Revised Fall 2014

COMM 1307. Introduction to Mass Communications Course Syllabus COMM 1307: Introduction to Mass Communications (3-3-0) Study of the media by which entertainment and information messages are delivered. Includes an overview of the traditional mass media: their functions, structures, supports and influences. Prerequisite: TSI complete in READ or concurrent enrollment in READ 0308 and TSI complete in English or concurrent enrollment in ENGL 0308.F, Sp (0901025106). INSTRUCTOR: Rachel Stallard Office: Communications/Automotive Building, Room 125 Telephone: (903) 983-8194 
 Fax: (903) 983-8193 
 e-mail: [email protected] COURSE RATIONALE: Introduction to Mass Communications will help the student attain the ability to establish broad and multiple perspectives on the individual in relationship to the larger society and world in which he or she lives, and to understand the responsibilities of living in a culturally and ethnically diversified world. COMM 1307 satisfies three hours for the Social and Behavioral Sciences component of the Kilgore College Core Curriculum. It also satisfies three hours of the “Historical/Theoretical/Analytical” Competency Area 1 for Advertising/Public Relations, Journalism/Mass Communications or Radio and Television Broadcasting/Broadcast Journalism of the Field of Study Curricula for Communication from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS: Text: Media/Impact, An Introduction to Mass Media, by Shirley Biagi, Tenth Edition published by Wadsworth, Cengage Learning. EVALUATION:

Grading for COMM 2305 is as follows: 
• Four M ajor E xam s, semester grade (12.5 percent each) • Daily Grade Average, valued at 12.5 percent of semester grade 
• Sem ester Project,valued a Comprehensive Final Exam, valued at 25 percent of semester grade Evaluation of the Instructor and the Course: Near the end of the fall semester, students are given the opportunity to evaluate both the instructor and the course. Approved evaluation forms are provided by the Kilgore College Office of Institutional Research, which is also responsible for the analysis of these evaluations. CLASSROOM POLICIES:

Attendance / Withdrawal Policy: On the first day of class, students are advised on the “Kilgore College Attendance Policy,” which states in part: KC requires punctuality and regular class attendance. An absence is defined as a student’s not being in class. An instructor may either drop a student when his lack of attendance prohibits the student from meeting the course objectives or when he or she accumulates excessive absences. “Excessive absences” is defined as two weeks of instruction in a -week semester or no more than 12.5 percent 
16 of the total hours of instruction in any term. (KC Catalog) Prior to dropping a class, students should have a conference with their instructor to discuss class progress. Remember, it is your responsibility to initiate a drop if you stop attending class; otherwise you will receive an “F” in the course. Make note of the college’s final drop date which is published in the Official College Calendar available online at www.kilgore.edu Make-up Policy: Students are permitted to make up work the first day the student returns to class if the student has an excused absence and has contacted the instructor concerning the absence. Responsibility for rescheduling the makeup work rests entirely with the student and failure to do so will result in a grade of zero. Civility in the Classroom Students are expected to assist in maintaining a classroom environment that is conducive to learning. Inappropriate or distractive classroom behavior is prohibited in order to assure that everyone has the opportunity to gain from time spent in class. Should a disruptive classroom incident occur, the faculty member in charge may remove the student on either a temporary or a permanent basis. Students have the right to appeal through the appropriate channels. (taken from KC Student Handbook) Academic Honesty: Any form of disruptive behavior of scholastic dishonesty, such as plagiarism or cheating, as defined by the Kilgore College Catalog and/or Kilgore College Handbook, will not be tolerated and may result in loss of credit or further appropriate action. Any student who plagiarizes his semester project will be dropped from class with an F. Copyright/Download/Web Surfing Violations: It is a federal crime to reproduce copyrighted software; therefore, reproducing software from the KC Communications Labs is prohibited. Also, no file may be downloaded without permission from the instructor; inappropriate Web surfing of pornography is not tolerated. Anyone violating the rules will automatically lose all lab privileges and will be subject to other disciplinary action as deemed necessary. Withdrawal Policy:

The official Kilgore College calendar published in the Kilgore College Catalog includes the last possible date for student-initiated withdrawals from individual courses and from the college overall. All withdrawals, whether student-initiated or instructor-initiated, result in a grade of “W” during the first 12 weeks of the semester. During the 13th or 14th weeks of a semester, students are assigned a grade of “W” if they are passing and an “F” if they are failing. Students may not withdraw from class during the last two weeks of a spring or fall semester. Prior to dropping a class, students should have a conference with their instructor to discuss class progress. DISCLAIMER: Instructor reserves the right to make necessary modifications in the course content and schedule as necessary to promote the best education possible within the prevailing conditions affecting this course. COMMON COURSE OUTCOMES EXEMPLARY EDUCATION OBJECTIVES:


STU D EN T LEARN IN G O

V. SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES The objective of a social and behavioral science component of a core curriculum is to increase students’ knowledge of how social and behavioral scientists discover, describe, and explain the behaviors and interactions among individuals, groups, institutions, events, and ideas. Such knowledge will better equip students to understand themselves and the roles they play in addressing the issues facing humanity.

