COM-150
Section 2
Winter 2002
Professor: Karen Cristiano
Office: 203 PSA Building (33rd & Powelton)
Phone: 215-895-2374
E-mail: kc42@drexel.edu
Office Hours: 12:30 to 2:30 Tuesday and Thursday and by appointment
DESCRIPTION
This course explores the process and effects of mass media. The history, social and cultural aspects of the mass media will be emphasized, as opposed to the business perspective.
GOALS
Although we may not be aware of it, mass media constantly barrage us with messages, teaching many of us what we know about the world. It is important, therefore, to understand mass media—its history, structure, regulation and effects that it has on us and those around us. It is hoped that those who finish this course will view and understand mass media in a much more critical fashion.
REQUIRED TEXT
Understanding Mass Communication by DeFleur/Dennis, seventh ed.
Please note: This is a new edition. The sixth edition cannot be used—there are too many dramatic changes in the new one.
In addition to assigned readings from the text, students are asked to regularly (daily, if possible) read and watch local media and be prepared to come to class and discuss studies, reports, analyses and other information that may impact on what we are studying in the class. For instance, a new study that links television violence and children’s behavior or movie-going habits and gun use should be read/watched by students.
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EVALUATION
Tests must be taken on the day
given. Papers and presentation must be
turned in when required. Missed work and tests can only be made up with a valid
excuse. Extra credit is not given.
Anyone who is found to be cheating will be asked to leave the class. NO
PAPERS MAY BE SUBMITTED BY E-MAIL. All papers must be handed in by you to
me at the start of class. No papers may be left in my box or handed in by another
person. Late papers are not accepted.
Attendance is mandatory. Every student may miss one class without penalty. Each missed class without a valid excuse after that will result in 5 points being deducted from the final grade. The determination of a valid excuse is up to the sole discretion of the instructor and requires a paper trail (doctor’s note for an illness; towing bill for a broken-down car.) No one can pass the class if he/she six or more classes, including excused absences. Continued lateness (more than 20 minutes) to class will also result in the lowering of your grade.
GRADING
A: 180-200 points
B: 160-179 points
C: 140-159 points
D: 120-139 points
F: 119 and below.
GRADING
OF PAPERS
To earn an A, students must turn in a paper on time that meets all the requirements, including length, topic, and a clear, concise discussion of the subject at hand. It must be close to perfect, with, at most, two spelling mistakes. Punctuation, word usage and grammar also must be nearly perfect (one or two mistakes each).
B papers are those that have three or four of the above problems, but meet the requirements for length, topic and clear, concise discussion.
C papers are those that do not meet all the requirements—perhaps they are too short, or have many spelling errors, but for the most part still meet most of the requirements.
D papers have serious flaws, either with meeting the requirements or in the writing of the paper itself.
F papers are those that do not meet the requirements and have numerous errors in punctuation, word usage, spelling, etc., or those papers that are not turned in when due.
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CLASS SCHEDULE
Thursday, January 3: Introduction to Class.
Tuesday, January 8: Chapter 1: Mass Communication and Mass Media.
Thursday, January 10: Chapter 2: Books. MEDIA DEPRIVATION EXERCISE DUE. (1/3 of the class will present)
Tuesday, January 15: Chapter 3: Newspapers.
Thursday, January 17:
Chapter 3 continued.
Tuesday, January 22: Chapter 4: Magazines. Short review for first
test on chapters 1-4.
Thursday, January 24: Test on chapters 1-4. Project ideas handed out. Selection due February 5.
Thursday, January 31: Chapter 6: Radio.
Tuesday, February 5: Chapter
7: Television. WRITTEN selection of topic due.
Thursday, February 7:
Chapter 7 continued. Short review
for second test on chapters 5-7.
Tuesday, February 12: Test on chapters 5-7.
Tuesday, February 19: Chapter 13: The Audience.
Thursday, February
21: Chapter 15: Media Effects.
Tuesday, March 5: Presentations of Media Research Projects (1/3 of the class).
Thursday, March 7: Presentations of Media Research Projects (1/3 of the class).
A Day Without the Media
Due Thursday, January 10
To begin thinking about the roles and functions of the mass media in society, it is helpful to observe the place of the media in your own life. For this assignment you are to avoid all mass media for one day (24 hours) and then write a three-page paper describing your experience and your reactions to it.
During the day try to avoid all mass media such as television, radio, music, the Internet, computer games, mail advertisements, books, magazines, and movies. Interpersonal communication is allowed, including the telephone and e-mail.
After the day is over, write a paper, in detail, describing your observations. You must answer the following questions to get full credit: What did you like about not having the mass media in your daily routine? What did you dislike? Was it difficult for you? Why or why not? What did you learn about your own media use? What did you learn about society’s dependence on mass media? It may help to take notes during the day.
The paper should be typed or computer-generated double-spaced. It should be grammatically correct with proper punctuation and spelling. Put some thought into the writing of the paper, as carelessness will lower your grade. No papers may be e-mailed or dropped of in my box. Only papers turned into class on January 10 will be accepted.
Is it mass media if it’s work or school? Reading a textbook for a class, using a computer at your job, having background music where you work—all of these are NOT considered media use. However, going to a bar, restaurant, mall, or coffeehouse to shop, eat, browse, etc., where there is music in the background must be avoided. The same is true with riding in a car and listening to music, going to a movie with a friend, or watching that big playoff game on television. Any sort of Internet surfing is considered media use. E-mail, because it is considered interpersonal (such as telephone use) is not and can be used. Don’t panic if you find yourself someplace where music is playing, or if you catch yourself after a minute reading a newspaper or, even, a billboard. You don’t need to start over! In fact, the inadvertent use of media is something that few of us can avoid and should be noted in your paper about how ubiquitous mass media are in our lives.
This is worth
25 points.