Discussion Participation: 100 points
Annotated Bibliographies: 100 points (2 at 50 points each)
Essays: 200 points (2 at 100 points each)
Final Project: 100 points
Other: 100 points (assignments to be announced)
All assignments in Introduction to Mass Media must be turned in on time and in class. Grade penalties will be given if assignments are late. Discussion comments must be sent each week and cannot be sent late.
Discussion of readings and other materials is a critical part of Introduction to Mass Media, and one that all students should take very seriously. All enrolled students are expected to contribute at least of 250 words to the online discussion each week. Students are also expected to respond to each other's comments. Discussion comments are graded based on quality once minimum requirements are met. High quality (A- and B-level) comments are those which respond with thoughtfulness, specificity, and depth to class readings, discussion questions/topics, and other student comments. Low quality (C- and D-level) comments are those which are shallow, which show a disregard for the intellectual purposes of the course, which seem incomplete or inappropriately brief, which are confusing, which are grammatically incorrect, which fail to respond specifically to readings, and which do not respond to the discussion questions/topics at hand.
Types of appropriate responses include questions (of clarification, meaning, understanding), statements (extending points made in reading/discussion, expressing theories related to the discussion, sharing additional research), arguments (in agreement or disagreement of ideas in reading/discussion, suggesting weaknesses/strengths in theories, inviting dialogue to better understand the concepts through debate), and any other comments that come from (1) an informed reader who has completed the assignments according to the schedule; and (2) a motivated student committed to increasing her or his understanding of the course topics.
Twice during the semester, students will be asked to complete annotated bibliographies. These vary in length, but generally consist of 10-20 web sites discussed and evaluated by the student. Annotated bibliographies should include the student's name, the name of the course, and a list of web site URL's (complete addresses) with 5-7 sentences of description/analysis after each address. The paragraph descriptions should include information about what is contained in the web site, an explanation of how the site is related to Introduction to Mass Media, and an evaluation of the web site's usefulness to a student of mass media (notes on how user-friendly the site is are also appreciated). Annotated bibliographies should be turned in either in 3 1/2" disk format (IBM compatible, must be convertable using MS Word 6.0) or should be sent electronically to the instructor via electronic mail. In either case, the deadlines for the course are very important (see the course schedule). Annotated bibliographies which are professionally presented, which have complete/accurate URL's for web sites, which review sites relevant to the course, which review sites that are primarily scholarly/academic in nature (as opposed to entertainment or commercial sites less helpful to a student of mass media), and which include complete/articulate descriptions and reviews will receive higher points than those which do not do these things. Later in the term, student bibliographies will be posted on the World Wide Web for others to examine.
Annotated Bibliography #1: 10 web sites related to Intro to Mass Media.
Annotated Bibliography #2: 15 web sites related to student's chosen topic area for the term.
Two essays will be required as part of Introduction to Mass Media. Like the annotated bibliographies, these should be turned in on computer disk or sent electronically to the instructor. If submitted on computer disk, the essays must be written in IBM-compatible format and must be convertable using MS Word 6.0 (incorrect formats could result in penalties and delays). The essays will be uploaded to the World Wide Web so that others (in the class and not) may read them. Both essays should have references to research sources from the library as well as from the internet. The specific details of these two essays will be discussed later in the term. Both will most likely depend upon the student quickly choosing a topic to study during the semester (usually a specific mass medium to study such as radio, television, film, newspapers, internet, etc.).
Essay #1: Write an 8-10 page informative and analytical essay in which you examine several changes that have taken place in your chosen medium of mass communication. In the essay, compare and contrast a medium from some time during its early development to its present form. Focus on whatever interests you most about the medium, such as its technical capabilities, its function in society, its use by communicators, or its role in public policy. For example, a student studying the mass medium of radio might research and report on the changes in legislation related to radio broadcasts, or its changing role in the lives of audiences. Be sure to clearly present your purpose in the opening paragraphs of your paper and organize your thoughts carefully throughout. Use at least three traditional sources (print-based books, magazines, journals, etc.) and at least three internet sources (web sites, online books, etc.) in your essay; these should be cited parenthetically throughout the text and listed in a bibliography at the end. All essays will be eventually uploaded to the class web page.
Essay #2: Write an 8-10 page analytical and persuasive essay in which you predict the future of some mass medium of communication based upon your own research, reasoning, and experience. In the essay, compare and contrast the present with some possible future of the medium being examined. Like Essay #1, feel free to focus on what interests you most. While there is an imaginative and creative element to this essay, you also need to make a convincing argument for the future you predict. Use at least three traditional and three internet sources to help make your argument in the essay more credible. For example, a student studying the mass medium of newspapers might examine previous changes in the news industry to make a prediction about its future in terms of types of news covered, types of delivery systems (maybe moving away from the use of paper to a more electronic format), convergence with other technologies, changes in legal status, etc. This essay will take a great deal of thought and it is expected that you develop reasonable, possible predictions based on evidence and research. All essays will be eventually uploaded to the class web page.
As the need arises, there may be other assignments given during the term. The nature of the assignments and their point values will be discussed later.
Students will be asked to choose a nonfiction book on a topic related to the course, read it thoroughly, and report on it in discussion format. The results of this discussion (which will be explained more fully later) will eventually be posted on the World Wide Web as a series of book reviews for others to examine.
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