Exemplary Educational Objectives 
1. technologies, T o em ploy the appropriate m e and data that social and behavioral scientists use to investigate the human condition. 2. To examine social institutions and processes across a range of historical periods, social structures, and cultures. 3. To use and critique alternative explanatory systems or theories. 4. To develop and communicate alternative explanations or solutions for contemporary social issues. 5. To analyze the effects of historical, social, political, economic, cultural, and global forces on the area understudy. 
 6. To comprehend the origins and evolution of U.S. and Texas political systems, with a focus on the growth of political institutions, the constitutions of the U.S. and Texas, federalism, civil liberties, and civil and human rights. 7. To understand the evolution and current role of the U.S. in the world. 8. To differentiate and analyze historical evidence (documentary and statistical) and

differing points of view. 9. To recognize and apply reasonable criteria for the acceptability of historical evidence and social research. 10. To analyze, critically assess, and develop creative solutions to public policy problems. 
 11. To recognize and assume one’s responsibility as a citizen in a democratic society by learning to think for oneself, by engaging in public discourse, and by obtaining information through the news media and other appropriate information sources about politics and public policy. 
 12. To identify and understand differences and commonalities within diverse cultures. After completing this course, the student will be able to: 1. Describe, define and explain functions, structures, supports and influences of traditional mass mediums– including books, newspapers, magazines, movies, radio, television, recordings and Internet. Activities: Classroom lecture; in-class exercises; textbook readings, viewing videos, listening to recordings, touring media facilities, analyzing current and historical documents, library exercises, Internet exercises and conducting an interview. Assessment: In-class assignments, major exams and comprehensive final examination. 
 2. Describe, define and explain functions, structures, supports and influences of traditional media support industries: advertising and public relations Activities: Classroom lecture, in-class exercises, textbook readings and current and historical documents/cases. Assessment: In-class assignments, major exam and comprehensive final examination. 
 3. Define, evaluate and recognize ownership issues, censorship practices, libel and privacy laws and ethical practices within the media. Activities: Classroom lecture, in-class exercises, textbook readings and current and historical documents/cases. Assessment: In-class assignments; major exam and comprehensive final examination. 
 4. Demonstrate organizational abilities and oral communication skills through participation in the semester project

which researches a communications topic. 
A ctivities: Students m ust re communications topic, write a paper (must be typed and include documentation and

works cited) and give an oral presentation to the class. presentation grade accounts for 12.5 percent of student’s semester grade.


A ssessm ent: Project

5. Employ the appropriate methods, technologies, and data that social and behavioral scientists use to investigate the human condition. Activities: Classroom lecture, in-class exercises, textbook readings and current and historical documents/ cases. Assessment: In-class assignments, major exam and comprehensive final examination. 
 6. Examine institutions and processes across a range of structures and cultures within the area of communications. Activities: Classroom lecture, in-class exercises, textbook readings and current and historical documents/cases. Assessment: In-class assignments, major exam and comprehensive final examination. 
 7. Analyze the effects of social, economic, psychological, and cultural forces on the area of communications. Activities: Classroom lecture, in-class exercises, textbook readings and current and historical documents/cases. Assessment: In-class assignments, major exam and comprehensive final examination. 8. Develop explanations or creative solutions for contemporary social, economic, psychological, and cultural problems for the area of communications. readings and current and historical documents/cases. final examination.


A ctivi -class exercises, ties: C lassroom textbook lecture,in


A ssessm -class assignments, ent: In major exam and comprehensive

SCHEDULE OF CLASSES:

This class will consist of the following class topics, followed by a exam covering each unit: 
• U nit I: M ass M edia,D Magazines 
• U nit II: R adio,M ovies,T Advertising and Public Relations 
• U nit IV : N ew s and Info Regulations, Ethical Practices and Policies • Unit V: Semester Project (Research Paper / Presentation on Mass Communications Topic) • Comprehensive Final Exam ADA Statement Kilgore College is committed to making reasonable accommodations to assist individuals with disabilities in reaching their academic potential. If you choose to request

accommodations for a documented disability which may impact your performance, attendance, or grades in this course, you must first register with the Office of Disability Services. Please note that classroom accommodations cannot be provided prior to your instructor’s receipt of an accommodation letter from the Office of Disability Services. For more information about accommodations, please contact the Disability Services office on the second floor of the Devall Student Center: (903) 983-8206.