Course
Syllabus: Journalism
10 Fall
2016
Instructor: Ralph Nichols
Instructor email: ralphnichols58@gmail.com
Instructor phone: 408-274-7900, ext. 6506
Instructor Office: VPA-108
Office Hours: TBA
Class website: evcjournalism10.blogspot.com
WHY SHOULD I TAKE THIS COURSE?
Media play a bigger role in our lives than we realize. They influence us on a daily basis and help shape our view of the world. The ultimate goal of this class is to improve students’ understanding of media and thus give students a greater appreciation of the role media play in our lives.
WHAT IS THIS COURSE ABOUT?
We will study media from a social, historical and business perspective. By examining media from three perspectives, students will develop a more sophisticated appreciation of the role media play in shaping world events, the economy and popular culture.
WHAT WILL BE EXPECTED OF ME?
Students are expected to demonstrate a willingness to:
1. Attend class on time and stay until the end of class.
2. Participate in class discussions. You will need to be a major participant to earn an “A.”
3. Keep up with the reading in the textbook.
4. Turn in a media journal at the end of the semester.
CLASS THEME:
Media Evolution: From headlines to hashtags: Media have been part of this country since it’s founding. It informed Americans when the Civil War ended, when President John F. Kennedy was killed and when terrorists blew up the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The media is a delivery system, no more, no less. Media deliver information, entertainment, persuasive editorials and columns. The first thing revolutionaries do when overthrowing a government is to take control of the media. Control the media and you can control public opinion. We will look at how media has evolved over the last 200 years from headlines to hash tags. We will examine how racial attitudes throughout history have influenced the media. We will explore how technology has shaped the media from its printed origins to the cell phones we carry in our pockets. We will discuss the social impact of media in terms of media’s influence over our social lives. Media are big business so we will look at how the business of media impacts the type of media we get.
General Education Learning Outcomes
General Education is a commitment on the part of a college to provide students with a broad set of knowledge and skills that will help each student in their process of becoming a well-rounded healthy person equipped to participate wisely in the health of our community. It requires a carefully selected set of courses and activities on the part of the college and active reflection on the part of the student.
This course participates in the general education process by including the following General Education Learning Outcome(s):
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
• Demonstrate an understanding of how American media have evolved, their operation as a business, their role in society and impact on consumers.
• Analyze the new media and draw conclusions about the validity of information presented, reliability of sources and the effect on values and ethics.
• Analyze different types of media including film, advertising, popular music, visual symbols and hierarchies of information design and draw conclusions on the impact of technology, the effectiveness of communication design and the effect on consumer behavior.
• Identify various types of media and how they are produced.
Evaluate how changes in technology affect the communication process and the exchange of information.
• Assess the Internet and how it functions as a source of information, as well as issues of privacy and intellectual property as they relate to new communications media technologies.
• Construct an understanding of the impact of media and visual culture on personal identity and communicate that understanding through a written or oral essay.
This outcome contributes to the General Education areas of emphasis stated in the accreditation standards and District General Education Philosophy (pending)] checked below:
___x__ Aesthetic sensitivity
___x__ Civic responsibility (local, national, global)
___x__ Civility
___x__ Computer literacy
___x__ Critical analysis/logical thinking
___x__ Cultural diversity
___x__ Ethical principles
___x__ Historical sensitivity
___x_ Integrated organism including the physical, emotional, social, and intellectual
(local and CSU GE)
___x__ Interpersonal Skills
___x_ Oral communication including speaking and listening
___x__ Political involvement (local, national, global)
___x__ Scientific and quantitative reasoning
___x__ Social responsibility (local, national, global)
___x__ Teamwork (ability to work and solve problems as a team, recommended by Jim Potterton)
WHAT ARE THE GROUND RULES?
1. Punctuality and attendance: You have a responsibility to be at all class meetings on time and to remain until the end of class. Excessive absences will result in a lowering of your overall grade. If you find that you must miss a class, be late, or leave early (and this should only happen under exceptional circumstances) you must call me before class to:
1. Arrange to review the class notes you missed.
2. Get the assignments due for the next class.
3. You’re only allowed two absences for the entire semester. You can be dropped from the class if you have more than two absences.
4. You are responsible for all material covered in class when you were absent.
Arriving late or leaving early may result in an absence or a loss of points. Attendance is probably the most important thing you must do in this class. Simply attending class does not guarantee a student a passing grade but leaving early and/or arriving late will ensure a student receives a bad grade in the class.
