C6502sp16.syl
SYLLABUS
COMMUNICATION 6502:
PROCESS AND EFFECTS OF MASS COMMUNICATION
Dr. Cliff Fortenberry
TEXTS: Milestones in Mass Communication Research: Media Research, 3rd Ed.
Lowery & DeFleur ISBN 0-8013-1437-2
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th Ed
ISBN 1-4338-0561-8
This course is designed to survey the major theories concerning process and effects. Applications to
historical and contemporary issues as well as to social change may be explored.
This class is a true graduate class and because it is, there will be a few more requirements placed on the
student than traditionally has been expected of undergraduate students. It will be taught in an 8 week
format M-R format.
There will be three research assignments. The first will be only 2 - 4 pages in length. It will give the
topic, state its importance in the study of the current issues and provide biographical information about
the authors whose work will be examined. This paper should set the stage for the remainder of the
research to follow throughout the semester.
The second paper will be 4 - 7 pages in length. It will contain the students' justifications for the study of
the chosen topic. It will be a paragraph outline of the final project. In it, the student will lay out the
arguments to be used and cite some of the material to back up the claims. In effect, it is a written defense
of the final project; why it is important, what materials say so and what body of research supports it. In
actuality, it is a prospectus. The second part of this paper, which may be several pages long, will consist
of an annotated bibliography. This should be a list of the materials to be included in the reference of
the final paper. Please use a correct form. When completed, this project should make the final stage of
the research much easier.
The final research project will simply be a usage of the materials discovered during the research for the
other above projects. The topic will be introduced and limited. The limited topic will be presented,
explained and defended. The final project must be at least 20 pages of correctly formatted TEXT. The
first two projects will be presented orally in class.
The accepted writing style for the class is APA 6th edition. Please secure a copy of the book. It is the
responsibility of the student to know how to correctly use APA 6th edition and format text according to it.
ALL MATERIALS TURNED IN DURING THIS SEMESTER MUST BE TYPED OR
COMPUTER PRINTED!
NO ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED LATE!! They may be turned in early, sent by someone
other than the student or they may be mailed. All mailed assignments must be postmarked on the due
date. Those that are late will not be accepted.
Each student will present two of the reading assignments in class; only one from each section. They may
be chosen the first or second week of the semester on a first-come, first-choice basis. A printed outline
for each article must be provided for the instructor and each student in the class. These oral presentations
must be well planned and presented. Each student is expected to have read the assigned materials every
week before coming to class. ALL reading assignments must be used in test answers.
COMM 6502
PAGE 2
There will be three tests; two sectional tests and a final examination. The final will contain some
comprehensive material, so please don't discard the notes and class handouts from early in the semester.
Calendar of events:
January 11
January 16
January 16
January 18
January 21
January 25
January 28
February 1
February 4
February 8
February 11
February 15
February 18
February 19
February 22
February 25
February 29
March 3
Introduction and overview, Chapter 1, Lowery & DeFleur; explanation of requirements,
and other beginning assignments.
Chapters 2 and 3, Lowery & DeFleur audio recording and discussion, article presentation
assignments and discussion of student topics
Last day to drop a class
MLK – no classes day or night
Chapters 4 and 5, Lowery & DeFleur, 7 article presentations and Student topic
assignment.
TEST
First student research presentations; Videotape "The 30-second President".
Chapters 6 and 7, Lowery & DeFleur Videotape "Propaganda"
Chapter 8, Lowery & DeFleur; 9 article presentations
Chapters 9 and 10, Lowery & DeFleur; 7 article presentations
TEST
Second student research presentation
Chapters 11 and 12, Lowery & DeFleur; 6 article presentations.
MCA (Mississippi Communication Association meeting)
Chapters 13 and 14 , Lowery & DeFleur; 4 article presentations.
Chapters 15 and 16, Lowery & DeFleur; 8 article presentations.
