20801251Introduction to Mass Communication
Course Information
Description
Introduction to Mass Communications is a four credit course that focuses on the history, evolution, and ethical and moral responsibilities of our media today. This course is divided into three modules. Module 1 is an overview of the mass media in our society today. This module will example the power, economics, and conglomeration trends in the media. Module 1 will focus on examining the history and evolution of different types of media: books, magazines, newspapers, recordings, movies, radio, television, and the Web. Module 2 will move beyond "what" the media is to "how and why" the media communicates its disparate messages. In other words, this module will focus on the message "makers" and the messages (the content). Module 2 has five sub-categories: news, public relations, advertising, entertainment, and media research. The final module, Module 3, builds on the previous two modules by focusing specifically on the effectiveness of the media in the U.S. and the world. The final module examines contemporary media issues in societies throughout the world. Ethics and media law is at the heart of Module 3.
Total Credits
4
Course Competencies
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Examine the history and evolution of our media, including sound recording, motion picture and documentaries, radio, television, books, magazine, newspapers, and the InternetAssessment Strategiesby writing three in-depth argumentative essaysby actively participating in team activities and class discussionsby writing 14 short "blogs"by taking 14 "content" quizzesCriteriayou write in-depth argument essays, between 1,500 and 2,000 words in length, that show evidence of critical thinking regarding media historyyou write weekly blogs, each between 250 and 500 words, that show evidence of critical thinking regarding media historyyour essays and blogs include facts and objective examples, with American Psychological Association (APA) style documentation, that support a point of view regarding media historyyour writings show correct and appropriate grammar, punctuation, spelling, syntaxyou score higher than average on the quizzes and exams relating to this competency: examining media history and evolutionyou apply course terminology and theories to real-world models
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Analyze contemporary media trendsAssessment Strategiesby writing three in-depth argumentative essaysby actively participating in team activities and class discussionsby writing 14 short "blogs"by taking 14 "content" quizzesby taking a final examCriteriayou write in-depth argument essays, between 1,500 and 2,000 words in length, that show evidence of critical thinking regarding media historyyou write weekly blogs, each between 250 and 500 words, that show evidence of critical thinking regarding media historyyour essays and blogs include facts and objective examples, with American Psychological Association (APA) style documentation, that support a point of view regarding media historyyour writings show correct and appropriate grammar, punctuation, spelling, syntaxyou score higher than average on the quizzes and exams relating to this competency: examining media history and evolutionyou apply course terminology and theories to real-world models
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Examine the role of journalists, novelists, screenwriters, musicians, and film and documentary directors in the United States and throughout the worldAssessment Strategiesby writing three in-depth argumentative essaysby actively participating in team activities and class discussionsby writing 14 short "blogs"by taking 14 "content" quizzesby taking a final examCriteriayou write in-depth argument essays, between 1,500 and 2,000 words in length, that show evidence of critical thinking regarding media historyyou write weekly blogs, each between 250 and 500 words, that show evidence of critical thinking regarding media historyyour essays and blogs include facts and objective examples, with American Psychological Association (APA) style documentation, that support a point of view regarding media historyyour writings show correct and appropriate grammar, punctuation, spelling, syntaxyou score higher than average on the quizzes and exams relating to this competency: examining media history and evolutionyou apply course terminology and theories to real-world models
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Analyze the effect that public relations, advertising, and government propaganda have on the United States and countries elsewhereAssessment Strategiesby writing three in-depth argumentative essaysby actively participating in team activities and class discussionsby writing 14 short "blogs"by taking 14 "content" quizzesby taking a final examCriteriayou write in-depth argument essays, between 1,500 and 2,000 words in length, that show evidence of critical thinking regarding media historyyou write weekly blogs, each between 250 and 500 words, that show evidence of critical thinking regarding media historyyour essays and blogs include facts and objective examples, with American Psychological Association (APA) style documentation, that support a point of view regarding media historyyour writings show correct and appropriate grammar, punctuation, spelling, syntaxyou score higher than average on the quizzes and exams relating to this competency: examining media history and evolutionyou apply course terminology and theories to real-world models
