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Deparment: COMM
Course No.: 244W
Credits: 3
Title: Communication Law and Policy
Contact: ROSS BUCK
WQ: W
Catalog Copy: COMM 244W. Communication Law and Policy. Either semester. Three credits. Prerequisite: COMM 100. Open to sophomores. Recommended preparation: COMM 130, COMM 241, COMM 262. Atkin.
The development of American communication laws and policies, from their constitutional base through federal law, regulatory agencies and the judicial system. Exploration of rights and responsibilities of communication organizations and the public.
Course Information: Goals— To promote successful writing in a growing area in the communication field. Assignments and instruction inspire students to improve their writing abilities in this demanding specialty area. An objective of this course is to exit students who have better word-crafting and argumentative essay writing abilities, as they pertain to legalistic and policy-making arenas of communication.
Requirements: A substantial writing assignment will be integrated with the learning of communication law and policy content. Formal instruction includes discussion of how specific cases and polices are written and presented through the written word. Formal instruction also includes explanations about the elements needed in logical, cohesive and convincing writing. Students work on a substantially long term paper, which they improve incrementally. They begin with an outline, and craft separate sections of a full paper, until fully completed. Other requirements are essay examinations and active, informed participation in class.
Themes: legal terminology in communication, telecommunications law, telecommunications policy-making, landmark cases in telecommunications; contemporary dilemmas and questions in modern communications, ethics and responsibilities in the creation of mass mediated messages, consumer advocacy, consumer rights, freedom of speech, first amendment.
W Criteria: 1. Completion of a large writing assignment (revised and edited) is a substantial part of the course. Writing assignment (16 pages, 35% of grade) requires students to review/survey research literature on United States Law, regulation and jurisprudence addressing communication. The term paper synthesizes key aspects in communication law and policy. The work involved in crafting this paper is rigorous, as it demands incorporation of course materials and independent sources. The paper must be well developed, well argued, cohesive, and logical. The student receives guidance from instructor and opportunities for improvement of writing.
2. Modes of instruction will include lecture (formal instruction) to the whole class, written commentary on papers, individual conferences with students to extend points in lecture and to make suggestions on ways to improve individual writing (e.g. overall structure, organization, development).
3. Feedback will be provided interpersonally and on written drafts, or communicated by other means, in order to support writing improvements. Papers go through 2 formal revisions. Students are invited to visit the professor/instructor often in order to obtain personal guidance on their smaller-level revisions throughout the writing, drafting, finalizing process.
4. F-clause-The syllabus will state that the students must pass the W component of the course in order to pass the course. The course syllabus will inform students of the revision, editing and page length requirements.