Communications Studies (COMS) 335 - Lecture 02
Mass Communications and Canadian Society
Fall 2008
Saturday: 13:00 - 17:00

Class dates: September 13, 20, 27; October 4, 18, 25;

November 1, 15, 22, 29

 

Instructor:	Amanda Williams
Office Location:	SS209
E-Mail:	williaam@ucalgary.ca
Office Hours:	Friday 13:00-15:00

 

Course Description

An overview of the theoretical literature on various aspects of the media, including public policy questions such as the concentration of media ownership, Canadian content requirements, censorship, copyright, and the problems and opportunities that might be brought by advances in technology and globalization.

Objectives of the Course

By the end of this course you should be familiar with a broad range of theoretical and public policy issues related to the media and cultural industries in Canada and, be able to think critically about how such issues relate to your personal use of different forms of media.

You will be expected to participate in class discussions, to reflect critically on your own ideas, beliefs and practices, and to observe things/ processes from various perspectives.

Textbooks and Readings:

• Lorimer, Rowland, Mike Gasher and David Skinner. Mass Communication in Canada, 6th Edition. Don Mills: Oxford University Press, 2008.

*Earlier editions of this book may be purchased second-hand, but since the instructor will be teaching from the Sixth Edition, students are responsible for all of the information in the Sixth Edition. If you purchase an earlier edition, you must ensure that you obtain copies of any additional chapters that we may cover. You are also responsible for keeping abreast of any relevant pagination differences.

• Other readings as assigned.

Assignments and Evaluation

The assignments and exams are intended to test your knowledge of some of the major mass media theories and policy issues in Canada today; they are also designed to make you think critically about such issues.

 

1) Term Paper Proposal: Due on October 4 (10%)

• 2-3 double-spaced pages on a topic of the student's choice
• additional details will be provided in the first class

2) Midterm: October 25 (20%)

• format: multiple choice, short & long answer questions
• Designed to test your knowledge of the textbook (chapters 1-6), lecture, and group activities based on the material covered in weeks 1-5 of the course

 

3) Reading Responses: Due on October 25 & November 29 (10%)

• You will have to select 10 of the 12 textbook chapters for these responses. Each entry should be no longer than 1 page double-spaced. 5 entries are due on October 25; and, 5 are due on the last day of class.
• The purpose of this journal is to encourage you to engage with the chapter's material. Each chapter contains a series of questions at the end to kick-start your thought process (study questions) but feel free to be creative and move beyond these in order to consider how this material applies to your daily life. Quality of the response, and knowledge of the chapter's key issues, will serve as the basis for assessing each entry.

4) Group Presentations: October 18- November 22 (20%)

• Presentations will be based on a series of debates around chapters 6-11 of your textbook
• Topics will be selected on the first day of class
• Class time will be provided to prepare
• A portion of your grade (10%) will be based on your individual presentation skills

5) Quiz: November 29 (10%)

• format: multiple choice, true or false & short answer questions
• Designed to test your knowledge of the textbook (chapters 7-11), lecture, and group presentation material covered in weeks 7-9 of the course

 

6) Term Paper: Due on December 6 (25%)

• 10-12 double-spaced pages on a topic of the student's choice
• additional details will be provided in the first class

 

7) Participation: on-going (5%)

• Each class we will be engaging in group discussions, your attendance and participation in these activities will be evaluated

It is the student's responsibility to keep a copy of each submitted assignment.
Note: Please hand in your essays directly to your tutor or instructor if possible. If it is not possible to do so, a daytime drop box is available in SS110; a date stamp is provided for your use. A night drop box is also available for after-hours submission. Assignments will be removed the following morning, stamped with the previous day's date, and placed in the instructor's mailbox.

Registrar-scheduled Final Examination: NO

Policy for Late Assignments

Assignments submitted after the deadline may be penalized with the loss of a grade (e.g.: A- to B+) for each day late.

Writing Skills Statement

Faculty policy directs that all written assignments (including, although to a lesser extent, written exam responses) will be assessed at least partly on writing skills. For details see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info. Writing skills include not only surface correctness (grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, etc) but also general clarity and organization. Research papers must be properly documented.

