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Journalism 190 calendar and grading -- Fall 2009






SCHEDULE:

Readings in Bagdikian's "New Media Monopoly" and all other RESERVE ROOM chapters should be completed by the BEGINNING of the week assigned below.

BECAUSE OF COPYRIGHT RESTRICTIONS, LIMITED RESERVE ROOM READING COPIES of Postman ("Amusing Ourselves to Death") IS AVAILABLE, so the book may not always be readily available.
DO NOT WAIT UNTIL JUST BEFORE THE EXAM TO READ RESERVE MATERIAL.

Required reading of online summaries of several chapters in "Media/Impact," 6th edition, by Shirley Biagi are listed below during various weeks. The material is PASSWORD PROTECTED. Pilgrim provide the password in class -- make certain you note it.

  • Week 0 & 1 (Sept. 23-25 & Sept. 28-Oct. 2) -- Syllabus explanation; students read Ch. 1 and 2 in Bagdikian's "The New Media Monopoly" and read online summary of Biagi Ch. 1 and 2; take lecture notes, study lecture material and supplementary notes posted on Pilgrim's J190 Web site; analyze and synthesize them with class lectures
    DUE:
    Sept. 23 -- First-day response (5 pts.)
    VIDEOS: #1 Sept. 24 and 25 -- (parts of) "The Corporation"
    #2 Sept. 28 -- "Rich Media, poor democracy"
    #3 Sept. 30 -- "Class Dismissed"
    #4 Oct. 1 -- "Tough Guise"
    TOWN HALL MEETING #1 -- Fri., Oct. 2 in regular classroom at 9 a.m. (10 pts.)

  • Week 2 (Oct. 5-9) -- Read Ch. 4 in Bagdikian's "The New Media Monopoly" and online summaries of Biagi, "Media/Impact" Ch. 5 and 14; take lecture notes, study lecture material and supplementary notes posted on Pilgrim's J190 Web site; analyze and synthesize them with class lectures
    No Friday class meeting
    DUE:
    VIDEOS: #5 Oct. 5 -- "Wrestling with Manhood" (warning: video has graphic images of violence)
    #6 Oct. 7 -- "Killing Us Softly III"
    #7 Oct. 8 -- "Generation M: misogyny in media and culture"

  • Week 3 (Oct. 12-16) -- Read Chapter 5 in Bagdikian's "The New Media Monopoly"; also, read online summary of Biagi Ch. 6 take lecture notes, study lecture material and supplementary notes posted on Pilgrim's J190 Web site; analyze and synthesize them with class lectures
    No Friday class meeting
    DUE:
    VIDEOS: #8 Oct. 12 -- "Reel Bad Arabs"
    #9 Oct. 14 -- "Dreamworlds 3" (warning: this video has graphic images)
    #10 Oct. 15 -- "Money for nothing"

  • Week 4 (Oct. 19-23) -- Read the online summary of Biagi Ch. 8; for Exam 1, study material and readings and video notes from first weeks of the quarter; also, study Week 4 lecture material; take lecture notes, study lecture material and supplementary notes posted on Pilgrim's J190 Web site; analyze and synthesize them with class lectures
    No Friday class meeting
    DUE:
    VIDEOS: #11 Oct. 19-- "Behind the screens"
    #12 Oct. 20 --"Mickey Mouse Monopoly"
    EXAM 1 on Thurs., Oct. 22 over material including Week 4.
    Pilgrim will review part of Wed., Oct. 21 -- and on Mon., Oct. 19, will provide under Announcements on the main J190 page a list of material to be EXCLUDED from Exam 1.

