COMM 1307 Syllabus – Introduction to Mass Media and
Culture in the Electronic Environment
CRN 66602 T/R 11-12:30p.m.
Room C-205 HCC Alief Center
Credit – 3.00 * Lecture Hrs. – 3.00 * Course Contact Hrs. – 48.00
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).
Frequent Requisites: College-Level Reading & College-Level Writing.
INSTRUCTOR: Professor Elizabeth Teller
PHONE: 832-641-1388 call or text
EMAIL: EAGLE Online Email is the best way to contact me. Please use the Professional Email
Format (see handout in Eagle) when you email me.
REQUIRED TEXT: Campbell, R., Martin, C. R., Fabos, B. G. (2014). Media and Culture. Boston:
Bedford/St. Martin's. 9th edition
ISBN-13: 978-1-4576-2831-3 (Print)
COURSE DESCRIPTION: The following is the description of this course is from the HCC Course
COMM Course Descriptions:
―Analyzes communication theory and mass media in 21st century society. Surveys history,
operation, and structure of the American communication system. Identifies major legal, ethical, and
sociocultural issues, studies basic communication theory, and the interrelations between media and
the individual, media and society, and media and the future. Examines career potential and job
prospects in today’s and tomorrow’s electronic culture. Core curriculum course.‖
Moreover, the course is involves a survey of the mass media and other areas of mass communication
designed to acquaint students with the basic history, law, ethics, theory, function and practice of
media industries and disciplines. This course will examine the role mass communication plays in
society with the intention of improving student media literacy.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
When you have successfully completed this course, you will be able to:
and recordings.
neers in mass communications.
Academic Discipline Program Learning Outcomes; Course Student Learning Outcomes; &
Available Instructional Methods
Academic Discipline/CTE Program Learning Outcomes
1. Apply elemental competency in the operation of selected media.
2. Understand and explain the terms mass communication (also referred to as media communication).
3. Describe the development of print media, radio, television, and film.
4. Provide a chronology of some milestones relevant to the advancement of media from their onset to
today.
Course Student Learning Outcomes (SLO)
1. Discuss the development of print and broadcast media, advertising, public relations, movies, and
recordings.
i. Subject to use various techniques to help students learn the history of media communication, and
work to influence their use of creativity in the conception of media strategies for the future.
2. Examine theories about media communication, and provide clarification to others about the
significance of the public viewer's critical eye to reasonably comprehend that which is produced and
aired by the media.
i. Subject to facilitate students' recognition and comprehension of theories associated with media
communication, and foster their self-confidence to help others view media information more
critically.
3. Understand and define mass communication.
4. Understand and explain the functions of the mass media. i. Through various assigned readings
from textbooks, peer-reviewed articles, class-discussions, student & peer presentations, media
projects, and practical experience.
5. Understand and describe the development of radio and television and the film industry, and
explain the relationships between the two.
6. Understand the implications of electronic technology and the Internet on mass communication.
7. Write a media intake log or diary of his or her media usage through theory-based information
learned in class utilizing MLA or APA formatting style and guidelines
GRADES/GRADING POLICY
ASSIGNMENT
Technology Essay
Group Product Performance Individual/Group
Media Analysis Project
Audio Exam/Final Exam
Media Log
Participation/Attendance
Quizzes at 10pts each
TOTAL
POINTS
100
100/100
250
100/100
100
50
100
1000
EAGLE ONLINE
This class is web-enhanced, which means all course materials and class information will be located
on Eagle Online. Quizzes and discussion posts will be completed in Eagle; all assignments, course
calendar etc. will also be posted on Eagle. As far as possible, this will be a “green” class—we will
not use paper to the extent possible. This means handouts and course materials will be posted
electronically. To access Eagle Online, please go to: https://hccs1.mrooms3.net/login/index
This page will get you into the Distance Education (web-based) Here is the information you need to
know to log in to Eagle:
Your Eagle Online ID is now the same as your HCC User ID which is used for Online Registration.
[For example: W0034567]
HCC COURSE WITHDRAWAL POLICY
The State of Texas imposes penalties on students who withdraw/drop courses excessively. Students
are limited to no more than SIX total course withdrawals throughout their educational career at a
Texas public college or university. Students are encouraged to review the HCC 6 Drop Policy.
To help you avoid having to withdraw from any class, contact your DE counselor regarding your
academic performance. You may also want to contact your DE counselor to learn about helpful HCC
resources (e.g. online tutoring, child care, financial aid, job placement, etc.).
HOW TO DROP
If a student decides to withdraw from a class upon careful review of other options, the
student can withdraw online prior to the deadline through their HCC Student Center.
HCC and/or professors may withdraw students for excessive absences without notification
(see Class Attendance below).
Students should check HCC’s Academic Calendar by Term for withdrawal dates and
deadlines. Classes of other duration (flex-entry, 8-weeks, etc.) may have different final withdrawal
deadlines. Please contact the HCC Registrar’s Office at 713.718.8500 to determine mini-term class
withdrawal deadlines.
CLASSROOM AND VIRTUAL CLASSROOM CONDUCT
On campus and online, all HCC students are required to follow all HCC Policies & Procedures, the
Student Code of Conduct, the Student Handbook, and relevant sections of the Texas Education Code
when interacting and communicating in a classroom (in-person or online) with faculty and fellow
students. Students who violate these policies and guidelines will be subject to disciplinary action that
could include denial of access to course-related email, discussion groups, and chat rooms or being
removed from the class. Please do not email the entire class for any reason.
CLASS RULES
final grade.
classroom. If someone else is talking, show them the same respect you like to have. Once they’re
finished, then it will be your turn.
