NOTE: DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THIS COURSE HAS BEEN MOVED ONLINE. BEGINNING MARCH 30TH, YOU WILL NEED TO ACCESS THIS COURSE ON D2L.
Gordon State College
COMM 2100-A: Intro to Mass Comm
Spring 2020
Meeting Time: TR 12:30 – 1:45
Classroom: Fine Arts 110
Instructor: Erik Clabaugh
Email: eclabaugh@gordonstate.edu
Alternate Email: erikclabaugh@gmail.com
Office: Russell 207
Office Hours: MW 11:30-2:00; TR 11:00-12:30
Phone: (678) 359-5481
Course Description: A survey of media history, theory, and intellectual traditions as they apply to the study of mass communication.
Please Note: The lectures, readings, media clips, and discussions in this class may be controversial and/or contain obscenities. This may result in discussions that some students may find challenging to their current social, political, or religious views. A college education is intended to challenge and broaden our perspectives of the world. If we approach these topics with a calm and open attitude that uses logic and reason, and if we treat each other’s views with respect during discussion, you will find that you grow and mature as a person while becoming a more well-rounded individual.
Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:
• Think critically about mass media and mass media messages;
• Understand the economic and social imperatives affecting message content, delivery and effects;
• Understand the influences of media content on cultural perceptions;
• Understand the characteristics of contemporary mass media, including the influence and roles of media history, media law and ethics, governmental regulation, and evolving technology.
Required Text: Campbell, Richard, et al. Media & Culture: Mass Communication in a Digital Age. 12th ed., Bedford/St. Martin’s, Macmillan Learning, 2017.
*Note: You are welcome to purchase the 11th edition of the textbook if you can find it for a better price.
Assignments & Grading Breakdown:
Exam 1 20%
Exam 2 (Midterm)- 20%
Exam 3 (Final)- 20%
Writing Assignments/Reading Responses-20%
Attendance & Class Participation- 20%
Grade Scale:
Letter grades for the course are based on a standard 100-point grading scale, with 90-100 = A, 80-89 = B, 70-79 = C, 60-69 = D, below 60 = F.
Graded Assignments:
Exam 1: 20%
Exam 1 will consist of multiple choice and short answer questions derived from assigned readings, related lectures, and in-class discussions. No scantron required.
Exam 2: 20%
Exam 2 will consist of multiple choice and short answer questions derived from assigned readings, related lectures, and in-class discussions. No scantron required.
Exam 3: 20%
Exam 3 will be cumulative and consist of multiple choice and short answer questions derived from chapters 1-12, related lectures, and in-class discussions. No scantron required.
Reading Responses/Activities/Quizzes: 20%
Students are required to submit a total of 5 reading responses over the course of the semester. You are free to submit your responses at any time, however, you may not submit more than one response a week (this prevents everyone from handing in all five responses on the last day of class). You should plan your submissions accordingly.
Responses must be submitted in person (sorry, no email) at the beginning of the corresponding class session(s). Submissions must be typed and, if more than one page in length, stapled.
Responses may take many forms. You may submit written chapter summaries, questions about the readings, challenges to particular theories or points covered in the text, drawings, photographs, poems, videos, or songs. I’m open to almost anything. That said, the response must be original (i.e. you made it yourself), be created specifically for this class (don’t give me a picture you snapped for last semester’s photography seminar), and relate to the assigned subject matter (e.g. don’t turn in a sonnet about your dog’s eyes when we are reading about effective listening). If you choose a “non-traditional” response, such as a photo, poem, video, etc., it should be accompanied by a brief written account (one or two paragraphs in length) detailing how the response relates to the class material. If you choose to submit a “traditional” written response, it should be between one and two pages in length; a single paragraph is not sufficient to earn credit for completing the assignment.
Submissions must meet commonly accepted professional and collegiate standards with regard to spelling, grammar, and composition. Responses that fail to meet these requirements will be returned without credit. Written portions should be typed, double spaced, in 12 point Times New Roman with 1-inch margins. Spelling and grammar will be graded and factual correctness is required. All responses should be in your own words. I know what the book says; I want to read your thoughts.
