COM 3324 Contemporary Issues in Mass Media Spring 2012 Jones
SYLLABUS
Logistical Information
Instructor-Warren (Rhubarb) Jones Lecture: Tuesday and Thursday 12:30-1:45 p.m. Classroom 2025-Social Sciences Building
Office: Town Point Building-Room 4650 Office Hours-By appointment
Phone: (770) 499-3658 Fax: (770) 423-6532
E-mail: rhubarb@kennesaw.edu
MISSION
The Department of Communication at Kennesaw State University prepares its graduates to be effective, life-long communicators, pro-active leaders, and scholarly practioners who create, design, deliver, and interpret the messages in interpersonal, organizational, and societal contexts. Our graduates will be prepared to actively contribute to the continuously evolving local and global communities while adapting to the constant changing technological environment.
Course Description
TAKING SIDES: Clashing Views in Mass Media and Society. Eleventh Edition. Authors: ALEXANDER HANSON ISBN: 9780078049989
Taking Sides volumes present current controversial issues in a debate-style format designed to stimulate student interest and develop critical thinking skills. Each issue is thoughtfully framed with an issue summary, an issue introduction, and a postscript or challenge questions. Taking Sides readers feature an annotated listing of select World Wide Web sites. Other sources of reading will be assigned and will be announced. Other materials and contemporary issues in mass media will come from magazines, newspapers, scholarly journals, digital video discs, the Internet and guest lecturers. Subjects not covered in the text such as the ever evolving continuing changes in media will be explored and discussed.
GROUND RULES
Show up for class. I fully expect you to show up, on time, and participate in class discussion. Cross talk and conversations with your classmate neighbors during class are strongly discouraged. Unexcused absences are an indication that you have no intent of serious study of the course. It costs money to go to college. Take advantage of the opportunities here at Kennesaw State University. Be proactive in your education. Absences without a note from a health professional or a funeral director in case of a death in the family will be marked as unexcused. Not showing up for class just because you didn’t feel ok are unexcused. You will find out that in the real world that you have to “play hurt in this league.” 4 unexcused absences will deduct a full letter grade when posting final grades at the end of the semester. Habitual tardiness is something than can and will go against you in final grading. You are required to sign in for every class and include your time of arrival. It should be understood that I will not discuss or debate your final grade. You earn your grade, I don’t give them. You are the master of your destiny in this class. Material covered in class will be emphasized on exams and active quality participation is considered in the student’s favor when final grades are determined. It is the student’s responsibility to EARN the desired grade. You have the opportunity to learn from 40 years in broadcasting in radio and television with the majority of that experience in a major market. I am a member of the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame, and the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame in Nashville. I have acted in film and television with credits in Remember the Titans, Major League 3-Back to the Minors, and the NBC hit show In the Heat of the Night.
40% of your grade is from 4 exams. 30% of your grade is from written assignments. 20% of your grade is from your final exam. 10% of your grade is from quality participation in class. If you are not in class, you are not participating. 4 unexcused absences will result in a full letter grade penalty. 6 unexcused absences will result in a drop two full letter grades and 9 absences (excused or not excused) will result in a failing grade.
LATE OUT-OF-CLASS ASSIGNMENTS
Assignments are due to the instructor NO LATER THAN 12:30 p.m. on the designated due date. Assignments must be submitted stapled and physically to the instructor. I do not accept e-mail attachments for written assignments. Late assignments will be penalized a full letter grade for each day not handed in. Assignments that are 10 days late are an automatic zero. If work is erased or corrupted if saved on a KSU lab or classroom computer is not an acceptable excuse for late or missing papers and assignments.
ACADEMIC HONESTY the provisions of the Student Code of Conduct, as published in the Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs.