-based class. You should come prepared to discuss the assigned readings.
Readings will be due on the day they are listed in the Course Calendar.
-pods, other devices in class. Pls. turn your cell phones to silent mode.
3 Peat Rule:
“ Students who enroll for most credit CEU classes for a third or more times will be charged an
additional $50.00 per semester credit hour and $3.00 per contact hours."
Plagiarism and Collusion: The Student Handbook lists cheating, plagiarism, and collusion as
scholastic dishonesty. It defines plagiarism as “the appropriation of another’s work and the
unacknowledged incorporation of that work in one’s own written work offered for credit”. It defines
collusion as “the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work for
credit”. Possible punishments are “a grade of 0 or F on the particular assignment, failure in the
course, and/or recommendation for probation or dismissal from the College System” See the Student
Handbook.
In my own classes, students who intentionally or unintentionally plagiarize or
collude on any assignment, major or minor, will immediately receive an F in
the course.
EARLY ALERT
HCC has instituted an Early Alert process by which your professor may “alert” you and counselors
that you might fail a class because of excessive absences and/or poor academic performance. A
counselor will then reach out to you to discuss your progress and offer any relevant resources. This
initiative is designed to provide students with support services and resources to assist them in
successfully completing their course.
DISABILITY SERVICES
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.)
who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Support Services
Office at the beginning of each semester. Professors are authorized to provide only the
accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office.
DE students who are requesting special testing accommodations may choose the most convenient
DSS office for assistance each semester:
District ADA Coordinator – Lisa Parkinson – 713.718.5165
Central ADA Counselors – Jetta (Yetta) Lott, Senta Eastern – 713.718.6164
Northeast ADA Counselor- Tamera Petty – 713.718.8420
Northwest ADA Counselor – Dr. Yolando Ashford – 713.718.5422
Southeast ADA Counselor – John Reno - 713.718.7218
Southwest ADA Counselor – Dr. Becky Hauri – 713.718.7910
Coleman ADA Counselor – Dr. Raj Gupta – 713.718.7631
After student accommodation letters have been approved by the DSS office and submitted to DE
Counseling for processing, students will receive an email confirmation informing them of the
Instructional Support Specialist (ISS) assigned to their professor.
LIBRARY RESOURCES
As a DE student you have the same access to first-rate information resources that the HCC Libraries
make available to all HCC students. A special website pulls together all the tools DE students will
need to complete research. Visit Library Resources specifically for Distance Education students.
Library services are available throughout HCC. Through a daily library delivery service and a listing
of all materials belonging to HCC libraries, books may be requested from and delivered to any
campus library. HCC also has cooperative borrowing agreements with the University of Houston
libraries and provides a copy of the Houston Public library catalog at each library. These
arrangements provide students with access to over 4 million volumes.
Special services provided by the library system include photocopying facilities; specialized
equipment for disabled students; group and personalized instruction in library use, including a selfinstructional media program to orient students to the use of the HCCS libraries; a “term paper”
workshop; and online bibliographic search services.
ONLINE TUTORING
HCC provides free online tutoring in writing, math, science, and other subjects. Look for Ask Online
on your Eagle log-in page. This directs students to the HCC AskOnline Tutoring site:
http://hccs.askonline.net/. Use your student ID or HCC e-mail address to create an account.
Instructions, including a 5-minute video, are provided to make you familiar with the capabilities of
this service.
SOCIAL NETWORKING
DE students are encouraged to become a fan of DE on Facebook and follow DE on Twitter. These
social networking sites can provide a sense of community for the online learner, as well as up-to-date
information and announcements related to HCC and DE.
VIRTUAL CLASSROOM CONDUCT
As with on-campus classes, all students in HCC Distance Education courses are required to follow all
HCC Policies & Procedures, the Student Code of Conduct, the Student Handbook, and relevant
sections of the Texas Education Code when interacting and communicating in a virtual classroom
with your professor and fellow students. Students who violate these policies and guidelines will be
subject to disciplinary action that could include denial of access to course-related email, discussion
groups, and chat rooms or even removal from the class.
USE OF CAMERAS OR RECORDING DEVICES
Use of recording devices, including camera phones and tape recorders, is prohibited in classrooms,
laboratories, faculty offices, and other locations where instruction, tutoring, or testing occurs. The
duplication and/or reproduction of any class material(s) without the consent of the author or
instructor is strictly prohibited. This also goes for the Online side of this class, you may not
reproduce or duplicate any materials without the instructor‘s guidance as well as consent. Students
with disabilities who need to use a recording device as a reasonable accommodation should contact
the Office for Students with Disabilities for information regarding reasonable accommodations.
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.
LESSON PLANS AND SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS NEXT PAGE
(SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANYTIME BY INSTRUCTOR)
WEEK 1
WEEK 2
WEEK 3
WEEK 4
WEEK 5
WEEK 6
WEEK 7
WEEK 8
WEEK 9
WEEK 10
WEEK 11
WEEK 12
WEEK 13
WEEK 14
WEEK 15
WEEK 16
INTRODUCTION TO CLASS/SYLLABUS
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2 – EXPLAIN MEDIA LOG
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4 AND 5 Technology Essay Due
9/26
CHAPTER 6/Audio Exam 10/1
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8 AND 9
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12 -PUBLIC RELATIONS/SALES
“
GROUP WORKSHOP
GROUP PRESENTATIONS 11/19 & 21
THANKSGIVING WEEK
REVIEW FOR FINAL AND MEDIA LOG
CHECK
FINAL – TURN IN MEDIA ANALYSIS