Preparation: The quality of our experience in the course depends on each class member being prepared and being willing to discuss, ask questions, and support one another. In addition, part of your grade will reflect your preparedness and participation.
Late work: You are responsible for keeping up on all of the work for the course and turning it in on time. Even if you have been absent, the next assignments are still due on time. You need to make a friend in class who you can share notes with in the event you miss a class and need to know what we did while you were gone. Make-up tests will only be given on the same day for everybody during the last week of the semester.
Withdrawal: If you stop coming to class, it is important that you drop yourself from the roll through admissions and records. Otherwise, you may receive a grade of F.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the unacknowledged use of another writer’s words or ideas. Plagiarism is a serious offense. A student who plagiarizes is subject to disciplinary probation and/or suspension as outlined in the college catalog in accordance with district policy. You can also receive an F in the class.
Cell Phones/Media Devices: Cell phones and media devices MUST be turned off during class. Texting is not allowed during class. Running out of class to answer a cell phone call is not allowed during class. There is a time and a place for these devices and it’s not during class. Laptop computers must be closed during movie presentations. You are NOT ALLOWED to cruise the Internet during class -- do that on your own time. Failure to follow these rules will result in a lowering of your grade.
Homework: In college you are expected to work two hours per week outside of class for every hour you meet in class. You will spend time outside of class reading the textbook, studying and working on your journal.
HOW WILL I BE GRADED?
Five tests: 600 points
Project paper/presentation: 100 points
Attendance, participation: 150 points
Media Journal (Written Assignments): 150 points
Grading scale for the course is:
A = 900 - 1,000 points
B = 800 - 899 points
C = 700 - 799 points
D = 600 - 699 points
F= Students getting below 60% are eligible to receive an F grade.
HOW WILL I KNOW MY GRADE?
It is a student’s responsibility to keep track of their own grade. Hold on to your returned tests and keep track of your scores. Evaluate your participation level periodically throughout the semester. If you are not participating or participating very little you will want to increase your level of participation (see below). Be realistic about your grade. If you are getting C’s on your tests and not participating you should not expect an A in the class. There are four parts of your grade (see above). To have any realistic chance of getting an A in the class you will need to do “A” quality work in at least three of the four categories. Your final grade is final and it will not be changed after it is submitted to admissions and records unless I made a mistake calculating your grade. Your final grade should not be a surprise. Keep track of your progress throughout the semester. Any questions or concerns about your grade should be resolved before the end of the semester. All grades are final unless a mistake has been made by the instructor in the calculation of the final grade.
CLASS PARTICIPATION AND ATTENDANCE
One hundred and fifty points of your grade is based on how active a role you take in this class and your attendance. The more you participate in class discussions the more points you receive in this category. If you do not participate or participate very little you will lose points or get a zero in this category. Ask questions, make comments, be attentive and take good notes and be in class on time and remain until the class ends. All of these things will be considered in determining your class participation/attendance grade. Being silent, not asking questions and not participating will NOT help your grade. Students often overlook this part of their grade and they shouldn’t. It’s important to be an active participant and not a passive observer. You don’t have to be an expert to make a comment.
Attendance is critical to your success in this class. However, simply attending class will not guarantee a student a passing grade. Nor does attendance alone guarantee you a high grade in this category. Frequent participation is critical to getting a good grade in this category.
THINGS NOT TO DO IN MY CLASS
(In no particular order)
1. Arrive late/leave early or both. Showing up late for the final.
2. Refuse to participate, speak, make comments or ask questions.
3. Watch media devices (cell phones, lap tops, etc.) instead of participating in class.
4. Rush out of the classroom to make or take cell phone calls.
5. Don't make the assumption that this class is an easy A or there is nothing to learn because it's film.
(Students who do any or all of these things significantly lower their grade)
Make-up Tests: Students will be allowed to make up only one test. All make-up exams will be given on the same day on a date to be announced in class. The date will be at the end of the semester. If you miss more than one test you will only be allowed to make up ONE test.
Instructor: Ralph Nichols
Instructor email: ralphnichols58@gmail.com
Instructor phone: 408-274-7900, ext. 6506
Instructor Office: VPA-108
Office Hours: TBA
Class website: evcjournalism10.blogspot.com
WHY SHOULD I TAKE THIS COURSE?
Media play a bigger role in our lives than we realize. They influence us on a daily basis and help shape our view of the world. The ultimate goal of this class is to improve students’ understanding of media and thus give students a greater appreciation of the role media play in our lives.
WHAT IS THIS COURSE ABOUT?