  • Week 5 (Oct. 26-30) -- Read Ch. 5 in Postman's "Amusing Ourselves to Death" (on reserve in Wilson Library); also, read online summaries of Biagi Ch. 10 and 11; take lecture notes, study lecture material and supplementary notes posted on Pilgrim's J190 Web site; analyze and synthesize them with class lectures
    Town Hall meeting #2 will NOT be held the day before Halloween (Oct. 30) but will now be held the following week -- at 9 a.m. Fri., Nov. 6. Attendance is worth 10 points. DUE:
    VIDEOS: #13 Oct. 26 -- "The Ad and the Ego"
    #14 Oct. 28 -- "Advertising and the End of the World"
    #15 Oct. 29 -- "Consuming Kids: the Commercialization of Childhood"

  • Week 6 (Nov. 2-6) -- Read Ch. 7 in Bagdikian's "The New Media Monopoly" and Ch. 7 in Postman's "Amusing Ourselves to Death"; also, read the online summary of Biagi Ch. 12; take lecture notes, study lecture material and supplementary notes posted on Pilgrim's J190 Web site; analyze and synthesize them with class lectures
    Town Hall meeting #2 has been scheduled for this Friday, Nov. 6 (not Oct. 30 as in the original version of the syllaus). Attendance is worth 10 points.
    DUE:
    VIDEOS: #16 Nov. 2 -- ""Toxic Sludge is Good for You" "
    #17 Nov. 4 -- #17 Nov. 5 -- "Constructing Public Opinion"
    #18 Nov. 5 -- "No logo"
    ON-LINE DISCUSSION ENTRIES -- 4 entries are due by Nov. 13 at noon -- make first entry by Wed., Nov. 4 -- spread entries over the two week (15 pts. possible each entry -- 4 entries total -- 60 possible points total)

  • Week 7 (Nov. 9-13 no class Wed., Nov. 11 Veterans Day) -- Read online summary of Biagi Ch. 13; take lecture notes and supplementary material posted on Pilgrim's J190 Web site; analyze and synthesize them with class lectures
    Final essay project assignment will be made available this week on the J190 Web site under Assignments -- essay Nov. 25 by noon under Pilgrim's door in CF 265
    DUE:
    VIDEOS: #19 Nov. 9 -- "Freedom of Expression: Resistance and Repression in the Age of Intellectual Property"
    #20 Nov. 10 -- "Free Speech for Sale"
    ON-LINE DISCUSSION -- final postings deadline noon Fri., Nov. 13 (15 pts. possible each entry -- 4 entries spread over Week 6 and 7 -- total possible: 60 pts.)
    IN LIEU OF CLASS MEETING THURS., NOV. 12, STUDENTS MEET IN SMALL GROUPS TO DISCUSS IDEAS REGARDING APPROACHES TO THE THE FINAL ESSAY ASSIGNMENT (the assignment will be posted Nov. 9).

  • Week 8 (Nov. 16-20) -- Read Chapter 12 in Bagdikian's "The New Media Monopoly"; read online summary of Biagi Ch. 17; take lecture notes, study lecture material and supplementary notes posted on Pilgrim's J190 Web site; analyze and synthesize them with class lectures
    After Exam 2 for interested students -- for added understanding for the take-home essay project -- read intro and chapters 1, 5, 8, 10 and 15 in McChesney's "Political Economy of Media" and ch. 8 and 9 "The New Media Monopoly" -- this reading is NOT on Exam 2.
    No Friday meeting
    DUE:
    VIDEOS: #21 Nov. 16 -- "Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism"
    #22 Nov. 17 -- "War Made Easy"
    EXAM 2 -- Thurs., Nov. 19 -- covers material of Week 5 through and including Week 8; review part of Nov. 18 (Under Announcements on Mon., Nov. 16 on J190 Web site, Pilgrim will post EXCLUSIONS)

  • Week 9 (Nov. 23-27 -- no class Thanksgiving or Friday) -- Read chapters 10, 11 and the Afterward in Bagdikian's "The New Media Monopoly"; take lecture notes, study lecture material and supplementary notes posted on Pilgrim's J190 Web site; analyze and synthesize them with class lectures
    DUE:
    VIDEOS: #23 Nov. 23 -- "Beyond Good and Evil"
    #24 Nov. 24 -- "Jon Stewart on humor and an informed public"
    #25 Nov. 25 "New media, religion and their impact on elections"
    FINAL ESSAY PROJECT DUE Wed., Nov. 25 by noon (if needed, arrange a later deadline with Pilgrim -- last deadline Tues., Dec. 1 at noon) -- slide paper (1 page single-spaced in 12 point Times; no cover or title page, please) under door of Pilgrim's office, CF 265.

