Adelphi University - Fall 2003

COM 300 Media Criticism
 (formerly: Television and the American Experience)

Instructor: Dr. Toni Sant  [ contact ]

Section 1 MWF 10:00-10:50
Section 2 MWF 11:00-11:50

Course Overview

Media messages are ubiquitous. Whether at home, at work, or just walking down the street, we are bombarded by mass media and popular culture. Because of the pervasiveness of the media, it has become important for us to subject them to critical scrutiny, and to understand their impact on our culture. In this course, we will look at the feedback loop between the media and popular culture.

Course Requirements

Participation (10%)
Your presence and participation in class are very important. "Participation" refers not only to making contributions of your own to class discussions and exercises, but also to deferring to others when appropriate, and being considerate of others who are contributing.

You are allowed three unexcused absences. Two late arrivals will count as one absence.

Please note: If you carry a beeper, cell phone, or any other personal communication device, you must put it on its silent setting, turn it off, or leave it someplace else during class time.

Readings (20%)

We will be reading one book as well as several articles and papers available on the Internet. The book is The Soft Edge by Paul Levinson. The other materials are linked on the course schedule below.

Every time a reading is due, you will be handing in a brief (2-3 paragraph), typed abstract of that reading in which you do the following:

1. summarize the reading (ask yourself: what is it about?)

2. provide your response to the reading (ask yourself: what do I think of the idea/s presented by the author/s?)
(NOTE: This means responding to the ideas in the reading, not simply writing "This reading was boring" or "This reading was too long.")

3. (optional) indicate what, if any, connections you see between this reading and other readings assigned for this course (HINT: thinking this way will help you when writing your papers and exams)

4. (optional) indicate what, if any, questions this reading raised for you and be prepared to bring them up in class at the appropriate time

All this applies also for the websites assigned for exploration thoughout the semester. Details on what/how to report about the websites will be announced at least one class ahead of when the brief report is due.

Media criticism papers (45%)
At the end of each of the first three units, you will write a double-spaced 4 - 5 page paper exploring specific media output using the perspective/s you have just learned in the unit. Guidelines for each paper will be given at least one week before the paper is due..

The due date for each paper is indicated on the attached course schedule. Late papers will be downgraded unless they are accompanied by a documented excuse.

Exams (25%)
There will be a midterm and a final exam. The midterm will be integrated into the media criticism paper for Unit II; an explaination of how this works will be given in class ahead of time. The date for the final exams is indicated on the course schedule below.

Plagiarism and cheating are not tolerated and will result in no points (fail) for that particular assignment. Repeat offenders will fail the course completely.

Course Schedule
(any changes will be announced in class no later than the previous class meeting and also noted on this web page)