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MCOM 3850 Mass Communication Theory and Research

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Section

DEM01

Term

2022FA

Class Time & Place

MWF 11:00-11:50am Mac Lab

Campus

Demorest

Prerequisites

MCOM 1500 or MCOM 1600

Course Description

This course focuses on the concepts, philosophies, principles, evolution and the practical application of mass communication theories.

Credits

3

Instructor

Dr. Melissa Tingle

Email Address

mtingle@piedmont.edu

Office

Swanson Center 104

Phone

706-778-8500 x 1267

Office Hours

MWF 11:00am-1:00pm

Textbooks and Class materials

Curnalia, R. (2019). Insight into Innovation: Applying Communication Theory in Our Web 2.0 Lives (1st edition). ISBN 9781465291080

 

**A one-inch binder with dividers/tabs**

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon the completion of this course, students will be able to demonstrate the following outcome-based learning skills:

  1. Understand the importance of theory and the roots of mass communication theory.
  2. Recognize different mass communication theoretical approaches and its appropriate use.
  3. Understand the benefit of utilizing peer-reviewed studies as a foundation for media research, in preparation for capstone.
  4. Grasp concepts of APA Style.
  5. Recognize how the practical applications of media theory.

Grading Scale

To promote fair and consistent assessments, the following grading guidelines will be applied on the total points:

A 100% to 90%
B less than 90% to 80%
C less than 80% to 70%
D less than 70% to 60%
F less than 60% to 0

Grading System

Grading System: (Out of 1000 points)

Module Discussions (12 x 12.5pts)= 150pts

Scholarly Article Critiques (2 x 50pts)= 100pts

Module Assignments= (3)= 250pts

Module Activities=100pts

Midterm: Annotated Bibliography= 150pts

Final: Research Proposal= 200pts

Attendance

COURSE ATTENDANCE POLICY

Attendance, timeliness, and participation are required and part of your grade. Please keep in mind that any absence is likely to have a detrimental effect on your grade.

  • More than two unexcused absences will result in a letter reduction in your course grade.
  • More than five unexcused absences will result in failure of the course.
  • Excused absences include participation in recognized school events and illness verified by a doctor’s note.
  • If you are tardy three times, it equals one absence.
  • A request for consideration of an exception to this policy must be submitted in writing to the department chair.

Class Policies

 

  1. All assignments in this course will be graded using a standardized rubric located in Canvas, which is made available to students on the first day of the course.
  2. Any assignments requiring a written paper/reflection must be in the style of APA formatting; double spaced and at least 3 scholarly references. (https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/ )
  3. All assignments are provided ahead of time and are submitted using Canvas by their assigned due date listed in the syllabus (typically Sundays at 11:59pm). Late assignments will not be accepted and will receive a zero.
  4. Assignments may not be emailed, handwritten, or printed out and given to the professor, unless otherwise noted.
  5. Students are responsible for what transpired if they miss a class. Our Canvas class site will keep you informed of all assignments and rubrics, as well as provide the Powerpoint or discussion notes for each week.
  6. Cellphone use is not permitted in class. Laptop, tablet computers and other electronic devices are allowed for (quiet) note taking only: i.e., other activities such as checking personal e-mail or browsing the Internet are prohibited, unless being used in conjunction with classwork and research.

Course Outline/Schedule

Module

What’s Due

Module One- Foundations of Research Thinking

 

