COMM 1307: Intro to Mass Communication in Electronic Environment
Spring 2014, CRN 78135
Alief-Hayes Campus- Room B125, Tues/Thurs 8-9:30 AM
Instructor: Laura Lemburg
Email: laura.lemburg@hccs.edu
Web site: http://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/laura.lemburg
Office hours: By appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Analyzes communication theory and mass media in Twentieth Century society. This course surveys
history, operation and structure of the American communication system and identifies major legal, ethical,
and socio-cultural issue. The course examines basic communication theory and the interrelations
between media and the individual, media and society, and media and the future. Career potential and job
prospects in modern and future electronic cultures will also be examined. Core curriculum course.
COURSE PREREQUISITES:
Must be placed into college-level reading (or take GUST 0342 as a co-requisite) and be placed
into college-level writing (or take ENGL 0310/0349 as a co-requisite).
REQUIRED TEXT:
Campbell, R., Martin, C. R., Fabos, B. (2013). Media and Culture, An Introduction to Mass
Communication. 8TH Ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's. ISBN: 978-1-4576-0511-6
ACADEMIC/DISCIPLINE/CTE PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Apply elemental competency in the operation of selected media
2. Understand and explain the term mass communication
3. Describe the development of print media, radio, television, and film
4. Provide a chronology of milestones relevant to the advancement of media from their onset to
present
COURSE STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. Understand the definition of mass communication
2. Comprehend the functions of the mass media throughout history and in modern times
3. Grasp the historical and theoretical aspects of print and broadcast media, the recording
industry, film industry and digital media
4. Comprehend the correlation between various media
5. Grasp the implications of electronic media and the Internet on the future of mass
communication
DISABILITIES:
Houston Community College is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitations Act of 1973 (Section 504). Any student with a documented
disability (ex. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange
reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Support Services Office at the
respective college at the beginning of the semester.
Faculty members are authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability Support
Services Office.
GRADES/COURSE CONTENT:
Quizzes will be given based on the book chapter material and lectures. Quiz reviews will be
posted on the Learning Web prior to each quiz. There will also be in-class and field assignments
and a final exam. The last day to drop with a “W” is March 31.
Grading Policy:
HCC Grading Scale:
Quizzes 25%
Field Assignments 30%
In-class Assignments 30%
Final Exam 15% =
100 %
90-100
80-89
70-79
60-69
59-below
A
B
C
D
F
EXPECTATIONS:
Attendance: Attendance will be taken every class. HCC policy states that students may be
dropped after missing more than six hours of class time; therefore, if you have more than four
absences, you may be dropped from the course. The last day to withdraw with a “W” is March
31. Please notify me in advance if you know you will be absent from class.
Punctuality: Please be in your seat and ready for class by 8 a.m. Quizzes will be given at the
beginning of class. If you are more than five minutes late, ten points will be deducted from your
quiz.
Respect: Please turn off your cell phones before you come to class. Do not carry on
conversations (verbal or electronic) while in class, or you may be asked to leave.
Honesty: If you are caught cheating on exams or plagiarizing (using another person’s words,
information or ideas), you will receive an automatic zero on that assignment. Other punishments
could include a failing grade in the course and/or recommendation for suspension or expulsion.
Quality: All assignments completed, whether in class or external, should exhibit quality work,
which includes being typed and free of errors.
Deadlines: All assignments not turned in by the deadline will receive an automatic 10-point
deduction and an additional 5-point deduction for every class meeting the assignment is late.
Unless noted, assignments will be due by 11:59 PM on the due date. Assignments can always
be turned in early.
EGLS3 -- EVALUATION FOR GREATER LEARNING STUDENT SURVEY SYSTEM
At Houston Community College, professors believe that thoughtful student feedback is
necessary to improve teaching and learning. During a designated time near the end of the term,
you will be asked to answer a short online survey of research-based questions related to
instruction. The anonymous results of the survey will be made available to your professors and
department chairs for continual improvement of instruction. Look for the survey as part of the
Houston Community College Student System online near the end of the term.
Week
1
2
3
Date
1/14
1/16
1/21
1/23
1/28
5
1/30
2/4
2/6
2/11
6
2/13
2/18
7
2/20
2/25
4
8
2/27
3/4
3/6
COMM 1307 Spring 2014 Calendar (Subject to Change)
Schedule
Welcome to COMM 1307—Introductions—Syllabus Review—Course Preview
Ch. 1 Mass Communication: A Critical Approach
Ch.1 and Ch. 2 The Internet, Digital media, and Media Convergence
Ch. 2
Field Assignment 1 Due
Ch. 3 Sound Recording and Popular Music
Quiz 1—Chs. 1 and 2
Ch. 3
Ch.4 Popular Radio and the Origins of Broadcasting
Ch.4
Ch.5 Television and Cable: The Power of Visual Culture
Quiz 2—Chs. 3 and 4
Ch.5
Ch.6 Movies and the Impact of Images
Field Assignment 2
Ch.6
Ch. 7 Newspapers: The Rise and Decline of Modern Journalism
Quiz 3—Chs. 5 and 6
Ch. 7
Ch. 8 Magazines in the Age of Specialization
Ch. 8
Field Assignment 3 Due
3/11
3/13
SPRING BREAK - NO CLASS
SPRING BREAK - NO CLASS
9
3/18
3/20
Ch.9 Books and the Power of Print
Ch. 9
10
3/25
11
3/27
4/1
12
4/3
4/8
Ch. 10 Advertising and Commercial Culture
Quiz 4— Chs. 7, 8 and 9
Ch. 10
Ch. 11 Public Relations and Framing the Message
Field Assignment 4 Due
Ch. 11
Ch. 12 Media Economics and the Global Marketplace
Quiz 5—Chs. 10 and 11
Ch. 12
Ch. 13 The Culture of Journalism: Values, Ethics and Democracy
Ch. 13
Ch. 14 Media Effects and Cultural Approaches to Research
Ch. 14
Field Assignment 5 Due
Ch. 15 Legal Controls and Freedom of Expression
Quiz 6 –Chs. 12, 13 and 14
Ch. 15 and Final Exam Review
13
14
4/10
4/15
4/17
4/22
4/24
15
4/29
16
5/1
5/8
FINAL EXAM 8 AM