HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM-101BERGEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE
MASS MEDIA OF COMMUNICATION
COM-101
Course Overview
This course is a study of the print and broadcast media. The role of media in society, a history of
the media, and the legal control of media are explored.
Required Text – Media/Impact: An Introduction to Mass Media by Shirley Biagi, Wadsworth,
Boston, MA, 10th Edition
Course Objectives
The student will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the history, current status and
possible future of newspapers, magazines, film, radio, television, the cable industry and
still-emerging forms such as the Internet.
The student will be able to describe the role each medium plays in society and be able to
critique the performance of each medium relative to its societal function.
The student will be able to use critical thinking skills in order to develop a well-organized
argument on a controversial mass media issue.
Course Requirements and Methods
Lectures/presentations by the instructor
Individual/group research and presentations
Reading of text and other written materials
Regular attendance and a high level of class participation
Exams
Exams may include multiple-choice, true-false, short answer and essay questions. A mid-term
and final exam will be given during class.
Class Debates
For each section of the course, focus will be on a few topics for in-depth examination and will
use a pro-con discussion/debate format. You will be asked to choose the side you prefer but may
be moved to the other side to even the numbers. We will usually spend at least half a class, if not
more, debating a topic.
Class Debates (cont’d)
In-class discussion will help you explore background on the topic. These discussions/debates
will lead to writing a paper. These essays will be based on the debate topics and are generally to
be about 2-3 pages long. Your work will be judged on how well you focus your topic, how
clearly and persuasively you present your case and counter your opponents’ best arguments, and
how professionally your written work is presented. All assignments are to be typed.
Film Viewings
Some of the topics in this course will be introduced through the viewing of a film relevant to the
content and serve as a basis for discussion/debate. Reaction papers will be assigned after each
viewing and should include concepts studied in this course.
Attendance
The College Policy: All students are expected to attend punctually every scheduled meeting of
each course in which they are registered. Attendance and lateness policies and sanctions are to
be determined by the instructor for each section of each course. These will be established in
writing on the individual course outline. Attendance will be kept by the instructor for
administrative and counseling purposes.
Students are expected to exhibit a professional attitude which means being present and punctual
for every class. Students are expected to remain in class until you are excused. Students who
arrive late, leave early without permission or are absent, will be penalized.
Due to the nature of the class, it is important that you attend each class and arrive on time.
Attendance will be taken at the beginning of each class. Your success in this course also
depends on your participation. For many of the projects, you will be working with other students
in class. Therefore, if you are not in attendance, you will miss participating in activities that will
hinder your own improvement. If you are unable to attend class, it is your responsibility to
obtain class materials and notes and contact me by e-mail or phone prior to your absence.
The instructor may drop you from the course roster after missing six contact hours. However,
students are encouraged to attend EVERY session since attendance and participation are crucial
to the learning process and your grade. Arriving late three times will count as an absence. It is
your responsibility to sign the attendance sheet if you’re late to class. More than three (3)
absences results in the lowering of your final grade.
Handouts
Weekly reading assignments, project criteria, and other assignments for class will be distributed
to you during class. If you miss a handout because of an absence, it is your responsibility to ask
me for the handout AFTER class or download one from the web site.
Academic Honesty
Using the work of another and claiming it as your own is inexcusable and will not be tolerated.
If you are found to be using another person’s work (that also means any form of another person’s
work), you will automatically receive a grade of “F” for the assignment and may receive a grade
of “F” for this course. Plagiarism is a serious offense. Please see the BCC Catalog section on
“Academic Integrity” (pages 62 & 63).
Class Behavior
This is a lecture and presentation based class. Therefore, I expect nothing less than your
undivided attention, cooperation, and participation during each session.
Cell Phone and Class Disruption Policy
Cell phones, pagers, and other electronic communication devices must be turned off before class
begins. Receiving messages in class is unacceptable. You may be asked to leave class for
rudeness and class disruption.
Grade Distribution
ASSIGNMENT POINTS
Group Research Presentation 20
Individual Topic Presentation/Paper 15
Topic Assignments (5 of 9) 10
Debates Reaction Papers (3 of 5) 10
Mid-Term 15
Final 15
Participation 15
TOTAL 100
GRADING SCALE
A 90 – 100 points
B 80 – 89 points
C 70 – 79 points
D 60 – 69 points
F 0 – 60 points
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE*
WEEK TOPIC ASSIGNMENT DUE
1 Mass Communication Introduction Read Chapter 1
2 Books, Magazines & Newspapers Chapters 2, 3, 4
3 Books, Magazines & Newspapers (cont’d) Chapters 5 & 6
4 Recordings & Music
Debate: RIAA vs. File Sharing
Chapter 8
Assignment #1
5 Recordings & Music (cont’d)
6 Movies Chapter 7
7 Movies (cont’d) Assignment #2
8 Radio, Exam Review
Debate: FCC vs. Free Speech
Chapter 6
9 Mid-term exam, Television
Film: Network, Debate Reaction
Chapter 8
Assignment #3
10 Television (cont’d)
11 Digital Media: Computers and the Internet
Debate: Should the Internet be regulated? Chapter 9
12 Final Project Teams Assigned
13 Library Research/News Chapter 12
14 Final Presentations
15 Final Presentations/Final Exam Review
16 Final Exam
*subject to change