If you need help with your writing, you may use the Writing Centre. Visit the website for more details: www.efwr.ucalgary.ca

Grading System

The following grading system is used in the Faculty of Communication and Culture:

(Revised, effective September 2008)

 

	Grading Scale
A+	96-100
A	90-95.99
A -	85-89.99
B+	80-84.99
B	75-79.99
B-	70-74.99
C+	65-69.99
C	60-64.99
C-	55-59.99
D+	53-54.99
D	50-52.99
F	0-49

 

Where a grade on a particular assignment is expressed as a letter grade, it will normally be converted to a number using the midpoint of the scale.  That is, A- would be converted to 87.5 for calculation purposes.  F will be converted to zero.

Plagiarism

Using any source whatsoever without clearly documenting it is a serious academic offense. Consequences include failure on the assignment, failure in the course and possibly suspension or expulsion from the university.

You must document not only direct quotations but also paraphrases and ideas where they appear in your text. A reference list at the end is insufficient by itself. Readers must be able to tell exactly where your words and ideas end and other people's words and ideas begin. This includes assignments submitted in non-traditional formats such as Web pages or visual media, and material taken from such sources.

Please consult your instructor or the Writing Centre (SS 106, efwr.ucalgary.ca) if you have any questions regarding how to document sources.

Students with Disabilities

If you are a student with a disability who may require academic accommodation, it is your responsibility to register with the Disability Resource Centre (220-8237) and discuss your needs with your instructor no later than fourteen (14) days after the start of the course.

Students' Union

For details about the current Students' Union contacts for the Faculty of Communication and Culture see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/su

"SAFEWALK" Program -- 220-5333

Campus Security will escort individuals day or night -- call 220-5333 for assistance. Use any campus phone, emergency phone or the yellow phone located at most parking lot booths.

Ethics

Whenever you perform research with human participants (i.e. surveys, interviews, observation) as part of your university studies, you are responsible for following university research ethics guidelines. Your instructor must review and approve of your research plans and supervise your research. For more information about your research ethics responsibilities, see

The Faculty of Communication and Culture Research Ethics site: http://www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/ethics

or the University of Calgary Research Ethics site: http://www.ucalgary.ca/research/compliance/ethics/info/undergrad/

Schedule of Lectures and Readings (tentative)

 

All readings should be completed prior to class!

 

Date	Topic	Readings (from Lorimer, Gasher and Skinner Text)	Assignments Due
September 13	Introduction to Mass Communication Ice breaker Group Selection Course Overview Lecture on what is meant by "mass media" within the Canadian context	Chapter 2
September 20	History of Mass Communication: Theoretical approaches Lecture on the historical issues associated with the study of mass media Specific focus on the theories of McLuhan and Innis Scheduled group work time (for presentations)	Chapter 1 (additional primary readings from McLuhan & Innis will be provided)
September 27	Media, Culture & Politics Lecture on relationship of media to identity and citizenship Does the media control politicians or do politicians control the media? Scheduled group work time (for presentations)	Chapter 3
October 4	Exploring Content & Audience Issues Lecture on different theory/methods of understanding content (qualitative versus quantitative) Freedom of speech debate Lecture on audience perspectives (passive versus active approaches) Scheduled group work time (for presentations)	Chapters 4 & 5	PAPER PROPOSAL DUE (2-3 PAGES double spaced)
October 18	Introduction to Communication Policy Lecture on Acts and future directions Group Presentations Comments on Proposals Midterm review	Chapter 6	Group presentations (Groups 1&2)
October 25	MIDTERM	No readings	MIDTERM Journal entries due (5, for chapters 1-6), 1 page double spaced each (max), total pages 5 (max)
November 1	Introduction to the Cultural Industries Lecture on Policy Process Group Presentations Midterm Review	Chapter 7	Group presentations (Groups 3,4,5)
November 15	Ownership & Journalism Lecture on Ownership values (public versus private) & Nature of News/ Gate-keeping Group Presentations Paper writing tips	Chapters 8 & 9	Group presentations (Group 6,7,8)
November 22	New Forces: Technology & Globalization Lecture on thinking critically about technology & globalization Group Presentations Quiz review	Chapters 10 & 11	Group presentations (Groups 9 & 10)
November 29	Wrapping it all up Quiz Final activity on communication in the digital age Some final paper polishing tips	Chapter 12	QUIZ Journal entries due (5, for chapters 7-12), 1 page double spaced each (max), total pages 5 (max)
December 6	PAPER DROP OFF		RESEARCH PAPER DUE (10-12 pages double spaced) Paper drop off in SS209 from 13:00-15:00