruptive of the educational
process and alerting students whose posts have been removed that they have
violated course expectations. Students who continue to misuse the discussion
boards after a warning may be subject to removal of access rights, course
failure, and referral to the Office of Student Conduct.
Postings must comply with University policy on use of
computing resources, including those regarding harassment and discrimination,
as well as conform to the Standards of Conduct for Students. Students are
encouraged to review the Standards, particularly WAC 504-26-218, 504-26-220,
and 504-26-222. Visit the University Website specific to your campus of
enrollment for more information.
In certain courses, assessment of discussion posts is part
of the final grade. Criteria for evaluating your discussion participation will
be explained elsewhere in the course space, if applicable.
Netiquette
Just as in a physical classroom, a good discussion in an
online classroom depends on everyone feeling safe and respected. Here are a few
tips for creating an educational and enjoyable discussion space:
For more on the Core Rules of Netiquette, visit http://coursedesign.colostate.edu/obj/corerulesnet.html
The ability to think and write critically is an essential
skill in many walks of life. Critical thinking skills are developed and refined
through practice, self-reflection, and the critique and support of peers and
instructors. Throughout this course you will have many opportunities to
exercise your analytical thinking, synthesize information, and apply knowledge
to real-life situations.
The course developer or your instructor may have provided a
critical thinking rubric in this course space, if applicable, to assess your
own writing and that of other students. Please review it carefully before
completing each activity.
Reasonable accommodations are available in online classes
for students with a documented disability. All accommodations must be approved
through your WSU Disability Services office. If you have a disability and need
accommodations, we recommend you begin the process as soon as possible.
For more information contact a Disability Specialist on your
home campus:
If you need technical assistance, please select the Course
Information link in the course menu, then
select Technical Support.
The WSU Online Web site http://online.wsu.edu/currentStudent/Default.aspx
) has all the non-content and administrative related information you need to be
a successful online learner.
All students enrolled in
As a WSU student enrolled in an undergraduate course, you
have FREE unlimited access to eTutoring.org, a tutoring
platform that enables students and tutors to collaborate in an online environment.
This is not a course requirement, but simply an available resource that you may
utilize as needed. With three ways to access a tutor you can choose the one
that best fits your needs.
The list of available tutoring subjects can be found on the https://www.etutoring.org/login.cfm?institutionid=176&returnPage=
site. Current subjects include Accounting, Anatomy & Physiology, Biology,
Chemistry, Math and Calculus, Medical Coding, MS Office 2007, Physics, Spanish,
Statistics, Web Development and Writing!
Overview
of Course Components
Exams*
There will be three exams comprised of multiple choice and
true/false questions. The exams will cover only
the lectures and readings from the previous section. The
tests will be multiple choice/true-false. There will not be a review period so
make sure you are keeping up on the material and ask questions as we go along
if any of the material is confusing to you. Cheating on a test, of course, like
any assignment will result in an automatic F for the course and referral to the
Office of Student Conduct.
It is extremely advisable that you go to http://public.wsu.edu/~taflinge/com101/HINTSONSTUDYING.html. This page gives you strategies for studying and test taking with examples, and is the only study guide you’ll get for the exams.
Written
Assignments**
General
Assignment Information
Everything
for this class will be turned in via the Blackboard dropbox
and must be typed using 12-point Times New Roman font, double spaced, and have
one-inch margins. Everything should be written in typical paragraph format
using complete sentences and paragraphs. All sources for assignments must be
cited, both within the text and on a reference page, and must conform to either APA,
I will be as fair and impartial as is humanly
possible in the grading process. Each of you will be graded on the same basis.
Because of this, no extra work or special assignments will be given. Grades are
earned; they are not gifts. Grades are awarded on the basis on the quality of
the work performed, not the amount of time expended.
Revise
and Resubmit
We will have
two written assignments over the course of the semester. Pick which one you
want to do. You will be allowed to revise
the written assignment you submit and turn it in for an improved grade. You
will be able to make up half of the points you lost when you turn in your
revised paper (i.e., if your initial submission resulted in a grade of 60/75,
you could revise and resubmit it for a maximum grade of 67.5/75, your revise
and resubmit score would be 7.5). You can only revise something that was
originally turned in. That is, revising your paper is an opportunity to
improve your writing based on feedback, it is not an opportunity to delay
turning in an assignment.
Historical
Innovation Paper
For this paper you will need to research a media innovation that was invented prior to your birth and explore how it changed the media environment. To do this, you will need to use library resources to research your chosen media innovation. You will turn in two things for this assignment: 1) a paper describing your media innovation, and how it changed the media environment at the time, and 2) a write-up of your information search experience using library resources. The entire assignment description and rubric are available on Blackboard.
Theory
in Action Paper
The goal of this paper is to get you to critically think
about the various ways information can be presented, and the variety of
potential explanations that exist for effects based on exposure to media
content. To do this, you will need to apply two media effects theories to
public opinion data and explain how the two different theories could explain
the observed results. The entire
assignment description and rubric are available on Blackboard.
Library Tutorial
On Blackboard
there is a link to an online library tutorial (http://libguides.wsulibs.wsu.edu/Com101) put together by the Communication librarian, Erica Nicol. The tutorial
will teach you how to use the library resources we have on campus and give you
instruction on how to assess the quality of the sources you are using. This
tutorial will help you succeed in your written assignments which require you to
use library resources. There are two assignments within the tutorial that
require you to search for information and must be completed to obtain credit
for this assignment.
