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COMM 100 (GS) The Mass Media and Society (3): Mass communications in the United States: organization, role, content, and effects of newspapers, magazines, television, radio, books, and films.
Overview
The Mass Media and Society provides an overview of the interaction between the mass media and society in the United States. The course draws students’ attention to the organization, role, content, and effects of newspapers, magazines, television, radio, books and film and underscores the influences (e.g., social, economic, political, technological, law and cultural) that shape media messages. Among others, the course examines the nature of media controllers as well as the character of "users" and "consumers" of media products. In the process students are informed about the overall structure and scope of the mass media and are led to understand the power and influences associated with media messages and practices. By the end of the semester, each student should have a better understanding of the dynamic nature of the mass media in an information society.
Course Objectives
At the completion of this course, you should be able to:
- Describe the different functions of the mass media
- Describe the process and theory of mass communication
- Explain the basic concepts relevant to the various media forms
- Demonstrate an awareness of the media as social, political and cultural forces
- List the formal and informal controls on the mass media
- Explain current trends and changes in the mass media including those influenced by new technologies
- Explain the practices and processes of media support systems/industries
- Discuss varied issues including those ethical concerns pertinent to media and the public
Required Course Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.The following text is required and may be purchased from MBS Direct:
- The Media of Mass Communication, Tenth Edition, John Vivian
Supplemental readings and other materials will be added to complement the main text. For pricing and ordering information, please see the Barnes & Noble College website.
Materials will be available at Barnes & Noble College approximately three weeks before the course begins. It is very important that you purchase the correct materials. If your course requires one or more textbooks, you must have exactly the correct text required (edition and year).
Library Resources
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
Technical Requirements
For this course we recommend the minimum World Campus technical requirements listed below:
| Operating System | Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8*; Mac OS X 10.5 or higher *Windows 8 support excludes the tablet only RT version |
|---|---|
| Processor | 2 GHz or higher |
| Memory | 1 GB of RAM |
| Hard Drive Space | 20 GB free disk space |
| Browser | We recommend the latest ANGEL-supported version of Firefox or
Internet Explorer. To determine if your browser fits this criterion,
and for advice on downloading a supported version,
please refer to the following ITS knowledge base article: Supported Browsers and Recommended Computers.
Note: Cookies, Java, and JavaScript must be enabled. Pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. Due to nonstandard handling of CSS, JavaScript and caching, older versions of Internet Explorer (such as IE 6 or earlier) do not work with our courses. |
| Plug-ins | Adobe Reader [Download from Adobe]
Flash Player (v7.0 or later) [Download from Adobe] |
| Additional Software | Microsoft Office (2007 or later) |
| Internet Connection | Broadband (cable or DSL) connection required |
| Printer | Access to graphics-capable printer |
| DVD-ROM | Required |
| Sound Card, Microphone, and Speakers | Required |
| Monitor | Capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the World Campus Help Desk.
Scope and Structure of the Course
The following components comprise our engagement during each regular week of the semester. Weeks during which the class will write quizzes and exams will run differently as shown on schedule of classes below. Some weekly sessions cover two parts of related topics; others include more in-depth material on one topic.
- Reading assignments: These are critical in providing the major content material for each lesson. They serve as the basis for completion of assignments and one of the sources of answers that you may provide in quizzes.
- Instructor’s Note (typically about 2 pages): These represent the instructor’s reaction to the text – the reaction borrows from instructor’s academic exposure to the subject matter and personal experiences with the mass media in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world. The Notes should provide additional dimensions to the subject matter that may not be in the assigned reading but that the instructor considers of added value to students’ understanding. Some of the entries in Instructor’s Note should also generate additional conversation (questions/comments) by the class.
- Reaction reports via a blog: These will be completed in the form of a blog post (minimum 250 words) and follow each reading. These provide a way for each student to process information gathered in the readings and through personal experiences with the mass media. Students are encouraged to develop the habit of writing while reading; in other words trap the mind’s engagement with the reading materials before they disappear. Better blog posts will emerge from individual responses and each will bear the insignia and uniqueness of the author’s experiences. Each student must write weekly blog posts. In addition to posting your own reactions to the content, you are required to read the posts of your fellow classmates and respond to at least 2 of your classmates. You must post by Wednesday to allow your classmates an opportunity to read and respond to your reaction report. Detailed instructions for setting up your blog (it's easy!) and getting started are provided in Lesson 1. The "Blogs" link in the course menu will provide links to the blogs created in the class.
- Review Questions: Each student will be assigned one review question per lesson (please click the "Review Questions" link in the course menu to find your assigned question). A detailed response to that question (about 75-100 words) should be posted to the appropriate discussion forum. These review questions may appear in the exams, so it is essential that all students take responsibility for accurate responses in the discussion forum. Students should be engaged with all of the questions by adding to, clarifying or amending the original response, as appropriate.
- Instructor's Note Response: A detailed response to the Instructors Note (about 150 words) should be posted to the appropriate discussion forum. In addition to posting your own reactions to the content of Instructor's Note, you are also required to read the posts of your fellow classmates and respond to at least 2 of your classmates' comments. This important protocol enables the class to have conversations pertinent to the readings from the perspectives of all course participants.
