Main Content
Syllabus
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.
COMM 100 The Mass Media and Society (3 credits): explores 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 is an overview of the interaction between mass media and society. By drawing from selected topics, the course pays particular attention to the social influences (e.g., economics, politics, technology, law and culture) 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. By so doing, students are informed about the overall structure and scope of the mass media and 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.
Using the Library
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 | Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
|---|---|
| Browser | Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. |
| Additional Canvas Requirements | For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
| Additional Software | All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. |
| Hardware | Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
| Mobile Device (optional) | The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements. |
Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ)
During the semester you will receive information for completing the Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ). Your participation is an opportunity to provide anonymous feedback on your learning experience. Your feedback is important because it allows us to understand your experience in this course and make changes to improve the learning experiences of future students. Please monitor email and course communications for links and availability dates.
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Course Requirements and Grading
Requirements
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.
Reaction Reports Discussion Forum (10 points)
Reaction Reports should be at least 250 words in length. They are 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. i.e., trap the mind’s engagement with the reading materials before they disappear. Better Reaction Report posts will emerge from individual responses and each will bear the insignia and uniqueness of the student’s experiences. Each student must write weekly Reaction Reports. In addition to posting your own reactions to the content, you are required to read the reactions 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. Reaction Reports are in 11 lessons in COMM 100. Your initial Text Reaction Report post is worth 6 points. Each response to a classmate's Reaction Report is worth 2 points, up to 4 points.
Review Questions (5 points)
Each student will be assigned one Review Question per lesson. A detailed response to that question (about 75-100 words) should be posted to the appropriate discussion. The Review Questions may appear in the exams, so it is essential that all students take responsibility for accurate responses. Students should be engaged with all of the questions by adding to, clarifying, or amending the original response, as appropriate. Review Questions are in 11 lessons in COMM 100. Your initial Review Question answer is worth 3 points. Each response to a classmate's Review Question answer is worth 1 point, up to 2 points.
Supplemental Notes Discussion Forum (5 points)
These represent supplemental material to the text based on academic exposure to the subject matter and personal experiences with the mass media in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world. The Supplemental Notes should provide additional dimensions to the subject matter that may not be in the assigned reading but that is of added value to students’ understanding. Some of the entries in the Supplemental Notes should also generate additional conversation by the class. Supplemental Notes Discussions should be about 150 words in length, and are in 11 lessons in COMM 100. Your initial Review Question answer is worth 3 points. Each response to a classmate's Review Question answer is worth 1 point, up to 2 points.
Exams (30 points)
There are two exams in COMM 100. Each is worth 30 points and contributes to 9.5% of your final score. Be sure to follow exam instructions closely.
Final Exam (40 points)
The final exam in COMM 100 is worth 40 points and contributes to 13% of your final grade. Be sure to follow exam instructions closely.
Study Suggestions
You must complete readings and Supplemental Notes. Then, submit your Reaction Report and your Review Question answer in Canvas. After you have reviewed other questions and answers, post your response to the Supplemental Notes for that lesson. Then complete any other activities for the lesson.
You should begin each lesson by reviewing the objectives and completing the assigned readings and Supplemental Notes as thoroughly as possible. Review the material you have learned. Finally, be sure to respond to at least two of your classmate's Reaction Reports, Review Questions, and Supplemental Notes Discussion.
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.
Assessments
COMM 100 assessments include the following:
| Activity | Points | Total Points | % of Grade | Lesson(s) in which activity occurs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exam 1 | 30 | 30 | 9.5 | 6 |
| Exam 2 | 30 | 30 | 9.5 | 11 |
| Final Exam | 40 | 40 | 13 | 15 |
| Reaction Reports | 11 @ 10 points | 110 | 34 | 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14 |
| Review Questions | 11 @ 5 points | 55 | 17 | 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14 |
| Supplemental Notes Discussion | 11 @ 5 points | 55 | 17 | 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14 |
| Total | 320 |
Grading Scale
Your final grade will be based on the assessments and will conform to the following grading scale.
| Percent | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 92 - 100% | A |
| 90 - 91.99% | A- |
| 88 - 89.99% | B+ |
| 82 - 87.99% | B |
| 80 - 81.99% | B- |
| 78 - 79.99% | C+ |
| 70 - 77.99% | C |
| 60 - 69.99% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
Course Policies
- The course assigned readings and syllabus are all subject to periodic revision as the professor may deem fit.
- Late work will be accepted without penalty only in cases of documented illness or emergency of which the professor or teaching assistant is notified as soon as possible. Work that is late for any other reason must be submitted with a written explanation; if explanation is accepted, such work will be penalized on a pro-rated basis. However, class participation work that is turned in late cannot be made up under any circumstances. Late assignments will be reduced by one letter grade per day.
- If you are unable to complete this course because of unforeseen circumstances, you have the option of requesting a deferred grade from the 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).
Course Schedule
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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 go to the Graduation Information on the My Penn State Online Student Portal.
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.
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: Plagiarism Tutorial for Students
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
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
.
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.
Accommodating Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University's educational programs. Every Penn State campus has resources for students with disabilities.
The Student Disability Resources (SDR) website provides
contacts for disability services at every Penn State campus. For further information, please visit the
SDR website.
In order to apply
for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability resources office at the campus where you are officially enrolled,
participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation based on the documentation guidelines. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability resources
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.
Counseling and Psychological Services
If you have a crisis or safety concern, mental health services are available to you as a Penn State student. Crisis and emergency contacts are available, no matter where you are located:
- Anywhere in the United States: Call the Penn State Crisis Line at 1-877-229-6400 or text LIONS to 741741. You can also contact your local crisis services or hospital for emergencies.
- Outside the United States: Please contact emergency services in your current location. You can also use the International Crisis and Emergency Services listings.
- At University Park: Assistance is available at Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) locations on campus.
- At a Penn State branch campus: You can search for counseling information at your campus.