We will study media from a social, historical and business perspective. By examining media from three perspectives, students will develop a more sophisticated appreciation of the role media play in shaping world events, the economy and popular culture.
WHAT WILL BE EXPECTED OF ME?
Students are expected to demonstrate a willingness to:
1. Attend class on time and stay until the end of class.
2. Participate in class discussions. You will need to be a major participant to earn an “A.”
3. Keep up with the reading in the textbook.
4. Turn in a media journal at the end of the semester.
CLASS THEME:
Media Evolution: From headlines to hashtags: Media have been part of this country since it’s founding. It informed Americans when the Civil War ended, when President John F. Kennedy was killed and when terrorists blew up the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The media is a delivery system, no more, no less. Media deliver information, entertainment, persuasive editorials and columns. The first thing revolutionaries do when overthrowing a government is to take control of the media. Control the media and you can control public opinion. We will look at how media has evolved over the last 200 years from headlines to hash tags. We will examine how racial attitudes throughout history have influenced the media. We will explore how technology has shaped the media from its printed origins to the cell phones we carry in our pockets. We will discuss the social impact of media in terms of media’s influence over our social lives. Media are big business so we will look at how the business of media impacts the type of media we get.
General Education Learning Outcomes
General Education is a commitment on the part of a college to provide students with a broad set of knowledge and skills that will help each student in their process of becoming a well-rounded healthy person equipped to participate wisely in the health of our community. It requires a carefully selected set of courses and activities on the part of the college and active reflection on the part of the student.
This course participates in the general education process by including the following General Education Learning Outcome(s):
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
• Demonstrate an understanding of how American media have evolved, their operation as a business, their role in society and impact on consumers.
• Analyze the new media and draw conclusions about the validity of information presented, reliability of sources and the effect on values and ethics.
• Analyze different types of media including film, advertising, popular music, visual symbols and hierarchies of information design and draw conclusions on the impact of technology, the effectiveness of communication design and the effect on consumer behavior.
• Identify various types of media and how they are produced.
Evaluate how changes in technology affect the communication process and the exchange of information.
• Assess the Internet and how it functions as a source of information, as well as issues of privacy and intellectual property as they relate to new communications media technologies.
• Construct an understanding of the impact of media and visual culture on personal identity and communicate that understanding through a written or oral essay.
This outcome contributes to the General Education areas of emphasis stated in the accreditation standards and District General Education Philosophy (pending)] checked below:
___x__ Aesthetic sensitivity
___x__ Civic responsibility (local, national, global)
___x__ Civility
___x__ Computer literacy
___x__ Critical analysis/logical thinking
___x__ Cultural diversity
___x__ Ethical principles
___x__ Historical sensitivity
___x_ Integrated organism including the physical, emotional, social, and intellectual
(local and CSU GE)
___x__ Interpersonal Skills
___x_ Oral communication including speaking and listening
___x__ Political involvement (local, national, global)
___x__ Scientific and quantitative reasoning
___x__ Social responsibility (local, national, global)
___x__ Teamwork (ability to work and solve problems as a team, recommended by Jim Potterton)
WHAT ARE THE GROUND RULES?
1. Punctuality and attendance: You have a responsibility to be at all class meetings on time and to remain until the end of class. Excessive absences will result in a lowering of your overall grade. If you find that you must miss a class, be late, or leave early (and this should only happen under exceptional circumstances) you must call me before class to:
1. Arrange to review the class notes you missed.
2. Get the assignments due for the next class.
3. You’re only allowed two absences for the entire semester. You can be dropped from the class if you have more than two absences.
4. You are responsible for all material covered in class when you were absent.
Arriving late or leaving early may result in an absence or a loss of points. Attendance is probably the most important thing you must do in this class. Simply attending class does not guarantee a student a passing grade but leaving early and/or arriving late will ensure a student receives a bad grade in the class.
Preparation: The quality of our experience in the course depends on each class member being prepared and being willing to discuss, ask questions, and support one another. In addition, part of your grade will reflect your preparedness and participation.
Late work: You are responsible for keeping up on all of the work for the course and turning it in on time. Even if you have been absent, the next assignments are still due on time. You need to make a friend in class who you can share notes with in the event you miss a class and need to know what we did while you were gone. Make-up tests will only be given on the same day for everybody during the last week of the semester.
Withdrawal: If you stop coming to class, it is important that you drop yourself from the roll through admissions and records. Otherwise, you may receive a grade of F.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the unacknowledged use of another writer’s words or ideas. Plagiarism is a serious offense. A student who plagiarizes is subject to disciplinary probation and/or suspension as outlined in the college catalog in accordance with district policy. You can also receive an F in the class.