Final student research
Final Examination
GRADE COMPONENTS:
Class Participation
10%
Tests
30%
Research
1st
5%
2nd 10%
3rd
20%
35%
Article presentations
15%
Quiz
10%
100%
Grading Scale A = 100 – 94 B+ = 93 B = 92 - 85 C+ = 84 C = 83 - 75 D+ = 74 D = 73 - 68 F = 67>
COMM 6502
PAGE 3
READING LIST:
January 21:
THE PROCESS AND EFFECTS OF MASS COMMUNICATION
Schramm & Roberts
"The Significance of Communication", p. 643
"The Structure and Function of Communication in Society", p. 84
"The Invasion from Mars", p. 579
THEORIES OF COMMUNICATION
DeFleur
"The Communication Revolution", p. 1
"Society and the Mass Press", p. 9
"Sociocultural Influences on the Development of Motion Pictures", p. 22
SOCIETY, JULY / AUGUST, 1993, p. 11
Croce
"Erosion of Mass Culture"
February 4:
THE PROCESS AND EFFECTS OF MASS COMMUNICATION
Schramm & Roberts
"The World Outside and the Pictures in Our Heads", p. 265
"Political Processes: The Role of the Mass Media", p. 655
INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL SCIENCE JOURNAL, 32 # 2, 1980, p. 199
"A Philosophical Perspective on the Concept of Human Communication"
COMMUNICATION MONOGRAPHS, 47, 1980, p. 279
"Images of Savagery in American Justification for War"
QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF SPEECH, 73, 1987, p. 79
"Crafting Virtue: the Rhetorical Construction of Public Morality"
THE PROCESS AND EFFECTS OF MASS COMMUNICATION
Schramm & Roberts
"The Evasion of Propaganda: How Prejudiced People Respond to Anti-Prejudiced
Propaganda", p. 287
"Selective Exposure to Information: A Critical Review", p. 209
COMM 6502
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MASS COMMUNICATION THEORIES AND RESEARCH
Tan
"Theories of Communication and Persuasion", p. 99
BROADCAST RESEARCH METHODS
Dominick & Fletcher
"Attitude Measurement", p. 64
February 8:
THE PROCESS AND EFFECTS OF MASS COMMUNICATION
Schramm & Roberts
"Communication Research and the Concept of the Mass", p. 187
MASS MEDIA AND THE POPULAR ARTS
Rissover
"Demassifying the Media", p. 12
THEORIES OF HUMAN COMMUNICATION, 10th Ed.
Littlejohn
Chapters 8, 9, 10, & 11
MASS COMMUNICATION THEORIES AND RESEARCH
Tan
"Coorientation", p. 223
"Media Use and Audience Needs", p. 233
February 18:
THE EFFECTS OF MASS COMMUNICATION
Klapper Chapters 1 - 5
ANNUAL REVIEW OF PSYCHOLOGY, 32, 1981, p. 307
"Mass Communication Effects"
February 22:
JOURNAL OF ABNORMAL AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, 67 #6, P. 601
"Vicarious Reinforcement and Imitative Learning"
COMM 6502
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THE PROCESS AND EFFECTS OF MASS COMMUNICATION
Schramm & Roberts
"The Effect of Media Violence on Social Learning", p. 612
THE EFFECTS OF MASS COMMUNICATION
Klapper
Chapters 6 & 8
February 29:
THE PROCESS AND EFFECTS OF MASS COMMUNICATION
Schramm & Roberts
"Communication in Crisis", p. 525
"Children's Learning from the Mass Media", p. 596
"The Medium is the Message", p. 100
BROADCASTING RESEARCH METHODS
Dominick & Fletcher
"Review of Procedures Used in Content Analysis", p. 7
"Uses and Gratifications: Quasi-Functional Analysis", p. 202
"Television and Enculturation", p. 221
"The Measurement of Violence in Television Programming: Violence Indices", p. 235
"Assessing Impacts on Children", p. 252
THE FACULTY MEMBER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE ANY AND ALL NEEDED
CHANGES THROUGHOUT THE SEMESTER. ALL CHANGES WILL BE DISCUSSED WITH
STUDENTS IN CLASS.
Telephone: 925-3457, 3229
Address: P.O. Box 4019 MC, Clinton, MS 39058
Office: Aven 117A
E-mail: fortenbe@mc.edu
http://www.apastyle.org/learn/tutorials/basics-tutorial.aspx
This is an APA 6th tutorial site. It is not complete and does contain some errors, but it should help in
conjunction with the APA 6th manual.