Hall School of Journalism and Communication

JRN 1101

Syllabus and Course Schedule

Title of Course:                       INTRODUCTION TO MASS COMMUNICATION       

Number of Course:                 JRN 1101

Term of Course:                      Fall 2008

Instructor of Course:              Prof. Jim Adams        

Pre-requisite Courses:             None

Office Hours of Instructor:     MWF: 9-9:50 AM, 12 PM-1:50 PM & by app’t.   

Time of Class:                         2-2:50PM - M/W/F

Classroom Location:               GAB #107, Section THWA

Office Location:                      Wright Hall 212

Office Telephone:                   (334) 670-5690, (334) 670-3609 (FAX)

E-Mail:                                    jadams49049@troy.edu

 

Course Description 

“The newspaper and other communications - media in modern society.”

Course Objectives: This course provides opportunities to demonstrate knowledge of:
1. The impact of communication media upon society
2. Journalism including basic principles
3. The relationship between non-print and print media and between media and other aspects of culture
4. The processes of producing print and non-print journalistic media
5. Ethical, moral, and legal rights and responsibilities of journalists
6. The potential political, economic, social, and cultural impact of journalism.

 

Required Text

Dominick, J. R. (2009). The Dynamics of Mass Communication: Media in the Digital Age (10th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill.

Other Required Materials

In addition to the required textbook, you will need access to a daily newspaper. If you do not or have not regularly read a daily newspaper, begin to do so immediately. Subscriptions to the Montgomery Advertiser are available through the journalism department.

E-MAIL: E-mail is a requirement for this class. It is not an option. You must have it – and manage your e-mail account by checking it often to stay abreast of messages and materials pertaining to this class. This is how I communicate with you and the preferred method you will use during the term to communicate with me. Troy University provides all students with a free e-mail account. All Students are required to use the TROY e-mail address that is automatically assigned to them as TROY students.  All official correspondence for JRN 1101 will be sent ONLY to your troy.edu (@troy.edu) address.

World Wide Web: In addition to e-mail, you must have access to the World Wide Web. Some readings and projects in this class require access to the World Wide Web on the Internet. You cannot pass this class if you do not have reliable access to the World Wide Web. The Hall School of Journalism's Computer Lab and most Troy University computer labs are connected to the World Wide Web. Information required by the Alabama State Department of Education for ELA students taking this class from Troy University's College of Education: The teacher education program is designed to provide a quality, academic program that emphasizes meaningful and practical learning experiences in preparing students to be innovative, informed, reflective decision-makers.
“Traditions of Innovations: To produce innovative, informed, reflective decision makers.” (This information is provided for students from the College of Education in the ELA program.) ***Note for all College of Education ELA Students: Candidates must satisfactorily meet all goals or objectives used to assess AL SDE rules.

Grading Methods and Weights of the Criteria (including make-up examination policy)

The letter grade for the course will be based upon the accumulation of points for completing the Course Requirements, to wit -

Grading Scale

600-540 – A

539-480 – B

479-420 – C

419-360 – D

359- 0    – F

Graded Assignments            :                                                       Points

Media Log EX#1                                                                     60

Analyzing Newspapers EX#2                                                  60                           

Final Class Project                                                                 120                                         

Tests (5) non-cumulative                                                        360

                                                                                    Total: 600

 

Class Procedure (e.g., lecture, laboratory, lecture/discussion, etc.) and Course Requirements

Class Procedure: This is a lecture/discussion class; attendance is, therefore required-unless officially excused. I take role daily.

 

Course requirements:

Oral Performances - The final class project will be a group symposium

                                  presentation. (20% of overall grade in course)

                Writings - EX #1 and EX#2 require essay submissions and need

                                  to adhere to the “Essay Guidelines for JRN 1101” (20%

                                  of overall grade in course)

        Examinations – There will be 5 non-cumulative exams over the course of

                                  the term. Exam #5 will occur during finals week. (60%

                                  of overall grade in course)

            Other Requirements and / or “Extra-credit” Activities:

                        Cellular Telephone Policy:  Please turn cellular phones off during class time.

Violators will be penalized 10 points during lecture class dates and a letter grade during oral performances dates.

                                  Extra Credit:      Specified assignments (to be announced).

Standard of Conduct:      Activity deemed disrespectful, rude, or abusive of another is a violation of course policy. If you are late for class on a oral performance day, do not enter the class while a classmate is presenting! Wait until the presentation is completed and then quietly enter the room and take your seat. Students should refer to the Oracle.

 

General Support (i.e. Computer Works, Writing Center, Tutorial Lab, etc)

            1.  Computer Works, Student Success Center

            2.  Writing Center, 135 Eldridge Hall, ext. 3305

            3.  Counseling and Wellness Services, Adams Center, ext. 3221

 

Additional Services-The required Americans and Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement and other appropriate statements: Troy University supports Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which insure that postsecondary students with disabilities have equal access to all academic programs, physical access to all buildings, facilities and events, and are not discriminated against on the basis of disability.  Eligible students, with appropriate documentation, will be provided equal opportunity to demonstrate their academic skills and potential through the provision of academic adaptations and reasonable accommodations.  Further information, including appropriate contact information, can be found at the link for Troy University’s Office of Human Resources at http://www.troy.edu/humanresources/ADAPolicy2003.htm

 

Absence Policy: (*Attendance is required)

This is a communication course, thus your participation and input is important to your success. Come on the days assigned to discuss scheduled topics and take part in scheduled in-class activities. On a daily basis, I’ll look for evidence of reading preparation by posing questions to class members and maintain an ongoing assessment of your participation. Absences from class will result in a deduction from the final grade pool at a rate of 5 points per each occurrence and minimize your opportunity to gain from class sessions. Missed assignments, tests, or assignment deadlines need to be arranged with me beforehand; otherwise, you receive zero points for these. Make-up work will only be accepted under documented circumstances, including university excuses, letters from physicians, jury summons, military duty, or death of an immediate family member. Students with excused absences must submit excuses and make-up missed work within one week of the absence. All make-up work must be submitted by the last class day. In the case of an officially excused absence, a student may be permitted to make-up a missed oral presentation. Any notification of an absence on a day you are required to deliver a presentation must be accompanied by an email with your outline, presentation text, and bibliography attached as a word or rich text file document. This email needs to be received prior to the time your class meets.