Study Suggestions
You must complete readings, write your reaction report (in your blog) and answer the assigned review question for each lesson in the sequence in which they are presented in the course outline. You should begin each lesson by reviewing the objectives, completing the assigned readings and Instructor's Note as thoughtfully and thoroughly as possible. To review material you have learned, review the Chapter Wrap Up, complete the Review Questions (check your own answers) and review the Concepts, Terms and People references in the text.
You will be completing activities and submitting work assigned per lesson per week. You should completely finish one lesson before proceeding to the next. You are required to complete the course within the time-frame of one semester.
[printer-friendly version]Course Schedule
| Unit | Activities |
|---|---|
Lesson 1: Orientation |
Please complete the following assignments in the order listed below:
|
Lesson 2: Mass Media Literacy
|
Please complete the following assignments in the order listed below:
|
Lesson 3: Media Technology
|
Please complete the following assignments in the order listed below:
|
Lesson 4: Print Media
|
Please complete the following assignments in the order listed below:
|
Lesson 5: Sound Media | Please complete the following assignments in the order listed below:
|
Lesson 6: Exam #1
|
Prepare for the exam by reviewing the answers in the weekly Review Questions discussion forums. |
Lesson 7: Motion Media
|
Please complete the following assignments in the order listed below:
|
Lesson 8: New Media and News
|
Please complete the following assignments in the order listed below:
|
Spring Break
|
No assignments due. |
Lesson 9: Public Relations |
Please complete the following assignments in the order listed below:
|
Lesson 10: Advertising |
Please complete the following assignments in the order listed below:
|
Lesson 11: Exam #2
|
Prepare for the exam by reviewing the answers in the weekly Review Questions discussion forums. |
Lesson 12: Audience Research and Media Effects |
Please complete the following assignments in the order listed below:
|
Lesson 13: Law and Ethics
|
Please complete the following assignments in the order listed below:
|
Lesson 14: Media Democracy and Global Community
|
Please complete the following assignments in the order listed below:
|
Final Exam
|
Prepare for the exam by reviewing the answers in the weekly Review Questions discussion forums. |
Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please refer to Graduation at the Chaiken Center for Student Success.
Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please refer to Graduation at the Chaiken Center for Student Success.Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Grading
Your final grade in this course will be based on a combination of the following:
| Weekly Reaction Reports (blog) | 15% |
| Exam #1 | 15% |
| Exam #2 | 15% |
| Final Exam | 20% |
| Weekly Review Questions | 15% |
| Responses to blog posts and discussion forums | 10% |
| Instructor Response | 10% |
Your final grade will be determined based on the scoring explained above, and will conform to the following:
| 95 - 100% | A |
| 90 -94.99% | A- |
| 85 -89.99% | B+ |
| 80 -84.99% | B |
| 75 -79.99% | B- |
| 73 -74.99% | C+ |
| 70 -72.99% | C |
| 66 - 69.99% | D |
| Below 66% | F |
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.
For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Course Policies
Policies to note:
- The course assigned readings and syllabus are all subject to periodic revision as the professor may deem fit.
- If, for any reason, you miss participation in group work/group report, you may be required to write a short paper to cover the material missed. This will depend on your ability to convince the professor that your absence is excusable. Although you will be notified of the gap in your grade, you are not obligated to complete a make-up assignment.
- Late work will be accepted without penalty in cases of documented illness or emergency of which the professor, teaching assistant, or group leader is notified as soon as possible. Work that is late for any other reason must be submitted with a written explanation; if explanation os accepted, such work will be penalized on a pro-rated basis. However, class participation grades (individual/group) cannot be made up under any circumstances.
- All out-of-class assignments must be typed, double-spaced, with a minimum of 1-inch margins on all sides. Please provide your name, course number and e-mail address on all work handed in. Always prepare a back-up copy of all your work for your own record.
- If you are unable to complete this course because of unforeseen circumstances, you have the option of requesting a deferred grade from your instructor. For more information, please see "Deferred Grades" on the World Campus Student Policies Web Site.
- Academic Integrity is the pursuit of scholarly and creative activity in an open, honest and responsible manner, free from fraud and deception, and is an educational objective of the College of Communications and of the university. Cheating, including plagiarism, falsification of research data, using the same assignment for more than one class, turning in someone else's work, or possibly allowing others to copy your work, will result in academic penalties at the discretion of the instructor, and may result in the grade of "XF" (failed for academic dishonesty being put on your permanent transcript, in serious cases it could also result in suspension or dismissal from the university).
Academic Integrity
As students studying communication, you should understand and avoid plagiarism (presenting the work of others as your own). A discussion of plagiarism, with examples, can be found at: http://tlt.its.psu.edu/suggestions/cyberplag/cyberplagstudent.html.
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
Accommodating Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University’s educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities, including World Campus. The Disabilities and Accommodations section of the Chaiken Center for Student Success website provides World Campus students with information regarding how to request accommodations, documentation guidelines and eligibility, and appeals and complaints. For additional information, please visit the University's Student Disability Resources website.
In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Additional Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
The information contained on this page is designed to give students a representative example of material covered in the course. Any information related to course assignments, dates, or course materials is illustrative only. For a definitive list of materials, please check the online catalog 3-4 weeks before the course start date.
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