COURSE SYLLABUS

MMC 2000 INTRODUCTIONTO MASS COMMUNICATIONS

Online Instruction

0535: Fall 2017, Express

View the Syllabus Addendumwhichprovides the most current version of fluid information, such as the academic calendar.

WELCOME

Hello and welcome to MMC 2000! In this course, you will study different aspects of mass communications that include music, radio, film, newspapers, books, etc. By increasing your understanding of how various forms of mass communications work, you’ll be able to improve your overall knowledge of this amazing field.

This course includes a significant amount of reading, content review, writing, presenting, and general communicating. The course is divided into 12 modules (1 module per week), each with multiple readings, assignments and discussion postings. Assignments must be submitted by 11:30pm EST/EDT on the date they are due.

In the Course Content, you will find the BEGIN HEREmodule that contains helpful information, so refer back to it often. Please ask me questions whenever you’d like. All questions are taken seriously.

INSTRUCTOR

Name: Dr. Shirley Oakley

Email:

Office Phone: 727-791-5904

Office Location: LA 101C, Clearwater Campus

Instructor Web Page:

ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT

DEAN

Name:Joseph Leopold

Office Location:LA 101e, Clearwater Campus

Office Phone Number: 727-791-2570

Email:

ACADEMIC CHAIR

Name: Dr. Shirley Oakley

Office Location: LA 101C

Office Phone Number: 727-791-5904

Email:

HOW TO COMMUNICATE IN THIS ONLINE COURSE

  • Contact your instructor through MyCourses email.
  • Always address your instructor as Dr. Oakley and sign your emails (your name).
  • Always include a relevant subject line. Don’t use an old subject for a new topic.
  • Take care with wording emails; this is an academic course. For example, don’t refer to your instructor as “hey there.”
  • Use standard fonts, capitalization, and proper punctuation.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Click here: Technical Support Desk.

COURSE INFORMATION

COURSEDESCRIPTION

MMC2000 IntroductiontoMassCommunications 3 credits

Thiscourseisasurveyofthebackground,nature,andfunctionsofthemediaofmass communications,withspecialemphasisontheprint,film,andelectronicmedia.Thecourse isdesignedtoprovidethestudentwithabasisfor effectiveanalysis,evaluation,anduseof thevariousmedia,andwithaknowledgeoftheroleandtheresponsibilitiesofthemass mediainademocraticsociety.Thiscoursehasasubstantialwritingrequirement.

Prerequisites: ENC 0020 orEAP1695 or satisfactoryscore on theSPC PlacementTest.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Thestudentwilldemonstrateanunderstandingofcommunicationtheoryinrelationto themassmediaandmassaudience.

2. Thestudentwilldemonstrateknowledgeof thedevelopment,nature,andfunctionsof themassmedia.

3. Thestudentwilldemonstrateknowledgeof thehistoricalfoundationsoffreedomofthe press.

4. Thestudentwilldemonstrateknowledgeof theinterrelationshipbetweenthemass mediaandAmericansociety.

5. Thestudentwilldemonstrateknowledgeof theinfluencesofmasscommunicationson massaudiencesandpublicopinion.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK & COMPUTER AND SPEECH RECORDING INFORMATION

Required Textbook:Mediaculture: Mass communicationina Digital Age.(10th ed.).

Author: Richard Campbell

Publisher Information:Bedford/St.Martin's.

ISBN for bound textbook: 9781457668739

ISBN for looseleaf text:9781319010553

Required Hardware: Students are required to record video of themselves delivering a speech for assignments in this class. Students will need a device with a camera and micro. Video must be recorded using the video features of MyCourses.

View the Textbookssite

View theLibrariessite

TECHNOLOGY

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

View the MyCourses Minimum Technology Requirements

You should know how to navigate the course and use the course tools. Dropbox assignments require attachments in either Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) so that they can be properly evaluated. DO NOT USE A PDF FILE.

  • Required Hardware: You are required to record video of yourself for two assignments. You will need a device with a camera and microphone, and videos must be recorded using the video features of MyCourses. If you have a problem recording, please contact TechnicalSupport.
  • Make sure you watch and listen to your video before you submit it. Do not upload files (mp3, etc.). The MyCourses video recorder must be used for all videos.

MyCourses tutorials are available to students and are located at the beginning of the course. Most features on MyCourses are accessible on mobile devices, although it’s best to use a computer for quizzes, tests, and essay assignments.

RECORDING YOUR VIDEOS

You may be able to use your internal webcam and microphone to videotape your speeches; however, you must check your video before you submit it to make sure the audio AND video are both acceptable. Videos are required to be recorded in MyCourses.Here is a link for how to record speeches in MyCourses:

  • Eliminate noise in the room. Turn the TV off and make sure your room looks appropriate for a formal presentation.
  • Stand and make sure that your entire body may be seen. Be sure that you are the focus of the webcam and that you are facing the webcam (not sideways).
  • The webcam must be focused on you throughout the speech; the camera should be positioned as if it is an audience member.
  • Stand for all videos; never deliver/record a speech sitting down unless you are unable to stand.
  • Dress business professional for all presentations, just as you would in a real public speaking environment. That means suit jacket (if you have one) with tie and slacks, suit jacket with skirt and slacks and dress shirt, or skirt with dress blouse. No tank tops, t-shirts (especially those with writing), jeans, etc.
  • Practice your presentations to stay within the time limits.

