Special Topics in Mass Communication: Course
Description/Assignments/Grading
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INSTRUCTOR: Jad Melki OFFICE
HOURS: By Appointment
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COURSE DESCRIPTION This course teaches students how to become effective at creating, accessing, analyzing, and evaluating various digital media through instruction in media production skills and by applying the latest innovations in media literacy theory. The course focuses on the the essential skills communication professionals need to create digital content (including digital slide presentation, photo manipulation, video/audio production, web site, blog and podcast publishing). At the same time, students will learn how to analyze media content and explore how media shape politics, culture, and society.
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COURSE GOALS After completing this course you should be able to:
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COURSE MATERIALS Required:
Recommended:*
* Note: I strongly advise that you get the recommended text(s), especially those related to a certain skill you may use extensively in the future (e.g. photo editing, video editing) |
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POLICY ON COURSE WORK Readings: It is IMPERATIVE that you finish ALL assigned readings before class, whether they were media literacy or digital skills related readings. Because this class will cover various topics and skills in a limited time period, it is not possible to cover every detail of the material during lectures. In addition, learning the digital skills covered in this class will be frustrating if you don't familiarize yourself with them conceptually before class. You are expected to have a basic understanding of the material to be able to engage in the discussions. Your "class attendance, participation & readiness" portion of your grade will be severely affected, otherwise. Assignments: All work for this class should be typed double-spaced, spell-checked, have one-inch margins, and use 12-point serif font. Use APA format. Late work will receive a two point deduction every 24 hours after the deadline. Work is due at the beginning of class on the assigned date. If you have extenuating circumstances or need special accommodations, please contact me BEFORE the due date and we will work something out. Please note that in all cases you are responsible for getting your work in on time. Sharing Assignments: Any sharing of assignments from previous semesters, using any previously completed work, or sharing of previously used test questions will be considered cheating. Both the person who shared his or her work and the person who used the previously completed work will be pursued with ethics charges. Please note that we will be
using the Turnitin.com plagiarism program. You are asked to submit all
original assignments to the Turnitin.com website when you turn them in to me. You must submit all (media literacy) papers and assignments on time or you will receive a two point reduction every 24 hours after the deadline. Hard copies of papers should be submitted at the beginning of class (also see the turn-it-in note above). Assignments in digital format (e.g. Photoshop, Powerpoint...) should be uploaded to a server folder I will designate later, unless I specify another method of submission (like email). It is your responsibility to make sure the digital document is copied and opens correctly.
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COURSE ASSIGNMENTS Media Literacy Critical Papers: We will cover 10 media literacy topics in this course, and you will write a "critical paper" about five of them. You must complete readings even if you don’t submit a paper. Material from all the methods readings will be on the exam. You will be required to write no less than two pages double-spaced and no more than three pages double-spaced about the reading for that week. Please note that the page limit will be strictly enforced; I will stop reading at the end of three pages and your grade will be based on what I have read. The body of your critical paper should be exactly that: CRITICAL! Keep descriptive statements to an absolute minimum. However, your analysis and arguments should be persuasive and supported with "data" or "evidence" or examples from the texts, photos or videos you are analyzing. You should build a logical argument that starts with a concise statement and ends with a summary of what you analyzed and clear and specific conclusion. For each critical paper, you will be supplied an "analysis criteria." This is a basic guideline on what to look for and what questions to ask. You do not need to use every element in the supplied criteria, and you can certainly go beyond the questions asked. Use APA format and tight scholarly writing. Write in active voice whenever possible, and avoid using expletives. Write an introduction that sets out the main thesis of your paper and a conclusion that summarizes your main points. Make sure your introduction includes a thesis statement that introduces the main argument of the paper. Your paper should include correct citations, with references listed at the end. Papers receiving ten points will communicate a clear argument, demonstrate an understanding of all the readings and analysis criteria, be free of APA errors, be elegantly and clearly written, and provide sophisticated well-articulated and supported arguments, not common insights and mere descriptions. Please review the grading rubric below so you know what I will be looking for in grading your paper. Grading Rubric for ML Critical Papers: 1) Writing uses texts and analysis criteria discussed in class with a clear understanding of each. (2.0) 2) Writing makes a clear, well-organized and well-supported argument that provides sophisticated insights and analyses. (2.0) 3) Paper contains a clear introduction with a thesis statement that is supported by the body of the paper. (1.0) 4) Paper provides a conclusion with summary. (1.0) 5) Writing is clear and free of APA and grammar errors. It contains transitions and headings that give the paper flow. (2.0) 6) Each paragraph has a clear thesis statement and supporting documentation. (1.5) 7) Paper contains all required sections and adheres to the formatting directions. (0.5)
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Directions for the Media Literacy Critical Papers are linked here:
