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Department: COMM

Course No.: 273W

Title: Media, State and Society

Credits: 3

Contact: Ross Buck

WQ: W

Catalog Copy: COMM 273W Media, State, and Society 3 units.

Forms of, rationales for, and effects of state involvement in mass media. The development of alternative media. Cultural implications of transnational media influences.

W Criteria: Writing galvanizes what students learn. Writing assignments give students an opportunity to verify what they “think they know” against what other possible interpretations. The “W” course format also provides them with specific feedback with regard to their writing skills, including grammar, syntax, punctuation, sourcing in academic papers, etc.

Students are assigned two projects for a total of 18 pages : one (9 pages) is a theory paper. The second (9 pages) is theoretical as well as practical. This second assignment builds on the first but addresses a tripartite: corporate media, the State and the individual. Students write two to three drafts for each project. Occasionally, students with superior writing skills may need to write only two drafts, but the majority of the students will need 3 drafts. Feedback happens in several ways: oral instruction, written comments from the instructor, individual meetings when needed, and finally feedback from group discussion in class. The result is that students have an opportunity verbally to address their strengths and weaknesses through different modes.

The “W” component (two projects) is 80% of the grade .

20% accounts for students' sustained participation in class discussion on topical issues and writing issues.

Modes of writing instruction include:
a. formal instruction in class regarding the format of the projects, including outline and structural features
b. discussion of main points and supporting arguments that are needed
c. sourcing, e.g., footnotes, bibliography; style, grammar and syntax
d. written commentary on the drafts
e. oral group discussion in class
f. individual conferences

Students will receive ample time to integrate feedback in their next draft and next assignment. Students will consider all modes of feedback to build better drafts and better new assignments.

Students will be informed orally and in the syllabus that the “W” requirement must be satisfied in order to pass the course .