Reading responses are graded on a 0, check minus, check, check plus scale.
In-class activities will be incorporated into our program of study and may not be made up if missed. Accordingly, attendance is strongly encouraged. In-class activities will not require additional materials or preparation; however, you will need to complete the required reading assignments if you hope to do well.
As your instructor, I reserve the right to administer “pop quizzes” at my discretion. If deemed necessary, quizzes will be given during regular class sessions and may not be made-up if missed. Quizzes will consist of multiple choice, true or false, and short answer questions. They are designed to reward students who keep up with assigned readings. Thus, questions will not require highly detailed responses. If you have read the material, you should be fine.
Assignments will be discussed in further detail as the semester progresses. That said, if you have any questions do not hesitate to ask.
Attendance & Participation: 20%
Attendance is crucial if you hope to do well. What’s more, merely showing up and tuning out does little to further your education. As a result, students are expected to participate actively in the classroom experience. I want students to be engaged. I encourage everyone to take part in classroom discussions and activities. But what if you don’t like to speak in class? If you are not into small group communication? Fret not! You may participate in other ways. You may earn participation points by emailing me with discussion points, YouTube videos, social media posts, etc. that relate to topics covered in our readings. These often serve as terrific catalysts for in-class discussions. Bottom line, you don’t have to speak in class but I do expect you to demonstrate that you are engaging with the material.
Students are allowed 2 unexcused absences. Additional absences will have a negative impact on your grade.
Calculating Your Grade: No online grade book is used for this course. Thus, students are encouraged to keep all graded assignments and keep track of their own grades. In the event that a student would like to estimate where they stand in the course, they should use those grades and adjust them to the percentages noted in this syllabus.
Course Policies:
Reading Assignments: Students are responsible for, and expected to complete, ALL assigned readings. If it becomes clear that students are not keeping up with assigned reading, I will administer unannounced reading quizzes. The quizzes will be figured into your attendance and participation grade.
Late Work: Students are expected to meet all deadlines. Late assignments will not be accepted unless arrangements are made with the instructor before the due date.
Make-up Exams: Students who cannot take an exam as scheduled because of documented serious illness or compelling, unexpected circumstances may submit a request (to the instructor, in writing) for a make-up. The following are examples that are not considered compelling reasons to grant a make-up exam: lack of preparation, negligence, misinformation, or planned vacations and other events.
Make-up requests are considered only for students who provide documentation of a compelling reason for missing the exam or speech, owe no other work in the course, and have good records of attendance and participation.
Original documentation must accompany the request. Two pieces of documentation are required, except in cases of personal illness (in these cases, one piece of documentation is sufficient). Documentation should be written in English and must be on letterhead paper. It should confirm the reasons for missing the exam, be signed by the appropriate person in an official capacity, and include travel information if relevant. Medical documentation must be in the form of a letter on the medical provider’s letterhead and based on a physical exam within two days of the missed exam. Documentation written on prescription pads will not be accepted.
Attendance Required: Roll will be taken every class. Students are allowed two unexcused absences without penalty. Additional absences will result in the loss of 5 points (i.e., each absence = the loss of 5 points from your attendance grade). Early departures will also mean a loss of participation points.
Tardiness: Chronically tardy students will lose 2.5 points from their attendance grade every time they are late for class. If a student is more than 10 minutes late, he or she is automatically marked as absent. In such circumstances, the student is free to stay in class to prevent missing any notes or assignments, but the absence will still count.
Academic Dishonesty: This includes but is not exclusively plagiarism and cheating. The penalty for this offense is failure of the assignment, of the course and/or further prosecution by the college. Ignorance is not a defense.