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Understand ethical situations and laws that impact media professionals todayAssessment Strategiesby writing three in-depth argumentative essaysby actively participating in team activities and class discussionsby writing 14 short "blogs"by taking 14 "content" quizzesby taking a final examCriteriayou write in-depth argument essays, between 1,500 and 2,000 words in length, that show evidence of critical thinking regarding media historyyou write weekly blogs, each between 250 and 500 words, that show evidence of critical thinking regarding media historyyour essays and blogs include facts and objective examples, with American Psychological Association (APA) style documentation, that support a point of view regarding media historyyour writings show correct and appropriate grammar, punctuation, spelling, syntaxyou score higher than average on the quizzes and exams relating to this competency: examining media history and evolutionyou apply course terminology and theories to real-world models
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Write in-depth argumentative essays about issues in media todayAssessment Strategiesby writing three in-depth argumentative essaysby participating in weekly writing practice activitiesCriteriayou use different rhetorical strategies, such as close-form structure and open-form structure, when writing argumentative essaysyou construct an effective thesis when writing a close-form essayyou use between three and five different introduction openersyou construct an effective essay question when writing an open-form essayyou construct effective topic sentences for paragraphsyou develop paragraphs using evidence to support topic sentencesyou use transitions linking the supporting points of the essayyou use effective research strategies to provide evidence for the essaysyour essays have unityyou effectively summarize, paraphrase and quote sourcesyou document sources using American Psychological Association (APA) documentation styleyou use emotional appeals in addition to logical argumentsyou construct conclusions according to the conventions of open-form and close-form writingyou use audience analysis when constructing argumentative essaysyou accept, and put into perspective, peer feedback of rough and final drafts
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Write blogs about issues in media todayAssessment Strategiesby writing 14 short blogsby participating in weekly writing practice activitiesCriteriayou use different rhetorical strategies, such as close-form structure and open-form structure, when writing argumentative essaysyou construct an effective thesis when writing a close-form essayyou use between three and five different introduction openersyou construct an effective essay question when writing an open-form essayyou construct effective topic sentences for paragraphsyou develop paragraphs using evidence to support topic sentencesyou use transitions linking the supporting points of the essayyou use effective research strategies to provide evidence for the essaysyour essays have unityyou effectively summarize, paraphrase and quote sourcesyou document sources using American Psychological Association (APA) documentation styleyou use emotional appeals in addition to logical argumentsyou construct conclusions according to the conventions of open-form and close-form writingyou use audience analysis when constructing argumentative essaysyou accept, and put into perspective, peer feedback of rough and final drafts
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Use effective research strategies and databasesAssessment Strategiesby researching and writing essays and blogsby participating in research practice activitiesCriteriayou locate and use scholarly databasesyou evaluate the database sourcesyou evaluate information discovered during the research stageyou retrieve key information discovered during the research stageyou locate and use primary sources in addition to secondary sourcesyou develop an effective research process, from start to finish
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Give oral arguments about issues in media todayAssessment Strategiesby giving two oral presentations (three to five minutes) that are argumentativeCriteriayou use audience analysis when constructing oral argumentsyou use conventions of public speakingyou use logical and emotion appeals in your oral argumentsyou support your points of view with evidenceyou accept, and put in perspective, peer feedback of oral arguments
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Act professionally when engaged in team activities both inside and outside the classroomAssessment Strategiesby providing quality feedback on your classmates essay and blog draftsby providing quality feedback on your classmates oral argumentsby acting in a professional manner when in the classroomby acting in a professional manner when working collaboratively with classmates outside the classroomCriteriayou enter into class discussions consistently and effectivelyyou become a group member who performs the individual duties assigned by the groupyou become a group member who shares ideas and informationyou become a group member who helps the group reach consensusyou understand the importance of peer feedback in the classroomyou provide quality feedback on the writing and spoken assignments of others