Cell Phones/Media Devices: Cell phones and media devices MUST be turned off during class. Texting is not allowed during class. Running out of class to answer a cell phone call is not allowed during class. There is a time and a place for these devices and it’s not during class. Laptop computers must be closed during movie presentations. You are NOT ALLOWED to cruise the Internet during class -- do that on your own time. Failure to follow these rules will result in a lowering of your grade.
Homework: In college you are expected to work two hours per week outside of class for every hour you meet in class. You will spend time outside of class reading the textbook, studying and working on your journal.
HOW WILL I BE GRADED?
Five tests: 600 points
Project paper/presentation: 100 points
Attendance, participation: 150 points
Media Journal (Written Assignments): 150 points
Grading scale for the course is:
A = 900 - 1,000 points
B = 800 - 899 points
C = 700 - 799 points
D = 600 - 699 points
F= Students getting below 60% are eligible to receive an F grade.
HOW WILL I KNOW MY GRADE?
It is a student’s responsibility to keep track of their own grade. Hold on to your returned tests and keep track of your scores. Evaluate your participation level periodically throughout the semester. If you are not participating or participating very little you will want to increase your level of participation (see below). Be realistic about your grade. If you are getting C’s on your tests and not participating you should not expect an A in the class. There are four parts of your grade (see above). To have any realistic chance of getting an A in the class you will need to do “A” quality work in at least three of the four categories. Your final grade is final and it will not be changed after it is submitted to admissions and records unless I made a mistake calculating your grade. Your final grade should not be a surprise. Keep track of your progress throughout the semester. Any questions or concerns about your grade should be resolved before the end of the semester. All grades are final unless a mistake has been made by the instructor in the calculation of the final grade.
CLASS PARTICIPATION AND ATTENDANCE
One hundred and fifty points of your grade is based on how active a role you take in this class and your attendance. The more you participate in class discussions the more points you receive in this category. If you do not participate or participate very little you will lose points or get a zero in this category. Ask questions, make comments, be attentive and take good notes and be in class on time and remain until the class ends. All of these things will be considered in determining your class participation/attendance grade. Being silent, not asking questions and not participating will NOT help your grade. Students often overlook this part of their grade and they shouldn’t. It’s important to be an active participant and not a passive observer. You don’t have to be an expert to make a comment.
Attendance is critical to your success in this class. However, simply attending class will not guarantee a student a passing grade. Nor does attendance alone guarantee you a high grade in this category. Frequent participation is critical to getting a good grade in this category.
THINGS NOT TO DO IN MY CLASS
(In no particular order)
1. Arrive late/leave early or both. Showing up late for the final.
2. Refuse to participate, speak, make comments or ask questions.
3. Watch media devices (cell phones, lap tops, etc.) instead of participating in class.
4. Rush out of the classroom to make or take cell phone calls.
5. Don't make the assumption that this class is an easy A or there is nothing to learn because it's film.
(Students who do any or all of these things significantly lower their grade)
Make-up Tests: Students will be allowed to make up only one test. All make-up exams will be given on the same day on a date to be announced in class. The date will be at the end of the semester. If you miss more than one test you will only be allowed to make up ONE test.
In class
writing assignments
Read as much as you
can on your own about millenials and the future of media for in-class writing
assignments that will be assigned later in the semester. I will let you know in
advance the date of the assignments. You will be allowed to use your notes when
writing the assignment in-class. Prepare ahead of time so that you can write a
specific, knowledgeable essay.
Assignment No. 1.
Millenials and me – Millenials (18-30)
are the most important group to advertisers because they represent the
customers they want to reach the most. Millenials are also a big part of media.
TV shows revolve around young people as do movies and music. Once you reach 30
in this culture you might as well be dead because you are dead to the media.
Millenials are studied and analyzed, particularly their buying habits. For
example, 86 percent of millenials own a smart phone (you think that information
is important to Apple. Read everything you can about millenials (you are one of
them, by the way) with the following questions in mind: How do millenials use
media? Which mediums are most popular and why? What are some key media-related
statistics related to millenials? Am I your typical millennial or do you not
relate to the stereotypical millennial? To answer this question you first need
to discover what the stereotypical millennial is like. Great articles on millenials:
http://www.americanpressinstitute.org/publications/reports/survey-research/millennials-social-media/
http://www.americanpressinstitute.org/publications/reports/survey-research/millennials-social-media/
CLASS PROJECT
Every student needs to do the following assignment. A two-page written paper is due on the assignment along with an in-class presentation. Deadline for the paper will be announced in class. For the in-class presentation I want you to talk about your findings and tell the class how you feel about the media. Do you feel like the media does a good job covering you or are you nonexistent in the media? (Read assignment instructions below).