Every student at Kennesaw State University is responsible for upholding Section II of the Code of Conduct addresses the University’s policy on academic honesty, including provisions regarding plagiarism and cheating, unauthorized access to University materials, etc. Incidents of alleged academic misconduct will be handled through the established procedures of the University Judiciary Program, which include either an “informal” resolution by a faculty member, resulting in a grade adjustment, or a formal hearing procedure, which may subject a student to the Code of Conduct’s minimum one semester suspension requirement.
CONFERENCES
Students may arrange an appointment concerning the course at a time specified mutually by student and instructor. E-mail rhubarb@kennesaw.edu and the office phone number is (770) 499 3658.
THE KSU WRITING CENTER
The KSU Writing Center is a free service offered to all KSU students. Experienced, friendly writing assistants work with you on thesis development, organization, research documentation, grammar, mechanics, and more. They help you improve your paper and teach you strategies to become a better writer on your own. For information or to make an appointment, visit http://www.kennesaw.edu/english/WritingCenter, or stop by Room 242 in the English Building.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Kennesaw State University does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its programs or activities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Public Law 101-336, gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities. This statute guarantees equal opportunity for this protected group in the areas of public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services and telecommunications.
If you have a visible or invisible disability and will require academic accommodations in this course, I am glad to discuss your needs. Accommodations are coordinated through Disabled Student Support Services. If you have a documentable disability it is your responsibility to contact Carol Pope at cpope@kennesaw.edu or call (770) 423-6443. Please note that instructors cannot accommodate students with disabilities if we are not appropriately notified, in writing, early in the semester.
FERPA
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records once the student has reached 18 years of age (20 U. S. C. 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99). Under the law we cannot release your student ID number, grades, performance evaluations, or any other personal or academic information to anyone but you, unless you provide written permission to do so. Also, I cannot discuss grades with you or anyone else over unsecured lines such as e-mail or phone.
CHILDREN ON CAMPUS
According to the Kennesaw State University Handbook (504.3c Children in the Workplace), the University cannot accommodate children of employees and students on campus during normal operating hours. Children are welcome to make brief visits and to attend scheduled events.
NOTE: All aspects of this syllabus are subject to change. If changes do occur, you will be notified in a timely manner. It is your responsibility to check it before class. Please check www.wordpress.com and go to rhubarbjones for quick memos of future classes such as guest lecturers. An update of the syllabus will be on Georgia Vista.
January 10- Expectations/Brainstorming/Outline of the Course
January 12- Issue 1- Are American Values Shaped by Mass Media?
January 17-Issue 1 continued
January 19- Issue 3- The Media and Negative Body Image?
January 24- Issue 5-Do Video Games Encourage Violent Behavior?
January 26- Issue 5 continued
January 31-Issue 7- Is Advertising Good for Society?
February 2- Issue 7 continued
February 7- Issue 7 wrap up.
February 9- Issue 6- Copyright Laws and Intellectual Property
February 14- Guest Lecturer-Songwriter Bruce Burch
February 16- Issue 14- Can the Independent Music Artist Survive?
February 21- Issue 14 continued
February 23- Issue 13- Industry Regulation and Indecent Media Content.
February 28- Issue 13 continued
March 1- Review of Issues
March 6- Spring Break
March 8- Spring Break
March 13- NBC produced documentary Talhotblonde
March 15- Talhotblonde continued
March 20- Issue 17- Are Online Services Responsible for an Increase in Bullying and Harassment?
March 22- Issue 9- Does Fake News Mislead the Public?
March 27-The Contemporary Issue of Health Care-Sicko
March 29- Sicko and discussion on Health Care
April 3- Health Care wrap up
April 5- Documentary Thou Shalt Not Sin…
April 10- Issue 3- Do Media Represent Realistic Images of Arabs?
April 12- Issue 3 continued. Stereotypes in television and film. All in the Family pilot episode.
April 17- Issue 15- Should Newspapers Shut Down Their Presses?
April 19- Issue 18- Are People Better Informed in the Information Society?
April 24- Issue 11- Should the Public Support Freedom of the Press?
April 28- Course Wrap Up and Final Exam Preview
Final Exam TBA
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