Language Institute, Thammasat University
EL 271 English for Mass Communication 1
Course Outline Semester 1/2015
Course description
Pre-requisite: EL 172 English Course III
Practicing language skills used in the field of mass communication; emphasizing listening, speaking, reading and writing skills necessary for journalism, radio and television broadcast, films and advertising.
Course objectives
At the end of the course, students should be able to:
1. understand and analyse different types of texts in the field of mass communication such as news articles, editorial and magazines
2. master listening, speaking, reading and writing skills necessary for journalism, radio and television broadcast, and films
3. understand vocabulary generally used in the field of mass communications
4. reflect in English on volunteer work and community services through the use of mass communications
Teaching methodology
Classroom activities and assignments will enable students to use professional English in real life situations and current issues. In the classroom, students will practice their English listening and speaking skills through digital media and role plays, and also reading and writing through printed and digital media. Students are also encouraged to practice researching and technological skills through the use of digital media in presenting current issues.
Course materials
Main Textbook:
Cambridge English for the Media (by Nick Caramella & Elizabeth Lee)
Cambridge University Press
Supplementary Materials:
Dyer, G. (1982). Advertising as communication.
London: Routledge.
Fredrickson, T., & Wedel, P.F. (1991). English by newspaper. Bangkok: Allied Printers.
Goddard, A. (1998). The language of advertising: Written texts . London: Routledge.
Hicks, W. (1993). English for journalists.
London: Routledge.
Bangkok Post Newspaper: http://www.bangkokpost.com/
BBC News: http://www.bbc.com/news/
Breaking News English: http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/
British Council’s English for Journalists: http://www.britishcouncil.org/professionals-specialisms-journalism-intro.htm
NHK World: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/
The Nation Newspaper: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/
Course evaluation
Attendance and class participation
Written assignments
Term projects
10
20
30 points points points
Midterm exam
Final exam
Total
60 points
80 points
200 points

EL 271 1/2014 Page 2 of 3
Notes:
1. Students are required to do TWO written assignments. The first one is due on 29 September
2014 and the other on 1 December 2014. Each assignment is worth 10 points.
Assignment 1 In groups students are required to brainstorm, plan and create either a newspaper (Unit 1) or a magazine (Unit 3). The content may be decided individually or in groups. ALL CONTENT MUST BE ORIGINAL.
Assignment 2 Students are required to write a blog (based on Unit 6). Students will work individually to create and compose a blog post based on a topic such as travel, cuisine, art, literature, film photography or another topic of their interest. ALL CONTENT MUST BE ORIGINAL.
2. The first term project is due on 28 September 2015 and the other on 30 November 2015 .
Each term project is worth 15 points.
Project 1 Students are required to write a script of a TV programme (based on Unit
4) in groups. Popular formats for past TV shows include news, documentary, talk shows and drama. ALL CONTENT MUST BE
ORIGINAL.
Project 2 Students are required to develop and create an advertising campaign
(based on Unit 7) for a product of their choice. Students must produce a series of short television or web commercials that promote the product or service of their choosing. ALL CONTENT MUST BE ORIGINAL.
3. The evaluation of both assignments and term projects will be based on their completeness, creativity and language correctness.
4.
Thammasat University strongly discourages plagiarism, i.e. the act of copying someone’s ideas or work and presenting them as if they were yours, without referring to the original sources or authors. Therefore, any assignment that is considered (partially or entirely) plagiarized will be given a score of zero and/or fail of the assignment.
Attendance policy
Two points will be deducted for each absence. More than FOUR absences will result in an automatic “F”.
Schedule
Add/Drop period
Drop “W” period
Midterm Examination
August 26 – 31, 2015
October 19 – 26, 2015
Saturday, 10 October 2015 Time: 14.30 – 16.30 hours
Final Examination Friday 18 December 2015 Time: 13.00 – 16.00 hours

EL 271 1/2014 Page 3 of 3
Lecturers
Sec/Gr
810001
810002
810003
820001
820002
Day
M
M
M
M
M
Time
9.30 – 12.30
9.30 – 12.30
9.30 – 12.30
13.30 – 16.30
13.30 – 16.30
Tentative schedule (EL271)
Weeks Dates
1 17 August 2015
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
24 August 2015
31 August 2015
7 September 2015
14 September 2015
21 September 2015
28 September 2015
SATURDAY
10 October 2015
12 October 2015
19 October 2015
26 October 2015
2 November 2015
9 November 2015
16 November 2015
23 November 2015
30 November 2015
FRIDAY
18 December 2015
Room Lecturer
SC 3040 A. Tyler A. Charles
SC 3041 A. Phillip R. Nash
SC 3042 A. David M. Briseno
SC 3053 A. Tyler A. Charles
SC 3056 A. Phillip R. Nash
Units / Activities
Course Introduction
Unit 1: Newspapers
(writing headlines, analyzing newspaper articles)
Unit 1: Newspapers (Cont.)
(practicing interview skills, planning & writing a newspaper article)
Unit 3: Magazines
(composing magazine covers, planning the contents of a magazine)
Unit 3: Magazines (Cont.)
(giving instructions for a photo shoot, planning & writing a true-life story)
Start Assignment 1
Unit 4: Television
(understanding the pre-production process, organising a filming schedule)
Start Term Project 1
Unit 4: Television (Cont.)
(filming on location, editing a TV documentary)
Revision of Units 1, 3 and 4
Term Project 1 Submission and Presentation (15 points)
Due Assignment 1 (10 points)
MIDTERM EXAMINATION (14.30-16.30)
Unit 7: Advertising
(selling your potential services to a client, creating a print advert)
Unit 7: Advertising (Cont.)
(creating a screen advert, presenting the finished advert)
Unit 6: New media
(briefing a website designer, analysing problems & providing solutions)
Unit 6: New media (Cont.)
(planning and writing a blog, creating a podcast)
Start Assignment 2
Term Project 2 Consultations
Term Project 2 Submission and Presentation (15 points)
Revision of Units 7 & 6
Revision of Units 7 & 6
Due Assignment 2 (10 points)
FINAL EXAMINATION
13.00 – 16.00