Who am I and how do the media see me?
If I was answering this question I would identify myself as a middle-age, middle class Caucasian who votes Democratic. I don’t see much of myself in TV commercials or shows probably because advertisers aren’t interested in my age group and TV networks like to create shows that appeal to advertisers. MSNBC cable news show target my political group with lots of “liberal” news. TV networks are basically void of shows with actors in my age group. TV stars today are attractive young people intended to appeal to a young audience -- definitely not an audience in my age group.
The only advertising I see targeted for my age group is on retro channels that have commercials for denture adhesives and Hoover-Round scooters. Movies featuring lead characters who look like me are few and far between. Superheroes are not typically middle-age men and the big movies today revolve around characters with supernatural powers such as Iron Man or Thor.
What I’m interested in you doing with this assignment is to find yourself in the media. Let’s say you are a 22-year-old Hispanic male, do you see yourself in TV shows, in advertising? Are there any movie characters who look and act like you? Let’s say you are a biracial Muslim female, is there any character on TV, advertising, movies, magazines who resembles you?
In your paper, I first want you to identify and describe yourself in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, etc. Then I want you to find yourself in the media and explain where you saw yourself. Keep an eye on advertising in both print and TV, movies, television (character shows such as Big Bang Theory and also news both local and national). Do you see yourself in magazine advertising or articles?
Maybe you will discover that you don’t see much of yourself anywhere in the media. That might be the case depending on how specifically you identify yourself. That’s fine. Your paper then becomes about your search and where you looked in the media. The harder you search the better for this paper.
You will discover this semester that many groups were not represented at all by the media until just recently. Before the 1950s, an ethnic American was not seen in movies or television at all and if an ethnic character was in a show it was likely to be a stereotype.
Lastly, how do you feel about what you discovered. Personally, I’m discouraged that TV and movies are focused on the youth generation. In this country, once you pass 50 you might as well be dead to advertisers.
Write two double-spaced typed, top-to-bottom pages for this assignment using Times 12-pt. font and be prepared to do an in-class presentation on your findings. As part of your presentation include photos or videos to show the class what you found.
MEDIA JOURNAL
The media journal is due at the end of the semester. NO JOURNAL WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE due date. Everything in the journal is typed and double-spaced using 12-pt. Times font except for the class notes. You should include your class notes in the journal along with your project papers and all extra credit. Every semester a student skips all or part of the journal and often suffers a one to two-grade loss in their final grade. (MEDIA JOURNAL IS DUE MONDAY DECEMBER 12).
WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR JOURNAL:
• A table of contents (Everything in the journal except class notes needs to be typed).
• All notes taken in class.
• All extra credit assignments go in the journal.
MEDIA JOURNAL PAPERS
The following written assignments need to be completed for your media journal that will be turned in at the end of the semester: media memories, my favorite photo, invisible stereotypes in advertising and the project paper on who I am and how does the media see me.Deadlines for these assignments will be announced in class well in advance of when the paper is due. Any paper that is not due before the end of the semester will have to be included in the journal and turned in with the journal on May 23. Each paper needs to be two typed pages in length using 12 pt. Times font. Type from top to bottom of the page.
Election 2016:
Every presidential
election is described as the most important one in history. While that’s
debatable, this election might end up as the most expensive one in terms of the
amount of money spent on advertising. For this assignment I want you to compare
a one-minute TV commercial put out by Donald Trump with a one-minute TV
commercial put out by Hillary Clinton and answer the following questions. What
is the message of the commercial? Is the commercial effective in delivering its
message to you the voter? What new things did you learn about the candidate or
his/her opponent? Is the candidate positive or negative in its tone. Write a
one-page paper on this assignment. The due date will be announced during the
semester. Turn in one copy to me and put the other copy in your three-ring
binder.
Media Memories Assignment:
Media have a profound impact on our daily lives. Try getting through a day without checking your email, using your cell phone or looking at the Internet. I want you to think about how much you depend on media and how it impacts your life. What types of media are you addicted to and what media is less important to you and why?
I want you to rank the top three mediums in terms of their importance to your life. If you are an avid reader then books would be in your top three list. Some of you are video game junkies. Make video games are No. 1 in your life.