Emailing: Emailing is encouraged and I will make every effort to be available on a regular basis. Please always use your Gordon student account and note your class and meeting time in the subject line (e.g. Comm 1500 – T, TR). While I will make every effort to respond quickly, I may not be able to provide an immediate response, please allow enough time before the assignment’s due date. I will check my e-mail on a regular basis, but this does not guarantee immediate or timely response. I am not responsible for e-mail that does not reach me.
FERPA (Grade Consultations): Grades are private and protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. I will discuss your grades only with you and in private.
Calculating your grade: I do not keep a running calculation of your semester grade. All of your graded assignments are returned to you, and you know the number of your absences, so at any given point during the semester you can calculate your grade.
In case of absence: If you are absent or tardy, you need to speak with a classmate about what you missed.Do not email me asking what you missed.
Changes to syllabus: I reserve the right to adjust this syllabus at any time during the session.
Cell phones, earbuds, etc.: will not be allowed for use in the classroom. If you are caught looking at your phone, you will receive a warning for the first offense. Subsequent offenses will cost 20 points each time from your attendance grade. If you look at your electronic device during a quiz or an exam, you will receive a zero on that quiz or exam.
Classroom Etiquette: Civil classroom behavior is expected of every student. Students exhibiting behavior that disturbs my teaching or fellow students’ learning will be asked to leave the class and referred to the administration for further disciplinary action.
Submissions of written assignments: All assignments must be typed and submitted in class, in person. I do not accept assignments via email. Also, please note that I will not accept multi-page assignments that are not stapled. If you do not own a stapler, I strongly recommend you purchase one.
Title IX: Gordon State College is committed to providing an environment free of all forms of discrimination and sexual harassment, including sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking. If you (or someone you know) has experienced or experiences any of these incidents, know that you are not alone. All faculty members at Gordon State College are mandated reporters. Any student reporting any type of sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence or stalking must be made aware that any report made to a faculty member under the provisions of Title IX will be reported to the Title IX Coordinator or a Title IX Deputy Coordinator. If you wish to speak with someone confidentially, you must contact the Counseling and Accessibility Services office, Room 212, Student Life Center. The licensed counselors in the Counseling Office are able to provide confidential support.
Gordon State College does not discriminate against any student on the basis of pregnancy, parenting or related conditions. Students seeking accommodations on the basis of pregnancy, parenting or related conditions should contact Counseling and Accessibility Services regarding the process of documenting pregnancy related issues and being approved for accommodations, including pregnancy related absences as defined under Title IX.
ADA and 504: If you have a documented disability as described by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504, you may be eligible to receive accommodations to assist in programmatic and/or physical accessibility. The Counseling and Accessibility Services office located in the Student Center, Room 212 can assist you in formulating a reasonable accommodation plan and in providing support in developing appropriate accommodations to ensure equal access to all GSC programs and facilities. Course requirements will not be waived, but accommodations may assist you in meeting the requirements. For documentation requirements and for additional information, contact Counseling and Accessibility Services at 678-359-5585.
House Bill 280: For information regarding House Bill 280, see the University System of Georgia at the following
link:http://www.usg.edu/hb280
Religious Holidays: Gordon State College acknowledges that the academic calendar can sometimes conflict with major holidays from among our diverse religious traditions. If a student must miss class due to the observance of a religious holiday, that absence may be excused. To be excused, the student must inform his/her instructors before the absence and make alternate arrangements for any work due at the time of the absence. An excused absence for the observance of a religious holiday does not excuse student from responsibility for required course work.
The Hightower Collaborative Learning Center & Library: offers Gordon State students specialized library research assistance. Students can meet with their personal librarians for one-on-one help in each discipline, major, or course to search and evaluate information sources effectively. Go to http://libcal.gordonstate.edu/to schedule an appointment by clicking the Personal Librariantab or click on the Presentation Practice Room tab to make a reservation. For immediate help, call 678-359-5076 or stop by the Circulation/Check-Out Desk. You can also Ask A Librarian or drop by the Circulation/Check-Out Desk.Check the library’s web site for hours, Electronic Resources,and LibGuides (subject- or class-specific research guides).