LEARNER SUPPORT

If you have a documented disability or think that you may have learning or other disability and would like to request accommodations, please contact the Disability Resources staff at 727-791-2628 (V/TDD).

View the Accessibility Resourcessite

View the Academic Supportsite

View the On-Campus and Online Supportsite

View the Student Servicessite

For personal issues contact Student Services or Bay Care: 800-878-5470

IMPORTANT DATES

Academic Calendar site

Course Dates: 09/11/15--12/08/17

Last day to drop: 09/15/17

Withdrawal Date:10/30/17

Financial Aid Dates: View the Financial Aid Dates

ATTENDANCE

View the college-wide attendance policy included in the Syllabus Addendum.

You must complete all assignments and submit by the due dates.

  • Typically, initial Discussion posts are due on Thursdays by 11:30pm (EST) and the completed Discussion post is due by 11:30 p.m. (EST) on Sundays. This is to allow for feedback from your classmates.
  • You should understand that to communicate effectively means to participate; there is no other way to succeed in this course.

Attendance (logging in regularly) is mandatory for this course.

  • Attendance will be noted by using the Discussion Postings and other assignments as the metric. If you do not complete the weekly assignments in full, you will be marked "Absent" for that week in which the assignment was missed.
  • If you miss two (2) assignments at any time throughout the course (they do NOT need to be consecutive - any 2), you run the risk of being dropped from the class by the instructor without further explanation.

Check emails, ask questions, and interact with your classmates daily.

  • I am required to report you as “attending” or “not attending” for each of the first two weeks of the course.
  • If you have not completed your assignments during the first two weeks of class, you will be reported as “not attending” and will likely be removed from the course.
  • Likewise, if at the 60% participation mark if you have missed two weeks of attendance, participation, and/or assignments (have not completed all assignments up to that point), you will be reported as Not Participating and will be dropped from the course. Please contact me if for any reason you must drop the course.

GRADING

Graded Assignments / Points
Quizzes (16 at 10 points each) / 160
Introduction video presentation / 40
Discussion posts (4at 50 points each) / 200
Media Use Reflection Paper / 100
TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE / 500
Total Points / Grade
450-500 / A
400-449 / B
350-399 / C
300-349 / D
0-299 / F

HOW TO WRITE ASSIGNMENTS

All papers must:

  1. Be double-spaced
  2. Have 1-in margins
  3. Have 12 point Times New Roman font
  4. Have correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar
  5. Cite any and all work that is not original, and format all work using an APA style manual.

ASSIGNMENT DUE DATES

All assignmentsare due by11:30Sunday(EST). Initial Discussion posts are due by Thursday of each week to allow for class feedback.

Week 1: Sept 11—Sept 17

1. Read all documents in the BEGIN HERE tab.

2. Read Ch. 1 and review all Supplemental Resources.

3. Take Ch. 1 quiz

4. Record and submit an Introduction video of yourself. You must use the MyCourses video recorder for this.

Week 2: Sept 18—Sept 24

1. Read Ch. 2 and Ch. 3 and review all Supplemental Resources.

2. Take quizzes for Ch. 2 and Ch. 3.

3. Submit Discussion Post 1: Media Literacy

Week 3: Sept 25—Oct 1

1. Read Ch. 4, Ch. 5 and review Supplemental Resources.

2. Take quizzes for Ch. 4, and 5.

Week 4: Oct 2—Oct 8

1. Read Ch. 6, and Ch. 7 and review Supplemental Resources.

2. Take quizzes for Ch. 6 and 7.

3. Submit Discussion Post 2: Movies

Week 5: Oct 9—Oct 15

1. Read Ch. 8 and Ch. 9 and review all Supplemental Resources.

2. Take quizzes for Ch. 8 and Ch 9.

Week 6: Oct 16—Oct 22

1. Read Ch. 10 and review all Supplemental Resources.

2. Take quiz for Ch. 10.

3. Why not read a book for fun?

Week 7: Oct 23—Oct 29

1. Read Ch. 11 and Ch. 12 and review all Supplemental Resources.

2. Take quizzes for Ch. 11 and 12.

3. Submit Media Use Reflection essay

Week 8: Oct 30-Nov 5

1. Read Ch. 13 and review all Supplemental Resources.

2. Take quiz for Ch. 13.

3. Discussion Post 3: Media Economics

Week 9: Nov 6—Nov 12

1. Read Ch. 14 and review all Supplemental Resources.

2. Take Ch. 14 quiz.

Week 10: Nov 13—Nov 19

1. Read Ch. 15 and review all Supplemental Resources.

2. Take Ch. 15 quiz.

3. Submit Discussion Post 4: Media Effects

Week 11: Nov 20—Nov 26

Thanksgiving Break—No Assignments

Week 12: Nov 27—Dec 3

1. Read Ch. 16 and review all Supplemental Resources.

2. Take Ch. 16 quiz.

3. For five points extra credit, answer this question in a short paragraph: What was the one most valuable piece of informationyou learned in this course.