Rate the top three mediums in terms of how important they are to you and how much you depend on them on a daily basis. The list you are working with includes: television, radio, the Internet, music, magazines, video games, books and newspapers. How has media changed in your life over time. For example, maybe you watched a lot of TV when you were younger and now you rarely watch TV.
In addition to ranking the top three mediums in your life I want you to explain why they are important to you and why you ranked them in that order. Do not pick the Internet for the reason that it gives you music, videos, movies, etc.
Media Memories Assignment:
Media have a profound impact on our daily lives. Try getting through a day without checking your email, using your cell phone or looking at the Internet. I want you to think about how much you depend on media and how it impacts your life. What types of media are you addicted to and what media is less important to you and why?
I want you to rank the top three mediums in terms of their importance to your life. If you are an avid reader then books would be in your top three list. Some of you are video game junkies. Make video games are No. 1 in your life.
Rate the top three mediums in terms of how important they are to you and how much you depend on them on a daily basis. The list you are working with includes: television, radio, the Internet, music, magazines, video games, books and newspapers. How has media changed in your life over time. For example, maybe you watched a lot of TV when you were younger and now you rarely watch TV.
In addition to ranking the top three mediums in your life I want you to explain why they are important to you and why you ranked them in that order. Do not pick the Internet for the reason that it gives you music, videos, movies, etc.
Write a two-page
paper on this topic and put it in your journal. The deadline for this
assignment will be announced in class. Point value 30 points.
My favorite
photo
Studies show that if someone’s house was on fire and they
only had time to grab one thing most people would grab a cherished photo. Makes
sense. Even in this day of disposable digital photos the old-fashion family
photo is still worth saving. Some photos can never be replaced because the
person in the photo is no longer with us. For this assignment I want you to
email the photo you would save if you were fleeing a burning house and you only
had time to grab one photo. Write a few paragraphs explaining why this photo is
so special to you. It’s very important to include the story with the photo
otherwise the assignment is not fulfilled. (Make a copy of what you write and
include it in your journal).
Write a one-page
paper on this topic and put it in your journal. The deadline for this
assignment will be announced in class. Point value 30 points.
Predict the future of media
Technology often
drives the media. New media such as smart phones or Google glasses change the
way we use and think about media. Basically, media is a delivery device for
information and entertainment and that delivery device keeps changing. For this
assignment I want you to do your best to predict the direction media is headed
in the next 30, 50 years. How will media be different and/or the same in the
future? Will there be any communal media left such as movie theaters or will we
all experience media on our own by looking at our smart phones? How will the
changes in media impact our behavior? In other worlds, will media of the future
bring us more together or isolate us as media often does? A tip for this
assignment is to look at what’s happening to media today and the future will
just see more of that trend. Read everything you can about the future of media
and be prepared to write on this topic for an in-class essay later in the
semester.
Extra Credit: Extra credit is optional. I do not give points for extra credit. I give a + (plus) to students who do nearly all of the extra credit that is offered, a checkmark to those who do some extra credit but not all of it and a zero to those who do not do any extra credit. The most extra credit will help your grade is a half-grade or a total of 50 points.
GOOD GRADE TIPS:
I'm often asked what can be done to get a better grade in this class. I've got some suggestions and if you follow them I think you will see your grade improve.
1. Start sooner than later. If you wait too long it's going to be hard to earn the grade you want.
2. Participate more in class. Most students do not participate at all even though it's an important part of your grade. Ask questions and participate in class discussions during every class.
3. Check your notes against other students. My experience is that students do not take enough notes and then they are unprepared for the tests.
4. Form a study group with two or three other students in the class. Quiz each other before the test. This will help a lot.
5. Do extra credit. The more points you earn the better off your grade will be.
6. Save all of your tests. But keep in mind that all five of the tests combined only make up 60 percent of your grade. There is a lot more to do in order to earn a good grade.
Test Grade Scale
120-108-A
107-96 - B
95-84- C
83-72-D
71-0-F
Sample test questions:
Which of the following mediums would be considered cool media?
a. TV.
b. radio.
c. newspapers.
d. Two of the above are correct.
(True or False)
Hot media takes a greater investment of time and attention in order to receive and understand information. (True)
Study Guide Test 1 (Television)
Great TV quote: "Seeing by Wire May Be Possible" San Francisco Chronicle Jan. 30, 1910. "The day is very near when one can sit comfortably in his own room and not only listen to the voice of a friend miles away, but see him as distinctly as though the friend were sitting in a chair beside him."
Great TV quote:Television has been the laggard when it comes to the Internet-fueled modernization of screens: smartphones and tablets have changed the way people live, while TV has remained largely stagnant. An app-driven TV platform will bring the viewing experience in line with what consumers are used to on mobile devices: namely, the ability to choose what you want to watch, when you want to watch it.
