MASSACHUSETTS COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS
English 481-51 “The Future of Journalism: Issues and Opportunities in a Connected World”
Spring 2006
EXPECTATIONS / TESTING
This document accompanies the course syllabus, which is available at:
http://www.mediagiraffe.org/docs/syllabus.doc.
Class Meetings/Format
The class will ordinarily meet on Thursdays from 6:30 p.m. until 9:15 p.m., in Bowman 101, unless technology issues or a small class size makes a different room appropriate.
There will be one 15-minute break during the mid-point of each class, unless we are showing movie. Students are welcome to bring non-noisy snacks and drinks if it helps to keep alert throughout the evening.
The general approach is an informal, discussion format. Classes will be a combination of lectures by the instructor (short!), and lots of give-and-take discussion about readings, and things we view or hear in class. We will rely upon DVDs, streaming video and audio, and downloaded MP3s and other multimedia resources. We will view two or three feature films which raise document “how journalism was” in order to consider the elements which may, or may not, carry forward.
We will have one or more invited speakers at as many classes as can be arranged!
We may also explore having class members make short presentations on research topics.
Finally, we will be looking at profiles compiled on website of The Media Giraffe Project at UMass Amherst (http://www.mediagiraffe.org/profiles ) and students may have the option of researching and writing one or more profiles as an independent study project.
Location:
Bowman Room 101 unless otherwise announced. (Room 203 if the class is small; 206 for roundtable meetings)
Instructor/Contact
Bill Densmore, Visiting Lecturer, Spring 2006 / Room A721 (Berkshire Towers)
413-662-5483; BUT – BEST CONTACT METHOD IS CELL: 413-458-8001.
Office Hours:
3 p.m.-6:15 p.m. Thursdays, Room A-721 (Berkshire Towers), or call for an appointment.
Academic Honesty:
With the exception of the two exams, students are encouraged, even required in some cases, to complete assignments collaboratively. You may consult any people you wish – including classmates - during the thinking and planning phase of the assignment. At the point at which you begin to write, your work is expected to be your own. When an assignment is done collaboratively, all group members should contribute approximately equally to the planning execution and reporting of the work.
When making use of external sources, such as books, articles, or web resources, it is expected that you will cite sources of ideas or information that are not your own and enclose in quotation marks and properly attribute material you take verbatim from other sources. With web resources, please reproduce the sourced URL so that a reader can go to the underlying page for details.
Grading System / Assignments
Components of grade. These percentages are intended only as a guide to the thinking that will go into assigning you a grade, not a mathematical computation, and should give the student an idea of how to focus efforts. The goal of the grading system is to see that, by May, can articulate a sense of the problems and opportunities facing American journalism – and participatory democracy:
1. Class attendance: 20%
After Jan. 26
miss two classes -- no problem
miss three without permission -- A-
four classes without permission -- B+
five classes -- B
six classes -- B-
seven classes -- C
eight classes -- D
nine or more -- F
2. Class participation – 20%
Grading considerations:
-- Active participation
-- No idea is a bad idea -- willingness to bring ideas to the table
-- Assignments delivered/presented on schedule
-- Willing collaboration with fellow students/instructor
3. Writing assignments – 20%
· There will be approximately five very short, quick, writing assignments (300 words or less) assigned on an ad hoc basis as homework assignments. These assignments will be passed around and shared on paper or via the web with other class members. They serve two purposes:
n Confirm the student’s knowledge of material
n Form the basis for in-class discussion the day they are due
· The assignments must be completed on deadline or they are of less value for class discussion and will be marked down one full letter grade.
Grading criteria:
-- Grammar, spelling, composition (30%)
-- Mastery of subjectand facts (35%)
-- Extent, depth, independence or quality of research or reading (35%)
4. Exams – 20%
There will be two exams, one midway through the semester (date to be set within a week or so) and the other during the final-exam period. These will be essay-style writing and will be designed to invite critical thinking about topics we have covered.
5. Independent Study – 20%
Each student will have a choice of three options for completing the independent-study component of the class. The assignment will be selected in consultation with the instructor approximately three weeks into the class. The three options (CHOOSE ONE BY FEB 9 CLASS):
1) Select from among prospects a proposed “media giraffe” to research, interview and profile for The Media Giraffe Project. The completed effort will be loaded to the MGP website. In some cases, a site visit or video interview may be part of the project, financed via a grant from the Hardman Fund.
2) Select a topical book in consultation with the instructor to read and present to the class near the end of the semester both in oral and written form. In some cases, we may be able to invite the author to campus.
3) Research and write a 1,000-2,000-word research report, in journalistic prose, on an aspect of contemporary journalism and how the Internet and technology are redefining it. The paper should be suitable for public use on the Media Giraffe Project website.
C:\mcla\expectations_testing_english481-51.doc Printed: 1/17/2006 3:28 PM