4. Take Student Survey of Instruction (SSI).

5. Say farewell to your course pals (optional).

STUDENTS’ EXPECTATIONS AND INSTRUCTOR’S EXPECTATIONS

EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS:

  • Actively participate in all course components
  • Read the text and REVEL to prepare for assignments and quizzes.
  • Complete all assignments on time and according to assignment guidelines.
  • Maintain a professional attitude.
  • Follow the syllabus guidelines and schedule.
  • Check My Courses and e-mails regularly.
  • Utilize SPC tutors, Turnitin, and Smartthinking.
  • For personal issues contact Student Services or Bay Care: 800-878-5470.

EXPECTATIONS OF INSTRUCTOR:

  • Instructor will use a 24 to 48-hour response time to e-mails, except weekends.
  • Instructor will strive to take approximately one week for feedback on assignments after the due date.

PARTICIPATION, CONDUCT, & NETIQUETTE

SPC has outlined expectations for student behavior and interaction for online discussions, email, and other forms of communication.View the Student Expectationsin the Syllabus Addendum.

ACADEMIC HONESTY

PleasenoteSt.PetersburgCollege’s Academic Honestypoliciesandtheconsequencesof violations.There isnotoleranceforanyform ofacademic dishonesty.Disciplinecanrange from azero onaspecificassignmenttoexpulsionfromtheclass withagrade of“F” andthe possibilityof expulsionfromthecollege.Copying/pastingpublishedinformationwithoutciting your sources, whethertheinformationisfrom your textbook or theInternet,isplagiarismand violates this policy.Evenifyouslightlychange thewords from anoutsidesource, theideasare someone else’s soyoustill have tociteyour sources. Cheating, plagiarism, bribery, misrepresentation,conspiracy, andfabrication aredefinedin BoardRule 6Hx23-4.461.Also see StudentAffairs:Academic HonestyGuidelines,ClassroomBehavior.

View theAcademic Honesty Policy

STUDENT SURVEYOF INSTRUCTION

Thestudentsurveyofinstructionis administeredincourseseachsemester andis designed to improve the qualityofinstructionatSt.PetersburgCollege.Allstudentresponsesare confidentialandanonymousandwill be usedsolelyfor thepurpose ofperformance improvement.Watchfor specific datesthatyou areallowed totakethis survey.

Note: Theinstructorreservestheright toalterthissyllabus and assignmentschedule asneeded.

ASSIGNMENT GUIDELINES

Introductionvideo:Recorda1- minutevideo ofyourself. (See video recording guidelines). Tell us:

  • your name;
  • your major;
  • whatyouhopetolearnfromthis course; and
  • your favorite form of mass media and why.

Discussion posts:There are five Discussion Posts each are worth 40 points. For each,makesure youreadthe questioncarefullyandrespond usingfactsand examples. Also,followtheword requirement andproofreadfor errors in punctuation,spelling, etc.After posting your own discussion, respond to two of your classmate’s discussions with meaningful feedback. Here are the topics:

Discussion Post 1: Media Literacy

Discussion Post 2: Movies

Discussion Post 3: Media Economics

Discussion Post 4: Media Effects

Quizzes:There are 16 quizzes (1 quiz per chapter) and eachquizis timed. You areencouraged touseyour text.

Media Use ReflectionPaper:Youwill recountyour personalmassmedia use historyandgive examples of anyeffectsithashaduponyou.The paper shouldinclude sectionsonyour preschoolmedia use,your elementaryschoolmedia use,your middleschool media use,your highschoolmedia use,andyour currentmediause.

In each section, youshould discussyourfavoritemediaandwhytheyareyour favorites,howyou usedthemedia,andany effectsfrom themedia.For example,ifyouwere a fan of“Saved bytheBell,” discusstheshow andwhatyouenjoyedaboutitandwhateffectit mayhave hadonyour perceptionofwhathigh school wouldbelike.Other examples of mediaeffectsmightsimplyberemembering somethingyoupurchasedafter seeingitadvertisedinyourfavoritemagazine or remembering thatyoulearnedSpanishwords from“Sesame Street.”

Finally, discuss howandwhy youfit intothedemographic thatthemedia targeted.(SomeInternetresearch onyour favoritemediawill helpwith this. Thelength ofthe paper shouldbeatleast3 pages with a reference page and a title page (see APA guidelines). Thereferencerequirementisacomprehensivelist of at leastfive articles,books, mediawebsites,or othermaterials you used.

1