 

Incomplete work policy:

An incomplete grade will be given only when the student has made sufficient progress in meeting the minimum requirements of the course for the grade of C or better.  A contract specifying the kinds and nature of the work to be completed with due dates will be signed by student and the instructor before an incomplete grade will be given.

 

Cheating and Class Behavior Policy:

Students are held to the code of conduct outlined in the ORACLE. Every written submission or oral presentation must be one you personally wrote, researched, and organized.  Intentional plagiarism and academic dishonesty during exams will not be tolerated and may result in your suspension from class. Quite often, some students attempt to read or submit articles they obtained on the internet “word for word” and protest that this was their own, original work. Plagiarism is defined as presenting someone else’s work, including the work of other students, as one’s own. Any ideas or materials taken from another source for either written or oral use must be fully acknowledged, unless the information is common knowledge. What you consider to be “common knowledge” may differ from your instructor’s. Thus, when in doubt – CITE!! Here are some common recommendations:

·      A student must not adopt or reproduce ideas, opinions, theories, formulas, graphics, or pictures of another person without acknowledgment.A student must give credit to the originality of others and acknowledge an indebtedness whenever:

·      Directly quoting another person’s actual words, whether oral or written;

·      Using another person’s ideas, opinions, or theories

·      Paraphrasing the words, ideas, opinions, or theories of others, whether oral or written;

·      Borrowing facts, statistics, or illustrative material; or

·      Offering materials assembled or collected by others in the form of projects or collections without acknowledgment.

 

ASSESSMENT STATEMENT:

Students must earn a letter grade of C or better in order to earn State Department of Ed. Credit.

 

 

Daily Assignments indicating deadline for adding or dropping a course, holidays, etc.

*please note the following course schedule:

 

Dates                       Activities

 8/13 - 8/15             Read chaps. 1-3 in text - Intro. to course/syllabus – The nature/history of mass comm.

 8/18 - 8/22             The communication process – mediated comm. versus interpersonal comm. – Major types of

comm. media - The role & function(s) of media in society. Assign EX #1 (Media Log) Students are to listen to news broadcasts on radio and television and bring copies of magazines and newspapers on 8/25. Read chaps. 4&5 in text

 8/25 - 8/29             Newspapers & magazines – Test review 8/27 – Exam #1 8/29/08 (chaps. 1-5, notes)

   9/1 - 9/5                *Labor Day 9/1 (no classes) – Read chaps. 6&7 in text – Books, the publishing industry, and radio

   9/8 - 9/12             Read chaps. 8, 9, &10 in text - The recording industry, motion pictures, broadcast TV -  EX # 1 due 9/12!

 9/15 - 9/19             In-class discussion of EX #1, test review 9/17, Exam #2 9/19/08 (chaps. 6-10, notes) – read chaps. 11&12 in text

 9/22 - 9/26             Cable TV, the proliferation of the internet – internet research activity for class discussion. Assign EX #2 (Analyzing on-line newspapers) – read chap. 13 in text

  9/29 - 10/3            Media professions - news gathering & reporting – the “5 W’s and an H” – conducting interviews

  10/6 - 10/12         Fall Break (ENJOY!!) – EX #2 is due 10/13/08!

10/13 - 10/17         In-class discussion of EX #2 – test review 10/15 – Exam #3 10/17/08 (chaps. 11-13, notes)                                       *Last Day to Drop 10/17/08!! Read chaps. 14&15 in text

10/20 - 10/24         Assign Final Class Project (groups) – Promotion, public relations, advertising, social marketing, persuasion, and propaganda. Read chaps. 16&17 in text

10/27 - 10/31         Media law, The F.C.C., Censorship, Ethics – test review 10/29 – Exam #4 10/31/08 (chaps. 14-17, notes) – read chaps. 18&19 in text

   11/3 - 11/7         International media, the social effects of mass comm.; In-class final prep. for final projects 11/5 – *early dismissal 11/7 for  Homecoming (no class session that afternoon)

 11/10 - 11/14      *Holiday 11/11 (Veteran’s Day). Final projects: Group I (11/12), Group II (11/14)

 11/17 - 11/21        Final projects: Group III (11/17), Group IV (11/19), Group V (11/21)

 11/24 - 11/28        Final projects: Group VI (11/24) - *Thanksgiving Holidays 11/26 & 11/28 (no classes).

        12/1                   Instructor evaluations - test review for exam #5/”final” (chaps. 18 & 19, notes)

 

                  *Note: Schedule subject to change at professor’s discretion.

Final Exam Schedule:            Date                           Exam Time

12/8/08                    8-10 AM

Special Dates:

Aug. 15                     Last day to Withdraw or Drop a Course without financial penalty

Aug. 15                     Last day to add a course.

Sept. 1                      Holiday (Labor Day)

Oct. 6-12                  Fall Break (Troy Campus only)

Oct. 17                      Last day to Drop a course and/or Withdraw without academic penalty.

Nov. 11                     Veteran’s Day Holiday

Nov. 26-30              Thanksgiving Holidays

Dec. 3                        Dead Day