Syllabus

 Course Description: The mass media and the content they provide are pervasive and powerful forces that shape our consciousness as individuals and our collective orientation as members of various sub-cultures and the larger dominant culture.  Even though media and content are so visible, the direct effects are difficult to measure and define.  This class explores some of the core issues central to understanding and debating the power of these media and the roles they play in our society.  A brief list of some of the recent controversies will illustrate the importance and variety of issues.  Should news agencies be able to report on military activities that may provide information to our enemies?  Should advertising of specific products be regulated? 

 This class moves quickly.  There will be a heavy amount of reading in order to grasp the ideas we must master during our short time together.  Some of the text will be discussed in class.  However, you are responsible for all the readings as assigned.  Readings and lecture material are fair game for quizzes.  Please come in with questions from the reading!  What does it mean?  How does it apply?  How do we do it?  What does it look like?  These are all good questions and will help make the class meaningful for you.

Course Objectives: After completing this course the successful student will: 

1.      demonstrate knowledge of core concepts (master vocabulary);

2.      demonstrate ability to apply course concepts,

3.      demonstrate ability to carry out secondary research,

4.      demonstrate critical thinking and speaking about core issues surrounding media and society

Course Policies: You are expected to attend every class period.  However, since life happens, you are allowed one absence without automatic penalty as a personal day.  Use it wisely if at all.   

Number of Absences Recorded	Highest Grade You Can Earn (regardless of grades earned on assignments)
No absences up to one absence	A
Two absences	B
Three Absences	C
Four absences	D
More than four	F

No make-up quizzes will be given unless there are extreme circumstances and those circumstances are handled responsibly by the student.  Assignments must be typed and handed in on day stated in syllabus unless otherwise noted.  Any plagiarism will result in failure for that assignment and additional work by the student on all future assignments to prove that the work is the student’s own. 

 Text:  Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Issues in Mass Media and Society (8^th ed.).  Alison Alexander, Jarice Hanson.  McGraw-Hill, 2005.

 You are strongly encouraged to visit the website:  www.dushkin.com/online/  Once there follow the links to our text.  I also recommend the following site as a great primer on critical thinking crucial to the debates:  http://www2.sjsu.edu/depts/itl/ 

 Assignments and Grading: There are 290 points available in the course.  You may keep up with your grade by dividing the points you have earned by the points available.  For instance if you got 12 out of 15 on the first quiz and 10 out of 15 on the second you would have 22 out of 30 points.  22 divided by 30 equals .733.  That would mean you currently have a C in the course.  .  I will be using a modified plus/minus system.  91% and above is an A.  90% is an A minus.  87-89% is a B plus, 84-86% is a B, 80-83% is a B minus. 

 Assignment Descriptions

Quizzes:  Quizzes are designed to see that you’ve read the text with comprehension.  They are not designed to trick you but to help us have more active discussion and participation in class.  The quizzes will consist of 3-4 T/F and 2-3 multiple-choice along with a short essay question.  They can be taken in teams of up to three people.  I reserve the right to break up teams without warning.  I would do this if I felt that teams were taking turns doing the reading rather than each member reading to try and learn the material and help the team.

Background Presentation:  As either a refresher or an introduction to some of the basic concepts and trends in mass communication we are going to have some fun, creative, but insightful chapter presentations of an introductory text in mass communication.  Ideally these will be team presentations and will involve a creative summary of the key ideas.

Ethical Analysis Paper:  I have put Media Ethics: Cases and Moral Reasoning by Clifford Christians et al on reserve.  You must analyze one of the cases in the text by carrying out at least the following steps:

1)      Pick a case that is of interest to you.  Read the case.

2)      Read pages 3-8 of the text and apply the Potter Box to the case.

3)      Make a complete argument (claim, support, explicit reasoning) for what would be the best realistic outcome for the case in terms of general policy or specific behaviors.

4)      Briefly identify what values are most important in the decision you have reached.  For instance is the “right to privacy” the core value or is it “public’s right to know”? 
Papers should be one page single spaced.

Preparation for Debate Paper:  Lousy debates are a waste of time for everyone involved.  To try to avoid some bad debates and boring discussions your team (two teams per group) will prepare a paper that addresses key concerns for the debate and provides ratings for each team member for their “behind the scenes” contributions to the debate.  Each paper should have the following sections:

1)      Paragraph explaining the issue you are debating and its importance

2)      Key arguments you plan to make in defense of your position

3)      Key arguments you anticipate your opponents making and your response to each

4)      Discussion Questions that you think will help the class benefit from the debate

5)      References: at least 4 quality outside sources that are actually used (cited) in your debate

6)      Outline of your case
Papers should be between 3-5 pages

In-Class Debate:  Your paper is your plan for the debate.  You will also be graded on how well you perform what you plan.  Clarity of presentation and your ability to educate your audience on key issues, values, reasons, etc. will be most important.  Also important is the energy, command of material, sharing of roles, eye contact, etc.—all the things your mama taught you in COM 110.  They should focus on clarifying the issues but not be overly polite and timid.  Cooperate, share information, but ultimately try and offer the stronger case and point out weaknesses in the oppositions’ case. 

Final Exam:  This exam will be cumulative.  It will focus on the theories discussed in class on some of the “big picture” issues that emerge over the course of the semester.

Schedule of Sessions

Reminder:  We will read about a chapter per session.  That is about 20 pages of reading per session.  That requires a steady commitment on your part four nights a week.  If that will be a problem, perhaps summer school is not for you at this time. 

Session	Homework Due	Focus of Class Session
Monday 6-27	Welcome Back	Course Overview Merchants of Cool video Form Background Presentation Teams
6-28	Introduction and Identify which issue/chapter you would like to DEBATE	Discuss readings Form debate teams How to debate issues workshop
6-29	Read Issue #1 and work on background presentation	Discuss Issue #1 The Electronic Storyteller
6-30	Read Issue #2 and work on background presentations	Discuss readings Quiz on issues 1 and 2 Tough Guys video Background presentations workshop
Independence Day—Thank a Veteran!
7-5	Prepare for  presentations	Present on topics 1-6
7-6	Prepare for presentations	Present on topics 7-11
7-7	Read Issue TBA Prepare for debates—come in with some outside research and questions	Discuss reading Debate workshop
7-11
7-12
7-13
7-14
7-18
7-19
7-20
7-21
7-25
7-26
7-27
7-28	Finish Ethical Analysis papers Review for final	Ethical analysis papers are due at beginning of class Final Exam

 Background topic: _________ Date: ___________

Debate issue: _____________ Date: ___________

Grades:

Quiz one                       _____/15

Quiz two                      _____/15

Quiz three                     _____/15

Quiz four                      _____/15

Quiz five                       _____/15

Quiz six                        _____/15

Quiz seven                    _____/15

Background Pres.         _____/30

Debate Paper:              _____/50

Debate:                        _____/30

Analysis:                       _____/25