Jodi Hallsten Lyczak: jlhalls@ilstu.edu / 438-7741 / 417 Fell Hall
Introduction to Mass Communication
M/W 4:00-5:15 in CVA 151
Spring 2015
Why Are We Here?
The media is not a natural phenomenon, and therefore should not be just
accepted; it requires a more critical response.
What We’re Learning About
We are surrounded by the media, and interact with it almost constantly from the
time you wake up until the time you go to bed. It’s easy to think that it has been
around forever. Not so! Historically speaking, the media is a relatively young
phenomenon. To best understand it now, we learn about how it developed and
what influences and shapes it today.
What’s Going to Happen
You get to examine how each of the mass mediums developed. You have the
opportunity to have fun exploring these various forms of mass media, the cultural
context of communication, and the impact these forms of mass media have on
society.
You engage consumer media all day every day. For those wanting to dig much
deeper into communication, this course is a great foundation. If you’re not
pursuing a career in communication, that’s OK (although I think you’re crazy!).
This course will make you a more sophisticated media consumer.
So What? What Will You Get Out of This Course
 You will become a media mogul! Just kidding. (But not really.)

You can understand the importance of how messages spread across large
groups.

You will uncover how and why these communications are delivered.

You will discover the benefits and consequences of these
communications.
The Tools You Need to Succeed
1. Eagerness to learn
2. Critical thinking
Jodi Hallsten Lyczak: jlhalls@ilstu.edu / 438-7741 / 417 Fell Hall
How You Can Learn
1. Out of class Video Experience Worksheets
a. You have the opportunity to watch videos from each of following
three categories, which you can check out from Milner Library
course reserve desk (they cannot be removed from Milner) or you
can watch online at
http://illstu.kanopystreaming.com.libproxy.lib.ilstu.edu/shomepage&final=1
If you choose to watch them at Milner, you should bring your
laptop because you should be completing a ReggieNet quiz related
to the one you’re watching as you’re watching it .
b. Here is a schedule of when these are due (by each due date, you
should have completed one quiz covering one video from that
category). All videos are available for viewing immediately.
Category 1
(due 2/9)
Deadly Persuasion
Wrestling w/Manhood
Further Off the Straight & Narrow
The Price of Pleasure
Category 2
(due 3/18)
Beauty Mark
Killing Us Softly IV
Toxic Sludge is Good
For You
Captive Audience
War Made Easy
Generation “Like”
Reel Bad Arabs
Shop Til’ You Drop
Category 3
(due 4/15)
Playing Unfair
Behind the Screens
Independent Media
in a Time of War
Overspent
American
The Bro Code
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/generationlike/
2. Connect Plus
a. I will introduce to Connect Plus on the second day of class. You
have the opportunity to complete many assignments on this
platform.
Jodi Hallsten Lyczak: jlhalls@ilstu.edu / 438-7741 / 417 Fell Hall
Tentative Schedule
Note – this schedule is subject to change per announcements in class.
DATE
M 1.12
W 1.14
W 1.21
M 1.26
W 1.28
M 2.2
W 2.4
M 2.9
W 2.11
M 2.16
W 2.18
M 2.23
W 2.25
M 3.2
W 3.4
M 3.16
W 3.18
M 3.23
W 3.25
M 3.30
W 4.1
M 4.6
W 4.8
M 4.13
W 4.15
M 4.20
W 4.22
M 4.27
W 4.29
FINAL
OUR TOPIC FOR THE DAY
WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE
READ/COMPLETED
Welcome to Connect Plus
Introduction to class
Setting up the course – thinking about mass com Ch 1
Understanding the money part
Ch 2
Books – the first medium
Ch 3
Newspapers – way better than writing on a stone Ch 4
tablet!
Around the world in 72 days (Film)
Exam 1 – Ch 1, 2, 3, 4 + Lecture
Category 1 VEW due today
Magazines
Ch 5
Radio
Ch 7
Public Radio Experience: This American Life
Empire of the Air (Film)
Finishing “Empire of the Air” (Film)
Ch 7 - still
Recordings – The good, the bad, and the ugly!
“Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes” (Film)
How do the media effect us?
Ch 13
One perspective: is Disney poison? (Film)
Category 2 VEW due today
Exam 2 – Ch 5, 7, 13 + Lecture
Television
Ch 8
Outfoxed (one perspective) (Film)
Outfoxed (cont.)
Dreamworlds III (Film)
Movies: then and now
Ch 6
Pioneers of Television (Film)
Pioneers of Television (Film)
Category 3 VEW due today
Pioneers of Television (Film)
Pioneers of Television (Film)
Video Games & The Internet
Ch 9, 10
Media Law and Ethics
Ch: 14
TBA. Note: The Final Exam Will Be In Our Normal Classroom
Necessary Materials
 Baran, S. (2013). “Introduction to Mass Communication” 8th Ed. (with
“ConnectPlus” code) San Francisco: McGraw Hill
 Reggie Net access
Jodi Hallsten Lyczak: jlhalls@ilstu.edu / 438-7741 / 417 Fell Hall
Grading
3 Exams -- (60%)
Attendance/Participation – (15%)
Out of Class Video Worksheets (VEWs)– (10%)
Connect Plus / Course Smart Assignments (Learnsmart + addt’l videos)– (15%)
(--note that pre/post tests on Connect are optional; everything else is mandatory)
Grading Scale:
90% = A (Excellent)
80% = B (Good)
70% = C (Average)
60% = D (Below Average)
59%= F (Insufficient)
A note about Connect Plus
In ConnectPlus, every question links directly to the eBook. This means that when
you are struggling with a question you can go directly to the explanation in the
eBook for help without carrying around a heavy textbook. You can access the
eBook from any computer, any time. All required online assignments and the
interactive eBook for this course are available in ConnectPlus.
When you complete ConnectPlus online quizzes, sometimes you won’t know
your score right away. In these cases, you will learn your score after class on the
day the assignment is due. That is, ConnectPlus quizzes are designed to
withhold feedback until everyone has had an opportunity to submit their quizzes
and we have graded them all.
If you have technical problems or need help with ConnectPlus, contact their
customer service:
 Email: www.mhhe/com/support
Phone: 1-800-331-5094 (M-Th: 8am-11pm; Fri: 8am-6pm; Sun: 6pm11pm)
Contacting The Team
Jodi Hallsten Lyczak
417 Fell Hall / Box 4480
309.438.7741
email: jlhalls@ilstu.edu (preferred method of contact)
Office Hours: 2-3:45 Mon & 11:30-12:45 and 2-3:45 Wed.
No office hours finals week.
Teaching Assistant:
Ricky Baptist
Email: rwbapti@ilstu.edu
Phone: 438-5995 – Fell 280
Jodi Hallsten Lyczak: jlhalls@ilstu.edu / 438-7741 / 417 Fell Hall
Office Hours: MWF 12-12:45pm and by appointment
Classroom Rules (just bear with me – we need these to create the most
productive learning environment possible)