Course Learning
Goals
|
|
At the end of this course, students should be able to… |
Course topics that advance these objective are: |
This objective will be evaluated primarily by: |
|
LG1 |
Demonstrate an understanding of the development of mass media, and communication as a field Murrow Learning Goals: ·
Demonstrate knowledge of communication
concepts and issues. · Acquire and analyze information to address communication objectives. WSU Learning Goals: · Critical and Creative Thinking · Communication SSCI Learning Goals: · Critical and Creative Thinking |
This is discussed through the first third of the course, weeks 1-5 |
The first exam Historical Innovation assignment The final exam |
|
LG2 |
Utilize library resources to effectively identify source material for media related topics. Murrow Learning Goals: · Acquire and analyze information to address communication objectives WSU Learning Goals: · Critical and Creative Thinking · Information Literacy SSCI Learning Goals: · Critical and Creative Thinking · Information Literacy |
This is discussed in preparation for all assignments |
Library tutorial assignment Historical Innovation assignment Theory in Action assignment |
|
LG3 |
Demonstrate awareness of how social science theory is generated and tested Murrow Learning Goals: ·
Demonstrate knowledge of communication
concepts and issues. · Acquire and analyze information to address communication objectives. WSU Learning Goals: · Scientific Literacy · Quantitative Reasoning SSCI Learning Goals: · Quantitative Reasoning |
This will be discussed in the last two thirds of the course, weeks 6-14 |
The second exam The third exam The final exam Theory in Action Assignment |
|
LG4 |
Demonstrate awareness of conflicts that exist between various media theories. Murrow Learning Goals: ·
Demonstrate knowledge of communication
concepts and issues. · Acquire and analyze information to address communication objectives. WSU Learning Goals: · Critical and Creative Thinking · Scientific Literacy · Quantitative Reasoning SSCI Learning Goals: · Critical and Creative Thinking · Quantitative Reasoning |
This will be primarily addressed during weeks 6-10 |
Theory in Action assignment The second exam The final exam |
|
|
Demonstrate awareness of the various theories that describe economic constraints within media systems and how those effects are assessed. Murrow Learning Goals: ·
Demonstrate knowledge of communication
concepts and issues. WSU Learning Goals: · Critical and Creative Thinking · Scientific Literacy · Quantitative Reasoning SSCI Learning Goals: · Critical and Creative Thinking · Quantitative Reasoning |
This will be addressed during weeks 11-14 |
The third exam The final exam |
Course Schedule
|
Week |
Dates |
Topic |
|
What’s due |
|
|
Jan 11 |
Course Intro |
|
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|
1 |
13 |
Basic Communication Theory: How and why organisms communicate. |
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15 |
Media Literacy |
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18 |
MLK Jr. DAY |
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2 |
20 |
Qualitative media analysis and The Story |
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22 |
Society and how you build one: What makes a society a society, and how societies develop and evolve. |
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25 |
History of writing and printing: The history and development of symbolic communication, the history of print media. |
|
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3 |
27 |
Print cont’d |
|
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|
29 |
History and future of print media. Books |
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Feb 1 |
Newspapers, magazines; print journalism |
|
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4 |
3 |
EXAM 1 |
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|
5 |
History of Radio and sound: The history and development of the science and technology leading to Radio and sound recording; radio and society; radio journalism |
|
Library tutorial |
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8 |
" |
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5 |
10 |
History and future of Film: The history and development of the science and technology leading to the motion picture. |
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12 |
“ |
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15 |
PRES DAY |
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6 |
17 |
History and future of TV: The history and development of the science and technology leading to television. TV journalism |
|
Historical Innovation |
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19 |
“ |
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22 |
" |
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7 |
24 |
" |
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26 |
EXAM 2 |
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|
29 |
History and future of Modern Media: The history and development of the science and technology leading to modern communication media |
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8 |
Mar 2 |
" |
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|
4 |
History of Effects; Social Science Research Methods |
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7 |
Political effects: |
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9 |
9 |
agenda setting, framing; Selective perception and exposure; social story |
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11 |
Violence/Aggression effects: Cultivation theory |
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14 |
SPRING BREAK |
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16 |
SPRING
BREAK |
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18 |
SPRING BREAK |
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21 |
Social Cognitive Theory; Social Learning Theory |
|
Theory in Action |
|
10 |
23 |
EXAM 3 |
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25 |
Stereotypes: Sex and Body Image effects; advertising; mediated images |
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28 |
" |
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11 |
30 |
" |
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Apr 1 |
“ |
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4 |
Contact Hypothesis |
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12 |
6 |
EXAM 4 |
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|
8 |
Media Control and Constraints and the Law |
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11 |
Media Control and Constraints and the Law |
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13 |
13 |
Media Control and Constraints and the Law |
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15 |
Media Control and Constraints and the Law |
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18 |
Media Control and Constraints and the Law |
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14 |
20 |
Media Ethics |
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Revise and resubmit |
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22 |
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25 |
Application |
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15 |
27 |
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29 |
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Mon, May 2 |
FINAL EXAM: Half material since exam 4/half cumulative; mandatory, NO EARLY EXAMS, DON’T EVEN ASK |
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