Module One Discussion: Mapping Your Communication Interests

Module One Activity: Research & Writing Support

Module Two- Developing a Research Topic

Module Two Discussion: Exploring Research Topics

Module Three- Developing Research Questions

Module Three Discussion: Refining Your Potential Research Topics

Module Three Assignment: Scholarly Article Critique #1

Module Four- Writing the Introduction

Module Four Discussion: Anatomy of an Introduction

Module Five- Writing the Rationale

Module Five Discussion: Rational Rationales

Module Five Assignment: Research Proposal Introduction

Module Six- Researching Your Topic

Module Six Discussion- Share an Interesting Article

Module Six Assignment: 15 Scholarly Sources

Module Seven- Developing an Annotated Bibliography

Module Seven Discussion: Biggest Challenge

Module Seven Midterm: Annotated Bibliography

Module Eight- Institutional Review Boards

Module Eight Discussion: Historical Research Abuses

Module Eight Activity: IRB Training

Module Nine- Continuing the Research

Module Nine Discussion: Share an Interesting Article

Module Nine Assignment: Annotated Bibliography Revision

Module Ten- Crafting the Literature Review

Module Ten Discussion: Topical Headings Organization

Module Eleven- Literature Review Draft

Module Eleven Discussion: Preventing Burnout

Module Eleven Assignment: Literature Review Rough Draft

Module Twelve- Putting It All Together

Module Twelve Discussion: TBD

Module Thirteen- The Peer Review Process

Module Thirteen Discussion: Offering Peer Support

Module Thirteen Activity: Peer Reviews

Module Fourteen- Proposal Preparations

Module Fourteen Discussion: Death by PowerPoint

Module Fifteen- Final Research Proposal

Module Fifteen Discussion: Final Research Presentation

Module Fifteen Assignment: Final Research Proposal

Piedmont Policies

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Piedmont University adheres to the federal definition of a credit hour as an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement. For the purposes of this definition, an instructional hour equates to direct instruction of 750 minutes for each credit hour awarded. The standard expectation for direct instruction classes is that students will spend a minimum of two hours outside the classroom for each hour spent in class, which is, 1500 minutes per credit hour awarded. Courses that are offered on a schedule other than the full 15-week semester contain the same number of hours as if the course were scheduled for a full semester. No reduction in direct instruction time or work time outside of class is permitted for courses offered in accelerated terms.

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Piedmont University strives to make learning experiences accessible to all participants and will provide reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. If you experience difficulties, based on the impact of a disability or health condition, please contact the Office of Accessibility, Resources, and Services (OARS) to initiate a conversation with our Director of Compliance, Equity, and Inclusion, Courtney Snow, about your options. Please know that accommodations are not retroactive, so avoid any delays. Contact Courtney Snow. at csnow@piedmont.edu or 706-778-8500, ext. 1504, or visit Daniel 303 Suite D. To request accommodations (academic, dietary, housing, or emotional support animals) please click the link below and use your Piedmont email and password: https://piedmont-accommodate.symplicity.com/public_accommodation/. If you are already receiving accommodations and need to update your memo or information, please click the link below and use your Piedmont email and password: https://piedmont-accommodate.symplicity.com/students

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Directives on Completion of Student Work: Course activities designated as quizzes, tests and exams are always to be completed by a student individually and without assistance from other people or resources UNLESS permission for collaboration or the use of external resources is explicitly permitted by the course professor(s). Hence all quizzes, tests and exams are to be considered closed-book/closed-notes and closed-internet (e.g., Google searches). Artificial intelligence apps are also banned on quizzes, tests and exams unless explicitly permitted by the course professor(s).

Student Email Policy: All Piedmont University students are required to use their Piedmont Lions email account (see Catalog at https://piedmont.smartcatalogiq.com/ for complete policy). Since the Lions account is an official communications channel of the university, students are responsible for all information distributed to them through their account. Students are expected to check it daily.

Withdrawal Policy: Within the first several days of a term, students may add and drop courses with the permission of their advisor. The ranges for drop/add vary depending on the term (Fall, Spring, or Summer) and duration of the class (8 week or 15 week). Students should check the academic calendar for specific information. After this time, students may withdraw from a class. Please refer to the university catalog at https://piedmont.smartcatalogiq.com/ for the particulars regarding the withdrawal policy.

Excused Absence Policy: Student absences for university-sanctioned events are generally considered excused absences because they are supportive of the university program. However, there are exceptions to the policy as noted in the University catalog. When absences are excused, instructors must allow students to make up any work that has been missed. Students are responsible for notifying their instructors, in advance, about absences from class due to participation in university-sanctioned events. See full policy in the University catalog at https://piedmont.smartcatalogiq.com/.

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