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Digital Skills Assignments: You will work on five "digital skills" assignments. For each assignment, you will be supplied basic directions and in-class training. However, you are expected to read the designated readings and consult the textbooks when working on your assignment. You will be graded both on the aesthetic and content aspects of your work. Your assignments should communicate a clear and coherent message with an appropriate mood set by the colors, images and graphics utilized. At the same time, the assignments should be "clean" and esthetically attractive and reflect high quality of work. Grading Rubric for Digital Skills Assignments: 1) The work is aesthetically clean and clear of any noise, pixelations or distortions. (2.5) 2) The whole work communicates a coherent message and sticks to the principles of design covered in class and in the readings. (2.0) 3) The work is message oriented and delivers a clear and simple message with little or not clutter and distractions. (2.0) 4) The text (including audio narrations) used in the work is void of any grammar or dictation errors. (1.0) 5) The colors, special effects, images, widgets and other extra elements used add to the message and are not simply decorations and do not distract from the main message. (1.0) 6) The work is highly "usable" and "readable" and information can be easily found and/or understood. (1.0) 7) The work is saved (stored) in the appropriate digital format (e.g. for photos JPG or GIFF or other). (0.5)
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Directions for the Digital Skills Assignments are posted here:
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Final Paper: Your final project is a critical research oriented investigation
into some aspect of mass media. You are free to choose your topic, and the format is at your discretion
(traditional paper, web page, video, etc...). Your topic must relate to concepts that are brought up in
class or in the course readings. Be sure that there is enough information on your topic, while keep in
mind that very broad issues (e.g. computers and privacy) will produce too much
information to synthesize a modest project. The project should be the equivalent of 20 pages of
word-processed copy, double-spaced using proportional 12 pt. type.
Grading Rubric for Final Project: 1) The project has an introduction that clearly introduces and explains the importance of your topic. The writing is compelling and makes the reader care about the topic. The introduction ends with a clear statement of purpose for the paper. (5 pts.) 2) The project includes a literature review and background discussion. This section begins with a clear introductory paragraph that outlines what you will discuss and ends with a paragraph that summarizes the entire section. (5 pts.) 3) The literature reviewed is relevant to topic . (5 pts.). 4) The writing is grammatically correct, concise and in active voice whenever possible. (10 pts.) 5) If you choose to write a traditional paper, the entire paper should be written in proper APA format. (5pts). If you choose another digital format, these 5 pts will be evaluated according to the first two points of the "grading rubric for digital skills assignments" (see above). (5pts.) 6) The analysis sections uses texts and analysis criteria discussed in class with a clear understanding of each. (5.0) 2) The writing is clear, well-organized and the arguments are well-supported and provide sophisticated insights and analyses. (5.0) 6) Each paragraph has a clear thesis statement and supporting documentation. Each paragraph covers one point. (5)
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Final Paper Presentation: During the last two class meetings, you will make a five-minute presentation on your research. Please prepare and practice this presentation so it does not take more than five minutes. You are expected to show the class what you have worked on using the projector.
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Media Literacy Final Exam: The final exam will focus on media literacy concepts we covered in class. You will be answering questions in essay form using the critical skills and methods we covered in class.
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Class Participation: You will earn one point for each seminar session in which you activity participate in the discussion. To receive one point you must make at least two substantive contributions that refer to the readings.
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Total Semester Points Possible:
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POLICY ON CLASS ATTENDANCE Attendance is mandatory. If you need to miss class, it’s your responsibility to make sure any assignments that are due reach me on time to receive full credit. Do not e-mail assignments to me unless I have given you explicit permission to do so. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to get any notes or handouts from a classmate. Do not assume that I will automatically give you copies of any handouts or notes for any class unless you are present at the class. Regardless of the reason for missing class, you will not be able to make up missed class participation points.
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POLICY ON INCOMPLETES Incomplete are given at the discretion of the instructor, and only under extenuating circumstances such as a major illness, death in the family or other unexpected emergencies. In all instances, you must submit work to me so that I can submit a final grade to the registrar within four weeks of the start of the following semester/term.
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POLICY ON DISABILITIES If you are a student with a documented disability who requires accommodations or if you think you may have a disability and want to inquire about accommodations, please contact the university's Coordinator for Disabilities.
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POLICY ON PLAGIARISM Please note that I have a zero tolerance for plagiarism of any kind. You may fail a course or be dismissed from the program entirely if you are caught. Ignorance is not an acceptable excuse. For further information and assistance in determining when and how to properly cite your sources, please link to an excellent resource provided by the Albert S. Cook Library at Towson University: http://cooklibrary.towson.edu/avoidingPlagiarism.cfm. An equally useful resource with clear and specific definitions of plagiarism can be found at: http://turnitin.com/research_site/e_home.html. It is your responsibility to become familiar with Towson University's ethics policies, to know what is and is not a code violation, and to abide by the university’s code of ethics. Violation of the ethics policy will result on disciplinary action, including expulsion.
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