MCOM 100
Using Information Effectively in Mass
Communication
Fall 2004
Tuesday 3:30 - 6:10 PM - MC 100
| Dr. Sean Baker | |
| Towson University | Office: 208B Van Bokkelen |
| Mass Communication and Communication Studies | Phone: (410) 704-5856 |
| 8000 York Rd | Fax: (410) 704-3656 |
| Towson, MD 21252 | E-mail: sbaker@towson.edu |
Office Hours: After class, Wednesday: 12:00 - 2:00, and by appointment. I welcome all student questions and concerns so please feel free to set up an appointment.
E-mail is the most efficient means of contact.
Course Overview: This course is designed to assist students in the, "effective and ethical gathering, evaluation, application, and presentation of information in the study of mass communication. At the end of the course the student should be able to:
- Learn how to gather relevant information from human, print, and electronic sources.
- Develop and apply critical thinking skills in the evaluation and use of information.
- Learn how to process and synthesize information in spoken, written, and electronic form.
- Learn how information may be effectively and ethically gathered, evaluated, applied, and presented in the study of mass communication" (Towson Bulletin).
One main goal is to assist in your understanding of how people obtain information, how they interpret it, what they do with it.
A second intention of this course is to enhance student's ability to consume information. In other words, student knowledge of how and why information is produced by mass media organizations should be enhanced at the end of this course. Often labeled "information literacy," this second aspect of the course is intended to increase your ability to understand and use information from a wide array of mass media sources. Accordingly, we will examine the social and cultural implications that information and information delivery systems have upon society.
Texts and Other Readings: There are three types of reading materials that are required for this course.
1. Hyperlinked Internet readings are posted on the schedule. Consequently, you need to refer often, on-line to the electronic form of this course syllabus. The on-line version of the course is the only current, authoritative version. As a rule, I will not distribute handouts and revisions of the course outline in printed form. It may be found at URL:
2. Interface Culture: How New Technology Transforms the Way we Create and Communicate by Steven Johnson. 1997. Harper Edge. San Francisco.
3. Often, I will distribute materials in class the week prior to our discussions.
Be sure press refresh/reload on your browser when viewing the syllabus or linked handouts over the semester to be sure you are looking at the most current versions.
Basic computer skills and access you will need to acquire: Aside from the course content and specialized internet/web skills, you will need: (a) a Towson user account for Web publishing and email or email and Internet space through a commercial provider (Earthlink, MSN, AOL, etc); (b) an ability to log-on to the campus network or commercial ISP; (c) an ability to use current versions of Netscape or Internet Explorer. I will provide help with these needs during the first week. Much of the class' communication is through these means. Much of your submitted work will be in either email or web form (fear not; I'll show you how).
USE OF THESE TECHNOLOGIES ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE COURSE. You must be willing to learn their effective use if your don't already use them.
You will also need either a floppy disk or zip disk.Format: The basis of our class approach is a mix of structured lectures, group discussion and individual exercises. This is punctuated by live and computer/network/videotape demonstrations. Given the cumulative nature of the course content and many of the readings, it is important for you to keep pace.
Work: There will be a mid-term and final in this course. You are expected to participate and attend all class sessions. There will be 3 to 5 "pop" quizzes throughout the semester which will be given with no notice from me, in addition to exercises that will be completed during class. There will be no make-ups for any pop quizzes or the class exercises. Two short (1 - 2 pages) response papers are required where you will critically analyze print and electronic media sources. Also there are numerous computer/Internet related assignments. The final project is a longer paper (about 6 to 8 pages or equivalent) that summarizes, synthesizes and organizes previous literature on a subject of your choice as long as it relates to topic(s) covered in this course. Here you will find numerous sources from differing perspectives and this information will be presented to the class while using many of the production strategies discussed in class. I will discuss each of these in more detail later in the semester.
The exams and quizzes will cover lecture, reading, video, and other course materials.
Grading: Your grade in MCOM100 has the following breakdown:
What: |
Percent: | |
| Participation/Quizzes/Homework | 15 | |
| Paper #1 | 5 | |
| Paper #2 | 5 | |
| Midterm Exam | 15 | |
| Web Site Assignment | 5 | |
| Flash Assignment | 5 | |
| Photoshop Assignment | 5 | |
| Show and Tell Assignment | 5 | |
| Final Project Presentation | 5 | |
| Final Project | 20 | |
| Final Exam | 15 | |
| Total | 100 | |
You are responsible for these as well as conventional materials (texts, handouts, tapes). Attendance is mandatory (unless excused by illness or other urgent need). Excused absences will only be given if you notify me prior to class time and you must provide documentation. Missing assignments (unexcused) will count as zero and late assignments will receive a 10% grade reduction per calendar day they are late.
I use plus/minus grading and here is my policy regarding letter and
numerical equivalency:
|
A |
Student attends all classes, participates, and completes all work on time. Pursues ideas and concepts that are outside of the course requirements. Quality is above and beyond the assignments. Work and effort is excellent without error. |
| B 80% - 89% |
Student attends all classes, participates, and completes all work on time. Pursues ideas and concepts that are discussed within the course requirements with some extra effort. Quality is consistent with assignment expectations. Work and effort is good and above average with minimal error. |
| C 70% - 79% |
Student attends most classes, participates, and completes most work on time. Pursues ideas and concepts that are discussed within the course requirements. Quality is mostly consistent with assignment expectations. Work and effort is average with minimal error. |
| D 60% - 69% |
Student attends many classes, participates, and completes most work on time. Pursues ideas and concepts that are discussed within the course requirements. Quality is generally consistent with assignment expectations. Work and effort is below average with error. |
F Below 60% |
Plagiarism (knowingly representing someone else's' work as your own) is not acceptable behavior in universities, nor is copying materials from your classmates. I will spot check papers for plagiarism. Any form of cheating will not be tolerated and papers/assignments/tests with clearly plagiarized material will result in course failure and university officials on academic conduct will be notified. Please see the attached Plagiarism Memo for more on this.