We all treat each other with respect.

You have the schedule above, and I have also hand-loaded it onto
ReggieNet for you, so please have your work in on time and take exams
when scheduled. I am more than willing to work with you ahead of time if
you’re having any situations preventing you from these deadlines.

We (our glorious GTA and I) love to hear from you. When we do, we ask
you to use appropriate professional format: a greeting, appropriate
grammar/ spelling/punctuation, a closing statement, and be signed with
your name. One of the main things we hear from you is probably going to
be grades. Please do that within a week of the particular assignment or
exam.
How Do You Succeed?
Communicate with me (it is a communication class, after all!). I want to help you,
but I can’t if you don’t let me know what’s going on.
University requirements about bereavement situations:
Students who experience the death of an immediate family member or relative as defined in the
University Student Bereavement Policy will be excused from class for funeral leave, subsequent
bereavement, and/or travel considerations. Students are responsible for providing appropriate
documentation to the Dean of Students office and for contacting the instructor as soon as
possible to make arrangements for completing missed work. More information is available in the
Student Bereavement Policy at http://www.policy.illinoisstate.edu/2-1-27.shtml
SPECIAL NEEDS: Any student needing to arrange a reasonable accommodation for a documented
disability should contact Disability Concerns at 350 Fell Hall, 438-5853 (voice), 438-8620 (TDD).
Note: We do not answer questions about “current grade standings” the last two weeks of the semester.
Please look to the grade calculator sheet available in the “resources” area of Reggienet to keep track of your
current grade in our class. Thank you for understanding.