  • Week 10 (Nov. 30 - Dec.4) -- Read online summary of Biagi Ch. 16
    No class Friday.
    DUE:
    VIDEOS: #26 Dec. 1 -- "Project Censored"
    LAST-DAY IN-CLASS WRITING RESPONSE , Dec. 2 (5 pts.)
    NON-MANDATORY TOWN HALL MEETING -- Thurs., Dec. 3 (no points)

  • Week 11 (Dec. 7-11) Final Week -- Complete J190 Final Week readings posted on J190 Web site and, if needed, conduct an e-mail conference with Pilgrim during final exam time.


GRADING:
A total of 1,000 points is possible during the quarter. Here are the point-gathering areas:

A) Two exams (Exam #1 on Thursday of Week 4 -- Oct. 22) covering all material through and including Week 4; Exam #2 on Thursday of Week 8 -- Nov. 19) covering material Week 5 through and including Week 8. Each exam will be worth 315 points).
Total points for both exams: 630.

B) TAKE-HOME, EVALUATIVE, TYPED ESSAY PROJECT (assigned Week 7) DUE Wed., Nov. 25 at noon (students may arrange for later deadline -- anytime before noon on Tues., Dec. 1 -- sign up with Pilgrim --and, remember, no in-class final during the final exam period because of the take-home essay).
Total points for the essay: 140.

C) Attendance at videos shown (about 24 videos are scheduled) in class (attendance at a video can be as much as 15 points -- or higher). Students must arrive on time and REMAIN IN CLASS FOR THE ENTIRE VIDEO in order to receive video credit. STUDENTS SHOULD SIGN ONLY FOR THEMSELVES -- AND NOT SIGN IF THEY ARRIVE LATER THAN 10 PAST THE HOUR OR IF THEY LEAVE EARLY OR IF THEY LEAVE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME (longer than five minutes).

Concepts and other information from the videos are a SIGNIFICANT part of Exam 1 and Exam 2. Prior to video viewing, note the concepts and lists specified at the bottom of each week's Web site and then during the video, take good notes on those items.
Total video attendance points: 140.

D) Online discussion participation during weeks (Wk #6; and Wk #7 of J190-related questions posed by Pilgrim and other J190 students -- 60 points possible for four thoughtful entries over two weeks (Week 6 and 7), with all entries being "fat paragraphs" in length -- Pilgrim will begin the discussion with a question -- see details below and on the main discussion Web page. These discussions, which take several hours of reading responses by others and thoughfully composing your own entries each week, are MANDATORY and replace several Friday meetings. Online postings must be WITHIN your ASSIGNED GROUP -- students must respond to Pilgrim's initial question by the end of Wednesday of Week 6.
Total points: 60.

E) Two "town hall" meetings held in the regular classroom at the regular hour on Friday of Week 1 (Oct. 2) and Friday of Week 5 (Oct. 30). Attendance will be worth 10 points each.
Total points: 20.

F) First-week and last-day in-class written analysis of media's impact on society, culture and self-governance. 5 points each.
Total points: 10.

Note: Pilgrim may offer a 5- or 10-point extra-credit opportunity during the quarter. If so, details will be posted under Assignments at the top of the main J190 Web page.

Worried about how to get a good grade in J190? Think of the class as having 4 major parts:
1) 315-point Exam 1;
2) 315-points Exam 2;
3) 230 points for in-class videos, in-class and online writings, and town hall meetings; 4) 140-points for final essay project

To get a high grade, you will need to do well in all 4 areas.

NOTE: A video attendance sheet will be passed around class in the middle of each in-class video. To "sign," PRINT your LAST NAME and then SIGN your first name in the appropriate alphabet section of the sheet.

It is ACADEMIC DISHONESTY to sign for an absent student (Pilgrim counts those present; if the count does not match the sign-in sheet signatures, no points are awarded for that video, and points are carried forward and awarded when the counts match) -- see the WWU catalog about academic dishonesty (sign-in fraud is penalized 100 points). After Week 4 and/or 4 videos with non-matching counts, Pilgrim switches the points not awarded for videos with non-matching counts to the final and/or Exam 2 (and, on the exam, emphasizes the missed videos more heavily).