Great TV quote: We now live in a world where your phone has become your television, and your apps have become the TV channels. Big stars are no longer created on big screens, but rather on smaller ones.
How are Internet companies Amazon, Netflix and YouTube impacting and changing television? Why are shows like Orange is the New Black a glimpse into the future of TV?
Who watches the most TV? What impact did DVRs have on TV viewing and advertising.
When did TV debut and what decades were pivotal in its development? How has TV changed over time in terms of diversity, programming, audience size and technology?
Be familiar with the contribution of these TV pioneers/innovators: Walt Disney, Desi Arnaz, Edward R. Murrow, Gene Roddenberry, Rod Serling, Ted Turner, Ed Sullivan and Walter Cronkite.
The Vietnam War coverage, the moon landing, coverage of
9-11, CNN News, broadcast of Roots the miniseries.
Know the difference
between streaming, binge watching, cord cutting, viewing platforms, networks,
affiliates, prime time and syndication.
What is the cultural binding role of TV and why has it diminished over time?
Study Guide Test 2 (Music)
How have the two T's of music, talent and technology, driven the industry throughout the 20th century?
What has happened to record companies to make them more and more insignificant in today's music business?
How has the Internet changed the way we listen to music?
What impact are streaming services such as Spotify and Pandora having on the music industry?
Know the impact of iPods and digital music on the music industry. How did Apple founder Steve Jobs change the way we listen to music. What contributions to Jobs make to the technology of music?
What is the YouTube impact? How do artists use YouTube today to bypass record companies and get their music heard? How does YouTube split revenue with musical artists?
What social impact did Elvis Presley have on rock 'n roll, race relations and society. How did rock 'n' roll during the 1960s impact events in popular culture such as the Vietnam War, drugs and the sexual revolution?
Study Guide Test 2 (Music)
How have the two T's of music, talent and technology, driven the industry throughout the 20th century?
What has happened to record companies to make them more and more insignificant in today's music business?
How has the Internet changed the way we listen to music?
What impact are streaming services such as Spotify and Pandora having on the music industry?
Know the impact of iPods and digital music on the music industry. How did Apple founder Steve Jobs change the way we listen to music. What contributions to Jobs make to the technology of music?
What is the YouTube impact? How do artists use YouTube today to bypass record companies and get their music heard? How does YouTube split revenue with musical artists?
What social impact did Elvis Presley have on rock 'n roll, race relations and society. How did rock 'n' roll during the 1960s impact events in popular culture such as the Vietnam War, drugs and the sexual revolution?
How did Sam Phillips of Sun Records and Leonard Chess of
Chess Records help make blues music more mainstream during the 1950s?
Know different types of popular music in the 60s such as the British Invasion groups, Motown artists, Surf music, folk music and girl groups.
How are The Beatles able to stay relevant in the music industry more than 50 years after first coming to the United States?
What strategy did Barry Gordy employ to make Motown's artists popular with the mainstream in the 1960s.
Be familiar with the following musical genres:
Motown
Surf music
Rock 'n roll
The British Invasion
Terms to know:
MTV
Race music
Covering
Payola
Rock 'n' roll
Streaming and playlists
Study Guide Test 3 The movie industry
How did the birth of CGI (Computer Generated Images) in the 1970s and 1980s and the digital revolution bring in billions of dollars for the movie industry?
Why are teenagers so important to the movie industry?
Know different types of popular music in the 60s such as the British Invasion groups, Motown artists, Surf music, folk music and girl groups.
How are The Beatles able to stay relevant in the music industry more than 50 years after first coming to the United States?
What strategy did Barry Gordy employ to make Motown's artists popular with the mainstream in the 1960s.
Be familiar with the following musical genres:
Motown
Surf music
Rock 'n roll
The British Invasion
Terms to know:
MTV
Race music
Covering
Payola
Rock 'n' roll
Streaming and playlists
Study Guide Test 3 The movie industry
How did the birth of CGI (Computer Generated Images) in the 1970s and 1980s and the digital revolution bring in billions of dollars for the movie industry?
Why are teenagers so important to the movie industry?
Know the difference between movie franchises and independent
films.
What role do movie studios play and how has their role in
moviemaking changed over the last 100 years?
What's happening to DVDs today and how is technology
changing the revenue sources for the movie industry? What kind of future do
theaters have in the United States?
Why did movie theaters enjoy their largest audience in the 1940s and why does attendance continually decline in today's competitive media market?
