Frederick Community College

 

CMM101-ONL Introduction to the Electronic Media

 

SUMMER 2008

 

Class begins:  6/2/08

Class ends:  7/24/08

Last Day to Withdraw: 7/10/08

 

Instructor Information:

 

 

Name:   Dr. Richard Fulton

Office:  L101-I

E-mail:  rfulton@frederick.edu

Phone Number: 301.846.2547

Office Hours:  by appointment

Campus Mail Box #: 109

           

Course Information:

 

Credits:  3

On-campus Meetings:  none

On-campus Exams:  One

Prerequisites:  EN50A & EN52

Co-requisites:  none

 

Course Description:

 

Surveys the function and effects of the electronic mass media. Emphasis will be placed on researching and analyzing the history of various electronic media including television and radio. Government regulations, audience measurement, advertising and careers in broadcasting will also be covered.

 

Core Learning Outcomes:

 

Students completing this course will be able to:

1.    Be able to write and speak effective, organized, clear and grammatically correct English when using research methods to analyze media issues.

2.    Be able to demonstrate an understanding of the significance of various media within their historical and cultural contexts.

3.    Use the technology of a changing world by describing the basic technical facets of the various media and by evaluating their own media behavior.

4.    Be able to research, analyze, compare, synthesize and draw inferences from various media pertaining to political, legal, economic and social issues.

5.    Be able to evaluate electronic media programming by differentiating among facts, opinions, and inferences and be able to make judgments and predictions concerning the future of media.

 

 

 Instructional Methods:

 

Methods of instruction will include lecture, mini lessons, group discussion, group activities, use of multi-media materials, and individual and group presentations.

 


 

 How this course is organized:

 

Students will be required to take weekly on-line quizzes pertaining to the chapters in the text. There will be several Discussion opportunities of which each student will be responsible for participating. Also, there are Projects that will require students to work together in order to create a finished product. There will also be two individual Journal Projects. Finally, one exam will be taken in the FCC testing center on campus.

 

Text(s) for Course:

 

The Media of Mass Communication, 8th Edition by John Vivian

                                                    

Progress Report:

 

By the end of the third week of the semester, you will have an opportunity to evaluate your progress in this course and decide if you need to make any adjustments (additional study, tutoring, conference with instructor) to assure your success in this course. Students may check the status of their grades at anytime by going to the "Tools" section of the course site and selecting "View Grades." Students should check their course progress during Week 3. By that time, Journal I should be graded, and feedback from the instructor regarding how you are doing on the Discussion Board and quizzes should be given.

Since this is a condensed summer session (8 weeks), you should plan on spending 10 to 12 hours a week on this course.

 

 

 

 


 

Evaluation Methods:

 

  1. Exam: 100 total points
    The exam counts 100 points. It is comprised of essay and objective questions.
  2. Quizzes: 50 points
    Each week there are one or two quizzes that you take on-line. Submit each quiz to the instructor after you have 100% correct answers.
  3. Discussion Board: 100 points
    There are several required whole class discussions that take place in the Discussion Board section of this course site.
  4. Journal I (project): 25 points
    You will observe and analyze your use of the media.
  5. Ratings Group Project: 50 points
    You will be assigned a group and topic to present to the class. Group members will research an aspect of Media Ratings.
  6. Journal II (project): 75 points
    The fun continues later in the semester.
  7. Media Issue Project: 100 points

      Projects concerning current issues in the Media will be presented using a              

      discussion board.

 

Total Points: 500 POINTS
Grading Scale:
450 (90%) to 500 = A
400 (80%) to 449 = B
350 (70%) to 399 = C
300 (60%) to 349 = D
299 and below = F

 

If the graded performance for online assignments differs significantly from the grade average for proctored assignments, the instructor reserves the right to administer additional tests.

 

 


 

Attendance/Participation Policy:

 

All students are expected to participate in all class assignments and discussions. Late assignments will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. No late quizzes or discussions will be accepted. Contact me as soon as possible if an emergency occurs.

 

 Email Policy:

 

Email is an instructional tool essential to student-instructor and student-student communication. In the Blackboard environment by default, your email address is available to all students in this course.

However, students are permitted to use email addresses of other students in this course only for the purpose and the duration of this course.

Students are only permitted to use their myFCC email when corresponding with the instructor or other students regarding this course.

The instructor can be expected to respond to regular student email inquiries (grades, posted assignments, and tests excluded) within the time frame of 24 to 48 hours.

 

Academic Honesty:

 

Work in this course is subject to the provisions of the FCC Code of Academic Honesty. Plagiarism in any form will not be tolerated. As a student, it is your job to practice academic honesty at ALL times.  Make sure that all sources, particularly Internet sources, get proper credit for quotations, paraphrases, and ideas. 

 


 

Week 1

06/02/08

Week 5

06/30/08

Week 2

06/9/08

Week 6

07/07/08

Week 3

06/16/08

Week 7

07/14/08

Week 4

06/23/08

Week 8

07/21/08

 

Topical Outline

 

WEEK

SUBJECT

READ

Week 1

Introduction

Mass Media

Books

Magazines

 

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 4

Week 2

Movies

Television

Chapter 6

Chapter 8

Week 3

Newspapers

Journalism

Chapter 3

Chapter 10

Week 4

Recordings

Radio

Review

Chapter 5

Chapter 7

Week 5

Ethics and the Mass Media

Visual Messages

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Week 6

Public Relations

Advertising

Exam

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Week 7

Global Mass Media

Mass Media and Society

Chapter 18

Chapter 17

Week 8

Mass Communication Effects

Review

                   

Chapter 16

 

Specific Course Requirements: The above information is an overview. To see the specific requirements, look in the Assignments, Projects and Discussion sections of this course site. Information about exams and quizzes are contained in the Syllabus in the Course Information section. Due dates and other important dates are in the Calendar section.
 
NOTE:  This is a tentative schedule. Your instructor reserves the right to make changes to this outline as needed. Any changes to the schedule will be posted on the course site and you will be responsible for noting them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Student grades are posted online and are not mailed. Check www.frederick.edu for help.

Enjoy the Rest of your Summer!