COURSE PURPOSE:  This course is a broad overview of mass communication in America.  You will be introduced to subjects, ideas and theories which will provide a foundation for further study through other courses offered within the Communication Arts Department.  We will examine the history of mass media plus other communications media.  We will also address media regulation, ethics and responsibilities, societal effects and the impact of emerging technologies.  You should leave this quarter's study with a clearer understanding of mediated communication and as a result be a better consumer of the wide array of media products now available.  Since this is a foundation course designed to give an overview of mass communication as practiced in America today, we will undertake a very broad area of study with the material covered in broad strokes.

TEXT:  Communications Media in the Information Society  2nd edition  by Straubhaar and LaRose
              Plus other readings as assigned

PRESENTATION:  Course material will be presented primarily in lecture with some class discussion.  You will be expected to stay current in your reading assignments, and are responsible for all assigned readings plus any additional material introduced during lecture.  Lectures may introduce material not dealt with in the text and are intended to both amplify on text material and introduce new material which the text does not cover.  Your comprehension of this material will be evaluated by exams and your writing.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:  Academic dishonesty among students will not be tolerated in any of its forms.  Academic dishonesty is defined as knowingly taking information from another student or source during the course of completing any requirements in which these additional sources are not allowed by the instructor.  Examples include plagiarism, use of another student's work (essays, papers, projects, etc.), cheating on exams by looking at another person's work or cheat sheets, and falsifying assignments.  Penalties are imposed consistent with guidelines in the current Faculty Handbook and Student Handbook.

The section exams will be "tag-team" oral exams with points awarded for correct answers on true-false "entry" questions and multiple choice "bonus" questions.  When a team misses the answer to a bonus questions, all other teams will have the opportunity to answer that bonus question for half value.  The point value for each section exam will be calculated based upon highest score achieved by the "winning" team on that exam.

All exams will be given on the day scheduled with no make-ups.  There are only two reasons for missing an exam--illness requiring hospitalization or bed confinement (legibly written doctor's statement required) or death of an immediate family member (parent, sibling or grandparent--published obituary or death certificate required).  An excused missed exam will mean that those points are deducted from the total and the grade scale will be adjusted accordingly.  An unexcused missed exam will result in a zero grade.

The introduction of your papers should be a declaration of the issue(s) inherent in the topic, why the topic is important, and to whom it is important.  The introduction should also include a "thesis statement" which clearly and narrowly defines your topic.  The body of your papers should offer a discussion that you develop analyzing your point of view, which must be in agreement with your thesis statement and supported by the evidence presented from your research sources.  The conclusion should summarize the argumentation presented in the body and offer a proposed solution to the problem.

Papers are due at the beginning of the class period on the dates listed in the course schedule.  Late papers will be accepted up until 4:00 p.m. on the due day, however they will be docked 25 percent of their original value.  No papers will be accepted for grading after the day due.  Papers not turned on the day due will receive a zero.  All papers will conform to MLA style guidelines for source attribution and bibliography (MLA guides are available in the library at the information desk or may be purchased in the bookstore.)

Your papers are to be written on the topics chosen from the attached list.  Note that each topic has a single
medium subtopic.  Subtopics are not separate topics.  You will be expected to select three distinct topics.