What is the difference between franchises (blockbusters), good movies, bad movies and independent films?
What is Dreamworks and who is Steven Spielberg?
Understand the impact movie censorship has had on the industry over the last 100 years. Know the similarities and differences between the Production Code and Movie Sanitizing.
How does the MPAA movie rating system work? Who rates the movies and what is the criteria for movies to get certain ratings? Why is the system controversial.
What role do movie studios play in the industry? Be familiar with the history and contribution of the major movie studios to the industry. What was the heyday for the studios and how has the role of the studios changed over the years? What studios are left today compared with the early days?
How has race, stereotyping and ethnicity been a factor in the movie industry?
Study Guide Test 4 on Photography
What contributions did the Kodak Company make to photography?
Why did movie theaters enjoy their largest audience in the 1940s and why does attendance continually decline in today's competitive media market?
What is the difference between franchises (blockbusters), good movies, bad movies and independent films?
What is Dreamworks and who is Steven Spielberg?
Understand the impact movie censorship has had on the industry over the last 100 years. Know the similarities and differences between the Production Code and Movie Sanitizing.
How does the MPAA movie rating system work? Who rates the movies and what is the criteria for movies to get certain ratings? Why is the system controversial.
What role do movie studios play in the industry? Be familiar with the history and contribution of the major movie studios to the industry. What was the heyday for the studios and how has the role of the studios changed over the years? What studios are left today compared with the early days?
How has race, stereotyping and ethnicity been a factor in the movie industry?
Study Guide Test 4 on Photography
What contributions did the Kodak Company make to photography?
How and when did photography go from being a rich person’s hobby
to a mainstream passion for millions of Americans?
When and
how did digital photography and cell phone cameras impact the traditional
photography industry?
What role did photography play in coverage of the following wars: the Civil War, World War II and the Vietnam War? How has the photographic coverage of previous wars impacted photo coverage of wars today?
When was Life Magazine launched and how has it reinvented itself over the years to stay in business? How did Life Magazine showcase photography?
What is the FSA and what role did its photographers play in covering the Great Depression of the 1930s?
When did photography first make a major impact in print media by technology creating a device to send "photos on a wire?"
What role did photography play in coverage of the following wars: the Civil War, World War II and the Vietnam War? How has the photographic coverage of previous wars impacted photo coverage of wars today?
When was Life Magazine launched and how has it reinvented itself over the years to stay in business? How did Life Magazine showcase photography?
What is the FSA and what role did its photographers play in covering the Great Depression of the 1930s?
When did photography first make a major impact in print media by technology creating a device to send "photos on a wire?"
Know the contributions of the following photographers:
Matthew Brady
Gordon Parks
Weegee
What impact did photography have on the civil rights movement of the 1960s?
Study Guide Test 5 on Chapter 11 (Advertising)
How is advertising changing in the digital age?
When and how did photography impact advertising?
What impact has the DVR had on advertisers?
How has internet advertising evolved over the last 20 years? Why is mobile media so important to advertisers and who is winning the race to advertise on mobile media?
Why did cigarette companies stop advertising on TV?
Know the following terms:
Brand loyalty
Ad clutter
The hard sell
Subliminal advertising
Demographics and psychographics
Unique selling proposition
Objects of desire
In political advertising, why is negative advertising more effective than positive advertising?
In what ways to advertisers target children on the internet? What attempts have been made to protect children from marketers?
What was the impact of the famous little girl commercial in the Goldwater--Johnson election?
Know the importance of the 18-49 demographic.
What are the difficulties and advantages of advertising to teenagers?
Matthew Brady
Gordon Parks
Weegee
What impact did photography have on the civil rights movement of the 1960s?
Study Guide Test 5 on Chapter 11 (Advertising)
How is advertising changing in the digital age?
When and how did photography impact advertising?
What impact has the DVR had on advertisers?
How has internet advertising evolved over the last 20 years? Why is mobile media so important to advertisers and who is winning the race to advertise on mobile media?
Why did cigarette companies stop advertising on TV?
Know the following terms:
Brand loyalty
Ad clutter
The hard sell
Subliminal advertising
Demographics and psychographics
Unique selling proposition
Objects of desire
In political advertising, why is negative advertising more effective than positive advertising?
In what ways to advertisers target children on the internet? What attempts have been made to protect children from marketers?
What was the impact of the famous little girl commercial in the Goldwater--Johnson election?
Know the importance of the 18-49 demographic.
What are the difficulties and advantages of advertising to teenagers?