Web summaries of some videos will be posted by Pilgrim. For all other videos, concepts and other information to note during the video will be posted at the beginning of the week the video is shown in class. Students should be ready note this material -- and may re-view videos in Wilson Library, where all the videos are on reserve.

Class ATTENDANCE is MANDATORY; Video attendance CANNOT BE MADE UP if in-class viewing is missed (the only exceptions are university-excused absences and medical/emergency absences -- all substantiated by official written documents).

If you need extra time on exam days, exams will handed out as soon as the classroom is available.

ALL ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE AS SPECIFIED. LATE final essays WILL BE PENALIZED UP TO 10% PER DAY (weekends count as 1 day).

Online discussion

Pilgrim will begin the two weeks of online discussion (Week 6 & 7) by posting a question by Monday of Week 6. All students must respond to this question by Tuesday of Week 6 at midnight with an entry that is at least seven sentences long.

The remaining three responses -- spread over Week 6 and 7 -- should be made to other students within the assigned discussion group. Each should be a "fat paragraph" (around seven sentences) that is thoughful and well-supported.

No more than 1 response for points during any 24-hour period (extra non-point entries are welcome).

Students should place the number of the response after their name (1, 2, 3, 4).

Each of the 4 responses are worth up to 15 points -- 15 points for a "fat paragraph"; 8 points for a short entry; 0 points for no entry or for any entry beyond the first two during a 24-hour period.

All assigned online discussion must be completed by Friday of Week 7 at noon. In these discussions students should NOT ATTACK other writers. Students who don't like written viewpoint should respond with an argument that is compelling (and logical). No name-calling; no threats.

Students should strive for civility that Alexander Meiklejohn would be proud of and should strive to develop each argument with adequate support for each assertion.

Important grading information

The WWU provost is allowing students to self-report cases of swine flu. Students missing J190 because of this illness may bring afterward to Pilgrim such a self-written note and be able to make up missed videos.

To make up the points, they should view the missed video in Wilson Library -- all videos are on reserve there -- and bring a half-page typed summary to Pilgrim. No e-mails. No attachments. Of course, they should take careful notes on concepts required for exams.

Similarly, students missing exams because of swine flu may take a makeup exam. They should see Pilgrim when they are well (& bring their note).

During the quarter, "points" are given for attendance, assignments and exams. The only "grade" students will be assigned is at the end of the quarter after all points have been awarded. These final grades will be determined by a "loose curve." This system tends to help students achieve higher grades than they would under a regular "curve." For example, under Pilgrim's loose curve -- depending on all students' performance during the quarter -- the "grade" of A and A- usually begins at 92% of the total possible points. That percentage may be a bit lower or higher, depending on the point distribution during a particular quarter. Other + and - grades similarly vary. For example, grades of B-, B and B+ usually ranges betweem 79 and 90 percent.

Thus, a "loose curve" is, for the most part, benign to students and allows Pilgrim freedom NOT to give equal and offsetting numbers of grades (for example, instead of 7 A's and 7 F's, he may give 12 A's and 2 F's) and may alter traditional percentage cutoffs (for example, a D- some quarter may be below 60%).

NO SPECIAL EXAM TIMES. Honesty in exam-taking and writing is required. Do your own work -- SEE WWU CATALOG FOR THE POLICY ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY. NOTE ALSO THE POLICIES ON DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR, SEXUAL MISCONDUCT, VIOLENCE AND HARASSMENT, INTERFERENCE WITH FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS, AND MISUSE OF COMPUTERS, ETC. A 100-penalty is levied for video attendance fraud in J190.

Make-up exams -- after the exam time, not before -- will given only in cases of medical emergency (accompanied by notes from physicians) or excused university functions. Make-up exams will be a different exam, with more short-answer questions. The exams will be given at 7:45 a.m. on Monday following the exam -- at Pilgrim's office in CF 265.

In case of exams falling on days of university closure because of adverse weather, the scheduled exam will be given the following Monday.

Make-up of video attendance is permitted only for university activities or for medical or family emergencies (an official, written document is required).

Pilgrim uses the plus and minus system for J190 grading.

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Created 2009; updated Oct. 12, 15 & 18, 2009