Communications Studies (COMS) 381 - Lecture 01

History of Communications

Winter 2008

Tuesdays and Thursdays 09:30 - 10:45

TRA 102

 

Instructor:	Maria Bakardjieva
Office Location:	SS 334
Office Phone:	220-7300
E-Mail:	bakardji@ucalgary.ca
Web Page:	www.ucalgary.ca/~bakardji
Office Hours:	TBA

 

Additional Information

Students should have reliable access to the Internet as well as valid UofC e-mail addresses. The course will involve regular use of Blackboard. E-mail messages sent to the instructor should have COMS 381 in the beginning of their subject line.

Course Description

This course undertakes a general survey of how various communication systems and practices developed through history, and of the social contexts within which they emerged, transformed, and adapted through time. Within this framework the course examines major technological developments in the history of human communication and uses theory to understand their origins and impacts on social organization and everyday life. It traces the evolution of different communication forms and media and their influences on society, including orality, literacy, printing, mass media, telecommunications and information technology. .

Objectives of the Course

Students will develop strong historical appreciation and theoretical grasp of the relationship between communication media and society. The examination of the role of media throughout history in framing human thinking and in organizing power and knowledge in society will deepen students' insight into the present information age. The understanding of the historical processes shaping social communication is a prerequisite for adequate orientation in its contemporary dynamics and future potential. Therefore, this course aims to build analytical skills which would allow students to evaluate, plan and implement projects in the area of communication drawing on rich and systematic knowledge of historical precedents and parallels.

Textbooks and Readings:

Crowley, David, & Heyer, Paul (2006) Communication in History: Technology, Culture, Society. 5th Edition. Allyn & Bacon.

Collection of Readings available through Blackboard.

Assignments and Evaluation

Midterm (in-class): (20%). Tuesday, February 26, 2008.

Short paper: (20%). Thursday, April 10, 2008.

Fact-finding mission and presentation: (15%). Ongoing.

Participation (15 %.) Ongoing.

Final exam (30%) Registrar scheduled.

The Midterm will be a mix of multiple-choice, short-answer and/or essay-type questions to be completed within a scheduled class period (75 minutes). Closed book.

Final exam: The exam will consist of two short essays addressing topics/questions provided by the instructor. To be completed within two hours. Closed book.

Short paper will focus on a key moment (discovery, event, development) or personality in communication history selected by the student. Topics to be approved by instructor. The papers will be 5-7 pages long (12 pt, double-spaced).

Fact-finding missions and in-class presentations include: Independent research and presentation addressing selected topics expanding and enriching the course content - topics to be approved by instructor. Students will work in groups of 2-3 to complete 3 (three) such presentations scheduled throughout the semester. Notes and visuals to be submitted to the instructor on the day of presentation.

Participation includes:

Contributing to in-class discussion each week AND/OR posting responses and comments to the readings assigned for the respective week or responses to the class discussion in the designated Blackboard discussion forum. Online responses will only be counted when they address the topics and readings of the respective week in which they are posted. The evaluation of participation will be done in three categories: ‘inadequate', ‘good'- student contributed a substantive comment in at least 50% of the weeks, comment was informed (demonstrated familiarity with course readings) and insightful, ‘very good' - participation was regular, informed, enthusiastic, original and strongly beneficial to the learning process. Each category will add 5 marks to the participation grade.

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:  Yes

Please note: If your class is held in the evening, the Registrar's Office will make every attempt to schedule the final exam during the evening; however, there is NO guarantee that the exam will NOT be scheduled during the day.

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:

A+ (96-100); A (92-95); A- (86-91); B+ (81-85); B (77-80); B- (71-76);
C+ (65-70); C (62-64); C- (59-61); D+ (55-58); D (50-54); F (0-49)

 

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

 

Will be posted in Blackboard before the first class.